Author: Mia

Newton 9th Best City to Live in MA
CreditDonkey team’s ranking of the best cities to live in Massachusetts used these five key factors to determine their list.
1. Odds of Being a Victim of a Violent Crime
2. Commute Time
3. Income
4. Residents Who Attended Some College
5. Restaurants Per Capita
The Top 10 Cities are:

1. Beverly

Just 16 miles northeast of Boston, Beverly is one of the oldest cities in Massachusetts. A relatively low crime rate combined with a high average wage makes Beverly an excellent choice for families and professionals. Its close proximity to Boston gives commuters access to the area’s commuter train and a short ride to the city (albeit with some company along the way), yet it also has its share of restaurants and local attractions that keep people around during their off-hours.

Did You Know: Several people from Beverly were accused of witchery at the Salem witch trials. The Salem Witch Museum includes a tour of the Beverly home of a minister who perpetuated the false accusations.

2. Gloucester

If you’re looking for ocean views while remaining relatively close to the metropolitan area, Gloucester is the place to be. Residents are able to score an average commute of under 25 minutes, although those who commute to Boston will have double or triple that amount, depending on whether they take the local train or drive during rush hour. While there are plenty of places to enjoy a good meal – including fresh fish – or have a drink, you’re just a stone’s throw from Ipswich, Rockport, and Essex, which offer even more options.

Did You Know: Gloucester shot to fame when all six crew members on board the Andrea Gail lost their lives during a 1991 Nor’easter, the storm documented by local author Sebastian Junger in his book “The Perfect Storm.” The movie based on the book was filmed here.

3. Woburn

Woburn ranks third on our list partly because it’s one of the safest places to live in Massachusetts. Wages here are also slightly higher, with incomes averaging just over $72,000. Woburn ties with Waltham for the shortest commute time, clocking in at just 24.2 minutes.

Did You Know: Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan and actor Eric Bogosian were both born in Woburn.

4. Waltham

Once part of nearby Watertown, Waltham earned the nickname the “Watch City” thanks to the Waltham Watch Co., which produced over 40 million watches and clocks here in the 19th century.Less than 10 miles from Boston, Waltham is home to Bentley College and Brandeis University. The city features active nightlife and an eclectic dining scene, topping our list with 260 restaurants and bars to choose from, many of them on Moody Street.

Did You Know: High-profile employers based in Waltham include defense contractor Raytheon, online marketing company Constant Contact, and StudentUniverse, a tech company that offers discount travel services to students.

5. Peabody

Another community located in the North Shore suburban region, Peabody is a retreat from the big city life for both students and professionals alike. Peabody once made the Forbes magazine top 100 list of best places to live in 2012, thanks to its high median income levels and below average home prices. That’s a designation we believe is well deserved.

Did You Know: Giles Corey, who was infamously pressed to death during the Salem Witch trials, once owned a farm in Peabody.

6. Westfield

If it’s natural beauty you’re looking for, Westfield features rich farmland, scenic stretches of rolling hills, and plenty of rivers and streams ideal for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. At 23.4 minutes, Westfield has the shortest commute time on our list, mainly because if you live here, you work near here. While it ranks at the lower end in terms of median income, the cost of living is less than what you’d pay in an urban setting.

Did You Know: Once inhabited by the Native American Pocumtuc tribe, Westfield was originally known as Woronoco.

7. Marlborough

Approximately 30 minutes west of Boston, Marlborough ranks number two as the safest city on our list. Convenience is the main reason to live here, as the city provides easy access to three major highways for fast getaways and for getting to work in either Worcester or Boston. It has its own action as well, with a major hockey sports center, a big mall, restaurants for just about every taste, and two Targets. Higher income rates and corporate residents Boston Scientific and TJX (the company behind TJ Maxx) are a big draw for the under-40 professional crowd.

Did You Know: This city with a small-town atmosphere was known for a century as “one of the shoe manufacturing capitals of New England,” according to local historians. The only sign of that time is a shoemaker statue and a Reebok outlet store near the downtown area.

8. Newburyport

Thanks to its historic seaport, Newburyport is a bustling tourist spot, but it’s also a great place to call home. Wages here are among the highest, averaging $83,509. Even though the commute is little longer, driving to Boston is bearable, and the city has a commuter rail stop. The crime rate here is moderate, and there are plenty of local dining spots that feature everything from New England favorites to New Orleans-style cuisine.

