Category: All About Newton

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

Marc Gargaro: Boxing Trainer to U.S. Olympic Team

It’s been a busy year for Nonantum’s Marc Gargaro, co-owner of Nonantum Boxing Club. This past summer, he got married, had his first child, opened a second Nonantum Boxing Club location in Hingham, and trained the U.S. Elite Men’s Boxing Team at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to ready them for the World Boxing Championships in Germany.

The U.S. Elite Men’s Boxing Team had an impressive result in Germany, earning two bronze and a silver medal. This is the team that will represent the United States at the Pan American and Olympic Games.

Right before Thanksgiving, U.S. boxing asked Marc back, this time to train the U17/U18 Elite Girls for the World Boxing Championships held in India.

The U.S. Olympic Boxing is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the Olympic Development center with a full-time head coach, and another boxing trainer that lives there year round.

Boxers on the U.S. Elite Boxing Teams can live there as well, but most opt to stay where they are in order to work or go to school. They travel to Colorado Springs for a week of intensive training before important boxing tournaments where they represent the United States. Two or three guest coaches are invited to help train for these events.

The schedule is grueling, staring with 6:45 am weigh-ins and continuing for twelve hours. Students, such as the girls U17 and U18, then meet with tutors in a study hall in order to catch up with their classwork.

For Marc, training the U.S. Elite Boxing Team at the Olympic Training Center is the culmination of a decade of producing national level fighters out of his gym here in Newton. He was the New England coach for the Nationals multiple times as well.

He also thinks it’s his willingness to learn and improve as a coach that is getting him return invites to Colorado Springs. At 38 years old, he’s by far the youngest guest coach, and he’s learning the strategy and systems of the Olympic Head Coach Billy Walsh has established to make the team more competitive at the international level.

Looking forward to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, U.S. Boxing is preparing to make a charge. Right now, the U.S. Elite U17/U18 Girls Team are in the final rounds of the World Boxing Championships and will come away with at least two bronze medals. Marc Gargaro is taking back with him lessons of how to train elite boxing athletes able to compete at the highest levels. Expect future Olympians to emerge from Nonantum Boxing Club because while 2017 was a great year for Marc, he’s just getting started.

November 24, 2017
Fleuri Designs Fall Open House

Fleuri Designs, is hosting a Fall Open House this Thursday and Friday (details below). There will be lots of great vendors and Fleuri Designs will be offering fall plants, fresh flowers, succulents, permanent botanicals and more! Event is free and open to everyone.

September 26, 2017
Keyes Drugs Partners with Newton at Home

Keyes Drug in Newton, a pharmacy that provides prescriptions, compounded medications, medical supplies, high quality vitamins and nutritional supplements, and vaccines, has just announced it will partner with Newton at Home (NAH), a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping seniors living in their homes safely. Keyes will sponsor Newton at Home’s health and wellness programs for the 2017-2018 year.

Some of the past popular and well attended health and wellness programs offered by Newton at Home have focused on driving safety, sleep disorders, and hearing. There have also been classes in yoga and tai chi. Starting this fall, new programming will include topics such as: nutrition, balance, mindfulness, music therapy, memory, and home fitness.

In addition, pharmacists from Keyes Drug will present lectures on the following topics: vitamins and nutritional supplements; learning about over-the-counter medications and drug-to-drug interactions; and how to store and administer medications.

Keyes Drug is located at 2090 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton. For more information, visit www.keyesdrug.com.

Newton at Home Executive Director Maureen Grannan, Keyes Drug co-owner Ray Dinno and Newton at Home Coordinator of Community Partnerships Julie Plaut Mahoney

August 21, 2017

Massachusetts has 8th Least At-Risk Youth

Massachusetts Is 2017’s State with the 8th Least At-Risk Youth according to WalletHub study.

To determine where young Americans are not faring as well as others in their age group, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 10 key indicators of youth risk. The data set ranges from share of disconnected youth to labor force participation rate among youth to youth poverty rate.

