Did anyone else notice the defect of the curbing being to high from the street level on Auburn Street on the Village Bank block?
It appears that a remedy is required to prevent other cars from being damaged on the front bumpers. The easiest, and least costly, remedy is to raise the level of paving in front of the curbing.
Tips to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day:
1) Organize your workplace, school or community group. Maximize your impact by organizing a group to serve the community with an activity done at your own location in honor of Martin Luther King Day. Choose a local charity and determine the best way for your group to show support. Ideas include packing snack bags for after school programs, collecting coats and hats for a homeless shelter, planting trees, creating a mentoring program, or writing letters of support to our military abroad.
2) Teach your children. The kids are home from school. Remember, as a Day of Service MLK day is supposed to be “a day on, not a day off.” Plan an activity of service and involve your children. Show by your example that volunteerism is important to your family and help to cultivate a new generation of compassionate, community- minded citizens.
3) Raise needed goods. Support a local charity with a drive for the goods they need to serve the community. An online YouGiveGoods drive is the new way to raise food and supplies for charity. You can set up your drive in a matter of minutes and have it underway in time for MLK Day this year. Then invite your online community via email and social media to support your cause by purchasing items that will ship to your selected charity. A YouGiveGoods drive builds up your community as it offers tangible aid to local charity and it provides a welcome opportunity for your friends and family to be part of this year’s MLK Day.
4) Spread the message. Use social media (use hashtag #MLKDay) to share MLK’s ideals and inspiring words. You will find his words to be stunningly timely and relevant in today’s world. Forward this page, talk about what you will do in honor of MLK Day, and encourage your circle of friends to take action to support the community.
5) Commit to service in 2017. Use Martin Luther King’s example to plan a 2017 where you take action. If you are unable to volunteer on January 16, simply spend some time researching, choose your charity, make that phone call and find out how you can best serve them in the future. Charities need help all year long!
Part of mural painted at Newton North High School by alumna Maria F. Romero-Creel
January 12, 2017
North Families,
Last evening, we received report of a social media post making a threat to Newton North. We reported the post to the Newton police and they responded immediately. The specific post was reviewed and the source was identified. After a thorough investigation, the Newton police have determined that the threat is not credible.
Based on the advice of Newton Police, we will go forward with a normal school day today (Friday.) Our strong partnership with Newton police, as well the results of the investigation, give us confidence in our decision to hold school. Please know that your student will arrive at a safe and secure building this morning.
We take the safety of our students, our staff, and our entire school community very seriously. As use of social media grows, we must remain vigilant. We thank you for your understanding and support as we ensure a safe school environment for all.
Sincerely,
Henry J. Turner, EdD
Principal
Newton North High School
As a new political and policy era dawns in Washington, the status of the nation’s schools remains stable, though still earning a grade of C fromQuality Counts 2017, the 21st annual report card issued by the Education Week Research Center.
The C corresponds to a score of 74.2, which is nearly identical to the 74.4 the nation posted in 2016, when it also received a C. The steadiness of national results, notwithstanding, a handful of states saw their scores increase or decline by a full point or more.
Quality Counts grades the states and the nation on educational performance across a range of key indicators, issuing overall A-F grades based on a traditional 100-point scale.
Massachusetts (85.2) ranked first for K-12 Achievement, posting the only B. It has been the leader in the rankings for nearly a decade. New Jersey (81.0), the only other state with a grade higher than a C-plus, earned a B-minus. Mississippi (60.0) and New Mexico (61.8) received the nation’s lowest grades at D-minus.
Massachusetts takes first place among the states for the third year in a row, with a B and a score of 86.5. It’s followed by five states earning grades of B: New Jersey (85.6), Vermont (83.8), New Hampshire (83.4), Maryland (82.8), and Connecticut (82.7).
