Waltham & Newton community briefs 10/29

LA REINE BRIDAL, Giving away dresses
La Reine Bridal, 20-22 High St., is again donating wedding gowns to anyone deployed in Afghanistan or Iraq, or marrying anyone deployed in these countries. In celebrating its 26th anniversary, 100 wedding gowns will be given away Thursday, Nov. 5, noon to 8 p.m., on a first come basis. Proof of deployment is required.
For more information, call 781-899-0348.

WALTHAM LIBRARY, Tales from the Nursing Home
The Waltham Public Library, 735 Main St., presents, Which One of Us is the Mother Now?, Tales from the Nursing Home, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. Grammy-nominated storyteller and performance artist Sharon Kennedy tells a daughter's story of love, laughter and lessons learned. This is a show for everyone, and especially for those who are taking care of an elderly parent.
For more information or to sign up, call 781-314-3425, Ext. 2, or visit waltham.lib.ma.us and click on Events Calendar.

MARISTHILL/SAINT JUDE, Pre-Holiday Concert
Maristhill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Saint Jude School are holding its first Pre-Holiday Concert Fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 6, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Saint Jude School, 175 Main St. This benefit concert will feature Sgt. Dan Clarke (formerly known as the Singing State Trooper) and his wife, Mary. Tickets are $20, and there will be a $300 door prize.
Tickets can be purchased at Maristhill, 66 Newton St., or by calling 781-893-0240, Ext. 30.

WALTHAM LAND TRUST, Jimmy Tingle
The Waltham Land Trust presents, Laugh so You Don't Cry: an Evening with Jimmy Tingle!, a benefit for the Waltham Land Trust to celebrate its 10th year anniversary. The event is Friday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m., at the American Legion Waltham Post 156, 215 Waverley Oaks Road. Tickets are $30, $35 for non-members. Refreshments available; preorder pizza online or by 6:30 p.m. at the show.
Tickets can be purchased at www.walthamlandtrust.org. For more information, call 781-893-3355.

WALTHAM PHILHARMONIC, Halloween concert
The Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra's first concert of the 2009-10, The Spirit of Halloween, is Saturday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m., at Kennedy Middle School, 655 Lexington St. This concert is free to all children accompanied by paying adult; $20 for adults; $15 for seniors. Everyone is encouraged to come in costume. A reception of refreshments, sponsored by City Councilor Sally Collura, will follow, with the opportunity to talk to the orchestra.
Tickets may be purchased at 857-919-1385 or www.wphil.org. Individuals or businesses wishing to sponsor future WPO concert receptions can call call Robin Capello at 781-858-1590.

HUMAN RESOURCES, Employment law
Northeast Human Resources Association will host a full-day, Employment Law Update, seminar Thursday, Nov. 5, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Forefront Conference Center, 404 Wyman St. The registration cost for the seminar is $400, $525 for non-members.
For more information and to register, visit www.nehra.com/events, call NEHRA at 781-239-8711, or e-mail vantonetti@nehra.com.

REP. KOUTOUJIAN, Office hours
State Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian invites constituents to meet with members of his staff Friday, Oct. 30. He encourages constituents to take this opportunity to discuss issues where he and his staff can be of assistance. Rep. Koutoujian's staff will hold office hours in: Watertown, 9 to 10 a.m., at Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St.; Newton, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., at Newton City Hall room 203, 1000 Commonwealth Ave; and Waltham, noon to 1 p.m., at City Hall, 610 Main St.
For more information, call 617-722-2220.

WALTHAM LIBRARY, Spooktacular
The Waltham YMCA, 725 Lexington St., is hosting its annual Halloween Spooktacular on Friday, Oct. 30, 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free for family members and is $10 per family for everyone else. Make sure to wear your costumes! There will be games, arts and crafts, a bounce house, healthy snacks, the Haunted Hallway, and face painting.
For more information, contact Jennifer Weller at 781-894-5295, Ext. 105, or jweller@ymcaboston.org.

WALTHAM LIBRARY, Edgar Allen Poe event
The Waltham Public Library, 735 Main St., hosts, An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe, on Friday, Oct. 30, 6 to 9 p.m. There will be performances by Hovey Players. There will be refreshments, hors d'oeuvres, homemade desserts, and raffles. Cost $15, at the door starting at 6 p.m. Costumes are welcome.
For more information, call 781-698-9583 or 617-734-9566.

GREEN DECADE, Insulating your home
Insulating your home properly is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to minimize your energy waste and maximize your energy dollars. A workshop, Insulating Your Older Home, will be presented Saturday, Nov. 7, 1 to 4 p.m., at The Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington St. Cost is $30, $15 for Historic Newton & Green Decade/Newton members.
Register at www.greendecade.org or mail a check with your name, phone number and e-mail address to GD/N, PO Box 590242, Newton, MA 02459-0003. For more information call 617-965-1995 or e-mail contact@greendecade.org.

COMMUNITY FARM, Extending the season
Learn some of the tricks used at the farm and by a local gardener to keep harvesting fresh produce as the days get shorter and the mercury drops at Extending the Growing Season, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 3 to 4:30 p.m., at Newton Community Farm, 303 Nahanton St. Topics will include cold frames, unheated greenhouses, simple hoop structures, row cover, sowing dates, and cold hardy varietals. Cost is $22, $25 for non-members.
Registration forms and more information at www.newtoncommunityfarm.org.

NEWTON COMMUNITY FARM, Halloween on the Farm
Celebrate Halloween weekend with scary stories, a costume contest, best jack-o-lantern, face painting, bobbing for apples, donuts on strings, pumpkin carving and a cider press at Halloween on the Farm, at Newton Community Farm, 303 Nahanton St., on Friday, Oct. 30, 3 to 5 p.m. Appropriate for preschool to third grade. Cost is $5.
Registration forms and more information at www.newtoncommunityfarm.org.

MISHKAN TEFILA, Messy art
Congregation Mishkan Tefila nursery school, 300 Hammond Pond Parkway, is now offering an art program for children ages 1-3. Toddlers and adults will take part in ``messy'' art projects every Thursday, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., through Dec. 17. The art program will include projects like finger painting, collage making and other messy projects. Registration is now open. Cost is $20 per session. Participants can attend for single sessions or for the course
To register or for more information, contact Ellen Agulnick at 617-332-7770, Ext. 3236.