Category: Spotlight

Local companies highlighted in Newton, MA.

What You Need to Know About 2014 Flu Shot
The Facts About Enterovirus D68 Vaccine

As you may know, there have been sporadic cases of Enterovirus D68 reported in states across the US and it appears to have now reached New England.

The Enteroviruses are a common class of viral infections which cause a variety of illness such as “hand, foot and mouth”. This particular strain is different in that it causes cold like symptoms, but can also cause wheezing and respiratory distress. Most children who get the illness will have symptoms closer to those of a cold. The severe respiratory distress is still quite rare. Children at higher risk of lung problems with this infection are those children with asthma, lung diseases, and former premature infants. There are no antibiotics or anti-viral medicines that work for this illness, but supportive care and asthma medicines can help a great deal.

What You Can Do to Prevent Transmission:
- WASH HANDS: Hand washing is more effective than hand sanitizer against these viruses. We recommend a 20 second hand wash with soap and water. You can use hand sanitizer additionally- it still works quite well against other germs.
- Teach children to sneeze and cough into the elbow or shoulder but not the hand
- Avoid contact with other children who have upper respiratory infections
- Clean toys and shared objects
- Avoid sharing cups and utensils.
What You Can Do to Prevent Serious Illness:
- If your child usually uses an inhaled steroid medicine like Qvar or Flovent in the fall and winter, we recommend starting that now at his or her usual preventative dose.
What to Watch For:

If you see any of the symptoms below, please call us immediately (whether in Enterovirus season or not)
- Non-stop coughing
- Wheeze you can hear without a stethoscope
- Working hard to breathe:
  
  You can see the child’s nostrils flaring in and out
  
  You can see the skin between the ribs or the belly sucking in and out as your child breathes
  
  Your child is working hard enough to breathe that they refuse to drink/eat or cannot speak in a full sentence
- Blueness around the lips and mouth
Here are some links to additional resources from the CDC & AAP.

Reports of a Severe Resperatory Virus on the Rise

CDC: Enterovirus D68

Graphic on What To Do To Prevent Enterovirus D68
October 6, 2014
Common Ground Arlington Opens Today!

Newton resident Bob O’Guin opens his second Common Ground in Arlington today! Two years ago, he took over Common Ground in Allston, then known as a college sports bar and turned it into a Gastropub.

The new bar and restaurant has some similar features to the Allston location including windows that open up!

When you enter Common Ground in Arlington, a wall of taps will greet you!

The Arlington location has a function and event room that seats 100! With a large HD projection screen, 2 computer ports for presentations, microphone access, and a private bar, it is perfect for corporate events.

The Arlington community can also use the room for functions and events. PaintNite is coming on Tuesday, Oct 21st from 7-9pm! You can dine and drink with friends and family while you enjoy a two your painting lesson!

For local artists and artisans, check in and inquire about rotating art exhibits and a pop up holiday bazaar!

The draught, cocktail and wine list has been carefully curated!

But Common Ground is known for great food. The ingredients are locally sourced when possible and chef Jaime Juarez makes practically everything in-house from bacon to granola to house made sausage!

We started with the housemade bread basket. Warm bread sticks are served with housemade hummus (delicious!), maple butter and herb infused oil.

My daughters loved the Truffle fries from Common Ground Allston and they are on the menu here too! Thick cut fries topped with Parmesan and served with Pesto Mayonnaise.

The Gnocchi are handmade and browned to a lovely crispy exterior and served over sautéed spinach, topped with house made marinara sauce, Parmesan, feta and truffle oil.

I’m pretty sure the Pasta Bolognese wide noodles are also house made; they were tender and cut into wide ribbons. The meat sauce has heady with rosemary and other fresh herbs. Delicious!

My 12-year-old daughter just got braces so she opted for the Mac ‘n Cheese without peas but kept the country ham that gave this cheesey goodness a hint of smokiness.

We even checked out the ladies’ room and it’s lovely and inviting, just like the whole restaurant!

After more than a year of construction, Common Ground Arlington is finally open! If you are in Arlington, I hope you will stop by!

