June 7, 2020 ~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time
Bridgewater Strong: Standing Up For Justice
On Saturday May 30th, over 100 Bridgewater residents gathered to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the recent death of George Floyd on the green on the Bridgewater Common. The group made several signs to peacefully protest for justice and peace, and to stand in solidarity with people of color.
The protest was organized by Rachel Masefield and Rachel Groh.
Photo and story credit: Frances Jefffries
Historical Tidbit: 
Where in the world is Bridgewater, Massachusetts?
  
  Bridgewater is located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which is one of the six New England States. Part of Plymouth County, Bridgewater has the geographic coordinates: 41.9903° N 70.9756° W and is in the Eastern utc-5/-4 time zone. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is ranked 44th of 50 states in size at 10,555 square miles.
  Of the 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth, Bridgewater is ranked 99th in size at 28.23 square miles; of that 27.49 is in land and 0.33 in square miles of water.
 
  Massachusetts is bordered by New Hampshire and Vermont - north, New York - west, Rhode Island and Connecticut - south and the Atlantic Ocean - east. 
Bridgewater is bordered by East Bridgewater and West Bridgewater north, Halifax on the east, Middleborough on the south, and Raynham on the west. Bridgewater is 8 miles south of Brockton; 27 miles south of Boston; 29 miles northeast of Providence, Rhode Island; and 210 miles from New York City. 
So that's where Bridgewater is!
 
 
 Info from : www.familysearch.org  
52 Weeks Logo & Link Ad in 1 Hive

For $99 / each month, your Logo & Link ad is in 1 Buzz Around town e-newsletter each week. Ad rotates monthly between Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Raynham, West Bridgewater & Whitman.

Read more
buzzaround.info
Academy Building Municipal Offices
 66 Central Square 
508-697-0921
Mon - Thur 8a - 4p, Fri 8a - 1p Services available through phone, email & website only
Check Town website for needed updates
 
Public Library
15 South Street
508-697-3331
Mon - Wed 9a - 8p 
Thurs 10a - 5p, Fri & Sat 10a - 2p
 
Cole-Yeaton Senior Center
10 Wally Krueger Way
508-697-0929
The Bridgewater Senior Center is closed to the public. However, the following services will continue: Meals on Wheels and medical appointment/grocery store transportation services.
 
Food Pantry
Central Square Congregational Church
71 Central Square
 508-697-6016
Thursdays - 10a - 1p
1st Monday of each month from 6 - 8 p
Congratulations!

Deb Caggiano
 won a
45 min Reiki Treatment from
Jacquelyn Rose to be used when
restrictions are lifted.


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


You could win a
$10 gift certificate to Mama Deb's Food Truck. Enjoy delicious fresh Italian food or purchase some sauce to take home. Go to  mamadeb.biz  for upcoming food truck events.

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
Special Birthday Surprise From Chief Delmonte of Bridgewater Police Department
Ainsley, who turns 4 on June 14th, received a special card and badge from the Chief of Bridgewater Police for her birthday. Although she couldn't have a birthday parade, she was still ecstatic over her gifts. "My heart is literally dripping," Aisley told her mom. Brittney Boyce thanks the Bridgewater Police Department for all that they do.
Photo and story credit: Brittney Boyce
Showing Support for Front line Medical Workers
Meghan Damon Sikora's 9 year old daughter painted a heart to show their support for medical workers, nurses, and doctors during the COVID-19 outbreak. A nurse in scrubs came along and placed her own heart on the sign. Meghan's daughter was delighted at the response.

Photo and story credit: Meghan Damon Sikora
Working hard to make patients comfortable & healthy!

Physical distancing • spaced appointments
• bacterial cleaning between patients. 

Take care of yourself – See your chiropractor today!
63 Main Street, Bridgewater (508) 697-0050
bridgewater center
Reuse of Old Town Hall Survey
By the
Town of Bridgewater
We need to hear from you! As a thank you, we’ll randomly draw two winners per week. The second drawing will be Wednesday, June 3, when we will give away two $25 gift certificates to Roche Brothers! Thank you to those who have already participated!
Happy Pride Month!
At the Bridgewater Senior Center, our mission is to promote the emotional, physical and economic well being of older adults and to encourage their participation in all aspects of community life. We believe in supporting diversity, inclusion, access, and equality for everyone.
As a way to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month, we’re offering the LGBTQ community a delicious lunch on us. Please email me for details.
Emily Williams
Director
Bridgewater Council on Aging
Cole-Yeaton Senior Center
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

You Are Invited to Watch Bridgewater Raynham Regional High School's
Virtual Graduation Ceremony!






