July 14, 2024



~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time.

WB Food Pantry Chosen for

The Firefly Project

"WBFP has been on a mission to end food insecurity in the Town of West Bridgewater since 1988. Over the years, we have supported so many of our neighbors to ensure no one in our town goes hungry – ever. We have proudly done this work thanks entirely to the generous donations of our residents and small businesses. As the needs of our community have grown over the last several years, so has our need for donations and community support."

"Metacomet Studio, a West Bridgewater based creative storytelling and branding collaborative, approached us with an offer to tell our story, build our brand, and create and maintain our website – all to help us meet the growing number of residents struggling with food insecurity. Adam Robert and Steven Rodich, West Bridgewater residents, and founders of Metacomet Studio, donate their services to local purpose-driven organizations several times a year; bringing creative resources to organizations that would otherwise not be able to afford it through their “Firefly Project”. Thanks to Metacomet Studio selecting WBFP to be their “Firefly Project” recipient, we are embarking on a new chapter in our organization's effort to ensure every West Bridgewater resident has food on their table."

Reposted from WB Food Pantry FB Post

Historical Tidbit:

First Church, West Bridgewater

The first settlement of Bridgewater, which took place in 1651, was here in West Bridgewater. First Parish, now West Bridgewater, began its first meetings in people's homes for worship. 

By 1661, The Congregational Church had its first "log" meeting house built, its location (though disputed) was probably at the intersection of what is now River and Arch streets. Its first preacher was Benjamin Butler and the first settled pastor was Rev. James Keith, who preached his first service standing upon Pulpit Rock.

The log meeting house was dismantled in 1674 and the second building was erected near the present War Memorial. The third meeting house was built in 1731 which would stand for 70 years and was known as the Old Town-House or the "triple decker" because of its three rows of windows.

Damaged by fire in 1801, a new meeting house was constructed on what is now its present site on Howard Street. The current church still has this meeting house as it original framework.

"In the 1820s there was considerable theological dispute within Congregationlist circles, with much debate surrounding Calvin's doctrines. Our church voted to identify as Unitarian, and a number of Trinitarians departed to join other churches. But the separation proved to be temporary (though lasting over a century). Something extraordinary happened in 1954: the merger of a Unitarian and a Congregational church. We changed our name to The First Congregational-Unitarian Church, subsequently changed to The First Church. We maintain links to both the UCC and the UUA."

Information and Photo Courtesy Of: 

First Church of West Bridgewater

Town Hall

  508-894-1200

WestBridgewaterMa.org

WB Public Library

508-894-1255

westbpl.org

Council on Aging

508-894-1262

COA

Food Pantry

Proof of residency is the only requirement.

1st & 3rd Wednesday each month

1:45 - 3p & 5:30 - 6p

457 rear, South Main St., Suite #1

508-510-5274 westbridgewaterfoodpantry@gmail.com

Congratulations!

Lisa Rue

won

 a $15 gift certificate to Pinches & Pounds

Candy Store Rt 18, Whitman

www.pinchesandpounds.com

Bee sure to play our Historical Tidbit Trivia Game at the bottom of this newsletter.



Enter for this week's prize of:

a free month of training and a free uniform from Premier Martial Arts, Raynham

Town Hall Gazebo Concerts 

Tue, Jul 16 & 30

Tue, Aug 13

6-7:30p



The lineup for this year’s summer gazebo concerts features a diverse range of talented bands. Enjoy listening to Jake Ash Band on July 16th, Burch Swart Band on July 30, and That 60’s Band on August 13th.

Source: WB Cultural Cultural Council FB 

WB Planning Board Meeting

June 26, 2024

Video Courtesy of WB Community Access TV

WB Board of Selectmen's Meeting

June 26, 2024

Video Courtesy of WB Community Access TV

Friendship Park Children’s Fun Nights 

Tue, July 23

Tue, Aug 6

6-7:30p

Bring your kids to Friendship Park this summer for a variety of exciting activities! Enjoy a performance by Jeff Jam on July 9th, a special children's fun night on July 23rd, and Davis Bates on August 6th.

