Category: All About Newton

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

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
CakeWalk Neighborhood Ambassadors Needed

Bright and early on Sunday morning, May 17, 2015, Birthday Wishes will celebrate its fourth annual CakeWalk at Millennium Park in West Roxbury, MA. CakeWalk is our signature fundraising event, reflecting the grassroots nature of our organization and the importance of kids helping kids.

Last year, we launched CakeWalk’s Neighborhood Ambassador program. The primary goal of every Neighborhood Ambassador is to fundraise by creating a team of their own (e.g., Team Dedham), and then inviting friends, family, school, business and organizational contacts to join their team, or create their own team of walkers.

We hope to significantly expand our number of Ambassadors this year. Will you join us? We provide everything you will need (flyers, social media suggestions, T-shirts, brochures and information packets) to make it simple and fun!

Our Neighborhood Ambassador kick-off orientation will be held in The Community Room at Whole Foods Market, 916 Walnut Street, Newton on Saturday, March 28, 2015, from 10:00-11:00 AM. Our good friends at Whole Foods will provide wonderful refreshments. We will introduce all Ambassadors to one another, distribute marketing materials, set goals, brainstorm new ways to recruit walkers and hear tips from some of last year’s Ambassadors.

Please RSVP to committee co-chairs Leah Bellas or Leslie Ziarko Valera. Or contact Susan Haviland with any questions you may have.

We hope you will join us! Thank you.

March 23, 2015
MA High School Mountain Biking League Launch Meeting Planned

The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) will be holding a meeting on March 25 to discuss the establishment of a high school mountain bike-racing league in Massachusetts. The meeting will take place from noon to 3:00pm, at the Washington Square Tavern, in Brookline, MA. If Massachusetts opts to place the bid required for a league to be launched, it would be the 17^th state to utilize NICA’s mountain bike-racing program for student athletes in 7^th through 12^th grade.

Founded in 2009, NICA works with coaches and parents to provide guidance and resources to launch non-profit leagues dedicated to getting students into cycling. At the meeting, Minnesota High School Cycling League founder Gary Sjoquist, will guide a discussion about what it will take for Massachusetts to successfully launch a league by the projected date of 2016. Sjoquist successfully ran the Minnesota league in 2012 and 2013.

“These NICA leagues use mountain bike racing as a gateway to get kids into cycling,” said Sjoquist. “The leagues grow quickly and literally create cycling families. The secret sauce is that you bring high schools—with all their diversity—to a safe, fun mountain bike program that is highly social. And unlike typical ball and stick sports, nobody gets cut. All of the participants contribute to the success of the team, which the kids think is really cool.”

NICAs 16 current leagues are comprised of close to 5,000 student athlete racers completing nearly 2 million hours of participation annually. Additionally, nearly 2,000 parents have become licensed as coaches, guiding over 500 teams participating in NICA leagues.

“NICA is a great program to get student athletes into cycling,” said Sjoquist. “But it takes the right people coming together and working toward a common goal to successfully launch a league. You need people with event experience, racers, or teachers and administrators with a love for mountain biking. You also need parents who love cycling, but have seen their child’s frustration and lack of success with traditional team sports. 10 years from now, only a handful of folks will be able to look back and say they helped launch this league, and that’s who we need at this meeting.”

More information about NICA and the Minnesota League can be found at www.nationalmtb.org and www.minnesotamtb.org, respectfully. Gary Sjoquist can be contacted for more information at gsjoquis@qbp.com.

**We have great stories about kids who discover mountain bike racing in a NICA league, get their parents into cycling, travel on trips together, even achieve college scholarships to continue racing in college. Kids with disabilities, too, who can compete on a team for the first time ever – it’s pretty compelling stuff.**

Photo credit Todd Bauer

March 21, 2015
The Village Bank will award $50,000 in college scholarships

Joseph A. De Vito, president and CEO of The Village Bank, announced today that the Bank’s Auburndale Community Charitable Foundation will award a total of $50,000 in college scholarships to graduating, college-bound high school seniors from the communities served by the Bank.

The Foundation will award two $10,000 scholarships and fifteen $2,000 scholarships. To be eligible for a $10,000 scholarship, in addition to academic achievement and other criteria, the student must have demonstrated active involvement in community and/or charitable causes, in a leadership capacity.

“The Village Bank has always had a strong commitment to the community it serves,” said De Vito. “This year’s $10,000 scholarships give us the opportunity to recognize local students who share that commitment.

The scholarship awards can be applied toward college tuition, room and board or supplies. Complete rules and requirement information and application forms are available at local high schools and at The Village Bank branches in Auburndale, Newtonville, Nonantum, Newton Highlands, Waban, West Newton and Wayland. They are also available online here. Completed applications must be received by the Bank no later than April 17, 2015.