Did You Know: Since 1957, residents have celebrated the Yankee Homecoming, an annual festival commemorating the return of natives to Newburyport.

9. NEWTON
- Odds of Being a Victim of a Violent Crime: 1 in 1,141
- Commute Time: 26.4 minutes
- Income: $113,416
- Residents Who Attended Some College, No Degree: 7.6%
  (Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 75%)
- Restaurants: 1 per 505 inhabitants
A conglomeration of 13 villages, Newton ranks number one on our list for the highest median income. The Chestnut Hill area is home to Boston College, and Newton is located centrally between Boston, Waltham, Brookline, Wellesley, and Needham. The city has a strong tourist trade, but it’s also recognized as a thriving college community with a strong artistic and cultural presence.

Did You Know: Newton is usually the top-ranked Massachusetts city in “safest city in America” reports, and, in fact, has earned the top spot a few times by an oft-cited report by Morgan Quitno Press. It may have something to do with the town-like feel this community offers.

10. Attleboro

Once known as the jewelry capital of the world, Attleboro is less than a 10-minute drive from nearby Pawtucket, RI. A significant part of the city’s population commutes, either to Boston or Providence, with the average commute time squeaking in at just under 30 minutes.

Did You Know: The Capron Park area features a popular zoo that’s a big draw for local residents and visitors.
June 25, 2014
New Opera Immortalizes Tragedy of Chinese-American Soldier

A Foreigner in His Own Country

“Why are Asian Americans disproportionately targeted for abuse?

A harmonic convergence of factors. There’s the perception — and in some cases, the reality — of the “nerd” stereotype. The trinity of social awkwardness, physical frailty and academic overachievement has always served as a magnet for bullies.

There’s the rising tide of animosity toward immigrants, particularly those from predominantly countries that are seen as emerging rivals of the United States, like China and India.

There’s the plain old fact that those who are “different” in obvious ways — appearance, name, faith, accent — are often the focus of unwanted attention in environments where fitting in is prized, like high school. Or the military.

And especially among immigrants and the children of immigrants, there’s the reality that cultural and familial expectations push them to submit to bullying rather than being “disruptive” or succumbing to “distraction.” from CNN

AngryAsianGrrlMN casual racism that Asian Americans face when she writes:

This is the kind of casual racism that isn’t talked about, but that Asian people deal with on a regular basis. We are the invisible minority, and we rarely get the kind of attention that other minorities do.

New York Magazine has an extensive piece about Chen’s experience, including his letters home from the military. Here’s some of what he wrote to his parents:

“Everyone knows me because I just noticed, I’m the only chinese guy in the platoon,” he wrote home. His fellow recruits called him Chen Chen, Jackie Chan, and Ling Ling. But, he added, “Don’t worry, no one picks on me … I’m the skinniest guy and weigh the least here but … people respect me for not quitting.”

Four weeks later, the Asian jokes hadn’t stopped. “They ask if I’m from China like a few times day,” he wrote. “They also call out my name (chen) in a goat like voice sometimes for no reason. No idea how it started but now it’s just best to ignore it. I still respond though to amuse them. People crack jokes about Chinese people all the time, I’m running out of jokes to come back at them.”

The eight men later charged in connection with his death are all white and range in age from 24 to 35; they include one lieutenant, two staff sergeants, three sergeants, and two specialists. Danny’s parents, of course, are inconsolable at the loss of their only child.

“In October of 2011, a Chinese-American soldier serving in Afghanistan was found shot dead in an apparent suicide after weeks of abuse by his fellow servicemen. An investigation showed that 19-year-old Danny Chen had been the subject of racial slurs and abusive treatment, including excessive guard duty and torturous exercises, accompanied by beating and taunting by other soldiers. The tragedy of the young man is the subject of a new opera titled An American Soldier, which premiers in Washington, D.C. on June 13.

Opera director David Paul says the courtroom set is gradually dismantled until it hits a wall of graffiti typically found in war zones.

“One of the things we want to show in the piece is how American justice fails this man and essentially falls apart and we are trying to get at the bottom of why, but as the piece progresses, it – American justice – fails us and so one of the things we are showing is that this courtroom as foundation of the story essentially disintegrates,” he said.

Creators of An American Soldier say they hope the opera will contribute to a closer scrutiny of a dark undercurrent in the U.S. military culture, and society in general.”

From Voice of America

June 24, 2014
Third Emmy® Win for NewTV!

