Marijuana is Legal: Now What? Newton Wellesley Hospital presents a community forum on the legalization of marijuana discussing risks and possible medical benefits. Join a lively evening of expert information including questions answered. For more information, click here: flyer or visit www.newtonma.gov/NewtonPath.
September 18th, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Newton Wellesley Hospital, Shipley Auditorium
See if Cub Scouts would be a good fit for you and your family at an Open House for Boys and Girls, K-5, and their families.
Cub Scouts is a worldwide program with deep history, created to help prepare our children for their future by teaching a variety of life skills including personal and civic responsibility, ethical and moral decision making, and goal setting and achievement. This program is a wonderful way to bring together families–boys, girls, siblings, and parents/ caregivers, through structured activities which promote: confidence and self esteem building, good sportsmanship, environmental protection and outdoor skills. During the school year families will participate in a number of fun and educational experiences with games, speakers, field trips, and camping oriented activities.
Open House for prospective and new scouts September 18th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Waban Library Center, 1608 Beacon Street.
First meeting for new and returning scouts September 24th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Waban Library Center, 1608 Beacon Street.
Starting in October monthly meetings are the 2nd Wednesday night of each month, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Waban Library Center, 1608 Beacon Street.
If you have questions, please email Rowell Levy at cubmaster@cubscoutpack208.org.
The Waban Library Center is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. Please join everyone at the WLC to celebrate this exciting milestone! This is a free community event open to everyone of all ages. Join for refreshments, games, entertainment, raffle, and a visit from Mayor Ruthanne Fuller! For more information, please visit www.wabanlibrarycenter.org.
September 21st, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
1608 Beacon Street, Waban
Grab your gear and join the 8th Annual Ride For Food in Dedham!
The Centre Street Food Pantry is recruiting cyclists, fundraisers and volunteers to help meet their goal to raise over $25,000.00. Don’t miss out on this fun and rewarding event. Join the team today to help provide supplemental food to our neighbors who need it most.
Contact Katherine Ballas at k.ballas@centrestfoodpantry.org or visit https://ride.threesquaresne.org/centrestfoodpantry2019 for more information.
Welcoming Wednesdays: Try the Y for free every Wednesday in September! Present a valid ID at the welcome desk and your guest fee will be waived.
Expanded Kids’ Corner Hours – Sunday Hours begin September 8th: The West Suburban YMCA has added 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Sunday hours to its Kids’ Corner schedule, taking effect September 8. Kids’ Corner offers up to 90 minutes of child care to members and guests who are using the Y facilities to workout. The service is free for Y family members and $5 for individual Y members or guests.
West Suburban Singers – Adult Community Choir: The Creative Arts Department at the West Suburban YMCA invites adults of all ages to join their new community choir. The group consists of individuals ranging in age from mid-20s to mid-60s. Weekly rehearsals will be held on Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30 pm, and cost is $65 for Y members, $95 for community. For more information, contact Sunny McGovern at sunnym@wsymca.org.
Family Fun Night – September 10th, 6:00-7:00 pm: Bring the whole family to the Y for some family fun time. The Y sets up games, crafts, and a bouncy house for all to enjoy. Light snacks are provided. Free and open to all. Family Fun Nights occur on the second Tuesday of every month.
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA – Two new sessions beginning in late September: LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a free 12-week, research-based physical activity and well-being program designed to help adult cancer survivors achieve their holistic health goals. The program focuses on building muscle mass and strength, increasing flexibility and endurance, and improving confidence, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Join one of two sessions beginning the week of September 23rd. To learn more or participate in the upcoming session, contact Jane Carroll at janec@wsymca.org.
School Vacation Day Programs – September 30th: Do your kids need care on Rosh Hashanah? The West Suburban YMCA is offering full day and half day program options from both the Out of School Time program and the Sports Department. Ensure your child has a safe, fun day and you have peace of mind! Call 617-244-6050 for more information or to register.
Kids Night Out – October 4th, 6:00 – 10:00 pm: Kids Night Out is back for the school year! Parents, drop off your kids for a fun Friday night with the Y’s staff. Go out for the night and take advantage of this low-cost alternative to hiring a babysitter. They order pizza for dinner and keep the kids entertained with games, swimming, movies and sports. Open to children in grades K-5. Cost is $25 per child for Y members and $30 per child for the community. A 20% discount is offered per child for those with two or more children attending.
Fall 2019 Afterschool Program: Enroll in the West Suburban YMCA’s Out-of-School Time (OST) program for the 2019-2020 school year. OST provides afterschool care for children in grades K-8 following the Newton Public School calendar, including extended hours on Early Release Days. There are options for students to attend two, three, four, or five days per week. Transportation to the Y is available from most elementary schools in Newton including Bigelow, Bowen, Burr, Cabot, Franklin, Horace Mann @ Carr, Lincoln Eliot, and Underwood. Daily activity choices include homework support, physical fitness, STEM, the arts, free swim, age-specific clubs and more. For information about Out-of-School Time, contact Tricia Mansfield at triciam@wsymca.org or 617-244-6050 ext. 3022.
