Category Archives: Community Notes

Stand Strong, Stand Tall Girls Empowerment Program

Artemis Girls Stand Strong, Stand Tall guides girls ages 10-13  to seek their own true voice with yoga, mindfulness, breathwork, creative expression and self-reflection. When girls feel confident about their bodies, their self-worth and their intelligence and they have practiced how to handle self-doubt and adolescent stresses, they have an opportunity to go into the world and fully express themselves — as girls, as women, as humans.

Artemis Girls Stand Strong, Stand Tall creates a safe space for girls to build strength of body, mind and spirit while developing the skills of communication and self-respect to empower and inspire girls. Classes include weekly yoga and mindfulness, group collaboration and games and independent thinking coupled with an art, journal or other creative activity centered on themes such as:

  • Body Confidence and Self-Respect
  • Stress & Self-Care
  • Emotional Awareness
  • Identity & Labels
  • Honest, Healthy Friendships & Social Stamina

The program meets weekly in a 90 minute session on six Fridays and is co-taught by Amy Hrobak and Tracy Affonso, both experienced school educators and youth yoga and mindfulness instructors.  Fee: $150.00.

To learn more or to register, click here. Please call 617-393-3590 or email liz@artemisyoga.com if you have any questions.

October 12th – November 16th, 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Artemis Yoga, 639 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown

Upcoming Events at Historic Newton

STORYTIME – GARDENING AND GARDENERS
Learn about the many plants in Newton, and how the Kenrick family brought new ones to America. You’ll hear a reading of  The Night Gardener by Terry and Eric Fan and preschoolers and their caregivers will create their own tissue paper topiary. For a complete schedule of ongoing Storytime events, visit www.newtonma.gov/story
October 3rd, 10:00 am
Durant Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Admission: Free
Information: 617-641-9142

FREE WEEKEND AT HISTORIC NEWTON
Everyone is invited to enjoy free admission to the museums.
October 6th and October 7th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street, and the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Admission: Free
Information: 617-796-1450

STORYTIME – GROWING TREES
Where do trees come from, and how do they grow? Read Because of an Acorn by Lola and Adam Schaefer, and preschoolers and their caregivers will get the chance to make their own autumn-themed whirligigs. For a complete schedule of ongoing Storytime events, go to www.newtonma.gov/story.
October 20th, 9:30 am
Jackson Homestead and Museum
Admission: Free
Information: 617-796-1450

STORYTIME – HALLOWEEN
Come celebrate Halloween with fun-filled activities! We will 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.
October 31, 10:00 am
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds
Admission: Free
Information: 617-641-9142

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-treatingat the historic home that is part of the neighborhood!
October 31, 4:30-6:30 pm
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street
Admission: Free
Information: 617-796-1450

What’s Happening at the Y

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). For more information and to register visit www.wsymca.org or call 617-244-6050.

Kids Night Out
Parents, drop off your kids for a fun Friday night with the Y’s staff. There will be pizza for dinner and staff will keep the children entertained with games, swimming, movies and sports. $25 per child for Y members and $30 for the community. A 20% discount is offered per child for those with two or more children. Go out for the night and take advantage of this low-cost alternative to hiring a babysitter.
October 5th, 6:00 – 10:00 pm

Poetry Night
Organized by Barbara Helfogtt-Hyett of Poemworks, the event begins with readings by two local poets. Then 10-12 guests participate in the Open Mic portion of evening to share their own written work. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit wsymca.org/events.
October 5th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Family Fun Night
Bring the whole family to the Y for some family fun time. Featuring arts & crafts, bouncy house, games and more! FREE and open to all. Family Fun Nights are generously sponsored by the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation and occur on the second Tuesday of every month.
October 9th, 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Community Flu Clinic (for ages 18+) – Tuesday,
Don’t let the flu tackle you! Get your seasonal flu shot at the West Suburban YMCA. This clinic is free and put on by staff from Newton-Wellesley Hospital. No appointment needed. The clinic will be in the Y’s Rec Center room on the basement level. Open to the community, must be age 18+.
October 16th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Angino Fall Festival – Sunday,
Celebrate the season with an afternoon of family fun! Stop by the West Suburban YMCA for pumpkin decorating, train rides, live music, rock climbing wall, face painting, bouncy house and more! This event is free to attend and open to the community. Sponsored by the Angino Family.
October 21st, 1:00-3:00 pm

Preschool Openings Available
The Y’s Preschool Center for Youth Development is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and provides a year-round, high quality early education experience for children 2.9 years to 5 years old. The program features a safe teacher-child ratio, a large, bright and open classroom with secure entrance, a weekly 30-minute swim lesson, and access to the Y’s outdoor playground, turf field and full gymnasium. For more information, visitwsymca.org/preschool or contact Kim Benzan at kimberlyb@wsymca.org.

