“Big Love” by Newton North’s TheatreInk, Feb 1-4

“BIG LOVE” by Charles Mee, directed by Caleb Bromberg and Katherine Norris, runs in Newton North’s Little Theatre.  Based on the tragedy by Aeschylus, the play takes an ancient plot and updates it. In the process, Mee forces us to reconsider our definitions of love, gender and happiness in an explosively theatrical hybrid. In this conflict between tradition and progression, honor and freedom, the characters struggle to make their voices heard on what it means to be a man or a woman.

“Big Love” runs February 1, 2, 3, 4 at 7:30PM. Tickets are $7 at www.theatreink.net.
For Mature Audiences

Newton East Little League Baseball: Register by Jan. 31

On-line registration for the 2012 Spring baseball season is open for boys and girls aged 4 to 12. The programs run from April through the middle of June. The programs run by NELL:

  • T-BALL – kindergarten or entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2012;
  • Farm Division – 1st and 2nd grade;
  • College Division – 3rd-6th grade: This division is a developmental league;
  • Cooperstown Division – 3th through 6th grade: This division is a more advanced league. Players who wish to play in the Cooperstown Division must attend the tryout. Little League age 12 players may play in this division by waiver only;
  • Major League Division – 4th through 7th grade: Open to players who are aged 10 to 12. To be placed on a Major League team you must try out.

The registration fee for T-Ball and Farm League players is $130 and for College, Cooperstown and Major League players $155. If you have more than one child in NELL, you will receive a $30 fee reduction for each additional player. The registration deadline is March 31 for T-Ball and January 31 for all other leagues. After the deadline, placement is not guaranteed and a late registration fee will apply (except for T-Ball). For more information, tryout dates and to register, visit www.newtoneastll.org.

BC Women’s Soccer Clinics for Spring Break and Summer

The Boston College Women’s Soccer program will be holding their April and Summer clinics on April 17-20, June 25-28, and July 16-19 for girls ages 6-14. All sessions at the BC Newton campus, 9am-3pm each day. This is an opportunity for the younger female soccer player to improve her comfort level on the ball, increase skill development, and have competitive fun. For more information including registration contact (617) 552-0982 or soccercl@bc.edu. Online registration may be found at www.bceagles.com/camps/bc-w-soccer-camps2.html.

TeenLife LIVE! Community Service Fair & Expo, Feb 12

Students (grades 7-12), parents, and teachers are invited to attend the fifth annual TeenLife LIVE! Community Service Fair & Expo in Greater Boston. It will take place on Sunday, February 12th from 12-4 pm at The Mall at Chestnut Hill in Chestnut Hill, MA. Meet face-to-face with representatives from more than 150 local non-profits willing to engage teens as volunteers as well as representatives from other programs and services. Each student will receive a free copy of the 2012 Guide to Community Service in Greater Boston. There will also be a High School A Cappella Sing Off.

Part-time: Newton Community Ed Lifetime Learning Program Manager

LIFETIME LEARNING PROGRAM MANAGER

Lifetime Learning, an enrichment program for seniors sponsored by Newton Community Education (www.NewtonCommunityEd.org), is looking for an exceptional individual to run its program. The program has 2 8-week sessions running in the Fall & Spring. Responsibilities include overseeing and taking care of program planning, organization and off-site class logistics as well as marketing and PR. The right individual will also develop course curriculum and recruit, supervise and support volunteer speakers/performers and staff. This is a part time position, with compensation of $13,000 – $14,000/program year (2 terms), based on approximately 40 weeks @ 14-15 hrs/week (or what it takes), or around $20/hr.

Qualifications: The right person will be well organized, a good communicator and love to work with people, especially seniors. Previous experience with creating and programming adult education classes a plus. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word & Excel and experience with the Internet required. Ability to work alone is essential. Lots of energy and a sense of humor a must.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for curriculum development for two 8-week terms (fall and spring) — including planning, organizing and administering the program.
• Recruit, supervise, and support volunteer faculty and staff
• Plan programs for both Sound of Music and Distinguished Speaker Series
• Coordinate and implement Marketing and PR initiatives, including program flyer
• Oversee Registration of LTL participants
• Supervise program logistics at Temple Mishkan Tefila on its 16 days each year

If interested, please email Ed Hauben, NCE Director at ed_hauben@newton.k12.ma.us and copy Laurie Sweet, the current LTL Program Manager, at l_swett@hotmail.com. Please include a brief statement of interest and a little about yourself – or if more convenient call Ed at 617-559-6990.

