Category Archives: Other

Avenue Q Auditions Open to Grade 8!

Watertown Children’s Theatre Spring Black Box Musical auditions are now open to students in Grades 8-12!

WCT performers will transport audiences to the streets of New York City in this silly, feel-good musical! Participants will be challenged with unique characters, puppetry, and toe-tapping musical numbers, all while telling the universal story of friends struggling through young adulthood and trying to find their purpose in life. This adaptation retains the intent, humor, and sound of the original production while offering changes to make it appropriate for teen performers. Please note this is an audition based program.

To schedule an audition, please email pr************@**********ts.org. For the audition, please prepare one Continue reading →

Mason-Rice School PTO’s annual online auction is now live

The Mason-Rice Elementary School PTO’s annual online auction is now live at: www.biddingforgood.com/masonrice. The auction has something for everyone…discounts on summer camps, kids classes, birthday parties, fitness memberships, tickets to games and shows, museum passes, gift cards to local of salons, stores, and restaurants…and SO MUCH MORE!

The auction will run through January 28th, with proceeds supporting the over 450 students at Mason-Rice.

Looking for a volunteer Community Service opportunity?

Centre Street Food Pantry is located at 11 Homer St., Newton Centre. Their mission is to provide consistent access to nutritious food to over 350 families per month in a dignified and sensitive environment.

• They serve families from Newton, Brookline, Brighton, Watertown, Waltham,
Needham, Wellesley, & West Roxbury.
• Possible times for volunteering include: Monday mornings (8:00 – 9:30 am);
Various shifts every Tuesday (11:00 am – 8:00 pm); or the 1st Saturdays of the
month (10:00 am – 2:30 pm). Shifts are 2 hours long.
• Tasks include unloading deliveries, stocking shelves, helping clients shop
at the pantry, carrying filled bags to the curb, or cleaning up.
• Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to volunteer and those 12-15 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while at the pantry and during the training.
• A short one-time training is required to volunteer. Go to this webpage to register: https://www.centrestfoodpantry.org/get-involved-2
• For more information, contact Vo*******@****************ry.org.

A Night of Dialogue and Theater: FORJ presents True Story Theater

Join FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) for True Story Theater, an engaging and interactive event.

This will be an enlivening follow-up event to the city-wide MLK celebration on Monday. With the help of the True Story Theater , the group will further explore Newton’s 2020 theme of “Know Your Neighbor”. Come learn and connect as the theater troupe performs the spectrum of our lived experiences as residents of Newton – stories that delight and challenge us to think more deeply about what it means to live in neighborhoods that are truly inclusive.

All are welcome; Suggested ages -middle school and up. RSVP HERE: True Story Theater

January 23rd  7pm -9pm
Newton North High School Little Theater,  457 Walnut Street

For more info about the organizations involved visit these websites:
https://forjnewton.com/
http://harmonyfoundationnewton.org/
​http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/health/commissions/human_rights/default.asp ​

What’s Happening at the West Suburban YMCA (including February Break)

MLK Day of Service Event
The Y is partnering with The Second Step to host a volunteer event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Using the items collected during the recent supply drive, volunteers will sort and organize items into “blessing bags” for families in need. All are welcome to participate in this community-wide, family friendly event.  The event will start with a short presentation from The Second Step at 10:00 am, followed by bag stuffing (Note:  This event ends when all bags have been stuffed).
January 20th, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Kids Night Out
Parents, drop off your kids for a fun Friday night with qualified staff members for a Kids Night Out. They’ll order pizza for dinner and keep the children entertained with games, swimming, movies and sports. $25 per child for Y members and $30 for the community. A 20% discount is offered per child for those with two or more children. Go out for the night and take advantage of this low-cost alternative to hiring a babysitter. Everyone wins!
February 7th, 6:00 – 10:00 pm

February Vacation Week is around the corner!

  • Out of School Time Vacation Programs are structured similarly to a day at camp, with  a mix of activities such as fun games, creative projects, and free swim.
  • Sports Vacation Clinics may include soccer, basketball, baseball, swimming, and more.
  • There’s also a new Creative Arts Vacation Program which includes visual art, singing, and dancing for kids 5-7 and music for kids 10-12.

February 18th – February 21st

West Suburban YMCA
276 Church Street, Newton

February events at Historic Newton (including February Break)

FREE WEEKEND AT HISTORIC NEWTON
Everyone is invited to enjoy free admission to the museums.
February 1st and February 2nd, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street, and the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Information: 617-796-1450

STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS
The free, bi-weekly Storytime program engages kids 0 months to 3 years old by focusing on literacy, Newton’s history, play, and lessons from our museums. Families are welcome to bring older siblings. This week’s theme is “Winter.”
February 1st, 9:30 am
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street
Information: 617-796-1450 Continue reading →

You’re Invited to LWVN’s Inaugural Civics Challenge

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and get excited for the March 3rd Massachusetts primaries by joining the League of Women Voters of Newton for this inaugural event! Adults and students in grades 8 and above are invited to participate.

This is a FREE event; no expertise is needed, just a will to challenge yourself and have some fun– You’ll test your knowledge of civics; federal, state, and local government; and the women’s suffrage movement.

Participants will work together in teams of 3-4 people.  Form your own team or register as an individual and we will assign you to a team.

Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams.  Refreshments will be provided.

For more information and to register, go to lwvnewton.org/civics-challenge or see the Facebook Event!

March 1st,  3:30 – 5:30 pm
Cabot School Cafeteria

The 52nd Annual MLK Community Celebration

Join the 52nd Annual MLK Community Celebration. The program theme this year focuses on Knowing Your Neighbor.

•Featured performances will include Newton North’s Jubilee Singers, The Treble Singers, The Gospel Love Tones, and Newton’s first MLK Day Community Choir!

•Hear the voices of Newton Public Schools students as reflected in their Monologue Projects.

•Following the event, The Harmony Foundation and MLK Day Planning Committee will co-host a Community Reception (coffee and refreshments) and an Engagement and Activism Fair–Learn more about important local organizations and ways to become involved in Newton, and get to know your neighbors!

•Story Starters of Newton will host a story time and craft for younger kids (with their caregivers) starting at 10:30 am.

•The Rotary Club of Newton will also be collecting toiletry items to donate to Newton’s Food Pantries.

January 20th, 9:30 am – 12:00 noon
The First Baptist Church, 848 Beacon Street, Newton Centre

Cradles to Crayons annual MLK Day Clothing Drive

Cradles to Crayons annual MLK Day Clothing Drive is looking for donations of gently used or new clothing, shoes, and coats to be dropped off at participating Police Stations including the Newton Police Department and the PD Annex.

Donations are being accepted now and participation by those in our community who are able to would make a great difference to this initiative. Please help Cradles to Crayons and the children in low-income situations whom they serve with these essential items free of charge.

Check out the flyer here: MLK Day Clothing Drive

For questions, please contact  Chris Bavaro at cb*****@**************ns.org