December 27, 2020
~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time
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Your BuzzAround supports the dignity of all human beings, is actively anti-racist, and supportive of good law enforcement policies. |
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HO HO HO Storytime!
with Miss Holly at
Holmes Public Library
Jokes & Stories & tons of fun!
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Hoping to welcome 2021 into town with some good reads?
Check out the library's suggestions.
Wishing on this Christmas Train lots of joy in the New Year!
Image credits: J. Rose
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Wreaths and Kissing Boughs
Hanging a circular wreath of evergreens goes back a long way. In Roman times, wreaths were hung on doors as a sign of victory and status, rich women wore them as headdresses to show they were posh, and laurel wreaths were worn by Roman Emperors. They were also given to the winners of events in the original Olympic Games in Greece. (pic Advent Wreath)
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The word 'wreath' comes from the Old English word 'writhen' which means to writhe or twist. Modern holiday wreaths might have come from the German or Eastern European custom of Advent Wreaths or they could have started as Kissing Boughs. |
The Kissing Bough (or Kissing Bunch) was a popular form of mid-winter decoration in the middle ages. They were made of five wooden hoops that made the shape of a ball (four hoops vertical to form the ball and the fifth horizontal to go around the middle). The hoops were covered with holly, ivy, rosemary, bay, fir or other evergreen plants. Inside the hoops, red apples hung from red ribbons and a candle was put inside the ball or round the horizontal hoop. The bough was finished by hanging a large bunch of mistletoe from the bottom of the ball. A simple bough would just have a horizontal hoop decorated and hung with apples and mistletoe. By the late eighteenth century, the English had already adopted the custom of stealing kisses beneath a bough of mistletoe. In the nineteenth century, the English began to decorate their homes with Christmas trees. As the tree became the focal point of Christmas decorations, the kissing bough declined in popularity.
(pic Victorian Kissing Bough)
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True Kissing Boughs are rare, but not forgotten. In our modern Holiday Kissing Ball world, they are called Kissing Balls rather than Kissing Boughs. They may no longer have real fruit or candles, but they are still brimming with an array of colorful ribbons, fragrant evergreens and winter berries. They can be found in specialty boutiques and upscale greenhouses. If you can't find the perfect Kissing Ball for your festivities, create your own with some help from your friendly neighborhood craft store or an online tutorial.
(pic Kissing ball)
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(pic. Wedding Kissing Ball)
Kissing Balls are not just for the holidays anymore. They are used as garden accents, home décor and during wedding ceremonies. What plans do you have for your Kissing Ball?
~ Respectfully submitted, Jill A. Silvia
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Town Hall
781-294-1316
For needed updates, check the town website.
Holmes Public Library
781-293-2271
Council on Aging
506 Plymouth Street
781-293-7313
Office personnel available through phone
and email only. All in person activities and
events are suspended.
Food Pantries
Halifax Congregational Church
503 Plymouth St. (Rt 106)
781-293-6393
Tuesdays 2:30 - 4p
St Vincent De Paul
Our Lady of the Lake Church
580 Monponsett St, Halifax
(781) 293- 7971
2nd & 4th Saturday 9a
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Congratulations!
Kelly Marie-Coplin
won a
$20 gift certificate to
Historical Tidbit Trivia Game
at the bottom of this newsletter.
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You could win a
(Route 106)
East Bridgewater, MA 02333
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America The Beautiful... Shine Us into the New Year
As we continue to show our love and support for each other... through the darkest days... lights are going up all over town. Between now - January 14, 2021, each week, one lucky submission will receive a $25 gift certificate to... where else... Johnny Macaroni's!
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Special thanks to Candy Kniffen
for decorating planters at the Town Hall, Holmes Library, the Council on Aging, and the Congregational Church! Everything looks so festive!! Thanks also to Shirley Bent for the gorgeous holly & berries. ❄️🎄❄️🎄
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Halifax Board of Selectmen 12/10/20
Video courtesy of Area 58
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Delivering Good Cheer!
On December 16, The Order of Sons of Italy in America® Peter B. Gay Lodge #540 proved that a worldwide pandemic does not deter them from their well-known generosity of spirit and service to the community. This local chapter provided good cheer and a delicious holiday meal to members of CO-OP, a local non-profit agency supporting individuals with disabilities. This includes close to two dozen individuals living in and around Halifax, MA.
While the usual holiday party wasn’t possible this year, the Sons of Italy again teamed up with DeAvila's Restaurant & Catering to provide a celebratory lunch for CO-OP individuals and staff, all delivered to homes by the Sons of Italy Christmas elves.
According to CO-OP President and CEO, Joyce Faria, “We are so grateful that this yearly tradition continued. All of us at CO-OP are moved by a willingness to adjust to our new normal of social distancing to keep everyone safe. For the 15th consecutive year, The Columbia Cultural Trust and The Peter B. Gay Lodge gave us some holiday kindness and cheer. We sincerely thank everyone involved, especially the many members of the Gay family (David, Bethany, Francis, Willie, and Cheryl), Lodge President Richard Simmons and family members Gil and Carol, John Uva, Louis Loura, Kathy Campanirio, Peter Nascimento, Carlos and Joy DeAvila, and Taunton Councilman John McCaul, affectionately known as our Biggest Elf. This act of kindness made many people happy.”