Watertown Children’s Theatre Apprenticeship Program for high school students

Watertown Children’s Theatre (WCT) is accepting applications for its newest offering, the WCT Apprenticeship Program for high school students. The apprenticeship program provides the free opportunity to learn about mounting a professional theatrical production under the one-on one mentorship of a member of the WCT design team. Program participants are paired with mentors from the theatre’s professional production staff to ensure a high quality experience, apprenticing in one of three disciplines: costume, lighting and sound, or set and props design.

Apprentices will be selected through an application and interview process; students in grades 10– 12 are eligible to apply.  The program will occur over approximately 4 months, February – June, 2012. Selected apprentices will work on productions that are part of the regular WCT season. The program includes weekly meetings on-site with mentors, a monthly production meeting, individual work (research and design), and a concentrated period of time on-site during technical rehearsal weeks.

Applications are due Wednesday, February 1.  For more information or to receive an application form, call Kelly MacIsaac, Producing Director of Programming at 617.926.ARTS (2787) or visit www.watertownchildrenstheatre.org.

New Philharmonia Family Concert & Instrument “Petting Zoo” Jan. 29

Celebrate winter through music! Featuring a narrated telling of the Iroquois legend, How Bear Lost His Tail, by local composer Pasquale Tassone, and a side-by-side performance with Newton’s All-City Orchestra directed by Greg Livingston.

Our instrument “petting zoo” will follow the performance!

Concert is at 3:00pm on Sunday, Jan. 29, at the First Baptist Church, 848 Centre St. in Newton Center. Tickets ($10 students, $15 adults) can be purchased online.

New Teen Librarian at Newton Free Library

She’s not a teen, but she’s a Teen Librarian! Next time you’re at the Newton Free Library, stop by and say hello to Liz Rowland, a Wheaton College graduate who’s finishing her Master of Library and Information Science at Univ. of South Carolina. She’s eager to help teens and their parents with book suggestions, research and schoolwork help, and more.

Recent projects for the Teen Department include: a College Planning Process lecture, an online Homework Help Guide, and a celebration of National Gaming Day.  

Historic Newton: upcoming events

Sunday, January 22, 4:00-6:00 PM.
Adams Street Synagogue: Celebrating our Centennial
Free. Event location: Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington Street, Newton

The Adams Street Synagogue is Newton’s oldest synagogue. Dedicated in 1912, it 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 synagogue, in Newton’s most diverse neighborhood, Nonantum, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exhibit describes the history of the congregation, illustrated by historic photographs.

Tuesday, January 24, 7:00-9:00 PM
Happy 10th Birthday, Newton CPA! Neighborhood event for West Newton, Auburndale, and Newton Lower Falls

How would you allocate nearly $20 million for affordable housing, historic resources, open space, and recreation land in Newton over the next five years? Come tell us on Tuesday at this special event — enjoy a slide show about past Community Preservation Act projects and neighborhood history.  Add your ideas for future projects to our interactive maps.  Refreshments provided!  For more information, see www.newtonma.gov/cpa or contact Alice E. Ingerson, phone: 617-796-1144 or email: aingerson@newtonma.gov.

Thursday, January 26, 6:30 PM
HISTORIC NEWTON @NIGHT: A TRIBUTE TO ANNE LARNER

Please join us for this special evening that will honor Anne Larner, Board President of Historic Newton and an outstanding leader and community activist. Also featuring Tufts University’s own singing sensations, The BEELZEBUBS, this event will include cocktails, a light supper, and a chance to participate in an auction featuring radio personality, Matty Siegel of Kiss 108, as guest auctioneer. Proceeds from ticket sales will help underwrite a new education program in Anne Larner’s name at the newly renovated Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds. Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased online at www.historicnewton.org.