Heartbreak Hill Road Race & Walk

It’s time to start dusting off those running (or walking) shoes! The 24th annual Heartbreak Hill Road Race and Family Walk is a perfect way to shake off some of that cabin fever! Every runner receives an official digital-clock time, a race medallion, goody bag and a free ticket to the pre-race pasta party at Newton City Hall on Saturday, April 16th.

The 1st, 2nd & 3rd place runners in each category win a trophy. The first 500 registrations receive a free t-shirt. There are free activities for kids organized by the Lasell College Special Events students. Not a runner? Everyone can walk the course at 11:30. Register at www.newtoncommunitypride.org.

April 17th
Newton City Hall

Free film part of the Created Equal series

The documentary Slavery by Another Name shows how systems of involuntary servitude affected African-Americans long after the end of slavery in America. Watch excerpts and discuss the legacy of this history with Daunasia Yancey of Black Lives Matter and James DeWolf Perry of the Center for Reconciliation.

The series of programs, Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle, is made possible through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Free.

April 14th,  7:00 pm
Durant-Kenrick House, 286 Waverley Avenue

Support Historic Newton by becoming a member today! http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/historic/support/member.asp

New memberships or renewals at the $100 level come with North American Reciprocal Museum Program (NARM) membership. NARM’s 800 museums offer reciprocal membership benefits of free/member admission, etc. Area museums include the deCordova, Peabody Essex, & Harvard’s art museums.

Stretch your mind

You are invited to Temple Ohabei Shalom’s TOS Talks Speaker series where great thinkers share their big ideas from the fields of art, culture, ethics, health, religion, science, and politics, followed by provocative Q & A’s led by Temple Ohabei Shalom’s Rabbi Sonia Saltzman. Stretch your mind this Spring.

The first talk, on April 13th, features Loretta Claiborne. Loretta is a World Class Athlete who happens also to be a Special Olympics Athlete and a person who has an intellectual disability. She will speak about her journey from Anger to Inspiration.

On May 18th, bestselling author Ron Lieber will explore the connection between values and money—Ron is a wonderful speaker, especially appealing to parents of children of all ages looking for guidance in this area!

Complimentary light refreshment follows each speaker. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite at: www.tos-talks-16.eventbrite.com. More information can be found on the website: www.ohabei.org.

West Suburban YMCA Aims to Bring Out the Wow! Factor

Bring Out the Wow! Factor in Local Kids During 25th Annual Healthy Kids Day®

The West Suburban YMCA is holding a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active. This year marks the 25th annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families.

YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at over 1,300 Ys across the country by over 1.2 million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue all summer long, which is a critical time for kids’ health. When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Research shows that without access to out-of-school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. As spring turns to summer, Healthy Kids Day is a powerful reminder not to let children idle away their summer days. Instead, the Y hopes to focus on wowing them with their potential and make this their best summer ever by staying active and learning.

Healthy Kids Day will be held outside on the Y’s New Balance Track & Field. Bring or ride your bicycle to the event. Thanks to the generous support of the Newton Elks and Farina’s Bicycles, they are giving away bicycle helmets. The day also features fun, active play and educational activities such as:

• Face Painting from 1:00-2:00 pm
• Bicycle Decorating from 1:00-3:00 pm
• Drumlin Farms Presentation – “Where Food Comes From” at 1:15 pm
• Family Zumba & Yoga Class from 1:30-2:00 pm
• Curious Creatures presentation from 2:00-3:00 pm
• Bouncy House, GaGa Ball & Obstacle Courses from 2:00-4:00 pm
• Bicycle Parade at 3:00 pm

April 30th, 1:00 to 4:00 pm

YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is sponsored by the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation, the Newton Elks and Farina’s Bicycle Center in Watertown. For more information, contact Trevor Williams at 617-244-6050 x 3021 or visit wsymca.com.

NSHS student needed to babysit

Local family is seeking a NSHS student for babysitting on some afternoons during the week. Their 6 year old son loves to play Legos and they need someone to come play with him and keep him entertained within walking distance to NSHS (near the end of Dudley Rd). If interested, please call Ms. Lida Famili at 617-467-4687 or email lidafamili@gmail.com.

New Preteen Wellness Group!

Safe and fun environment for students ages 9-12 to discuss any of life’s stresses or issues. It will be a four week after school psychoeducational group that will promote wellness around topics such as body image, peer pressure, self-esteem and bullying.

Contact MEDA at 617-558-1881 or email info@medainc.org to learn more or visit the website: www.medainc.org.

A Welcoming City discussion

Help us ensure that Newton is open to people of all races/ethnicities, religions, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and disabilities.

On Thursday evening, April 7th, Mayor Warren will host the first annual community discussion focused on ensuring that Newton is a welcoming community to people of all backgrounds. The forum will include leaders from our community and beyond. This will be an opportunity for residents of all ages to ask questions, and join us in making Newton the most inclusive community it can be.

The discussion will be held in the War Memorial of Newton City Hall, located at 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, on Thursday, April 7th at 6:30 pm.

Reminder: Forum on High School Start Time

for Middle & Elementary Parents/Guardians.

Join this Wednesday night at Brown Middle School to explore the research on teen sleep to understand why the Newton School Committee is studying a later start time for our high schools. Speakers include sleep expert and Newton parent Dr. Christopher Landrigan of Brigham & Women’s and Boston Children’s Hospitals. Be a part of the community conversation from the beginning stages; if changes happen, our younger students will be affected as they move into their teen years. Hosted by Brown and Oak Hill PTOs and the Newton South School Council. Parents and guardians from all schools welcome.

For more information, including a link to resources on adolescent sleep and later start time click here.

April 6th, 7:00-8:30 pm
Brown Middle School
125 Meadowbrook Road, Newton Centr

Upcoming Teen Programs @ the Library

Minecraft Club: Come play Minecraft with your friends on the library’s server with different challenges each session. Don’t have an account? No problem, use one of the library’s. The club meets the first Thursday of every month. Grades 6-12. Register online. Thursday, April 7th, 4:00 pm, second floor Computer Center.

Get Hooked! Crochet & Knitting Club: The monthly crochet and knitting club is back! They’ll be meeting the first Thursday of every month. They have crochet hooks, knitting needles, yarn and the know-how to teach the basics of crocheting. Refreshments will be served. Open to ages 10 and up. Register online. Thursday, April 7th, 7:00 pm, second floor Teen Area.

Teen Crafterhours: Meet on the third Tuesday of every month to make crafts and eat snacks. This month you’ll be making steampunk magnets. Grades 6-12. Tuesday, April 19th, 7:00 pm, second floor Teen Area.

Trivia Nite @ the Library: Are you a genius at Jeopardy!? A consumer of crossword puzzles? Back by popular demand, come join the fun and test your mastery of useful (and useless) information! Some of your favorite library staff will challenge players with 4 rounds of questions from a variety of categories. Stretch your brain and win great prizes! Come alone or with friends. Teams can be up to 6 people, and they can match you with fellow devotees. Refreshments will be provided. Teens and families welcome. Register online. Thursday, April 21st, 6:30 pm, Druker Auditorium.