By John Swinconeck, Town Correspondent

The MetroWest Health Foundation announced in a press release on Thursday that it approved $329,000 in grants to local organizations to improve the health of elders and adolescents, and to assess how some school districts are able to handle students' mental health needs.

Four school districts in Holliston, Framingham, Natick, and Needham will conduct mental health capacity assessments that will evaluate the procedures currently in place to identify, prevent and refer students to mental health treatment and intervention services. The schools will receive training from Boston’s Children’s Hospital researchers on how to complete the assessments, interpret the results and identify areas of improvement.

Mental health issues among students are an area of focus for the foundation. The foundation’s 2012 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey found that one in five high school students reported symptoms of depression, and 5 percent of youth had attempted suicide in the past year.

“It’s clear from our health survey and from talking with school officials that more needs to be done to ensure that students have access to appropriate mental health services and supports,” said Martin Cohen, president of the foundation.

In addition to the school mental health capacity assessments, the foundation’s board of trustees approved an additional 13 grants, including:

From the Framingham Union Grants Panel:

Framingham Public Schools – $25,000 grant to help adolescent boys obtain information and skills needed to build healthy relationships and prevent teen pregnancy.
Framingham State University – $10,000 grant to offer the Lifelong Learning Series Program, which provides social support and enrichment to older adults.
Jewish Family Service of MetroWest – $48,266 grant to train volunteers to assist elders with medical appointments.
New England Eye Institute - $6,000 grant to provide eyeglasses to low-income children.

From the Leonard Morse Grants Panel:

Natick Fire Department - $20,000 to train and certify Natick High School students in CPR, cardiac defibrillation and first aid.

Grants from the Distribution Committee:

Ashland Public Schools - $18,515 to reduce marijuana use among Ashland’s adolescents ages 10-19.
Franklin Council on Aging - $12,245 to offer in-home respite care relief for caregivers of elders in Franklin and Bellingham.
Jewish Vocational Service/ReServe Greater Boston - $48,481 to establish a MetroWest hub for ReServe Greater Boston to enhance the lives of older adults.
Millis Public Schools - $6,740 to train counseling staff in dialectical behavioral therapy, resulting in a reduction of self-harming behaviors among middle school students.
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts - $33,747 to expand sexual health education programs for parents and teens in Milford and Marlborough.
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, Inc. - $23,511 to address teen dating violence and increase bystander intervention.
Senior Support Foundation/Holliston, Dover and Sherborn COA - $9,775 to offer evidence-based fall prevention programming.
Share Our Strength - $42,056 to educate parents of young children on good nutrition and healthy eating habits.

The MetroWest Health Foundation states that it provides more than $4 million in annual financial support for preventative and responsive health programs. To date, the Foundation has provided more than $37 million in financial support that helps residents and their families lead healthier lives. For more information, visit www.mwhealth.org.

Contact John Swinconeck at johnswinc@gmail.com. Follow @johnswinc on Twitter.

By Jaclyn Reiss, Town Correspondent

Space is still available in a six-week single parent support group offered this summer by Needham Youth Services, officials said.

The group will offer parents opportunities to discuss raising children alone, time management, finding time for personal interests, parenting strategies, and stress management.

Attendees are also encouraged to share their own accomplishments and struggles, as well as hear from other single parents who may be having similar experiences.

The group will be held every Tuesday between July 16 and August 27 (excluding August 6) from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Childcare will be provided, along with a light dinner for both kids and parents.

Interested parents must register in advance. To learn more or to register, visit the Needham Youth Services' official website, or contact Katy Colthart at 781-455-7500 x264 or by email at kcolthart@needhamma.gov.

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Jaclyn Reiss can be reached at jaclyn.reiss@globe.com

By Jonathan Simmons, Guest Columnist

How far would you ride for a beer? One mile, two miles, three miles, four?

On June 15th, Toffer Winslow of Needham, along with 1,000-plus fellow cyclists, will take on the B2B ride, a 148-mile suffer-fest that starts at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston and finishes at the Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, VT. At which point they will enjoy the fruits of their labor: an ice cold brew and some barbecued chicken.