At-Risk Youth in Massachusetts (1=Most at Risk; 25=Avg.):

48^th – % of Disconnected Youth
47^th – % of Youth Without a High School Diploma
49^th – % of Overweight & Obese Youth
21^st – Youth Labor Force Participation Rate
44^th – Youth Poverty Rate
37^th – % of Homeless Youth

Top 10 States with Least At Risk Youth:

1	Mississippi	72.75
2	Louisiana	69.089
3	New Mexico	69.08
4	Alabama	63.599
5	West Virginia	60.476
6	Arkansas	60.454
7	Oregon	58.631
8	Nevada	57.765
9	Oklahoma	56.912
10	South Carolina	56.799

August 19, 2017

No Frills Yoga Video from Dawn Davis Yoga

NO FRILLS YOGA from Dawn Davis Yoga

I hope you enjoy this “no frills yoga” video in the comfort of your own home! It’s short (about 25 minutes), and is intended to get the energy flowing and promote balance and centeredness.

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Dawn Davis Yoga classes resume at The Windsor Club starting Friday, September 1st. Classes are Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30-10:30am. All are welcome!

August 18, 2017
Restorative Yoga Video with Dawn Davis Yoga

Take some time out (20 minutes or less) to enjoy these four restorative postures that will reset your nervous system and peel back layers of stress. Mini-meditations are woven throughout this video. This free yoga demonstration from Dawn Davis Yoga.

Classes Resume on Friday September 1st at The Windsor Club with Dawn Davis Yoga, Wednesday and Fridays from 9:30-10:30am.

August 17, 2017
August Events from Historic Newton

AUGUST EVENTS FROM HISTORIC NEWTON

Ongoing through January 2018

FREED FROM THE FRAME: BEYOND THE CHILDHOOD PORTRAIT

Our exhibit displays six portraits of children from Historic Newton’s collection and also tells what happened to each child in adulthood. The lives of the children in the portraits reflect major events and cultural shifts in 19^th century America, including changing gender roles, and military service in the Civil War. Drop-in activities, which change each month, build on themes from the lives of the people shown in the portraits. Through August 11, visitors are invited to play popular 19th-century board games, including chess and the less familiar spillkins and nine men’s morris. Even some games like solitaire were played in the 19th century. Activities from August 12 through September 8explore the life and lore of the lumberjack. The exhibit is open during regular museum hours.

Location: Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street, Newton

Admission: Included in museum admission fee

Information: 617-796-1450

Tuesday, August 15, 6:30 PM

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS: WOMEN OF NEWTON’S

TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY HOUSEHOLDS

Discover the Newton Corner women who lived in the homes on Eldredge, Franklin, and Park Streets in 1900. Learn about the differences in the lives of live-in servants versus the mistresses of the homes (and their daughters). Using census data, marriage records, local histories, and newspaper accounts, Newton resident Anne Larner will paint a picture of life in 1900 for young women and enlighten us with stories of how life played out for selected women who lived upstairs and downstairs.

Location: Meet in Farlow Park at the intersection of Church and Eldredge Streets, Newton Corner

Admission: Suggested donation, $10 per person

Register: historicnewton.org, or come on tour day

Information: 617-796-1450

Wednesday, August 16, 10:30 AM

STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS: AT HOME AT THE HOMESTEAD

The Jackson Homestead has been occupied for over 200 years, and has seen many changes come to Newton. The Little House by Caldecott Award winner and Newton resident Virginia Lee Burton tells the story of a house similar to the Homestead. Explore the theme of home, and imagine life from a house’s perspective in this fun program. For children ages 18 months to 6 years and their caregivers. Includes free entrance to the museum after the program.

