Category Archives: Events

Gooney Bird Greene and Her True Life Adventures

Wheelock Family Theatre’s performance of Gooney Bird Greene and Her True Life Adventures features Brown 8th grader Ava Lyons.  Ava will perform as Felicia Ann, a classmate of Gooney Bird, and the show runs approximately 90 minutes.

Gooney Bird Greene and Her True Life Adventures is an adaptation by Kent R. Brown of the Lois Lowry book that charts the quirky course of Gooney Bird, a new student at Watertower Elementary with a flair for the theatrical. Gooney Bird inspires her classmates to maximize their own self-expression through wearing brightly-colored mismatched ensembles and telling wildly imaginative stories that are 100% true.

There will be 16 performances between October 26th and November 18th, with shows available to the public mostly on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  Tickets can be ordered from Wheelock Family Theatre’s website at https://wheelockfamilytheatre.org/ or https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/993442/prm/Sox9.  Additionally, tickets for the Saturday 10:30 am shows are discounted at $15.

Winter Basketball League needs volunteer coaches and refs

As the winter season is upon us, the Newton Boys & Girls Club annual Winter Basketball League will be starting in late November. Coming off of a strong season last year when the league consisted of 20 teams with high competition, they look to continue the streak.

The Boys & Girls Club is looking for volunteers who can commit to:

  • 2 hours weekly of coaching, 1 hour on a week night and 1 hour Saturday morning/afternoon
  • 2-7 hours of refereeing between Friday nights 5:00 – 8:00 pm or Saturdays 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • Commitment would be needed through mid-March

These leagues success relies on our amazing volunteers and community sponsors. Please consider donating your time as a coach or referee and help the Winter Basketball program grow.  Click here for a link for our volunteer application.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email jkithcart@newtonbgc.com or call Jordan at 617-630-2066 ext 121.

Each team is designated one practice and one game per week. Practices and games are about an hour long. Games are Saturday mornings/afternoon depending on which age group is playing. This league consists of three divisions.

  • Development League (Grades K-2) The Development League will focus on player development both on and off the court. There will be a skills and drills segment along with team-building and discipline. The season ends with a tournament in which all teams compete. All games will be played on Fridays.
  • Premier League (Grades 3-5)  The foundation of the Premier League is built on learning the basic fundamentals of the game. All games will be played on Saturdays.
  • Junior League (Grades 6-8) The Junior League is designed to help players prepare for a higher level of competition. They’ll be introduced to team concepts such as zone defense, team defense, motion offense and proper floor spacing. All games will be played on Saturdays.

Summer camp registration opening soon

Whether you love to sing and dance at Camp Kaleidoscope, learn important swimming skills at Camp Grossman or hone your skills at Specialty Camps an exciting summer awaits.

Enjoy an unforgettable summer with JCC Greater Boston filled with land & water sports, outdoor adventures, visual arts, performing arts and Jewish culture. Save $75.00 on your day camp registration when you sign up on November 18th! Learn more at bostonjcc.org/re-registration https://www.bostonjcc.org/classes-and-events/re-registration-day.

Early bird registrati0n on November 18th,  2:00 – 4:00 pm at the Leventhal-Sidman Center at JCC Greater Boston.

Team Believe’s Pumpkin Patch for Best Buddies!

Please visit the Team Believe Pumpkin Patch. Pick up beautiful jack o’lanterns and sugar pumpkins just in time for Halloween carving, as well as mini-pumpkins and gourds for your Thanksgiving decorations, and, of course, delicious baked goods and the best apple cider donuts in town. Enjoy warm spiced apple cider, get creative with Halloween and Thanksgiving crafts, and help raise funds to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities!

Every penny raised through the Pumpkin Patch will be donated to Best Buddies, an organization which empowers the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships, secure successful jobs, improve self-advocacy and communication skills, and live independently as valued members of society. So please come by and pick up a pumpkin for a great cause!! Any questions, please email bestbuddies.teambelieve@gmail.com.

October 28th, from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
232 Collins Road, Waban (just off Chestnut Street)

Upcoming Events at Historic Newton

HALLOWEEN TOUR OF EAST PARISH BURYING GROUND

Who says cemeteries have to be spooky? Newton’s oldest cemetery, the East Parish Burying Ground, dates back to 1660 and serves as the resting place of Newton’s founding families. Learn about Newton’s history and explore this community resource as an educator from Historic Newton guides you in this special tour of the art of remembrance, and life and death in Newton. Hear the stories of those memorialized and consider the lives and deaths of those whose final resting places are unmarked. Suggested donation, $10 per person. Register at newtonma.gov/HNwalks. Call 617-796-1450 for more information.

October 28th, 3:30 pm
Meet at the corner of Cotton and Centre Streets; park on Cotton Street

STORYTIME – HALLOWEEN

Come celebrate Halloween with fun-filled activities! You’ll read The Roll-Away Pumpkin by Junia Wonders, and preschoolers and their caregivers will create their own pumpkin and jack-o-lantern artwork with apple stamps. For a complete schedule of ongoing Storytime events, go to www.newtonma.gov/story. Admission: Free. For more information call 617-641-9142.

October 31st, 4:30-6:30 pm​
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue

TRICK OR TREAT AT THE JACKSON HOMESTEAD

As you make the rounds with children on Halloween night, please stop by the Jackson Homestead and Museum for treats and free museum admission tickets that may be used throughout the fall. Enjoy trick-or-treating at the historic home that is part of the neighborhood! Admission: Free. Call 617-796-1450 for more information.

