Author: Mia

  • Hiring: Yoga Instructor for YogaBox!

    Hiring: Yoga Instructor for YogaBox!

    YogaBox™ is a high energy fitness class combining heavy bag boxing with Vinyasa flow yoga held at Nonantum Boxing Club in Newton, MA. We are looking for a yoga teacher to teach just the yoga portion of the class which runs 45 mins.

    YogaBox™ is a 75 minute class that starts with 30 minutes on the heavy bag taught by a Nonantum Club Boxing boxing trainer. It is followed with 45 minutes of yoga.

    YogaBoxPlease contact Mia Wenjen at pragmaticmomblog@gmail(dot) com if you’d like to apply for the yoga position. Namaste!

     

  • Email Marketing Manager Position in Cambridge MA

    Email Marketing Manager Position in Cambridge MA

    Position Overview

    Are you ready to join a start-up that’s transforming the future of education? EdX is a nonprofit, open-source learning destination offering online courses from more than 75 member institutions, composed of both leading global universities, and colleges and a diverse group of prominent organizations from around the world. Founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and based in Cambridge, MA, USA, edX is focused on transforming online and classroom learning through groundbreaking methodologies, game-like educational experiences and cutting-edge research on an open-source platform.

    Does that sound like a company you could work for?

    EdX wants to add a talented and experienced Email Marketing Manager to our Marketing team who will be responsible for developing and executing email marketing strategies and programs to increase learner enrollment and engagement.

    Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Develop marketing strategies to engage, retain and convert learners
    • Manage customer lifecycle programs and create customer journeys from concept to implementation
    • Develop newsletter and email campaigns
    • Write body copy, subject lines, preview text, CTAs, and more
    • Create and deploy emails using ESP tools and HTML
    • Test, measure results and optimize campaigns for conversion
    • Ensure compliance with various spam and permission laws
    • Track performance, and report on results for team learning
    • Ensure email messaging is 100% accessible to everyone on both web and mobile
    • Ad hoc email campaigns and programs with partners and affiliates

    Qualifications, Skills and Education

    REQUIRED:

    • 3+ years experience with Email Marketing
    • Strong experience building direct to consumer email campaigns
    • Excellent understanding of email marketing concepts and metrics
    • Proficiency in email marketing and marketing automation technology
    • Experience with premier class marketing automation/email providers (ExactTarget, SilverPop, Oracle (Responsys), Experian (CheetahMail and/or Marketo)
    • Highly analytical and able to derive meaning from data through A/B testing and email optimization
    • Excellent writer and communicator (in both the written and verbal form)
    • HTML knowledge
    • Advanced Excel skills

    PREFERRED:

    • BA/BS or equivalent working experience
    • Preferred Experience managing onboarding to large ESP

    Supervision Received:

    This is an individual contributor role where a high degree of self-direction is required.
    Note: This role may deal with confidential information and/or issues requiring discretion and judgment.
    Applicants must be able to work out of our Cambridge, MA office. Sorry, Visa sponsorship is not available.

     

    A good friend of mine is hiring this position, do you know anybody?

    Apply hereemail marketing manager position in Cambridge MA.

     

     

  • FIRST® Announces ‘Game-Changing’ Technology Platform for Worldwide Student Robotics Competitions

    FIRST® Announces ‘Game-Changing’ Technology Platform for Worldwide Student Robotics Competitions

    Coding is becoming an increasingly important tool for kids and teens exploring tech, and FIRST, a national not-for-profit that gets kids into STEM fields through robotics competitions, is putting the keyboard in more kids’ hands. FIRST Tech Challenge , FIRST’s program for kids in grades 7-12, is introducing a new Snapdragon-based Android platform that will allow FIRST kids to program and control their robots using Java instead of old programming language.

    Developed by FIRST, Qualcomm and Modern Robotics, kids worldwide will be able to use the new platform in the 2015/2016 FTC season. By using a dynamic, widely-used platform and language, kids will learn valuable skills they can not only apply to future coursework, but those that will set them up for success in STEM fields.

