April 19, 2020 ~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time
Birds Around the Senior Center, Borden Colony, Spring 2020
Robin in the grass & Osprey nesting high.
Raynham COA Website is a valuable resource for up to date useful information... and great pix of the local birds!
Do you like to write? Do you have a good story to share?
Could you use $100?
Enter our short story contest.
Write an original non-fiction short story related to one of the BuzzAround Hives: Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Raynham, West Bridgewater or Whitman. Due 5/8/20.

4 prizes of $100 each will be awarded on May 21, 2020 to the best non-fiction short stories in these categories:
Popular vote: Vote on stories from May 11 -17, 2020 The popular vote will include all short stories submitted that meet the above criteria.
Brockton:  3 Brockton librarians, Malice Veiga, Jennifer Belcher and Kevin Nascimento will judge stories submitted related to Brockton.
East Bridgewater, Halifax & Whitman: Michelle “Shel” Stephen (EB), Jean Gallant (Halifax) and Barbara Bryant (Whitman) from our public libraries will award a winner from stories submitted for Whitman, East Bridgewater and Halifax.
Bridgewater, Raynham, and West Bridgewater: Ann Gerald (Bridgewater),
Ellen Snoeyenbos (WB) , Jessie McKinney (Raynham) from our public libraries will award a winner from stories submitted for Bridgewater, Raynham and West Bridgewater.
What's Your Good News?

You could win $100 by entering with your story.. Our Raynham judge is librarian Jessie McKinney (pictured below).

Read more
buzzaround.info
Entries must be 1000 words or less.

We are accepting one story per person until May 8, 2020.

4 prizes of $100 each will be announced on May 21, 2020.
Historical Tidbit:   

Work Progress Administration (WPA)
           
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of Americans during the Great Depression in the United States. Between 1935 and 1943, the WPA provided almost eight million jobs to unskilled workers to carry out public works projects; including the construction of public buildings, roads and sidewalks, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects.
 
The WPA was a national program that operated its own projects in cooperation with state and local governments, which provided 10%-30% of the costs. The national goal was full employment; the WPA goal was to provide one paid job for all families where the breadwinner suffered long-term unemployment.

On June 30, 1943 as a result of low unemployment due to the economic boom of World War II, the WPA liquidated its agency.
Find this emblem in your own town on public work projects!
 
   Wikipedia
Get Your Word Out!

BuzzAround can help!

Let our community know how you can service them.
BuzzAround publishes to 10,000 subscribers, it's a great time to
advertise, our readership is UP!
All buildings are closed to the public. Please phone or email for business assistance.

Town Hall
Monday – Thursday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Friday – 8:30 AM – 12 Noon
 508-824-2707

 
Public Library
508-823-1344


Council on Aging
Building remains closed.
Director will be in the office Monday, Wednesday and Thursday to process bills, stay in touch with state agencies and attend to phone messages
508-824-2740
COA


Food Pantry
2nd and 4th Thursday of the month
9:00a - 11:00a
494 Church St, Raynham
774-406-5612
Congratulations!
Nancy Tilbe
 won a
6 weeks of training (value $279) at 
Get In Shape for Women, Bridgewater
for use after they re-open in May

You should play our
Historical Tidbit Trivia Game
at the bottom of this newsletter.

You could win
a 45 min Reiki Treatment from Jacquelyn Rose to be used when restrictions are lifted.
Board of Selectmen Meeting 04/14/20
Audio recording on YouTube.
No video .
Courtesy of the Raynham Channel
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
For Tuesday, April 21, 2020
7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting – Tele-meeting
Phone: 1-877-309-2073
Access Code: 381-417-917

 *Announcement: Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the Raynham Board of Selectmen is being conducted via remote participation. Every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the Order. For real time access, residents can utilize the call-in information listed above, and the Town will post a record of this meeting on the town’s website as soon as we are able.

