24 year old Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, MA is headed to London for the 2012 Olympic Games this July. Sacramone started competitive gymnastics at age 8 and her career has skyrocketed since then. She has had some ups and downs in her career, including a devastating fall in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a temporary retirement that followed. Just one year later, Sacramone came out of retirement and soon redeemed herself with a gold medal in vault at the 2010 World Championships. Now, she is on her way to the 2012 Olympics to show everyone what she is capable of.
I am excited for Newton’s Farmer’s Markets to open this week! I go to both some weeks. Friday’s has better parking but a more limited selection. Tuesdays also has the ice cream truck parked inside with premium ice cream as a way to get the kids to come along without complaining.
What is your favorite stand or item to buy? My vote is the peaches and the fish guys.
Tuesdays
New Cold Spring Park
1200 Beacon Street
Newton, MA 02464
July 3 – October 30
1:30PM – 6:00PM
New this season at the Tuesday Market will be fresh Mushrooms and Raviolis.
15-year-old Joshua Sander, a junior at Newton South High School, is the winner of Boston’s Operation Sail essay competition and will ride on the U.S. Coast Guard tall ship, Eagle, at the start of OpSail Boston on June 30. – Photo – Tamir Kalifa for The Boston Globe
As part of Operation Sail 2012, high school essay contests were held in all the participating cities. This is the winning essay from Boston, written by Newton South High School junior Josh Sander. It was chosen by the chief judge of the OpSail Essay contest, William H. White, author, historian, and board member of both the USS Constitution Museum and Operation Sail, Inc.
The story of the Revenue Cutter Service
By Josh Sander
During the Revolutionary War, many captains smuggled their goods past the British to avoid paying taxes on it, and many saw no reason to stop at the end of the war. As a federal debt crisis loomed, the Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton saw an opportunity to seize revenue and submitted a proposal for the creation of a “Revenue Cutter Service” to “seize vessels and goods in the cases in which they are liable to seizure for breaches of the Revenue laws.” In 1790, the Revenue Cutter Service was created. Later, its mission was expanded to include enforcing the unpopular embargoes passed by Congress to protest European violation of American neutrality.
Despite the unpopular laws, the RCS earned respect for their quality, responsibility, and fairness in administering them. The Revenue Cutters were also responsible for rescuing distressed sailors, bringing supplies to lighthouses, carrying messages, and charting the coast. To do this, the RCS was equipped with ten fast and agile shallow-draft cutters, each based at a major trading port. The cutters could be equipped with ten carronades (though the ships rarely carried a full complement of guns), and a crew of fifteen to thirty men. The RCS, most notably the USRC Pickering, first fired in anger during the “Quasi War” with France, which took place almost entirely at sea. By the time the War of 1812 had begun, the Service had expanded to fourteen ships.
• NO food is permitted; flat mail is the predominant and preferred method; most camps do not allow care package boxes, or permit a very limited number per summer
• If camps do allow them, or even for those sending flat mail, here are some suggestions and tips:
o Make it personal – what makes your child smile; books or magazines they enjoy reading at home; for kids obsessed with sports stats, send them good old fashioned newspaper print-outs of team scores
o Make it shareable – a bunk activity is great; camp is about collaboration, friendship and communication
I remember watching the Newton city [professional] fireworks display on the hill at Fessenden two years ago with a group of families from my elementary school. One little boy ended up at the hospital that night. The culprit: those glow in the dark sticks. The boys were sword fighting and one opened up and the goo landed in his eye.
The Fourth of July is drawing near and barbeque preparations are underway. Fireworks are a traditional part of Independence Day celebrations, but they can also be dangerous. Sadly, children and teens are too often hurt by fireworks. So, before the celebration begins, get your EyeSmart fireworks safety tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Of the 9,000 fireworks-related injuries each year, 21 percent are eye injuries and more than half of the victims are young children or teenagers. For example:
A 6-year-old child’s eye was severely injured after he lit an M-80 firework that he found in his home. He called 911 (mp3 audio) and underwent an immediate cornea transplant and lens replacement, and required several additional eye surgeries.