    FIRST® Announces ‘Game-Changing’ Technology Platform for Worldwide Student Robotics Competitions

    FIRST® Announces ‘Game-Changing’ Technology Platform for Worldwide Student Robotics Competitions

    Qualcomm Assists Robotics Program Transition to User-Friendly, Java-Based Android Platform Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 Processor

     

    FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international not-for-profit K-12 organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, today announced that one of its four K-12 robotics programs, FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC®) targeted to middle and high-school students, has selected a game-changing technology platform beginning with the upcoming 2015/2016 season.

     

    The new platform features robot and driver-station controls based on a Qualcomm® Snapdragon processor, which is new in the large robotics competition arena. The platform, which consists of handheld devices, will be powered by Snapdragon 410 processors from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI), a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, a FIRST Strategic Partner.

     

    “In the foreseeable future, robotics will permeate our everyday lives,” said FIRST Founder, Dean Kamen. “Our FIRST students are ahead of the game as they are already adept users of three emerging technologies: sensors; 3D printing, and open-source software. Now that we are adding this mobile element to the already-robust FIRST technology equation – just watch what these kids will be capable of doing.”

     

    The strategy to upgrade technology for the FIRST Tech Challenge program was in conjunction with FIRST Strategic Partner, Qualcomm.

     

    “We are long-time supporters of FIRST programs and are excited to take this support to the next level. FTC teams will now be able to tap into the amazing capabilities of Snapdragon devices as the heart of their control system. We believe this has the potential to inspire students to become future generations of scientists, engineers, and inventors, in part by getting them to realize that the device they routinely hold in the palm of their hands can lead them to greater knowledge, new horizons, and eventually meaningful careers,” said Matt Grob, CTO, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “This is an evolutionary step for FIRST and another example of how Qualcomm is bringing its expertise in mobile to robotics.”

     

    The move to this new Android™ platform demonstrates the FIRST organization’s commitment to utilize the most innovative and advanced technologies and to prepare students with real, relevant STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills they will need and use in the 21st century workplace.

    “Similar to the way in which FIRST programs have provided thousands of 3D printers to FIRST teams, our organization is constantly looking for ways we can enable students to gain hands-on experience and master new technology tools,” said Donald E. Bossi, president,FIRST. “By bringing the platform powered by Snapdragon processors, and Java programming to the FIRST Tech Challenge, we are exposing our students to the incredible power and potential of devices they hold in their hands and use every day.”

     

    Moving to a communication and control system based on Android and Snapdragon will give FIRST Tech Challenge students powerful benefits during their build and competition seasons, including:

     

    • High speed processing and advanced sensors already built into phones and tablets based on Snapdragon;
    • Advanced communication architecture uniquely suited to mobile robotics;
    • 1:1 Team to robot communication that’s easy and reliable, allowing teams to “practice like they play;”
    • Greater access to a wider variety of participants worldwide;
    • Technology evolution on pace with devices powered by Android and Snapdragon;
    • Teams can use all their existing FTC hardware, sensors, and electronics – just by adding Android and devices powered by Snapdragon processors and interface modules;
    • Less intimidating step into robotics for students and teachers who have not yet participated on a robotics team;
    • Elimination of a central field control system which means easier set up and inspections for fewer volunteers at on site competitions; and
    • Fast team competition check-in, easier event set up, more reliable on field communications.

     

    “Current FIRST Tech Challenge teams can use their existing equipment in the exciting new platform,” said Ken Johnson, director, FIRSTTech Challenge. “A simple interface between Android devices and their current sensors and motor controllers will allow for a simple transition. Sensors built into the Snapdragon-powered devices will expand the teams’ options in future competitions as well.”

     

    These FIRST teams will also learn and use Java, the programming language now used by more than 8 million programmers and built into 3 billion devices. FIRST students will learn to program their robots with Java, chosen for its ease of use, prevalence in the classroom, and it gives teams great flexibility within the rigors of the competitions.

     

    FIRST Tech Challenge is designed for students who want to compete head to head using a sports model. Teams design, build, and program their robots to compete on a 12’x12’ field in an Alliance format, against other teams. Teams are required to develop strategy and build a robot based on sound engineering principals, such as rapid prototyping and iterative design.

