Winter Spring 2021 Volume 43, Issue 1 NEWTON PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURE Ruthanne Fuller, Mayor Mark Kelly, Special Needs Director Nicole Banks, Commissioner of Parks, Recreation & Culture Karen Peirce, Associate Director Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture, 246 Dudley Road, Newton MA 02459 • (617) 796-1538 Athletes Increase Strength & Resilience in Historic Year The global pandemic, which will define 2020 and be written about in textbooks for perpetuity, has included enough adversity to make all of us want to say good rid- dance to this challenging year. Through all the trials and tribulations, we have learned so much about our ath- letes, staff and volunteers as well as our community sup- porters – and that’s been a good thing. Our athletes have gained and displayed incredible strength and resilience over the last ten months. They have become experts at Zoom and video conferencing. They have been flexible and quick to adjust to our recre- Tim White played Santa at our holiday dance. ation programs and events being online. They have sup- ported one another, stayed connected while apart and have shown incredible perseverance. Since March 23, our staff and volunteers have stepped up to the plate day in and day out. By year end, they will have helped facilitate over 480 different recreation programs. Their dedication to our athletes and ability to come up with creative programming has been outstand- ing and heartwarming. Our program is forever grateful for everyone that has run programs for us during these unprecedented times. Dale Llichtenstein helped lead our AU Hanukkah celebration. With decreased revenue streams from programs and As we enter 2021, Covid 19 numbers are at record highs yet events, we have needed the City of Newton, our families promising vaccines have been approved. We have decided and community supporters more than ever. Mayor Fuller to publish this three month winter newsletter including and her executive team, Commissioner Nicole Banks and January, February and March with all programs staying the Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture Department virtual. This will give us flexibility to reassess where we and our non-profit, Newton Athletes Unlimited, have are at in the Spring and put out a second calendar that will been wonderful emboldening us to keep a robust sched- include programming until the end of June. ule of programming. Our families have been incredibly generous towards our efforts all year long and thanks to Wishing you and your family health and hope this amazing community partners, Paddy’s Road Race raised holiday season. over $35,000 this fall. Virtual Fun Sunday Squad Broadway Athletes 13 and under can join members of our Squad Kristen and John or other guest artists will be & Camp Echo Bridge Staff for a Sunday afternoon on zooming directly from San Francisco to share their Zoom. Have a chance to talk to friends you know, love for musical theater. You don’t want to miss out meet new friends, have a chat, play a game and get on another exciting set of Broadway shows where your move on. This program is specifically geared to we will learn the story of beloved musicals, as well as our younger athletes. a little bit about the societal influences that brought SUNDAYS 4:30-5:15PM them about. We will learn about theatrical tools like costuming and staging, and, of course, we will sing Breakfast Club along with some of your favorite (and new favorite!) Join Mark, Karen and Carolee to check in, share songs! with us how you are doing, preview the programs TUESDAYS 7:00PM happening that week, learn about that day in history and have a chance to catch up with friends. Tigers Boot Camp MONDAYS 10:00AM It is Wednesday morning and are you ready to work out with Tigers Coaches Andy Majewski and Dan Fitness Walk Heffernan? Get ready for stretching followed by some We will be walking indoors up to 3 miles so get fun work outs including boxing, high knees, happy your sneakers ready for some upbeat cardio walking feet and of course there will be challenge flags so be together. ready. MONDAYS 2:00PM WEDNESDAYS 10:00AM Yoga Live with Sarah History Corner with Julie Heffernan Sarah will be joining us every Monday for a night of Did you know 4 Presidents were from Massachusetts? calm & relaxing yoga moves. Grab a towel or a yoga Join Julie and Brian Heffernan as they share the lives mat and a water bottle and you will be all set. of these important historic men. MONDAYS 7:00PM WEDNESDAYS 2:00PM JANUARY 6 John Adams JANUARY 13 John Quincy Adams Zumba with Judi JANUARY 27 John F. Kennedy Join in the dance fitness program that is more like a FEBRUARY 10 George Herbert Walker Bush party then a workout! Judi will keep us moving to her upbeat music. Everyone can Zumba. TUESDAYS 2:00PM Cheer Team Let’s get fired up! Although we won’t be cheering for