Author: Mia

Rabies Alert in West Newton from Raccoon
The following is from the City of Newton:

A raccoon captured on September 11, 2014 has tested positive for rabies. The raccoon was found near the Auburndale Ave entrance of the Dolan Pond conservation area in West Newton. If you, or your pet, may have had an encounter with a raccoon in this area on or around the above date, please contact the Massachusetts Epidemiology Program at (617) 983-6800 or the Newton Health & Human Services Department at (617) 796-1420.

Rabies is a very serious viral disease that affects the brain and spinal cord of mammals. The virus is spread when an animal with rabies bites or comes into salivary contact with another animal or person. The virus can also spread if the affected animal’s saliva gets into a scratch or other wound, or the eyes, nose or mouth of another person or animal.

Newton residents who live around or regularly visit the Dolan Pond Conservation Area should ensure that their household pets have been recently immunized against the rabies virus. If pets have not been recently vaccinated, please ensure that they are vaccinated with the rabies booster as soon as possible to prevent the virus from spreading. For more information, please refer to the following tips, courtesy of the Massachusetts Division of Animal Health.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal:
- Wash the wound with soap and water right away for ten minutes.
- Call your health care provider or local board of health. They can help you determine if you need to be treated for a rabies exposure.
- If your pet is bitten or scratched by another animal:
- Call your veterinarian to help you determine if the animal needs medical attention.
- In some cases, it may be necessary to confine your animal and watch it to see if it develops signs of rabies. Animal Control can help you determine if this is necessary (617-796-2109)
- How can you prevent rabies in Massachusetts?
- Teach children to never approach animals they don’t know – even if they appear friendly.
- Report any animal that behaves oddly to your local animal control official.
- Enjoy wild animals from a distance. Do not keep wild animals as pets. This is against the law in
- Massachusetts.
- Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies. By law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be regularly vaccinated against rabies.
- Don’t feed or water your pets outside. Even empty bowls will attract wild and stray animals.
- Keep your pets in a fenced yard or on a leash, and do not let them roam freely.
- Keep your garbage securely covered. Open garbage will attract wild or stray animals.
- Keep your chimney capped and repair holes in attics, cellars, and porches to help keep wild animals like bats and raccoons out of your home.
Photo credit: Catsbow via Flickr
October 17, 2014
Hidden BoxART in Chestnut Hill

Unless you go into the FedEx parking lot off Route 9 in Chestnut Hill where our Orthodontist is, you probably missed this BoxART piece.

October 16, 2014
Watering Plants Through Fall (Advice from Mahoney’s )
This is not typically the time of year we think of drought. We usually talk about drought in months of July and August, but this fall has been extremely dry. In the month of September some areas in Massachusetts have received as little as 5% of their normal rainfall. Some areas are worse than others but we are all at the point of drought stress affecting both new plantings and even established plants.

Watering through fall prevents winterkill

On sunny days moisture evaporates from plants’ foliage. In the winter plants can’t take moisture in through their roots to rehydrate the foliage because the ground is frozen. When spring rolls around, the leaves turn brown and the plant can’t recover, this is known as winterkill.
By thoroughly watering your trees and shrubs until the ground freezes, your plants are more prepared to deal with the moisture loss that occurs during the winter. Plants like holly, azaleas, rhododendrons, and andromeda are most susceptible to winterkill because they have relatively larger leaves, and more surface area for evaporation to occur.

When we have an especially dry fall like we’re experiencing this year, winter damage is typically worse in the spring since the leaves have retained less water to being with. So please do your plants a favor and give them the water that they’ll need to survive the winter.

Tips for watering efficiently

To get the greatest benefit from the water used, it’s best to apply water at a trickle over a long period of time. The goal is to let the water seep down into the soil and saturate the area around the roots.

What you should do
- If you have a large area it’s best to use a soaker hose, or to section it off and concentrate on those areas individually.
- For individual plants it’s best to remove the nozzle and place the end of the hose at the base of the plant with the water trickling slow enough to prevent it from running off.
- Use mulch around all planted areas to prevent evaporation from the soil surface.
What you should not do
- Do not rely on lawn sprinkler systems to water trees and shrubs. They are designed to only moisten the top couple inches of soil.
- Do not spray water at the plant with a nozzle. This will cause the water to run off, spread across the surface, and not reach the root system where water is absorbed.
More tips on watering from Mahoney’s here.
October 15, 2014
1538 Beacon Street House For Sale

My friend Veronica is the developer for this beautiful 6 bedroom, 6.5 bathroom new construction house.

She designed a house that takes into account what families need including play spaces, au pair suite, mud room, exercise room as well as spaces with versatility. It also has curb appeal!