     

    To learn more about FIRST Tech Challenge, please visit: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc

  • Massachusetts Ranks High for Best Schools

    Massachusetts Ranks High for Best Schools

    WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2015’s States with the Best & Worst School Systems.

    Massachusetts Ranks High for Best Schools

    To find the best school systems, WalletHub compared the quality of education in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia by analyzing 13 key metrics. Our data set includes such metrics as the pupil-teacher ratio, dropout rates, standardized-test scores and bullying incidents rates.

    Quality of Schools in Massachusetts (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

    • 3rd – Bullying Incidents Rate
    • 1st – Math Test Score
    • 1st – Reading Test Score
    • 11th – Pupil-Teacher Ratio
    • 17th – Dropout Rate
    • 2nd – School Safety
    • 25th – Average SAT Score

    For the full report, please visit here.

  • Making Newton a More Sustainable Community

    Making Newton a More Sustainable Community

    Dear Resident, 

    The City of Newton has a tradition of leadership on the environment. Last year we upgraded over 8000 street lights with high-efficiency LED bulbs, which will lower our lighting costs by 60%, save the city between $2 million and $3 million and reduce carbon pollution by hundreds of tons over the next 10 years.  We can dramatically multiply these benefits by encouraging each other to make our homes more energy efficient.


    Please read this informative first-person account of how home energy efficiency saves money and the environment from Andy Levin, the Editor in Chief of the Newton Tab.  

    I had a home energy assessment; Andy Levin will have one later this summer; and I urge you to take this important step soon – for your family and for our community.  Newton homeowners who make the recommended energy improvements save, on average, between $700-$1,000 a year.  Subsidies from MassSave reduce the out-of pocket cost to approximately $650.
    You can sign up for your free energy assessmenthere.  With your help we can reach our goal of reducing energy consumption in Newton 20% by 2020.
    If you have any questions about this program, or about Newton’s efforts to become more sustainable, please contact Andrew Savitz, Newton’s Director of Sustainability atasavitz@newtonma.gov.
    Sincerely,

    Setti D. Warren

    Mayor

    City of Newton, MA

    Setti Warren, Newton Override

  • Blue on Highland Reopens

    Blue on Highland Reopens

    Opened in 2006, Blue on Highland is an American restaurant that is the brainchild of Rod & Catherine Walkey. “We always wanted to create the type of restaurant that we would want to go to. It had to have an eclectic menu so it wouldn’t get boring, amazing cocktails, live music and above all it had to be welcoming and a true neighborhood restaurant,” said the Walkeys.

    Blue on Highland Reopens

    On August 3rd, 2015 the restaurant re-opened with a brand new look and menu, with a brand new website and branding to soon follow.

    The effort was a collaborative project by the restaurant’s marketing and PR agency, Image Unlimited Communications(IUC) and their design partner agency Amir Kripper Studios. “We’ve always looked at working with accounts in a holistic way inclusive of PR, design, marketing and digital, and now we’ve partnered with Amir Kripper who is one of the hottest new design talents in the city,” said Shannon Igoe, Director of Agency Accounts at IUC.

    Blue on Highland Reopens

    Blue on Highland’s new restaurant comes with dramatic changes as designer Amir Kripper explains.”The intent was to create an elevated neighborhood restaurant using rich elements and carrying out the Walkey’s vision. The location had amazing raw elements that we wanted to expose and we wanted to work in true balance with the food and beverage program and the branding. It was very clear that the Walkey’s main idea was to expose the vibrant activity at the bar and so we used it as the center point of the restaurant. In addition we put in six high-walled booths allowing for an intimate experience as well. The partitions between the booths as well as the back wall behind the banquettes are cladded in soft, natural hickory wooden planks. We removed the old sheetrock walls to expose the existing brick walls and steel bracing behind them. The new bar is made of stainless steel structural elements with recessed lights and was inspired by the modular storage units designed by Eames in the early 50’s. We also collaborated with Tracy Davis in the seating and finishes selection. The Emeco Broom chairs used in the dining area are made from 75% waste polypropylene and 15% reclaimed wood fiber that would normally be swept into the trash. And the stools at the bar are iconic pieces which were built initially in the 40’s to be used in submarines and were repurposed as stools,” said Kripper.

