Oops, I was too late to vote as well, but hopefully she will continue to the next round. Let’s keep watching and voting here on Facebook or here at ABC.com for future rounds. I’ll try to keep updating as well. Let’s support our hometown neighbor, Olympic Gold Medalist Gymnast Aly Raisman of Needham!
Round 1: Cha Cha to “Live While We’re Young.”
If you are new to Newton and want to know about the Newton tax override, I have a round up of links. This is only the second tax override to pass in Newton. The first was to renovate and build Newton’s High Schools. What does the override mean to Newton’s citizens and what next?
From Newton Patch: Newton Voters Pass $11.4M Override Package
The unofficial vote totals for the three questions:
Question 1
The first override question proposed would allow for an $8.4 million tax levy limit override to fund a list of projects, most of which will help with overcrowding and enrollment in the Newton Public Schools.
Question 2
Replace or renovate Angier Elementary School?
Question 3
Replace or renovate Cabot Elementary School?
From Village 14: Statement from Mayor Warren’s office on Newton overrides
When he announced the override package last fall, Mayor Warren also announced an expansion of tax assistance programs for eligible seniors and veterans. A staff person at City Hall has also been designated to help residents concerned about their ability to pay. If you are in need of assistance, you may call Meghan Kennedy at 617-796-1282
image from Village 14
From Newton Patch: Newton Superintendent: FY ’14 Budget Will Add More than 50 Teaching Positions
Of the more than 50 new positions slated in next year’s budget, 13.1 FTE (full-time equivalent) positions will be added on the elementary school level, 10.1 of which are for enrollment growth.
Three of those elementary school positions will be new, part-time assistant principals at the district’s three largest elementary schools: Countryside, Bowen and Memorial-Spaulding.
The elementary assistant principal positions are a new venture for the Newton Public Schools, but according to Fleishman, they are a common practice in Newton’s “peer districts.” Fleishman added that the part-time assistant principals will be full-time staffers who split their time between the assistant principal job and a teaching position.
Other additions include:
The 50 added positions in fiscal 2014 represent an approximate 3 percent increase to the district’s overall staff, which will total 1,924.6 positions in fiscal 2014.
Almost 30 years ago, Matt Stasior met Sal Litvak at Harvard the first week freshman year. They became fast friends as they rowed crew for 3 ½ years. After Harvard, Matt went to Bain and Company to work with Mitt Romney and Sal went to law school. After law school, Sal moved to LA to get his Masters in at the prestigious UCLA Film School. Matt was helping Microsoft Corporation grow from $200 million in sales to $4 billion.
It was then they formed a production company called Windfall Pictures. Matt co produced multiple short films of Sal’s including a Henry the VIII drama and a fun, slap stick, action short called Dick and Slick. Matt also starred in the film as Richard Head, which won the prestigious UCLA highest honors at the UCLA’s showcase event. It was then Sal, Sal’s wife Nina and Matt came together to start a Lincoln project.
After multiple revisions and excellent feedback from the studios, the project was turned down. Steven Spielberg had just announced in 2002 that he was going to do a Lincoln film.. This shut the project down, for then. Sal went on to write and direct When Do We Eat and Matt produced Love Lies Bleeding, a Jack the Ripper mystery starring Malcolm McDowell.
Years later as Spielberg was wrapping up the filming of Lincoln, Sal and Nina resurrected the project with a new twist. The background of each scene would all be actual background from the 1860s. When you watch the movie, you are actually watching where Lincoln ACTUALLY was, not a set to look like where he was. Sal invented an new cinematic style called CineCollage. First, the performances were filmed on a green screen stage. Then he used high resolution, glass-plate photographs from the Library of Congress to create the 3D environments our characters inhabit. This is the type of genius Matt saw in Sal 20 years ago.
Based on a true story. When Abraham Lincoln (Tom Amandes) is elected President, he brings only one friend to Washington: his banjo-playing, joke-telling former law partner and confidant, Ward Hill Lamon (Lea Coco). Lamon is also handy with a gun, and when the first assassination attempt occurs in 1861, Lamon appoints himself the President’s bodyguard.
From this unique perspective, Lamon witnesses every aspect of Lincoln’s fiery trial as Commander-in-Chief, from the constant military and political pressure, to the personal losses of friends and family members. Lamon soothes Lincoln’s tormented soul, saves him from repeated attempts on his life, and introduces him at the Gettysburg Address.
Lamon is not present on that fateful night at Ford’s Theater in 1865 because Lincoln sends him on a mission, yet it is Lamon who redefines that tragic event in a surprising and uplifting manner.
This visually unique film features sets created from actual Civil War photographs, using a new process called CineCollage, invented by director Salvador Litvak (When Do We Eat?). The film stars Penelope Ann Miller as Mary Todd Lincoln, Bruce Davison as William H. Seward, Creed Bratton as Senator Charles Sumner, Josh Stamberg as Salmon P. Chase and Saidah Arrika Ekulona as Mrs. Elizabeth Keckly.