Auburndale Community Charitable Foundation scholarships are funded in part by a Golf Classic held each fall. The scholarship program began in 1998 with the announcement of five $2,000 scholarships to be awarded to members of that year’s graduating class. The Foundation’s total investment in education since the program began will total $548,000 with this year’s awards, according to De Vito.

March 19, 2015
Paradise City Arts Festival, March 20-22

Local Artist Selected to Exhibit in the Award-Winning Paradise City Arts Festival, March 20-22 in Marlborough, Massachusetts

Sharon Schindler was selected in a rigorous competition to participate in the award-winning Paradise City Arts Festival, March 20-22, 2015, at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough, MA.

Thousands of images were reviewed last September, with just 175 artists from 20 states and Canada selected for this prestigious show. The applicants’ work was judged on the basis of imagination, technical excellence, design and originality. Sharon Schindler is in very good company, since works by many of the exhibiting artists are featured in major collections, museums, and publications around the world.

For the first weekend of spring, Paradise City presents a curated selection of outstanding North American craft makers and artists at Metro Boston’s most acclaimed show of fine and functional art. The Royal Plaza Trade Center, an intimate exhibition hall in Boston’s western suburbs, is transformed each spring into a dazzling collection of vibrant one-of-a-kind furniture, home furnishings, fashion, jewelry, paintings and sculpture. Patrons write, “It’s like visiting a museum where you can actually take home the works on display!”

“Treats for the eye and the ear greet visitors at Paradise City Marlborough… this show allows artists to ‘think outside the box’ and presents work that you won’t find anywhere else,” AmericanStyle Magazine said upon naming this event a “Top 10 Art and Craft Fair in America”. The Boston Globe called Paradise City “An Art Lover’s Heaven.”

Paradise City’s award-winning show and sale offers a wide range of fine furniture, lighting, landscape-scale and pedestal-size sculpture, art quilts, ceramic dinnerware, wearable art, playful and elegant jewelry and remarkable paintings and photography.

“UP IN THE AIR!” and more…

Themed “show-within-a-show” exhibitions have been inspiring artists and intriguing patrons at Paradise City Arts Festivals for many years. The sky is truly the limit at this spring’s special exhibition. The exhibiting artists were asked to give Paradise City the sun, the moon and the stars! If it isn’t tethered to the ground, it’s fair game. “Up in the Air!” explores all that defies gravity, whether it flies, floats or is suspended in space.

Join master ceramist and raconteur Tim Scull, star of the WGBY/PBS program ‘The Fire Within,’ as he shares the secrets of his studio, discusses raku firing and demonstrates his expertise on the potter’s wheel all weekend long.

Live jazz entertains attendees every day in the sunlit Sculpture Café, and wafts through the exhibition hall. Paradise City presents the JD Jazz Trio’s blazing bass, keyboards and drums on Friday afternoon. The fabulous O-Tones get you dancing in the aisles to swing and Motown, with bass, guitar, drums and three-part harmony on Saturday. Green Street Trio and pianist, composer and dance accompanist Paul Arslanian, the founder of the Jazz Tap Ensemble are back by popular request on Sunday. The Marlborough Public Schools Music Association offers a coat and package check station at the door. All donations benefit instrumental, vocal and dance programs in the public schools.

Fast Facts

What: Paradise City Arts Festival

175 juried artists from 20 states and Canada exhibiting original works in art glass, ceramics, painting, decorative fiber, fine furniture, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, photography, large-scale sculpture, wearable art and wood. With live music, special exhibits, craft demonstrations and delightful dining.

Where:

The Royal Plaza Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Road West (Route 20W), Marlborough, MA.

Just 5 minutes north of the intersection of Mass Pike (I-90) and I-495, Marlborough is only 30 minutes from downtown Boston, and an easy drive from NH, RI, CT, ME and points west.

From all points, take 495 to exit 24B (Route 20 West). The Royal Plaza Trade Center is one mile on the right.

When:

Friday, March 20: 10am-5pm
Saturday, March 21: 10am-6pm
Sunday, March 22: 11am-5pm

Admission: $13 adults; $11 over 65; $8 students; $16 Weekend Pass;
children 12 and under admitted free; handicapped accessible; free color program with admission; acres of free parking!