The good news is that all participants are guaranteed a bus ride home. Even better, the B2B ride supports the Kenary Brain Tumor Research Fund and Team Psycho (a triathlon team).

The not- so-good news: this ride is pretty hilly.

The even less good news: the Leviathan, the hill of all hills, a mountain that greets the riders of the B2B at about mile 100. At which point most cyclists may be feeling a little Job-like and wondering why they ever signed up for this ride in the first place.

Toffer, like many cyclists of a certain age (he’s 42), began riding after a career of running, jumping, and pounding the boards. In 2009, while recovering from his second ACL reconstructive surgery on his right knee, Toffer realized that his running and basketball days were over. He needed something new to do, at which point his cousin Richard loaned him a bike.

Toffer got hooked on biking pretty quickly, and by his fifth ride, he realized, “This could become a lifelong hobby.”

For Toffer, cycling was an ideal combination of “Individuality and community. You can go for a ride for a couple of hours by yourself and not have to coordinate with anyone, or you can go out with a group and have a nice social experience. It’s also easier on my body than running.”

Toffer is a self-described recreational cyclist, and though he’s not a racer, he likes to push himself to see what he can do.

This is why, last year, Toffer decided to join his cousin Richard and see if he could do the B2B.

A few words about hills: the lighter you are, the easier they are. It’s no wonder that the wraith-like climbers at the Tour de France usually weigh less than 140 lbs. Toffer, on the other hand, rides with a group of guys who refer to themselves as the Clydesdale Climbers. Meaning that the hills of Vermont would present a challenge.

Toffer recalled that the first 100 miles were (relatively) easy. He rode with his cousin Richard and allowed himself to be sucked along by the paceline’s slipstream. And then Toffer met the Leviathan, and things took a turn for the worse.

“It was an eye-opening experience.”

For the next 25 minutes, Toffer managed to keep his eyes open and his bicycle upright by riding at his own pace. Halfway through, a 70 year old man with whom Toffer rides in Boston caught up with him. “He said to me, come on Toffer, and then he just blew by me.”

For Toffer, the good news about scaling the summit of the Leviathan was that he could get off of his bike, rest, and knead the cramp out of his calf muscle. The bad news about reaching the summit of Leviathan was that he was still about 50 miles from the finish line.

With his cousin’s encouragement (and a few well timed pushes), Toffer grinded his way to Windsor, Vermont, where he enjoyed a shower, a beer, and some barbecued chicken.

“Being able to complete that ride, being part of a small community of cyclists who’ve done that was one of the most gratifying things I’ve done. And the chicken and the Harpoons weren’t bad, either. I was surprised by how much fun it was and what I could do when I put my mind to it.”

Toffer’s goals for this year’s B2B are simple. This Clydesdale Climber hopes to have fun and improve upon his time from last year. And maybe find a way to keep up with his septuagenarian friend.

Jonathan Simmons is the author of “Here For The Ride: A Tale of Obsession on Two Wheels.”

By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

Eighteen-year-olds can no longer legally buy cigarettes in Brookline, as a measure spearheaded by high school students to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products kicked in over the weekend.

The new law took effect on Saturday, June 1, and will affect 28 retailers in Brookline, which can no longer legally sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19, according to Wesley Chin, the tobacco control program coordinator for Brookline.

The change to local tobacco laws was an initiative led by Eric Dumas and fellow members of the Peer Leadership Group at Brookline High School in 2012. Dumas, who graduated last year, and his classmates, asked the town to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco in an effort to cut down on smoking by students at Brookline High School.

Brookline’s Town Meeting approved the idea by an overwhelming margin of 169-1, and the town joins Needham, which was the first community in the state to hike the minimum age to buy tobacco from 18 to 19 in 2003, and now sets the minimum age at 21 years old. Other communities, including Belmont, Arlington and Dover have also approved raising the minimum age to buy tobacco in the past year.

