Category Archives: Other

8th Annual Newton Turkey Trot 5K, November 20, 2021 – in-person!

Registration is open for the 8th Annual Newton Turkey Trot 5K, November 20, 2021 – in-person!

Register here by October, 27th to receive a free Turkey Trot T-Shirt


We hope that the 2021 race will have something for everyone; a traditional in-person race day on Saturday, November 20th, and an option to run a virtual race.  

As always, we’ll be raising much needed funds for the Newton Food Pantry, and new this year, Journey Forward.

Visit https://www.newtonturkeytrot.org for more information.

Indigenous Peoples Day Newton 2021

Join your friends and neighbors on Monday, October 11 from 12-5pm at Albemarle Field in Newton for a family-oriented celebration of Indigenous culture, art, and history! Indigenous Peoples Day Newton 2021 will spotlight and celebrate the music, dance, poetry, and visual art of diverse Native artists that currently live in the Northeast. It will be an outdoor, daytime, family-oriented cultural and spiritual celebration that is open, accessible and welcoming to all residents of Newton and neighboring towns.

The goal is to make concrete our city’s recent recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day as an official city holiday. The intention is for this event to become a beloved annual event on our city’s calendar.

Over 40 artists, performers, speakers, vendors, and community organizations will attend. Refreshments can be purchased from an onsite food truck(s).  Spend the afternoon in celebration, ceremony, and support of the rich Indigenous traditions that are an enduring and vibrant facet of our community!

What’s Happening at the West Suburban YMCA

Become a YMCA Member: Pay $0 ‘til October!

You already belong, you just have to join. Join the West Suburban YMCA anytime in September and you’ll get the month free (excludes Youth Memberships and Group Memberships).

The West Suburban YMCA is Hiring

Full Time and Part Time Job Opportunities

Discover a great place to work! Do meaningful work and be part of a welcoming and inclusive team at the Y. The West Suburban YMCA is currently seeking applicants for several roles within the Membership, Fitness, Aquatics, Child Care, and Sports Departments. Open positions include:

  • Afterschool Program Group Leaders
  • Preschool Teachers
  • Swim Instructors
  • Lifeguards
  • Personal Trainers
  • Member Service Representatives
  • Birthday Party Coordinator
  • And more!

All employees receive a free membership to the Y, discounts on Y programs, childcare, and camps, ongoing professional development, and other benefits. To view all open positions and apply online, visit www.wsymca.org/careers.

Group Exercise Classes – Free for Members

Indoors, Outdoor, or Virtual Classes

The West Suburban YMCA has a diverse schedule of group exercise classes to meet your fitness needs! We have a variety of indoor, outdoor, and virtual classes including outdoor spin, outdoor bootcamp, yoga, Zumba, pilates, and more. New classes are being added each month! Face masks are optional for outdoor classes, provided safe distancing is in place. Face masks are required for indoor classes. View the schedule: www.wsymca.org/schedules.

Sign Up for YBA – YMCA Youth Basketball League

Registration opens October 1st

Ages 4-12, Kids of all genders welcome!

YBA (Youth Basketball Association) is a fun league for kids ages 4-12 to learn and play basketball. Leagues are separated by age groups, and teams practice for the first thirty minutes of the session to improve skills and play a game for the second thirty minutes to utilize skill and teamwork. Our YBA league will be modified to comply with all CDC, state, and local youth sports guidelines. Register beginning October 1. Season starts Saturday, November 20. Parent volunteer coaches are highly encouraged! Contact Josh Downes at joshuad@wsymca.org for more information or to register.

Annual Fall Festival – Free Family Event

Saturday, October 16 from 2:00-4:00pm

Celebrate fall at the Y as we host our annual free family festival. Wear your costume and join us for a jam-packed afternoon of Halloween-themed activities, games, crafts and entertainment. Cider and snacks will be provided! This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend! Please noteAs much as we love your four-legged friends, pets are not allowed on our track and field. Please plan to leave your dogs at home.

Support the YMCA at the Spooky Soiree

Saturday, October 30 from 5:30-8:30pm

Join us for a Halloween-themed cocktail party with games, raffles, and spooky fun, with all proceeds supporting the Y’s financial aid program. We will transform our outdoor tented area into a beautiful party space that will allow us to gather safely to celebrate the West Suburban YMCA. The night will feature fantastic hors d’oeuvres and dessert provided by Above and Beyond Catering, surprising signature cocktails, and many more scary delights! Costumes and festive attire are encouraged but not mandatory. For more information about tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact Andrea Newman atandrean@wsymca.org.

Financial Assistance is always available for Y Memberships and Programs

The West Suburban YMCA is a nonprofit charitable organization and it is our mission to never turn anyone away due to their inability to pay. Please contact our Membership Department at 617-244-6050 ext. 3653 for financial assistance with membership or program participation.

Informational Session on Boy Scouts

Join Boy Scouts of America Troop 205! Calling all boys ages 11 to 17 who are in the outdoors, community service, and making new friends! Please join us on Monday, September 20th from 7 – 8:30pm at the Carroll Center for the Blind Technology Center, 770 Centre St., Newton, MA to learn more about the Scouts BSA and Troop 205.    Check us out at: https://www.troop205newton.org/ For more information about scouting overall or our 9/20 membership event, contact Scoutmaster Jim Janosky at jjanosky@alum.mit.edu or (617) 290-5098. Come see why Scouting is the adventure of a lifetime!

Join Newton Cub Scout Pack 210

Boys and girls grades 1-5 are invited to join Newton Cub Scout Pack 210. Scouting is a great opportunity to make new friendships, and is also really fun, especially for new 1st grade Tigers, to experience with friends. We have an exciting year planned, with fun activities including camping, hiking, outdoor activities, community service, and monthly Den/Pack meetings. All meetings will be outdoors with modifications for COVID safety. Our kickoff meeting is on Thursday Sept. 23 at 5:30 pm, at the Arsenal Park in Watertown. We are also looking for leaders for the Tiger (1st grade) and Wolf (2nd grade) Dens. Please email Chris to join and with questions. We look forward to a great Scouting year ahead!

Contact Chris with questions.

Youth Commission seeks teens and adults

Interested in meeting other teens, discussing issues that impact youth city-wide, and planning teen-focused events, workshops, and other leadership activities? Join the Newton Youth Commission! View the flyer here Youth Commission. Seeking interested youth in grades 8-12 to join the … Continue reading

“Let’s Get to Work!”

The City of Newton’s Youth Commission is sponsoring a virtual workshop “Let’s Get to Work!”. The focus of the workshop is to provide information to high school aged youth about the work available for the summer and beyond in Newton, … Continue reading

Honor Thy Teacher

If you’re looking for a way to say “Thank You!” to your child’s teacher or other school staff as this extremely unusual school year comes to a close, please consider Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher campaign. It’s an opportunity … Continue reading

Newton Free Library Community Survey

Newton Free Library is delighted to offer regular services this June! Whether you visit the Library several times a week, you haven’t been to the Library in a year, or you have never used the Library, they want to hear … Continue reading

Calling All Foodies!

Join James Beard Award winning author, Michael W. Twitty, for an engaging conversation moderated by Chef Bill, a Massachusetts-based chef and author. African American culinary historian Michael W. Twitty knew there was a giant hole in the story of American … Continue reading