


News, events, children’s activities in Newton, MA.




60 urban public school students from Boston were chosen as Posse Scholars to enroll at elite colleges and universities around the country, The Posse Foundation announced today. The Posse Foundation identifies, recruits and trains students from urban communities with extraordinary academic and leadership skills and places them in top institutions of higher education, where they attend tuition-free. These students were recruited and trained to become the leaders Americans need in every field and better represent the voices of all Americans.
A regional awards ceremony will honor the newest recipients of the Posse Scholarship. This year, the 60 students from Boston will be awarded $11.2 million in four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships from:
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
Centre College
Denison University
Hamilton College
Union College
Of the 17,000 students from cities across the country nominated for the Posse Scholarship this year, 720 from Boston area were selected for this prestigious award.
Posse started because of one student who said, “I never would have dropped out of college if I had my posse with me.” The Posse Foundation identifies, recruits and trains exceptional young leaders from urban high schools and sends them in multicultural teams – Posses – of 10 students to top colleges and universities across the country. To date, 6,995 Posse scholars have been awarded more than $930 million in four-year full-tuition merit scholarships from Posse’s college and university partners.
The Posse Foundation is a national initiative with program chapters in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York City and Washington, D.C.

Flash Art, the Arsenal Center for the Arts’ biannual art lottery fundraiser is returning for its third year! We will be kicking off the New Year with this exhibition in January 2016. The show will run from January 7 – February 26, 2016, with an opening reception and ticket sales event on January 14.
All are welcome to come see the Flash Art exhibition of 100 works from 100 different artists. For those who wish to purchase the art, tickets are $100 each and only 100 tickets are available! If you like what you see, your ticket purchase guarantees you a piece of artwork in a broad range of style, content, and media. Stop by, have a glass of wine and check out the collection!
Those that purchase tickets will fill out a preference sheet and the artwork will be matched with a patron by lottery drawing based on the preference selection sheet order. The Closing Reception, where the lottery drawing will take place, will be from 5:30-7:30 pm on February 23. Those that wish to purchase tickets but cannot make it to the reception may do so by February 20, 2016 online at arsenalarts.org or in The Shop at The Arsenal Center for the Arts.
This event supports the Arsenal Center for the Arts and its mission to present dynamic theatre, creative art classes, visual art exhibitions, and diverse musical performances as well as subsidize programming for local seniors and under-served youth. Tickets for the event, more info on the show, and images of the works can be found at here.

WHAT:
Selections features the remarkable work of MassArt professors who are newly hired or returning from sabbatical. A venue for faculty to showcase their work, often in experimental directions or media, this exhibition is a perennial favorite. Representing all facets of the college, Selections highlights the work of MassArt’s multi-talented
Featured Artists: Suzanne Barnes, Ericka Beckman, Rick Brown & Laura Brown ’93, James Cambronne, Robert Coppola, Nancy Cusack, Lars Fischer, Matthew Hinçman ’93, Kofi Kayiga, Steve Locke ’01, James McLeod, Laura McPhee, Juan Obando, Juan Ormaza, Lyssa Palu-ay ’01, James M. Read, Irina Rozovsky ’07, Amber Davis Tourlentes ’88, Wojciech Wolynski, Joe Wood
WHO:
The largest free, contemporary art space in New England, the Sandra and David Bakalar Gallery and the Stephen D. Paine Gallery at MassArt host four curated exhibitions annually and also offer lectures and events that support its mission of education, accessibility, and being contemporary. Free and open to the public, the galleries are a venue for national and international art and serve as a vital cultural resource for the college, Boston, and beyond. Twice a year, visitors of all ages are invited to a special Family Day for interactive activities and art-making designed and guided by MassArt students, and the Bakalar & Paine Galleries’ staff illuminate the featured exhibitions. Located on MassArt’s campus at 621 Huntington Avenue, Boston, on the Avenue of the Arts.
WHERE:
Bakalar & Paine Galleries at MassArt
621 Huntington Avenue, South Building
Boston, MA
*accessible on the green line E train at the Longwood/Medical Area stop or by the 39 bus.
WHEN:
On View: January 26 – March 5, 2016
Opening Reception: Tuesday, January 26, 6:30-8:00 PM
Special Event: Family Day, Saturday, February 27, 2016, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM — Guests of all ages may drop in for a free, fun-filled day of interactive activities and art-making designed and guided by MassArt students and gallery staff to illuminate the featured exhibition. Materials and inspiration provided. Activities are best suited for ages 6 and up. Refreshments served.
ENTRY:
Free and open to the public.
Gallery Hours: Monday-Saturday 12 PM to 6 PM and Wednesday 12 PM to 8 PM (closed on Sundays).
INFO:
See www.massart.edu/galleries, email galleryinfo@massart.edu,

