If you have received this email as a forward and wish to subscribe to the Westborough Connects mailing list, please click HERE. For previous newsletters, click HERE.
|
|
Hello Neighbors and Friends -
There is much to feel positive about here in our "neck of the woods." More people are vaccinated everyday and returning to "normal" activities - family and friends spending time together, kids going to school, planning ahead for a summer with more options, etc.! Sunshine, budding trees and longer days help. But, my heart breaks for India and for my friends and neighbors who are here but worrying about family, friends and co-workers there. My heart is also heavy for those in the community who are still isolated, sick or struggling in other ways. As part of a connected and caring community, we need to continue reaching out to each other - with kindness and patience - while also taking care of ourselves.
Westborough Unplugs begins tomorrow and runs through May 9th. Westborough Connects, Westborough Recreation and several partners have planned some fun activities for people during National Screen-Free Week (see below). We knew this year called for something small and manageable. We will continue to build on this initiative each year and seek input and involvement from organizations, businesses and the community at-large!
Tomorrow also starts Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3rd-7th). As the daughter and granddaughter of teachers, a mom of 3 school-aged children, and someone with many teacher friends, I am grateful and humbled by their impact on my life. Over the years, my kids have experienced the incredible dedication and talent of their own WPS teachers - long before COVID-19 necessitated a complete shift in all the ways that teachers do what they do. COVID-19 has placed an even greater burden and responsibility on teachers' shoulders and sometimes landed them in the crosshairs of heated community debate over many complex decisions with scores of different perspectives and stakeholders. While serving one of the most important functions in our society, they have also dealt with the pandemic impacts that the rest of us have in our own personal and family lives. I know many teachers (and others in the school community) are exhaustedly inching towards the finish line of this 2020-2021 school year and I simply want to say THANK YOU!
Finally, May 12th marks Eid al-Fitr, or the Festival of Breaking the Fast, for Muslims across the world. To our community members celebrating, Eid Mubarak!
Yours in community,
Kelley Petralia
Executive Director, Westborough Connects
kelleyconnects1@gmail.com
|
|
Grateful for Support of Westborough Connects |
|
Thank you
Central One Federal Credit Union
for being a
2021 BRIDGE BUILDER
sponsor of Westborough Connects
|
|
Financial Sponsorship Makes Our Work Possible! All of our programs and resources (including this newsletter!) are available to the community for free. However, they are not free to produce. We need financial support to continue our work and are currently seeking individuals, businesses and organizations who are able to contribute to Westborough Connects.
If you believe in the Westborough Connects mission of promoting a more connected and kind community where everybody feels like they belong, and are in a position to support the work, please contact Kelley Petralia (kelleyconnects1@gmail.com) or Bill Linnane (welinnane@gmail.com).
|
|
Westborough Unplugs includes initiatives hosted by several partners, including:
Westborough Public Library, Westborough Public Schools, Nourse Farm, Veg Out @ Nourse Farm, Westborough Community Land Trust, Tatnuck Bookseller, Release Well-Being Center
For more details on partner plans for the week, click HERE. You can also check it out on Facebook HERE.
|
|
Upcoming Emotional Resilience Training
for Young Adults & Caregivers
|
|
|
|
Westborough Youth & Family Services (WYFS), in collaboration with Westborough Connects, seeks community members to participate in a FREE virtual training session aimed to foster resilience while facing the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program is called Reach Out Westborough and it is funded through a grant from the Metro West Health Foundation.
|
|
Goals of the training:
-
Recognize signs and symptoms of mental health distress, beyond day-to-day stress.
-
Address the unique ways that specific groups may be vulnerable to distress due to the pandemic.
-
Identify tools and strategies to manage distress.
-
Learn how to support others who are in distress.
-
Learn about resources and access help.
Upcoming training sessions (duration 1.5 hours):
-
Caregivers: May 4th and May 7th
-
Young Adults: May 12th
Click HERE for more information.
|
|
Questions? Want more information first?
Call or email Cara Presley, Director of WYFS: presleyc@town.westborough.ma.us, 508-366-3090.
|
|
Community Programs and Events |
|
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.
|
|
This program encourages students across Massachusetts to walk, bike, or roll to school on Wednesday, May 5.