NewTV’s original program “The Folklorist” received its third Boston/New England Emmy® Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

“The Folklorist” won for Historical/Cultural Program/Special at the awards ceremony on June 7 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. The show previously won Emmys for its promo and host. This year’s award is especially gratifying as it recognizes the quality of the program and honors the hard work of the entire cast and crew.

Congratulations to “The Folklorist” production team of John Horrigan, Andrew Eldridge, Angela Harrer, Melinda Garfield and Robert Kelly, as well as the cast members, interns and volunteers. NewTV congratulates all the Emmy winners and thanks its ever-growing audience.

Watch “The Folklorist” here.

June 23, 2014
Bike Rides for Kids and Families with BikeNewton

BikeNewton leads a group Bike Ride starting and ending at the Newton Main Library.

Arrive at 5:45.

These are family-friendly “No Rider Left Behind” rides; anyone may ride as long as their bikes are in good working order, and they are confident they can handle a leisurely 7 to 10 mile ride.

Children must be with an adult, all riders must wear helmets, and adhere to safety rurules of the road. We will go to scenic points in and around Newton.

All new riders get a free Bike Map of Newton!

Where: Meet at the Newton Main Library
330 Homer St.
Newton Center

When: 5:45 PM – 7:15 PM Mondays through November 8

Who: Kids and adults

How: Just come

Cost: Free

For more info: www.bikenewton.org

June 22, 2014
2014’s Safest States to Live In: MA is Safest!

WalletHub has identified the Safest States to Live In. Using 26 key metrics, they sorted the states according to different safety standards that take into account data related to crime, traffic accidents, employer insurance coverage, climate disasters, consumer bank accounts and more.

How did Massachusetts do?

#1 For Home and Community Safety.

#1 For Financial Safety. We are good savers in Massachusetts!

#1 For Driving Safety. Wow, who knew?

#5 For Workplace Safety.

#25 For Natural Disasters.

Overall rank of safest states to live in: Massachusetts is #1!

June 21, 2014
Mystery Architecture Challenge to Help NNHS Science Team

The Newton North Science Team won second place in the State TEAMS Competition and we will be one of two teams representing the State of Massachusetts at the national competition in Washington DC. As it seems, hitchhiking to DC and sleeping in a 1000 star hotel are not options.

The science team is having an event with three goals in mind – spreading the word about NNHS’s summer reading book, reaching out for new club members, and fundraising. There are two components to this event:

1. The first is that we will be running a Mystery Architecture Challenge at Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Burlington on Saturday, June 21, 2014 between the hours of 1-5 p.m., but you can shop all day at the store using the book fair ID listed below.

2. The second is an online and in-store shopping component at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bookfairs/ which will take place between 6/21/14 and 6/26/14. We will receive a portion of what is sold on-line between 6/21/14 and 6/26/14 and in the Burlington store on 6/21/14 when our book fair ID ( ID# 11384203) is used. Most items, including those from the café, are available to us.

The summer reading for this summer is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran.

Direct donations would also be appreciated.

June 20, 2014
Amanda Pavone : Newton’s Olympic Hopeful
There is no doubting Amanda Pavone’s utter dedication and drive in qualifying for the US 2016 Olympics women’s boxing team; her training regime for competition – a two hour mixture of jump rope, shadow boxing, mitts and sparring followed by 45 minutes of running – is merciless. Even more impressive is that Amanda’s daily routine around which she fits her training involves, on average, 10-hour shifts as chef/manager at Boston’s seafood restaurant chain, The Daily Catch.

Boxing Olympic Hopeful Amanda Pavone

Just as remarkable is the fact that Amanda, 28, put on her first pair of boxing gloves in only 2009, and yet her total commitment to the sport has already led to her being ranked second in the USA Boxing Elite Women’s ranking, and winning second place in the 2013 Women’s National Golden Gloves competition.

The expense of boxing classes and gym memberships prevented Amanda from taking up the sport from an earlier age. Rather unconventionally, she was in fact drinking in a bar in Boston one night after work when the idea of trying out boxing first came to her. She explains:

“My friend had told me the owner of the bar (Danny Kelly) works with people boxing and his son is a boxer. He doesn’t ‘train’ anyone but he knew all the people on the boxing scene and would work with people. The first night I met him I begged him to let me hit the mitts and of course he said absolutely not… Being the way that I am I just wouldn’t let it go the whole night and didn’t stop asking until he finally gave in and let me hit the mitts a couple times.”

