Category: All About Newton

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

From Diapers to Diploma: A Healthier Way to Navigate Your Child’s Path to College

On April 13^th, The Discovery Museums will welcome The New York Times Op-Ed Columnist and author Frank Bruni as he presents “From Diapers to Diploma: A Healthier Way to Navigate Your Child’s Path to College” at the latest event in the Museums’ 2015 Speaker Series.

Author and NY Times Columnist Frank Bruni

Mr. Bruni joined the newspaper in 1995 and has ranged broadly across its pages. He has been both a White House correspondent and the chief restaurant critic.

He is the author of two New York Times best sellers: a 2009 memoir Born Round about the joys and torments of his eating life, and a 2002 chronicle of George W. Bush’s initial presidential campaign Ambling into History.

Who: Frank Bruni, New York Times Op-Ed Columnist

What: The Discovery Museums’ 2015 Speaker Series event

When: Tuesday, April 13, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Where: R.J. Grey Junior High School Auditorium, 16 Charter Road, Acton, MA

Increasingly, American parents start worrying about college admissions when their children are barely out of diapers. And by middle school, kids have been thrust into the competition for the Ivy League. But that’s a dangerous game, one that teaches kids a curious set of values, sets too many of them up for disappointment and perverts the true purpose of education. It’s also built on a myth: that success hinges on going to a highly selective school. Frank Bruni will talk about a better, healthier way to think about and approach all of this, distilling the research, life stories and advice in his new book Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania, which will be for sale after the presentation.

The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited; pre-registration is required and can be done online . Light refreshments will be served, donated by Idylwilde Farms in Acton.

April 5, 2015
Cook Restaurant Offers Seder Menu in Honor of Passover

Passover Delight

Cook Restaurant Offers Seder Menu in Honor of Passover

WHAT:          In celebration of Passover, Cook Newton will offer a selection of special dishes on Friday, April 3^rd through Friday, April 10^th, 2015. Executive Chef Paul Turano will serve three unique takes on traditional Seder fare including Matzo Ball Soup ($8), Lamb Under a Brick with roasted vegetables, parsnip purée and matzo pistachio haroset ($27) and House Candy Bar, a flourless chocolate cake with coconut, almond and matzo ($6). The regular menu will also be available. For more information, visit www.cooknewton.com or call 617-964-2665. Reservations are recommended.

WHEN:             April 3^rd, 2015 – April 10^th, 2015; Sunday–Thursday, 4:30PM to 10:00PM; Friday & Saturday:4:30PM to 11:00PM.

WHERE:           Cook Newton | 825 Washington Street | Newton, MA |02467

RSVP:              Reservations recommended by calling 617-964-2665.

MENU:             Matzo Ball Soup, $8.

Lamb Under a Brick, $27.

Roasted vegetables, parsnip purée and pistachio haroset

House Candy Bar, $6.

Flourless chocolate cake, coconut, almond and matzo

About Cook:

“Cook” restaurant is an 80-seat New American bistro is located in the Greater-Boston area in Newton, Massachusetts. Cook presents a menu that crosses all cultural lines and spans from the simple to the complex. The perfect place to meet for lunch, brunch or dinner, or simply to stop in and enjoy items from their snack menu while sampling craft cocktails, or something from the extensive beer and wine list. Cook is a true neighborhood restaurant in every way. Executive Chef/Owner Chef Paul Turano is dedicated to using only the freshest local ingredients. At Cook the food is dressed up, but you can dress down. Cook serves lunch Monday throughFriday from 11:30AM- 3:30PM, Dinner: Sunday– Saturday from 4:30PM – close, and brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30AM -2:30PM. Cook is located at 825 Washington Street in Newton, MA. For more information please visit www.cooknewton.com.

April 3, 2015
Rain Gardens: Finding the Balance. FREE LECTURE

Rain Gardens: Finding the Balance

Come to learn from horticulturist Peter Hinrichs

How we may use storm water in our garden and

Find balance between our designed & natural environment

Monday, April 6, 2015

7:30 PM

Auburndale Community Library

Garden Club Speaker Series

375 Auburn Street, corner of Ash Street

Newton, MA 02466

617- 552-7158

Our third speaker, in the Auburndale Community Library Garden Series, Peter Hinrichs, will help us understand how to use storm water in our garden, and also help us to find balance between our designed and natural environment.

As a landscape designer, educator, horticulturist, and builder, Peter helps people to understand the value of well designed landscapes as they relate to the quality of life, home, the environment and community.

Peter currently works as Horticultural Specialist and teacher at Learning Prep School in West Newton. The school’s greenhouse sells plants to the community and is now open for your business.

Learning Prep School

507 Washington Street | West Newton, MA 02465

April 2, 2015
Now Casting Culinary Kids for Racheal Ray Show

Rachael Ray is in search of the most talented kid chefs in the country. Last year, Finn (on far right of poster) was cast in the show. He’s from Newton!