Source: WB Cultural Cultural Council FB 

Adult Summer Library Program 

Jun 24-Aug 2

80 Howard St

Submit reviews of books, movies, and more, or attend programs for a chance to win prizes. Each review or program counts as an entry. Fill out a review bookmark given by the library with your thoughts and contact info. Winners selected in the second week of August. Don't miss out!

Mindfulness for Amateurs with Therapy Gardens 

Tue, Jul 30 

6-7p

WB Public Library

Discover the powerful impact of directing your attention and awareness to shape your feelings, actions, and overall well-being. This talk offers an overview of mindfulness, from its rich historical roots across various major religions to practical, secular techniques for everyday life. Great for curious beginners and anyone else looking for some mental peace.



Registration for this event can be completed on the WB Library Eventkeeper. 

Climate Can Do:

Seasonal Food and Farmers Markets

Going to a farmers market is a wonderful activity to do with family, friends, or alone, and it also helps the planet. 

Local and Seasonal Food

Farmers markets sell primarily local food. Vendors travel from their farms to the market. Because the food travels a shorter distance from the farm to the consumer, less gas is burned for transportation. Local produce is seasonal— strawberries in late spring and early summer, peaches and watermelon in the middle of summer, grapes and apples in the fall, squashes in the winter. It is fresh, nutrient rich with more taste. Additionally, smaller farmers are more likely to pay their workers a living wage than huge factory farms. 

Avoid Monocrop Farming

Smaller farmers are less likely to use monocropping. Planting a single crop over and over again in the same space harms the soil, requires more pesticides, and adds harmful runoff of chemicals to local water supplies.

Accessibility

Farmers markets increase access to fresh, high quality food in lower income communities. Since farmers who sell at the markets typically travel around to different locations in the surrounding area of their farms, they can provide better, healthier food choices for communities that do not have access to them.

Reduced Plastic Waste

Farmers market products are not typically wrapped in plastic, or pre-cut and packaged, as in grocery stores. This reduces plastic waste. 

This Climate Can-Do Article was written by Vasilia Yordanova on actions we can do to live more sustainably. We can do it!

Source: news.climate.columbia.edu

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Virtual Author Talk for Teens - Elizabeth Acevedo

Tue, Jul 23 

2-3p

West Bridgewater Public Library 

Learn about the power of poetry with author Elizabeth Acevedo. In this exciting author conversation and Q&A, Acevedo will provide a short reading from her National Book Award winning and New York Times bestselling novel-in-verse, The Poet X serving as the backdrop to this amazing chat!

To read more about Elizabeth Acevedo and her book, visit the Library Site. To register for this virtual talk, please visit this library link! 

Graphic Novels are Life! Telling Your Own Story in a Graphic Novel with Dan Santat

Tue, Jul 30

2-3p 

West Bridgewater Public Library 

Join this year’s winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, Dan Santat, as he inspires tweens and teens to tell their own stories through graphic novels. His winning book, A First Time for Everything, is a graphic memoir based on his own awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life.

To read more about Dan Santat and register for this virtual talk, please visit the West Bridgewater Public Library Site!

Keith Parsonage Open House

Sun, Aug 11 

12-3p 

199 River St

Stop by and meet Old Bridgewater Historical Society board members. This 17th century parsonage home of Rev. James Keith (1643-1719) will be available to tour!

The Keith Parsonage was built in 1662 to house the town’s first minister, Rev. James Keith. During King Philip’s War, the town voted to use the parsonage as a garrison house for the protection of the town’s inhabitants.

What Goes Into School Lunches 

This documentary explores what goes into today's school lunches.

Produced by James Mitcheson, a senior at West Bridgewater Middle Senior High School. This film was produced as his final project in Documentary Filmmaking class.

Video Courtesy of wbtvpro

WB Board of Assessors Meeting

June 26, 2024

Video Courtesy of wbtvpro

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