Author: Mia

Newton Housing Strategy
Dear Resident,
To keep Newton great and to help our residents thrive, we must plan for Newton’s future based on our changing demographics and need for economic development, especially for growth sectors like the innovation economy.

A key element in a long-term strategy is to plan for the variety of housing that will be required.

We want Newton to be a place where seniors can afford to stay as they age, where our kids can raise their own families, and where our teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other city workers can make a home for themselves and their families. A city that is diverse in every way–in age, income level, occupation, ethnicity, religion, race, sexual orientation, and other qualities that make us who we are as individuals and as an inclusive community-must have a diversity of housing options available.

How we can keep the City on track to meet this vision:
- Set the goal, as we have, to add at least 800 affordable units or 10% to our housing stock by 2021.
- Increase the amount of housing for middle-income residents, including our municipal workers.
- Look at possible ordinance changes to increase the number of accessory apartments, which may especially help seniors.
- Support the growth of Newton’s middle class by raising the inclusionary housing requirement to 20%.
- Adopt 40R, a state program that encourages by-right development with affordable housing in specific areas under requirements adopted by the Board of Aldermen, and with payments from the state to defray development costs and support Newton’s schools.
- Encourage developments such as the Austin Street project that will help us reach these benchmarks.
Following today’s Open House, our Planning Department and consultant team will be reviewing best practices and collecting and analyzing data about current conditions and trends for the future in demographics, housing, jobs, and other areas. We will be back to present the results of this work in September, and there will be additional meetings over the course of the fall. In the end, this housing strategy will provide us with a clear set of actions that will allow us to advance housing in Newton, such as policy and financing recommendations and specific locations for new development. Please check our housing strategy webpage for updates – on the site you will be able to sign up for updates and provide additional comments and questions.

Thank you for all you do to contribute to our community. We look forward to working with you to make our city even better.

Sincerely,

Setti D. Warren

Mayor

City of Newton, MA
July 9, 2015
Win Life-Changing Amount of Money

Casting New NBC Game Show in Boston

NBC has teamed up with All-Star LeBron James for a game show that gives dynamic & deserving pairs of 2 (siblings, married couples, cousins, etc.) the chance to compete for life-changing, enormous cash prize.

It’s a simple game. No physical ability necessary. Some trivia (multiple choice) and a lot of luck involved.

All dynamic & deserving teams of 2 to come out to our open call this Saturday, July 11th, at the Vanderbilt Kitchen & Bar from 10am to 4pm.

105 Water St, Boston, MA 02109

Interested pairs should sign up for a specific time at the open call by going here.

Interested in more? Here’s a news article with some more information about the show for NBC.

The NBC game show marks James’ latest foray into TV. He’s also an executive producer on Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse, a comedy inspired by his life that will head into its second season this year.

July 8, 2015
Win $5000 from Duck Tape for Cupcake Design

The Kids In Need Foundation (@KidsInNeed), a not for profit that provides free school supplies to kids who need them nationwide, and we are celebrating the 20th birthday of The Kids In Need Foundation with something sweet!

The Kids in Need Foundation is working with Duck Tape–and one lucky crafter will win $5,000!

Submit your original cupcake-themed design for an upcoming limited edition Duck Tape print, and win $5,000. Check out all the details here.

July 8, 2015
July Events at The Street

SPECIAL ONE TIME EVENT IN JULY:
Sunday July 12, 2015 from 2pm-4pm
Players will battle it out at The Street’s handsome, custom-made ping-pong table for the chance to win a Golden Paddle, Shake Shack gift cards and Shake Shack swag. Advance registration within Shake Shack is advised.

WEEKLY EVENTS IN JULY:
Kid-Friendly Fun: Every Tuesday Afternoon from 3pm-5pm
Keeping the kids entertained all summer long, are such activities as a Tea Party with DAVIDsTEA + Treat Cupcake Bar, Face Painting and Balloon Animals with Art on The Spot, Supper Soccer Stars, Out of This World Fun with Healthworks Kids Club, Polarn O. Pyret Photo Booth and even
Little Oms Yoga

Street Sweat: Cardio Resistant Training Fit-Camp Every Tuesday Evening from 6pm-7pm
Led by TriJake Fitness

Street Sweat: Freestyle Fitness Every Wednesday Morning from 9:30am-10:15am and Saturday Morning from 10:30am – 11:30am
Led by Ron Merryman MOVE Fitness

Street Sweat: #WorkoutWednesday Every Wednesday Evening from 6:30pm-7:30pm
Led by Healthworks Fitness Center

Street Sweat: Strollfit Every Thursday Morning from 9:30am-10:30am
Led by Baby Boot Camp

Acoustic Evenings: Every Thursday Evening from 6pm-8:30pm
With artists like Box of Birds and The Grown-Up Noise in genres ranging from Indie Folk Rock to Pop

Live Music with Berklee College of Music’s Summer in the City Series: Every Sunday Afternoon from 12pm-2pm
With artists like Honeysuckle, Foreign Hues and V Blackburn in genres ranging from Latin Jazz to Folk Rock to Bluegrass

Yoga on the Green: Every Sunday 10am-11am
All classes taught by lululemon athletica instructors

