1. Aldermen to Recognize First Responders. In the wake of recent events that have challenged Newton's Police and Fire departments, the Board of Aldermen plans to offer a couple of "Thank you" resolutions recognizing those departments. 2. BikeNewton Rides. Each week BikeNewton hosts organized rides that begin and end at the Newton Free Library. The rides depart from the Newton Free Library and are seven to 10 miles in length. 3. Planning for College. Are you lost when it comes to making a financial plan for your kids' college? Maybe you just need some tips. There's a class for that. Making …

1. Waban Village Day. Waban will celebrate its village charm today with the annual Waban Village Day. The day kicks off at 11:30 a.m. with the Newton North Jazz Ensemble. The rest of the festivities include more music, games and more. There are some street closings in the area (Beacon Street and Woodward; Wyman Street; Pine Ridge Road. 2. Newton's Annual Memorial Day Parade. If you're looking for a little more fun today, don't miss Newton's Annual Memorial Day Parade. City officials, organizations and others will march in the annual patriotic event, which steps off at 2 p.m. from Our Lady's …

1. New Philharmonia Orchestra Finale. The Newton orchestra will wrap up its 18th season with a finale concert tonight at First Baptist Church Newton at 8 p.m. 2. St. John's Episcopal Church's Gift and Thrift shop will be wrapping up its season at the end of the month. The shop benefits the consignees, the parish and the parish's programs and is open today from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 3. Electronics Recycling. Today is your last opportunity this month to recycle your electronics at the Recycling Depot at Rumford Ave. For a fee, you can recycle computer monitors and televisions. Other electronics can be…

1. Parents Night Out. Energy Fitness & Gymnastics is hosting a Parents Night Out event this evening beginning at 6:30. Children will run and play and enjoy a pizza a veggies dinner while parents have a chance to spend a Friday night kid-free. Check out costs and more information. 2. Dating Violence Awareness Walk. Senior Girl Scout Troop 63053 in partnership with REACH Beyond Domestic Violence are hosting a walk around Crystal Lake to raise awareness of teen dating violence and how to get help. The Love is Respect Walk will begin at 7 p.m. at the Hyde Community Center. 3. Picture Books on …

1. Newton Upper Falls Area Council Meeting. Interested in the projects and issues affecting Upper Falls? The May meeting of the Newton Upper Falls Area Council takes place tonight at 7 at the Emerson Community Center. Come learn about the latest updates. Anyone is welcome to attend. 2. Artist Talk at the Library. Chawky Frenn will be at the Newton Free Library tonight to offer his talk "Transforming Walls into Bridges." The talk focuses on how Frenn's paintings "give a voice to his belief in the nobility and the dignity of being human." 3. Felting Class. Indalo Gallery and Studio in Newton …

1. Constituent Hours for Ward 6. Vicki Danberg, Ward 6 alderman-at-large, will hold her monthly consitutent visit today at the Newton Senior Center from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Stop by to talk with your alderman and enjoy some tea or coffee. 2. Spring Cleaning Your Video Collection. Play it Again Video on Needham Street offers individuals the opportunity to view their old VHS or 8mm tapes as well as other kinds of old media for free before deciding whether to transfer them to DVD or CD. Before you just toss those old tapes on a spring cleaning rampage, you might want to make an appointment. 3. Bird …

1. Coffee and Connect. The Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Coffee Connections session at the Barry L. Price Rehabilitation Center this morning at 8. Members and non-members are invited to gather for networking conversations and to learn about chamber programs and resources. 2. Lantern Making at the Library. The Newton Free Library will welcome kids in grades 2 and 3 for a Korean Paper Lotus Lantern making session. The lanterns are made yearly in honor of Buddha's birthday. Register online for the 4 p.m. session. 3. Questions about the Afterlife? David Cohen survived a near-…

1. Parenting a Teen Talk. Parenting expert Joani Geltman will be at Newton North today at 7 p.m.She'll offer an informative (and entertaining) outlook on the teenage brain as well as a dicussion on setting limits, strategies for communication and more. 2. "Oh, Jonah." United Parish of Auburndale will present its children's musical "Oh, Jonah!" More than 20 local second through sixth graders will bring this musical to life. Admission is free and refreshments will be served after the performance.  3. Good Deed Haircut.  The Supercuts locations throughout the area, including those in Newton, are…

1. Christina Clarke Genco Memorial Bike Ride. The second annual Christina Clarke Genco Memorial Mother's Day Bike Ride will take place today starting at 8 a.m. There is a 68-mile route that kicks off at 8 a.m., a 34-mile route that starts at 9 a.m., a 17-mile route that starts at 10 a.m. and a 3.4-mile route that starts at 11 a.m. All rides start from City Hall. Visit the Memorial's website for more information. 2. Kids FunFEST continues. The annual Kids FunFEST on City Hall lawn will continue today from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. There will be amusement rides for kids, face painting, arts and crafts …

1. Kids FunFEST. The annual Kids FunFEST will take place this weekend on the Newton City Hall lawn, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. There will be amusement rides for kids, arts and crafts and face painting both days. For today only, the fest will feature a family safety day with car seat and bike safety checks as well as a bicycle obstacle course and a K9 demonstration. Tomorrow will include live entertainment.  2. Seedling sale. The Newton Community Farm will host its annual Seedling Sale today from noon - 3 p.m. Choose from a wide array of vegetable and herb varieties, the same ones …