“A regulation aimed at increasing the purchase age of tobacco to nineteen is good public health policy, as research suggests that those who delay the onset of smoking are less likely to develop a smoking habit,” said Alan Balsam, Brookline’s director of public health and human services, in a statement Monday.

Brookline health officials said that research has shown that about 90 percent of current smokers become addicted before the age of 18, and as a result the Brookline Department of Public Health is focusing efforts on prevention and placing an added obstacle to deter teenagers from addiction.

--brock.globe@gmail.com

By Jaclyn Reiss, Town Correspondent

Plugged In, an organization that teaches local teenagers how to play in a rock band, will showcase the culmination of their students’ 14 weeks of lessons in a three-day benefit concern in Needham.

The concert, which will feature 41 student bands, will be held June 14 through June 16 at Needham Town Hall, located on Highland Avenue.

Proceeds from the show will benefit the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which seeks to give children with serious illnesses a fun, normal summer camp experience. Actor Paul Newman founded the camp in 1988 in Connecticut.

The Plugged In concert will take place June 14 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.; June 15 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and June 16 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Concert t-shirts and CDs will also be on sale.

Tickets for the event cost $5 for students, $10 for seniors, and $15 for adults. Tickets are sold at the door only, and can be bought with cash or check.

For more information on the event and the organization, visit Plugged In's website and Facebook event page.

For more information on the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, visit the organization's website.

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Jaclyn Reiss can be reached at jaclyn.reiss@globe.com

We're obsessed with coffee over at Boston.com, so wanted to put together Coffee Week to celebrate all things java!

New interactives, maps, and galleries for the caffeine-obsessed will be unveiled each day this week. On Sunday, we wrote and mapped out how Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks are battling for coffee supremacy in Massachusetts. Today, we took a look at the national trend.

We wanted to find a way to feature local independent shops that have also developed a passionate following. Sadly, we still couldn't fit everyone in (but we've got something Wednesday that might go toward fixing that). We didn't want to leave anyone out.

By Mike Giesta, Globe Correspondent

The Massachusetts Youth Rugby Organization will host the 2013 boys' state finals Saturday at Fort Devens.

The matchups:

* Division 1A: Scituate vs. Needham, noon

* Division 2: Andover vs. Milton, noon

* Division 1: Bishop Hendricken, R.I. vs. Belmont, 1:30 p.m.

Needham coach Diana Parkhurst is excited about her team’s rematch against defending champion Scituate.

“This is the first year we moved into varsity status here at the high school,” Parkhurst said. “But we’ve been a part of the tournament before.”

Her Rockets finished the season undefeated, and knocked off Scituate, 35-12, a week ago..

“We lost to Scituate last year in the finals,” said Parkhurst. “This is a big chance for redemption for us.”

Scituate coach Tucker Patterson, well aware of the recent history between the two squads, said “Needham is strong. But it’s rugby and anything can happen, we’re hoping to win.”

And beyond tomorrow, Patterson is excited for the future of the sport.

“It’s a growing sport in high school,” Patterson said. “Most schools are strictly club teams, and we are trying to get MIAA approved at some point down the road.”

In addition to the three state finals, a number of teams from across the state will be participating in jamboree at the site.

By Jaclyn Reiss, Town Correspondent

The works of Thomas Gaitley, a Needham-based fine arts photographer who specializes in landscapes, will be on display in Dover starting this month through June in an exhibit that is free and open to the public, according to organizers.

The exhibit will be on display at Dover Town Library from May 25 through June 29.

Gaitley is a juried member of the award-winning New England Photography Guild, and has been photographing as fine art for more than three decades.

He was a student of the renowned photographer Galen Rowell, and credits Rowell’s skill with light and composition as a major influence in his own approach to making photographic art.

All of the photographs that will be on exhibit in Dover are original works, and while they include a growing body of images from around the world, viewers may be most drawn to Gaitley’s New England landscapes, from the countryside to the sea, organizers said.

Gaitley said in a statement that he channels emotional responses when taking landscape photographs.

“I constantly question the emotions I feel as I view the world around me," Gaitley said. "Bringing the features that capture the moment to prominence and concentrating on the emotion behind the vision is my ultimate goal.”

