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  • Dog in Hot Car. What to Do?!

    Dog in Hot Car. What to Do?!

    Every year pets die because they were left in a car on a warm day.

    On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can reach 100 – 120 degrees in mere minutes, so leaving your dog in the car for “just a minute” is dangerous. On a 90+ degree day the interior temperature can reach 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes!

    hot temperatures and dogs in cars

    Just like people, animals are affected by the heat, but unlike humans they can only cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paw pads.

    What to do if you come across a dog in a car with no owner in sight:

    – Note the car’s make/model, license plate number, location and the time.
    – Take down a description of the dog, noting his/her condition. Watch for restlessness, thick saliva, heavy panting, lethargy, vomiting, bloody diarrhea and lack of coordination. These are all symptoms of heatstroke.
    – Ask nearby businesses to make announcements using the vehicle’s make/model to locate the dog’s owner.
    – If the owner is not located call the police or local animal control.
    – If possible, don’t leave the scene until help has arrived!

    dogs and hot days

    If your pet shows signs of heatstroke, bring him/her to a vet immediately! Provide your pet with water to drink, and apply cool (not cold), wet towels to the groin area, stomach, chest, and paws. If you have access to a large amount of water, consider spraying or splashing him/her with cool water, to bring body temperature down.

    This information is from The Animal Rescue League of Boston.

  • Newly-ish Renovated Volante Farms in Needham

    Newly-ish Renovated Volante Farms in Needham

    The renovated Volante Farms caught my eye driving back from a soccer party. I had never been there before the renovation but I had always heard people talking about it.

    volante farms needham

    I went to check it out and fell in love! This year-round Farmer’s Market of my dreams. The new building, completed about a year ago, has the space to expand their existing products, plus space to add in some new items. There is now have a full service deli, bakery, ice cream stand, and farm kitchen.


    volante farms needham

    It was raining heavily that day so I didn’t explore the extensive nursery but the plants looked unsually lush and vibrant.  They have annuals, perennials, vegetables, and shrubs as well as a multitude of vegetable transplants and hanging baskets. The hanging baskets look gorgeous.

    volante farms needham

     

    Volante Farms also has lovely pottery planters for your garden.

    volante farms needham

    Their bakery is sourced from just about every artisanal bakery in the Boston area. This is such a great convenience for bread lovers!

    volante farms needham

    They also have baked goods like muffins and scones.

    volante farms needham

     

    Though it was cold in late Spring, there was still quite an assortment of seasonal vegetables and fruit from local farms. There were also meat and artisinal cheese in the refrigerated section.

    volante farms needham

     

    Chef Todd Heberlein heads up the kitchen at Volante Farms. He has over a decade of experience in providing farm to table cuisine for the discerning customer.

    The kitchen staff prepares a wide variety of vegetables, salads, pastas, and meats ready for heating and eating at home or on the go. Many of these products are made with the vegetables grown here on the farm or with meat, grains, and dairy from local farmers.

    Products featuring their HOMEGROWN vegetables will feature a yellow and green VF sticker on them.

     

    Their Farm Kitchen prepares daily sandwich and/or soup specials for a hot midday meal.

    volante farms needham

    Have you been to Volante Farms since their renovation? It’s worth a visit!

  • FREE Teen Nutrition and Exercise Program

    FREE Teen Nutrition and Exercise Program

    Seeking Teens 10-18 to Participate in Health Advisory Program

    Open to any Newton teen age 10-18, the Health Advisory is an opportunity to improve your awareness of healthy nutrition and exercise.

    Students are assigned to a screened adult advisor, who will work with them to set healthy, realistic goals. Students are given a pedometer for periodic check ins (have you walked your 10,000 steps today, Mom and Dad?) and participate in fun activities matched to their own goals.

    For more information about this FREE program, contact susan@thenewtonpartnership.org

     

    The Newton Partnership, free teen health and exercise program

  • Hunger Never Takes a Vacation: Food Donations Needed

    Hunger Never Takes a Vacation: Food Donations Needed

    With school nearly done, it’s easy to focus on summer fun but what about kids who relied on meals at school? Summer food donations are more important than ever to make sure families and individuals in Newton don’t go hungry.

    Did you know about the Centre Street Food Pantry in Newton Centre? They are asking for food donations. They need unexpired shelf-stable canned goods, toiletries, and other items. And they’re always in need of brown-handled grocery bags for our shoppers to use.

