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Hello Neighbors and Friends -
Happy New Year! (right? right!)
In a recent training on emotional resilience from our Reach Out Westborough collaboration with Westborough Youth & Family Services, I was reminded that humor can be a powerful tool in our personal resilience "toolbox." So, I thought I would share a New Year's meme that I found funny: "Nobody claim 2022 as 'your year.' We're all going to walk in real slow. Be good. Be quiet. Be cautious and respectful. Don't touch anything" (author unknown). It made me laugh.
On a more serious note, my thoughts go back and forth to the many people, businesses and organizations I know who are impacted by this current surge of COVID-19. I am doing my best to focus, once again, on taking things slowly and giving myself a break when I lose focus, patience or energy. It's a lot. Again.
Yet, we still have a lot to look forward to as a community and that is what this newsletter is all about!
Coming up in less than 2 weeks! We hope you will join us for the 4th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration, an annual day of gathering together as a community in a meaningful way to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Please read on for details and registration link.
Also, Westborough Connects is in the midst of a strategic planning initiative. As part of that, we want to hear from YOU! Please be on the lookout for an email survey next week. We REALLY want your help in understanding the impact of our work and feedback to guide us in how and what we do moving forward.
Please stay safe and kind to one another.
Yours in community,
Kelley Petralia
Executive Director, Westborough Connects
kelleyconnects1@gmail.com
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Thank YOU for Supporting Westborough Connects |
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We did it! We raised $11,966 from 133 donations during our 2021 Annual Appeal, with an additional $10,000 match from a generous donor, for a GRAND TOTAL of:
$21,966!
On behalf of the entire Westborough Connects organization,
THANK YOU!
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Register today for our program on January 17th |
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Partial grant funding provided by: |
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Join our upcoming program planning team |
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Did your kids recently graduate? Have you recently retired? Are you thinking about what connects you to Westborough?
Westborough Connects will begin planning for the follow-up to its "Aging Enjoyably in a Connected Westborough" program and community showcase. This program highlights the many ways to connect into the community of Westborough as a resident - beyond the years of raising a family or building a career.
We plan to assemble a volunteer planning team and meet at the end of January/beginning of February.
Interested? Take this Doodle Poll to select a planning meeting date or email kelleyconnects1@gmail.com to let us know you'd like to be part of it.
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Community Programs and Events |
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PLEASE NOTE: A goal of this newsletter is to highlight free, community-focused events that are open to all and bring us together. We do our best to keep up with all the great things going on around town, but we need your help! Please reach out and let us know about any events that would be important to include! Email us at westboroughconnects@gmail.com. Thank you.
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“Remembering the 1918 Influenza Pandemic in the Age of COVID”
Monday, January 10, 2022, 7pm
Presented by Westborough Civic Club and Westborough Historical Society
Lecture by Professor Ben Railton, Professor of English and American Studies at Fitchburg State University.
This program explores why the "Spanish Flu" of 1918-1921 was both misunderstood in its own era and largely forgotten for the next century, although five times as many Americans died in this global pandemic than did in WWI. Prof. Railton is the author of six books, most recently, Of Thee I Sing: The Contested History of American Patriotism (2021). His scholarship includes the daily "American Studies" blog, the bimonthly “Considering History” column for the Saturday Evening Post, and contributions to online conversations, including HuffPost and We’re History.