Many of the photographs on exhibit will be for sale to the public, with 10 percent of the proceeds donated to the Friends of the Dover Library.

For hours, directions, and more information on the exhibit, visit the Dover library's website or call 508-785-8113.

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Jeremy C. Fox for Boston.com

The Wang YMCA of Chinatown is one of 13 branches of the Greater Boston YMCA offering free Get Summer memberships for teens.

By Jeremy C. Fox, Town Correspondent

The YMCA of Greater Boston is encouraging teens to get active this summer, offering free memberships at all 13 branches around the city, it announced Wednesday.

Young people 13 to 17 are eligible for the free access, offered as a part of the Y’s Get Summer program. The program seeks to engage students while school is out through arts, college admission tutoring, community service projects, dances, field trips, leadership programs, literacy, nutrition classes, sports, and other activities.

“The YMCA of Greater Boston is the place for teens to turn to for academic assistance, employment, life skills advancement and healthy fun,” Kevin Washington, chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater Boston, said in a statement. “It’s our goal to make every teen feel welcome and know that we want them at our branches and we want them to succeed.”

Last year 5,655 teens used the program to get free memberships, the YMCA said. The offer includes branches in Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston, the Fenway, Hyde Park, Needham, Reading, Roxbury, Waltham, West Roxbury, and Woburn.

Teens can enroll at any branch location by bringing their valid state or student identification or having a parent present. A summer membership will give them access to all member privileges, including group exercise classes, workout equipment, pools, teen center activities and special teen programs. The free memberships will extend from June 29 to Sept. 2.

June 28 will be the final school day for 2012 – 2013 in Boston Public Schools. The 2013 – 2014 school year will begin on Sept. 4 for grades 1 – 12 and on Sept. 9 for kindergarten students in Boston Public Schools.

For more information about the Get Summer program, visit ymcaboston.org/teens or on Facebook at facebook.com/ymcabostonteens.

Correction: Due to an error in a statement provided by the YMCA, this article originally stated that free memberships would extend from June 22 to Sept. 7.

Jeremy C. Fox can be reached at jeremy.fox@globe.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @jeremycfox.
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Simon and Sons, a tuxedo and suit business, will be moving their Newton storefront to 679 Highland Ave. in Needham, which currently houses Party Works. The party shop will close this month; the tuxedo store will move there in mid-August.

By Jaclyn Reiss, Town Correspondent

Simon and Sons, a 108-year-old men's and boy's clothing store, will move from its Newton storefront home of the past 20 years to a more spacious spot in Needham this summer, said owner Paul Simon.

The shop, currently located on Needham Street in Newton, will be taking the 5,100 square foot space currently housing Party Works on Highland Avenue in Needham. The owners of the party shop recently announced that they will retire and close the store at the end of May.

But for Simon and Sons owner Paul Simon, the move proves a big win for the clothier shop started by his grandfather in 1905 on the streets of Back Bay.

"We're really excited about the Needham location," Simon said over the phone Monday. "It's only a mile down the road from our current location, but we feel it's easier to access for our customers. It's only 200 yards to highway, there's easier parking, and the new store is bigger. Plus, there isn't the congestion of Needham Street."

Simon said he plans to begin renovations at the new Highland Avenue location in June, and will move to the new location - ambitiously, without closing his shop for even one day - in mid-August.

"We’re going to move overnight," he said, laughing. "We’ll close early, roll everything down the street on rolling racks, rent some trucks, and be ready the next day for business."

Simon, who is the third generation running the store, said he is the only one in his family left in the business.

"My father and uncles have gotten older and have chosen to retire," he said. "They're past their working years."

And when asked if Simon's own children - two high-school aged kids - would take over the business in the years to come, he laughed again.

"They come in and help in the store when we need them, but I don’t know," he said. "It's too early to tell if they’ll take over."

For more information on Simon and Sons, visit their website.

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Jaclyn Reiss can be reached at jaclyn.reiss@globe.com