A Nov. 29 forum “The Future of Transportation in Newton” organized by the LWV-Newton will explore how the City can grow and develop without more gridlock and parking woes. Presenters Stephanie Pollack, chair of the mayor’s Transportation Advisory Committee, Eric Bourassa, transportation manager for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Jacqueline Douglas, director of Livable Streets, will examine the findings of studies on Routes 128 and 9, the year-long study by the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), as well as transportation models that seek to balance the needs of all modes of transportation, including, pedestrians, bikes, cars and mass transit. At the Newton Free Library, 7 – 9 pm.”

Zoning regulations govern what may be built and where, guiding the pattern of development, cost of housing, and availability of services in the City into the future.

Newton’s Zoning Ordinance was last comprehensively revised in 1987 and much has changed in the Greater Boston Metro area since then. There is general agreement that Newton’s Zoning Ordinance is difficult to understand and administer and does not result in the best outcomes for the community. In response, the Zoning Reform Group was created by the City to study and recommend a plan to reform Newton’s Zoning Ordinance in a way that will best serve Newton. Zoning reform intends to make the ordinance easy to understand, administer, and enforce. Revised zoning will facilitate the development that we want to bring vitality to village centers and commercial areas, while taking development pressure off our neighborhoods.

The Zoning Reform Group will present its recommendations on November 3, at 7:00pm in the Newton Senior Center (345 Walnut Street). Come learn more about zoning in Newton and how you can play a part in achieving zoning reform. For more information, visit http://newtonma.gov/Planning/zoning-reform-group.htm or contact Alderman Deb Crossley at dcrossley@newtonma.gov

Parenting in the digital age can be challenging.  Social media and technology have become such an important part of your child’s daily life. Please join Amy Comeau M.Ed. and Rolanda Prophete LICSW for an interactive workshop where they will examine with you your child’s use of technology, increase your awareness of the potential challenges around technology use, and offer practical parenting strategies to maintain connections with your child.  

This free parenting program, sponsored by The Newton Partnership, will be held on Tuesday, November 29th from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Bigelow Middle School, 42 Vernon St., 02458 and also on Tuesday, December 13th from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Brown Middle School, 125 Meadowbrook Rd, 02459.

Amy is currently the Middle School Intervention and Prevention Counselor at Day and Bigelow Middle Schools. Rolanda is the Intervention and Prevention Counselor at Brown and Oak Hill Middle  Schools.

Come hear Understanding & Treating ADHD in Children & Teens presented by psychiatrist Dr. Thor Bergersen, Thursday, November 17, 2011 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Oak Hill Middle School Auditorium, 130 Wheeler Rd. 02459.  No registration is required for this free presentation sponsored by The Newton Partnership.  Dr. Bergersen, founder of ADHD Boston and co-founder with Dr. Edward Hallowell of the Hallowell Center in New York, has specialized in the evaluation and treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder for over a decade.  

Considered an expert on ADHD, he has appeared on CBS and Fox news, been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, and recently spoke to the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society about ADHD at their annual meeting.  He currently sees patients in Needham at ADHD Boston and in New York at the Hallowell Center, while consulting with high tech, biotech and pharmaceutical companies to advance the evaluation and treatment of ADHD for children and adults.

The School Committee will hold a special meeting on Monday, 10/31/11, 8:00 a.m., Education Center, 100 Walnut St., Newtonville, Frazier Room (#210), for the purpose of discussing and voting on the NTA contract.