July 7, 2015
Newtonville Books Reading Challenge

Newtonville Books 2015 Reading Challenge

Or: Something Fun to Get You Out of Your Comfort Zone

o A book that became a movie _______________________________________

o A book with non-human characters _______________________________________

o A book with a one-word title _______________________________________

o A book of short stories _______________________________________

o A book from a small press _______________________________________

o A book based on a true story _______________________________________

o A book more than 100 years old _______________________________________

o A book based entirely on its cover _______________________________________

o A book you’ve pretended to read ___________________________________

o A book you can finish in a day _______________________________________

o A book set somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit ___________________________

o A book in translation _______________________________________

o A graphic novel _______________________________________

o A book you own but have never read _______________________________________

o A book by an author with your initials ___________________________________

o A play _______________________________________

o A banned book _______________________________________

o A book you previously started but never finished _________________________

o A Pulitzer Prize-winning book _______________________________________

o A book by a Nobel Prize-winner _______________________________________

o A book that takes place in the area where you grew up ________________________

o A book by an author you’ve never heard of _______________________________________

o A book written by an author under 30 _______________________________________

o A book written by an author over 70 _______________________________________

o A book of poetry _______________________________________

o A young adult book _______________________________________

o A book set in the future or in a different world __________________________

o A book your mom or dad loves/loved _______________________________________

o A Newtonville Books staff pick _______________________________________

o A signed book _______________________________________ o A bestseller _______________________________________

o A book with an animal on the cover _______________________________________

o A library book _______________________________________ o A book with a color in the title _______________________________________

o A book you then discuss in a bookclub ______________________________________

o A book that came out the year you were born ___________________________________

o A book with magic ___________________________________

o A book by an author that lives in Boston ___________________________________

o A book set in a different country ___________________________________

Visit www.newtonvillebooks.com for online copy of the list.

Hand in your completed (just do your best!) copy to us between Dec 1st and Dec 10th, 2015 to be entered into a raffle for a $100 gift certificate. (No purchase necessary.)

Post/tweet your progress at www.facebook.com/Newtonvillebooks.com and @newtonvillebooks.com

Name: Phone number/email address:

July 6, 2015
Elementary Schools Start Earlier

Newton Public Schools June 22, 2015

Dear Elementary Families,

My first year in Newton has gone by so quickly. It has been such a pleasure to walk through the elementary schools during this past school year and witness teachers and students engaged in wonderful teaching and learning experiences. We hope that your children have had a positive and productive school year.

As we wrap up the final days of school, plans for the coming school year are well underway. We want to let you know that there will be a new start time for all elementary schools beginning in September. School doors will open with the first bell at 8:20 a.m. and the second bell will now be at 8:25 a.m. This change adds ten minutes daily to our elementary school schedule with classroom activities beginning at 8:25 a.m.

If you should have any questions, please feel free to leave a message in our elementary community feedback folder at elementary_feedback@newton.k12.ma.us.

Best wishes for an enjoyable summer!

Sincerely,

Cynthia Paris Jeffries

Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education

July 5, 2015
Carol Dweck’s MINDSET

Carol Dweck, author of the New York Times bestselling book “Mindset”, offers insight on an interesting exercise she uses to help her Stanford students develop a growth mindset: she has them write letters to themselves “from the future,” focusing on all the challenges, heartaches, and failures they’ll face along the way.

Mindset is the book chosen by Newton Public Schools as parent book club choice and for Newton North High School.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

July 4, 2015
Newton 4th of July Activities

Fourth of July Celebration!

1pm – 10pm

Albemarle Field, Watertown Street, Route 16

OPEN AIR MARKET & AMUSEMENT RIDES
Handmade and International Crafts
Food Vendors
Children’s Activities

KIDS MORNING

Newton Centre Playground at Tyler Terrace
10 AM – Noon
Rain date: July 5th
For children ages 3 – 12.

Grande Pet Parade
Teddy Bear Parade
Decorated Doll Carriage Promenade
Foot Races
FREE Ice Cream, by Cabot’s Ice

Entertainment in the Gazebo
1:00pm: Tom Anderson-fingerstyle/classical guitarist and singer
3:30pm – Performers of Patrice Peris Voice Studios of Westborough and recording artist April Forrest

Music & Dancing

6:00pm – Bo & Bill Winiker Band

Fireworks at 9:00pm
Bring blankets and lawn chairs

Each year, The Fessenden School’s athletic fields, located along Albemarle Road, serve as a major viewing area for Newton’s fireworks. This year, the fields are under significant construction and will not be available to spectators. For safety reasons, we are asking that visitors seek alternate viewing locations for the July 4th celebration.

Help Save the Fireworks!

For the past 26 years, Newton Community Pride has sponsored the July 4th Festivities for the City of Newton. With the help of our sponsors, this celebration has been totally free to the public.

Having enjoyed this event for so many years, free of charge, we hope that you will help keep this tradition alive. As Newton Community Pride celebrates its 26th Anniversary, please consider giving $26 (or any amount you choose) to help continue this fun-filled day for another 26 years!

Send a check payable to Newton Community Pride to 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA 02459 or use your credit card to make a tax deductible donation on-line.

Yes, I want to help support the Newton Fireworks! Make an on-line donation.

July 3, 2015
Win Boston Pops VIP 4th & Boston Getaway

The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular and Red Sox games at Fenway Park are iconic summer experiences in Boston. The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism and partners are giving away the chance for winners to be VIPs at each of these, and we think your readers would love the chance to win. Details for both sweepstakes are below. Please let me know if I can send any additional info or images.

Boston Pops Spectacular VIP 4th of July 2015 Sweepstakes

Four front-row VIP tickets to the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, July 4

Must enter by July 1; winner selected July 2

Enter here.

Epic Summer Getaway in Boston Sweepstakes

VIP NESN Ballpark Experience, including watching batting practice on the field, a personalized tour of the park, and the opportunity to meet NESN’s announcers in the broadcast booth

Overnight stay at The Lenox Hotel

Dinner for two at City Table

Must enter by July 12; winner will be selected on July 13

Enter here.

July 2, 2015
Boys Soccer Clinic at Harvard

Crimson Soccer Academy Youth Clinic

August 11th – 14th, 2015

Sign Up Before July 1st and Save 15%

Promo Code: Harvard2015

July 1, 2015