Community briefs 6/4

MIMI BRAVERMAN, Talk about MFA exhibit
Mimi Braverman presents an illustrated talk, El Greco to Velazquez: Art During the Reign of Philip III, at the Waltham Public Library, 735 Main St., on Monday, June 9, 7:30 p.m. An exhibition of the same name is currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, through July 27.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, this event is free but seating is limited. Register online at waltham.lib.ma.us, Events Calendar link, or call ahead to reserve place at 781-314-3425, Ext. 2.

GWARC, Seeks volunteers for seniors golf
Greater Waltham Arc will once again staff the Will Call tent at the Bank of America Golf Championship, July 17-22, at the Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord. Volunteers are needed for the four-hour morning and afternoon shifts, and greet people whose tickets are being held. Volunteering for this prestigious event helps GWARC, which is one of the nonprofit organizations that benefit from the event. Volunteer badges permit access to the events as a spectator. Lunch is provided, and coffee, donuts, and a variety of cold drinks are always available.
For more information, contact Sandra Nall at GWARC, Inc., at 781-899-1344 or snall@gwarc.org.

NINETY NINE RESTAURANTS, Raffle benefits Boys & Girls Clubs
The Ninety Nine Restaurant is extending its commitment to the Boys & Girls Club at the local level with a company-wide raffle June 2-15. Guests can purchase tickets for $2 each or $5 for three. Prizes include trips to Aruba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, and Red Sox-Yankees tickets.
For more information, visit www.99restaurants.com.

V.F.W. POST 2152, Buddy Poppies for sale
Members of the V.F.W. Post 2152 and its Ladies Auxiliary will be distributing Buddy Poppies in Waltham, May 23-June 14. According to Post Commander, Gerry Lyons, VFW by-laws require the proceeds from the distribution of Buddy Poppies must be used to benefit disabled and needy veterans and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans right her in the community. In 1923, the V.F.W. was the first veterans organization to promote a nationally organized campaign for the annual distribution of poppies assembled by disabled or hospitalized veterans.
For information, call Janet Lyons at 781-894-9243.

TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL, Pre-Shavuot Tikkun
Temple Beth Israel, 25 Harvard St., will have a pre-Shavuot Tikkun on Sunday, June 8, 7 p.m., consisting of meditation and teaching on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life as a vehicle for opening ourselves to receive, embody, and manifest the heavenly realm (including our own higher selves) on Earth. At 8 p.m. there will be a short evening service to welcome the holiday. There will also be morning services for Shavuot on Monday, June 9, and Tuesday, June 10, 7 a.m.
For questions or more information, contact Rabbi Jeffrey Foust at foust.jeff@gmail.com.

HOPE INTERNATIONAL, English classes
Hope International Church, 21 Bruce Road, offers English classes June 2-July 23, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 7 to 9 p.m. Classes are free; $85 for books.
Register online at www.hopeic.org or call 781-891-5238.

SHAKE IT FOR SHELTER, Homeless families fundraiser
Shake It for Shelter, the signature fundraising event benefiting Parenting Resource Associates' COMPASS for homeless families program, is Saturday, June 7, 7:30 p.m. to midnight, at the Hayden Ice Rink, Lincoln Street and Worthen Road, Lexington. Shake It for Shelter 2008: Take Me Home... Country Roads will feature an evening of dancing to the live music of the Captain Miles Band and The Titanic All Stars, as well as a mechanical bull.
For tickets and more information, visit www.shakeitforshelter.org or call Parenting Resource Associates at 781-862-4446.

TEMPLE EMUNAH, Israeli dance class
Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road, Lexington, is offering a one-hour Israeli Dance class Sunday, June 8, 4 to 5 p.m. Cost is $5 ($10 family cap).
For more information, call Elana at 781-863-1307.

ALMA, Classical Concert Series
The Armenian Library and Museum of America, 65 Main St., presents a classical music program, From Handel to Khatchaturian: Musings for the Violin, on Sunday, June 8, 4 p.m. The concert, which is part of ALMA's 2008 Classical Concert Series, will feature Armen Ghazaryan (violin) and Ani Hovsepian (piano) performing pieces by composers from around the world. Tickets are $15, $10 for ALMA members.
Advance reservations can be made by e-mailing info@almainc.org or calling 617-926-2562. For more information, visit www.almainc.org.

