After-School Circus Arts Program in Waltham

Moody Street Circus in Waltham, MA is accepting pro-rated registration for their Winter 2012 Circus Arts programs for kids as well as their 1/2 day summer program. Kids aged 7 and up can run away with the circus without actually having to leave “home”! Circus stars (and Newton Public School parents) Sacha and Melinda Pavlata are hosting after-school and 1/2 day summer programs in their Waltham, MA circus headquarters. Visit www.moodystreetcircus.com for more info or call 781 209 0950.

Inspirational New Home for Newton Teens Opening Feb.1

Starting February 1, Newton teens will have a new “home away from home” at the West Suburban YMCA. The drop-in teen center will provide a safe and enjoyable place for teens to spend time with their peers, participate in substance-free activities, and to be part of a meaningful, welcoming community supervised by caring adults who provide resources, encouragement, and inspiration. The new teen center builds on the successful Chestnut Street Teen Center, established as a collaboration of The Newton Partnership and Newton Community Service Center in 2009. Approximately 200 teens a year participate at the Chestnut Street site.

According to the Director of The Newton Partnership, Susan Linn, “Our nonprofit community has been working together for more than a year to take the Chestnut Street model from great to even better. The Y’s location and newly renovated space are ideally suited to be the next chapter of the teen center.”

Chanda Gunn directs the Teen Center. At a recent meeting with teens who attend the Chestnut Street Center, Susan Linn asked, “What do you find helpful about this place?” According to Susan, “the kids practically began chanting Chanda’s name.” “And it’s easy to see why,” adds Mary Kern, Vice President of Operations at the Y: “Chanda brings exceptional energy and skills to connecting with kids and creating an engaging and dynamic program for teens.”

For additional information about the Teen Center or to schedule a visit, contact Chanda Gunn, Program Director for the Y’s Teen Center, at 617-244-6050 or chandag@westsuburbanymca.org.

NSHS Teen Summer Program Expo, Feb. 6

Newton South High School will once again host the annual Teen Summer Program Expo, for the eighth year in a row. The Expo will be held Monday, February 6, 5:30 PM to 8:00PM, in the cafeteria located at NSHS, 140 Brandeis Road, Newton. Admission is free, open to the public and handicapped accessible. Find the perfect summer experience for your teenager. Meet directors of more than 80 of the best summer programs in the U.S. & abroad. Programs for every budget and include academic, adventure, travel, community service, internships, sport instruction, language immersion, arts/theatre/music, college prep and Gap year programs. Efficiently cut through the overwhelming amount of information online and make informed decisions about programming, safety, & supervision. For more information contact Laura@CampSourceNetwork.com or call 617-244-3316. Snow date will be Tuesday, February 7.

Newton Family Singers Host Community SingAlong, Jan. 22

The Newton Family Singers invite singers of all ages and abilities to a Community SingAlong. Come sing with us, and enjoy a cozy afternoon of favorite songs with friends, family and neighbors, on Sunday January 22, from 4:30 to 5:45 pm at the Waban Library. For lyrics, we’ll use the folk song collection Rise Up Singing, so bring a copy if you can. Acoustic instruments are welcome. Many thanks to the Waban Library Center, located at 1608 Beacon Street, for hosting this event. Suggested donation: $10 per family or $5 for individuals. For more information email newfamilysingers@gmail.com, visit us at www.newtonfamilysingers.org, or find us on Facebook!

Tutor–former Brookline and Concord teacher

Tutor, former Brookline and Concord teacher, 25 years experience (grades 1-12,) and certified Reading Specialist.  Available to tutor students in elementary, middle, and high school in academic subjects, writing, study, and organizational skills.  SAT / ACT / ISEE / SSAT prep.  Experienced with gifted and Special Needs students.  Build skills and confidence.  Excellent parent and professional references.  Please contact me to discuss your child’s needs. Cynthia Carpenter, (978) 952-8871, cscarp@gmail.com

Noise Exposure, Aging Ears and Hearing Loss — Jan. 19 at Newton Library

Sharon G. Kujawa, Ph.D. will speak on January 19 at 7:30PM at the Newton Library on issues related to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), age-related hearing loss and their long-term ramifications.  NIHL is a major health problem that significantly impacts communication and quality of life and, in theory, is largely preventable.  In practice, exposure to high-level sound is one of the most common causes of permanent hearing loss and inner ear damage. In spite of numerous attempts to regulate exposure and educate the public, there are reports that NIHL is increasing in younger segments of the population.

Sharon G. Kujawa, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Otology and Laryngology at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Department of Audiology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. She also serves on the faculty of the Harvard-MIT Program in Speech and Hearing Biosciences and Technology. Her research focuses on understanding how inner ear function is compromised by noise exposure, how noise-induced injury alters the aging of ears, and how these injury processes can be manipulated pharmacologically to reveal underlying mechanisms for treatment or prevention.

The co-existence of noise-induced and age-related hearing losses in the same person’s ears will impact an increasingly larger proportion of the population over time. Exposure to loud sound can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss and injures delicate structures of the inner ear. When sensitivity recovers after noise, it has been assumed that this indicates reversal of damage with no persistent or delayed consequences for auditory function. In contrast, new research has shown that loud sound exposures, even those that result in completely reversible sensitivity losses, can cause ongoing degeneration of the cochlear nerve. This neurodegeneration alters how ears age after noise, and likely contributes to speech-in-noise difficulties and other perceptual anomalies commonly associated with inner ear damage. The clear message from these studies is that noise is much more dangerous than has been assumed.

‘Race to Nowhere’ screening at Ward School, Jan. 19

The Ward School PTO is hosting a screening of Race To Nowhere on January 19 at 7PM at the John Ward School, 10 Dolphin Rd. Newton. Tickets may be purchased on line for $10.00, with a special online teacher and student rate of $5. To order tickets, go to: www.racetonowhere.com/screenings/ward-school. If seats are still available, tickets will be sold at the door for $15. The movie will be followed by a facilitator and panel discussion as well as audience Q and A. Questions may be directed to Stacy Schwartz, PTO-co-president, staschwartz@gmail.com.

Historic Newton — Events in January

  • Newton Community Weekend, Jan. 7-8
  • Historic Newton Book Club, Jan. 19
  • Newton Salutes Exhibit Celebration, Jan. 22
  • Historic Newton@Night, Jan. 26
  • List of current exhibits

Saturday and Sunday, January 7 and 8, noon-5:00 PM: NEWTON COMMUNITY WEEKEND.  Newton residents are invited to enjoy free admission to the museum. Start the New Year off with a visit to your city museum

Thursday, January 19, 7:30 PM: HISTORIC NEWTON BOOK CLUB MEETING.  This month’s book club selection is A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk and the Conquest of the American Continent by James Merry. In this thoughtful and entertaining history, Merry sheds light on Polk’s presidency and the goals Polk set for himself – all of which he achieved. They included cementing the annexation of Texas, resolving the dispute with Great Britain over the Oregon Territory, and, most importantly, provoking the Mexican-American war to position the United States to dominate the continent. The book is a compelling and perceptive portrait of a complex and controversial president. The book club is free and open to the public. New members are always welcome.

Sunday, January 22, 4:00-6:00 PM: NEWTON SALUTES EXHIBIT CELEBRATION.  Adams Street Synagogue: Celebrating our Centennial. 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. Free.

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.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

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; 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! 75 Years of the Newton League of Women Voters: Photos and artifacts highlighting the organization’s civic accomplishments.

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. Please note: our Abolition Room is temporarily closed for installation of our new exhibition on this theme, which will open in February 2012. If you need special assistance for any of these programs or exhibitions, please call 617.796.1450.