Five Things You Need to Know This Week: Jan. 14-20

1. Newton School Committee meeting

The Newton School Committee will meet Monday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. in room 210 at the Education Center. Monday's meeting will include a facilities update, a discussion and possible proposal on the "feeder patterns" for the north side schools as well as continued discussion and vote on fiscal 2014 budget guidelines. The full agenda for Monday's meeting is included in the .pdf section to the right.

2. Finance Committee meeting

The Board of Aldermen's Finance Committee will also meet Monday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. The committee will discuss the establishment of an account for the design money needed to build several new modulars at district elementary schools. The meeting will also include discussion of funding to demolish damaged salt sheds as well as money for bathroom renovations at Gath Pool.

The meeting will take place in room 222 at City Hall. The full agenda is included in the .pdf to the right.

3. Health Department flu clinic

Due to the flu epidemic that has hit the region, the Newton Dept. of Health and Human Services will be offering an appointment-only flu clinic this week at the Newton Free Library. To find out when the flu clinic will be open and to make an appointment, call the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Carefinder appointment line at 617-243-5900. The clinic is open all and non-Newton residents may schedule appointments.

4. Teen "action groups"

Local teens and adults are welcome to join two action groups this week that are based on the discussions held at the Newton Youth Summit in October 2012. 

According to a flyer posted on the city's website, the action groups are "an opportunity for all to express their opinions and to push forward toward solutions to be discussed at Youth Summit II," which will be held in March. 

The Academic Stress and Time Management Action Group will meet this Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the John M. Barry Boys and Girls Club upstairs boardroom.

The Youth and Adult Conversation/Collaboration Action Group will meet Thursday, Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the West Suburban YMCA wellness room. 

The Youth Action Group flyer is included in the .pdf section above.

5. Last week for curbside tree recycling

Still waiting to get rid of that Christmas tree? This week is your last chance for curbside tree recycling in Newton.

Residents are asked to place the tree curbside by 7 a.m. on their regular trash/recycling pick-up day. Trees must be free of all decorations and cannot be placed in a bag. 

After this week, the city will not collect Christmas trees and residents will be responsible for disposing them on their own. Or, residents can prepare the tree according to yard waste guidelines and wait until yard waste pickup resumes in the spring.