Category Archives: Community Notes

Pulitzer-Prize winning author Isabel Wilkerson, The Warmth of Other Suns

Join Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson for a discussion of her book about the epic journey of African Americans from the Jim Crow South to U.S. cities in the North and West in search of a better life in the early half of the twentieth century.

She interviewed more than a thousand people and gained access to new data and official records to write this definitive and vividly dramatic account of how these American journeys unfolded, altering our cities, our country, and ourselves. Co-sponsored by: the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society of New England, Historic Newton, Myrtle Baptist Church, Newton Free Library, and the Newton Human Rights Commission. Monday, March 19, 7:30pm at the Newton Free Library, Homer Street.  Free & open to all.

Newton’s Horticultural Revolution: Sowing the Seeds of Change

From settlement to the dawn of a new republic, Newton’s landscape was dramatically transformed from an economy dependent on small family agriculture to one of Boston’s most prominent horticultural communities. As field crops gave way to the latest hybrid fruit and flower introductions, Newton’s citizens were transformed from farmers to gardeners.

Come explore this transformation with landscape historian Lucinda Brockway as she describes how Newton’s horticultural revolution was born. Thursday, March 17, at 7:00pm at  the Newton Free Library, Homer Street. Free & open to all.

Calling all Artists! Proposals Accepted for New Public Art Project

Want to be part of Newton’s newest public art project? Proposals are now being accepted for NewtonSERVES BoxART, a plan to create art on those drab, green utility boxes that are scattered throughout the city.

To aesthetically enhance village space, all Newton artists, amateur and experienced alike, are invited to submit proposals. The NewtonSERVES BoxART Committee feels vibrant public art creates an inviting environment and a sense of place and will choose proposals that will help achieve these goals. Proposals should be imaginative, positive, colorful and create delight.

Between five and 12 artists will be chosen to paint the boxes between April 27 and May 12 as part of NewtonSERVES. The Request for Proposals can be downloaded from the website (PDF). More details are available at the Newton Community Pride site.

Spring programs for children & adults at the Newton Community Farm

The Newton Community Farm’s spring program is now open for registration. We’ve got classes for all ages that focus on gardening, cooking, sustainable living, and exploring our surrounding natural environment.

Lots of exciting new offerings: Wine Tasting, Photography on the Farm, plus some of our old favorites like Ready Set Grow and Early Release Spring Supper. For more information, visit our website.

Newton Community Farm summer programs for kids

Looking for fun-filled, hands-on, educational classes for your young one this summer? Registration for the Newton Community Farm’s summer classes for pre-school through Grade 9 is now open. With an exciting array of programs for all age groups we have something for everyone:

Farm Sprouts  – Pre-school and Kindergarten.
Little Diggers – Students entering Grades 1 and 2.
Farmer in Training  for elementary students entering Grades 3 – 5
Socially Aware Young Farmers for middle school students entering Grades 6 – 9
For more information and registration details, please visit our website.

Proposal to restore Newton’s Civil War Monument

At a public meeting on March 27, the Newton Community Preservation Committee will discuss a pre-proposal to restore the City-owned Civil War Monument in Newton Cemetery. The full text of the pre-proposal will be online soon under “Proposals & Projects” on the CPC website.  The meeting will be held at 7:00pm at the Waban Library Center, 1608 Beacon Street. All are welcome.

 

Summer Speech Therapy for Newton Public School Students

Enrollment is now open for the summer speech therapy program for children enrolled in the Newton Public School system. Run by Emerson College’s Robbins Speech, Language, and Hearing Center, the program provides 6 weeks of twice-weekly individual speech therapy for children ages 3-18. The program meets at the Education Building on Walnut Street in Newton and runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning July 5th and ending on August 9th for a total of 11 sessions. For more information, contact Laura Glufling-Tham by email or phone (617-824-8318).

A+ Youth Academic Enrichment Programs

A+ Youth is an academic enrichment program that holds classes on Saturday mornings teaching English and math to students in the greater Boston area.  Courses focus on improving student skills in composition, reading, mathematics, and test-taking skills including the SAT, ISEE, and MCAS. More information and registration is at the company’s website.