Category Archives: Community Notes

An Evening of Cabaret

Enjoy an Evening of Cabaret with singers from the Boston Association of Cabaret Artists.

Cabaret music is delightful, since it includes songs of many styles such as Broadway, Jazz, Blues, Pop, the Great American Songbook, Country and more, focusing on the intimate relationship between the singer and the audience. Join at an evening of song featuring Sara Brodsky, Carole Bundy, David Diamond, Phil Kassel, Linda Marks, Ethel Ryerson, Stephen Smith, Barbara Larson, Robin Burrage & Leni Webber, with Tom LaMark on the piano. For tickets, $20.00/$10 Seniors & Students, please visit  www.newtoncommunitypride.org/festival

April 28th, 7:00 pm
Newton Cultural Center at Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton Center

Flutes, Fins and Paws by the Willow Flute Ensemble

Celebrating its 20th season, The Willow Flute Ensemble performs “My Dog Pooh”, a musical story about a most unusual dog, followed by “Chats” a flute quartet about different types of cats. Also on the program are Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Dolphins, ending with another musical story, “The Crotchety Cats:” narrated by Duane Sullivan.

The Willow Flute Ensemble includes Music Director Ilona Kudina (piano, bass flute), Rebecca M. Makara (flute, alto flute, piccolo), Laura Smolowitz (flute, piccolo, alto flute), Asako Yoshida (flute, bass flute), Jen Kramer (flute, piccolo, narration), Philip Trackman (flute, alto flute), Pamela Nichols (flute, alto flute), Duane Sullivan (narration).

Free. Donations welcome at the door. www.willowfluteensemble.com.

April 29th, 1:30 pm
Newton Cultural Center at Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton Center

Join us for Healthy Kids Day!

Come to one of the Y’s premier annual events, Healthy Kids Day, which is FREE and open to the public. Enjoy the bouncy house and obstacle courses! Get the whole crew moving with family fitness classes and GaGa ball. Observe a showing of a selection of surprise critters from Curious Creatures as well as musical performances from the talented YCCA students.

Bring your bicycle to decorate and show off in the parade afterward. There will be a free bike helmet giveaway courtesy of the Newton Elks Club and Farina’s in Watertown. First come, first serve.

All events will take place outside on the Y’s New Balance Track & Field barring poor weather, in which case activities will be moved to the gym. Healthy Kids Day is generously sponsored by the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation.

Face Painting: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Bicycle Decorating: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Family Fitness Classes: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Curious Creatures: 2:30-3:30 pm
Bouncy House, GaGa Ball and Obstacle Courses: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Bicycle Parade: 3:30 pm

April 29th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
West Suburban YMCA, 276 Church Street, Newton

Celebrating Changing Lives: One Can Help’s Annual Benefit

One Can Help, a social justice nonprofit based in Newton, provides critical resources to the neediest children and families in the juvenile court system. Please join them for One Can Help’s annual benefit, Celebrating Changing Lives. Featuring speakers Josh Kraft, President and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Boston, and Nicki Ruiz de Luzuriaga, an expert on ways to disrupt poverty. With great food from Farm Grill + Rotisserie, drinks, and live jazz duo James Merenda and Jon Dreyer.

Tickets are $40.00 through April 28th then go up to $50.00, with limited tickets at the door. Buy your tickets and learn more at www.onecanhelp.org or contact info@onecanhelp.org.

May 2nd, 6:30 – 9:00 pm
Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon Street

A Road map for College Admissions Tests

Come to learn at College Admissions Testing: A Roadmap for the SAT, ACT and Other College Tests.  With the redesigned SAT, which was given for the first time last spring, and an increasing number of students taking the ACT, families have many questions about the current state of standardized testing. In this seminar, they will:

  • Help dispel some of the anxiety that surrounds these tests
  • Provide families with information to help guide them through their own unique testing plans
  • Explain the role of standardized tests in the college admissions process
  • Explain the differences between the SAT and ACT
  • Examine sample problems from the two tests to highlight the differences
  • Help students understand how to decide between the SAT and ACT, when to take the test and how to prepare

Presented by the Summit Educational Group. For teens and parents. Register online.
http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=NEWTON&curID=272224

May 4th, 7:00 pm
Newton Free Libraery, Druker Auditorium

It’s not too late to sign up for creative summer fun at Maine Arts Camp!

