April 2023

Park & Rec Pool Passes &

Discounted Classes

Available NOW


Pool Brochure
Other Summer Programs Brochure
Email Parks & Rec
Set Up an Account (ONLY if you don't already have one)

Spring and Summer recreation is just around the corner. Our Food Pantry customers may qualify for discount summer programs, including the Pool Passes through Needham Parks & Recreation.


Steps to getting a pool pass and discounted classes:



  • Browse the class options and pool details



  • If you do not not already have a Parks & Rec account, you will need to set one up.


  • There are a limited number of pool passes and classes available. Please contact Park & Rec for details.


Memberships are all digital that can be stored on an electronic device.

Tech & Tutor

Community Room

Coffee Talks

April 5 & 12

at 11am

Spring into savings by learning how to get connected to the internet for less money. Come to our Tech & Tutors "Coffee Talks" in April and learn how you can save $ using the federal connectivity program (ACP), Internet Essentials, as well as Tech & Tutors We can also show you how to order food from the Needham Community Council's Food Pantry from your device and how to access other local news and information resources. Please come enjoy refreshments and learn online tips and tricks to save you time and money.


Check out our Coffee Talk schedule:


Wednesday, April 5 at 11am, Linden Chambers Community Room

Wednesday, April 12 at 11 am, Seabeds Community Room

Help with Utilities from the Gift of Warmth


Are you behind on your utility bills due to the high cost of energy? We continue to support the Town of Needham and the Gift of Warmth program to assist our families with utility bills. 


Immediate assistance is available:

Contact Hanna Burnett at the Needham Health Department at 781-455-7940 ext. 218


If you are a senior, you may also reach out to the Council on Aging social workers: 781-455-7555

ELL Walk & Talks are Back!

Monday, April 3, 10, 24

10:30-11:30 am


Weather permitting

Start and end at Needham Community Council

Led by volunteer Ruth Glazerman

RSVP appreciated, but not required. 


Meet fellow English language learners and practice English while getting exercise and fresh air. All levels welcome! This activity is for adults, but you are welcome to bring children along. We will walk for 40-60 minutes and return to our starting point. 

结识其他人并练习英语,同时获得锻炼和新鲜空气。欢迎所有级别!此活动适用于成人,但欢迎您带孩子一起去。我们将步行40-60分钟


Rankontre elèv k ap aprann angle ak pratik angle pandan y ap fè egzèsis ak lè fre. Tout nivo akeyi! Aktivite sa a se pou granmotan, men ou akeyi pou pote timoun ansanm. Nou pral mache pou 40-60 minit epi retounen nan pwen nou kòmanse.


Conheça outros alunos de inglês e pratique inglês enquanto se exercita e respira ar fresco. Todos os níveis são bem-vindos! Esta atividade é para adultos, mas você pode trazer crianças. Caminharemos por 40-60 minutos e retornaremos ao nosso ponto de partida.


Познакомьтесь с другими и практикуйте английский язык, получая физические упражнения и свежий воздух. Все уровни приветствуются! Это мероприятие предназначено для взрослых, но вы можете взять с собой детей. Мы будем идти пешком 40-60 минут

 

Conozca a otros y practique inglés al aire libre. ¡Todos los niveles son bienvenidos! Esta actividad es para adultos, pero puede traer niños. Caminaremos por 40-60 minutos.

Celebrating the Root Vegetable

Root vegetables are a staple for winter cooking and offer so many health benefits. Learn a bit more about them and how to prepare them to enhance your healthy diet.

The Many Health Benefits of Root Vegetables

Beets

Yes, beets taste earthy and a little bitter. They are best when paired with bright, sweet, and fresh flavors. Fresh, raw beets can be finely grated into salads for color or used as a garnish for soup. But beets are usually roasted, boiled or steamed and cut into thin slices, cubes or chunks. They are great served cooked until tender then soaked in vinegar!

Celery Root

Celery root (also known as celeriac) boasts a crisp, firm, parsnip-like texture under its tough peel and a mild, celery-like flavor that sweetens with cooking.

Great in soups, stews, roasted or mashed. 

Parsnip

Parsnips have a sweeter, licorice-like taste with a hint of spice to them, as opposed to the carrot's sweetness that is more reminiscent of other types of winter squash.  They are sweet and delicious and make a great salad paired with sliced apples, walnuts, and a sharp-tasting green such as arugula. Parsnips can also be boiled, steamed, sautéed, roasted, or fried. 