The Street announces the next brand to debut at The Pop-Up, its new concept devoted to celebrating innovative and locally grown brands. Perfectly timed to the winter season and the desire to bundle up in the coziest of styles, The Third Piece, a luxury knitwear line owned by two trendsetting Boston women, will take over The Pop-Up from Thursday January 7, 2016 through Wednesday January 13, 2016. The Pop-Up at The Street is located at 7 Boylston Street Chestnut Hill, MA. www.the3rdpiece.com;www.thestreetchestnuthill.com
The Third Piece’s full retail collection, offered in 12 beautiful colors, will be available at The Pop-Up. Women’s accessories and outerwear options range from hand-knit sweaters to infinity scarves to snoods to mitts. The brand’s signature piece, The Newbury, a hand-knit hooded cowl, and newly debuted, chunky, custom-made sweaters are bound to be hits. A just launched line of children’s outerwear, The Mini Me collection, will also be available at The Pop-Up. All prices range from $30-$398.

In addition to its retail collection, The Third Piece Pop-Up will introduce a Knit Bar and a variety of daily workshops. At The Knit Bar, knitters will receive on the spot guidance from expert piece-makers about any range of knitting dilemmas, while the workshops will varyfrom Knitting 101 to How to Make Your Own Designer Knitwear. Workshops come with yarn, needles, and a tote gift bag. Prices range from $48-75.

A packed Board of Education meeting this month at Grover Middle School in West Windsor, N.J., where a districtwide debate that often splits along racial lines is underway about the pressure put on students there to succeed.
The issue of the stresses felt by students in elite school districts has gained attention in recent years as schools in places like Newton, Mass., and Palo Alto have reported clusters of suicides. West Windsor-Plainsboro has not had a teenage suicide in recent years, but Dr. Aderhold, who has worked in the district for seven years and been superintendent for the last two and a half, said he had seen troubling signs.
The full New York Times article is here.

Once a year, Newton Police Department, in compliance with national accreditation standards, reminds citizens of their right to file citizen complaints.
Complaints against police officers may be made verbally or in writing. Confidentiality will be insured.
Complaints in writing may be hand delivered to a superior officer at the Newton Police Department, or mailed to Chief MacDonald at 1321 Washington Street Newton, Ma. 02465.
Citizens are also encouraged to commend police personnel verbally, in writing or in person. Compliments and commendations are copied to the personnel files of individual officers. All members of the Newton community are encouraged to call Newton Police Headquarters at (617) 796-2100.

Dance your way through the Holidays!
Happy Exercise for Adults, Teens, and College Students.
Holiday Special: First Class $10!
expires 1/15/2016

Following back to back sold out tours, Dancing with the Stars: Live! is taking its all new production on the road. Fans of Dancing with the Stars, ABC’s leading entertainment show, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions, will be given the opportunity to see their favorite stars dance live in Boston. The Dance All Night Tour is bringing a one-of-a-kind touring production to the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre.
Launching this winter, Dancing with the Stars: Live! – Dance All Night Tour features a bigger cast than ever before including pro dancers Lindsay Arnold, Sharna Burgess, Artem Chigvintsev, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Keo Motsepe, Peta Murgatroyd, Emma Slater, Alan Bersten, Brittany Cherry and Jenna Johnson with more casting to be announced*. In this all new production, the dancers are freed from the ballroom to bring you a 90-minute action-packed live show. Audiences will watch exciting and romantic performances, from choreography never before seen on Dancing with the Stars, to some of the most memorable numbers from show.
Tickets for Dancing with the Stars: Live! – Dance All Night Tour are for sale. For up to date information and to purchase tickets, go to citicenter.org, call (866) 348-9738, or visit the Citi Center Box Office. VIP packages will be available through VIPNation.com, giving fans the chance to purchase premium tickets, meet and greet opportunities with the cast, exclusive merchandise and photo opportunities.