June Teen Programs

School of Rock Boston's Jazz Ensemble Founded in 1998, the School of Rock (SOR) is the nation's premier performance-based rock music after-school and weekend program. They teach guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, drums and combine weekly, private music lessons and group band rehearsals for children ages 6 to 18. To date their students have played thousands of concerts to more than 100,000 people at such legendary venues as The Roxy, The Big Easy and BB King's Blues Club in Times Square. Boston is the first SOR to host a jazz spin-off program. Join them on Tuesday June 5 at 7:00 pm for a free concert under the direction of Pat Speece. Families are welcome.

Teen Summer Reading Program Kids in grades 6-12, celebrate the Teen Summer Reading Program at an ice cream party on the patio outside the Children’s room on Tuesday, June 26 at 3:00 pm (rain location, Druker Auditorium). Register for the program, pick up a handout, learn about online sign-up and how you can win prizes! This year’s theme is Stretch Yourself @ the Library. Try reading a new genre, listen to an audiobook or reading a cookbook so you can try a new recipe. Stretch your reading this summer!

Sacco and Vanzetti: Still on Trial

On a Monday afternoon in August, 1927 the entire world seemed to pause as preparations were being made in a Massachusetts prison to close the chapter on the lives of Sacco and Vanzetti - at midnight they were doomed to die. Yet to this day the question remains, were they guilty or innocent? Join Bruce Watson on Thursday, June 7 at 7:30 pm for a fascinating trip back in time to this historic event. Based on his 2007 book, Sacco and Vanzetti: The Men, The Murders, and The Judgment of Mankind, Watson will discuss the fascinating case from its start during the 1919 Red Scare, to current opinions on guilt and innocence. Unlike previous authors, Watson does not render his own verdict but rather leaves it up to his readers and listeners. The talk will bring the famous case to life. A book signing will follow with books provided by New England Mobile Book Fair.

Sacco and Vanzetti: The Men, The Murders, and The Judgment of Mankind was nominated for an Edgar Award in the category of True Fact/Crime and was a Book of the Month Club Selection. A frequent contributor to Smithsonian, Bruce Watson has also written for The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and The Wall Street Journal, among others.

Boston's Downtown Movie Palaces

Since the late 1800s Boston has been a trendsetter in the development of the movie business. Many of the earliest public showings of moving images took place here. Boston’s Downtown Movie Palaces boasts more than 200 vintage photographs and memories of days gone by of Boston’s movie house treasures. Join author Arthur Singer and photographer Ron Goodman for an illustrated journey into these elegant buildings. The program will take place on Tuesday, June 12 at 7:30 pm and will be followed by a book signing with books provided by New England Mobile Book Fair. Boston’s Downtown Movie Palaces

• Brings to life the work of Thomas Edison, Louis B. Mayer and forgotten pioneers
• Describes why and how the city’s great movie palaces came to be built and subsequently restored
• Explains the role Boston movie houses played during the Great Depression and beyond

Arthur Singer is the founding president of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Ron Goodman has had his works published in, among others, American Baby, The Boston Globe and Harvard Magazine.

How can I Enhance and Enrich My Life?

The Life’s Transitions: Future Focus series provides information on resources that are available through the City of Newton Department of Senior Services, the series cosponsor. This year’s final program will take place on Thursday, June 14 at 7:00 pm. Department of Senior Services Program Coordinator Joanne Fisher and Administrative Coordinator Alice Bailey will present information about the many programs and services available to Newton's senior citizens. The program will be moderated by Jayne Colino. Topics will include:

• Information about transportation
• Enriching recreational, nutritional and social opportunities

Joanne Fisher holds a B.A. from Boston University. She has served as Program Coordinator at the Senior Center for 20 years, having grown and developed their offerings over the years. She maintains and builds the schedule, places and supervises the volunteers and contracted program leaders, and generates the publicity.

Alice Bailey holds a B.A. from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has been the Administrative Coordinator for the Newton Department of Senior Services for 16 years. She administers the Senior Services Transportation System, the Durable Medical Equipment Closet and oversees the maintenance of the Senior Center building.

Program moderator Jayne Colino is the Director of the City of Newton Department of Senior Services. She is a delegate to the National Institute of Senior Centers and Vice President of the Massachusetts Councils on Aging.