Click HERE for more information.
Tip: Students and families living further than walking distance away from their school can drive closer to their school, park their car, and walk, bike or roll the rest of the way.
|
|
The Adventure of Book Collecting
Co-hosted by Westborough Historical Society and the Westborough Public Library Center for History & Culture
Monday, May 24, 7 - 8:30pm
Ken Gloss, proprietor of the famous Brattle Book Shop in Boston, will discuss book collecting—what makes a book valuable and which authors to look for. A frequent guest appraiser on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow, he will describe the joys of the “hunt,” plus guidelines for starting a collection. If you would like a book appraised, please submit a photo and description of the book plus your mobile number before Friday, May 21, to info@brattlebookshop.com. During the program, Mr. Gloss will select books to appraise that illustrate important characteristics and will appraise all others privately.
Click HERE to register for this program.
|
|
Westborough Senior Center is hosting older adults in the community at a.....
|
|
Location: Westborough Senior Center parking lot, 4 Rogers Road
RSVP: 508-366-3000 to let them know you can attend!
|
|
The Westborough High School Parade Committee for the Class of 2021 wants everyone to save the date for June 5th at 10am. We will share more exciting details coming soon....
Follow the planning on Facebook HERE.
|
|
Westborough Wildflower Hunt
Hosted by Westborough Community Land Trust
March-June 2021
Help WCLT inventory the wildflowers on our properties by taking part in this fun scavenger hunt! Check the WCLT Facebook page HERE every month for posted pictures of wildflowers that bloom that month. If you see those flowers in Westborough, comment with a picture and include where you saw them. Have fun and learn to identify local wildflowers at the same time! PLEASE, absolutely no picking flowers or damaging plants!
|
|
Upcoming SPARK Kindness Programs |
|
Tuesday, May 11th, 7pm (via Zoom)
Award-winning bilingual journalist and author of Perfectly You: Embracing the Power of Being Real, Mariana Atencio will tell you how to achieve what you want in your life through inner strength, innovation, self-control, and a proven formula to increase productivity, well-being, and success on your own terms. This program will be offered in Spanish with simultaneous ASL and English translation.
Click HERE for more information and to register.
|
|
Tuesday, May 25, 7pm (via Zoom)
For elementary and middle school students and their parents/caregivers, educators and community members of all ages
Celebrated disability rights activist and author Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins will share her award winning book, All the Way to the Top which addresses the struggle for inclusion and the fight for equality in our country. Ms. Keelan-Chaffins will also encourage young people to use their voices to make a positive difference. ASL interpretation will be provided at this event.
Click HERE for more information and to register.
|
|
Opportunities for Connection; Helping Others & the Environment |
|
The Westborough Public Library is excited to host the 2021 Adopt-A-Senior Project. The goal of the project is to shower our high school seniors with some extra love. It’s been a stressful year with so many changes and cancellations. Let’s show them that we’re thinking of them and so very proud of them.
Here’s How You Can Help:
-
Adopt-a-Senior Care Package: There are over 300 high school seniors that will need to be adopted. Complete this form and you will be matched with a senior. You will receive an email with helpful information about your senior. Adopters are asked to put together a special care package for their senior. The goal is to spread some extra sunshine (NOT spend a lot of money). We suggest some candy and a gift card to a local favorite. ALL adopters are asked to bring their gifts to the Westborough Public Library during the last week of May. Library staff will make sure seniors get their gifts during the week prior to graduation.
-
Decorate a card: Add your design and finishing touches to one of THESE CARDS (print them out or go to the library to pick up a printed version). Deliver finished cards to the library (collection basket located by the hallway bulletin board.
|
|
Service Opportunity: Launch Boxes
Sponsored by Rotary Club of Westborough
May 15, 3:30-5:30pm
Now that the spring is finally here and the weather is lovely, it's the perfect time to come together as a community and build "Launch Boxes." Our goal is to assemble 20 Launch Boxes for young adults who are transitioning out of the foster system. In order to reach this goal we need your help!