1. "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The annual Newton North/Newton South Shakespeare production kicked off yesterday and will continue tonight with another show at 7:30 p.m. This year's performance: "A Midsummer Night's Dream." If you can't make tonight's show, check out the matinee tomorrow at 2 p.m. The show will be held at Newton South High School and tickets are $8 (available online). 2. Tomorrow: Newton Community Farm Seedling Sale. The annual Seedling Sale at the Newton Community Farm will be held tomorrow from noon - 3 p.m. Choose from a wide array of vegetable and herb varieties. Cost is…

1. Wally's Wicked Good 5K. What's that going on in Auburndale? It's the Wally's Wicked Good 5K! The race kicks off at 6 p.m. at Auburndale Cove and a fun run starts at 5:30 p.m. Proceeds from the race go to benefit the Melanoma Foundation of New England. UPF race tees will be given to the first 200 registrants ($30 to register). Complimentary facial scans will also be provided.. 2. "Sneak Peek" hours at Durant-Kenrick House. Historic Newton will host "sneak peeks" of the newly restored Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds on Thursdays from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Check out the restoration and some of the…

1. Blood drive. The Newton Free Library will host a blood drive today honoring 2-year-old Signe Gaasch, who was diagnosed last summer with brain cancer. Signe is the granddaughter of longtime Newton residents William and Rita Gaasch. Today's blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 2. Author event. New England Mobile Book Fair will host author Mitchell Zuchoff tonight at 7 p.m. Zuchoff is the author of "Frozen in Time," a "gripping true story of survival, bravery, and honor in the vast Arctic wilderness during World War II." He is also the author of "Lost in Shangri-La." 3. "The …

1. Veterans Center grand opening. Mayor Setti Warren will host a grand opening celebration tonight for the new Veterans Service Center at American Legion Post 440 in Newton. The event will include Boston Celtics and New England Patriots players, comedians, food and more. The free event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and patrons are encouraged to bring donations for The One Fund. 2. Blacker's Bakeshop fifth birthday celebration. Blacker's Bake Shop on Comm. Ave. is celebrating its fifth birthday! Starting today, there will be balloons, free birthday cake and free cookies at Blacker's. Spend at least $…

1. Water/Sewer rate hearing. The Newton Board of Aldermen will hold a public hearing and presentation tonight on the fiscal 2014 water/sewer rates. If the aldermen feel comfortable doing so, they will also vote to approve the rates tonight. The hearing starts at 7 p.m. in the aldermanic chamber at City Hall and will be followed by the Board's regularly scheduled meeting. 2. Rabies clinic. A rabies clinic will be held this evening at Fire Station #3 in Newton Centre from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Cats, dogs and ferrets are welcome as long as they are leashed or caged and accompanied by someone age…

1. Used book sale. Solomon Schechter Day School (Lower School) will host a used book sale today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come check out thousands of books as well as DVDs. All sales support the SSDS libraries. 2. Newton Community Sing. Bigelow Middle School music teacher, Jamie Alberts is directing Newton's first Community Sing. Led by songleader Nick Page, along with the talents of the Newton Country Players; Folk Society of Greater Boston; Newton All City Honor choirs; Newton Public Schools Music Department; Silver Newtones; Zamir Chorale of Boston; Newton Choral Society and JourneySongs. …

1. Yard sales. There are quite a few yard sales scheduled for today in Newton, including the Bowen Cooperative Yard Sale at St. John's Church in Newtonville. Check our events calendar for more yard/estate sales happening today! 2. Taiwan Day. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston (TECO-Boston) and the local Taiwanese community will host a Taiwan Day today at the Hyde Community Center in Newton Highlands. The free event runs noon - 4 p.m. and includes arts and crafts, performances, food, music and more.  3. Music at the Jackson Homestead. The Jackson Homestead & Museum will host a …

1. Go Tigers! The Newton North girls' varsity softball team will face Dedham in a home match today at Newton North. Game time is 3:45 p.m. 2. ALS fundraiser. Michael Jaillet, a 1987 NNHS grad, is battling ALS. UNO's in Newton Corner will host a DoughRaiser today to raise money for Jalliet's battle. A portion of the proceeds of your meal will be donated to Jaillet's cause -- just let your server know you are there for the Jaillet DoughRaiser. An ALS 5K walk will be held tomorrow in Lexington. 3. Tuesday: Veterans Center Grand Opening. Mayor Setti Warren will celebrate the new Veterans Service …

1. "Melting Away." The Boston Jewish Film Festival (BJFF) will host a screening of "Melting Away" tonight at the West Newton Cinema. The film tells the story of parents learning to deal with a transgendered child. Directed by Doron Eran. In Hebrew with English subtitles. Co-sponsored by The Parent and Family Connection of Keshet. The screening, which is part of the Encore series presented by the BJFF, is generously supported by the Dorot Foundation. The screening starts at 7 p.m. 2. Special School Committee meeting. The Newton School Committee will hold a special meeting this morning at 8 a.m…

1. Walk and Bike to School Day. Families across Massachusetts will walk or bike to school today to promote a healthy lifestyle and help the environment. The weather is forecasted to be sunny and around 70 degrees, according to the National Weather Service, so get out there! 2. Budget discussions continue. The Board of Aldermen's Public Safety and Transportation Committee will take up the Police and Fire department budgets at its meeting tonight. The meeting will be held at 7:45 p.m. in room 202 at City Hall.  3. Looking for results from yesterday's primary? Democrat Ed Markey and Republican …