Turnip

Turnips are a mild, pungent tasting vegetable with a slightly bitter and spicy undertone. They taste a cross between a cabbage and a radish. Their texture is crisp and crunchy like carrots.  Use turnips any way you would use a potato, and then some. Try them baked or boiled in stews, soups and stir-fries, or lightly steamed with some butter, salt or lemon juice for flavor.

Jicama

A cross between a water chestnut and an apple, Jicama can be eated raw or cooked and has a sweet, nutty flavor with a crisp texture that is retained if cooked only briefly.  The best way to eat jicama is just to peel it and cut it into matchsticks then eat it raw. It's very good when refrigerated for a little extra coolness too. A classic way to eat it is to dip the matchsticks in lime juice, chili powder, and salt or put it in salads or slaws. 

Rutabaga

Rutabagas are really versatile, and can almost always serve as a nutritious stand-in for potatoes. When compared to potatoes, rutabagas provide half the calories, half the carbohydrate, and 4 times the fiber. They also contain much more vitamin C, magnesium, calcium and B vitamins.They can be eaten raw, but are usually roasted, cooked and mashed.

Reading the Newsletter is

Rewarding for Many Reasons!

Enter to Win a Gift Card Here

Important news about the Food Pantry will be in the each monthly newsletter. We want to reward you for reading the newsletter by entering you in a drawing to win a gift certificate.


Each month look for a new link to enter yourself in the drawing, read your email and find the link!



Plan Your Next Food Pantry Visit


Food Pantry will be CLOSED Monday, April 17th for Patriot's Day


SCHEDULE YOUR FOOD PANTRY VISITS NOW


New spots become available around the 16th of each month, be sure to book you food pantry appointments early for best selection.

Sign Up Here
Kids' Corner

Spring Butterflies are Arriving!


What you need:

  • coffee filter
  • markers or Do-a-Dots
  • pie pan or plate
  • clothes pin
  • pipe cleaner or colored paper


Invite kids to smooth a coffee filter over a plate or pie pan.


Decorate the filter with markers or do-a-dots. Make dots or stripes, any colorful pattern will look great!


Spray the filter with water and let rest so the colors soften a bit.


Carefully remove the filter and let dry completely.


Scrunch the middle of the butter fly shape and secure with a clothespin.


Cut a length of pipe cleaner or construction paper for the antennae.


Fold it in a V to shape the antennae and slide through the clothespin.



April Vegetables

CLASSIC POTATO SALAD


1 lb potatoes

1 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup sweet relish

1/2 cup celery, chopped

1/2 cup light mayonnaise

2-3 hard boiled eggs (optional)


Wash and peel potatoes and place in sauce pan with water. Cover and bring to boil.


Simmer until soft, about 15 minutes. Drain and let cool.


Combine onion, relish and celery. Stir in mayonnaise.


Cube potatoes and blend in with dressing.


Add sliced hard boiled eggs if desired.


Cover and chill several hours.




ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES


1 lb. sweet potato or potato

3/4 lb. small potatoes

1/2 lb carrots

1 parsnip or turnip any root veg

1/2 lb beets

1/2 onion

(any root vegetables you have, don’t worry about amounts—this is flexible recipe)

6 cloves garlic

1/4 cup oil

spices to taste (optional)

 thyme

 rosemary

 cumin

 salt & pepper

 

Peel all the root vegetables


Preheat oven to 400 degrees and have the rack in the lower level position. 


Cut vegetables into chunks about 1 1/2 inches wide. The more similar the sizes the more evenly they will roast.


Place cut vegetables in a bowl and add oil and spices. Stir until evenly coated.


Place vegetables on baking sheet.


Roast 15 minutes. Stir the vegetables and return to over to roast another 15—25 minutes. 

 

Hours

Council Thrift & Donation Hours


Monday & Friday 10 am - 4 pm

Tuesday & Thursday 10 am - 6 pm

Saturday 10 am - 2 pm


Closed Wednesday

Office Hours


Monday - Friday

8:30 am - 4 pm


Closed Saturday & Sunday

Stay Connected


Needham Community Council
570 Hillside Avenue
Needham, MA 02494
781-444-2415
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