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, Director of Human Resources, at 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 our mission to never turn anyone away due to their inability to pay. Please contact our Membership Department at 617-244-6050 x3653 for financial assistance with membership or program participation.

Community music school

Looking for private music lessons for your child? – All Newton Music School is a premier non-profit community music school located right in your neighborhood. The faculty have degrees from Juilliard, New England Conservatory, The Boston Conservatory, Berklee College of Music and more!

Request lessons for you or your child at allnewtonmusicschool.com or by phone 617- 527-4553.

Piano Lessons

Local piano teacher Donna Gross Javel has few spaces available on Tuesdays in Waltham for students of all ages and levels.  Piano lessons can include studies in sight-reading, theory, improvisation, composition, piano duets and trios, and of course solo repertoire.  She offers five workshops and two recitals during the academic year and will also provide additional opportunities for those students who wish to participate in additional recitals, festivals and/or competitions.  As a teacher, Donna is particularly interested in teaching the ‘Whole Child’. Her main focus is to give each child the ‘Gift of Music’  so that they can enjoy a lifetime of music. For more information, visit http://www.anythingpiano.com/biography.html

Contact Donna Gross Javel at 781-354-0170 or anythingpiano@yahoo.com.

Food for Families: Free backpacks filled with breakfast and lunch essentials

Weekends and school vacations can be a significant hardship for families without access to school-supplied breakfast and lunch. The City is offering FREE backpacks to families filled with breakfast and lunch essentials at community locations to help ensure that all our families with need have adequate food on the table throughout the school year. Here is a list of the locations to pick up a free backpack:

Newton Health and Human Services, City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue
Fire Station 10, 755 Dedham Street
Newton Boys & Girls Club, 675 Watertown Street
Newton Free Library,  330 Homer Street

The FUEL program will also be providing FREE backpacks of breakfast and lunch essentials at some Newton Public Schools this year. The backpacks are designed for a child to have breakfast and lunch on the weekends. To request to have FUEL backpacks at your school, contact fuel@redeemerchestnuthill.org or call the Health Department at 617-796-1420.

For more information on food programs or for additional services offered by the City of Newton Social Services division, visit www.newtonma.gov/food or call 617-796-1420.

Newton South HS used sports equipment Sale

Don’t miss your chance to get a deal on sports equipment!

Skis, boots, poles, lacrosse equipment, baseball gear, balls, gently used cleats, dance shoes and lots more on sale with proceeds benefitting Newton South athletes. Come support Newton South athletes and get some great bargains! You can find the sale at the back of the school across from the tennis courts.

September 29th, 9:00 am to 12 noon
Newton South High School
140 Brandeis Rd, Newton Center

If you have items to contribute to help this cause, donations of all gently used sports equipment (all equipment and apparel for all sports, including shoes/skates if they are in good condition) are still being accepted. Feel free to drop off gear near the door of any of the following houses:

347 Central Street in Auburndale
75 Dickerman Road
627 Chestnut Street in Waban
1 Rosalie Road off Dedham St (drop at door on driveway side of house)

Please email Wendy at wrwoodruff@yahoo.com with any questions.

Cultural understandings through language study

Come to an evening with Deborah Fallows, linguist and author of Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language. Deborah will speak about cultural understandings acquired through language study from her personal experience of living in China from 2006-2010. The evening will also include an armchair conversation and Q&A with the audience, before concluding with refreshments and a chance to meet Deborah.

Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language and her new book Our Towns (written with husband James Fallows) will both be available for purchase at the event. This event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested. Please email nancyfenstmeacher@comcast.net to sign up.

October 2nd, 6:30 – 8:15 pm
Newton South High School
140 Brandeis Road

Sponsored by The Newton-Beijing Jingshan School Exchange Program, the Newton Chinese Language School, and Primary Source