Newton Family Singers present… If I Had a Song – Celebrating Pete Seeger and Friends

The Newton Family Singers present… If I Had a Song – Celebrating Pete Seeger and Friends, on Sunday, May 6th!

Come enjoy the music of folk icon and legend Pete Seeger and his musical friends and contemporaries, including The Weavers, Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie….with a special performance by members of the extended Seeger Family. You’ll find yourself hand-clapping and tune-humming at this fun-for-the-whole-family musical extravaganza celebrating Pete Seeger’s contribution to American folk music. Sunday, May 6, 4pm at the Memorial-Spaulding Elementary School Auditorium, 250 Brookline Street, Newton.

With this concert, the Newton Family Singers welcome award-winning composer, director and musician Chris Eastburn as guest Musical Director. Chris brings over 10 years of experience directing the Family Folk Chorale of Arlington, and an unmatched ability to create powerful, emotional and melodic choral arrangements. This concert will feature the debut performance of an original tribute to Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.

To read the recent Newton Tab article about NFS and this upcoming show, link here!

The Newton Family Singers are Newton’s only intergenerational chorus and band celebrating family, community and American folk music. For more information about NFS or upcoming events, please visit www.newtonfamilysingers.org or email us at newfamilysingers@gmail.com.

Teacher Appreciation Tea May 1st

Please help us create a delightful tea to show our appreciation to our wonderful teachers and staff!

Please consider donating food:

Fruit, quiches, finger sandwiches, salads, scones, dessert
Use this link to sign up
http://bigelowpto.org/teacher-appreciation-tea-donation-sign-up-2/

We also need set up help at 12:30 pm, or clean up help at 3:30 pm.

We are also accepting gift cards to area businesses or restaurants to be used in a raffle for the teachers at the event.

For more information email the PTO at Bigelowbulldog@gmail.com

Thank you for your support!!

Newton Library Events for Teens: Crafts, Bad Movie Night

Teen Craft Program: Celebrate Free Comic Book Day by making comic book duct tape wallets on Saturday, May 5 @ 2:30 pm in Druker Auditorium. Use our donated copies of comic books or bring your own to transform into a wallet using clear duct tape.

Bad Movie Night: Teens age 13 and up – join us for Bad Movie Night @ the library! Watch Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (rated PG13). Eat Popcorn! TXT in YR jokes and they’ll appear on screen! Wednesday, May 23 @ 6:30 pm in Druker Auditorium. Questions? Email Teen Librarian Liz Rowland at lrowland@minlib.net or call 617-796-1380.

The Autism Revolution: Whole Body Strategies for Making Life All it Can Be

After years of treating patients and analyzing scientific data, prominent Harvard researcher and clinician, Dr. Martha Herbert offers a revolutionary new view of autism and a transformative strategy for dealing with it. Autism is not a hardwired impairment programmed into a child’s genes and destined to remain fixed forever, as we’re often told. Instead, it is the result of a cascade of events, many seemingly minor: perhaps a genetic mutation, some toxic exposures, a stressful birth, a vitamin deficiency, or a series of infections. FREE event. A book signing will follow the presentation. Books will be available for purchase. For more information go to www.thenewtonpartnership.org/attend-an-event/

Wednesday, May 9, 2012
7:00-8:30 P.M.
Newton South High School
140 Brandeis Rd. 02459

Talking to Your Child About Sexual Assault: What to Say, What Not to Say and How You Can Empower Your Child (for parents of teens)

Sexual assault is a difficult, but important topic, especially with teens. Learn how to talk to your child and how we, as parents can help our teens to establish appropriate boundaries with peers and others. Presented by Meg Bossong,Community Mobilization Project Manager at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC). Note that a similar workshop will be taking place at Mason Rice School on the same evening for parents of elementary school students. FREE. For more information go to www.thenewtonpartnership.org/attend-an-event/

Tuesday, May 1, 2012
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Brown Middle School Library
125 Meadowbrook Road
Newton Centre, MA 02459

When Bad Things Happen to Good Families: Talking with our Children about Transition, Crisis and Loss

Parents need to understand how their children might respond to stressful events, such as moving, separation/divorce, death, etc. In this workshop, parents will learn developmentally appropriate ways to prepare children for difficult changes and how to build resilience, as well as strategies for supporting them in the midst of these types of stressors. Presented by Larry Berkowitz and Joanna Hooper, both of Riverside Trauma Center. FREE. For more information go to www.thenewtonpartnership.org/attend-an-event/

Tuesday, April 24, 2012
7:00-8:30 pm
Freedman Center
225 Nevada St., 02460

Huge Children’s Tag Sale

The West Suburban Mothers of Twins Assoc. invites you to their semi-annual Tag Sale on Saturday April 28 from 10-1 at the Congregational Church of Needham, 1154 Great Plain Avenue, Needham. Over 20,000 items for sale at super low prices, including gently used children’s clothing, strollers, baby equipment, cribs, toys, books, DVDs & more! Cash only. For more information, visit www.wscmmota.org.

Newton South wants all your gently used books!