About CO-OP
CO-OP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supporting local citizens with disabilities in a variety of residential and day programs, employment supports, and clinical services. Founded in 1972 and currently serving approximately 450 individuals and family members in Southeastern Massachusetts, CO-OP’s mission focuses on individualized services and community participation.
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1000 Plymouth St (Rt 104) • Bridgewater • (508) 697-0357
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Shared with us by South Shore Hospital's Youth Health Connection:
Calm Classroom offers a variety of resources to help our young children center and cope with this stressful world: including 3 minute recorded meditations.
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Calm Classroom
Self-awareness is the ability to be aware of one's inner life-one's emotions, thoughts, behaviors, values, goals, strengths, challenges, attitudes, mindsets- and how these elements impact our decisions.
Read more
calmclassroom.com
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Snow Plow Drivers and Contractors Wanted
The Highway Department is accepting applications for licensed drivers with plow driving experience to drive a town truck during snow storms.
We are also still looking for experienced plow truck contractors for the upcoming winter season. Ability to work long-hours in emergency snow events. Increased rates - differ according to truck and plow size. Please stop into Highway Barn, 60 Hemlock Lane for an informational packet/application or email karyn.thompson@halifax-ma.org. |
Our Annual Tide Calendar is available for purchase!
Taunton River Watershed Alliance
Due to unprecedented entries we did TWO calendars this year - our annual tide calendar and a one-time only avian calendar.
Both are gorgeous - these would make great holiday gifts!!
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United Way of Greater Plymouth County informational workshop
for any nonprofit interested in applying for FY2022 (July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022) United Way funding.
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Snow date January 15, 2021
9a to 11a
Virtually via Zoom
All interested agencies, including first time applicants, are required to attend the workshop to be eligible for funding consideration.
With a mission to “unite people, ideas and resources to improve the lives of people in Greater Plymouth County”.
Initiatives this funding cycle must pertain to these five LIVE UNITED Community Recovery areas:
• Feeding Our Families (Health)
• Preventing Evictions & Ending Homelessness (Financial Stability)
• Accessing Affordable Health Services (Health)
• Returning to Learning for Our Children & Youth (Education)
• Aspiring to Hire for Our Recently Unemployed (Financial Stability)
Critical to our work in meeting these needs is the realization that for people of diverse backgrounds these challenges are greater and deeper in terms of their degree and complexity. This means that we must direct significantly greater attention and enhance our sensitivity to the issues of race, equity and justice as we design our solutions to our communities’ problems.
Request for Proposal (RFP’s) packets will be available online following the workshop.
Anyone interested in attending, RSVP to Kim Allen, Director of Community Relations & Marketing, United Way of Greater Plymouth County, kallen@uwgpc.org.
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Celebrate the season with the Symphony with this re-broadcast of our 2019 Holiday Pops!
Dr. Emilian Badea conducts your holiday favorites plus gems of the repertoire, including Sleigh Ride, Ave Maria, The Cat Duet, our festive sing-along, and much more!
Featuring:
Dana Lynne Varga, soprano
Megan Roth, mezzo-soprano
Angel Valchinov, violin
Jacqueline DeVoe, piccolo
Brockton's South Middle School Chorus, directed by Kate M. Higgins
Enjoy this festive production as part of "Music Matters," the Brockton Symphony’s Virtual Performance Series with monthly live recorded concerts to enjoy from the comfort of your home.
Music Matters is produced in partnership with the Brockton Public Library with the support of Brockton Community Access and the Fuller Craft Museum.
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Stonecroft Farm
Lessons * Boarding * Sales
* Indoor / Outdoor ring
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Ride our safe, school horses.
Lessons for ages 4 & up
36 years experience
$55 / 45-min lesson
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108 Belmont St, West Bridgewater
(508)245-3432
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52 Weeks Logo & Link Ad in 1 Hive
For $99 / each month put your ad in 1 Buzz Around town each week.
Read more
buzzaround.info
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Remembrances
of Holidays in Halifax Past.
Walk with us as we enjoy familiar sights and sounds.
Happy Holidays
Sue Basile & Jacquie Rose
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WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME
Have fun with us and bee
entered to win a
(Route 106)
East Bridgewater, MA 02333
Historical Tidbit Question:
The Kissing Bough is made out of what materials?
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 December 30, 2020 we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.
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The Buzz Around is brought to you this week by: Jen Bellody, Theresa McNulty, Janice O'Brien, & Jacquelyn Rose |
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Each time Frosty the Snowman comes to life, he exclaims "Happy Birthday!"
His vivaciousness is contagious. He bounces and dances around, leading a parade, sliding in the snow, fooling around.
We enjoy characters who make a big deal and spread joy, but Frosty goes beyond, he takes care of Karen with little thought of himself when he sees her getting cold.
He really didn't consider that the evil of the world (Professor Hinkle) would lock him inside the greenhouse, causing his demise.
But if he did, would he not have comforted Karen anyway? I think he would have been more aware, but he still would have given his unbounding love.
And his reward for giving unbounding love? Santa grants everlasting life, pronouncing Frosty is constructed of Christmas Snow, which will magically appear each year.
So what does Frosty teach us?
To live each day, giving all we can, living and loving out loud, and our life spirit will live on. Just like Christmas. Just like Frosty, we can pronounce each day: " HAAAPPY BIRRTHDAY!"
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And so, dear reader, happy birthday to you! ~ Jacquie |
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Copyright 2020 Buzz Around Halifax. 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 Halifax 12/27/2020").
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.
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