Like to bike and want to spend more time with your teen?

How about joining together for a fun community service biking event?

The Newton Food Pantry is looking for 2 teen/parent duos to join their team for the “Ride for Food” to be held on September 23rd in Dedham. Riders must be at least 14 years old and need an adult to partner with them for all aspects of the ride including training, fundraising and the ride itself.

Interested bikers may choose to rider 10, 25 or 50 mile route. What could be better than spending time having fun with your teen while raising money to help feed our
neighbors in need! Please email Regina Wu at Regina_a_wu@yahoo.com for more details.

April Vacation Programs at the Y

Spend a fun and engaging April Vacation week at the Y! Vacation programs from the Sports and Child Care Departments offer fun and safe environments for students in grades K-8. Featuring a mix of activities to keep kids happy and healthy all day – including free swim periods throughout the day. Full and half day options and daily rates to accommodate your needs!

April Vacation with the Sports Department (Ages 6-12). Sports activities include soccer, basketball, baseball, floor hockey, flag football, lacrosse, golf, tennis, capture the flag and more! Registration form is available online at wsymca.org or call 617-244-6050 x 3131.

April 17th – April 20th, Full day 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Half day 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

April Vacation with the Child Care Department (Grade K-8) Kids will participate in fun and age-appropriate structured activities including recreational games, creative arts, free swim and more! Registration form is available online at wsymca.org or call 617-244-6050 x 3068.

April 17th – April 20th, Full day 7:00 am – 6:00 pm, Half day 7:00 am – 1:00 pm

April Vacation week drop-in program

Exploring our past, unfolding our future…

Visit Historic Newton this week for a family program. Step into the shoes of your 19th century counterpart and walk through key events and inventions from a 100-year period of transformative change in Newton and the nation at large. Then, zoom to the present to talk about changes you have experienced in your lifetime and envision the changes you will see and make in your future. This activity is appropriate for children of all ages. Admission is Free. For information, call 617-796-1450.

April 18th, 1:30 – 3:30 pm, Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street.
April 19th, 1:30 – 3:30 pm, Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue

College Essay support available

It is never too early to start working on your college essays, especially since the Common Application 2018/2019 essay prompts are the same as those for 2017/2018!

Alicia Shems, an educator and editor with over 20 years of experience, is available for college essay help. Alicia is available for one-to-one sessions as well as group lessons that provide you with important skills for crafting your essay. Every Senior she’s worked with has been admitted to one of his or her top choices.

And for those rising Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors, she can also provide writing, reading, and general English tutoring, where each session is tailored to fit your needs.

For more information, please contact Alicia Shems at 617-680-1918 or akshems68@gmail.com.

Newton After School Association Art Exhibition

The Newton After School Association, in celebration of National After School Week, will display a collection of posters showcasing the wonderful work that school aged childcare programs are doing in Newton.

The exhibition is in the main lobby area of Newton City Hall from April 23rd – May 2nd. There will be an open reception on Monday, April 23rd from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Please stop by!

Opportunity for Public Comment on scenarios for adjusting school boundary lines

The Newton Public School district wants to make sure that all community members know that the final opportunity for public input on changes to student school assignments (adjustment of boundary lines) is on Wednesday, April 25th.

The schools that may be impacted by these changes are Cabot, Horace Mann, Franklin, Peirce, Burr, and Underwood. Changes to student school assignments only impact students entering the Newton Public Schools for the first time. Students currently enrolled and siblings of those currently enrolled are not impacted.

More information can be found here: https://goo.gl/4r6QNx

April 25th, 6:30 pm
The Education Center, 100 Walnut Street, Newton

Needham Street Area Vision Plan – Open House

Come learn about the Needham Street Area Vision, a plan by the City of Newton to envision the future of the area. Provide your input on the draft vision and meet with City Staff and members of the Community Engagement Group who have been involved in the development of the plan over several months. More information is available online: www.newtonma.gov/needhamstreet and via email needhamstreet@newtonma.gov

April 23rd, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
27 Christina Street, Newton

Healthy Kids Day

The West Suburban YMCA is inspiring kids to live up to their potential by being healthy, active and engaged! Join this FREE family event, featuring healthy games and activities including:

-Family exercise classes
-Obstacle course and punt/kick/throw contest
-Curious Creatures exhibition
-Bouncy house
-Face painting
-Bike decorating and parade!
-And more!

There will also be a bike helmet giveaway (whiles supplies last) thanks to the generous support of the Newton Elks, Farina’s of Watertown and the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation.

April 28th, 2:30-4:30 pm

Is there someone in your life that struggles with clutter?

Join the Health and Human Services Department for a presentation by experts Bec Belofsky Shuer and Lee Shuer of Mutual Support Consulting. The presentation will include personal insights and tools to help people create a less cluttered life. RSVP (requested, not required: www.surveymonkey.com/r/thestuff).

April 28th, 10:00 – 11:30 am
City Hall War Memorial Auditorium
Newton City Hall

Never Worry Alone

Please join Newton Cares at their spring event, ‘Never Worry Alone’. Come listen to a panel of local mental health experts discuss the issues and challenges that can arise for our loved ones at any time across the lifespan. The emphasis will be placed on recognizing when and how to get help. Resource tables staffed by local mental health organizations will share information with attendees.

RSVP (requested, not required): surveymonkey.com/r/NeverWorryAlone For questions, please email newtoncares@newtonma.gov

May 7th, 6:00 – 8:30 pm
345 Walnut St., Newtonville