The 4th Annual Newton South High School Used Book Sale will be held again this year from May 22-24 in Wheeler Commons at Newton South.  If you are doing a little spring cleaning over vacation (or after), please consider donating your gently used books to the NSHS Book Sale.  Proceeds will benefit literacy initiatives in the NSHS English Department.  Drop Off hours are: Monday and Thursday mornings, April 23 thru May 17, from 7:15 – 8:15 am and 2:30 – 3:30 pm at the POD in NSHS parking lot (next to Goldrick House).  For more information about book drop off, please contact Suzanne Freudberg at suzannefreudberg@gmail.com

HISTORIC NEWTON CALENDAR

ANNUAL HOUSE TOUR TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!
Our 30th Annual House Tour takes place on Sunday, June 3rd. Tickets purchased in advance (before 5 PM on Friday, June 1), are available at a discount; you may buy your tickets online or by calling 617-796-1450. Tickets are $20 for Historic Newton members, $30 for non-members. Tickets may be purchased on the day of the tour at the Jackson Homestead. Tickets purchased on June 3 will cost $25 for Historic Newton members and $35 for non-members. To volunteer to help with the tour, please e-mail us at newtonhousetour@gmail.com. As a volunteer, you will receive a complimentary ticket (a $30 value). We ask you to work only 2.5 hours during the tour, assuring that you have time to use your ticket. You can buy House Tour tickets at: http://apps.newtonma.gov/jackson/calendar/house-tour_list_2012.asp
And, becoming a sponsor of our House Tour is a great way to increase visibility for your business. Visit here for more information about sponsorship:
http://apps.newtonma.gov/jackson/calendar/house-tour_sponsorship_2012.asp

Tuesday, April 17, 2:00-4:30 PM – GARDENING 101: HOW TO BUILD A RAISED BED
Wednesday, April 18, 2:00 PM – WEAVING WORKSHOP
Thursday, April 19, 2:00 PM – THE THREE SISTERS: NATIVE FOOD THEN AND NOW
Tuesday, April 24, 7:30 PM – ENCOUNTERING SLAVERY AND RACE IN NEW ENGLAND
Sunday, April 29, Noon – 4 PM – NEWTON SERVES – BURYING GROUNDS CLEAN-UP
Monday, April 30, 7:30 PM – ENCOUNTERING SLAVERY AND RACE IN NEW ENGLAND

APRIL
Unless noted otherwise, all programs take place at the Jackson Homestead and Museum at 527 Washington Street, Newton, MA.
Tuesday, April 17, 2:00-4:30 PM
GARDENING 101: HOW TO BUILD A RAISED BED
A Vacation Week Family Program
Thinking about starting a garden this spring in your yard? Come learn the basics about how to start a raised bed garden, including: factors to be considered when choosing the location of your raised bed, how to prepare the soil, what plants to select, and some general tips on how to maximize productivity. A class for the whole family! Cost: $45 per family (4 people max, 1 adult required), $40 for members. Includes museum admission and snack. Prepaid registration is required; visit www.newtoncommunityfarm.org/classes to register. Co-sponsored by Newton Community Farm.

Wednesday, April 18, 2:00 PM
WEAVING WORKSHOP
A Vacation Week Family Program
Have you ever wondered how people made cloth at home when store-bought cloth wasn’t available? Want to try weaving your own cloth? Join Beth Guertin, a weaver and teacher of weaving for over twenty-five years, in this hands-on workshop. Watch a demonstration of loom-weaving techniques, and then give it a try yourself! Cost: $20 per family ($15 for members) includes museum admission and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register.

Thursday, April 19, 2:00 PM
THE THREE SISTERS: NATIVE FOOD THEN AND NOW
A Vacation Week Family Program
Corn, beans, and squash were staple crops of this area’s first inhabitants. Learn about how the “three sisters” were planted together, try a traditional Native snack still eaten today, and take home seedlings to plant your own “three sisters” at home. Cost: $20 per family ($15 for members) includes museum admission, snack, and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register.

Tuesday, April 24, 7:30 PM
ENCOUNTERING SLAVERY AND RACE IN NEW ENGLAND
E. Benjamin Skinner: Slavery in America Today
E. Benjamin Skinner is an award-wining author and journalist studying the U.S. and global political economies, specializing in modern-day slavery. He has observed negotiations for the sale of human beings on four continents, and will speak about the scope and impact of slavery in America today. At the Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street, Newton.

Sunday, April 29, Noon – 4 PM
NEWTON SERVES – BURYING GROUNDS CLEAN-UP
Join community members in Newton’s day of service by cleaning up Newton’s historic burying grounds. Visit www.newtoncommunitypride.org to register to volunteer at either East Parish or West Parish Burying Ground.

Monday, April 30, 7:30 PM
ENCOUNTERING SLAVERY AND RACE IN NEW ENGLAND
Gloria White Hammond: Enslaved Women of Sudan
Sudanese slaves are mostly women and children who have been abducted violently from their homes by slave-traders. Since 2001, while working as a pediatrician and minister, Gloria White Hammond has traveled to Sudan to help liberate enslaved women and offer paths for them to resume normal lives. At the Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street, Newton.