We are looking for kids with captivating personalities who believe they’re at the top of their culinary game and want to inspire a Food Network audience through their passion for food and cooking.

The winner will receive a grand prize that will help to kick-start their culinary career!

To learn more, please go to www.JSCasting.com. If you have any questions or require further information, please email us at KidsCookOffCasting@gmail.com

March 30, 2015
Online Casting Call for Divorced Families

ASYLUM ENTERTAINMENT, NBC AND DORON OFIR CASTING IS ON A NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR DIVORECED COUPLES WHO HAVE CHILDREN

This innovative new television series will help create a new peaceful family paradigm for your children, while successfully moving on from your divorce.

This incredible opportunity will teach you how to truly co-parent your children and create a new normal for your family where fighting will be a thing of the past. What you will learn will give your children the opportunity to have the relationship they want with each parent individually and you and your ex will begin to communicate
effectively, letting go of your differences and enjoy a greater family dynamic.

If you are recently divorced and share custody of your children, this is a great opportunity to achieve a lifetime of success in co-parenting and create a positive foundation for the person that matters most – your child.

Apply now: http://co-parentingcasting.com

March 28, 2015
Newton Has Talent

Newton Has Talent Finalists Face Off on Sunday, March 29 at Newton North High School Auditorium

Come see some of Newton’s best-kept artistic secrets at the third annual Newton Has Talent (NHT) contest at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 29 at the Newton North High School auditorium. The event is sponsored by the Newton Rotary Club.

The top 10 finishers of the contest’s first round earlier this month will compete for first, second and third place— and $1,750 worth of prize money. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children (children under 5 are free) and may be purchased online atwww.newtonhastalent.com until the morning of the event. They are also available at the door.

Last year’s second place finisher, singer Mira Li, says she had a great time performing and was impressed by the quality of the contestants. “You don’t realize how many strong singers, dancers and other performers live and go to school in Newton,” says the Newton South senior, who sang Christina Aguilera’s Hurt. “Newton Has Talent is great because it gives a lot of people who don’t ordinarily have the opportunity to share their talents with others to finally do so.”

NPR personality Charlie Pierce will emcee the event.

The first, second and third place winners will also perform at Newton Festival of the Arts on May 9 at Newton City Hall.

Newton Has Talent’s premier sponsor is Village Bank. For more information, visit here. For more information about Newton Rotary Club, visit here.

March 27, 2015
2nd Water Meter To SAVE Money!

Any resident wishing to obtain a second water meter to qualify for next summer’s new rate structure must register with the City of Newton Utilities Division by April 1, 2015.

Currently, residents are billed sewer charges for all water entering a household even though outdoor water usage never enters the sewer system.

Second meters would measure the amount of water used outdoors and would not incur the sewer rate.

More info here.

March 26, 2015
NNHS New Principal Update

March 25, 2015

Dear North Community,

Over the past several weeks, it has been a great pleasure working with a range of stakeholders on the Newton North High School principal search. The thoughtful questions and scenarios that were posed to the finalist candidates by students, faculty, administrators and parents demonstrated that Newton North has a highly knowledgeable, engaged and committed community. I am also very appreciative of the Selection Advisory Committee who invested tremendous energy and care interviewing candidates and providing me with feedback.

Last week, Newton North was privileged to host two excellent school administrators who have contributed much to public education and will make an even greater impact in the future. I am grateful to both Geoff Walker and Bill Klements for the thought, care, and intelligence they demonstrated during the past few weeks. The search process was a rigorous one and they deserve great credit for making it to the finalist stage.

After a thorough review and a careful examination of the needs of the school, I have decided to appoint an interim principal for the 2015-16 school year. In the next several weeks, we will examine our options for an interim principal and an announcement will be made after the April vacation.

I want to thank those of you who provided such valuable feedback throughout the search process. I will keep you informed as we proceed with next steps.

Sincerely,

David A. Fleishman
Superintendent of Schools

March 25, 2015
What Does High School Bullying Look Like?

The film is a realistic, unscripted look inside the world of high school bullying through the eyes of both the bully and the victim. The film will be opening in Boston on Friday, March 27 – playdate theaters are still TBD.

Ranked one of the top schools in the country, South Brookdale High School welcomes a documentary film crew on campus to chronicle the student body celebration. The camera quickly shifts focus from the pomp and circumstance of academia to the story of a victim and her bully in A GIRL LIKE HER.

Jessica Burns (Lexi Ainsworth) is a 16-year-old girl with a secret she’s afraid to share with anyone, except her best friend Brian Slater (Jimmy Bennett). For the past year, she’s been victimized mentally and physically by one of the most popular girls in her class, a former friend named Avery Keller (Hunter King). With Brian’s help and the use of a hidden digital camera, evidence of Avery’s relentless harassment is finally recorded. But as Jessica begins to face her bully, she realizes her pain is stronger than her hope for things to change. When Jessica reaches a critical point and the film crew turns their lens toward the teen’s incident, Avery’s veil lifts during the documentation— revealing there truly are two sides to every story.