    Drop off Tuesdays from 3-7 or contact them at centrestfoodpantry@gmail.com

    Thank you for your support!


    Centre Street food pantry Newton,

  • Po Boy Has an Amazing Sandwich

    Po Boy Has an Amazing Sandwich

    This is exactly the kind of restaurant I love. Not too fancy. Very friendly. And with amazing food.

    I love New Orleans but we haven’t made it out there in over a decade. Now, the food has come to us! I feel very fortunate to have Po Boy in the neighborhood!

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    It’s a small neighborhood restaurant with limited seating. I noticed a brisk take out business during lunch.

    photo-2

    Owner Ed Cormier, on the left, made us feel welcome!

    owner of po boys, Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    There are other things on the menu beside the Po Boy sandwich, but that is THE item to order! I’ll have to come back to try the rest of the menu. I also hear that ice cream will be a new addition.

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    I decided to try the Fried Chicken. I love Southern style fried chicken and this surprised me by being more like chicken fingers rather than fried chicken on the bone. I would have liked it with a little more seasoning. It’s great for kids though though one of my kids would eat the Po Boy sandwich.

    fried chicken at po boys, Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    My husband ordered the Po Boy and it was perfect. It’s on ciabatta bread and it’s not too huge. The oysters taste of the sea and were perfectly cooked and crispy. The secret, besides impeccable oysters, is the sauce that is a tangy mayo spiced concoction. I really liked the bread choice. It sets off the fried oysters perfectly.

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches, po boy sandwich

    Here’s the Po Boy opened up so you can see the deep fried oysters. We also liked the onion rings which were thinly sliced and crisp.

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    Po Boy is located at 67 Crafts Street near the Whole Foods in Newton off Washington Boulevard. This is the kind of restaurant that I am reallly rooting for. Please stop by and check it out! It’s open Mon-Fri 6 am – 6:30 pm but I hear some weekends also. Call ahead, (617) 244-4005,  to order for take out.

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    Have you been to Po Boy yet? What did you think of it?

  • A Fun Family Event to Meet Candidate in Newton Highlands

    A Fun Family Event to Meet Candidate in Newton Highlands

    CHRIS STEELE
    Chris Steele, Newton Highlands Family Event
    Candidate for Alderman-at-Large Newton Ward 5
    Annabelle Ship & John Sanders, owners of Green Planet Kids
    & 
    Eunice & Steve Feller, owners of Bread & Chocolate Bakery
    are pleased to invite you to a
    celebration and campaign launch for
    CHRIS STEELE
     
    We are supporting Chris because he has been a true supporter of local business in Newton and is a strong advocate for education and community. We believe that he will be a wonderful Alderman!
     
    Please bring your families out for a fun summer evening!
     
    OPEN HOUSE
    Cookies, Cupcakes & Lemonade!
    Face Painting!
    Balloon Animals
    Sunday, June 23rd 4:30 to 6:00 pm
    at
    Bread & Chocolate Bakery, Newton Highlands Village
     
    Find out more about Chris here:
    http://steele4newton.org
  • FREE Sunrise Yoga in the Park this Saturday!

    FREE Sunrise Yoga in the Park this Saturday!

    Take yoga, to the whim of Well Within’s energizing yoga teacher Jill, sprinkle in some sunlight and shady trees, add some fresh air, a soft patch of grass and you have Yoga in the Park!

    Free yoga event in Newton MA

    This is a fun (and FREE!) opportunity to bring your yoga practice into the outdoors and enjoy the beauty of Newton. Grab your friends (newbies, super yogis and everyone in between), wear comfortable clothing and sunglasses and come help us keep the good vibes flowing through our neighborhood

    This event is BYOM (Bring your own mat).

    Please note:  Yoga in the Park will be cancelled in the event of rain.  Please check our Facebook page the day of to confirm.  (The weather report at this time is predicting gorgeous weather!)

    Where:  Wellington Park – 98 Kilburn Rd, Newton, MA

    When:  Saturday, June 22nd : 7:30-8:30am

    Click HERE to register for this FREE event!  See you at the park!