Complete show and travel information and discount admission coupons: online at www.paradisecityarts.com or call 800.511.9725

About Paradise City

Paradise City, founded in 1995, is an arts promotion and service organization, producing award-winning shows of fine and functional art in a range of national markets. Its shows provide artists with a sophisticated marketplace for cutting-edge work, and are an important resource for serious collectors, homeowners, galleries and decorators. Among the art media included are works in furniture, art glass, large-scale sculpture, mixed media, ceramics, jewelry, photography and painting.

www.paradisecityarts.com serves as an extensive visual preview and fact-finder for all Paradise City shows. In addition, editors can register and download additional materials and high-resolution images from the online pressroom.

ARTIST CONTACT INFORMATION:

Sharon Schindler Photography, P.O.Box 590022, Newton Centre,

Massachusetts 02459

sharon@sharonschindlerphotography.com

www.sharonschindlerphotography.com

March 18, 2015
Open House at Shawn’s Studio: Pilates and WaterRowers

Open House at Shawn’s Studio in Watertown, MA
features Pilates Equipment and WaterRowers

Shawn’s Studio, a fitness and wellness center located near Watertown Square, will host an open house on Sunday March 22, 2015 from 1 – 3 p.m. The free event will feature demos of equipment including the Pilates reformer, tower, and Wunda chair, as well as, new WaterRower rowing machines.

Pilates is an exercise method that was developed by Joseph Pilates, starting with his days as a medic in World War I, rehabilitating wounded soldiers. It emphasizes deep core strength, building strength with flexibility, alignment, balance and posture. Shawn’s Studio offers one-on-one training and group classes.

Rowing is one of the best forms of exercise since it recruits all major muscle groups. The difference in the WaterRower from other rowing machines that use air is an actual action of a flywheel in water for a smooth uniform stroke. It’s just like rowing on the Charles and creates a connection between the rower and the water movement. As an added benefit, the gentle sound of the water adds a stress-relieving element to the program.

New Tower-Row classes at Shawn’s Studio divide the 55-minute session between the Pilates equipment and the WaterRower for an efficient, total body workout incorporating strength, flexibility and cardio training. Students will learn Pilates principles such as working from the deep core and how to apply those principles to create the best form on the WaterRower. Shawn is also certified to teach the Indo-Row classes created by World Champion Rower, Josh Crosby.

Studio owners Shawn and Maja Giles will be on hand at the open house to answer questions specific to your exercise routine. Shawn’s Studio is located in the Cortiva Massage School building at 103 Morse Street in Watertown, MA. For details, go to www.shawnsstudio.com or call 617-393-3535.

Shawn’s Studio

shawnsstudiopilates@gmail.com

617.393.3535

103 Morse St.

Watertown, ma. 02472

March 18, 2015
Solar Workshop at The Village Bank, West Newton

Learn more about the Newton Solar Challenge in a community-based setting. See how solar will “look” on your home, how it works and how adopting solar can save your family money.

You will learn how the numbers work and how solar can now be financed through The Village Bank’s new “solar loan”.

Saturday, March 21 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM

The Village Bank, West Newton

1369 Washington Street

West Newton, MA 02465

March 17, 2015
Newton Family Singers: Beatles

John, Paul, George or Ringo – who is your favorite? We love them all! In the 1960’s, the Beatles hit the US at one of the most socially tumultuous times in our history, providing an outlet for young people to express their uncertainty, irreverence, and independence. From the quiet idealism of Imagine, to the rousing optimism of All You Need is Love, the music of the Beatles holds a special place in our hearts, remaining fresh and meaningful to each generation that discovers it.

So take a trip down memory lane (maybe even a Magical Mystery Tour) with the Newton Family Singers as we celebrate the Beatles as only the Newton Family Singers can do! Pack up the minivan – you’ll want to share this music with your kids! “NFS Tribute to the Beatles” will play at the Newton South High School Auditorium on March 29th at 4pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www.newtonfamilysingers.org.

Tickets will go on sale on March 6, 2015 and can be purchased at www.newtonfamilysingers.org

March 16, 2015
5K for Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence

ATASK Community 5k: Runners, Families, and Nonprofits Are Welcome!

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2015

Location: Chestnut Hill Reservoir

Race Start Time: 9 a.m. (registration begins at 8 a.m.)

The Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK) is proud to host its first Community 5k. Run or walk through the beautiful Chestnut Hill Reservoir with friends and family and raise funds for a non-profit of your choice!

The ATASK Community 5k is the first of its kind – an event showcasing and celebrating the non-profit organizations in Greater Boston that support the pan-Asian community. These nonprofits share common ground in providing essential services and programs to Asian Americans, as well as contributing to the economic, cultural, and political development of the Commonwealth. By participating in this race, you will strengthen our vibrant community.

To register, go to: runsignup.com/Race/MA/Boston/ATASKCommunity5K

If you have any questions, please contact: atask.clc@gmail.com

March 14, 2015