This parlor space is off the entryway.

The house then opens up to a great room with a living room, dining room and kitchen all flowing seamlessly.

There are two dining areas in the great room with makes it a great entertaining space.

There is even a Butler’s Pantry off the great room!

The first floor also has a bedroom with bathroom that can also be used as a office.

This 6000 square foot house boasts 6.5 bathrooms! Here are a few of them!

There is a spacious master suite with his and her walk in closets.

For more information, go here.

October 14, 2014
Blue Man Group & LegoLand Savings

Blue Man Group Boston has partnered with the hottest new local family attraction to inject a little AWESOME into your Back to School Blues!

Buy a specially priced Blue Man Group ticket this Fall and get a General Admission ticket to LEGOLAND® Discovery Center in Assembly Row absolutely FREE. A savings of up to $30 per person.

Have a LEGO® lover in the house? Put them to work! We want to see your blue LEGO® brick inspired creations. Just post a pic to the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Boston Facebook Page and use hashtag #BlueLDC. You could win a prize package that includes:

– Family 4-pack of Premium Tickets to see Blue Man Group in Boston

– Exclusive Blue Man Swag

– An Annual Family Pass (4 people) to LEGOLAND® Discovery Center in Assembly Row

– LEGO® Merchandise

October 14, 2014
Newton Best City to Live In by 24/7 Wall Street

What are the top ten cities to live in according to 24/7 Wall Street?

1. Newton, Massachusetts

2. Bellevue, Washington

3. Mountain View, California

4. Pleasanton, California

5. Evanston, Illinois

6. Irvine, California

7. Troy, Michigan

8. Cary, North Carolina

9. Flower Mound, Texas

10. Johns Creek, Georgia

… the list goes up to Top 50 here.

1. Newton, Massachusetts

> Median household income: $125,642
> Unemployment rate, 2013: 4.80%
> Median home value: $689,900

> Violent crime per 100,000 residents: 87.6
> Average commuter travel time: 26.4 minutes

A suburb of Boston, Newton is 24/7 Wall St.’s best city to live in. Crime rates were just a fraction of national figures in 2012. And while total employment rose only 0.5% between 2011 and 2013, the city’s unemployment rate remained below 5% during the same period.

Students have access to excellent schools. While nearly half of all school-age residents attended private schools, test scores in Newton’s public schools were far better than public schools across the state. Additionally, more than three-quarters of residents 25 and over had a bachelor’s degree, the second-highest rate in the country. Residents of Middlesex County, where Newton is located, can take advantage of 49 golf courses, nearly 3,000 restaurants, 24 museums and three ski resorts in their free time.

Living in Newton costs more than living in most of the United States, and more than most places in Massachusetts for that matter. This may explain may explain why it had the highest median income of any large city, at over $125,000.

METHODOLOGY

To determine the best cities to live in, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 550 cities that the U.S. Census Bureau reported as having more than 65,000 residents in 2012. Data were collected in seven major categories: crime, economy, education, housing, environment, leisure, and infrastructure.

Within each category, specific data points contributed to category ranking. For example, the economy category included median household income, cost of living, employment growth between 2011 and 2013, and the 2013 unemployment rate.

October 13, 2014
Beautiful Window Box Ideas for Fall

I found some beautiful fall planters in Boston and my friend Zoe Forbes of Fleuri Designs did one for me as well in Newton, MA. I have more of her designs here and here. Here are some ideas to bring flowers into your garden this fall.

Beautiful window box and container gardens in Back Bay, Boston

October 12, 2014
YogaBox™: A New Fitness Class
What is YogaBox™?

What: Join us for the launch of a new fitness class: YogaBox™! It combines strengthening, conditioning, stretching, core work and cardio for a fun and time efficient workout.

We will be using the heavy bag, boxing gloves and wraps, and a yoga mat.

What is it exactly? I made a video with clips from the YogaBox™ Open House class.

You start with a half hour of heavy bag work with Marc in which you learn to punch the heavy bag and the punches of boxing (jab, cross, hook). You’ll alternate with cardio exercises off the bag like burpees, jumping jacks and push ups. (You can go at your own pace and rest when you need to.)