Rotary Club of Westborough is seeking volunteers to help assemble the Launch Boxes. The event date is Saturday, May 15, at the Bay State Commons. There are many ways you can volunteer--before the event, at the event, and after the event. Click HERE for the signup sheet.
|
|
Community Engagement & Input Needed |
|
Westborough Master Plan Public Survey #2 is open on the town website until 5/10/2021 to gather additional public feedback.
While there is A LOT to consider, the Master Plan Advisory Committee appreciates community input to help the committee refine and prioritize Westborough's draft Goals and Actions.
The committee requests that community members complete this survey to the greatest extent possible. If time is a constraint, however, feel free to focus on at least three of the Master Plan Elements (e.g., Land Use, Housing, etc.) of most concern.
Click HERE to participate in the survey. Deadline is May 10th.
|
|
The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Committee (CMRPC) is currently soliciting youth input (ages 12-20) in its Youth Regional Plan Survey to better understand the needs and interests of young residents and to inform decisions about the best use of financial and staff resources directed to youth programs and services. The survey asks questions about transportation, health and mental health, career readiness, job opportunities, and entertainment. According to CMPRC, "We believe that engaging youth in local planning offers a number of benefits to our communities and to the young people who live in Southern Worcester County. By engaging young people, we will gain invaluable input to support development of the Comprehensive Regional Plan, especially (but not only) with regard to the needs and issues most relevant to youth."
Click HERE by May 10th to participate in the survey (ages 12-20 only, please).
|
|
Annual Town Meeting
Saturday, May 15th, 9am Westborough High School.
This is an opportunity for registered voters in town to decide matters related to town spending and governance.
HERE is a link to the town warrant for the meeting (the list of articles to be voted upon).
|
|
Westborough Farmer's Market Returns |
|
Rotary Club of Westborough Spearheads Revival of Farmers' Market for 2021
In early 2021, when Dismas Farms announced that they were no longer able to support the Westborough Farmers' Market, Rotary Club of Westborough (WRC) stepped in to make it happen.
WRC, with the support of other civic organizations in town and a team at the Congregational Church, will be coordinating volunteers and vendors to bring the town another wonderful season of the Farmers' Market.
Community Volunteers Needed! The next big step is coordinating that help, so if you are interested in learning more or volunteering any amount of time this summer, please reach out to farmers@westboroughrotary.org
|
|
-
The beautiful sounds of live music can again be heard in Westborough, as Westborough Public Schools Fine Arts performances have resumed! The Westborough Fine Arts Education Association website features video links for several of the performances. Check them out HERE.
-
Westborough Public Library has re-opened its front doors (among many new recent developments) as the library increases the services it is able to provide again to the community. For more details, click HERE. Don't forget to check out their events calendar too. More being added all the time!
-
Westborough Youth & Family Services has updated its Resource List for the community. It offers information across a comprehensive set of resources. Find it HERE. (Translated versions in multiple languages are also available through the link).
-
Charlotte Spinney's birthday was April 21st. Charlotte was a Westborough teacher, a Rotarian and an incredibly active community member right up until her death in 2019. Her legacy through the Charlotte Spinney Vision Scholarship in Westborough exemplifies community connection and resilience. If you have not yet heard of it, you can find out more information HERE.
|
|
Noteworthy Reads and Resources |
|
-
On April 14th, Westborough Connects and Westborough Public Library co-hosted a virtual program on learned hopefulness featuring Dr. Dan Tomasulo. You can watch the program on demand HERE, thanks to Westborough TV. You can also read the follow-up email we sent to registrants HERE, which re-caps key points from the program and offers a curated list of resources.
|
|
- You'll find the latest edition of the Community Wellness Guide HERE (in English, Spanish and Portuguese). This monthly resource is provided for you and your family respectfully submitted by Roger Anderson & Kim Tynan (Westborough Public Schools) & Cara Presley (Westborough Youth & Family Services). This month's focus is Hope and Resilience.
|
|
"A tree's beauty lies in its branches, but its strength lies in its roots."
-Matshona Dhliwayo
|
|
|
|
Westborough Connects is supported by Reliant Foundation, through its Community Grants Program. This enables Westborough Connects to continue its mission of building a connected, kind and resilient community. |
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