    The Menu and Cocktail program at Blue on Highland has also received a reboot with many new dishes such as the Tuna Tartare with Kim Chee, Ginger Vinaigrette and Wasabi Cream ($15), the Blue Crab Cocktail with Boston Bibb lettuce, lemon, chive and house-made cocktail sauce ($23), The Highlander Burger an 8oz all beef burger, Vermont cheddar cheese, topped with slow braised short rib, crispy onion strings and a roasted garlic worcestershire demi-glace sauce ($16) and the Strawberry & Blueberry Salad with all white-meat Chicken salad, fresh mixed greens, romaine pecans, blue cheese and poppy seed dressing ($16).

    In addition the restaurant will host a numerous pastas, hand cut steaks, flatbreads and amazing artisanal sandwiches. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and serves brunch on Sundays.

    About Blue on Highland:
    Blue on Highland is an upscale suburban restaurant serving modern American cuisine in a contemporary, elegant setting, located in Needham, MA, just outside of Boston. Co-Owners Catherine and Rod Walkey strive to combine the sophistication of city-dining with the comforts of a neighborhood restaurant offering diners amazing service at reasonable prices. Blue on Highland is perfect for power lunching or socializing after work over dinner and drinks, celebrating special occasions, or simply enjoying fine wine and appetizers in their beautiful bar and lounge area. The restaurant is available for private bookings and events. Blue on Highland offers live jazz during Sunday brunch. Blue on Highland is located at 882 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02494. Hours of operation are: Mon-Thursday 11:30AM-10:00PM; Friday and Saturday: 11:30AM – 11:00PM and Sun: 11:00AM – 10:00PM. Reservations are recommended. For more information, please call 781-444-7001 or visit www.blueonhighland.com

  • FREE Yoga Video from Dawn Davis Yoga

    Want to practice yoga but can’t fit it in? Try this 20 minute video from Dawn Davis Yoga.

    If you can’t get to a class, or you’re on vacation in some remote place, or you simply want to supplement your home practice, just get on your mat and press PLAY.

    After all, yoga is that beautiful blend of play and seriousness, all in the spirit of good health and good fun. A huge thank you to Val Beaver and Amy Hennessey for being my willing participants in making this quick and fun video for our students.

    Yoga 20 min. June 15 from Tim Davis on Vimeo.

  • Support Melissa’s Boxing Match to Fight Cancer

    Support Melissa’s Boxing Match to Fight Cancer

    YogaBox is apparently a slippery slope from punching the heavy bag and doing yoga to sparring in the ring. Apparently, it’s YogaBox that got my friend Melissa Boucher into boxing …

    and now she’s in the fight of her life. She is in her first amateur boxing match to help in the fight against cancer!

    I’ve been training with Melissa twice a week all summer with trainer Marc Gargaro, co-owner at Nonantum Boxing Club, and I have to say that she’s looking good! Melissa will be one of four women representing Nonantum Boxing Club at Haymakers for Hope this October!

    This is what Melissa says:

    It’s official!  I sparred my opponent Friday afternoon to make sure we are a good match and the fight is on forWednesday October 7th.  (gulp!)  I have a lot of work to do over the next month but I’ll be ready!

    Support Melissa's Boxing Fight to Fight Cancer

    Here are the details for the different types of tickets that can be purchased.  All tickets sales go toward my goal of raising $5,000 for Haymakers for Hope. Please select my name in Ticketmaster when purchasing tickets.

    There are 3 different ticket levels to choose from:

    General Admission: $75 This gets you access to the main floor, and is standing room only. Cash bar, the ability to purchase concessions, and there will be a silent auction that  people can bid on.

    VIP: $150 This ticket is for the mezzanine level. You get fantastic elevated sight lines of the ring. Open bar, and light food available. Silent auction tables will also be on this level. On the ticket site it will say food and beverage service, this means open bar.

    Stage: $300-$400 There will be low cafe style tables on the stage with two seats at each table. You get unbelievable unobstructed views of the action in the ring. Open bar with wait service, and light food available. People can bid on the silent auction tables on the main floor.

    Melissa Boucher Haymakers for Hope Belle of the Brawl

    Thanks so much for your support!