*Call to order - Chairman
*Approval of Meeting Minutes
*Department Heads / Committees
Matt Tanis, Board of Health
*Appointments
Constable Re-Appointment – Brad Pahigian
*Town Administrator’s Report
*Selectmen’s Report
*Emergency Business
COVID-19 Related Items
*Citizen & Community Input
*New Business
a.   Proposal for discussion and action: For the Town of Raynham, through the Treasurer-Collector's Office, to absorb the $0.25 ACH transaction cost made through the Town's online payment center, Unipay, to help facilitate online payments during the COVID-19 Health Emergency, or June 30, 2020, whichever comes first.
 b.   Proposal for discussion and action: To use funds from the MA Gaming Grant account to pay for the Government Study Committee’s recommended by-law study, not to exceed $12,000.
c.   Proposal for discussion and action: Request to permit a temporary mobile home due to a tree down on the residence located at 195 Ramblewood Dr.
 d.   Proposal for discussion and action: Raynham (non-police) Invoice and Payroll Warrants dated through April 21, 2020
 e.   Proposal for discussion and action: Raynham Police Invoice and Payroll Warrants dated through April 21, 2020
 f.   Proposal for discussion and action: the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) permitted use of personal leave allowance.
  g.   Discussion: The respective roles and responsibilities of the Board of Selectmen, the Town Administrator, and how the new job description of the Town Administrator impacts town operations.
Performance of Administrative duties
  - Approval of Town of Raynham Invoice and Payroll Warrants dated April 21, 2020
  - Approval of Raynham Police Invoice and Payroll Warrants dated April 21, 2020
Please Note: Executive Session to take place at the end of regular business
Grocery Store Worker Priority Testing
The Baker-Polito Administration and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (4/10/20) expanded access to the free, priority COVID-19 testing sites for first responders to now include grocery store and supermarket workers.
Beginning Saturday, April 11, the men and women who provide critical access to food and other necessities (that is anyone selling groceries) may schedule an appointment to receive COVID-19 testing at the sites located at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro and the Big E fairgrounds in West Springfield.
All appointments must be made in advance by the worker’s supervisor or manager, and personnel do not need to be symptomatic to be eligible.
Details here.
Lost Income Due To COVID-19? Here Are Grants And...

Here Are Grants And Resources For Artists And Nonprofits. Museums, restaurants and venues have all closed, leaving many without a primary source of income. Filing for unemployment is a decent safety net but not all artists qualify to...

Read more
www.wbur.org
Story Read by Miss Jessie
There Once Was a Puffin by Florence Page Jaques, illustrated by Shari Halpern
Video courtesy of Raynham Public Library
B-R School Committee Meeting 4/14/20
Video of Zoom Meeting
Courtesy of the Raynham Channel
Important information Regarding Your Tax Bill
Under “An Act to Address Challenges Faced by Municipalities and State Authorities Resulting From COVID-19,” Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020, the Town of Raynham has adopted local options to extend due dates for real and personal property tax payments and applications for exemptions and a waiver of interest on certain municipal tax and other bills paid by June 30, 2020. See below.

1. The due date of your real and personal property tax bill has been extended to June 1, 2020. June 1, 2020 is the new due date even if the due date for payment on your previously mailed tax bill is May 1, 2020.

2. The due date for applications for property tax exemptions has also been extended to June 1, 2020. June 1, 2020 is the new due date even if the due date for applications on your previously mailed tax bill is April 1, 2020.

3. The Town of Raynham has also voted to waive interest and other penalty for late payment of any excise, tax, betterment assessment or apportionment thereof, water rate or annual sewer use or other charge added to a tax for any payments with a due date on or after March 10, 2020 where payment is made late but before June 30, 2020. This applies to late payments of bills that have a due date of March 10, 2020 or after, when such bills are paid late but paid on or before June 30. This waiver of interest does not apply to bills with due dates before March 10, 2020 or if the bill is not paid by June 30.
2020 Census | United States Census Bureau

When you respond to the census, your answers are kept anonymous. They are used only to produce statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. The law ensures that your private...

Read more
2020census.gov
Teen Extreme Summer Program
Who?: Students entering 7th, 8th & 9th grd this fall

When?: Monday-Thursday   8:45a - 4:00p       

 Session 1  July 6th - July 9th
 Session 2  July 13th - July 16th
 Session 3  July 20th - July 23rd 

Dropoff/Pickup: Merrill School
$225/participant/week

How?: Registration begins Monday, March 2nd at 9:00a online at raynhamrec.com .
Please call 508-824-2743 or email tmcrae@town.raynham.ma with any questions.
Highway Dept./Transfer Station
Update as of 4/10/20
Transfer Station will be open to Raynham Residents ONLY as follows:

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday – 7:00a - 4:15p
Closed Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

GLASS RECYCLING IS CLOSED, OTHER RECYCLING MAY BE RESTRICTED OR CLOSED at any time to reduce the time required for residents to unload trash and vacate the premise. Please be diligent in reducing the time of your visit to the greatest extent possible. Practice good hygiene and social distance by maintaining at least 6 feet from staff and other residents!

BRUSH PILE: Currently closed. Anticipated re-opening beginning May 2nd. Open - Saturday's ONLY 8:00a to 1:00p.

Please check the Town Website and Highway Department Voicemail (508-824-2718) for updates. The Highway Department Office is closed to the public. Email: landerson@town.raynham.ma.us

DIAL 911 FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY

Thank You for your anticipated cooperation.
Chicks came in this week! 100-Rhode Island Reds, 100-Aracauna, 100 Barred Rocks.
BRIDGEWATER FARM SUPPLY
We have wood pellets, feed & grain and
we're open for essential items!
Please call with your order and drive up.