Kelly was immediately aware of Amanda’s incredible strength and spotted her overwhelming potential. The very next day, he introduced Amanda to her first trainer, Jimmy Farrell and she “hasn’t stopped fighting or training since that day.”

Amanda is utterly passionate about boxing: “It keeps me disciplined,” she explains. “When I discovered boxing, I wasn’t in a very good place in my life and I can honestly say that boxing saved my life. Boxing keeps me in line every day. Without it, I’d be miserable.”

Her trainer, Marc Gargaro, 35, of Nontantum Boxing Club, Newton, says of Amanda’s drive: “She works harder than anyone in the gym; it usually takes boxers many years to work their way from novice to Open class then to boxing at a high level, especially National Championship tournament level. Amanda has progressed amazingly fast in a short time.”

Her Daily Catch: Working as Chef vs. Training as Boxer

However, training to an Olympic standard takes both time and money, and Amanda’s grueling work schedule doesn’t allow her the freedom she needs to train as much as she needs. Her Daily Catch manager, Basil Freddura, although sympathetic to the time she requires to train for competitions, is often left short staffed as a result. He says:

“Having to manage a restaurant schedule and balance it with a boxing schedule can be very challenging. Most of the tournaments are more than a week long, which can sometimes complicate the restaurants staffing needs,” adding, “but I have always supported Amanda’s boxing because I know how much it means to her.”

The situation is equally as arduous from Amanda’s perspective, and the pressures of juggling long hours as a chef and training every day physically takes its toll on her:

“I train every morning and by the time I get into work I am already exhausted going into anywhere from an eight or sometimes a 14 hour shift. It’s not like I’m sitting at a desk, I’m literally hunched over a hot stove all day sweating, hot, and completely exhausted. I have burns on every part of my arms, my legs ache from standing on them all day, everyday, and from the running and training.”

She goes on to explain: “I try and take one day a week off the gym and it should be a day that I’m not working but it usually isn’t because on my days off I can fit in a double work out which is much more productive, but in turn, leaves me with not enough rest. That just rolls into the next week and continues and continues.”

This grueling agenda goes a long way to explaining Amanda’s desperate need for financial support in order to reach her Olympic dream. Not only do boxing injuries last far longer as a result of her job and her inability to get enough rest, she desperately needs more time to train.

The Path to Olympic Gold

Marc strongly believes that there are three keys to Amanda reaching the Olympics, clarifying:

“She really needs to be able to invest more time in training, financial support for time missed from her job while travelling, and a nutritionist.

Training as a boxer at Amanda’s level requires total dedication and that’s incredibly tough while balancing a full time job.

I’d love for her to get some financial support so she can dedicate more time to training.”

The need for a nutritionist is linked to Amanda’s other passion – food; working long hours in a restaurant is not conducive to good eating habits, and she often struggles to maintain her fighting weight, explaining:

“The Olympic weight classes for women are 112, 132 and 165. 132 is too big for me to fight at and 112 seems physically impossible for me to make, unless I start changing my eating habits and doing things the right way. This would take a while but it’s the only way. I think, however, that it would be impossible for me to make 112 without a nutritionist.”

As Amanda trains for next month’s 2014 Women’s Golden Gloves Championships in Florida, these issues are all too pertinent as once again Amanda squeezes in crucial training sessions around her punishing work schedule. There is little doubt that she has the talent and the spirit to make her Olympic dreams a reality, but it is financial funding that holds the key to Amanda’s hopes. She concludes: “I have financial responsibilities and only working part time is not ever an option for me. I can only dream of the day when I can just worry about training and nothing else.”

How to Help Amanda Reach the Olympics

Please help Amanda reach the Olympics by:
- Spread the word about her GoFundMe Campaign
- Suggest potential corporate sponsors (please leave a comment or email pragmaticmomblog@gmail.com)
- Donate! Any donation, small or large, will help her reach her dreams
Thank you so much!!! If you wish to donate, please go here.

Amanda is in blue.

Article by Lydia Davis.
June 20, 2014

End of School Treasure Hunt!

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

Who: For kids ages 3 to 12. Treasure Packs will only be given out to children, and they must be accompanied by an adult.

What: A really fun Treasure Hunt sponsored by some of Newton’s favorite kid-friendly independent businesses and organizations.

When: June 20th through June 30th. Start on any of those days, then complete the hunt in any order you wish, over as many days as you wish, as long as you finish by June 30th.