    Xo,

    Mad Mel

    Haymakers for Hope 2015

    P.S.  Ticket sales are non-refundable.  Sometimes an injury prevents a fighter from participating (which would really be bad after 4 months of training but it can happen…)  If that does happen to my fight, I’d just get the opportunity to watch all the fun with you…ha!

  • Massachusetts’ 50 school districts Ranked by Niche.com

    Massachusetts’ 50 school districts Ranked by Niche.com

    Massachusetts’ 50 school districts as ranked by Niche.com. Best Public School Teachers ranks 2,240 school districts based on key teaching statistics and 910,000 teacher ratings from 235,000 students and parents. A high ranking indicates that teachers are intelligent and engaging, the district is invested in its teachers and provides a good educational environment, and students and parents rate their teachers favorably.

    Newton ranks #2.

    Newton North High School, NNHS

    1. Westwood Public Schools
    2. Newton Public Schools
    3. Lexington Public Schools
    4. Northboro-Southboro Regional School District
    5. Westford Public Schools
    6. Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
    7. Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School District
    8. Masconomet Public Schools
    9. Brookline Public Schools
    10. Needham Public Schools
    11. Braintree Public Schools
    12. Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District
    13. Shrewsbury Public Schools
    14. Franklin Public Schools
    15. Cambridge Public Schools
    16. Brockton Public Schools
    17. Wachusett Public Schools
    18. Framingham Public Schools
    19. Malden Public Schools
    20. Andover Public Schools
    21. Lowell Public Schools
    22. Barnstable Public Schools
    23. Dedham Public Schools
    24. Plymouth Public Schools
    25. Lynn Public Schools
    26. Chelmsford Public Schools
    27. Salem Public Schools
    28. Somerville Public Schools
    29. Haverhill Public Schools
    30. Belchertown Public Schools
    31. Weymouth Public Schools
    32. Boston Public Schools
    33. Chicopee Public Schools
    34. Quincy Public Schools
    35. Woburn Public Schools
    36. Worcester Public Schools
    37. Leominster Public Schools
    38. Wilmington Public Schools
    39. Wakefield Public Schools
    40. Agawam Public Schools
    41. Fall River Public Schools
    42. Sandwich Public Schools
    43. Pittsfield Public Schools
    44. Springfield Public Schools
    45. Attleboro Public Schools
    46. Westfield Public Schools
    47. Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District
    48. North Attleborough Public Schools
    49. Chelsea Public Schools
    50. Mansfield Public Schools

    The Niche.com study is here.

  • Over the Garden Wall Book Signing

    Over the Garden Wall Book Signing

    Creator of Cartoon Network’s “Over the Garden Wall” Mini Series to Host Book Signing for Fans at Comicazi in Somerville, MA

    Over the Garden Wall Book Signing

    WHO:                   Patrick McHale, creator of Cartoon Network’s miniseries Over the Garden Wall

    WHAT:                 Celebrate the launch of the new Over the Garden Wall limited comic series with a special event and fan signing with series’ creator Patrick McHale 

    Cartoon Network’s first miniseries Over the Garden Wall charmed audiences during its network run in November 2014, and this fall, fans can go even deeper into the Unknown with a line of consumer products celebrating the series. Building on the mystical tale from creator Patrick McHale (Adventure Time) are a DVD release with all ten episodes plus bonus materials, a limited-edition “For Sara” Cassette from Mondo with more than 20 minutes of originally-produced content, and a four-issue comic book series written by McHale and released by KaBOOM!

    The critically acclaimed and Emmy® Award-nominated, Over the Garden Wall is the story of two brothers, Wirt (voiced by Elijah Wood) and Greg (voiced by Collin Dean), who find themselves lost in the Unknown; a strange forest adrift in time. With the help of a wise old Woodsman (voiced by Christopher Lloyd) and a foul-tempered bluebird named Beatrice (voiced by Melanie Lynskey), Wirt and Greg must travel across this strange land, in hope of finding their way home. 

    WHEN:                 Wednesday, August 26: 6:00pm8:00pm

    WHERE:               Comicazi

    407 Highland Ave.

    Somerville, MA 02144