At the other end of the spectrum, Nevada is at the bottom of the list as it was in 2016, receiving a D and a score of 65.0. Mississippi (65.8) and New Mexico (66.3) also receive grades of D. Grades and scores for those three states remain relatively unchanged from last year’s outcomes. from EdWeek
A host of factors play an important role in deciding where to move, including the quality of schools, the strength of the local economy and job market, safety, culture, and even climate.
To determine America’s best cities to live in, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on the 550 U.S. cities with populations of 65,000 or more as measured by the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on a range of variables, including crime rates, employment growth, access to restaurants and attractions, educational attainment, and housing affordability, 24/7 Wall St. identified America’s 50 Best Cities to Live.
21. Newton, Massachusetts
> Population: 88,809
> Median home value: $809,700
> Poverty rate: 4.3%
> Pct. with at least a bachelor’s degree: 76.6%
More than three-quarters of adults in Newton have at least a bachelor’s degree, high even compared with Massachusetts as a whole — the state’s over 40% college attainment rate is the highest of any state. A college degree is one of the surest paths to a high income, and Newton residents are some of the nation’s wealthiest. Even after adjusting for the city’s relatively high cost of living, the typical household earns $114,201 annually — eighth highest nationwide.
As is common in cities with high-income populations, Newton’s violent crime rate of 83 incidents per 100,000 residents is one of the lowest in the country. It is a fraction of the national violent crime rate of 373 incidents per 100,000 people.
The Top 10 Cities To Live In:
America’s 50 Best Cities to Live
About 6 pm Friday afternoon, a nice young man with his two little children knocked at my door. He was inquiring if I knew anything about the people, “Marie and Mick,” who “own” the house next door to me.
I was told that the house is advertised on Craig’s List as being available for rental at a very low fee which includes all utilities, etc. “Marie and Mick” had to move from this house because their work for WHO, helping people all over the world, moved them to Texas. No city named.
They want “God-fearing people who will treat the house well” to rent it. The rent they are asking is $1700 a month. They give details about the house which I believe to be false since I’ve been in it many, many times over the years. The current residents are renters who are currently away.
“Marie and Mick” want a Moneygram wired to them for $800 and after receiving it, they will send the rental agreement.
This is 100% scam and the police should be notified. Scammers typically will ask for western union / money gram payments as you described, as they can’t be traced easily.
Indigo Fire Studio is currently seeking a Pottery TA for some of our larger classes. The TA should have intermediate/advanced pottery throwing experience and be
able to assist our newer students.
The position pays $30 per class (6 classes a session). You should be friendly, able to help novice throwers, comfortable with people and able to explain techniques in a few different ways.
We currently need a TA for our Friday morning class and our Thursday night class. This is a great way to get your foot in the door with our studio to potentially teach classes and/or help with our Summer Camp program.
Email the studio indigofirestudio@gmail.com and tell us about yourself. Include some pics. of your work too.
The Graphic Design Artist would come in once every 6 weeks to update our large chalk boards around the studio. Good penmanship and a creative touch are necessary. You’ll have access to an A-frame ladder so you can update the schedule, program offerings and other bits of news we want to share on
our boards. Must be able to come in within a weeks notice. This would be an ongoing gig. Pays. $25/hr. This is probably 4 hours of work every 6 weeks.
The Cleaning Person would need to come in once a week to clear our bathrooms and kitchen area. It would probably take about 1 hour and we have all the supplies you need. Must have some experience and provide references. Pays $25/hr
Email the studio if interested so we can schedule a meeting.
Thank you!
Suchi
Co-OwnerGraphic Design Artist and a Cleaning Person.
Navigating the Cyber World
Tuesday, January 24 from 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
(Snow date on Wednesday, January 25)
Brown Middle School Auditorium
This is an informative Parent Workshop sponsored Brown Middle School and the Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. Geared for parents, this workshop reviews the challenges that may arise through use of the Internet, social media and smart phones.
It is important for parents to be aware of the popular apps, social media sites and programs used by youth online. This workshop explains the issues and possible consequences from cyber bullying, sexting and revealing identifying information to strangers.