Where: Start at Green Planet Kids where you will pick up your map and your first treasure. Then solve the clues and visit participating businesses and organizations. Check out the logos on our poster to identify our partners, but sshhh, don’t tell the kids!

Why: Congratulations on another great year of school! Bring in some schoolwork to show us – we’d love to see an essay, math test, report card, art project, or anything else that you’re proud of!

How: Starts at Green Planet Kids, 22 Lincoln Street in Newton Highlands. You will be given a Treasure Map, Clues and a Treasure Pack with gift coupons. Solve the clues, then travel around Newton and pick up your treasure! This can be done over several days, as long as you complete the hunt by June 30th.

Tell your friends… this is going to be a blast!

Green Planet Kids is located at

22 Lincoln St. in Newton Highlands

You can reach us at (617) 332-7841

June 19, 2014

Fundraiser for Family Equality

Please join us for a cocktail reception at our home, and help us in our effort to end discrimination against LGBT families in this country.

Fundraiser for Family Equality
Saturday, June 21 – 6:00–8:00 p.m.
2 Langley Rd.
Arlington, MA
RSVP – www.familyequality.org/arlington

All donations are tax deductible and will support the Family Equality Council. As gay parents, Tom and I are particularly interested in the work Family Equality Council is doing to end discrimination against LGBT people who are seeking to adopt children. With more than 104,000 children in the foster care system and eligible for adoption, some states and agencies continue to discriminate against LGBT people, who would make good parents, denying these children the chance for a safe, happy, and permanent home. Currently the organization is working to make the Every Child Deserves a Family Act a federal law in order to stop states and agencies from discriminating against LGBT families. The Council is also advancing adoption bills in Virginia, Utah, and Minnesota, states that currently make adoption by LGBT families illegal. For 30 years, Family Equality Council has connected, supported, and represented a community of LGBT families across the country. You can find out more about the Family Equality Council at FamilyEquality.org.

In the coming weeks, you’ll receive a separate e-mail invitation from Family Equality Council as well. To RSVP, please go towww.familyequality.org/arlington. We hope that you’ll be able to join us on June 21.

Sincerely,

Mark & Tom

June 19, 2014
The Discovery Museums Free Admission Summer Friday Nights

The Discovery Museums Announce Summer Hours and Free Admission on Summer Friday Nights

Kickoff Concert Featuring the Maynard Community Band, June 27

The Discovery Museums in Acton are pleased to announce the beginning of summer hours and their Free Friday Night Fun! program for 2014. Beginning Monday, June 23, both museums on the campus – Children’s Discovery Museum and Science Discovery Museum – will be open 7 days per week. Children’s Discovery Museum will be open 9:00am to 4:30pm while Science Discovery Museum will be open10:00am to 4:30pm.

Free Friday Night Fun! begins Friday, June 27 and runs through August 29. Both museums will be open from 4:30pm to 8:30pm, with free admission. Families are invited to picnic under the stars and enjoy the museums and outdoor exhibits at night.

A performance from the Maynard Community Band will begin at 7:00pm during the first of these free Friday nights on June 27. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the outdoor entertainment on the museums’ grounds.

Free Friday Night Fun! is an important component of the Museums’ Open Door Connections program, which provides opportunities for those who face a variety of barriers—financial, developmental, or cultural—to experience the museums.

The Discovery Museums will collect non-perishable food donations for the Acton Food Pantry, Open Table of Concord and Open Table of Maynard as part of this special promotion. While not required for admission, donations are greatly appreciated. The food pantries are in great need of shelf-stable foods for their guests, such as: canned meats; cooking oil; low salt vegetables, soup and chili; coffee and tea; breakfast cereal; canned fruit; jams and jellies; peanut butter.

Summer Hours (June 23 – August 29, 2014) and Admission

Children’s Discovery Museum

Open 7 days a week:  9am to 4:30pm

Fridays (free admission):  4:30pm to 8:30pm

Science Discovery Museum

Open 7 days a week:  10am to 4:30pm

Fridays (free admission):  4:30pm to 8:30pm

Admission is $11.50 for adults and children, $10.50 for seniors, and free for children under 1 and Members.

Free Friday Night Fun! is made possible by the generous support of MathWorks and Middlesex Savings Bank.

June 18, 2014

Author: Mia

9. NEWTON

A Foreigner in His Own Country

Boxing Olympic Hopeful Amanda Pavone

Her Daily Catch: Working as Chef vs. Training as Boxer

The Path to Olympic Gold

How to Help Amanda Reach the Olympics