Community briefs 5/13

BOSTON STROKE LUNCHEON, At Westin
The 11th annual Boston Stroke Luncheon, Making the Stroke Connection, is Friday, May 16, at The Westin Waltham-Boston Hotel. The professional symposium will cover stroke prevention and acute stroke treatment, with a focus on primary and secondary stroke prevention and acute stroke treatment. Events are provided at no cost to medical professionals, stroke survivors and a maximum of three caregivers/family members.
For registration and exhibit information, contact Shannon Melluzzo at Shannon.Melluzzo@heart.org or 413-735-2104.

FIRST PARISH, Fundraiser for Kenyan school
First Parish Church, Unitarian Universalist, 50 Church St., is holding a fundraiser for St. Theresa Mumias Girl's School in Kenya on Saturday, May 17, 6 p.m. The school was founded in 2005 to provide an education for 18 girls and to ensure they have lunch every day. The fundraiser will include African crafts, food, a slide show, and a West African drum performance, Suggested donation is $25, $15 for children and seniors.
For further information, call 781-893-6240.

OEF/OIF VETERANS, Cookout event
OEF/OIF veterans and their families will be treated to a free cookout, pony rides, a live animal adventure show, music, and more Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the National Archives and Record Administration, 380 Trapelo Road. Free raffles will be held throughout the day with the grand prize of $1,000 cash or a 42-inch flat screen TV. In addition, there will be numerous local, state, and federal agencies on hand to provide information on benefits, services, educational and job opportunities. Rain or shine.
For more information, call Diane LeBlanc at 781-663-0133 or 781-526-1137.

DELVENA THEATRE, Lizzy Borden
The Delvena Theatre Company presents Lizzie Borden and the Forty Whacks at the Waltham Public Library, 735 Main St., on Wednesday, May 14, 7 p.m. Recommended for ages 12 and older, Lizzie Borden and the Forty Whacks includes a mock trial that invites the audience to participate by questioning Lizzie, deciding her guilt or innocence, and imparting a sentence, if appropriate.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, the program is free but seating is limited. To reserve a space, visit www.waltham.lib.ma.us and click on Events Calendar, or call 781-314-3425, Ext. 2.

GORE PLACE, Jane Austen tours
Gore Place, 52 Gore St., will offer six more Jane Austen tours of the 1806 Governor Gore mansion May 16-17. During these special tours, a guide in period costume will use the famous author's own words to describe the decor of the mansion and the gracious lifestyle of the Gores. The Friday, March 28, 7 p.m., tour will include light refreshments. Admission is $12 adults; $8 for children 5-12. Admission for daytime tours is $10 adults; $5 children 5-12.
Call 781-894-2798 for reservations. Visit : www.goreplace.org for information.

REACH, Annual Meeting
REACH (Refuge, Education, Advocacy and CHange) will hold its annual meeting on May 14, 6:30 p.m., at the Massachusetts Medical Society, 860 Winter St. It will include a presentation of the Silent Witness Exhibit, commemorating the many lives lost to domestic violence during the past year. REACH will also present the annual Ruth and Virginia Bigwood Voice for Justice Awards, as well as a new award honoring the life and work of volunteer Mary Young. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
To RSVP, call 781-891-0724, Ext. 109, or e-mail to jonathan@reachma.org.

FRENCH CLUB, Whist
The Women's Auxiliary of the FAVC, 193 Elm St. in Waltham, will host its monthly whist party Wednesday, May 14, 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. A $5 donation will benefit the scholarship fund.
For information, call Helen at 781-893-1705.

JF&CS, Parkinson's group
Jewish Family & Children's Services, 1430 Main St., presents a new dance/yoga/exercise and support group for people living with Parkinson's disease and their friends, family and caregivers, begins May 14, 10 to 11:45 a.m. with a free introductory session. For the following six Wednesdays, May 15-June 25, the program will cost $100. Pre-registration and physician approval is required.
To pre-register or more information, call 781-693-5051.

WASTE FACILITY, Tour in Wareham
There is a tour of Covanta-SEMASS Waste-to-Energy Combustion Facility in Wareham on Wednesday, May 14, 11 a.m. The walking tour will show where Waltham's trash goes after it is picked up at the curb. The plant processes about one million tons of solid waste each year, producing enough electricity to power over 75,000 homes. The facility also recovers nearly 50,000 tons of recyclable metals annually. The tour is a two-mile loop of the facility and lasts 1-2 hours. The tour is free for MassRecycle members. There is a $5 fee per tour for non-members.
To register, visit www.massrecycle.org/tour_registration.html. To car pool, call the Waltham Recycling Department at 781-314-3391.