A 12-year-old boy forgot to unwrap the fuse of a fountain firework, making the fuse too short. It exploded almost immediately and blew up in his face, seriously injuring his eye.
After a man lit smoke bombs that created colored smoke, his 4-year-old son leaned in to get a closer look. Tar from the smoke bomb wick shot into the boy’s eye, causing a corneal abrasion.
“Many Americans get caught up in the excitement of the Fourth of July, and forget that fireworks are also dangerous explosives,” said Monica L. Monica, M.D., an ophthalmologist and clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “The safest choice is to attend a professional fireworks display, and make it a point to supervise children at all times.”
Even sparkers are dangerous. Sparklers typically burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and cause 27 percent of all fireworks injuries, including third-degree burns. Bottle rockets cause some of the most serious eye injuries. Errant bottle rockets can injure bystanders and cause eye lid lacerations, corneal abrasions, retinal detachment, optic nerve damage, rupture of the eyeball, and complete blindness. One in every six fireworks-related eye injuries results in permanent vision loss or blindness.
To prevent eye injuries, follow these EyeSmart tips:
Never let children play with fireworks of any type.
View fireworks from at least 500 feet away.
Leave the lighting of fireworks to trained professionals.
Respect safety barriers set up to allow pyrotechnicians to do their jobs safely.
If you find unexploded fireworks, do not touch them. Immediately contact your local fire or police departments.
If you experience an eye injury during a fireworks accident, seek immediate medical help. For more fireworks safety tips or to find an eye M.D.in your area, visit www.geteyesmart.org.
Please be safe everyone! The ER is no fun on 4th of July!
When my kids were smaller, we used to drive to Brookline to take parent/child music classes with Philip who is like the Pied Piper. My kids adored his music classes and it was completely worth the drive! He also has some free events coming up on the North Shore. I know … very far away, but just check out the dates in case you are headed there for other reasons like the beach or to meet a friend.
Free Concert at Swampscott Library Tomorrow …
Concert by the Sea! This Tuesday!
What: “Dream Big” Summer Family Concert!
Where: Swampscott Public Library. 61 Burrill Street, Swampscott, MA
When: Tuesday, June 26th, 6 – 7:30PM
Cost:
FREE!Bring your family to sing and dance barefoot on the green! Weather permitting, the concert will be on the beautiful lawn outside the library and the Town Hall, just across from the end of King’s Beach.
I am very excited to perform with my family band! My wife Joanna and daughter Sophia will add their exquisite harmonies, backed up by the talented Michael McClung on bass and Whisky Wolinski on drums. Bring a picnic supper to enjoy. Treadwell’s Ice Cream will be selling sundaes as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Swampscott Public Library. Enjoy face painting and temporary tattoos for the kids.
Where: Abbot Hall, 188 Washington Street, Marblehead
When: Sunday July 1st, 1 to 2pm
Cost: FREE!
All kinds of fantastic events are happening in Marblehead for the Festival of the Arts weekend! Live music, arts, crafts, food and more. The Children’s Festival is Sunday from noon to 3pm is on the lawn of Abbot Hall, so head on over at 1pm for a family band concert sure to get you and your kids singing, dancing, laughing and grooving together!
www.marbleheadfestival.org/
What: “Dream Big!” Summer Family Concert
Where: Thomas Crane Public Library, 40 Washington Street, Quincy MA
When: Friday August 3rd, 10:30 to 11:30AM
Cost: FREE!
Come to the beautiful Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy, MA for a lively Sing-and-Dance-Along Show! We will explore the “Dream Big” theme with songs and stories both original and from around the world. I will be joined by the very talented Ranko Stevanovic on accordion. Weather permitting, the show will be outdoors.
His upcoming classes in Brookline:
Sing, Play, Grow with Philip Alexander
Weekly Parent/Child Music Classes
Mondays in Brookline
Summer Registration Now Open! Classes Start July 9th.
CLICK HERE for complete schedule and registration information, or to set up a free sample class.
Please welcome Dr. David Oliver who has renamed his chiropractic, rehab and massage practice from Newton Wellness Center to Move Well Chiropractic to better reflect what he does. This week, he focuses on preventing back pain by having you closely examine just how you are set up at your computer.
