Category Archives: Other

Newton SEPAC meeting November 13th

Please join the Newton SEPAC for a meeting with Beth Fitzmaurice, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services.

Beth Fitzmaurice is responsible for special education across Newton Public Schools. Beth joined NPS in August 2019 and has spent her first couple of months on the job getting to know the schools, staff, and programs. We will have the opportunity to hear from Beth on her impressions of special education in Newton, her thoughts on current special education issues, and her priorities for this academic year and beyond. There will also be time for parents to ask questions.

Contact info@newtonpac.org with any questions.

November 13th, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ed Center Room 210, 100 Walnut Street

Gobble Gobble Give

Drop off a dish to help feed the Boston homeless on Thanksgiving.

Gobble Gobble Give is a national effort of volunteers who prepare and assemble individual containers of Thanksgiving meals to deliver to homeless people in 16 major cities throughout the country.

Boston is one of the newest cities, and they were able to feed 300 people last year. This year the goal is 500. Let’s help them exceed their goal! You can drop off a warm dish on Thanksgiving morning or stay and help assemble containers or deliver. If you would like to help but will not be around on Thursday, please email wrwoodruff@yahoo.com to arrange to drop off a donation on Tuesday or Wednesday (something like cookies, pumpkin bread, corn muffins, pie or anything that does not need to be refrigerated).

For more information, go to https://www.gobblegobblegive.org. Check the Gobble Gobble Give Boston Facebook page next week for more details about the drop-off location. The drop-off location will probably be near the entrance of the Newton Police Department on Washington Street. Check the Facebook page closer to Thanksgiving for this year’s times and confirmation of the location.

One Stop Holiday Food Shopping at City Hall

Pick up all the ingredients for your Thanksgiving feast at a special farmers’ market at Newton City Hall. Fifteen local farms and specialty vendors will set up shop at the War Memorial, with fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, pies, craft chocolates, knife-sharpening, hostess gifts, and pasture-raised turkeys. There will even be takeout food to serve your family during those busy days before Thanksgiving. Farmers’ market shopping has already begun, as most vendors are now accepting online orders and offering discounts for pre-orders.

Some items, like Copicut Farms’ turkeys, and cheeses from the Seacoast Cheese Maven, should be pre-ordered right away, because there’s limited quantity and high demand. With pre-ordering you can shop from home and then swing in and pick up your purchases. The Thanksgiving Market has its own website, www.allovernewton.com, with online shopping links to vendors’ sites.

If you prefer shopping in person, there will be plenty of items to buy at the market. Dick’s Market Gardens, known for its vast variety of local produce, is offering “you-fill” farm boxes. Pay just $25.00 and fill up a large ¾ bushel box (or free, sturdy farm bag) with your choice of fruits and vegetables. Other vendors, like Belmont-based Tick Tock Chocolates, find pre-orders helpful for production planning, but will bring extra products to the market for day-of shopping.

The Thanksgiving market, sponsored by the Newton Farmers’ Market and The Village Bank, is a fundraiser for the Newton Food Pantry and supports local food-aid organization, Community Servings. All vendors are donating their fees to the Food Pantry, and the market is a pie pick up site for Community Servings’ Pie in the Sky fundraiser.

Free Admission. HIP accepted by Dick’s Market Garden. More information, a complete vendor list, and ordering information available at: www.allovernewton.com

November 26th, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Newton City Hall’s War Memorial

Equity Working Group to present Survey findings

The Equity Working Group will make a presentation on the findings from its Spring Community Survey to the School Committee.

School Committee meetings are broadcast live on NewTV at the time of the meeting and can be found on the following channels according to your cable provider:

Comcast – Ch.9
RCN – Ch.13
Verizon – Ch. 33

November 4th, 7:00 pm
The Ed Center, Room 210
100 Walnut Street, Newton

Newton Safe Routes to School Time Change Safety Reminders

The end of daylight savings time means more kids will be walking and biking home at dusk and in the dark. Sunset this week is around 4:30 pm. Newton Safe Routes to School offers the following safety tips:

WHEN YOU DRIVE: Remember, kids walking at dusk may ASSUME DRIVERS CAN SEE THEM even when they can’t. Keep kids safe and take these steps:

  • Slow down: In dusk/dark, more time is needed to see pedestrians. Increase the recommended safe following distances. The more space, the more time there is to react. Slow down even further during rain.
  • Always stop: for pedestrians crossing the street. Do not pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks.
  • Be extra cautious: Decreased visibility calls for more vigilant driving. Watch for bicyclists and pedestrians in neighborhoods and along school bus routes, at intersections and when backing out of driveways. Watch for pedestrians at every crosswalk.
  • Be seen: Turn on headlights to be more visible at dawn and dusk.
  • Eliminate distractions: Put away phones, food and drink. Keep your eyes on the road.
  • Beware of glare: Clean windshields inside and out. Dirty windshields can magnify glare.

