Community briefs 1/8

ESL CLASSES, At WATCH
Registration for Beginner and Intermediate ESL Classes at WATCH CDC, 517 Moody St., is Wednesday, Jan. 14, 6 p.m. Interested students must attend this interview in order to be considered for class placement. Knowledge of English is not important, and Spanish speakers will be on hand. Following the interviews, a class lottery will be held on Jan. 21, 6 p.m. Approximately 25 students will be chosen for this session.
All levels of ESL Classes will run for 10 weeks on Mondays and Wednesdays, Jan. 26-April 1, 6 to 8 p.m. at the WATCH offices. The cost is $40 per student, which includes all course materials.
For more information, contact Liz Straghalis at 781-891-6689, Ext. 202, or liz@watchcdc.org.

REAL ESTATE, Investors monthly meeting
The Boston Area Real Estate Investors' Association monthly meeting, on the the third Thursday of the month, hosts real estate expert Jason Gilbert on Thursday, Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m. (networking, 5:30 p.m.), at Best Western, 280 Winter St. Gilbert will discuss why today's commercial real estate market is the best time ever for investors. He will give tips on how to succeed in land and commercial property investing using Joint Venture Facilitation and Master Lease Options to own recession-proof property types in any market. Free for members, $25 for guests.
Boston AREIA is group of like-minded real estate investors, entrepreneurs and professionals, coming together to discuss and share deals, investing techniques, contacts, methods, financing, strategies, education, motivation, training, mentoring and success. Visit www.BostonAREIA.com or call 866-378-3037 to register.

COOPERATIVE NURSERY SCHOOL, Open house
Parents are invited to attend an open house hosted by Belmont Cooperative Nursery School on Thursday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m., at 421 Common St., Belmont.
For more information about the open house or admissions, parents may contact the admissions director at admissions@belmontcoop.org or at 617-489-3259. Parents may also visit www.belmontcoop.org.

PROPERTY TAXES, Deadline Feb. 2
Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin reminds property owners in the Commonwealth that require quarterly tax payments that Monday, Feb. 2, is the deadline to file for an abatement of their property taxes. Challenges to a tax bill can be made on grounds that the assessed value is too high in relation of similar neighboring properties; that the classification is improper; or that a property is exempt from taxation by law. Many local assessors have all property assessments online on local government websites making comparisons easy.
Citizen Information Service, a division of the Secretary's Office, has available a brochure of tips that will assist those seeking an abatement. The brochure is online at www.sec.state.ma.us/cis or by calling 1-800-392-6090. Application forms for abatement are available in all city and town assessor offices.

SINGLES DANCE, At Best Western
There will be a singles dance party at Best Western Hotel, 477 Totten Pond Road, on Friday, Jan. 9, 9 p.m. to midnight. Dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. Best for ages 30 and over. Cost is $12.
For more information, call 781-439-9401or visit www.SuperSinglesDance.com.

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.

RECYCLING, Christmas trees, boxes
Residents can recycle cardboard boxes from Christmas presents by flattening them and puting them under the recycling bin. Very large appliance boxes should be cut in half. Also, Christmas trees can be put out to the curb for three weeks following Christmas. No plastic bags or wreathes that contain metal rims.
For more information, call the Recycling Department at 781-314-3391.

LEGACY FOR LITERACY, Volunteers needed
The Newton Free Library's Legacy for Literacy program provides free tutoring services for adults of limited English proficiency. Volunteer tutors are needed for an hour per week. No experience is necessary. An informative Introductory Meeting for prospective tutors is Thursday, Jan. 15, 2 p.m., in the Trustees Room at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St.
For information, contact Susan Bacam, program coordinator, at 617-796-1364, legacyforliteracy@minlib.net or visit www.newtonfreelibrary.net.

BOSTON COLLEGE, Two-day Poe celebration
More than a dozen Boston College departments have joined in sponsoring events to mark the bicentennial of Edgar Allen Poe's January 1809 birth. The Raven Returns to Boston, the two-day BC celebration, runs Jan. 15-16 at Devlin Hall, Room 101, 140 Commonwealth Ave.
Remarks by Matthew Pearl, author of ``The Poe Shadow'' and ``The Dante Club,'' and Scott Peeples, author of ``The Afterlife of Edgar Allan Poe'' and ``Edgar Allan Poe Revisited'' is Thursday, Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m. The program will include creative work by BC students, readings of Poe passages and an appropriately shaped birthday cake. Screening of the new independent film, ``The Last Days of the Raven,'' the first feature film based on Poe's life, is Friday, Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m. It is followed by a Q&A with Brent Fidler, its co-director, screenwriter and star.
For more information: www.bc.edu/poe.

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.