Unplugged and Connected! reminds us there is more to life than what is on the other side of a plug. The 2016 calendar provides suggested activities and events for friends, families and neighbors to enjoy together.
Please visit www.familyaccess.org and click on the Newton Unplugged link on the main menu or go directly to the calendar at
Join Newton Reads: On the Same Page, a month-long community reading program. Throughout March, the Newton Free Library will host a series of events related to the 2016 selection, “I’ll Give You the Sun” by Jandy Nelson. It is a story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal told from different points in time, and in separate voices, by artists Jude and her twin brother Noah.
The idea for Newton Reads began when Newton teens expressed their desire to improve communication with adults about difficult topics. By reading the same book, we hope to broaden and deepen an appreciation of reading and encourage the Newton community to share their experiences. We believe that community connection and inter-generational discussion are essential to promoting tolerance and cultural understanding. To learn more click here: Newton Reads.
Check out this year’s choice and join the discussion! Mark your calendar for the following Newton Reads events. All events are for teens and adults take place in Druker Auditorium, unless otherwise noted.
March 14th, 4:00 or 7:00 pm: Starry Night Pastel Workshop*
March 16th, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Presents: Community Safe Spaces Workshop
March 20th, 2:00 pm: Book Discussion @ L’Aroma Café & Bakery
March 24th, 7:00 pm: Skype with Jandy Nelson
March 30th, 6:30 pm: To Infinity & Beyond: The Afterlife
March 31st, 7:00 pm: Book Discussion @ the Newton Free Library (3rd Floor Rear Arc)
*Registration (required) begins February 22nd. Please register for one workshop.
The Newton Food Pantry is in great need of additional volunteers on Monday mornings to help unload and store food that is delivered from the food bank. The work only takes about an hour of time. However, the exact time when they need volunteers at the pantry to do this work changes from week to week depending upon the food bank schedule. Typically they need people for an hour, sometime between 9:00 and 11:30 am, and they send out an email a few days in advance advising volunteers of the time. Unloading and storing inventory is crucial to pantry operations and their core group on Mondays is small and desperate for help. Please email newtonfoodpantry@gmail.com if you can help.
As you know, the Newton Food Pantry is an all volunteer non-profit that has been providing food for over 30 years to those in our community who experience food insecurity. They presently provide a 5+ day supply of non-perishable and healthy fresh food to approximately 600 Newton residents each month. But they need your help in order to continue to serve our neighbors in need.
Acoustic Newton presents “Song Swap” at the Newton Cultural Center at City Hall. Folk, Americana, Roots & Blues with Martin Grosswendt & Susanne Salem-Schatz and the Barbara Cassidy Band. Martin Grosswendt and Susanne Salem-Schatz make beautiful music together, presenting a delightful gumbo rooted in the blues and old-time traditions, with soul that comes from deep within and a wry humor that never fails to engage audiences.
Martin is a multi-instrumentalist, internationally known as an inspirational interpreter of pre-war blues and other southern roots music, he is one of roots music’s best kept secrets. Musical partner and remarkable singer Susanne Salem-Schatz complements Grosswendt’s stunning, understated instrumental work and soulful singing with rock solid rhythm, distinctive harmonies and powerful lead vocals. Tickets $10/$5 Students & Seniors www.newtoncommunitypride.org
February 27th, 7:00 pm
Newton City Hall
Please join a four-week mindful parenting series led by by Dr. Yenkuei Chuang. All parents are welcome; no prior meditation experience is needed. The session will consist of guided meditation, reading and discussion on parenting practices. We will learn tools to cultivate awareness and equanimity, love, and wisdom; and we will explore how to apply them in the midst of our busy daily lives. For additional information, please contact Yenkuei Chuang, Ph.D. at 617-794-9591.
Please register in advance as enrollment is limited to 12 students. Cost is $100 for the series (no single class drop-in’s allowed).
http://www.downunderyoga.com/boston-yoga-classes/yoga-workshops/#!