WORKING MOTHERS, Conference at Bentley
The Detours & OnRamps Forum on Thursday, May 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Bentley College, 175 Forest St., is a one-day conference that addresses the needs and issues of working mothers - whether they're exiting or reentering the workforce. Cost is $125, which includes breakfast, lunch and snacks, a full day of sessions.
For more information or to register, visit www.onrampsforum.com.

OPEN STUDIOS, MAY 17-18
The Newton Open Studios is May 17-18, noon to 6 p.m., where more than 200 Garden City artists will invite the public into their private studios to view or purchase a wide range of one-of-a-kind pieces, including ceramics, paintings, textiles, jewelry, digital art, photography, sculpture and wearable art. Visiting the exhibits is free.
Visit www.newtonopenstudios.com for more information.

DUO CONCERT, Violist and pianist
Edward Gazouleas, violist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and pianist Pei-Shan Lee, will play a concert of Schubert and Brahms at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., on Wednesday, May 14, 7:30 p.m.
For information, call the library at 617-796-1360.

HOUSE TOUR, Eight homes featured The Newton Historical Society's 26th annual House Tour is Sunday, May 18, noon to 5 p.m. The tour offers visitors a unique behind-the-scenes look at eight homes which showcase Newton's excellence in home design, architecture, landscaping, and residential renovation and preservation. Tickets are $25 ($20 for members of the Newton Historical Society) if purchased by May 16, $30 and $25 after. Tickets may be purchased at the Newton History Museum, 527 Washington St., or at 617-796-1450.
In addition, an elegant Preview Party is Saturday, May 18, 5:30 p.m. This reception will feature a preview of the homes on this year's tour. Tickets for this event are $90. For more information, call the Newton Historical Society at 617-796-1450.

PARENTING AND DIVORCE
At NewTV, Sanford M. Portnoy, Ph.D., professor and director of the Center for the Study of Psychology and Divorce at Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, and Sharon Gordetsky, Ph.D., forensic psychologist and assistant professor of Pediatrics, Tufts New England Medical Center, present Effective Parenting During and After Divorce, at NewTV, 23 Needham St., on Wednesday, May 14, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Pre-registration suggested for the free event.
Contact Margaret Hannah, director, at 617-327-6777, Ext. 295, or Margaret_Hannah@mspp.edu.

BRIMMER AND MAY
Summer camps, Brimmer and May is currently accepting applications to its summer programs: Summer Camp, four, 2-week sessions from June 23-August 15. See brimmerandmaycamp.org for information and an application.
Contact summercamp@brimmer.org or 617-278-2350 to request a brochure or for further information.
Also, Summer Science Institute for girls entering grades 6, 7, and 8, is offered free of charge and runs June 23-July 3. The 2-week institute is an enrichment program focusing on topics from various disciplines of science and will include hands-on lab activities, field trips, and lunch every day.
To read more or to download an application, go to www.brimmerandmaysummerscience.org; e-mail summerscience@brimmer.org, or call 617-264-1423.

NCSC
Day camp in Westwood, Newton Community Service Center hosts a day camp featuring boating, Red Cross swim lessons, arts and crafts, fishing, archery, ropes challenge course, nature activities, sports, cookouts, special events, overnights and more, at Hale Reservation in Westwood. Camp runs June 23-Aug. 22. The cost for a two-week session is $540.
For information or to register, call Jennifer Capello McAuliffe, NCSC Camp and Recreational director, at 617-969-5906, Ext. 224, or visit www.ncscweb.org, and go to Summer Camp.

EPOCH
MonaVie, EPOCH Assisted Living at Boylston Place, 615 Heath St., presents a discussion on MonaVie Active, a berry juice from Brazil with healing benefits, on Wednesday, May 14, 2 p.m. MonaVie has one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants of any food available.
For more information or to make a reservation, call 617-244-6400.

JOHN ROOT
Concert at Eliot Church, Musician and educator John Root will perform an interactive family concert at The Eliot Church, 474 Centre St., on Friday, May 16, 11 a.m. Feeling the Beat, Feeling the Spirit invites children and accompanying adults to flex their bodies, voices and imaginations. Root plays drums, panpipes, marimba, flute, clarinet, saxophone and a delightful assortment of homemade musical instruments made from natural and found materials.
For information, call the Newton Corner Branch at 617-552-7157. All programs are free and open to the public.