April Break Rock Performance Camp (4/16-4/20) still has room for 4 guitarists, 3 bass players, 1 keyboardist, 7 singers, and 2 drummers! Ages 7-17 accepted. Camps run 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at our 120 Elm Street location in Watertown and are staffed by instructors from the Berklee College of Music. Please email Boston@schoolofrock.com or call 617-923-3434 to receive your information packet.
Historic Newton
NEWTON COMMUNITY WEEKEND – Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4, noon-5:00 PM
NEWTON’S REVOLUTIONARY ROOTS – Thursday, March 15, 7:00 PM
THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS BY ISABEL WILKERSON – Monday, March 19, 7:30 PM
HISTORIC NEWTON BOOK CLUB MEETING – Thursday, March 29, 7:30 PM
Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4, noon-5:00 PM
NEWTON COMMUNITY WEEKEND
Newton residents are invited to enjoy free admission to the museum.
Thursday, March 15, 7:00 PM
NEWTON’S REVOLUTIONARY ROOTS – THE 2012 NEWTON HISTORY SERIES
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. At the Newton Free Library, Homer Street, Newton. Free.
Monday, March 19, 7:30 PM
THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS BY ISABEL WILKERSON
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. At the Newton Free Library, Homer Street, Newton. Free.
Thursday, March 29, 7:30 PM
HISTORIC NEWTON BOOK CLUB MEETING
The club’s book selection is The Plains Across: The Overland Emigrants and the Trans-Mississippi West: 1840-60 by John Unruh Jr. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in history and the winner of seven awards for historical writing, The Plains Across is a thoroughly researched study of the Oregon/California Trail. Relying on contemporaneous newspaper reports, letters, personal journals and diaries, Unruh explores the reasons emigrants undertook the arduous journey and the hardships, perils, and sacrifices they endured to establish a new life in the West. In reviewing the book The Washington Post Book Review wrote: “Magisterial….Unruh has not only produced the best book yet written on the overland journey, but has also laid to rest a magnitude of popular myths…The book is so rich in anecdotes, so sparklingly written… it might have come from the pen of a best-selling popularizer.” The book club is free and open to the public. New members are always welcome. At the Newton Free Library, Homer Street, Newton. Free.
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
NEW EXHIBITION Confronting Our Legacy: Slavery and Antislavery in the North: This new exhibition transforms the lower gallery of the museum into a three-dimensional learning center with hands-on activities and information about colonial slavery, the Underground Railroad, and some local abolitionists. It draws on fresh new research, focusing on the Jackson family that lived in the Homestead, Historic Newton’s headquarters, as well as on other abolitionists from Newton or with Newton ties. Historic Newton is fortunate to have rare artifacts, on loan from the Bostonian Society, that relate to the contentious Anthony Burns trial in Boston, an event of national significance that involved citizens of Newton. By exploring the important roles of ordinary (non-famous) abolitionists, the exhibit seeks to inspire visitors to reflect on current attitudes toward race and slavery and to use history to understand today’s issues.
Newton and the Civil War: In celebration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, Historic Newton will be featuring a changing exhibit showcasing Newton residents in the Civil War. Among the items on display will be prints, photographs, and Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) documents.
Peeking into Newton’s Toy Chest: The values and lessons toys teach us, as shown by the Historic Newton collection. Children’s attractions include hands-on toys and a model train on an elevated track.
Mapping a New Town: 1714-1874: Maps depicting Newton’s growth over the centuries are displayed; special activities for children are also featured.
Norumbega: Romance and Recreation by the River: An exhibit on Newton’s now vanished amusement park and swing-era ballroom.
Newton Salutes! Adams Street Synagogue: Celebrating Our Centennial: Newton’s oldest synagogue is celebrating one hundred years of service to Newton’s Jewish community as an Orthodox synagogue serving a diverse congregation and the broader community. The exhibit describes the history of the congregation, illustrated by historic photographs.
The Newton History Galleries feature tools, furniture, clothing, and toys to illustrate the Newton of the past.
The Jackson Homestead and Museum is open from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays and 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM weekends. It is closed on Mondays.
If you need special assistance for any of these programs or exhibitions, please call 617.796.1450.
Kids For Peace — Benefit Concert, March 18
Kids for Peace Kids for Peace brings together children of all different faiths to form friendships and work for coexistence and understanding. The Boston chapter will hold a fundraising concert of great classical music on Sunday, March 18, at 7PM at the Lutheran Church of the Newtons, 1310 Centre Street, Newton Centre. Order tickets ahead (617-332-3893) so you don’t miss out on this offering of wonderful music in a great and urgent cause.