In case you missed watching BR's virtual graduation ceremony live, there's still ways to watch or rewatch it! The ceremony was on Friday, May 29th at 6p. You can also access it on demand at BTVAccess or at bridge-rayn.org and click on the Virtual Graduation Ceremony link.
Bridgewater Memorial Day Video
This video is a compilation of Bridgewater's Memorial Day services over the last few years. It's great that we can look back on these, due to the current circumstances.
Huge thanks to BTV for putting this together.
Bridgewater's Annual 4th of July T-shirt Contest
Every year Bridgewater's 4th of July committee puts on a t-shirt contest. Submissions for this year are officially open! They ask for submissions from the community and their sales are a fundraiser for the parade and fireworks. While these events are not taking place due to COVID-19, they'd like to keep the t-shirt contest tradition going! The rules are that the shirt must have "Bridgewater" and "2020." Due to limited supplies and a short time frame, they will close submissions June 1st, so enter soon!

You can submit your entries via email to Lisa@BridgewaterMa4th.com or you can mail it to 91 Atkinson Dr. facebook.com/Bridgewater-MA-4th-of-July
Dress -A -Girl Sews with Vigor!
BY EVELYN D. OF BRIDGEWATER
There is a group of women in the Bridgewater area who, for the past 2 years have sewn dresses for girls around the world who have never had one.
Six weeks ago when COVID19 raised its ugly head, we transitioned over to making cloth masks and other sewists joined us. At that time, we had no idea how much they would be needed by so many. Fortunately we have had all of the fabric we needed donated as well as the elastic for around the ears. We have been able to give the masks away.
And so, this new project took off. In order for everyone to remain safe, it was decided to set up a collection and distribution center in the parking lot of the Bridgewater Senior Center where people could drive through and drop their completed masks in laundry baskets. If they needed fabric and elastic, a table was set up under the canopy and one at a time could take what they needed to sew more masks. At our first collection we received 500+, at the second, 375, at the third 500+, and at the fourth 786. During all of this time, masks were being delivered by 3 volunteers to nursing home workers, visiting nurses, at risk families, the Bridgewater prison, group homes, hospice workers, the Bridgewater Police Dept., the homeless in Brockton, Peter the Soupman and many, many friends and families. To this date: April 30, 2020, over 3,000 masks have been distributed.
The 4th of JULY Committee
"Patriotic House" Contest !!
We want you to decorate for the 4th !!! Show us your patriotic pride!!
We will be compiling a list of the addresses and encourage the Bridgewater Community to visit them!!
YES there will be prizes!!
First prize will be $250.00 in gift cards.
Second prize will be $100.00 in gift cards.
Third prize will be $50.00 in gift cards.
And who knows if we get a big enough response - we might expand the categories!!!!
**ALL gift cards will be to local Bridgewater businesses!!
So start your planning !
Direct Mechanical
“Your Full Solutions Provider”

HVAC – Residential - Commercial 
Water and Air Purification –
Sales - Installation - Service 
Air and Surface Sanitation 
Eradicate viruses, bacteria, mold and mildew, eliminate harmful odors! 
STAY SAFE! 
(774) 297-4697 
~Womens Owned Business~ 
Get in Shape for Women
in Bridgewater

Our studio has been disinfected, painted, & redesigned to keep our clients separate
& safe upon return.
We look forward to coaching you
when the studio re-opens in Phase 3.
Until then, we have added workout options to our virtual training!
Our goal is to keep you moving
& engaged!
180 Winter St., Bridgewater 
(across from Chatta Box)
  Contact Stephanie at 508-697-2900   
Email us:  getinshapeforwomen
$1,000 Scholarships Announced
The MassHire Greater Brockton Workforce Board is pleased to announce a new scholarship program for graduating seniors within our Connecting Activities Partnership. From now until June 15, 2020, applications will be accepted from graduating seniors of the Class of 2020. $1,000 Scholarships will be awarded on or by June 30. Advancing college and career readiness, the Connecting Activities Partnership promotes the connection between education and employment through internships and career awareness. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020!!

Who is Eligible? Graduating seniors from: Brockton Public Schools, Avon High School, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical HS, Oliver Ames High School, Abington High School, Stoughton High School, Whitman-Hanson High School, South Shore Regional Vocational Technical HS, and Bridgewater Raynham High School. Application Deadline is June 15, 2020.
Click here to view and share application.
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

BLISS THROUGH YOGA
is NOW open in
Your OWN Home!
Now Live Streaming ALL Classes!