REMIND YOUR WALKING AND BIKING KIDS TO:

  • Cross at well-lit crosswalks, wait for the walk signal at stoplights, and make sure vehicles stop before you start to cross. Continue to look both ways as you cross the street.
  • On the sidewalk, watch for cars pulling in and out of driveways.
  • Remember that just because you can easily see a driver, that driver may not see you. Drivers have lights from the dashboard, headlights pointed their way, and reflections from the car mirrors that keep them from seeing as well as you do as a pedestrian.
  • Wear reflective clothing or clip something reflective to your backpack. Even better, add a blinking light. Cyclists turn on your front and back lights on the way to and from school.
  • Avoid distraction: put your phone and headphones in your pocket. Keep your hood off so you can look around. Be predictable.

Brought to you by Newton Safe Routes to School.  To learn more about Safe Routes to School, email NewtonSafeRoutes@gmail.com

Halloween Toiletry Drive for Teens in Need

Hope & Comfort is a local nonprofit organization that distributes essential hygiene products to improve the health and self-esteem of our local youth in need. Join Hope & Comfort and their mission to serve local youth in need by collecting hygiene product donations. Make a difference as you celebrate Halloween!

They accept any unused hygiene products, but are especially in need of full-size shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant.

Drop-off boxes for Hope & Comfort are available at the Newton North High School (Barry House) and Bigelow Middle School (Main Office) through November 5th.

Webster Woods CPA proposal public hearing

For the City of Newton’s request for $15,740,000 in CPA funding to acquire and preserve open space at 300 Hammond Pond Parkway (“Webster Woods”), the CPC will hold a public hearing and then begin deliberating on this proposal on a subsequent date.

For details about the public hearing format, to read the proposal itself, or to read community letters received to date, visit www.newtonma.gov/cpa. For assistance, contact Alice Ingerson at aingerson@newtonma.gov or 617.796.1144.

Hearing is November 6th, 7:00 pm, City Council Chamber, City Hall
Deliberations are November 12th, 7:00 pm, City Hall Room 204

FORJ Family Event

Come to the next FORJ Families Meeting (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) when Annawon Weeden will enact a dynamic monologue tracing the history of the Wampanoag from pre-1492 to the present day. His presentation challenges the audience to rethink their ideas about the Wampanoag and about America itself.

A member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe who grew up on the Narragansett Tribal Reservation in Rhode Island, Weeden has spent his life preserving the culture of his tribe. In 2016, he was awarded with a Congressional Honor as Culture Bearer for New England.

After Weeden’s presentation, the audience will break into small groups for a family-friendly discussion about reconciliation. The event is FREE and for Adults and children ages 10+ .

Please RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUcCJqiT0KNzMWl0nRegg6ReeBJIlimMmq59NkvUhnl9sP5A/viewform?usp=sf_link

Note: Please be ON TIME! This is a dramatic presentation and it requires quiet and focus from the audience members. This program is possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Raising Luminaries. www.booksforlittles.com

November 13th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Angier School

Affordable Rental Housing: An Interactive Information Session for Newton Residents

Interested in learning more about affordable rental housing? Don’t know how or where to start? Come to an interactive information session and learn about eligibility requirements, waitlists, lotteries, managing applications after you apply, area medium income and more!

Hear from experts from Newton Housing Authority, Metrowest Collaborative Development, 2 Life Communities, Veterans Housing, and the City’s Planning and Health and Human Services Department. This event is FREE and open to all Newton residents! RSVP is requested but not required at bit.ly/newtonhousinginfo. Questions, please call 617-796-1420.

November 14th, 7:00 pm
American Legion Nonantum Post 440
295 California Street, Newton

Newton Turkey Trot registration deadline is tomorrow!

Newton Turkey Trot registration deadline is tomorrow! Register by midnight October 28th for $25.00 AND to be guaranteed an awesome race T-shirt. October 29th price increases to $35.00 and does not include a free T-Shirt!

Details, registration and volunteer info at http://www.newtonturkeytrot.org