Community briefs 1/5

LA LECHE LEAGUE, Breastfeeding ABC's
La Leche League of Waltham will meet Wednesday, Jan. 14, 10:30 a.m. to noon, at St. Mary's Religious Education Center, 30 Pond St. The meeting topic is The ABC's of Breastfeeding: A Journey Through the Alphabet of Breastfeeding Benefits, but other breastfeeding questions can be discussed.
The local La Leche League International Group's mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.
For more information on the Waltham meetings, contact Jennifer at 518-229-1684 or lactavistmomma@gmail.com, or Elizabeth at 978-318-9934 or LaLecheLibby@gmail.com.

CLOTHING EXCHANGE, Sale on Tuesday
The Waltham Clothing Exchange, at the Unitarian Church, 50 Church St., will be open Tuesday, Jan. 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for its fall season's Half Price Sale. There will also be Clearance Sale on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Exchange will reopen for its Spring Season on Feb. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..
For information, call 781-893-6240.

RECYCLING, Donate, sell, recycle electronics
This holiday season, as you purchase new, home electronics such as TVs, computers, video game consoles, cell phones, and cameras, consider donating, recycling, or selling used electronics with Staple's Soul program. The Staple's Soul program allows you to drop used or unwanted cell phone, computer, or small, home electronics to be recycled and/or used for parts. All brands are accepted whether or not the product was purchased at Staples.
Or you can schedule a Saturday curbside pick-up of TV, computers, and appendages by calling 1-877-944-7019, Ext. 2.

SOUNDS ON CONCORD, Voice lessons for men
Concord offers group voice classes for men who sing and who wish to become better singers. The program is sponsored by Sounds of Concord, an award winning men's a cappella chorus, and will consist of 5 classes on Thursdays, Jan. 8-Feb. 5. A short session for registration, class overview, and determination of voice range is Jan. 8, 7 p.m., at Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road, Lexington. The first lesson will follow after that session. Music will be taught using learning tapes, so you don't have to read music. A $10 materials fee is the only cost.
For further details or to pre-register, contact Jonathan Watson at 617-484- 3005; Jim Kenealy at 508-740-7896; Lee Daum at 781-643-7468; or e-mail at sing@soundsofconcord.org.

GIRL SCOUTS, Cookie sale
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts's annual Girl Scout cookie sale runs Jan. 5-March 15. Be on the lookout for Girl Scouts in your community selling cookies at MBTA and Amtrak stations, outside popular stores, or at your front door! Girl Scouts only sell cookies for a limited time each year, so be sure to stock up while you can.
For more information, visit www.girlscoutseasternmass.org.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Annual meeting
The Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2009 annual Meeting & Business Luncheon on Friday, Jan. 9, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Westin Waltham-Boston Hotel, Eden Vale Ballroom, 70 Third Ave. The keynote speaker will be Robert K. Coughlin, president & CEO, Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. The 2008 Community Achievement Award will be presented to Thomas Jewell, retired director of the Waltham Public Library.
For reservations or more information, visit www.walthamchamber.com or call 781-894-4700, Ext. 120.

READ HEBREW, At Lexington temple
The winter semester of Ivrit la-Kol/Hebrew for All, an adult Hebrew language collaboration between Temple Emunah, Lexington; Temple Isaiah, Lexington; and Beth El Temple Center of Belmont; begins Jan. 11. If you've wanted to read prayers in Hebrew, or to speak modern conversational Hebrew or to read and translate Biblical text, Ivrit la-Kol is your chance to learn within small classes tailored to a variety of levels. Classes are offered in modern conversational, biblical and Siddur (prayer book) Hebrew. Tuition is $250 for temple members and $275 for non-members. The spring mini-session is $144 for all students. There is a $25 non-refundable administrative fee for withdrawals after the first class.
If you have any questions or placement issues, e-mail Caroline Nudelman, CRNudelman@gmail.com, or visit http://ma002.urj.net.

AUTISM, New support group
Diagnosis: Autism; understanding autism spectrum disorders, is a new information and support group for parents of young children (2-5 yrs) recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorders, including Autism, PDD-NOS, and Asperger's Syndrome. It runs Thursdays, Jan. 9-March 19, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at WarmLines, 225 Nevada St. It is led by Carole Slipowitz, Psy.D. and Joan Murray, Ph.D. Cost is $200 for 10 sessions.
Register at www.warmlines.org or 617-332-3666, Ext. 123.

WEST SUBURBAN YMCA, `Biggest Loser'
The West Suburban YMCA's Take it Off ``Biggest Loser'' contest is back. Set to run Mondays, Jan. 12-March 9, participants can compete in teams throughout this eight-week competition to lose weight and body fat. For less than $10 per week, each competitor will receive a weight and body composition analysis, three orientations to the YMCA's Fitness Center, a certified fitness coach, three group trainings with one of the YMCA's fitness coaches, and nutrition information from the YMCA's certified nutritionist.
The contest will also feature the Take it Off Biggest Loser blog which will offer weekly fitness and nutrition tips, healthy recipes, and the ability for participants to ask and receive fitness and wellness questions from the YMCA's dedicated and qualified staff. The winners will receive a free six-month membership to the West Suburban YMCA.
Participants must register by Friday, Jan. 9 for the full eight-week competition. For more information, contact Jane Carroll at 617-244-6050, Ext. 3007, or e-mail janec@westsuburbanymca.org.

EPOCH, Eric Olsen
Guitarist and vocalist Eric Olsen will perform on Friday, Jan. 9, 2:30 p.m., at EPOCH Senior Healthcare of Chestnut Hill, 615 Heath St. Olsen has been a regular performer at EPOCH, and his mix of classic and contemporary music is always an audience favorite. This performance is free and open to the public. Space is limited and a reservation is requested.
For more information or to RSVP, call 617-243-9990.

NEWTON FREE LIBRARY, Raising bilingual children
7 Steps to Raising a Bilingual Child, an author talk with Naomi Steiner, will be held at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m. Steiner will give families the tools and encouragement to raise children with two or more languages. The talk will be followed by a book signing.
Naomi Steiner, M.D. is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and clinical researcher at Tufts Medical Center/ University where she is also an assistant professor in pediatrics. She is developing a project that looks at yoga training for children with emotional and behavioral issues in a school setting. Steiner is raising her children to be multilingual.
For information, call the Newton Free Library at 617-796-1360.

NEWTON FREE LIBRARY, Superior Court judge
Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Fahey will give a program at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., on Thursday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m. After being appointed as an international judge to serve in the War Crimes Chamber in May 2007, Judge Fahey took an unpaid leave of absence to serve as an international judge on the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Judge Fahey is one of two featured guests on the January edition of ``Books and ``Beyond,'' the library's monthly cable access TV show produced in conjunction with NewTV. Newton residents can view on NewTV's Red channel on Comcast channel 9, RCN channel 13 and Verizon channel 33 seven days a week at 5 p.m.
For information on this free event, call the Newton Free Library at 617-796-1360.

TEMPLE SHALOM, Tot Shabbat
Families with infants through pre-kindergarten are invited to celebrate Shabbat with music, puppetry, art, and movement at Temple Shalom's monthly Tot Shabbat. This interactive service is followed by a snack and an age-appropriate art project. Tot Shabbat is Saturday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m., in the Rothman Chapel, 175 Temple St., nd all activities are free and open to the public.
Temple Shalom is a diverse and welcoming Reform congregation that has served Newton and its surrounding areas for over 50 years. Call 617-332-9550 for further information or visit www.templeshalom.org .