Tuesdays @ 5:30p; Thursdays @ 7p; Fridays @ 6:30p; Saturdays @ 9a

Contact Janice to register

Find YOUR bliss at Bliss Through Yoga!

Yoga for the Rest of Us!

(508) 331-3564
Masks for Homeless in Brockton
Reposted from Evelyn DeLutis.
Hi everyone. I received this email from Joanne Brindley who brought our masks to the homeless. I had asked if she needed more. This is her reply. Please read all the way through so you can understand what it is really like to be homeless in Brockton, MA, USA.
Joanne wrote:
"My initial answer is: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE OH, PLEASE!
However, to be fair, let me explain.
1)For several reasons, we are seeing a significant amount of new people each week.
2)Some of our regulars have lost, misplaced, given away, etc, etc. their masks.
3)Their masks are damaged, ie elastics have broken; the fabric has torn; they are so dirty/ contaminated they need to be replaced.
4) I have been doing my best to sew masks. I have a WHOLE NEW APPRECIATION for you and your WONDERFUL GROUP!!! I am adequate, barely, but slower than a Home Ec student. Even with 3 wonderful ladies helping to cut out the fabric, I'm not able to keep up with the need even though I am sewing daily.
We are trying to address the logistics regarding the possibilities of washing the masks. There are several issues involved if we collected them because we serve/carry home-cooked, not pre-packaged food. Also, people have become attached to their masks, so trying to track them down the next week to return their mask is problematic. So we are trying to come up with a solution where we can launder them right there on the spot and hand them back within a few minutes. The #1 problem is that it's not just COVID-19 that we have to worry about. There are NO restrooms open for the homeless in the City, absolutely none if you aren't in the shelter! Therefore, Deb has been passing out 5 gal buckets with a supply of bags. She takes a foam pool noodle, slices it so she can place it on the top of the bucket forming a "seat'. Along with baby wipes and toilet paper, it serves as the only toilet they have. Some have tried to sneak into the shower tent at the shelter, however, for most, the baby wipes are their way to wash up.
Therefore, the masks aren't just "dirty". They undoubtedly, more resemble a petri dish. I have just found a Lysol product just for laundry which says it removes 99% of bacteria. We will be including that!!
So, that's a long way to say, please, if you do have some extras that others don't need, wow, could we use them, please!
A Note From The Garden by Adelene Ellenberg
The Coronavirus has confined my family to our home and garden. My husband and I have worked in the garden in tandem, slowly becoming aware of Nature and its spiritual dimensions that reveal themselves in the humblest of greenery.

All to our personal benefit and sense of peace.

During the coronavirus quarantine, we have spent time together, listening to birdsong. It is delightful. We have watched a chickadee (our hardy little Massachusetts state bird) set up a nest in a tree on the edge of our property. The male flung out the inner pulp of the tree with his sharp beak, creating a hollow nest for his plain-feathered, swollen-bellied female partner. After tackling a nasty patch of thorny brambles, my husband sat on an upturned bucket, watching the bird create his nest in an afternoon. Read More
WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME
Have fun with us and bee entered to win
a $10 gift certificate to
Mama Deb's Food Truck.
Enjoy delicious fresh Italian food or purchase some sauce to take home.
 Go to mamadeb.biz for upcoming food truck events.

Historical Tidbit Question :
What are Bridgewater's geographic coordinates?
---------

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 10, 2020 we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.
Empathy. The Greatest Gift We Can Give One Another.
“Empathy is simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of you’re not alone.” ~ Brene Brown

“The highest form of knowledge is empathy.” ~ Bill Bullard

“Compassion, empathy, and love are the real pillars we need to build within ourselves to become human.” ~ Loknath

“Empathy requires knowing that you know nothing.” ~ Leslie Jamison
That last one is the hardest for me, since I am such a smarty pants. To truly empathize is to acknowledge that I have much to learn.

Empathy opened up a whole new beautiful world of genuine relationships.
As we walk through this wilderness together, let's learn from each other. Have a great week. ~ Jacquie
The Buzz Around is brought to you this week by   Jen Bellody, Janice O'Brien, Jacquelyn Rose, Kayla Rose, Gregory Venezia
  Copyright 2020 Buzz Around Bridgewater.  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 Bridgewater 6/7/20")
 
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.