Mayor Warren has asked Newton voters to support an $11.4 million tax override on March 12, 2013.  With surging school enrollments and decaying infrastructure, the override enables us to keep class sizes reasonable and fix three outdated schools, a dilapidated fire station, and crumbling roads and sidewalks.

Come on March 10^th to hear more about this critical election and why you should vote ‘Yes’ for all three questions on March 12th.

We hope you can join us!!!

Hosted By:  Ellen and Nate Gibson

When:  Sunday, March 10, 2013 from  3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Where:  41 Vernon Street, Newton, MA

RSVP requested but not required to Egibson701@comcast.net  or 617-905-2319

 If you can’t make it and want to help, please contact Ellen at egibson701@comcast.net

Attending will be:  Scott Lennon, President of the Board of Aldermen, Geoff Epstein, School Committee Member, Charles Rudnick, Sally Rizzo, Diane Sakakini-Rao, and Sharon Stout

Election Day is only 9 days away (March 12th) – that’s right, 9 days!  I know everyone is busy, but if you could help by signing up for a shift or two (or more?!) during the next  9 days it would be a big help.  What we need to help the override pass: 

1.  City-wide visibilities:  Groups of volunteers will be holding signs in key locations across the city.  The time commitment for this activity is anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours. We have many different times and locations available.  Please follow this link to sign up – http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4DACAE292-visibilities

2.  Door hanger walks:  We will be hanging door hangers in key Wards and Precincts across the city next weekend, on March 9th and 10th.  This is fun and easy – no need to actually knock on any doors.  Just hang the door hanger and on to the next house!  This is a great activity to do with kids.  Drop by for an hour, or stay for four.  Whatever works with your schedule.  Please follow this link to sign up – http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4DACAE292-door

3. Election day visibilities:  We will hold signs outside every polling location throughout the day – from 7-9am, 5-7pm, and 12-1pm at elementary school polling locations.  Please follow this link to sign up – http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4DACAE292-election

Thank you so much – we’re at the home stretch!

Below are a list of Town Hall meetings regarding the upcoming override. All meetings are free and open to the public. (Please note new date and time for Lower Falls Community Center town hall, which has been rescheduled due to the expected snow storm on Sunday.)

• Sunday March 3rd 1:00 pm  at Ward Elementary School, 10 Dolphin Road
• Sunday March 3rd 6:00 pm  at Lower Falls Community Center, 545 Grove Street 
• Thursday March 7th  7:00 pm at Mason Rice Elementary School, 149 Pleasant Street
• Sunday March 10th   1:00 pm  at Oak Hill Middle School, 130 Wheeler Road

Paula’s Chocolate Gooey Butter; White Chunky Macadamia; Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk; Fudge Brownie Delight; – that’s like music! These are just a few examples of the 17 varieties of gourmet cookie dough to choose from (14 varieties are kosher)!

If you can’t make it to the Big Night on March 2, 2013, if the Magazine Drive wasn’t for you, maybe delicious cookies sound tempting? A tub yielding about 43 cookies costs $15. 40 % of the sale price goes to the Cyndi Daily-Smith and Howard B. Smith Scholarship Fund, which provides support for Bigelow Middle School Field Trips.

Sale starts this Tuesday, 2/26/13. Last day to turn in orders is Tuesday, 3/12/13. The cookie dough will be delivered to the school frozen, right before Easter weekend, on Thursday, 3/28/13, and has to be picked up that day. There won’t be any school on Good Friday, 3/29. 

The cookie dough can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months, and in the refrigerator for up to six weeks. Consider buying different flavors. Here are some good reasons, why you just need to have them: What a great treat for Easter; something fun to do during spring break; a quick dessert to bring along to an invitation; to satisfy a craving anytime!!! Just scoop, bake, done, and with the pre-portioned ones you just bake, and have warm, delicious cookies with the homemade touch and gourmet quality straight out of the oven!

Thank you for supporting our school and our students!

If you have any questions, please contact either Marian McDonagh at (617) 332-5504 / mcdonaghfive@verizon.net or Berit Ramseier at 617-795-0866 / bramseier@gmail.com.

Please note that due to the snow the Bigelow Big Night Fundraiser has been rescheduled. 

The new date is Saturday March 2nd from 7pm to midnight. 

Tickets are $40 per person and can be pruchased on the Bigelow PTO website at:  http://bigelowpto.org/big-night-out/

This is an adults only event.  We hope you can join us!

Thanks to many of you for responding to the recent survey about whether or not the Bigelow PTO should endorse the override. Eighty-one percent of respondents were in support of endorsing the override. Marina Kvitnitsky is Bigelow’s liaison to the school committee for the override and is organizing efforts to inform residents about the March 12 election. Much help is needed. Please contact Marina at mkvitnitsky@yahoo.com if you can do any of the following: 

– post a lawn sign

– host a neighborhood coffee

– canvass in Newton neighborhoods.

For more information and see the mayor’s website at http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/executive/override.asp.

Thank you.

You are invited to attend on Saturday, February 9, 2013 7:00 PM at the Crowne Plaze in Newton Corner.

Ticket are $40.00-Get Your Tickets Early-Event SOLD OUT last year

Come enjoy passsed Hors D’oeuvres, fire roasted vegetable antipasto, creamy mashed potato bar, slow roasted steamship round carving station, while enjoying live music.

We are still in need of auction items if you have something to donate, please email us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.

Feel free to be creative …. sports tickets, vacation home use, host a group for dinner or a cocktail party, provide a service, give an item, solicit an item from a vendor you frequent …

Help Us SURPASS our fundraising goal of $10,000.00 to purchse computers for our library!

Our annual teacher appreciation luncheon will take place on Wednesday, February 6th. We are still looking for additional parents to provide a luncheon item, dessert or a drink.

All items may be dropped off the morning of the luncheon in the teacher’s lunchroom or put in the refridgerator there. Please drop off all items no later than 10:30am. It is most helpful if items are brought in a recyclable container. The theme for the luncheon is “ITALIAN DINING”, all Italian food welcomed. Thank you in advance for helping us appreciate our teachers and support staff.

To donate or volunteer please sign up HERE.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the override survey that was sent last week.  Based on your responses over 80% were in favor of the override.  As such the PTO Board has decided to officially endorse the override. 

As mentioned in earlier emails, for more information on the override you can go to the Building Newton’s Future website at http://buildingnewtonsfuture.org/.

In addition, because the Newton Public Schools has received a number of questions about the state of the elementary school facilities. Dr. Fleishman’s office has posted a video on the District News section that offers a virtual tour of the Angier, Cabot and Zervas Elementary Schools and hope it will provide helpful information to our community members.  It can be found at:  http://www3.newton.k12.ma.us/news/facilitiestour

The Bigelow liaison to the school committee on override issues is Marina Kvitnistsky.  If anyone is interested in becoming more involved in supporting the override either by having a sign at your house, hosting an informational coffee, or even if you just want more information please contact her at mkvitnitsky@yahoo.com.

Did you hear about the Tanglewood Marionettes and their production of Perseus and Medusa?

The  7th grade students had the opportunity to see this fantastic production on Monday, January 28th, 2013.  Ask them about it.

Another great Creative Arts & Sciences program brought to you by your PTO.