     

  • E. Coli at Newton Wellesley Hospital and What to Look For

    E. Coli at Newton Wellesley Hospital and What to Look For

    An importnat note from Michael A. Lew, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases, on behalf of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Infectious Diseases Service:
    • Three cases of E. Coli that have been diagnosed so far have occurred in middle-aged females, two of whom reside in Wellesley, and one in Waltham. 
    •  Be on the lookout for new cases of bloody diarrhea.
    Three cases diagnosed so far have occurred in middle-aged females, two of whom reside in Wellesley, and one in Waltham.  All patients presented with bloody diarrhea that was followed in several days by rising serum creatinine, anemia, and thrombocytopenia.  All three patients currently are in our hospital.HUS is triggered by intestinal infection by Shiga-like toxin-producing bacteria, otherwise known as enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC).  Most cases in the United States have been associated with E. coli serotype O157:H7, but other serotypes have been implicated in other outbreaks, as in the highly  publicized outbreak that occurred in Germany last year.  Only a small minority of patients infected by EHEC develop HUS.  The illness seems to occur with greater frequency in children, but all ages can be affected, and in any given outbreak the age group most affected can be influenced by the type of food that served as the vehicle for infection.  Host genetics may play a role in determining which individuals develop HUS after infection by  EHEC.  HUS may produce long-term impairment of renal function and other sequelae.

    We have checked with the State Epidemiologists, and, until we reported our cases to them, they were not aware of any recent outbreaks of E. coli, O157:H 7 infection or HUS in the state.

     
    We urge you to be on the lookout for new cases of bloody diarrhea and to follow CBCs and renal function in such patients.  The literature is mixed, but antibiotics do not seem to alter the course of the colitis, and they may foster the development of HUS by inducing abrupt release of Shiga-like toxin.
     
    Please report any new cases to us, so that we can keep our medical community and the Department of Public Health informed.
  • Music Scholarships for Kids and Boston Concert Schedule: From The Top

    Music Scholarships for Kids and Boston Concert Schedule: From The Top

    This season, From the Top will also award more than $200,000 in scholarships to select performers on the radio show through its Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. Since 2005, this program has awarded more than $1.8 million to pre-collegiate musicians with financial need to support their musical development.

    Beyond the radio show, From the Top helps young musicians take their music beyond the concert hall to diverse audiences in school and community settings across the country in conjunction with the National Tour. From the Top will do special increased community outreach in select markets on the tour this year.

    From the Top is now accepting applications from eligible young musicians at fromthetop.org/casting.

     

    From The Top Concerts in Boston

    From the Top with host Christopher O’Riley, the preeminent showcase for young musicians, announces its 2013–2014 National Radio Taping Tour for recording its popular NPR radio program.

    The tour includes live taping events at From the Top’s home at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall in Boston, as well as the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota, the new Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University, and the historic Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga, Tennessee. From the Top will also tape at Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado and at the Virginia Arts Festival in Norfolk, Virginia.

    Broadcast on nearly 250 stations nationwide to an audience of more than 700,000 listeners, From the Top celebrates the amazing performances and captivating stories of America’s best pre-college classical musicians. Considered the most popular weekly classical music programs on public radio, the show has been described by the Boston Globe as, “an entertaining, accessible and inspirational mix of outstanding musical performances, informal interviews, skits and games; the show is a celebration of extraordinary musicians who happen to be teenagers leading fairly normal lives.”

    From the Top, From the Top concerts in Boston, Boston From the Top Concerts, From the Top Music Scholarships

    Sunday, October 6, 2013: Boston, Massachusetts
    New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall

    Saturday, February 8, 2014: Boston, Massachusetts
    New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall

  • Whole Foods 25th Anniversary Event!

    Whole Foods 25th Anniversary Event!

    This year is the 25th Anniversary for Whole Foods and they’re kicking off the summer with a “25 Summers” Anniversary event.

    It will start off with a BBQ to benefit Newton Community Pride.

    chef andy husbands, cook book author andy husbands

    Also, author Andy Husbands of Tremont 647, will be here to sign his latest book, Wicked Good Burgers!

    There will be samples from local vendors, team demonstrations, music & more.

    Please join us for food, fun and community support on the 29th at the Newton Whole Foods near the intersection of  Walnut and Beacon Streets.

    Whole Foods Market

    916 Walnut Street

    Newton, MA 02461

    Whole Foods Newton 25th Anniversary Event