Newton’s Energy Action Plan

The final program in this year’s Greening Our Community Series will take place on Tuesday, June 19 at 7:00 pm. In a program titled Newton's Energy Action Plan, Mayor Warren and key city staff, along with a member of Newton's Energy Commission, will give an overview of the city’s progress to date on issues related to conserving energy, focusing in particular on Newton's public buildings. They will summarize where we stand now and what we can do going forward.

Newton's Energy Commission first released its energy and emissions inventory in 2005 laying out goals for city government as well as suggestions for residents and businesses. Since then much has been accomplished including:

• An audit of energy use in public buildings
• Newton North High School (a LEED Certified building) was completed
• Streetlights have been replaced with energy efficient models
• The building "stretch code" requiring energy-efficiency measures for new construction has been instituted
• Green Decade/Newton launched the Eco-Project, teaching residents about carbon footprint reduction
• In accordance with the 2008 Massachusetts Green Communities Act, Newton earned a Green Community designation.

The speakers will be:

• Bob Rooney, Newton's Chief Operating Officer who oversees the coordination and implementation of the Mayor's vision across all departments and the development of policy to attain that vision
• Maciej Konieczny, Newton's Sustainability Project Manager for the Public Buildings Department
• Josh Morse, Director of Operations for the Public Buildings Department
• The program will be moderated by Eric Olson, Chairman of Newton’s Energy Commission

Financial Recovery After a Setback

Join Julie Soforenko on Wednesday, June 20 at 7:00 pm for the final FDIC Money Smart series program. In celebration of the conclusion of the Money Smart series Whole Foods Market will be providing light refreshments. Money Smart is a comprehensive curriculum designed to build financial knowledge and establish positive banking relationships. The presentation titled Financial Recovery will focus on how to recover financially and rebuild your credit after a financial setback. Topics will include:

• Evaluating your current financial situation
• Developing and implementing a financial recovery plan
• Guarding against credit repair scams

Julie Soforenko is Community Outreach Coordinator for American Consumer Credit Counseling, a non-profit credit counseling agency providing budget and credit counseling, debt management services, and financial education to individuals and organizations throughout Greater Boston and New England. She believes that through financial education individuals can improve the quality of their lives by taking control of their finances and strengthening their financial futures.

This program is made possible by a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation through Smart investing @ your library®, a partnership with the American Library Association.

Ecological Interdependencies

By: Brooks Mathewson

Birds and trees depend on each other in a number of ways sharing a close-knit ecological link. Trees provide roosting and nesting habitat as well as direct and indirect sources of food for birds. At the same time, birds help trees by foraging on leaf-eating insects, dispersing seeds and even pollinating flowers. Please join nature photographer and ecologist Brooks Mathewson on Thursday, June 21 at 7:00 pm for a lecture on the ecological interdependencies between birds and trees. The talk will be illustrated with of some of Brooks’s stunning photographs depicting these interactions. The program is cosponsored by Newton Conservators.

Brooks Mathewson is a nature photographer and ecologist holding a Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Forest Science from Harvard University. His photographs have appeared in magazines, journals, textbooks and field guides, and are sold at art galleries and museums in the Boston area. His work is also featured in a permanent exhibit being installed at the Sachuest National Wildlife Refuge.

How to Get on YouTube

Web video is a worldwide phenomenon with YouTube being the most popular online video hosting service on the internet. People are putting their videos on YouTube and Facebook to share family fun, promote their cause - business or nonprofit, or show off their cute cats. Did you know that today's home video cameras and smart phones are capable of shooting high quality video and that you can post your videos on YouTube for free? Join Roberto Mighty for a 90-minute introductory workshop titled How to Get on YouTube. The talk will take place on Tuesday, June 26 at 7:00 pm, followed by a question and answer period. Mr. Mighty will discuss:

• How to structure your video message
• How to use your camera and computer to shoot and edit an effective video
• Posting videos on YouTube
• Emailing videos
• Linking your YouTube video to websites including Facebook

Roberto Mighty is an artist, educator and professional media producer with over 400,000 views of his work on YouTube. Mr. Mighty is the founder and senior producer of Celestial Media. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from Lesley University and is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College.

Computer Classes

Stop by the library and sign up for a free one-session computer class in Internet, PC Basics or other topics. For more information call 617-796-1380 or see class schedule.