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Photo location: Westborough
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Hello Neighbors and Friends -
We had a great time at Westborough for Life! Stay. Connect. Thrive. where over 330 exhibitors, "funtivities" instructors, mini-course instructors, volunteers and attendees came together to discover all the things there are to offer adults for a thriving and fun lifetime in Westborough. We've heard from many of you who were unable to attend that you are sorry you missed it. Not to worry - this will be an annual event! As soon as we have next year's date, we will share it.
You may have noticed something different at the top of this newsletter. We are THRILLED to unveil our new logo, designed by Whitney Scott Design in Westborough. It's another exciting step in our growth as an organization.
We have some great events coming up, so read on to get all the details on our Dia de los Muertos celebration (Oct 28) and a save the date for our 5th (WOW) celebration of Kindness Week.
Happy Diwali to those who will celebrate this beautiful holiday of light.
Yours in community,
Kelley Petralia
Executive Director, Westborough Connects
kelleyconnects1@gmail.com
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Upcoming Westborough Connects Program |
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Celebrate with us! All ages welcome at this family-friendly event!
*Watch Disney PIXAR's Coco*
(in English with Spanish subtitles)
*Create paper Ofrendas*
(bring a photo of a deceased loved one)
*Enjoy light refreshments*
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Kickoff to Kindness Week
November 12th, 11am-1pm
Westborough High School, 90 W. Main Street
All ages welcome!
Be "on the lookout" for a sign-up sheet offering service opportunities for individuals and families for the morning of November 12th, 9-11am.
Make plans to save some Halloween treats for a candy drive we will be hosting during the Kickoff event.
And, lots more!
More details coming soon....
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Thank you to our sponsors! |
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Westborough Connects relies on local business support and we are grateful to our new
Friend of Westborough Connects
sponsors:
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Are you interested in learning about how you might be able to support Westborough Connects?
If so, we'd love to hear from you!
Please email Kelley Petralia (kelleyconnects1@gmail.com).
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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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SAVE THE DATE
Celebrate Diwali
The Festival of Lights!
October 19th, 5-8pm
BORO Sugar Shack
15 East Main Street
Join with family and friends for a fun-filled evening of music, dance, Henna, activities and a cultural program.
Registration information to follow. Contact BORO Sugar Shack at 508-523-0169 for information.
Co-hosted by BORO Sugar Shack, The BORO Program, India Society of Worcester (ISW)
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Co-sponsored by the Westborough Center for History and Culture in the Westborough Public Library and the Westborough Historical Society. |
Come for a twilight walking tour of downtown Westborough with visits to scenes of crime, murder, and mayhem that took place in our town. Wander the streets as you hear tales of Westborough's seedy underbelly, with a cast of criminals and events that are sure to put a chill down your spine.
Location: We will start at the steps of the Westborough Public Library and end at the Central House on South Street.
This program is free and open to the public. Due to the nature of the content and the walking distance, attendance is limited to young adults and older. Pre-registration is required, click HERE.
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Hosted by Westborough Recreation and Westborough Economic Development Committee, with cooperation and generous participation from many of the downtown Westborough businesses and town departments.
*NOTE: As the date approaches, check the Westborough Recreation website HERE for a map of participating locations.
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Congratulations to
Amber Bock and Karen Henderson!
Each year, the Westborough Boy Scouts present the Good Scout Award to individuals who have demonstrated integrity and genuine concern for others in both their professional and personal lives.
Amber Bock and Karen Henderson are the 2022 recipients of the Good Scout Award. Click HERE to read about their incredible contributions to the community and learn more about the annual Good Scout Award Dinner, which will take place on Tuesday, November 1st.
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TWO UPCOMING PROGRAMS FROM THE WESTBOROUGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Downtown Architectural Walking Tour with Music
Hosted by preservationist Chris Noonan and folk singer Luanne Crosby.
Sunday, October 30th, 1pm
This walk will cover culturally important and historic areas downtown--buildings, landscapes, structures, monuments and cemeteries that were planned, designed and/or constructed before 1970. Along the tour the basic three categories of the Community Preservation Act {CPA)--affordable housing, historic preservation and open space/recreation--will be discussed and viewed from the public way. Site-specific potential projects will be visited, using visioning techniques (a couple of minutes at each site will imagine what might be possible). Various Town officials will share their expertise and experiences in the three areas along the route. Meet at the Rotary near Westborough TV. Free.
