Category Archives: Events

Newton Cares

Mayor Setti D. Warren and the Newton Cares Coalition for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health invite all community members to come together for an awareness event on May 3rd. The event will take place in the War Memorial Auditorium at Newton City Hall from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

Newton Cares was launched in November 2013 and immediately began work to raise awareness and identify strategies to assist in creating a healthy, empowered community that promotes emotional wellbeing across the lifespan. Speakers will give an update on the community response to mental health needs and perspective on what it means to struggle with mental health issues. The event will also include education, advocacy and resource tables staffed by local organizations.

Join Mayor Setti D. Warren, Senator Cynthia Creem, and Representatives Ruth Balser, Kay Khan and John Lawn in this meaningful and important community event to support Newton’s efforts around suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

Mother’s Day Memorial Bike Ride

The Christina Clarke Genco Foundation (CCGF) will hold its third annual
Mother’s Day Memorial Bike Ride  to commemorate the life of Christina Genco by raising funds to support bike safety and affordable housing projects. The Foundation aims to inspire youth to find their passion and make a difference in their communities, and focuses on bicycling safety education, athletic scholarships and support for affordable housing.

The Ride kicks off at Newton City Hall and offers four routes of 68 miles, 34 miles, 17 miles and a family ride to accommodate all ages and abilities. Start times are staggered at 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am, and 10:30 am, respectively.

International Bicycle Center and Cycle Loft will provide overall logistical support, a safe biking clinic will be offered on-site in partnership with Bike Newton, and the Boston University Pep Band will perform as the riders cross the finish line. Food and refreshments will be served, and prizes will be awarded for the most creative costumes at the ride.

Sunday May 11th at Newton City Hall 

Kids FunFEST

Kiddie amusement rides and face painting  will be going on both Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday only, participate in free themed arts and crafts activities to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Try Indian Rongoli – making beautiful patterns on the pavement using colored rice flour, and decorating jute ‘flags’ , as well as origami.

On Sunday only, come enjoy the craft fair, with many types of craft booths where you might be able to find a special treasure for Mother’s Day, as well as several food vendors. See 3 Newton dance studios performing: Star Dance School, Creative Dance Steps and All That Jazz; and a performance by the West Suburban YMCA Band!

Admission is free. Visit www.newtoncommunitypride.org for more information. Saturday, May 10th and Sunday, May 11th, 10:00 am – 5:00pm. Newton City Hall Green, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue

Free cookie decorating and more

Its a FREE cookie decorating at L’Aroma Cafe, no reservations or purchase necessary, open to all children. Six other West Newton businesses nearby are participating, so kids would not only get a free cookie to decorate, they will also get a free kids popcorn from the West Newton Theater, free slice of pizza from West Newton Pizza, a free Silly Putty from Morning Silver Gallery, free craft making at Hipstich (reservation required), a $5- voucher against any purchase at Artitudes and a free lesson at Rhythmic Dreams.

Saturday, May 10th, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Let’s Get Organized workshop for families of special ed children

Come to a special workshop called Let’s Get Organized, where experts from Family Ties of Massachusetts will present on how to organize all of the paperwork and materials that come with being a special ed parent, and will provide concrete written materials to expand our organizational skills. Participants will take home a three-ring binder, organizational supplies, and lots of ideas on ways to bring order to the mountains of paperwork that relates to their child’s medical and educational needs.

If you’d like to come, please RSVP to ma***************@***il.com. When RSVP’ing, indicate if you would like the materials in a language other than English. Materials for this workshop are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Chinese, and Vietnamese. For questions, please email Ei***********************@***il.com.

May 13th, 7:30 pm (networking starting at 7:15)
Room 210, Education Center, 100 Walnut Street.

Donate your change to help preserve the Newton Civil War Monument!

The Soldiers’ Monument to Newton’s fallen sons stands in Newton Cemetery and turns 150 years old this year. A coin drive by Newton’s school children in 1863 helped fund construction of the monument, which was dedicated in July 1864 before the war was over. The Monument was restored last fall and paid for with Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. A coin drive this year will start a maintenance fund for the upkeep of the Memorial.

We need YOU to adopt a coin bucket for your school! Please contact Katy Hax Holmes at (617) 796-1143 or kh*****@******ma.gov and we can get you started. This coin drive would start May 5th and last about one week.

