ROMANCE AUTHOR, At library
Historical Romance author Emily Bryan dispels the notions of bon-bons and feather boas when she talks about, Neurotica - The Secret Life of a Romance Author, at the Waltham Public Library, 735 Main St., on Tuesday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. As Emily Bryan, she writes sexy, light-hearted romances, but Bryan also has three books published under her own name, Diana Groe.
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.
TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL, Five-week course
Temple Beth Israel, 25 Harvard St., presents a five-week course, Wednesdays, May 7-June 4, 7:30 p.m., examining both specific prayers and the underlying blueprint of the spiritual journey of transformation and renewal built into the holiday season. Rabbi Jeff Foust will examine contemporary treatments of these prayers and their treatment in older mahzors. We'll also use the class as a laboratory to consider new readings and rituals for inclusion in our worship experience for the coming 5769 New Year services.
For more information contact Rabbi Foust at ejfoust@aol.com, 617-965-6970.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Golf tournament
The Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce's 43rd annual Golf Tournament is Tuesday, May 13, 11 a.m. (10 a.m. registration), at Wedgewood Pines Country Club, Harvard Road, Stow. Cost is $175, which includes a round of golf, cart, BBQ lunch and dinner. There will also be contests, raffle and auction.
For more information, call 781-894-4700, Ext. 123.
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.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES, Two upcoming programs
The National Archives, 380 Trapelo Road, offers two free workshops in May. Finding Your Ancestors in Maritime Records, a lecture suitable for novice genealogists and family historians, takes place Tuesday, May 6, 2 p.m. A tour of the facility precedes the lecture at 1:30 p.m. Civil Rights in Federal Records, a workshop for teachers, is Thursday, May 8, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The workshop grants Professional Development Points for teachers.
Reservations are required. Call 866-406-2379 or 781-663-0121, or e-mail waltham.archives@nara.gov.
CLOTHING EXCHANGE, Two sales
The Waltham Clothing Exchange, 50 Church St., will hold its half-price sale Tuesday, May 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Clearance Sale is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The exchange will close after the clearance sale and will reopen mid-September.
For more information, call 781-893-6240.
WALTHAM RAW, Dinner/Speaker Series
The Waltham Raw New England Community Dinner/Speaker Series on Tuesday, May 6, at UMass Waltham Center, 240 Beaver St., will include ``Sproutman'' Steve Meyerowitz, author of ``Kitchen Garden Cookbook,'' and ``The Organic Food Guide.'' Meyerowitz will speak at 5 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. Cost is $5 (annual membership is $25), $10 for non-members. Attendees are asked to bring a raw, organic, unprocessed, non-animal based ready- to-serve dish for 6-8 people with labeled serving utensils and recipe.
For more information, e-mail betsy@rawnewenglandcommunity.com, call 781-899-6664 or visit www.rawnewenglandcommunity.com.
NEWTON OPEN STUDIOS, Wine and cheese reception
There is a wine and cheese reception sponsored by Newton Open Studios at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., on Tuesday, May 6, 7 p.m. Find out more about Newton Open Studios, pick up a map and design a self-guided tour. The library's May art exhibitors are among the 200 artists who will participate in this spring's May 17-18 Newton Open Studios. To learn more, visit www.newtonopenstudios.com.
For information, call the library at 617-796-1360. All programs are free and open to the public.
LA LECHE LEAGUE, Breastfeeding facts
Breastfeeding Facts and Fallacies will presented by La Leche League of Newton on Wednesday, May 7, 10:30 a.m. to noon. The monthly meetings are open to mothers and their nursing babies and mothers-to-be.
For location and more information, call Kate at 781-642-7587.
DAY SCHOOL MUSIC FESTIVAL, At Watertown High School
Students will raise their voices together to promote healing in the world at Kol HaNeshama, the Day School Music Festival, on Wednesday, May 7, 7 p.m., at Watertown High School, 50 Columbia St. Featuring the Zamir Chorale of Boston and guest artist Rabbi David Paskin, the event will include performances by students from Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston, South Area Solomon Schechter Day School, Jewish Community Day School, MetroWest Jewish Day School and the Rashi School. Proceeds will benefit the trauma unit of the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel.
Tickets at $15, or a family package of four tickets for $50 are available at the participating schools, or at danagerbieklein@gmail.com.
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.
EPOCH, Book club
EPOCH Assisted Living at Boylston Place, 615 Heath St., will host a book club meeting Friday, May 9, at 11:15 a.m. The book club is free and open to the public and will discuss, ``Eat, Pray, Love,'' By Elizabeth Gilbert. Gilbert, author of ``The Last American Man,'' and a well-traveled, adventurous journalist, chronicles her quest for spiritual healing in her novel Eat, Pray, Love. Driven to despair by a punishing divorce and an anguished love affair, Gilbert flees New York. She goes to Italy to learn the language and revel in the cuisine, India to meditate in an ashram, and Indonesia to reconnect with a healer in Bali.
For more information, call 617-244-6400.