Please visit Saving Lincoln to see the excellent reviews and where the next VIP Screening will be.
I saw this BoxART near the Boston Public Library on my way into Back Bay Boston. It’s so perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. Did you spot any 4-leaf clovers? Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
If you are looking for any activities, decorations or food ideas, please check out my St. Patrick’s Day Pinterest board where I have been collecting ideas for months.
Midwinter Coffeehouse returns just in time for early spring on April 6, 2013, at the First Unitarian Society in Newton for a fun evening of live folk and acoustic music.
Doors open at 6:30 PM music starts at 7:00 PM.
This year’s show will feature award winning singer/songwriter Oen Kennedy, emcee Eric Moore, Rob Siegel, Barb Cassidy, and other Day community members and friends.
Beer, wine, and soft drinks will be available for sale along with light refreshments.
Profits benefit the F.A. Day Middle School.
Tickets are $20 in advance at Tickets or $25 at the door if available (Adults over 21 only, please). Doors open at 6:30, music starts at 7. For more information please email midwintercoffee@gmail.com.
Today is Newton Blackout Day. No screens for kids! That means me too, I suppose …
Now that it’s over, I have to say that as a parent I LOVED IT! The kids do not get homework for Blackout Day and they are charged with making a concerted effort to stay off screens. My 2nd grader made special play date arrangements with his good friend Sam to cope with their loss of screens. They came up with a plan:
It worked and now we must get our own game of Clue too! After the play date, the nice weather made it an outside day for my kids and the boys across the street.
I had no idea that is was a national event. What did you and your kids do for Blackout Day? Please share your ideas and maybe we can stay off screens more this year!
I stayed off screens too … and now I am 200 emails behind. Sigh!
Boxing Classes for Kids in Newton
My mom friend Lynn has both her 3rd grade son and her 7th grade son boxing at Nonatum Boxing Club. They love it. It’s their favorite activity, nudging out baseball, soccer and even video games!
Her 7th grade son, Max, takes a semi-private lesson with two other classmates — they are in the photos and video below. They have been taking for less than one year.
Sam, her 3rd grade son, takes the Saturday morning class.
I thought I’d find out more from co-founders Marc Gargaro and Nathan (Nate) Buso.
1) What are the benefits of boxing for kids?
It not only teaches kids hand eye coordination and physical fitness, it develops self-confidence and character.
2) What is your philosophy in teaching kids to box?
Show them fundamentals and try to make it interesting for them as they learn the ins and outs of the sport.
3) Is boxing a good sport for special needs kids? If so, what experience have you had training them?
We train many kids with special needs. It gives them a great outlet where they can work on their focus and coordination and build confidence as well.
4) Your classes for children start at age 5. What will they learn?
At 5 they will learn that being active and conditioned is fun. As they grow older they will learn more about the sport.
5) How old were you both when you learned to box? What did it teach you?
We grew up with the sport both at the Boys Club and through older siblings. I think the best thing it taught me when I was younger was that it’s ok to be afraid and nervous, as long as you can deal with it positively. Also to make sure you are always staying in top condition.
Classes currently are on Saturday mornings. Nonantum Boxing Club is expanding to the downstairs space as well, so stay tuned for more kids’ classes!
5 to 9 Years Old
Sat: 9 am to 10 am
10 to 14 Years Old
Sat: 10 am to 11 am
Music makes practicing the footwork fun!
Heavy bag work strengthens muscles and reinforces technique.
p.s. Did you ever wonder why Nonantum Boxing Club is so clean? The bathroom is spotless and the floors never seem to have a speck of dirt on them. And, thankfully, it never smells like a locker room. It turns out that Nate is a neat freak. Thank you Nate!
Are you the parent of a child between the ages of 3-17?
You may be eligible to participate in a study at Boston University about the moods, feelings, and behaviors of children in the community.
Participation requires completing a 30-minute online survey. All participants will be entered into a lottery to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Email buchildemotion@gmail.com to participate.
Preschool Story Hour welcomes singer/songwriter Marcie Joy.
When: Tuesday, March 19, at 10:30 a.m.
Cost: FREE
Marcie will be performing songs from Make A Discovery as well as reading the book adaptation of There’s a Bug in My Room.
Here’s a video of her song Where Do You Want to Go?
Two $1000 scholarships are being offered by Art Metal Workshop to two students enrolled in fall/spring school year of 2013/2014 at any college, university, trade or technical school within the United States or Canada (no fees to apply, free for all students).
To apply email or mail your application along with an essay:
Art Metal Workshop Inc.
367 Bering Avenue Toronto, ON M8Z 3B1, Canada
