Local companies highlighted in Newton, MA.
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover creates a special art exhibition of the every day life of a child living in an Abenaki village prior to the arrival of Europeans. “Thirteen Moons – An Abenaki Child’s Year” is on view March 4 through September 3, 2017 and uses photography, drawings, diagrams, scale models, artifacts, text, and stories/myths that illustrate the Abenaki experience. The art exhibition is structured around the thirteen months of the lunar calendar.
“When we decided on the topic of Wabanaki culture from before European contact for this year’s MOSAIC exhibition, I knew it would be challenging but it has also been very rewarding,” shared Tess Feltes, CMNH Gallery 6 Curator. “Research was challenging. Because the Wabanaki had no written language, I couldn’t find first-person accounts. This culture was passed down through stories and a rich oral tradition. So when the estimated 500,000 people living in this area in the 1500s were wiped out by either disease, warfare, or driven from their villages for colonial settlement, their ‘voice’ was silenced. Existing documents were written by colonists and were distorted by fear, ignorance and cultural bias, reflecting the colonists’ own concerns.”
With the help of Native American consultants Denise and Paul Pouliot of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People, Joyce Heywood, President of the New England Native American Institute, and the Mount Kearsarge Museum in Warner, NH, the exhibition and related programming took shape. In addition, the art on view in Gallery 6 was created by talented local artists Jeannie Brett, Cori Caputo, Joyce Johnson, Taylore Kelly, Vita Lane, Robert Squier, Teri Weidner, Joe Reardon, and Pamela Tarbell and feature images of what an Abenaki child might see or experience in a typical lunar year.
The museum’s Naturalist Study exhibit also relates to the “Thirteen Moons” exhibition by incorporating Wabanaki artifacts including toys, baskets, tools, and a life-size stuffed beaver on loan from the Woodman Museum in Dover. Also in that space are interactive Native American paper dolls which visitors can dress with traditional clothing worn by children from across the many tribes living in the United States before European contact.
The museum’s Muse Studio, a space specifically designed for art and creativity exploration, will host crafty drop-in projects related to “Thirteen Moons” all spring and summer.
The MOSAIC exhibition will be on view through Sunday, September 3 and is sponsored by Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the Fuller Foundation.
As always, no admission fee is required to view the art in Gallery 6. Regular admission applies for families who wish to also explore the rest of the Museum. To learn more about this art exhibition or about the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire please visit www.childrens-museum.org.
About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire
The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, interactive exhibits for children from newborn to middle school. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the Silver LEED-certified museum specializes in creating memorable family learning experiences and works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org
#NOWCASTING: AMERICAN IDOL
The global phenomenon AMERICAN IDOL is back with world-renowned judge Katy Perry!
Doron Ofir Casting is proud to announce that we are now casting in coordination with American Idol for the country’s most talented, unique, and inspiring solo singers from around the country between the ages of 15 – 28 years old.
Every year, tens of thousands of hopefuls from across the nation audition for a shot at stardom. This is your chance to get an exclusive invitation to audition directly for the executive producers.
To be considered you must email the following information to: americanidolcasting@popular.
· Full Name
· Age
· Location
· Contact Information (phone & email)
· Video link showcasing your talent (Youtube, Vimeo, Dropbox etc..)
· 5-10 recent photos
· A brief paragraph describing yourself, your upbringing, and why you would like this opportunity.
Inquiries can also be made by phone to 323-745-5421
With Father’s Day approaching and nearly 93 percent of dads with young kids working today, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2017’s Best & Worst States for Working Dads. Massachusetts 4th Best State for Working Dads!
In order to help dads balance their dual role as parent and provider, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia across 22 key indicators of friendliness toward working dads. The data set ranges from average length of work day for males to child-care costs to share of men in good or better health.
Life as a Working Dad in Massachusetts (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
*Refers to families with kids aged 0 to 17 and in which the father is present
For the full report, please visit here.
According to U.S. News and World Report, Massachusetts leads the country for best education. MA stats:
The top ten America’s Coziest Cities are as follows:
Visit Honeywell Plugged In to learn more about why each of these cities is considered so cozy.
Top 10 Best Companies to Work For in Massachusetts are:
Top 10 Best Companies to Work For in the U.S. are:
Full list here.
The Newton Food Pantry, one of 3 food pantries located in Newton, provides food to any Newton resident who needs assistance putting food on their tables.
Shoppers can visit the Newton Food Pantry, located in the basement of Newton City Hall (1000 Commonwealth Ave.) once a month throughout the year, and choose from a wonderful selection of healthy fresh vegetables and fruit, bread and pastries, frozen meats and fish, milk, eggs, yogurt, cheese and other dairy items, canned and boxed foods, and personal care products including: shampoo, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes and laundry detergent.
During the months of July and August, the Newton Food Pantry invites all Newton families with children to shop at our pantry TWICE a month. The Newton Food Pantry is open every Wednesday from 1:30-5pm, and the 3rd Saturday of each month between 11am and noon.