our team we will be cheering for and with each other. Our website has a fresh new look Join Cheer Coach Katie Costello for a night of cheers and is now mobile friendly! and dance routines to fun upbeat music. Everyone is invited to join the Cheer Team. WEDNESDAYS 7:00PM Find us at: Mark Kelly, Director [email protected] 617-796-1527 Karen Peirce, Associate Director [email protected] 617-796-1538 Website: newtonathletesunlimited.org Volunteer information: athletesunlimited.volunteerhub.com Check it out Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/NewtonAthletesUnlimited YouTube: NewtonAthletesUnlimited www.newtonathletesunlimited.org Online Registration: https://newtonma.myrec.com 2 Virtual Fun Game Show Night Poetry Slam Game Show Night will include some of our old Share your thoughts, your interests, be creative, be favorites like Family Feud and Trivia and we will be funny be serious, be you! You can read a poem or a adding in some new ones we know you will enjoy. story you wrote or read a poem or story you like. This WEDNESDAYS/THURSDAYS 7:00PM is a place to get to know each other and create poetry together by sharing and listening. Tabata Workout with Angela FRIDAYS 4:00PM Angela introduced us to the amazing new exercise of Tabata in the fall and we all just loved it. In Tabata Read-a-Loud Story Hour there will be a short 20 second exercise with a 10 Join Cristina Valente as she reads book 2 of the Harry second recovery & each Tabata has 8 rounds totaling Potter Series, The Chamber of Secrets every other 4 minutes. Everyone will move at their own pace & Friday at 7:00PM we will combine different Tabata rounds for a FUN ALTERNATE FRIDAYS 7:00PM strength & cardio workout. THURSDAYS 10:00AM Virtual Visit Live at Unity Farm Sanctuary The mission of Unity Farm Sanctuary is to provide a Create with Karen safe and loving lifelong home for farm animals, to offer Each week we will draw or create a work of art, share the public unique educational programs, and to pro- ideas and immerse yourself in creating something mote a culture of kindness and connection. Residents uniquely your own. All you will need are paper, pens, here include alpaca, horses, ponies, miniature horses, pencils, crayons, markers or paint. sheep, cows, goats, pigs and a vast array of feathered THURSDAYS 2:00PM friends. Join us for an afternoon at the farm. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2:00PM Friday Fit You never know what type of exercise will happen on Friday but you know it will be a good work out and a Games, music, dancing, sing-a-longs, lot of fun. stories and more at the Camp Fires FRIDAY 10:00AM REGISTER NOW! To register for our special events and programs, 90’s Theme Camp Fire please return the FEBRUARY 18 registration form on page 4 Sing-a-Long Camp Fire or sign up online at MARCH 4 https://newtonma.myrec.com Zoom-Anniversary Camp Fire MARCH 25 3 Virtual Fun Karaoke Zoom Around the World Everyone loves Karaoke. Pick your favorite song and share it with the group. WEDNESDAYS 7:00PM FEB 10, 24, THURSDAY MARCH 18 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame We are off to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH. Get ready to rock as we highlight some of the greatest musicians and bands to be elected to the Hall of Fame. TUESDAYS 10:00AM JANUARY 5, 19, FEB 23, MARCH 9, 30 Spend the afternoon traveling to new places all over the world. Learn about new cultures and see many beautiful sights that will make you want to Nature Zone visit these amazing places. Join us as we travel to amazing places to see a variety of interesting animals and nature. TUESDAYS 10:00AM WEDNESDAYS 2:00PM January 12 Trip to the Florida Everglades FEB. 3 Lambing with Siri from Vermont January 26 Trip to Machu Pichu in Peru MARCH 3 Amazing Dogs January 16 Ski Resorts around the Country MARCH 10 Ocean Journey including our favorite, Loon Mt. MARCH 17 All About Birds March 2 Trip to Spain MARCH 24 Wild Animal Kingdom March 16 Trip to Sweden MARCH 31 Cats of All Kinds March 23 Trip to Costa Rica REGISTRATION FORM WINTER 2021 VIRTUAL PROGRAMS Name___________________________________________________________________ Date Of Birth ___________________Age__________ Address_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Email Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone Number ________________________________________________________________Cell ______________________________ Programs Payment: The fee for all WINTER virtual programs whether you join in one program or all the programs is just $50 per person. $_____________ You can pay by check made out to the City of Newton and mail to: Mark Kelly Newton Parks and Recreation 246 Dudley Road Newton, MA 02459 OR you can register online at newtonma.myrec.com (Look under the heading Athletes Unlimited) For those who cannot pay the $50 you can still participate in the programs.