July 28, 2024



~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time.

Congratulations Appointees 

The 7/23/24 Whitman Select Board meeting voted to appoint citizens to town boards. Congratulations to all who were appointed and thank you for your dedication to our community.

New appointments are listed below: 

Sean Simmons - Member Historical Commission; Robert Lelievre - Associate Member Historical Commission; Lorna Holbrook - Historical Commission Representative; LeAnne Mackenzie - Member Conservation Commission

Written by Tiana Frias, BuzzAround Intern

Source: Town of Whitman Site

Video Courtesy of WHCA- TV

Whitman Recreation Commission

July 18, 2024

Video courtesy of WHCA9TV

Animal World Experience

Wed, Jul 31

6-7p

Whitman Public Library

Bring your children aged 3 and up to Animal World Experience for an exciting educational adventure! This event offers the most fun and interactive animal presentations, engaging kids of all ages. They'll not only learn about various animals but also develop a deeper respect and awareness for wildlife.

No registration is needed for this event and it will be located in the Community Room.

For more information, go to The Whitman Public Library Site

Dr. Chris Jones, Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School: Practicing Gratitude w/ Mike McCarthy

Mike McCarthy has been teaching for 15 years. 11 of those in a primary catholic school and 4 in a private school in Shanghai, China. He holds a strong belief that being human is very important when it comes to working with children in any setting at any age. After facing both ups and downs in his career, Mike came upon the concept of gratitude on his travels in Vietnam and realized how essential it is to practice to increase the amount of joyous moments you experience.

As a result he tries to impress that thought on his students and those he meets. He is the creator of a newsletter focused on spreading gratitude and spends his time looking for connections with other people and enjoying the beauty of life.

The Whitman Public Library's Top Items



The Whitman Public Library just released its most circulated items. The most popular item was their mobile hotspot, which they stated is a great resource for those who don't have internet access at home or at a vacation location.

Their most popular book, however, is "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt. This book has been out for a while and is described as a charming read. Other popular books include "Look Closer" by David Ellis, "Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?" by Nicci French, and "The Talk of Coyote Canyon" by Brenda Novak.

Source: The Whitman Public Library FB

WHK Middle School Hockey Program Registration

Jul 5-Jul 30

Bridgewater Ice Arena

WHK volunteered to begin coordinating the middle school hockey teams for the Silver Lake and Whitman-Hanson school districts. There will be separate teams for each district. The goal for the teams is to group the players by grade to the best of our abilities.

The Middle School program plays on Friday nights throughout the hockey season, with games only. The 2024-2025 Season Middle School teams will continue to play in the Baystate Hockey League, formerly known as the Bog League. This league is composed of local Patriot League town teams that participate in three different levels (Green, White, Red). This league is challenging and competitive for our players.

Middle schoolers in grades 6-8 who want to play for Silver Lake Middle School hockey teams next season should register before the due date on July 30. The registration fee is $75. The 2024-2025 season tuition for players is $600, and the goalie tuition is $300.

Evaluation skates will be held on August 14 at the Bridgewater Ice Arena.

For more information go to the WHKWHK SiteSite

Kindergarten Meetup 

Fri, Aug 9

1-3p 

Whitman Public Library 

Calling all new kindergarteners! Whitman Public Library will be hosting a kindergarten meetup for the kids including storytime, game playing, craft making and making new friends. This is a great opportunity for kids about to start school to meet others and enjoy the last days of summer! 

Source: Whitman Public Library Eventkeeper 

Climate Can Do:

Seasonal Food and Farmers Markets

Going to a farmers market is a wonderful activity to do with family, friends, or alone, and it also helps the planet. 

Local and Seasonal Food

Farmers markets sell primarily local food. Vendors travel from their farms to the market. Because the food travels a shorter distance from the farm to the consumer, less gas is burned for transportation. Local produce is seasonal— strawberries in late spring and early summer, peaches and watermelon in the middle of summer, grapes and apples in the fall, squashes in the winter. It is fresh, nutrient rich with more taste. Additionally, smaller farmers are more likely to pay their workers a living wage than huge factory farms. 

Avoid Monocrop Farming

Smaller farmers are less likely to use monocropping. Planting a single crop over and over again in the same space harms the soil, requires more pesticides, and adds harmful runoff of chemicals to local water supplies.

Accessibility

Farmers markets increase access to fresh, high-quality food in lower-income communities. Since farmers who sell at the markets typically travel around to different locations in the surrounding area of their farms, they can provide better, healthier food choices for communities that do not have access to them.

Reduced Plastic Waste

Farmers market products are not typically wrapped in plastic, or pre-cut and packaged, as in grocery stores. This reduces plastic waste. 

This Climate Can-Do Article was written by Vasilia Yordanova on actions we can do to live more sustainably. We can do it!

Source: news.climate.columbia.edu

Whitman Summer Concerts in The Park 2024 - Featuring, Knock On Wood

Video Courtesy of WHCA

Massachusetts Offers The First Statewide Arts Prescribing Solution

As of Jul 8, 2024

The Mass Cultural Council has just announced that it will be partnering with Art Pharmacy Services as part of the very first statewide art prescribing solution in the country! This means that healthcare workers will start prescribing art and cultural events as a part of their healthcare treatment. This will provide a wider range of treatments for people's quality of life. The Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council Michael J. Bobbitt stated "The Mass Cultural Council believes this initiative will increase access to participation in the arts, help reduce health care costs, and support vulnerable communities in Massachusetts.”

The Art Pharmacy is an organization that combines both decades of art and health research along with a social prescribing model in order to treat complicated health issues in this country. Multiple countries, such as Great Britain, have used social prescribing as a treatment plan. Social prescribing involves referring patients to cultural and artistic events and organizations to address mental health issues like stress or loneliness.

Source: Whitman Cultural Council FB

Thank You Whitman Day 2024 Volunteers!



The Third Annual Whitman Day 2024 has just passed with a major success. Special appearances from Carrie Mays, Miss Whitman and Alyssa Babineau, Miss Whitman Teen.

Carrie Mays performed a stunning performance singing the National Anthem at the start of the event. The event was then followed by a puppy parade and a special live band performance by The Corvairs and another performance by DJ Mary.

Of course, none of these events would be possible without the Whitman Cultural Council, as well as the volunteers and vendors that helped run the event.

Don Buyers, one of the major volunteers of the event, stated "I think we've had an even larger turnout with volunteers, clubs, organizations, businesses, all community groups here to share with everyone what they do and to get people involved." A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this day happen.

Written by: Julia Braaz, BuzzAround Intern

Source: Whitman Day Video WHCA TV

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