For more information about the Newton Food Pantry, or to learn how to apply to shop at the pantry, please stop in our pantry during our hours of operation, visit our website at www.newtonfoodpantry.org or call 617-928-6021. Attached is a flyer on the Newton Food Pantry’s Food for Families Summer Program and a copy of the Referral Form you can fill out and have signed before coming to shop at the pantry.
Dismantling the Nest
By Marie Presti, Owner/broker, The Presti Group
A friend of mine is flying the coop. She is starting to pack up her house in Newton, counting the days until she and her husband move into a small, Back Bay condo. She dreams of meandering along the Charles, hand-in-hand, strolling to the theater and eating al fresco under the stars. All this, and no parking tickets! But after dropping another book triumphantly into a carton, her daughter screamed, “Stop it! I can’t take it anymore!” Talk about ruining the moment.
My friend had talked to her only child about moving far in advance. The high school senior is graduating from high school soon and was nonchalant at first. However, the reality of overflowing cardboard boxes and empty shelves set in, and the girl’s negativity reared its ugly head. This was something my friend hadn’t planned on. Fortunately, the daughter has come to terms with the move, but it’s traumatic nevertheless. Imagine growing up in the only house you’ve ever known, only to be ousted right after you finish high school? Won’t she miss her own bed when she comes home on break? As high school seniors prepare for graduation, the empty nest looms – for some parents. For others, maintenance-free living in smaller quarters dances in some parents’ heads like sugarplums. In fact, according to stageoflife.com, 36 percent of baby boomers will move out of their homes when becoming empty nesters.
But before you start packing way the china, here are some things to consider:
Stress levels: If you are reeling because your only (or last) child is leaving the nest for college, have a very ill relative or are anticipating other difficult situation, wait. According to the Holmes Rahe stress scale, “a change in living conditions” ranks 30 out of 43 of life’s most stressful events. The scale also shows that having a child leaving home is even more stressful (than moving), on the same scale.
The importance of the house: How attached is the child? How does he or she feel about not returning to their childhood home? Arthur Kovacs, a San Diego-based psychologist, says caution is best when making a move, and be sure to talk about it with the kids. If parents move out of the family home, particularly while the child is away at college, it can be especially traumatic. “Young people don’t feel important. They feel like their life can be wiped away.” On the other hand, if you have moved several times, your child may not be as attached to the home and moving will be much easier.
The relationship: Some kids come home often. Some don’t. If you are close to your kid(s), consider that they will want to visit and stay overnight. If you have more than one adult child, can they share a room? Will he/she bring friends? During the holidays this will be a consideration. Many parents, no matter how young their kids are, dream of grandchildren. Will you have room for everyone? What if your kid(s) want to move back home? According to recent figures from Pew Research, 32 percent of adults ages 18-34 live at home with their parents. What if they lose their job? Do you want to provide a safety net?
Can you make money moving?: That penthouse in the city sounds amazing. But if you are going to go into debt to move, it doesn’t make sense. On the other hand, if you get a good deal on a new condo in Watertown, Waltham or another surrounding community, and make a profit, it makes sense to sell. Or, if moving saves you a bundle on property taxes. Of course, if your house is paid off, and you can pay cash for a new place, that’s generally a good idea.
Bridging the Gap: Being able to move to your new home, before you put your existing one on the market, is the best case scenario, if you can afford it. This enables you to move out gradually, clearing out clutter, a few boxes at a time. On the downside, carrying two mortgages is no picnic. For some people, a home equity line of credit makes sense, so they can put a down payment on their new place. Retired homeowners might want to look into taking out a reverse mortgage. This can be used for the purchase of the new home. Once the current home is sold, the proceeds from that sale can be used to pay it back.
The cost of staying put: Doing a simple exercise will help you evaluate whether or not you keep the nest intact. Calculate the cost of your empty room. Do this by dividing your total home expenses by the total sq. ft. of the house. Multiply that by the sq. ft. of the empty bedroom(s). That number will tell you how much you are spending to keep that room(s).
Can you stay another 10-20 years? If you have a bathroom and bedroom on the first floor and have a large family who visits often, it might make sense to stay put. If you end up retrofitting your home to make things easier, think about how it will affect the re-sale value. I showed a house recently that had a closet in the dining room that stuck out like a sore thumb. If you install things like a stair climber, a walk in tub and grab bars, you won’t get the highest price you can. Many buyers want to move right in, with minimal repairs or renovations.
Note to readers: Ms. Presti is a real estate educator for Newton Community Education who has taught more than 100 courses. She is teaching “How to Sell your Home for More in Today’s Market” on May 2; and “A First-Timer’s Guide to Home or Condo Buying” on May 9 & 16. Call NCE at 617-559-6999 to register, or sign up online.
Marie Presti
Owner/The Presti Group and president-elect of the Greater Boston Association of Realtors
701 Washington St.
Newton, Mass. 02458
617 916-2256 (office)
617-620-6948 (mobile)
If you, like me, are trying to call politicians in Washington DC and can’t get through, contact Bernie Sanders. My friend, who does NOT live in Vermont, asked for help. Bernie’s office gave her a phone number that actually gets through to her senator’s office.
If you need help, go here.
This guide, Indivisible, is also helpful on how to talk to your lawmaker.
