It’s Summer in Newton!
It’s Pride Month, Juneteenth is coming up, outdoor events are in full swing, and farmers markets are opening. It must be summer!
Our newsletters may be a little shorter and more infrequent during the summer months, although we’ll continue to highlight volunteer opportunities and events of interest to our community. Here is a sampling of activities, starting with our own gardening event and ending with a call for food pantry delivery drivers and Freedge volunteers.
Join Us for a Gardening Talk!
Saturday, June 17, 2:00pm
Horace Mann Housing Complex, Watertown and Walker Streets, Newtonville
Join Newton Neighbors, the Newton Housing Authority, and Newton Community Farm for a presentation about growing and caring for vegetable seedlings. After our incredibly successful container gardening project which brought so many members of our community together, we are hosting a gardening talk about growing all kinds of vegetables! Barney Keezell is our featured speaker. Sign up here.
Sports Legends at Newton Cemetery
Thursday, June 8, 6:00 pm
Throughout history, Newton’s schools, public playing fields, and parks have spawned many star athletes. Stroll through the Newton Cemetery to see the final resting places and learn more about the lives of tennis great Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman, baseball legend Dom DiMaggio, golf course designer Donald Ross, and many other sports legends.
Registration, $20 per adult and $15 for Historic Newton members, is required. Register here.
Hyde Community Center Summer in the Highlands
Starting June 9
The Hyde Community Center hosts an outdoor summer family concert and movie series on Friday nights, featuring local bands and family-friendly films. A few times throughout the summer, the bandstand is used to stage live theater productions and story-telling. All information on activities here.
Historic Newton Plant Swap
Saturday, June 10, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Durant-Kenrick House, 286 Waverley Avenue, Newton
Historic Newton will host Mary Morganti’s Annual Plant Swap, when dozens of local gardeners share the bounty of their spring gardens. Learn more about starting or taking care of your own. You don’t need to bring a plant in order to take one home, but do bring your own pots or plant trays for take-homes. Kids are welcome and can learn the basics of the Native American Three Sisters planting system.
Participants can drop off plants between 3:00 and 6:00 pm on Friday, June 9, at Durant-Kenrick or bring them on the day of the swap. Sign up here or simply come on June 10!
Newton Highlands Village Day
Sunday, June 11, 11:00am - 4:00pm
Come to the 46th Newton Highlands Village Day!
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, all kid activities are FREE, including bounce houses, caricatures, and face painting. Plus, enjoy delicious food, enjoy live music, and much more.
If you have a business or a cause you would like to promote, a Village Day booth is the perfect way to connect with the thousands of people attending our event. Register for a booth here.
Crystal Lake and Gath Pool Opening Day
Monday, June 12
Crystal Lake schedule
Gath Pool schedule
Strawberry Festival
Saturday, June 17, 7:30 - 6:00pm
The Allen Center, 35 Webster Street, West Newton
Come mingle with friends, enjoy fine food and drink, hear the lush sounds of Boston Jazz Voices, enjoy a brief program, and dance to the music of Newton’s own White Collar Crime!
Event sponsored by the Newton Cultural Alliance. More information and tickets here.
Newton Juneteenth
Monday, June 19, 12:00 - 4:00pm
Hyde Playground, 90 Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands
Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed, a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Information on Newton Juneteenth celebrations here.
Farmers Markets Open in June
Tuesday Market at Cold Spring Park
1094 Beacon Street, Newton Centre
June 20 - October 17, 1:30 - 6:00pm
Saturday Market at Newton North High School
352 Lowell Ave, Newtonville
June 24 - October 14. 9:30am - 12:30pm
Ice Cream Social
Wednesday, June 21, 1:00 - 3:00pm
Scandinavian Living Center, 206 Waltham Street, West Newton
The Scandinavian Living Center’s Annual Ice Cream Social includes ice cream from Cabot’s, music, children’s activities, a raffle, and more!
LGBTQ+ Voices
June 24 and 26
Many community events are celebrating Pride Month, including Newton Theatre Company’s Monologue Project: LGBTQ+ Voices.
Hear the stories of Newton LGBTQ+ folks with a variety of identities and backgrounds as they share challenges they have overcome and take pride in their identities.
Music and other performances will be interspersed among the monologues at Saturday's performance to showcase all different aspects of the LGBTQ+ community.
Tickets are free, but please RSVP:
June Volunteer Opportunities
Drivers Needed
We are looking for volunteers to help us deliver from food pantries in Newton to families who are unable to access the pantries themselves. Delivery usually takes about an hour to complete. You can sign up to deliver during one or more of the following times:
Tuesdays from Centre Street Food Pantry (Newton Centre). Pickup at either 12 or 12:15.
Wednesdays from Newton Food Pantry (City Hall). Scheduled pickup times between 12:15 - 2:45.
The third Friday of the month from Post 440 Mobile Food Bank. Pickup between 9 - 9:15 am.
June signups: https://volunteersignup.org/FL98E
July signups: https://volunteersignup.org/PRR8W
Freedge
Newton Neighbors helps to stock the Newton Community Freedge every Thursday. Please help our neighbors by picking up a few extra items when you go shopping for groceries. Drop them off anytime at the Freedge at 420 Watertown Street or at 174 Oliver Road in Waban. Some of the most needed items are milk, eggs, yogurt, butter, flour, cereal, soap, cooking oil, pasta, and mac and cheese. We also need volunteers to help maintain the Freedge! If you have some time to give on Thursdays, please sign up here to help.
Have a Graphing Calculator to Give Away?
Newton Neighbors will be planning a school supply drive this summer. If you have a graphing calculator to donate, please email us at newtonneighborshelping@gmail.com. Thank you!
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We’re looking forward to seeing you at one of the many June events to kick off a great summer season!