Kid’s Bags will be distributed to every child in a family that shops on Wednesday afternoon at the pantry location at Newton City Hall. The bags will be filled with a variety of child-friendly snack foods and drinks meant to be enjoyed by kids between meals during the school week.

Each Kid’s Bag must include the following:

● 1 or 2 individual containers of Chef Boyardee spaghetti, Mac & Cheese or similar pasta (2.5 – 5 oz serving size)
● 1 snack size fruit cup ( Dole Mandarin oranges, peaches or mixed fruit)
● 1 fruit (apple sauce) or / & vegetable pouch
● 1 or 2 Quaker oatmeal packets
● 1 granola bar, any kind (NO peanuts or nuts)
● 1 small single serving boxed milk (white or chocolate)
● 1 Capri Sun (or similar) 100% juice box or packet
● 1 Keebler (or similar) snack size cracker pack
● 1 Popcorn, Pop Corners snack bag, Goldfish or Cheez-It packet

Once you have filled 30 (or more!) Kid’s Bags, they can be dropped off at the NFP, Newton City Hall, War Memorial Auditorium two times per month beginning on Thursday, February 18th between 10:00 and 11:00 am and Saturday, February 20th, between 9:00 and 11:00 am.

Also, since children find so much joy in self-expression, it is the hope that the bags will be “decorated” for all to enjoy and that you will consider working with your child(ren), family members, neighbors, or groups on decorating Kid’s Bags!

The guidelines for decorating bags are the following:

● White paper bags must be 8” x 4.75” x 10” with handles. These can be ordered on Amazon (similar to https://amzn.to/3oU98ph) or purchased at Michael’s (similar to  http://bit.ly/3aEEzPl).
● All art must be non-secular and appropriate for all children in our diverse community. “Free art” is encouraged as are seasonal (winter, spring, etc.) themes, original patterns and designs. Please no representations of holidays.
● The use of drawing materials including markers, crayons, and colored pencils of different sizes, watercolor paints and a variety of stampers are encouraged.
● Children of all ages (Toddlers – School age) will be receiving the snack bags. Therefore, they CANNOT accept bags that have staples, tape, or any toxic materials (including glitter and glue) on the bags.

If you are interested in joining in this effort, please contact Marilyn Crone at mmc1335@gmail.com for more information. Thank you for your interest in Kid’s Bags and for your support!

The Youth Commission is hosting an online forum and invites you to join and meet candidates Bryan Barash, David Micley and Tarik Lucas of Ward 2 and Maddy Ranalli and John Oliver from Ward 1.

The webinar will be led by the Youth Commissioners and will be a Q&A format.  Youth and adults are all invited to attend the forum to get to know each of the candidates.

Please spread the word to your friends! Webinar link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xWx9yKwqTLyAXZh9jXgSLA (REGISTRATION REQUIRED).

February 17th, 5:30-7pm via zoom

Area Councils’ debates with candidates for Newton’s Special Election for the contested City Council seats Councilor-at-Large, Wards 1 & 2 to be moderated by Marjorie Arons-Barron

These seats are currently vacant by the election of U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss who represented Ward 2, and the death of Councilor Jay Ciccone who represented Ward 1.
Voting is not limited to residents of Wards 1 and 2. EVERY registered voter in Newton can vote for these two contested Council positions.

The Special Election is on March 16th. Applications to vote by mail are available here. Send the completed application back to the Newton City Clerk’s Office by mail, or drop it in either of the two designated, secure drop boxes in front of City Hall. Ballot applications must be received by March 10th.

Register for the debate: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpf-mrqT0tG9ZvrnYqyo-BULJAS3sf1zVX After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

February 21st, 2:00 – 4:30 pm via Zoom

Produced by the 4 Newton Area Councils which are comprised of village elected officials.

The February 9th CPC Meeting Agenda and Meeting Packet are now available online for review. Topics include continued funding for the Covid-19 Emergency Housing Program and new proposals for Coleman House and the Grace Tower Restoration.

CPA Project Updates for February
Covid-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program – In January, the City submitted a new proposal for $1.2 million in additional CPA community housing funds to extend the existing short-term housing assistance program through June 2021. Established in July 2020, the program was designed to provide housing payment assistance to households below 80% AMI who have been negatively impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The program pays up to 70% of a household’s monthly rent or mortgage payments (for homeowners in deed restricted affordable housing). While applicants are initially qualified for three months of assistance, those who continue to need assistance are currently able to extend their participation in the program in three month increments for up to eight months of assistance. The CPC recommended approval of the program in January, and the Finance and Zoning and Planning Committees recommended approval at their February 4th meeting. City Council review of the project is scheduled for their next meeting on February 16th.

Grace Episcopal Tower Restoration (Newton Corner)
Representatives of Grace Episcopal Church have requested $1,433,000 in CPA Historic Resource funds to stabilize and restore the ca. 1872 conical stone tower, steeple and belfry of the National Register of Historic Places listed building. The CPC recommended the project for CPA funding at their October 13th meeting. Following its review by the Finance and Zoning and Planning Committees at their February 4th meeting, the project is expected to go before the City Council on February 16th.

Coleman House Senior Housing Preservation Project -Owner 2Life Communities requests $4,214,622 to rehabilitate and restore the ca. 1980s Coleman House buildings which provides housing and supportive services to 146 very low and extremely low income senior households (at or below 50% AMI) in Newton. The project will completely restore Continue reading →

The Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council is hosting a virtual Winter Cheer Photo Contest to help spread community cheer in these frigid—and isolated—weeks.

Share your cheer-worthy photos via email, they will share them on Instagram, and enter all participants into a bi-weekly drawing for gift cards to local businesses. Please see additional rules and information on how to submit at this link Winter Cheer.

Make your plan now for the Winter Walk & Roll Week celebration from February 8th – 12th. Walk or roll around your neighborhood or house, or to school or a park.

• Download the activity booklet at www.NewtonSafeRoutes.org to play Bingo and I Spy.
• Print or draw a winter boot, decorate it, and hang it in your window.
• Look for other boots on your walks.
• Learn to walk like a penguin. And bundle up!

Brought to you by Newton Safe Routes to School.