The program is free and open to the public. To register for this Zoom presentation, please click HERE
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A Winter Walk Into History
Hosted by Westborough Community Land Trust
The former Westborough State Hospital is surrounded by beautiful woods as well as interesting history. This walk put on by the Westborough Community Land Trust begins at the new pavilion on the shore of Lake Chauncy. Here a brief introduction to the fascinating story of Westborough State Hospital will be given, illustrated by historical plaques in the pavilion. We will then enjoy the crisp air and winter views on a two-mile walk exploring some of the lesser-known trails in the adjacent Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area, on woodland trails with some small hills. Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way [formerly Hospital Road] off Lyman Street in Westborough. Go straight up the hill, past the soccer fields on your left. Then take the very last left turn before the parking lot for the condo building. Where that road meets the lakeshore, park in the lot near the yellow gate. Meet at the pavilion by the parking area. No reservation needed. Check HERE for weather cancellations before setting out: For questions, contact events@westboroughlandtrust.org
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Opportunities for Connection, Civic Engagement, and Helping Others & the Environment |
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Bridging Buddies
A Westborough Connects initiative for intergenerational connection
Do you, an aging parent, or other close family member living in Westborough seek cross-generational connection with another adult community member from Westborough?
Do you want to feel like you are helping ease the loneliness of another community member?
Join Bridging Buddies, a program that pairs community members across generations who are interested in corresponding with someone via letter writing, phone calls or email. To express interest in being a "buddy" or to learn more about how it works, email Janet Hart (hartfamily04@verizon.net).
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The Westborough Town Seal Review Committee Seeks Public Input from YOU! |
Information Gathering Session
January 16, 2022
Westborough Senior Center
Rogers Road
Community members will have an opportunity to share their thoughts. Click HERE for information about the session. Any resident of Westborough can also submit comments by emailing one-page, double-spaced comments to: townsealreview@town.westborough.ma.us or dropping off written comments at the Town Clerk’s Office, 34 West Main Street, Westborough, MA 01581. All comments must include the name and address of the author.
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The Free Holiday Store, a collaboration between Westborough Youth & Family Services and Rotary Club of Westborough, served over 160 families and 340 children this past December! This was made possible through the generous donations of many throughout the community.
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The Westborough Veterans' Advisory Board recently launched a tribute program honoring Westborough veterans with banners of respective veterans displayed on the downtown light poles. The program is currently accepting applications from veterans and family members to begin the program before Memorial Day 2022. The banners will remain on display for eight weeks from mid-May through July and then again beginning October 1st until after Veterans Day. With over 550 military veterans currently living in Westborough, the Town of Westborough has many to thank for their military service to our country. The WVAB is committed to recognizing and honoring the dedicated service provided by all veterans in providing our individual freedoms. Applications are available at the Town Hall, Senior Center, on the WVAB website HERE, or by sending a request to the WVAB at Town Hall. The banners will display the veteran’s image, military branch, and period of service. For further information or to donate to the program, please contact the WVAB at 508-366-3085.
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Noteworthy Reads and Resources |
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This short video (4m35s) from the Addiction Policy Forum offers 12 tips for parents and caregivers to help with prevention of substance addiction in children.
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Like many organizations, the Westborough Public Library has had to shift its programming due to the current surge. They are still offering a number of great programs across different ages. Check out their updated calendar HERE.
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"Finding Awe in the Ordinary" (1m50s) is a sweet reminder that small things can be big (Greater Good Science Center).
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As a supplement to the 2021 MLK Community Celebration, a Westborough Connects team led by Kate Storm and Nuray Wallace published a monthly Racial Justice Toolkit e-newsletter, with a goal of helping program participants recommit to doing the work that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has inspired in each one of us. Each month’s toolkit featured a theme and included recommendations for things to read, listen to, watch, or do. HERE is a link to the final edition in December "Bring the Light." You can read all of them HERE. A very special thank you to Kate and Nuray for creating such a wonderful, easy-to-read and accessible resource for all.
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"For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people's love and concern for each other."
-Millard Fuller
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About Westborough Connects
Westborough Connects is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN # 84-1751472) focused on building a more connected and kind community where everybody feels like they belong. Often in partnership with others, Westborough Connects creates opportunities to support and celebrate the diversity, spirit, and character of Westborough through programs and events that are community-based, strengths-based and dedicated to connecting people to resources and each other.
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2022 Westborough Connects Grant Sponsor |
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westboroughconnects@gmail.com l www.westboroughconnects.org |
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