Preschool Center for Youth Development: The West Suburban YMCA’s Preschool Center for Youth Development is an early education program for ages 2 years 9 months to 5 years. The year-round, full-day preschool is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, and boasts a large, bright and open classroom with a secure entrance. In addition to the well-rounded curriculum, students receive a 30-minute weekly YMCA Swim Lesson as part of their enrollment. Students can enroll any time of year, provided there is space in the program. For information about Preschool, contact Tricia Mansfield at triciam@wsymca.org or 617-244-6050 ext. 3022.
Work at the Y – Full-Time and Part-Time Opportunities: The West Suburban YMCA is hiring for a variety of full-time and part-time positions. The Y offers great benefits, free membership and professional development opportunities. Please contact Laura Snow, VP of Human Resources, at lauras@wsymca.org or visit wsymca.org/careers to apply online.
Financial Assistance is always available for Y Memberships and Programs: The West Suburban YMCA is a non-profit charitable organization and it is their mission to never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay. Please contact the Membership Department at 617-244-6050 ext. 3653 for financial assistance with membership or program participation.
Check out the new FORJ Book Group, meeting monthly at various locations throughout Newton. Given that the books could be shared with older students, this group is designed for Newton Middle and High School parents/guardians, faculty and staff, in mind, however it is open to anyone who is looking to increase their awareness and connection regarding these topics.
For teachers this could be a great opportunity to think through how to introduce a particular book and get feedback in a supportive space. This will be an excellent opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and meet some new people, please consider joining! Please contact Jen Dirga with any questions jenniferdirga@gmail.com.
Click here to learn more about theFORJ Group.
The agenda for the Newton CPC’s next meeting includes a public hearing on the Newton Conservators’ $15,000 funding request for holding the CPA-required conservation restriction on Kesseler Woods; an update on the Allen House historic rehabilitation project in West Newton; a revised program budget for Fy20; proposed updates to Newton’s CPA ordinance; and planning for a staff transition in January 2020.
For details see www.newtonma.gov/cpa or contact Alice Ingerson at aingerson@newtonma.gov or 617-796-1144.
September 10th, 7:00 pm
City Hall Room 204
Fall Tree Tour at Newton Cemetery
Enjoy a walk in the arboretum with Newton Cemetery arborist Julie Clements as she guides a tour showcasing the interesting variety of Fall colors. The tour will take place rain or shine.
Comfortable walking shoes, water, a camera and plenty of questions are recommended. The tour will last approximately 90 minutes. Meet just inside the main gate in front of the office. Parking is available on the cemetery roads or in the chapel parking lot. For more information, call 617-332-0047.
Suggested Donation: $10.00. The tour is free and open to all but donations to the Friends of Newton Cemetery are welcome and support arboretum education and care.
Newton Cemetery is an accredited Arboretum with the Morton Register of Arboreta.
“Is Our Constitution Holding Up to the Test of Time in 2019?”
Join members of the League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN) as they host a community discussion led by constitutional law professor, Jed Shugerman. You’ll be talking about our constitution and how it is holding up; is our constitution still working the way it was intended? is there still a balance of powers among the three branches of government? is the Supreme Court still an independent branch of government or should structural changes be made? what about the independence of the Fed, the Attorney General and the Department of Justice? are we near a constitutional crisis?
Jed Shugerman, a Newton resident and former Bowen PTO co-chair, is a law professor and legal historian at Fordham University in New York. He teaches torts, administrative law and constitutional history.
Jed is the author of The People’s Courts: Pursuing Judicial Independence in America (2012), on the evolution of judicial elections and politics in America. He is working on a new book, The Rise of the Prosecutor Politicians, on the history of American prosecutors and mass incarceration. His articles often appear in law reviews and major national newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Slate, and The Atlantic. He appears on MSNBC, CNN and CBC to discuss legal issues, and he writes about law and politics at shugerblog.com and on Twitter @jedshug.
A question and answer session and open discussion will follow after Mr. Shugerman’s presentation. RSVPs to info@lwvnewton.org are appreciated!
September 15th, 5:00 – 6:30 pm at the Durant Kenrick House, 286 Waverly Avenue, Newton
Are you looking for a way to make your child’s school healthier and more sustainable? Healthier lunches? Recycling? Come add your voice to the GN Schools Connections group.
Green Newton’s Schools Connections group provides a forum for parents, students, and educators to promote sustainability in the classroom and beyond. You are welcome to participate and share experiences and ideas that support green initiatives in our schools.
After the group reached out to the Newton School Committee about the need to improve recycling in Newton’s schools, the committee passed a new school recycling policy in the spring of 2019. In addition, this advocacy was instrumental in getting the city to consider environmental practices and waste reduction in schools when selecting a new food service vendor. Representatives of the group will also participate in discussions to improve food quality and sustainability in school cafeterias.
In June, they worked with city leaders to submit a state grant application to support the expansion of the school recycling program and they are also advocating for the city’s approval to set up textile recycling collection containers outside of each school building. For more information contact schoolconnections@greennewton.org or visit schools.greennewton.org.
August 29th, 3:45 – 5:00 pm in the third-floor arc area of the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street