Please join us on May 18, 2014 at 1:00 pm in Newton Cemetery to honor Newton’s Civil War sons, husbands, brothers, and friends. And see how far spare change can go when we work together to remember the youth of Newton who gave “the last full measure of their devotion.”

The ABCs of Zoning..

The ABCs of Zoning Relief for Housing Developments in Newton: A Resident’s Guide to How Developers get Permits and How the Community Can Have Its Say.

This informative event is sponsored by the Waban Area Council and will feature panelists from Newton’s Planning and Development Department, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Board of Aldermen. Please see www.wabanareacouncil.com for more details or email kw******@******ma.gov.

May 1st, 7:30 pm in the War Memorial Auditorium at City Hall.

Support 2009 South Grad and NPS Employee Jason Agress’s Boston Marathon Run for NSF

Jason Agress, 2009 Newton South graduate is running the Boston Marathon to support NSF.

Newton Public Schools truly made a difference for Jason Agress. An alumnus of Memorial-Spaulding, Oak Hill, and Newton South (Class of 2009), his experiences as a student in Newton helped him to discover and pursue his passions, as well as gain the skills needed to succeed.

Now Jason is connected to NPS in his role as a Network Media Specialist for the district. Through his work, Jason has gained a deep appreciation for the excellent resources – including dedicated faculty and staff – that Newton is home to, and which provided for his own first-rate public school experience. No stranger to marathon training, Jason has worked with the Dreamfar High School Marathon program for the past three years as a mentor and Team Leader at Newton South.

“Through training for the marathon, it is gratifying to help Newton students experience the sense of accomplishment that comes with achieving a huge goal and learning important life lessons in the process.” says Jason.

Come out on Monday, April 21st at Heartbreak Hill and to cheer on Jason! A group of supporters will be on the Commonwealth Ave. berm between Sumner St. and Chestnut Terrace. Follow Jason’s Progress at http://boston2014.jasonagress.com.

April Vacation Week Programs for Teens

April Vacation Week Programs for Teens @ the Newton Free Library

Saving Mr. Banks Movie Screening
Teens are invited to watch Saving Mr. Banks on Tuesday, April 22nd at 3:00 pm. The film tells the story of how P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins, half-heartedly meet with Walt Disney who wanted to adapt her book for the big screen. Rated PG-13, runtime 125 min. Open to ages 13 and up.

Rockets: There and Back Again
Create an air rocket that launches across the room, and engineer a way for a payload to return safely to Earth. Join a hands-on workshop at the Newton Free Library in Druker Auditorium on Thursday, April 24th at 2:00 pm that explores the science behind rockets and space exploration. Use your imagination to plan, build, and test your own design. Please be advised that this workshop uses latex balloons. Presented by the Museum of Science and open to grades 6-12. Space is limited, register (required) at http://newtonfreelibrary.net/steam/.

Thor: The Dark World Movie Screening
Teens are invited to watch a screening of Thor: The Dark World on Friday, April 25th at 3:00 pm. Thor returns to do battle in this big-budget comic-book adventure. Rated PG-13, runtime 112 min. Open to ages 13 and up.

Mini-Creator Faire
On April 26th from 1:00-4:00 pm, the Newton Free Library will be hosting a mini-Creator Faire in Druker Auditorium to kick off the unveiling of the new MakerBot 3D printer to the community and begin a year of programming for all ages related to the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) initiative from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. Continue reading →

Magic and Music at Boston’s Symphony Hall

“Bon Voyage”, a special concert for families of all ages featuring music and magic from around the world. The concert features Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra’s talented young musicians and “Matt the Magician”.

See objects magically appear, pass through each other, and transform before your very eyes, while your ears enjoy the talents of over 100 amazing young musicians. You even get a chance to conduct the orchestra right from your seat!

Adults: $20.00, Kids under 18 years old are free (limit 4 per family. To get free kids tickets, phone SymphonyCharge 888-266-1200.) For regular tickets, please purchase here: http://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/56084/?utm_source=Bon+Voyage+evite+4.15.14&utm_campaign=Bon+Voyage+evite&utm_medium=email

Saturday, April 26th, 12:00 Noon
Symphony Hall