Location: Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street, Newton

Admission: Free

Information: 617-796-1450

Monday, August 28, 10:30 AM

STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS: FREEDOM

Today we will read the Caldecott Award winning book Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine based on a true story of one man’s unique, creative escape from enslavement. Preschoolers and their caregivers will be given an opportunity crawl inside Henry’s Box and see other artifacts about freedom seekers around Boston. Includes free entrance to the museum after the program.

Location: Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street, Newton

Admission: Free

Information: 617-796-1450

Thursday, August 31, 7:00 PM

WORLD WAR I AND AMERICAN JEWS

This lecture by author Gene Fax explores the effects of World War I on the American Jewish community. Beginning with the mass influx of Jews in the late 1800s through their service as soldiers in France and their experiences after the war, he will describe the Jews’ transformation from “immigrants” to “Americans” in their own eyes and those of their non-Jewish neighbors. He will also discuss how American institutions came to dominate the Jewish world after the war. Co-sponsored by Historic Newton.

Location: Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton

Admission: Free

Information: 617-796-1360

August 14, 2017
Barry’s Fundraiser Fitness Event for Best Buddies

BARRY’S HOSTS INDOOR/OUTDOOR CLASS
FOR BEST BUDDIES
WITH A COOLDOWN FLOW BY LULULEMON

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017 at 6:30PM
AT THE STREET IN CHESTNUT HILL

This event is $10.

Offering the ultimate summer workout for a great cause, BARRY’S is teaming up with lululemon and hosting a fitness class in support of Best Buddies on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 6:30pm. The class will be held at Barry’s newly opened studio at The Street as well as outdoors on The Green at The Street: 55 Boylston Street, Suite 5568, Chestnut Hill, MA.

The sweat session will make the most of the summer weather, splitting time between a treadmill workout within Barry’s studio at The Street, and an outdoor weight workout on The Green at The Street.

lululemon’s Yoga Ambassador Leah Croteau will lead a 15-minute cool down flow, and a DJ will provide beats throughout the entire workout. The $10 admission will directly benefit Best Buddies. The class entails the following:
A 25 minute Barry’s treadmill workout at Barry’s at The Street
A 25 minute Barry’s weight workout on The Green at The Street
A 15 minute lululemon yoga cool down on The Green at The Street

Participants can register in advance on EventBrite.

August 13, 2017

Metro Boston Is 2017’s 6th Most Educated City in America

Metro Boston Is 2017’s 6th Most Educated City in America according to WalletHub study.

To determine where the most educated Americans are choosing to settle, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 150 largest U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, across nine key metrics. The data set ranges from share of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher to racial education gap to quality of the public school system.

Educational Characteristics of Boston-Cambridge-Newton (1=Most Educated; 75=Avg.)

21^st – % of High School Diploma Holders
7^th – % of Bachelor’s Degree Holders
17^th – % of Associate’s Degree Holders or College-Experienced Adults
6^th – % of Graduate or Professional Degree Holders
30^th – Quality of Public School System
28^th – Avg. Quality of Universities
22^nd – Enrolled Students in Top 231 Universities per Capita

Top 10 Most Educated Cities in America:

1	Ann Arbor, MI	95.09
2	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	78.43
3	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	76.96
4	Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	76.37
5	Madison, WI	72.55
6	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	70.87
7	Provo-Orem, UT	69.34
8	San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	69.23
9	Austin-Round Rock, TX	66.10
10	Tallahassee, FL	65.61

August 12, 2017

Dirty Boy Composting Now Installing Rain Barrels!

Dirty Boy Composting Partnering with The Great American Rain Barrel Company

Dirty Boys Composting is excited to announce that we are now selling and installing rain barrels from the Great American Rain Barrel Company. These barrels are made from repurposed olive shipping containers and help manage the local water supply by reducing water consumption. The water collected in the 60 gallon drums is used for outdoor purposes like watering your garden, lawn, or even washing your car. The fee for the barrel, which includes pick up from Hyde Park and delivery to your door, is $95. We also provide installation services for $40. Rain barrel orders can be placed here.

August 9, 2017