Written and directed by Amy S. Weber, A GIRL LIKE HER is an unscripted, poignant feature film that takes a realistic, inside look at bullying through the eyes of both the bully and the victim. As the film explores the connection and relationship between two individuals, it shines an unbiased light on the teen bullying epidemic and society’s role in breaking the cycle. With powerful performances from a cast including Hunter King, Lexi Ainsworth, and Jimmy Bennett, A GIRL LIKE HER reminds audiences what it means to listen in a world where emotional pain hides behind many façades.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Official URL: AGirlLikeHerMovie.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/AGirlLikeHerMovie

Instagram: @AGirlLikeHer

Twitter: @AGirlLikeHerMov

March 25, 2015
Play Like a Girl

PLAY LIKE A GIRL!® LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN SHOWCASING THE POWER OF PLAY THROUGH SPORTS TO INSPIRE HEALTHY GIRLS

U.S. Olympians Michelle Carter and Nikki Kubes Stories Highlighted in #IPlayLikeAGirl

Play Like A Girl, in collaboration with the American Advertising Federation’s local Ad 2 Dallas affiliate, will launch a new campaign showcasing the power of active play, physical activity and sports to improve overall health and quality of life for girls. The launch of the new campaign #IPlayLikeAGirl will coincide with the start of National Nutrition Month in March and will be seen through a series of radio, television and print advertisements highlighting the stories of female athletes through the start of National Physical Fitness & Sports Month in May

Focusing on the power of “play” both on and off the field to improve health and help girls

unleash their greatest potential, #IPlayLikeAGirl will highlight the personal stories of 13 female athletes ages 13 to 30 all from the Dallas, Texas, area including U.S. Olympians Michelle Carter (Shot Put)and Nikki Kubes (Judo). Their stories emphasize the role sports has played in enhancing their physical and emotional health, self-confidence, academic performance and social relationships.

“We are proud to showcase these young women and girls and the positive impact that play can have in the lives of countless others,” said Dr. Kimberly Clay, Founder and Executive Director of Play Like A Girl. “Each has used participation in sports as a major step in overcoming significant hurdles in their lives including bullies, body shaming, low self-esteem, debilitating accidents and injuries, and life-threatening illnesses.”

Creating a strong emotional connection with women and girls, #IPlayLikeAGirl is centered on a one-minute video that showcases sporty girls and young women practicing Yoga, running a mile, lifting weights, dancing and boxing among other physical activities. Condensed into thirty and fifteen second television and radio advertisements, their impactful messages will be seen and heard throughout all of the major broadcast outlets in the Dallas, Texas, region.

“Through Judo, I found the strength and confidence I needed to achieve my dreams,” saidNikki Kubes, U.S. Judo Olympian featured in the #IPlayLikeAGirl ad campaign. “After the Olympics, I set my sights on a new dream. I’ve always trained with the boys, fought with the boys, and always knew there was nothing a girl couldn’t do. So now I work with the boys and my dream is to be the best police officer I can be.”

The #IPlayLikeAGirl campaign draws inspiration from Sport for All, Play for Life: A Playbook to Get Every Kid in the Game recently released by the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Nike, ESPN, the Clinton Foundation and the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. The report outlines a national plan to re-imagine organized youth sports, prioritizing health and inclusion, while recognizing the benefits of unstructured play. The report presents the most promising opportunities to extend the benefits of playing sports to all, including the millions of girls who grow up with limited access to regular physical activity.

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Nearly one in three children and adolescents today is overweight or obese. Physical inactivity contributes to the epidemic and is passed forward across generations, creating a cycle of poor physical and emotional health and tragically wasted human potential. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites physical inactivity and obesity as risk factors for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and depression. By 2030, the combined medical costs associated with treating preventable, obesity-related disease is expected to increase by up to $66 billion per year in the United States, with a loss in economic productivity of up to $580 billion annually.

Childhood is the ideal time to create habits that establish a healthy weight, and participation in after-school physical activity programs–like those provided by Play Like A Girl–hold the most promise in reducing obesity rates among children ages 6-12, according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. This is especially true for African-American and Hispanic girls who are doubly hit by both gender and race disparities in sports and physical activity.

Play Like A Girl has been inspiring girls through health education, physical activity and sports for over 10 years, targeting girls across the 16 Deep South states where the burden of childhood overweight and obesity is greatest. With this new campaign, Play Like A Girl continues to provide girls the opportunity to find and play sports they love.

Play Like A Girl invites girls and women everywhere to join the movement and share how they play like a girl. Tweet, snap a photo, shoot a video or send a message to join the conversation and inspire young girls everywhere to be active.

To hear the stories of girls and women and be a part of the #IPlayLikeAGirl movement, visit:www.iplaylikeagirl.org. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.iplaylikeagirl.org and follow Play Like A Girl on Facebook (/iplaylikeagirl), Instagram (@iplaylikeagirl) and Twitter (@iplaylikeagirl).

March 24, 2015