Category Archives: Holidays/Culture

New Year’s Week in Boston

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There will be a large number of special events in Boston to celebrate the new year.  Most of them are part of First Night Boston.  Here’s a Full Schedule

  • Blink light and music show – every 30 minutes from 4:30-10:30pm, every night through Jan 1st
  • Ice sculptures – at Quincy Market, Copley Square, and other places 

Are You a U.S. Citizen? Prepare to Vote!

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  The next national election will be on November 6, 2018.  In Massachusetts, we will vote for one senator (currently Elizabeth Warren), and our representative to the U.S. House of Representatives.  We will also vote for state governor (currently Charlie Baker), our state senator and representative, and other state officials.

If you are a U.S. citizen, and are at least 18 years old, you can – and you should – vote in government elections – local, state, and national. BUT – you must be registered to vote.  It’s quick and easy.  You need to register before you can vote for the first time, and update your address every time you move.

If you want to vote in this election (in Massachusetts), you must be registered by Wednesday, October 17th. 

  • In Massachusetts, you can register online
    (You can also confirm that you are already registered)
  • In most other states, it’s easy to register online at VOTE.GOV
  • There’s more detailed information on how to vote at USA.gov
  • Here’s an example of the mail-in voter registration form in Massachusetts
  • You can also get help at the Clerk’s Office in your City Hall or Town Hall

Are you almost a citizen?  MIRA and many organizations in Massachusetts provide services to help you become a citizen.  Framingham Adult ESL offers citizenship classes to help you prepare for the citizenship test.

Baseball Idioms

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   Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the United States.  There are many expressions – ‘idioms’ – used commonly that come from baseball.  A few examples:

  • Someone who is “on the ball”  is a person you trust to get something done.  They are knowledgeable and responsible.
  • Someone who “strikes out” fails at something (there are other meanings too).
    For example: He asked for her phone number, but he struck out.
  • If you “Go to bat” for someone, it means that you help or support them.

If you know the rules of how to play baseball, it can really help you to understand these idioms better – and also to watch a game on TV, or even better, at the baseball park.

Are You a U.S. Citizen? Prepare to Vote

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  The next national elections will be on November 6, 2018.  In Massachusetts, we will vote for one senator (currently Elizabeth Warren), and our representative to the U.S. House of Representatives.  We will also vote for state governor (currently Charlie Baker), our state senator and representative, and other state officials.

If you are a U.S. citizen, and are at least 18 years old, you can vote in government elections – local, state, and national. BUT – you must be registered to vote.  It’s quick and easy.  You need to register before you can vote for the first time, and update your address every time you move.

  • In Massachusetts, and most other states, it’s easy to register online at VOTE.GOV
  • There’s more detailed information on how to vote at USA.gov
  • Here’s an example of the mail-in voter registration form in Massachusetts
  • You can also get assistance at the Clerk’s office in your City Hall or Town Hall

Are you almost a citizen?  MIRA and many organizations in Massachusetts provide services to help you become a citizen.  (Framingham Adult ESL offers citizenship classes)