Common Ground Arlington

319 Broadway

Arlington, MA 02474

Main: (781) 728-0060

General Manager: Rodney (Rhoney) Kangiser

Assistant GM: Steven Ramsdell

p.s. The first PaintNite (drink creatively) is Tuesday, October 21st from 7-9pm. You can buy tickets here and you can get 45% off by using discount code: CG45. Use that for the online checkout.

The art project is “Happy”.

September 30, 2014
You Think She’s Talking About Newton too?

While sitting in her car wearing sunglasses, Medford, Mass., resident Kim Costa filmed a quick video to give the influx of Boston students a piece of wisdom: Nobody likes them.

Kim Costa took down the video that went viral but here’s what she said. (You can listen to the audio here about 40 seconds in):

“Real quick reminder to all the college students coming back to Boston to continue their higher education. This is really important. This is something you are going to carry through your entire academic career in the 617 area code: nobody likes you, you’re a visitor here; an interloper. I want you to keep that in mind when you’re strutting through the crosswalk in Harvard Square with your pink popped collar and your fucking Banana Republic, date-rape slacks. You have been obsolete to me since my 21st birthday. No need for yah. I’m sure when you graduate you’ll want to move here cause it’s so awesome — and you’re right, we’re awesome. But people like you will be contained to places like Lexington and Concord, where you can live, and wear Tevas, and recycle, and have a kid when you’re 50 years old. And you know what, we probably won’t like them either. And with that, welcome back.”

And the bar scene from Good Will Hunting: the quintessential scene of townies vs. Hahvahd.

September 22, 2014
Obesity Prevention Training for Youth Soccer Coaches
US Youth Soccer Launches First-of-its-Kind Nationwide Child

“Coaching Healthy Habits” equips coaches to teach healthy habits in addition to soccer skills

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sports organization in the nation, is taking a stand against childhood obesity with Coaching Healthy Habits, a new training to help coaches teach youth players to make healthier decisions on and off the field.

Sugary drinks and calorie-dense snacks are commonly served to young athletes, often due to mistaken assumptions about how many calories kids burn during practice. Studies show that in a typical youth sport training session, children may be active less than half of the time. The Coaching Healthy Habits training module is the first of its kind to equip youth soccer coaches to target these risk factors for childhood obesity with three simple principles:
- Drink Right (hydrate with water instead of sugary beverages)
- Snack Smart (snack on fruits and vegetables)
- Move More (increase physical activity during practice)
The Coaching Healthy Habits training is a result of a collaboration between Massachusetts Youth Soccer, US Youth Soccer and Healthy Kids Out of School, an initiative of ChildObesity180 at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition. The training was tested in a statewide pilot this year with the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association.

As a result of the pilot, all 2,000 Massachusetts Youth Soccer coaches granted licenses this year completed the Coaching Healthy Habits training. With more than 200,000 players and 10,000 licensed coaches, Massachusetts Youth Soccer is the second largest US Youth Soccer member State Association in the country. Moving forward, the training will be required for all new coaches in the state, as well as New Hampshire and Maine.

“Our coaches know that they’re not just teaching soccer skills; they’re teaching life skills that will help their players achieve success on and off the field,” said Ian Mulliner, Technical Director of Massachusetts Youth Soccer. “It’s really important to us that these behaviors become second nature at practice, so we’re including it as part of our required coursework for all new coaches.”

Healthy Kids Out of School works with leaders around the country to promote the Drink Right, Move More, and Snack Smart principles for healthy out-of-school time. The program’s Healthy Kids Hub website provides resources to support the implementation of these principles. Regional funding for the Healthy Kids Out of School initiative is provided by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, with additional support from Newman’s Own Foundation.

For additional information about Coaching Healthy Habits, go here.
September 16, 2014
VOTE Ms. Frizzle Most Inspiring Teacher from TV

As kids are heading back-to-school, Parade has named beloved science teacher extraordinaire Ms. Frizzle, from Scholastic Media’s The Magic School Bus, as one of their “most inspiring teachers from TV and movies”! The vote is on for the top educator and we’re hoping you can help Ms. Frizzle reach #1!

Here’s the link. Please vote for her!

