What's Happening

Five Things You Need to Know Today: April 30

A blood drive, a parenting lecture and the special Senate primary.

1. Special Senate primary. Today is the special primary for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State John Kerry. There will be both a Democratic and Republican primary today and the two winners will go head-to-head in the June 25 special election. Check out our Newton Election Guide for everything you need to know before heading out to the polls today. Remember, polls are open 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.  2. Blood drive. The American Red Cross will host a community blood drive today at the Newton Health Care Center, 2101 Washington St. The blood drive will be held from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.com. 3. "Stress and Resilience in Children." The Jackson-Walnut Park Schools…

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What's Happening

Five Things You Need to Know Today: April 10

A blood drive, a parent workshop and the official swearing-in of the new Newton Police chief.

1. Blood Drive. The Newton Free Library will host a blood drive today from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Druker Auditorium. 2. Aldermen meet on School Committee budget. The Board of Aldermen's Programs and Services and Finance committees will meet jointly tonight to discuss the School Committee's fiscal 2014 budget, which was approved by the School Committee Monday night. The aldermen will meet tonight at 7:15 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber at City Hall. 3. Newton Police Chief swearing in. New Newton Police Chief Howard Mintz will officially be sworn in this morning at 11:30 a.m. in the Newton City Hall War Memorial.  4. Free parent workshop. The Newton Partnership and The Freedman Center at MSPP will present a free parent workshop tonight …

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Red Cross Issues Emergency Call for Blood Donations

Fewer than anticipated donors in June means a shortage in available blood stores.

Are you at least 17 years old? Do you weigh 110 pounds or more? Healthy? The American Red Cross needs your help. The Red Cross has issued an emergency request for blood donations, stating in a press release that its "blood supply has reached emergency levels with 50,000 fewer donations than expected in June." The blood bank is stocked with about half the available blood it held this time last year. Red Cross officials speculate that an earlier-than-normal spring season could have led to fewer than typical blood donations as regular donors transitioned into summer activities early and failed to schedule their blood and platelet donations. Now, need exists for all blood types, but particularly for O Positive, O Negative, A Negative and B …

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