June 14, 2020 ~ Building East Bridgewater Community One Positive Story at a Time
E B Leaders Support Protesters and Speak to How EB Will Move Forward.
Selectman Carole Julius spoke of her journey of educating herself on what white privilege means, followed by several speakers invited by the organizers, Community Coalition for Change . (Your Buzz will do a follow up article with names and more details next week)
Prior to the event,   Chief Paul O’Brien released this statement: Chief Paul O’Brien and the men and women of the East Bridgewater Police Department condemn the actions of the Minneapolis Police officers which resulted in the death of George Floyd.
“I speak for the entire staff when I say that Mr. Floyd’s death was shocking and his treatment by Minneapolis Police Officers is disturbing and intolerable,” Chief O’Brien stated. “The East Bridgewater Police Department stands with those working toward peaceful change wherever racism, hate, discrimination and violence exists.”
“While Minneapolis seems so different from our small community in East Bridgewater, I believe racism exists everywhere. We all need to do our part to put an end to this intolerance and make it clear that we are a community that has zero tolerance for racism and supports equality for all. We cannot be silent when it comes to standing for what is right and what is just,” Chief O’Brien said.
The East Bridgewater Police Department continuously updates its policies and procedures to ensure that our enforcement practices are fair and just.
The mission statement of the East Bridgewater Police Department clearly states that its officers are committed to working with the entire East Bridgewater community to make the town a safe and desirable place for all, and that they will partner with the community to solve problems and improve public safety in a manner that is fair, impartial, transparent and consistent. They stand with those members of the law enforcement community who abide by these same principles each and every day. Read More

Photo credits: David Tedesco, J.Rose and Community Coalition for Change FB Page
HISTORICAL TIDBIT:

Isaac W. Sprague - The Original Living Skeleton

Isaac W. Sprague was born on May 21, 1841 in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
He was a normal and active child until the age of twelve - when he began to rapidly lose weight.

His concerned parents forbade young Isaac from high energy activities. Despite this, the boy continued to lose weight and his
now terrified parents took Isaac to the best doctors they could find. Unfortunately the doctors were also baffled.

As an adult, Isaac apprenticed under his fathe r as a cobbler and later worked as a grocer. His low energy made it to hard for Isaac to work. It was then that the world of sideshow came calling.

In 1865, during a visit to a local carnival, a promoter spotted Isaac and offered him a job; Isaac accepted. He began touring as 'The Living Skeleton' and quickly rose in popularity. In less than a year he auditioned for P. T. Barnum and was hired on a salary of $80 a week.

Despite numerous medical exams during his lifetime, his condition was never officially identified. He was labeled as having 'an extreme case of progressive muscular atrophy'. As a result, Isaac was required to eat constantly. He was well-known to carry a flask of sweetened dairy milk around his neck - drinking from it to from time-to-time to keep himself alive and conscious. 
 
He met and married a Miss Tamar Moore and had three healthy sons. He toured with Barnum and others. His financial problems ultimately resulted in Isaac dying in poverty on January 5, 1887, in Chicago.

At forty-four he had the height of five feet and six inches and weighed only forty-three pounds. 


Town Hall
175 Central St
508-378-1601
Email & Phone contact only
Check the town website for important updates

E. Bridgewater Public Library
32 Union St 508-378-1616
Email & phone contact only

Council on Aging 
355 Plymouth St 508-378-1610
Email & phone contact only
COA

Food Pantries
Union Congregational Church
105 Pleasant St
2nd Wednesday from 12:30p - 2:00p and last Saturday from 9:30a - 11:00a
Pre-Packed bags for pick up only

St Vincent dePaul Food Pantry
St. John's Catholic Church
210 Center St, EB
(508) 378-3760
Distribution 1st & 3rd Monday of Each Month
Pre-packed bags for pick up only
Congratulations!
Mark Coplin
won a
$10 gift certificate to Mama Deb's Food Truck.

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

You could win a
$50 gift certificate to Beauty Counter products through Independent Consultant Christine Harkins. The clean revolution www.facebook.com/cleanbeautycorner.
EBBA Scavenger Hunt 2020
Sunday June 14th
We are excited to bring you this year's Scavenger Hunt...Drive Up Style! To stay safe and keep everyone at a healthy distance, you can participate this year without even getting out of your car! Here's how it works:

Print out the Scavenger Hunt Sheet The sheet has a list of the local businesses participating along with their addresses. Drive to their locations and look in the window for the sign. You'll see a poster with a symbol and a message. Each message has one or two underlined letters. Write down the underlined letters. Once you get them all you'll spell out the secret word.

We hope this event will give families something safe and fun to do as well as give local businesses some support and exposure.