Next comes 45 minutes of Vinyasa yoga with Dawn working the core and stretching the muscles in an invigorating and dynamic flow. Dawn boxed for one year and has designed the yoga around releasing the muscles used for the first part of YogaBox.
- You do NOT need to know how to box OR do yoga.
- Please bring a yoga mat and boxing gloves and wraps if you have them.
- You can also borrow boxing gloves from Nonantum Boxing Club.
Where: Nonantum Boxing Club at 75 Adams St

Who Is Teaching It?: Dawn Davis for Yoga and Marc Gargaro for Boxing

MARC GARGARO

Marc Gargaro is a certified Level II USA Boxing Certified coach and licensed Professional trainer as well as a licensed boxing promoter. He was an accomplished amateur boxer for several years and was a finalist in the Heavyweight Division of the 2005 USA Northeast Regional Championship Tournament as well as a Lowell Golden Gloves semi-finalist in 2007. He has extensive experience in strength and conditioning programs and sport specific training.

DAWN DAVIS

Dawn Obeidallah Davis brings a rich set of experiences to the teaching of yoga. She is a Developmental Psychologist, a mother of three, and is trained in both the Baptiste and Elemental yoga traditions. In addition to her expertise and formal training, Dawn brings great enthusiasm to teaching yoga, celebrating the joy of life through movement and breath. A soulful teacher, Dawn helps students cultivate energy in an energetic yet systematically calming way. She is a former Harvard Medical School faculty member and is the author of scientific articles on child development. Dawn received her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University, and has trained in Elemental Yoga with Bo Forbes and in Baptiste Power Yoga with Coeli Marsh.

When:

Tuesday at 9 am – 10:15 am (75 minutes)

Thursday at 7 pm – 8:15 pm (75 minutes)

Cost: $100 for 5 classes (never expires)

$25/drop in

Questions: Contact Marc Gargaro at 617.340.3700 or info@nonantumboxingclub.com

We hope you will come to check out this new fitness class! First class free for anyone NEW to Nonantum Boxing Club. If you are not new to Nonantum Boxing Club, you can earn a free class by bringing a friend who is!
October 11, 2014
Jamie Chaloff of Dreamfar HS Marathon to Speak

Jamie Chaloff of Dreamfar High School Marathon will speak at The Rotary Club of Newton Speaker Series on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at the Braeburn Country Club. Join us for lunch at noon followed by Ms. Chaloff’s presentation. All are welcome to attend Rotary, however they do ask that you pre-register.

Dreamfar High School Marathon (DHSM) is New England’s first high school marathon training program. They are a Greater Boston-based program that teaches high school students that anything is possible, even completing a marathon. With hard work, perseverance and guidance from dedicated mentors, student runners realize their potential as they train for the Cox Providence Marathon. They teach students realistic goal-setting and the value of commitment and teamwork – skills that ensure success in the classroom, on the road, and beyond.

Victories, such as running their first mile, motivate and empower students to accomplish more; challenges, like training in the cold Boston winter, teach them the power of dedication. Over the past three years, significant improvements have been seen in student runners’ academic achievement, classroom attendance, physical & mental health, and life skills. Information about Dreamfar can be found here.

For information and/or reservations about attending Rotary, please contact Susan at RotaryNewtonMa@gmail.com.

October 11, 2014
GLAD Promotes the Creation of Middle School GSAs

GLAD Promotes the Creation of Middle School GSAs with New Video and Online Resources

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders today launched a campaign to encourage the creation of more gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in middle schools across Massachusetts and in New England.

“Young people are coming out at a younger and younger age,” said Vickie Henry, director of GLAD’s Youth Initiative. “It’s critical to have resources in place to support them and to educate their peers, so they can go through coming out safely and in a positive way.”

GSAs Can Make It Better is a one-minute video created to be shared online and shown in schools, at conferences, and as part of workshops. It outlines the documented benefits of GSAs, including the role they play in cutting down on transphobic and homophobic remarks; helping transgender and gender non-conforming students feel safer; and educating teachers, administrators and students about LGBTQ issues.

The video and resources, including a primer on the right to form GSAs, can be viewed here.

GLAD has partnered with Boston Alliance of LGBTQ Youth (BAGLY, Inc.), GLSEN Massachusetts, Greater Boston PFLAG, Hispanic Black Gay Coalition, the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, and True Colors: Out Youth Theater and the Theater Offensive to create the campaign.

LGBT middle school students are significantly more likely than their high school peers to experience verbal and physical harassment and assault, with 35.5% of middle school students reporting regular physical harassment compared to 21.4% of high school students. Yet while 52.6% of LGBT high school youth have access to a GSA, only 6.3% of LGBT middle school youth do.

Throughout the school year, GLAD will be making available online content that educates and encourages the creation of middle school GSAs. GLAD will also provide assistance to any students who are having difficulty forming a GSA due to their school administration’s resistance or who believe their school is not treating an existing GSA the same as any other club.

Through strategic litigation, public policy advocacy, and education, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders works in New England and nationally to create a just society free of discrimination based on gender identity and expression, HIV status, and sexual orientation.

October 10, 2014