Airing for 18 consecutive years and seen in more than 39 countries, the Emmy-winning Magic School Bus is the longest-running kids’ science series in history. And the legacy continues with a thrilling new Netflix original series, The Magic School Bus 360°, that will premiere in 2016. The all-new CGI animated series from Scholastic Media will feature exciting adventures that will bring young viewers on high-flying hijinks through the incredible world of science, along with the indomitable Ms. Frizzle and her intrepid class.

August 31, 2014
New Equinox Precision Running Class

This September, Equinox is adding a new signature running class to its group fitness line up. Precision Running is a treadmill training workout based on a unique method of interval training meant to teach runner’s how to run right, hurt less and burn more. The new class will be offered at all three of the Boston locations including Chestnut Hill.

Beginning September 2014, Equinox is offering Precision Running, a formula based treadmill training workout that balances speed, incline, duration and recovery.

Created exclusively for Equinox by David Siik, a track & field record holder with a degree in biomedical science and chemistry, Precision Running is based on a unique method of interval training called Balanced Interval Training Experience, or B.I.T.E. This precise running formula mathematically strikes a balance between aerobic and anaerobic forms of interval training and allowing runners of all abilities to run right, hurt less and burn more.

By balancing all four core principles of running: speed, incline, duration and recovery, Precision Running’s has three distinct results: the burn, the build and the body. It’s long been accepted that high intensity interval training destroys calories, but with the balanced approach (B.I.T.E.), the class’ unique design torches calories without putting a strain on the rest of the body. The class also helps build skill, confidence and enduranceover the course of time resulting in a strong, long, lean runner’s body.

Unlike running on the treadmill alone, Precision Running is a high energy and exciting group running program that incorporates socializing and exercise into the hour-long class.

August 27, 2014
Elm Street Farmers’ Market in West Newton

The Elm Street Farmers’ Market in West Newton runs every Saturday until October from 10am to 2pm. Easy parking off Cherry Street but bring change for the meters.

Our first stop was the lemonade stand. $5 for this giant cup of fresh squeezed lemonade with mint and peach. Delicious! He used lemons, limes and oranges.

Chestnut Farms has chicken, beef, sausages and more. Goat anyone?

Beautiful soaps and other toiletries!

We sampled the Tuscan style homemade yogurt and walked away with the feta. When we arrived at 1:30pm, the stall was almost wiped out.

Ice cream is always welcome on a hot day! Wally’s in Auburndale has a stand!

There are several farm stands with beautiful fruits, vegatables and cut flowers. There’s even one specializing in Asian produce. We stocked up on tomatoes, peaches and melons.

New York style bagels were a hit at my house!

Glorious fresh seafood is also available. We bought the last piece of tuna which was fresh enough to eat raw.

Do you drink tea or coffee? Both are represented!

Healthy food products were being made for sampling at Nu3Kidz.

The Elm Street Farmers’ Market in West Newton has a great assortment of farm stands. Come by to see it for yourself!

August 26, 2014
Kidecals Personalized Labels DISCOUNT

Kidecals are personalized labels that are dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer safe!

Plus they stick to any surface!

You can use these stickers on clothing, backpacks, tupperware, devices. Sounds perfect for school? That’s what I thought. It’s worth it to label your kids’ items for a higher probability of getting lost items returned.

Kidecals is offering a 15% discount to my readers. Just use code ilovelabels. And did I mention that shipping is FREE?

August 25, 2014
Crudite Creations Special Discount

Crudite Creations is offering a “BBQ Bundle” for their labor day weekend celebration. This offer includes 2 free (8 oz) dips of their choice with any order delivered during Labor Day Weekend.

Please use discount code “bbqbundle” to take advantage of this offer.

August 21, 2014
JCC Arts and Fitness Fall Classes

Arts and Fitness Classes this Fall at JCC

Registration is underway for fall classes at the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center (333 Nahanton Street) in Newton.

Classes begin during the week of September 14 and are open to the entire community. Classes for children include swim lessons, basketball, soccer, Taekwondo, dance, gymnastics, handwriting, LEGO League and musical theatre.

Classes for adults include Pilates, dance, Tai Chi, tennis, painting, drawing and Mah Jongg.

View entire listing of classes and register online here or call 617-558-6419.

August 18, 2014