Please share the event. Have fun and be safe!
You can share the event from the Facebook page.
Click here for the Scavenger Hunt Sheet.
East Bridgewater High School Graduation Ceremony
For Class of 2020
On June 7th, Students of the graduating class of 2020 at East Bridgewater High School had the opportunity to individually take their diplomas and walk across the stage to an audience of their peers, families, and faculty. The students faces beamed as they held up their diplomas on stage. The ceremony began with the Star Spangled Banner, speeches from the EBHS principal, the chair of the school committee, and recognition for three students enlisted in military services. The ceremony ended with a car parade as a final send off for the students. Best of luck to the class of 2020 and all of your future endeavors!
Video credit: EBCAM
Food 4 Vets
Food Drive
Wed, June 17th
10a – 12p
COA / The Center at Sachem Rock
355 Plymouth St., EB
The Massachusetts Military Support Foundation is proud to partner with the Cape Cod Military Support Foundation, Big Nick’s Ride for the Fallen, and local Veteran and Military Family supporters as we provide 14 Day Meal Kits for East Bridgewater area Veterans and Military Families in need.

Each Meal Kit contains non-perishable food items that will provide two weeks worth of healthy meals.

At the same time that we are giving away food boxes to our veterans we will be collecting nonperishable food items and taking donations for our local food pantries here in East Bridgewater.

If you would like to volunteer and help out for this event contact the Veteran Service office : (508) 378-1603. Tasks that volunteers will be helping out with are the setup of food the collection tent, collecting food, delivery of food to veterans and food pantry locations after the event concludes.
All social distancing guidelines will be followed and everyone attending the event will wear a mask or face covering.

For additional information please visit www.massmilitarysupportfoundation.org.

1. Pre-Registration is required and can be done easily by clicking f ood4vets form
2. Arrive in Parking Lot at 355 Plymouth St EB
3. Stay INSIDE vehicle
4. Open Trunk
5. 14 Day Meal Kit will be placed inside trunk by a Volunteer with PPE
6. Drive away

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE!

To find out about the event go here: Facebook event page.
Thank you to some of our residents for stopping by with a homemade card thanking us for our service!
Story & Photo Credit: facebook.com/eastbridgewaterpolice
Town Elections: Congratulations Peter Spagone Jr., we look forward to your service as town Selectman. Thank you Bill Dowling for your commitment, we hope to see you serve in another capacity.
Planning Board Public Hearings Rescheduled to Monday. June 15, 2020 at Jr/Sr HS Auditorium
The four Planning Board Hearings that were originally scheduled for April 6th and then moved to May 4th have now been RESCHEDULED to Monday, June 15, 2020 at 6:30p. Information for all four hearings are available on the Planning Board page of this website. 

Link to the Agenda.

You may also call 508-378-1607 for more information.

We have mulch, stone, loam, feed & grain and we're open for many other essential items for your home and garden!
Please call with your order and drive up.

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


Since its inception, your BuzzAround has built bridges across divides: our focus on the goodness of all humanity. We bridge generational, religious and social divides. Diversity and inclusion within each community are the building blocks of our message as we share stories and events that show, time and again, that empathy and compassion are core to the human experience. In sharing these stories, we can truly see our neighbors, appreciate our similarities and understand where and why we differ.  

Thankfully, our U.S. Constitution allows for freedoms so that we can express ourselves and make the changes necessary to build a fair and just society. We believe our way of life is dependent on all people being served equal justice. It has been proven clear that our criminal justice system is not color blind. There is systemic racism built into the fabric of our institutions at every level, disadvantaging and discriminating against people of color in ways that go beyond individual intent to discriminate, and so we need to educate ourselves and change our systems.

What we are seeing is the public expression of pain and outrage. It is good that Black people know that they are worthy. It is good that we live in a society that allows for freedom of speech and assembly. It is good that people of all colors educate themselves, stand together and have empathy. 
The majority desire to protest peacefully to draw attention, educate, motivate change, stand together and act from a place of power and love. Also, saying Black lives matter is not in opposition to the importance of lives of our law enforcement personnel. BuzzAround promotes & supports goodness in all humanity. While the narrative of violence and destruction is dominating media coverage, in your BuzzAround, you will continue to see good news, including the efforts communities are making toward positive change and the stories of people of all colors, ages, interests and religions doing good. 