October 31st
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street

FREE WEEKEND AT HISTORIC NEWTON

Everyone is invited to enjoy free admission to the museums.  Call 617-796-1450 for more information

November 3rd and 4th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street, and the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue

One week left for early bird registration

One week left for early bird registration for the Newton Turkey Trot. Prices will increase after October 25th for the 5th annual Newton Turkey Trot!  Sign up today at www.newtonturkeytrot.org to secure your spot and be guaranteed an awesome T-shirt.
This event kicks off on November 17th at 8:30 am with a kids’ 1mile fun run followed by the 5K race at 9:00 am.

Not a runner?  Join in the fun as a volunteer! Details are in the volunteer section of the website. Sign up soon, this race will sell out! All proceeds from the race go to the Newton Food Panty.

Open House Week and more at the Y

Open House Week – The YMCA is free all week long, October 21st – 27th

The West Suburban YMCA for free all week long! Drop in for special events, activities, classes, daily raffles, promotional giveaways and more. Families can take advantage of free soccer, basketball and flag football activities, swim lessons, family swim hours and camp crafts. There will also be performances from the youth Rock Band students, relaxation and mindfulness activities, water polo and more. Raffles, promotional giveaways and complimentary coffee and cider are also on the schedule. View the full schedule of highlighted events and activities at www.wsymca.org. Plus, if you join the Y during Open House Week, you’ll get your first month of membership free!

Program Registration for Late Fall Session

Registration for Late Fall Programs at the West Suburban YMCA is now open to all members and non-members. The Late Fall Program Session starts the week of October 29th. Some program highlights include:

  • Aquatics: Swim lessons for all ages, water polo, water aerobics
  • Youth Sports Leagues & Classes: Basketball, soccer, flag football, track, karate for all ages
  • Creative Arts: Rock Band class, dance classes, private music lessons, photography
  • Fitness & Wellness: TRX class, tai chi, personal training and small group training

Pick up a Fall Program Guide at the YMCA or visit wsymca.org for more information and to register for programs.

Registration is open for YBA-Youth Basketball Leagues

YBA League is a fun league for boys and girls ages 4-12 to learn and play basketball. The league runs on Saturdays, November 17th – February 9th, and is separated into four age groups: Mini (ages 4-5), Biddy (ages 6-7), Rookie (ages 8-9) and Collegiate (ages 10-12). All leagues are co-ed. For more information and to register, visit www.wsymca.org or call 617-244-6050.

LIVESTRONG Yoga/Spin-a-thon- November 3rd, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Support the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program by participating in the Yoga/Spin-a-thon! Sign up for a Saturday morning Yoga Flow class or a themed Spin class led by some of your favorite Y instructors. $50.00 donation for one class or $75.00 donation for two classes. All proceeds support theLIVESTRONG at the YMCA program, a free health & wellness program for adult cancer survivors.

“A Night Under the Stars” Annual Gala – November 10th, 6:00-11:00pm

The Y’s Annual Gala, “A Night Under the Stars” features dinner, cocktails, silent & live auctions, dancing and entertainment and will highlight the life-changing impact of YMCA summer camp. Returning as emcee for the night is Jenny Johnson,co-host of NESN’s Dining Playbook. All proceeds will support financial assistance for local families.

Work at the Y

The West Suburban YMCA is hiring for a variety of full-time and part-time positions in child care and youth development, human resources, aquatics, fitness and more. Great benefits, FREE membership and professional development opportunities. Please contact Laura Snow at mailto:lauras@wsymca.org or visit wsymca.org/about/work-here.

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 x3653 for financial assistance with membership or program participation.

Get involved with the Washington Street vision

Mayor Fuller is inviting all community members to attend a meeting to see the first draft of the Vision Plan and zoning recommendations for the Hello Washington Street project.

For more information and FAQs visit  www.newtonma.gov/washingtonstreetvision.  Follow the project on  Facebook!

Plan Open House
October 24th, 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Newton North High School, 457 Walnut Street

What’s happening on October 24th?

  • People will have an opportunity to view the first drafts of the vision plan and zoning recommendations for Hello Washington Street!  These are ideas for the future of Washington Street from West Newton, to Newtonville, and up to Newton Corner.
  • Images, drawings, and text will show options for what these areas on Washington Street could look like 5 years in the future. Other images and drawings will show options for these areas 20+ years in the future.
  • Starting at 6:00 pm,  enjoy food and refreshments and

view the design gallery.  Then at 6:30 pm there’ll be an overview presentation by Principle Group, with an introduction from Mayor Fuller. Next, you can rotate through the room to visit stations set up by geography, including West Newton, Newtonville, and the area near Crafts Street at Washington. Learn about Washington Street itself and options for how to make the road safer and easier to navigate. If you arrive after the event has started, they’ll provide the overview presentation you missed at the beginning and throughout the event, members of the planning team will be answering questions and listening to feedback. The event will end with a recap and Q&A.

What happens next?

  • This event will be followed by a month-long comment period, when people will be asked to go online to read the draft documents and leave their comments directly on the pdf.  Paper copies will be available too at the Newton Library with a way for people to give input.
  • In person events like topic-specific forums and drop-in office hours will be held later this year where you can ask more questions and discuss the ideas more in depth. Dates will be announced at the Plan Open House event on October 24th.
  • At the end of January, the second draft of the vision plan and zoning recommendations will be released followed by a second comment period as the planning team refines the plan into a final version for review by City Council.

What should I do?

  • Come in person, if you can, for the event!  Tell your neighbors, friends, and colleagues! After the event, please read the plan and provide your comments online.  Stay involved in the process as they move from first draft to second draft.