 1000 Plymouth St (Rt 104) Bridgewater 
(508) 697-0357

Raynham Food Basket Distribution Plan During Pandemic
Hours of Operation: 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month 9:00a - 11:00a
Next distribution: Thursday April 23rd, 9 - 11a

The same pantry policies remain in place. Households with 1-4 people may come to distribution once a month. Households with 5 or more people may come twice a month.

In order for us to distribute safely, please follow the plan below.
*Clients will not be allowed in the building to pick up food.
*Distribution will be held outside in parking lot.
*To avoid congestion, do not arrive earlier than 8:45a on distribution day.
*A parking attendant will provide direction.
*Clients are to remain in their cars with windows closed.
*Show your state issued ID to the check in volunteer through closed window.
*Make sure your trunk or hatch is empty for the volunteers to load the bags.
*Pop your trunk when instructed.
*Please provide a picture ID and proof of Raynham residency.
Any questions please call 774-406-5612.

Donations Welcomed: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are not accepting food donations at this time. If you would like to contribute to the tremendous need in our community, please consider a monetary donation. We appreciate your thoughtful generosity.
Monetary donations may be mailed to:
Raynham Food Basket, PO Box 421, Raynham Center, MA 02768
Hello from the LB Merrill School
Teachers say hello to our families!
Video Courtesy of ECPO Facebook Page.
Internet Essentials from Comcast

Internet Essentials brings affordable high-speed internet home. Free for 2 months, then $9.95 / mo.

Read more
www.internetessentials.com
BEAUTY COUNTER
CHRISTINE HARKINS
Clean Beauty makes a great gift for your Valentine!

Contact me today to order yours!

Our Clean Promise: Over 1,500 questionable ingredients are never used in our formulations.


GRANTS RENTAL


Grant's sends out support & care to all of our communities.
We're all in this together.


10 Bedford Park, Bridgewater
 (508) 279-0950


Family Engagement Needs Assessment
Massachusetts is the recipient of a Statewide Family Engagement Center grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
As a recipient of that grant and in order to learn more about the relationships that schools and families have with one another, DESE must annually conduct an assessment of families’ and educators’ needs related to family engagement. I encourage you to participate in this survey by visiting this website.
Your Buzz Around is committed to sharing positive news, tips & ideas, to help us all through!
Most local businesses remain open with adaptations to adjust for physical distancing.
Bee Kind & Shop Local!
Kudos to our town folks... getting technology moving to keep democracy rolling!!
Keeping us informed and engaged locally!
Highway Dept April 9, 2020
Opening of the bids.
Video Courtesy of the Raynham Channel.
Sewer Commissioners Meeting
4/10/20
Recording Courtesy of The Raynham Channel.
WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME

Have fun with us and bee entered to win
a 45 min Reiki Treatment from
Jacquelyn Rose to be used when restrictions are lifted.


Historical Tidbit Question:
What was the goal of the WPA?


Please submit your answer through our website here . It's easier for us to run more contests & distribute prizes this way.
We are looking forward to giving you more opportunities to win!


By entering, you give us permission to announce your name in next week's Buzz Around Bridgewater.
On April 22, 2020 we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.
The Buzz Around is brought to you this week by: Jen Bellody, Janice O'Brien, Megan Piche, Deena Anzum, Jacquelyn Rose, & Gregory Venezia
April is Poetry Month
Hmm. Poetry? You ask.
Of course.

To inspire your inner artist... poetry can express emotion and ideas in thoughtful and delicate ways, or in pounding stark ways. I thoroughly enjoy the use of words. It taps into that which seems elusive. And so, for poetry month, lets look at poets!
Today, I am diving into the experience of Langston Hughes.

“Gather out of star-dust,
Earth-dust,
Cloud-dust,
Storm-dust,
And splinters of hail,
One handful of dream-dust,
Not for sale.”

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly."

“Oh, God of Dust and Rainbows,
Help us to see
That without the dust the rainbow
Would not be.”

“Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.”
Also, here is a great site for when you want to explore more poets.

Give it your all. You have everything you have ever needed to live life completely.
~ Jacquie
Copyright 2019 Buzz Around Raynham.   You have our permission to share and copy this issue in its entirety as much as you like. If you take it in part, please give credit: ("Buzz Around Raynham 4/19/20")

Disclaimer: At the Buzz Around, we promote community and family. There will be links to town committees and other non-profit groups, as a way of sharing local information. Individual groups are responsible for how they represent themselves on their websites and in their promotional materials. The Buzz Around is not responsible for their website content.