If you would like to provide access to education and basic needs to those hardest effected: please contribute to Brockton Library Foundation & United Way Brockton Together Fund. If you would like to support legal reforms NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
FOOD DRIVE
Saturday, June 20th
9:00a - 12:00p
St. John’s Church & the Union Congregational Church
Venturing Crew 29 is doing a Food Drive for our local Food Pantries.
We will be at the St. John’s Church parking lot. If you would like to make a donation of food or other contribution to help out, please stop by or get in touch with Venturing Crew 29 at this email address: venturingcrew29@gmail.com and we will be able to make arrangements to pick up your donation! You can also call Frank at 508.241.4597. Thank you for your help as we work to help our Food Pantries to help others! YIV, East Bridgewater Venturing Crew 29
Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
The Union Congregational Church's
Pastoral Search Committee is seeking your Feedback!!
The Union Congregational Church (105 Pleasant Street – The Church on the Hill) is in the process of seeking a new “Settled” Pastor. As a part of that process we were planning to reach out and meet with folks face to face to discuss and gather this information, but during these unprecedented times that’s not really an option. This process is not an effort to reach or attract new members; it is simply a way for us to learn from our neighbors.
For those who are interested, we’d like to provide you with two different options to respond;
1)If you’re a talker and would like to have a conversation with one of us (approx. 10 minutes), please send an email and include your phone number, your name (only first necessary) and a suggested time that would work best for you and your schedule.
2) You can simply send us an email and we will forward the questions to you for your consideration.
Please send all inquiries to office@uccofeb.org – Subject “Search Committee Questions” and we will respond accordingly.
We thank you in advance for your time and your willingness to help us in gathering this important information. www.facebook.com/UnionCongregationalChurchEB
Community Garden Spots Available
Right behind Community Covenant Church
400 Pleasant St., EB
We have a few plots left. Contact Kristy to
reserve one or two, ccceboffice@gmail.com.
There is a nominal charge of $10 per plot,
which goes toward upkeep and maintenance.
Annual Rabies Clinic
at Sachem Rock Farm
The Board of Health is pleased to announce the Annual Rabies Clinic is scheduled for Monday June 29th at 355 Plymouth St.:
  • Cats 5:00-6:00p must be in carrier 
  • Dogs 6:00-7:00p must be leashed 
  • CASH ONLY Fee of $10.00 
  • Proof of most recent vaccination required for 3 year booster.

JOHNNY MACARONI'S
Eat well, Laugh often, Love much

Get your wine & dinner from us!
Offering curbside pick up!
**All GIFT CARDS ordered online only
are discounted 25% (until further notice)!
**Receive a $10 gift card for each
TAKE-OUT order $50 or more!

Click on location below for
full take out menus.

Like us on  Facebook
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

THE WINTER STORM OF JANUARY, 1982
By Paula Coffey
I have long, thick, curly hair, so to save time, I book a weekly hair appointment with my local hairdresser. When I do my hair at home, after the shampoo, I have to put 2 books on my kitchen table, set the portable dryer on the books, stretch the big plastic hood over my giant, round, pink plastic rollers and sit there for at least an hour to dry my hair.

On this particular day, I went to the hair salon at Paul Wolfe Plaza. I had been under the dryer for about two minutes when the wind gusts from the winter storm caused us to lose power. It had been spitting snow and windy when I left my house, but the storm was definitely ramping up.

Everyone in the shop waited for about a half hour and when power wasn’t restored, we all headed for our respective homes. When I did arrive at my house, , I found that I also had no power or heat . So in my puffy “down coat”, a long woolen scarf wrapped around the big wet rollers, mittens and boots, I climbed under the covers in my bed – hoping to get warm. Read More
Photo Credit: Sarah Hagan

The morning's rain showers
were perfect for
taking photos of irises.


This iris smells so sweet.


Photo & Story Credit: Mary Wright Juliu s
WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME

Have fun with us and bee entered to win a
$50 gift certificate to Beauty Counter products through Independent Consultant Christine Harkins. The clean revolution www.facebook.com/cleanbeautycorner.


  Historical Tidbit Question:
How much did Isaac earn in a week from P.T. Barnum?


Email us your answer at: 


Please include your name, phone number with your answer.


By entering, you give us permission to print your name in next week's Buzz Around.

 
On June 17, 2020 we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.
The Buzz Around is brought to you this week by: Jen Bellody, Theresa McNulty, Janice O'Brien, Jacquelyn Rose, Kayla Rose & Gregory Venezia
This year has been very challenging for all of us humans. We like familiarity & comfort. We have had to learn so many new ways of relating to our world: get educated,grow, change... get educated, grow, change to live in community.
Here it is time to educate myself, grow and change again: With that in mind, I watched this video (which really breaks down the white experience in an easily understandable way), reflected, and put together my personal statement.
"I am white. It took me a long time to understand that this is more than ' bad people' doing 'bad things' because I was raised with white privilege. Now I see race. I try not to be color blind because that diminishes the experiences of others. Everyone has different experiences walking through this world. 

That’s my beginning, as I dive deeper into my own background I embrace my Portuguese heritage and how immigrants continue to be labeled as trouble and stupid. I embrace my Catholic heritage and know from the first colonies through 1940’s and beyond anti-Catholicism is deeply rooted in American culture. Because of this it's easier for me to empathize, and know we, as a country, have a lot to fix.

Since the beginning of our country we have created a justice (and housing and educational) system which harasses and intimidates and creates barriers to success for people of color. 
My first step was to educate myself, and so I share this 20 min video. It is super helpful understandable.
~ Jacquie 
Copyright 2020 Buzz Around East Bridgewater.  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 East Bridgewater 6/14/20").

Disclaimer: At the Buzz Around, we promote community and family. Occasionally, 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 does not claim to support any particular view.