Proper Ergonomic Set Up for Computer Users
If you are using a laptop as your main computer you are actually placing even more stress on your spine than with a desktop. Since the screen is attached to the computer, it places your neck in an anterior and forward flexed position – leading to increased muscular tension in your neck and upper back. This also places your spine in a stressed position which, with prolonged exposure can lead to earlier spinal degeneration.
I recommend switching to a desktop or modify the way you use your laptop. For example, some people get docking stations or external monitors which, help put the screen in the proper position. For a cheaper alternative you can place your laptop on a stack of books – bringing it up to the proper height (mentioned below). You then need to buy an external keyboard and external mouse (can be found now a days for about $20) well worth the money when you look at the long term gains! Once you have your laptop set up; as if it were a desktop, follow the mentioned corrections and guidelines below.
Monitor Position
Most people’s monitors are too low– causing the individual to look down and move their head forward. This causes increased stress on the spine and muscles of the neck and back – as they try to support your head. Did you know that your head weighs as much as a bowling ball (approx 10-14lbs?!) Therefore, if you have it in front of your body those muscles attached to it must work overtime to support it. Research has shown that for every inch your head is in front of your body it gains 10lbs in pressure placed on the body!
The top of the monitor should be at the level of your eyebrows and no higher than the top of your head. Placing the monitor on a book or two may be necessary in order to achieve this height. If you use multiple monitors you need to be sure to rotate your chair when changing between monitors – don’t rotate your head. If you find yourself straining to see the monitor you may need to get glasses or change the setting on your computer to make the font larger. The monitor should be 20-40 inches from your head, you can move within this range to gain the best view of the monitor.
Keyboard Position
Most people position their keyboard too highcausing them to work with shrugged shoulders and elevated arms. Whenever we lift our arms or shoulders we activate the muscles of the neck and upper back. In order to understand this concept more, do the following test. Have someone stand behind you while you sit at your desk. Have them place their hands on your upper back and neck. Start with you arms relaxed at your side and have them find areas that are tender or tight. Then raise your arms to reach out and type as you normally do. You will either feel an increased soreness or feel the contraction of your muscles in the areas being touched.
Next, drop your arms down again and only bend slightly at your elbows. You should feel significantly less tension and pain doing this. If you were to work for hours on end with your shoulders and arms elevated, you would cause those muscles to fatigue over time. You would also develop muscular adhesions and trigger points (those extremely common hard painful knots you feel in your upper back and shoulders).
All of this leads to increased pain and discomfort in your upper back and neck. To avoid these complications you need to position your keyboard at the height of your elbows or just below – with your shoulders relaxed, not shrugged. Your elbows should be resting at your side not away from your body.
A lot of times simply raising the height of your chair can correct the problem (remember to adjust the monitor height if you raise your chair). However, for some (either because of desk height or other issues) this does not correct the problem. Some people may need to change desks or have a keyboard drawer installed to allow proper keyboard height. When you finally do get the keyboard to the proper position, remember that your mouse must also be at the same height and close – you should not have to reach for it!
Have you noticed the gorgeous artwork that has been beautifying the city on those drab electrical boxes? On all 4 sides too! Newton BoxArt projects are everywhere.
We saw our guy working on his below on Commonwealth Avenue at Washington Blvd. It’s timely! And coincides well because this is the turn to the bottom of Boston Marathon’s infamous Heartbreak Hill! I like how there are 4 sides that connect into a 3 dimensional piece of art.
There are more boxes that can be painted!
If you would like to submit your design to paint one, submit your application soon. The deadlines are June 15 and August 1.
The application is on line at www.newtoncommunitypride.org or on the City of Newton website/Government/Cultural Affairs/Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs/Public Art RFP: NewtonSERVES Box Art Project. Call (617) 527-8283 for more information.
p.s. This is at Commonwealth Avenue at Walnut Street. It’s so perfect because it’s near Newton Free Library and Newton City Hall! I don’t think that this placement is a coincidence!
p.s. Send me photos of your favorite BoxART Projects and we will post them here!