From Yenkuei: “I think this group will be a wonderful opportunityfor parents to connect beyond the walls of our homes, to share with each other what is it that we do, what is it that truly challenges us, and what is it that continues to inspires us. We will lean on each other as we learn to pause, breathe, and reflect on this precious gift of parenting. Perhaps as we learn to relax and nourish ourselves, we can even get to a bit of transformation, release our old habits, and re-parent ourselves as well as our children with freshness and spaciousness, ease and joy.”
March 17th, 24th, 31st, and April 7th, 12:45 – 2:00 pm
DownUnder Yoga in Newtonville
Like no other program in the area, Summer Sessions focuses on putting together a unique band with the goal of creating original music recorded in the Music Studio right at the Y. Participants can build and improve upon the creative skills of songwriting, filming, audio engineering, video editing, production, and instrumental or vocal performance while creating a complete professional project – an EP and/or a music video.
Summer Sessions will offer enrolled students the opportunity to form new advanced skills that help mold young musicians into experienced, successful artists. These collaborative projects foster abilities and work ethic that are not exclusive to the music industry, but can be applied to so many other careers and educational experiences. Summer Sessions focuses on the process, not just the content.
*This program is designed for students with experience playing in a group setting, writing original music, and/or recording. A pre-registration meeting with YMCA Creative Arts Staff is required for NEW students or students WITHOUT any of the above experience.*
Session 1
July 5-July 15
Session 2
July 18-July 29
Session 3
August 1-August 12
Session 4
August 15-August 26
Daily Schedule: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Registration opens February 22nd! Please contact Kevin O’Connell at kevino@wsymca.org or 617-244-6050 x 3028 for more information.
Time for Partners is delighted to announce that when regularly scheduled Time for Partners classes are not meeting, Paula Gannon will hold two EXTRA classes on Wednesday, February 17th and Friday, February 19th from 9:30 am – 11:30 am.
Time for Partners is an art and music class for children aged 18 months to 3.5 years with an adult. The classes take place at Newton City Hall – 50 minutes of art, a snack, and 50 minutes of music.
Families with children aged less than 5 years are welcome to attend this special vacation program. Register through www.ActivityReg.com, click on MA, click on Newton Parks & Rec, click on Mayor’s Office for cultural Affairs, click on Time for Partners. Or call 617-796-1540 for more information. Classes are limited to 20 families each.
The Sisterhood of Temple Shalom of Newton is holding their annual Rummage Sale upstairs in the Social Hall featuring all sorts of useful items and unique treasures. Clothing, Furniture, Household, Antiques, Collectibles…you name it and they will have it! Everything is priced to sell. For more information, please call Zoe Forbes at 617-721-0047.
March 2nd and March 3rd
Temple Shalom of Newton
175 Temple Street, Newton
QPR is a simple, educational program that teachers ordinary citizens how to recognize a mental health emergency and how to get a person at risk the help they need. The next community training will be held soon.
Participants will learn how to:
· Recognize the warning signs of suicide
· Offer hope
· Get help & Refer
February, 23rd
Breakfast reception 8:00 am
Training 8:30 am-10:30 am
Newton City Hall
Registration is required/ Space is limited. Visit www.newtonma.gov/newtoncares to register.
At the next NewtonPAC evening meeting Attorney Dan Heffernan, a partner at Kotin, Crabtree and Strong, will present on Effective Progress.
The meeting will begin with networking and refreshments at 7:15 pm, and the presentation will be from 7:30-9:00 pm. All NewtonPAC meetings are free of charge, and everyone is welcome.
For weather advisories and cancellations, please check www.newtonpac.org. If Newton Public Schools cancels school on the day of a PAC meeting, the meeting will also be cancelled.
PLEASE RSVP if you are planning on attending. The past few meetings have been very crowded, and they would like to make sure that they have a big enough room. The address to rsvp is pacmeetingrsvp@gmail.com. If you’re not sure, just send the message “maybe”.
February 23rd, 7:30 pm
Room 304, Education Center
100 Walnut Street