April 19, 2020 ~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time
Whitman Think Tank
Host Erin Johnson conducts an interview via Zoom with Denise Taylor, President of Whitman Mothers Club.
Video Courtesy of WHCA- TV
Our local businesses and restaurants supporting Dollars For Scholars! Remember them in your purchases.
The Whitman Hanson Dollars for Scholars held it's 13th Annual Taste of Whitman & Hanson on March 5, 2020.
Video Courtesy of WHCA-TV
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 - Whitman judge is Barbara Bryant. Let us know your good news, Whitman.

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

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

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

Old Abington History Hunt

Pictured: Commonwealth Shoe Factory, Whitman (c. 1911)

Old Abington, spanning the towns of Whitman, Rockland, and Abington, has a rich history. The Dyer Memorial Library, a free historical and biographical library located in Abington, has created an “Old Abington History Hunt” to make exploring that history even easier. The hunt features ten easily accessible historical sites and landmarks throughout the tri-town area.


Among the attractions featured on the hunt are the old Commonwealth Shoe factory (pictured above) and the Toll House restaurant. Though the factory has been converted to other uses and the restaurant no longer stands, markers exist at both locations. Both Commonwealth Shoe and the Toll House were major parts of Whitman’s history.

Other notable sites include the Satucket Path boundary marker and Island Grove Park. Placed in 1664, the Satucket path marker established the boundary between the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies. Island Grove Park was a frequent site of anti-slavery demonstrations prior to the Civil War. These and other sites can be found and explored while completing the “Old Abington History Hunt.”

Respectfully Submitted,
Daniel Flockton

Information Courtesy of the Dyer Memorial Library
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
All town buildings are closed to the public, please call or email for assistance.

Town Hall
781-618-9700
Check the town website for
needed updates


Public Library
781-447-7613


Council on Aging
781-447-7619
COA

St. Vincent de Paul/Whitman Food Pantry
By appointment only: 781-447-8560
Congratulations! 
Joanne Caratelli
won
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.
U RGENT NOTICE TO TOWN OF WHITMAN RESIDENTS:
Recently we have been experiencing a substantial increase in blockages of sewer lines and sewer station pumps. This is due to the flushing of grease and other items down drains and toilets that do not readily break down and do not dissolve in the Sewer Collection System.

These items, such as adult diapers, baby diapers, handy wipes, baby wipes, cloth rags, undergarments, sanitary napkins, “Swiffer” type wiping cloths and “Flushable” wipes block sewer pipes and clog sewer station pumps. They cause backups of sewerage and property damage, lead to premature failure of pumping station equipment and increased costs to clear and maintain sewer main pipes resulting in higher sewer rates paid by property owners.

PLEASE DO NOT FLUSH ANYTHING OTHER THAN TOILET TISSUE AND BODY WASTE IN YOUR TOILET. PLEASE DO NOT POUR GREASE INTO DRAINS OR TOILETS.
Participating in Our Local Democracy:
Board of Selectmen Meeting
Tue April 21, 2020 (and every Tuesday)
7:00p
Online Conference Mode hosted on Zoom.com

Frank Lynam, Town Administrator
Ph: 781-618-9701
The DPW announces Spring 2020 Saturday yard opening dates for the public compost pile.
They will be open for ten Saturdays 7 am - 3 pm beginning April 25 and ending on June 27.
The compost pile is open to Whitman Residents only and is for the dumping of clean leaves and grass clippings only,we do not accept bushes,branches or other such items. Due to Covid 19 we will not be selling new stickers or accepting TV drop offs until further notice, if you have an expired sticker that is acceptable.
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
Grocery Store Worker Priority Testing
The Baker-Polito Administration and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security today (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.
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 social distancing. Bee Kind & Shop Local.
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

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
Internet Essentials from Comcast

Are you checking the status of your Internet Essentials application? Looking for answers to questions you have? Click below to see frequently asked questions. Internet Essentials brings affordable high-speed internet to low income homes.

Read more
www.internetessentials.com
MOLD GUYS RESTORATION, LLC
Call today & ask about our Special, 10% off air duct cleaning!
An air duct cleaning service is an investment not only in your health, but in the health of your HVAC system!
(781) 910-5029
Get in Shape for Women in Bridgewater
  6 Weeks of Small Group Personal Training 
for  only $279 !

We'll reopen our doors on May 4th. Let's all get moving again then!!

