Starting February 1, Newton teens will have a new “home away from home” at the West Suburban YMCA. The drop-in teen center will provide a safe and enjoyable place for teens to spend time with their peers, participate in substance-free activities, and to be part of a meaningful, welcoming community supervised by caring adults who provide resources, encouragement, and inspiration. The new teen center builds on the successful Chestnut Street Teen Center, established as a collaboration of The Newton Partnership and Newton Community Service Center in 2009. Approximately 200 teens a year participate at the Chestnut Street site.

According to the Director of The Newton Partnership, Susan Linn, “Our nonprofit community has been working together for more than a year to take the Chestnut Street model from great to even better. The Y’s location and newly renovated space are ideally suited to be the next chapter of the teen center.”

Chanda Gunn directs the Teen Center. At a recent meeting with teens who attend the Chestnut Street Center, Susan Linn asked, “What do you find helpful about this place?” According to Susan, “the kids practically began chanting Chanda’s name.” “And it’s easy to see why,” adds Mary Kern, Vice President of Operations at the Y: “Chanda brings exceptional energy and skills to connecting with kids and creating an engaging and dynamic program for teens.”

For additional information about the Teen Center or to schedule a visit, contact Chanda Gunn, Program Director for the Y’s Teen Center, at 617-244-6050 or chandag@westsuburbanymca.org.

The League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN) January meeting, on the topic of “All politics is local”, will be Thursday, January 12, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm in Room 202 at Newton City Hall. Learn how you can advocate for issues you are concerned about as well as the opportunity to join Newton Boards and Commissions. Presenters will be Brooke Lipsitt, LWVN member and former President of the Board of Aldermen, and Megan Costello, Director of Community Affairs for the city of Newton. The public is invited. For more information: info@lwvnewton.org or 617-383-4598

We all know our New England winters are long and there are storms aplenty. We’ve designed a new Winter Buddy Program to encourage connections between seniors and other community members when the snow and wind are swirling outside. Being a buddy means that a volunteer or volunteer family would connect with a Newton at Home member to:

1. Advise that a storm is coming.
2. Assess need for essential supplies (milk, bread, flashlights and batteries, etc).
3. Develop plans for snow removal.
4. Call your buddy every day of the storm.
5. Direct your buddy to appropriate help when necessary.

Volunteering as a Winter Buddy will require minimal time commitment, but would give both buddies a sense of connection and satisfaction from helping others. If you would like to participate, please contact Bonnie Katz at bkatzdesign@gmail.com or 617.244.0694.

Newton at Home is an organization dedicated to empowering Newton’s seniors to age at home comfortably, independently, and with peace of mind through a membership-based organization that offers access to comprehensive practical services and fosters social supports and a sense of community.

We are holding a Winter Buddy Information Session on January 9 at 11:30am and January 19 at 2pm. Please join us.

Be a Winter Buddy: Join Newton at Home’s New Winter Buddy Program!

We all know our New England winters are long and there are storms aplenty. Newton at Home has designed a new Winter Buddy Program to encourage connections between seniors and other community members when the snow and wind are swirling outside. Being a buddy means that a volunteer or volunteer family would connect with a Newton at Home member to:

1. Advise that a storm is coming.
2. Assess the need for essential supplies (milk, bread, flashlights and batteries, etc).
3. Develop plans for snow removal.
4. Call your buddy every day of the storm.
5. Direct your buddy to appropriate help when necessary.

Volunteering as a Winter Buddy will require minimal time commitment, but would give Buddies a sense of connection and satisfaction from helping others. If you would like to participate, please contact Bonnie Katz at bkatzdesign@gmail.com or 617.244.0694.

Newton at Home is an organization dedicated to empowering Newton’s seniors to age at home comfortably, independently, and with peace of mind through a membership-based organization that offers access to comprehensive practical services and fosters social supports and a sense of community.

We will hold a short Winter Buddy Training session on Wednesday, Dec 14, at 11:30, as well as several dates in January. Training sessions will be held at our office, 206 Waltham St, in the Scandinavian Living Center building. For more information about the Winter Buddy program and Newton at Home, please check our website at www.newtonathome.org.

In the midst of cold and flu season, it’s a good time to remind the whole family how important handwashing is. Frequent handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease, so soap up and remember these hand washing tips:  

• Wash your hands when they are dirty, before eating, and after using the restroom
• Use soap and warm water and rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds before rising and drying
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are ok to use when your hands aren’t visibly dirty
• Do not cough or sneeze into your hands – use a tissue or your elbow
• Don’t put your hands into your nose or mouth

If you do get sick, it’s important to stay home to keep others from getting sick. Please let your child’s school know if you are keeping your child home because of illness. It is the policy at all Newton schools to keep a child at home if s/he has:

• a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the past 24 hours
• a cold in the active stages: coughing, running nose, sneezing
• a sore throat and/or swollen neck glands
• an undiagnosed rash or skin eruption
• vomiting or diarrhea during the past 24 hours

And finally, it’s not too late to get a flu vaccine! More than 2,800 students and over 1,000 staff members received the flu vaccine at school. Many more were vaccinated by their primary health care provider. Children under age 9 who did not receive the flu vaccine last year should receive two doses of the flu vaccine this year, spaced at least 4 weeks apart. If someone in your family hasn’t gotten a flu vaccine yet, or needs a second dose, call 617-796-1420 to make an appointment with a public health nurse.

If you have any questions about handwashing, the illness policy, or the flu vaccine please contact your school nurse or the Health & Human Services Department at 617-796-1420.

This is a FREE group for siblings of individuals with behavioral/mental health difficulties. The Connecting Parents’ program is affiliated with MSPCC and is funded by The Department of Mental Health. Topics will include: understanding strengths & weaknesses, understanding feelings, and expressing ones self. Parents/guardians should contact the Connecting Parents Program to enroll their child and receive a referral packet by December 30, 2011. Act soon, as space is limited.  

Sessions will be organized as follows:  Introductory Activities, Sibling Group Discussion and Peer Support Activities, Snack, and Fun Activity. The Group will be limited to 8 children, ages 8-12 years old. Only one child per family may participate.

The group will meet in Room 12 of the Norwood Civic Center, 165 Nahatan Street, in Norwood for on Tuesdays 4-5:15PM for six weeks starting January 10, 2012. The leaders of the Group will be Betty Wagner, LMHC, Director of Connecting Parents, and Bernadette Giacoppo, Connecting Parents’ Group Leader. For more information, contact Bernadette Giacoppo (bgiacoppo@mspcc.org, 617-983-5813), Connecting Parents’ Group Leader at MSPCC, 157 Green Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.