Community briefs 5/8

GWARC, Housing seminar
GWARC, 56 Chestnut St., is holding a free housing seminar Thursday, May 8, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Ms.featuring housing expert Anne Lane who has worked with individuals with disabilities and their families and with state and local agencies for 20 years. Lane will provide attendees tools for getting started whether they are looking at private options or at federal, state or local housing funding resources.
If you would like to attend, RSVP to Anna Thorpe, Family Support manager, at 781-899-1344, Ext. 4120, or at athorpe@gwarc.org.

BRANDEIS WOMEN STUDIES, Annual Mother's Day event
The Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University's annual Mother's Day event focuses on working mothers and the discrimination they face. This panel discussion brings together working mothers of multiple generations to share their experiences and create a discussion about how to improve conditions for working mothers. The discussion is moderated by E.J. Graff, WSRC resident scholar, and participants include Dana Gershengorn, Neena Pathak and Judith Stadtman Tucker. The event is Thursday, May 8, 12:30 to 2 p.m., in the Epstein Building, 515 South St.
To learn more about The Women's Studies Research Center, visit www.brandeis.edu/centers/wsrc.

IMPROV JONES, At Newton Free Library
Improv Jones Boston, an eight-member comedic troupe, will perform short improv games similar to the style of the TV show, ``Whose Line Is It Anyway?'', at Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., on Wednesday, May 7, 7 p.m. Audience members will offer suggestions about locations, emotions and relationships and some will even get in on the act performing in a game or two with the troupe. The troupe performs Fridays, 8 p.m., at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown. Visit improvjonesboston.com.
For information, call the library at 617-796-1360. All programs are free and open to the public.

POSTAL CARRIERS, Collecting food
The National Association of Letter Carriers along with USPS, AFL-CIO, United Way of Mass Bay, America's Second Harvest, Campbell's, Project Bread, the American Red Cross, and the Greater Boston Food Bank, will try to ``Stamp Out Hunger'' when carriers will pick up non-perishable food left at mailboxes in Waltham and Newton on Saturday, May 10 and deliver it to local food pantries.
For more information, visit www.malc.org or call your local post office.

ENDOMETRIOSIS, Support group
Endometriosis - a sometimes painful and debilitating disease affecting women during the child-bearing years, is relatively unknown, but there is now help with a support and informational group.
To learn more about this free information sharing session and the time and location of the Wednesday, May 7, meeting, or you are able to make a charitable contribution, contact Jennifer Sullivan at GreaterBoston_Endo@yahoo.com or 781-893-0530.

JAZZ GUITARIST, At library
Jazz guitarist and composer Nick Grondin will give a concert of jazz standards and play some of his original compositions Sunday, May 11, 2 p.m., at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St.
For information, call the library at 617-796-1360. All programs are free and open to the public.

EPOCH, Mother's Day concert
EPOCH at Boylston Place, 615 Heath St., will have a Mother's Day Concert with David Becker, singer and pianist who performs a wide repertoire of songs from the American Songbook, on Sunday, May 11, 3:30 p.m. This conert is free and open to the public.
For more information about the event or to reserve your spot, call 617-244-6400.

HEAVENLY INHABITANTS, Five-part series
Rabbi Carol Mitchell will continue her presentation of the five-part series on heavenly inhabitants at EPOCH at Boylston Place at Chestnut Hill, 615 Heath St. The third part, Angels as other manifestations of God, will be Monday, May 12, 1:30 p.m. The Old and New Testament are full of angels. Rabbi Mitchell's five-part presentation discusses the critical role angels play in helping us carry out God's plan.
For more information or to reserve a seat, call 617-244-6400.

SILVER LAKE GALLERY, Detoxification class
Silver Lake Gallery, 138 Adams St., will host a free class, Introduction to Detoxification, on Monday, May 12, 6 to 8 p.m. The focus will be on the value and practical application of a safe, gentle detoxification plan to help the body heal itself, prevent illness and experience a lifetime of vibrant health and vitality.
For more information, or to register in advance, call 617-510-8560.

YMCA, New holistic program
The West Suburban YMCA will host Take It Off, Keep It Off, a new unique and holistic program designed to educate, cultivate, and support lifelong personal health changes and improvements. The six-week course, beginning May 12, will cost $13/day or $39.95/month. Participants will take part in weekly nutrition education groups as well as receive discounts on individual and family nutrition consultations and personal training sessions. Monthly Tanita scale weigh-ins will also be provided.
For more information or to register, contact Jennifer Sandeman at 617-244-6050, Ext. 3017, or jennifers@westsuburbanymca.org.

GARDEN MARKET, At City Hall
The Newton Garden Market, on the lawn at City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Ave., is Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Presented by the Newton Pride Committee, there will be thousands of New England grown plants, including perennials, annuals, shrubs and herbs. There will be free demonstrations on current gardening trends and questions answered by master gardeners. There will also be raffles.
For more information visit www.newtonpride.org.