Are you still looking for the perfect summer experience for your creative 9 to 16-year-old? At Maine Arts Camp – a small, nurturing co-ed camp community located on the stunning campus of Colby College – your child or teen can combine all the fun of a traditional sleepaway camp with exceptionally high quality instruction across an inspirational range of arts, science, and outdoor activities.

Whatever their interests, individualized schedules mean campers can choose activities they already love and/or explore new skills and adventures. Want to combine theater and dance with baking, metalwork, tennis, robotics and film-making? Kayaking with chorus and stained glass? With over 60 activities to choose from, and access to Colby’s outstanding facilities, it’s all available at Maine Arts Camp. With a focus on empathy and a 3:1 camper/staff ratio, they can ensure every camper gets all the support and personal attention they need to thrive.

For more information, visit www.maineartscamp.com. Please contact Rick Mades, Camp Director at maineartscamprick@gmail.com, or Anabel Cable at mainearts.anabel@gmail.com if you have any questions. Enrollment is limited to 100 campers per session, and is filling fast, so sign up soon!

SmartsSummers Theater Arts program

Spend your summer singing, dancing, acting, and having fun! Students take classes in the visual and performing arts and work together to create an original musical production. This summer, the shows are based on outer space stories and will be OUT OF THIS WORLD!

Full day and part day programs available for ages 5-13 from July 10th – August 17th. Register for 1-6 weeks. For questions, contact theaterartscamp@aol.com, visit brooklineadulted.org or https://sites.google.com/site/smartsummerstheaterarts/home

For more information or to register visithttp://www.campusce.net/brooklinesmartprograms/course/course.aspx?catId=125 or call 617-730-2700.

Parenting workshop

An Introductory Workshop in the Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving Approach
Do you ever feel frustrated with your child? Find yourself shouting and imposing consequences in reaction to challenging behavior, but it rarely works and doesn’t make you feel very good?

The Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving parenting approach brings out the best in both parents and children by helping parents to:

  • Foster positive relationships with their child
  • Build their child’s skills in self-regulation, communication and problem-solving
  • Reduce their child’s challenging behavior
  • Solve problems calmly, collaboratively and proactively

For more information and to register for the last CPS workshops in Brookline or Needham Heights before the summer, including a 1-day workshop on June 3rd, please visit: BeTheParentBoston.com.

One Can Help annual benefit

Looking for a way to make a difference? Please join One Can Help at its annual fundraiser. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased here or at www.onecanhelp.org. Founded by Waban attorney Anne Bader-Martin, One Can Help provides timely, targeted assistance (in the form of small grants) to court-involved families and foster children, when no other funds are available.

With great food and drink, live music and engaging speakers including Josh Kraft, President and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Boston, the One Can Help benefit is a fun way to spend an evening and support a worthy cause. 95% of all funds raised will go directly to program expenses, and will also help One Can Help attain a $10,000 matching grant from a local foundation.

May 2nd, 6:30-9:00 pm
Windsor Club
1601 Beacon St, Waban

Seeking host families for cultural exchange

CCI Greenheart is currently seeking volunteer host families from Newton, Brookline, Brighton, and Watertown for a group of high-school age French students participating in a 3-week cultural immersion program from July 8th – July 28th. Volunteer host families will be responsible for providing meals and housing for one student for the three week period and will be able to spend time with the student and share aspects of American culture. This 3-week program is a great introduction to hosting for families who have never hosted an exchange student before! See flyer here: Host a student

Families interested in hosting or learning more should contact the Local Coordinator, Monique Baumont at mbaumont5@gmail.com or 908-720-0520.