180 Winter St., Bridgewater 
(across from Chatta Box)

 Contact Stephanie at 508-697-2900   

Email us:  getinshapeforwomen
Massachusetts Residents:
Check your symptoms for COVID-19 securely, online, for free
Massachusetts residents can visit Buoy.com/mass to get advice from an online health assistant safely at home, for free.
Buoy will connect you with the appropriate health care resource based on your symptoms and risk factors for COVID-19.

Here’s how it works:
  1. Tell Buoy about your symptoms and risk factors.
  2. Figure out if you should be tested for COVID-19.
  3. Get directed to the most appropriate health care resource.
  4. Learn about the virus, access prevention tips, and more.


Buoy's online tool is not to be used in place of emergency medical care. If this is an emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.
ruler-children-header.jpg
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.
April is National Poetry Month!
Whitman Public Library invites you to share quotes from your favorite poems.
“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.”
~Robert Frost
NESSRALLA FARM
We're Open!

Some FYIs to our loyal customers: we’ll be following social distancing guidelines and taking all possible safety precautions to protect you and our staff, so be patient shopping! See you soon!

318 Plymouth St. Halifax

(781) 294-1767
PINCHES AND POUNDS
  We take phone & online orders
for your convenience!

Open everyday
12 - 5p

Order online and get a free gift certificate for a future purchase! Receive $10 gift certificate for a future purchase when you spend $50 or more online.

785 Bedford St, Rt 18
Whitman
(781) 447-2639

Online orders!
Whitman Fire Dept Reminds Residents of Spring Cleaning and Fire Safety Tips
Chief Timothy Grenno and the Whitman Fire Department would like to provide some seasonal cleaning and safety tips for residents given the warmer weather in recent weeks and the fact that many people are following the stay-at-home advisory due to the COVID-19 health crisis.
“With spring weather on its way and people at home for the state’s stay at home advisory, this may be an opportune time for many to clean out their garage or tackle other home projects that keep getting put off,” Chief Grenno said. “While everyone is at home, we’re encouraging people to be conscious of potentially harmful gases that can be made when different cleaning solutions of used, check your smoke detector, and be on the lookout for any potential fire hazards you can clean up during this time.”

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips:
  • Clean your garage, basement or other storage areas of stored newspapers or other rubbish that can fuel a fire.
  • Clean lint filters every time before you use your dryer. Also check the outside exhaust vent for any lint that may be obscuring or blocking the vent.
  • Keep outdoor debris or dead vegetation away from the house.
  • Properly dispose of oily or greasy rags. If these items must be stored, they should be kept in labeled, sealed, metal containers.
  • If you store gasoline for lawn mowers, keep it outside your home in a shed or detached garage. Keep only small quantities in tightly sealed containers. Use gasoline only as a motor fuel – never as a cleaning agent.
  • Check your propane barbecue grill hose for leaks and cracks; never store propane indoors.
  • Do not mix ammonia with bleach, vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Additionally, do not mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar. More information about dangerous combinations of cleaning chemicals can be found here. When cleaning with chemicals be sure to open a window or door to ventilate the room you are cleaning.
  • Keep all chemicals and cleaning products out of reach from children and ensure they are properly labeled.

Open Burning Regulations
  • Open burning season runs from Jan. 15 to May 1.
  • Please ensure you have a permit for open burning and check with the fire department each day you want to burn. To see if burning is allowed on a certain day, residents should call 781-618-9872.
  • Fires must be kept 75 feet away from buildings and not cause a smoke nuisance to neighbors.
  • Fires must be attended at all times and a hose must be readily available.
  • Outdoor burning is only permitted for brush, cane, driftwood, forestry debris, agricultural debris and — under certain conditions — fungus-infected elm wood.
  • Burning grass, hay, leaves, stumps, and commercial or industrial land clearing for non-agricultural purposes is prohibited.
As always, if you have an emergency, call 911 .

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 are two important Whitman landmarks featured in the “Old Abington History Hunt”?

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.
Get Your Word Out!


BuzzAround publishes to 10,000 subscribers, it's a great time to
advertise, our readership is UP!
The Buzz Around is brought to you this week by: Jen Bellody, Janice O'Brien, Megan Pich, 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 Whitman. You have our permission to share and copy this issue in its entirety or as much as you like. If you take it in part, please give credit: ("Buzz Around Whitman 4/19/20")

Disclaimer: At the Buzz Around, we promote community and family. Links to other webpages share local information. Individual groups are responsible for how they represent themselves on their websites and in their promotional materials.