Saturday, April 18, 4:00 pm -THE KENRICK NURSERIES AND AMERICA’S ROMANCE WITH THE ENGLISH GARDEN

At the beginning of the modern garden industry in the 1890s, mass advertising, faster printing, national magazines, and free rural mail delivery made it possible to publish seed and nursery catalogs and send them across the country. The catalogs encouraged the romantic English garden style in essays, illustrations, and ads. Come listen as Tom Mickey, author of America’s Romance with the English Garden, describes the principal elements of that English garden, why it grabbed the imagination of Americans from California to Maine, and the role that nurseries like the Kenricks’ (one of the largest in New England) played in supplying the craze. At the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue. Free.

Wednesday, April 22, 2:00 pm – WEAVING WORKSHOP
A Vacation Week Family Program
Have you ever wondered how people made cloth at home before store-bought cloth was 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: $25 per family ($20 for members) includes museum admission and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617-796-1450 to register. At the Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street.

Sunday, April 26, Noon-4:00 pm – NEWTON SERVES–HISTORIC BURYING GROUNDS CLEAN-UP
Join community members in Newton’s day of service by cleaning up Newton’s historic Burying Grounds. Register online to volunteer at East Parish, West Parish, or South Burying Ground. Continue reading →

Cookbook author Colette Martin will offer ideas and solutions for busy families with food allergies at the Metro-Boston Allergy and Asthma Educational Support Group on April 14th at 7:00 pm. at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The program is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.

Martin is the author of Learning to Bake Allergen-Free: A Crash Course for Busy Parents on Baking Without Wheat, Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Soy or Nuts and The Allergy-Free Pantry: Make Your Own Staples, Snacks, and More Without Wheat, Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Soy or Nuts. She will share practical ingredient substitutions, some of her favorite products and recipes, and other secrets of how to please people with restricted diets. Copies of Martin’s books will be available for purchase and autographing at the meeting.

“Busy families are always looking for creative ideas and practical solutions to healthy eating,” said Sharon Schumack, Director of Education and Programs for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter, which sponsors the monthly educational support group programs. “Food allergies add to the challenge. Favorite baked goods and family treats can be especially difficult to adapt successfully.”

AAFA New England organizes educational programs throughout the region, publishes a newsletter, and runs a telephone resource and referral line for people coping with allergies and asthma.. For more information, to receive e-mail announcements about future programs, or a free copy of “Eating Out with Food Allergies” or “Allergy Basics,” call (781)444-7778 or visit www.asthmaandallergies.org.

April 14th, 7:00 pm
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Free admission

NewtonSERVES announces Project Registration is Now Open for Day of Community Service on Sunday, April 26th.

Volunteer projects are welcome from Newton non-profits, Newton city departments and schools, individuals, and groups of citizens interested in accomplishing specific tasks with the help of over 1,000 volunteers from the community. Projects can easily be registered online, by visiting www.newtoncommunitypride.org/NewtonSERVES-project.php.

Projects can be in the morning, afternoon or all-day on Sunday, April 26th or they can be set up individually on an alternate date during the City of Newton’s Volunteer Week, April 27th – May 2th. In addition to gaining access to volunteers to tackle specific tasks, project sites may be eligible to receive additional resources such as mulch, garbage and yard waste bags.

Project sites also benefit from raised awareness within the community and all participants receive NewtonSERVES T-shirts and refreshments in honor of their volunteer service. New projects leaders are encouraged to sign up along with recurring projects and experienced leaders.  Volunteer registration is now open at www.newtoncommunitypride.org   For more information, please call (617) 796-1540.