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"The Truth Behind the Tales – The Nipmuc presence in Westborough"
by Cheryll Toney Holley, Leader of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band in Grafton.
November 7th, 7pm on Zoom
This talk explores Nipmuc tribal oral history, especially Westborough’s Nipmuc stories, and uncovers the historic basis and Nipmuc perspectives behind each story. Please register at Westborough Historical Society's website: westboroughhistory.org
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Upcoming SPARK Kindness Program - YOU are invited! |
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October 12th, 7-8:30pm
Online event
For parents, caregivers, educators, and community members of all ages
In this small group interactive program, SPARK Founder and Executive Director Christine Guthery will share: (1) the reasons why courageous conversations are important; (2) why they are challenging; and (3) the tools, strengths (and super powers) that allow us to manage them successfully.
This program will focus on practical strategies and how to harness our strengths to have conversations that matter at work, at home, and in the community! Feel free to share scenarios that you would like to address in your registration form. Limit 30 registrants. ASL Interpretation will be provided at this event.
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Opportunities for Connection, Civic Engagement, and Helping Others & the Environment |
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Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities for Westborough Connects
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Face painting, October 28th from 6:45-8pm (no experience necessary, just a creative mind).
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Hanging event flyers around town
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Kickoff to Kindness activities, November 12th from 11am-1pm
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These are just some of the volunteer needs over the next month. If you're interested in these or to learn about others, please email Cheryl Thomas (cherylconnects2@gmail.com). |
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Westborough
Special Town Meeting
Monday, October 17th, 7pm
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). Early voting schedule is HERE.
THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS OCTOBER 29TH.
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Westborough Senior Center is in need of drivers to help bring people to local medical appointments outside of Westborough. If you have a few hours to spare (even on an occasional basis), this is a great opportunity to help out a neighbor.
If you're interested, contact MaryEllen Cibelli at (508)366-3000 x 5176.
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Westborough American Legion Post 163 is seeking new members!
The American Legion is the largest wartime veterans service organization with nearly 2 million members and more than 12,000 posts in communities throughout America. The American Legion, established by an act of Congress in 1919, was instrumental in getting the original GI Bill through Congress and the creation of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Today, the organization is active throughout the United States, supporting current military personnel and veterans, sponsoring American Legion Baseball, Boys State, Oratorical Contests and other activities for youth, and pushing for the adoption of a constitutional amendment to prohibit desecration of the U.S. flag.
Local Post 163 Meets monthly at the Senior Center and the meetings last 60-90 minutes. So far we have sponsored middle school basketball, baseball, and WHS Honor Society scholarship.
Veterans can contact John Gallignah directly for membership information at usnr1967@gmail.com.
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We had a great time connecting at Westborough for Life! Stay. Connect. Thrive. Thank you to Westborough TV for capturing the day in this short video.
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The Westborough Community Land Trust celebrated 25 years this month! Read about this great local organization in this Community Advocate article.
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Noteworthy Reads and Resources |
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It's Emotional Wellness Month and we wanted to take the opportunity to re-share the bulletin we recently sent out about the new Reach Out Westborough video series as part of a project led by Westborough Youth & Family Services, in collaboration with Westborough Connects. You'll find it HERE.
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Halloween comes at the end of October and we wanted to share this resource for making it an accessible holiday. (Thank you to one of our volunteers, Melissa S., for sharing it with us!)
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We wanted to share this article "It’s Not Either/Or. It’s Both. Halloween and Día de los Muertos" about the origins and celebrations of both holidays.
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"I am not alone. I am connected to my friends, to my family, to the world. We are all humans together."
-"I am Human: A Book of Empathy,"
written by Susan Verde , our 2021 Kickoff to Kindness Week
keynote speaker
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About Westborough Connects
Westborough Connects, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN # 84-1751472), is a community connector with a mission to help build a thriving, kind, and connected community where everybody belongs. By listening and responding to the needs of the community, we connect people to resources and to each other. We foster meaningful relationships through events, collaborative partnerships and communications.
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westboroughconnects@gmail.com
www.westboroughconnects.org
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