Originally appeared in the Wicked Local Newton by Stephanie Foner

From the Mayor’s Office: Newton Festival of the Arts continues

June 2, 2016-

NEWTON, MA- The second annual Newton Festival of the Arts has provided us with an amazing variety of exhibitions that explored different mediums, interactive methods and multi-cultural experiences. As we head into June, there are still lots of great events taking place!
This weekend, be sure to check out the Friday and Saturday performances of Importance of Being Earnest by the Newton Theatre Company/Nomadic Theatre at Newton City Hall at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20, or $15 for students. On Sunday, June 5 we invite you to a free, outdoor performance by Newton Family Singers at the Hyde Community Center in Newton Highlands at 3:30 p.m., where they will be performing songs by storied folk singers such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. For a complete listing of Festival of the Arts events, please visit newtoncommunitypride.org.
Summer in the city
Crystal Lake and Gath Pool will be opening for their Pre-Season Schedules on June 13th. Be sure to get your Season Permits early so you can enjoy our City’s swim areas as the summer starts to heat up! Go to newtonma.gov/parks to get more information about schedules, permit fees, and summer swim lessons.
Newton residents will have the unique benefit this summer of public sunscreen dispensers to protect themselves from harmful rays. Two sunscreen dispensers will be installed at Crystal Lake and Gath Pool as part of a pilot program the Parks and Recreation and Health and Human Services Departments have launched in collaboration with the Melanoma Foundation of New England (MFNE). The sunscreen dispensers were provided by the Melanoma Foundation as part of its Practice Safe Skin program expansion to 54 new locations in 12 states this summer. Each sunscreen dispenser is equipped with a blend of 6 percent zinc and 6 percent titanium SPF-30 sunscreen, for people ages 6 months and older.
Parking Meter mobile app rollout
On June 15, the City will be rolling out the new mobile parking app, Passport, in Newton Centre. Beginning on June 15, people may begin to see covered signs being placed in Newton Centre that will have parking information on them once the program launches. After the rollout, drivers will still have the option to pay by coin at the city’s parking meters, and the existing meters will still be in place.
The app will allow drivers to pay by phone and to extend their parking sessions up to the posted limit from anywhere through their mobile devices. The app will also send mobile reminders when the time on the meter is almost expired. This technology will make parking more convenient for visitors and residents looking to spend time in city centers. Other local cities, such as Boston and Brookline, have already seen success in using this program and we are excited to announce the rollout in Newton.