HEALTHY FOODS, High costs for low income
The Massachusetts Public Health Association, The Community Health Network Area 18, and Healthy Waltham are hosting a forum on the effects of the high cost of healthy food on low-income communities, focusing on how communities can address this issue on a local level. The forum is Thursday, June 12, 6 to 8 p.m., at Waltham Public Library, 735 Main St. Speakers include Wil Bullock, Urban Agriculture Community coordinator, Meg Coward, executive director, Waltham Fields Community Farm, Mary Joan McLarney, director of Food Service, Somerville Public Schools, and a representative from a Western Mass program working to increase access to affordable healthy foods.
For more informaiton or to register, visit www.healthier-communities.org/info/healthyfood.htm.

BRAIN HEALTH, Reduce risk factors
Improving Brain Health and Reducing Your Risk Factors for Memory Loss will be presented at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., on Saturday, June 7, 9:30 a.m. Speakers will include Alizera Atri MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and practitioner at Mass General Hospital Memory Disorders Clinic; Nancy Emerson Lombardo, PhD, adjunct research assistant professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine; and Nicole McGurin, manager of the Early Stage Program at Mass. Alzheimer's Association.
For information, call the library at 617-796-1360. There is no charge.

WARMLINES, Transitions and Children
WarmLines Speaker Series, Transitions and Children, is Tuesday, June 10, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada St. Life is full of change, and change can be stressful for children. They must deal with many types of transitions, such as moving to a new neighborhood or town, changing child care programs, or starting school. Examine children's reactions to transitions, and learn how parents and other adults can help children cope most effectively. Free; $20 for non-members.
For more information, visit www.warmlines.org or call 617-244-INFO.

AGAINST THE TIDE, Swim and kayak clinics
Free swim and kayak clinics for the Massachusetts Brest Cancer Coalitions's 16th annual Against The Tide event will be offered Thursday, June 5, 6 to 8 p.m., at Charles River Canoe and Kayak, 2401 Commonwealth Ave. A commitment to pledge $150 for the June or August event entitles you to free clinic admission.
To register for the free clinic, e-mail info@mbcc.org. To register for the Against the Tide events, go online at www.mbcc.org/swim.

JOSHUA RUBENSTEIN, Holocaust book
Joshua Rubenstein, author of ``The Unknown Black Book: The Holocaust in the German-Occupied Soviet Territories,'' will speak at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., on Tuesday, June 10, 7:30 p.m. The talk will be followed by a book signing.
For information on this free event, call the library at 617-796-1360.

NEW ART CENTER, Student exhibition
The New Art Center's 13th annual student exhibition, The Creative Process, runs May 30-June 15 in the main gallery, 61 Washington Park. The exhibition features work produced in the visual arts classes over the past year in a wide range of media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and mixed media. Many of the works are available for sale with proceeds benefiting the New Art Center's education and exhibitions programs. In the Hotzwasser Gallery, a memorial exhibition will be held to showcase the works of Mel Chalfen, a longtime New Art Center student. An opening reception will be held Friday, May 30, 6 to 8 p.m.
For information, contact Ceci Mendez at 617-964-3424 or visit www.newartcenter.org.

MINJI NOH, Pianist concert
South Korean born Minji Noh will give a concert of works of Boulez, Schumann and Beethoven at the Newton Free library, 330 Homer St., on Sunday, June 8, 2 p.m. Noh began her piano career at age 9 as a soloist with the Baroque Symphony in South Korea.
For information on this free event, call the library at 617-796-1360.

LUMIERE, Local products dinners
Beginning in June, Chef Michael Leviton and his staff at Lumiere, 1293 Washington St., will be hosting a series of monthly dinners featuring local and sustainable products. The dinners will mostly be held on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m., and are $75 per person, beverages, tax and gratuity are not included. A portion of the proceeds of each month's dinner will be donated to the Chef's Collaborative.
For reservations or more information, call 617-244-9199 or visit www.LumiereRestaurant.com.