Kids & Family
Meet Your Neighbor: Esther Friedman
Esther Friedman, once a reporter for Patch, works with the elderly using music therapy.
Name: Esther Friedman
Why North Reading?: We moved into North Reading from Reading in July of 2010. We decided to buy rather than rent. I just love North Reading. There's something about the little town; I like the rural feel of it, it's quite beautiful. It feels like home.
Occupation: Well, this is kind of an interesting question because I keep changing what I do for work. For awhile, I was (working for Patch). Right now, I'm working with elders as an Expressive Arts Therapist. Expressive Arts Therapists basically use the arts in therapeutic settings. In addition to or sometimes as a replacement of verbal therapy. For example, I work with seinors, and many are losing their ability to speak which can be frusterating for them. However, what I like to do is use music because it uses a different part of the brain; its very soothing for them. In fact they will remember lyrics more easliy when it's attached to a melody.
Find out what's happening in Readingfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
School: For Expressive Arts Therapy, I went to Lesley College. I got a Masters Degree in the expressive arts.
Hobbies: I never really feel like I have free time. But, I love music; I'm a songwriter, and my husband is also a songwriter. We perform, and I'm teaching myself to play the fiddle. We both play the guitar also.
Find out what's happening in Readingfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Favorite Movie: I love eclectic, off beat movies, and I like movies where the characters are imperfect, and you can really see their flaws. You Can Count On Me is one of my favorites. Another movie like that is Elizabethtown.
Favorite Book: I've never had a favorite book, but the last book I've read and felt really excited about was Let the Trumpet Sound. It's about Martin Luther King Jr.
Favorite Restaurant: My husband and I recently discovered the , and I really like that place; it feels homey. I also love , its a little family owned Italian Restaurant.
Fun Facts: I once rode my bike across the country. It was a fundraiser for the American Lung Association. We started in Seattle Washington and ended in Washington DC to raise money for the American Lung Association. It was interesting and fun.