Open Houses for Highlands After School Program, Mar. 11 & 27
The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children is hosting Open Houses for interested families on: Sunday, March 11 from 5:00-6:00PM and Tuesday, March 27 from 5:30-6:30PM at Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands. This is a terrific opportunity for parents of Brown and Oak Hill students to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year. Please join us and see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program. For more information please contact: Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit highlandsafterschool.org
Newton East Little League Spring Baseball Registration closes March 1
Now is your last chance to register for Farm, College, Cooperstown and Majors Divisions of the Newton East Little League.
Tryouts for Cooperstown and Majors are scheduled for Thursday, March 1, and Sunday, March 4, respectively. T-Ball registration will be open until March 31, 2012. For more information, tryout schedules and to register, visit NELL’s website.
NewtonSERVES accepting project registrations
NewtonSERVES is currently accepting project registrations for its 12th annual Day of Service to be held Sunday, April 29th, 2012.
Last year, more than 60 projects involving 1,000 volunteers were set up across Newton to benefit local non0profit organizations, schools and public spaces. Newton-based, non-profit organizations, groups of Newton citizens, community service agencies and Newton city agencies can create morning, afternoon or all-day projects in which community volunteers can participate. Typical projects include cleaning up parks, planting gardens, building and painting school bookshelves, spring cleaning at non-profit organizations and helping senior citizens.
More information is on the NewtonSERVES website.
Newton CPA neighborhood celebrations
HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, NEWTON CPA!
Waban, Newton Highlands & Newton Upper Falls residents are invited to the Newton Community Preservation Act’s 10th birthday on Tuesday, 27 March from 7-9 pm at the
Waban Library Center, 1608 Beacon Street.
How would you allocate nearly $20 million for affordable housing, historic resources, open space & recreation land in Newton over the next 5 years? Come share your ideas. Refreshments provided!
20th anniversary of Heartbreak Hill Road Race — April 15
This year is the 20th anniversary of the Heartbreak Hill Road Race, and what better way to celebrate with us than to join in the fun…run and share the anniversary cake!
Pasta/Pizza & Cake party – Saturday, April 14th, 5:30pm
Road Race – Sunday, April 15th, Noon – 3pm
The race is open to anyone, age 8 & up. Tell your friends and your children’s friends. Not a runner? Walk with Mayor Setti Warren in the Family Walk at 3:00pm. Register at www.newtoncommunitypride.org
$10 – $12. Free t-shirts for first 500 registrants. Medallions for all participants.
Call 617-527-8283 for more information.
Winter isn’t Over Yet! Join Newton at Home’s New Winter Buddy Program
Even with our mild winter so far, we all know how New England weather can surprise us. Newton at Home has designed a new Winter Buddy Program to encourage connections between seniors and other community members when the snow and wind are swirling outside. Being a buddy means that a volunteer or volunteer family would connect with a Newton at Home member to:
1. Advise that a storm is coming.
2. Assess the need for essential supplies (milk, bread, flashlights and batteries, etc).
3. Develop plans for snow removal.
4. Call your buddy every day of the storm.
5. Direct your buddy to appropriate help when necessary.
Volunteering as a Winter Buddy will require minimal time commitment but would give Buddies a sense of connection and satisfaction from helping others. If you would like to participate, please contact Bonnie Katz at bkatzdesign@gmail.com or 617.244.0694. For more information about the Winter Buddy program and Newton at Home, please check our website.
Newton at Home is dedicated to empowering Newton’s seniors to age at home comfortably, independently, and with peace of mind through a membership-based organization that offers access to comprehensive practical services and fosters social supports and a sense of community.
Winter isn’t Over Yet! Join Newton at Home’s New Winter Buddy Program
Even with our mild winter so far, we all know how New England weather can surprise us. Newton at Home has designed a new Winter Buddy Program to encourage connections between seniors and other community members when the snow and wind are swirling outside. Being a buddy means that a volunteer or volunteer family would connect with a Newton at Home member to:
1. Advise that a storm is coming.
2. Assess the need for essential supplies (milk, bread, flashlights and batteries, etc).
3. Develop plans for snow removal.
4. Call your buddy every day of the storm.
5. Direct your buddy to appropriate help when necessary.
Volunteering as a Winter Buddy will require minimal time commitment but would give Buddies a sense of connection and satisfaction from helping others. If you would like to participate, please contact Bonnie Katz at bkatzdesign@gmail.com or 617.244.0694. For more information about the Winter Buddy program and Newton at Home, please check our website.
Newton at Home is dedicated to empowering Newton’s seniors to age at home comfortably, independently, and with peace of mind through a membership-based organization that offers access to comprehensive practical services and fosters social supports and a sense of community.