November 24, 2024



~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time.

Unique Approach at Unique Strides

Unique Strides is a speech therapy practice located in East Bridgewater that offers educational services tailored to each child’s unique needs. Their evidence-based, culturally responsive approach is designed to help your child reach their individual communication and academic goals.

The owner, Nwanneka Udeka, MS, CCC-SLP, is an ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Author. She is also bilingual. Having worked with children with language disorders, articulation/ phonological disorders, autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, and literacy challenges, you can be assured that your child’s individual needs will be met under her guidance.

Nwanneka's educational services are available in person and through teletherapy and include:

• Speech Therapy: Expressive and Receptive Language Skills, Social and Pragmatic Skills, Articulation/Phonological Skills, Fluency/stuttering, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Literacy Skill Development, and Executive Functioning Disorders.

• One-on-One Tutoring: For grades K-12 in all subjects, including reading/writing, comprehension, math skills, organization, project planning, and test preparation.

• Parent/Caregiver Training: Individualized plans to promote communication in the home setting and guide you through ways to advocate for your child.

• Education Consultation: Evaluations to determine the client’s strengths, weaknesses, and specific areas of need.

Unique Strides creates an inclusive and compassionate environment that allows children the space to learn and thrive. For more information and to book a free consultation, visit uniquestridestherapy.com

Written by: Alexa Pennington, Source and Photo Credits: Unique Strides Therapy website

East Bridgewater Planning Board Meeting 11-18-24

Video Courtesy of EBCAM, BTV and WBTV

EB HUGS Applications for 2024 are Now Available



HUGS is designed to assist families in East Bridgewater who are experiencing financial struggles to provide their children with gifts for Christmas. 

If you or someone you know needs help this holiday season, please complete the form on our website.

Also, if you would like to volunteer to help out our elves or donate to make sure an EB family has what they need for the holidays, go to our website: www.ebhugs.org

East Bridgewater has partnered with Old Colony Planning Council to provide the Town with business assistance services that will help drive business growth and strengthen its local economy.

A survey has been developed for businesses and consumers to guide actions that support a more prosperous business environment – Take 5 minutes to complete the survey!

Business Survey * Consumer Survey

Bridging The Bridgewaters

The Town of East Bridgewater is searching for volunteers to work with “Bridging the Bridgewaters,” a group of residents in East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, and Bridgewater working to lengthen and maintain the land and water trails in all three communities, connect them to each other and to the AMC/Bay Circuit Trail, and publicize their existence.

Please contact the Natural Resources Trust of Bridgewater Kitty Doherty at riverland927@gmail.com for more information and how you can participate!

Mistletoe Market Days

Fri, Nov 29

10a- Sunset

Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm

254 Whitman St

Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm invites you to celebrate the opening day of the Cut & Choose Christmas Tree Fields, and the farm is hosting live music, food trucks, local artisans & crafters, photos with Santa, goats & sheep, and a live chainsaw artist. The rest of the season's Mistletoe Market Days: Sat, Nov 30, Sun, Dec 1, Sat, Dec 7, and Sun, Dec 8.



To see what vendors will be in attendance at each Market Day or for more information, visit Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm.

East Bridgewater Insurance 12th Annual Food Drive

East Bridgewater Insurance, the East Bridgewater School District, and the East Bridgewater Town Departments teamed up to collect food and pantry items for our community.

 As in the past years, hunger continues to be a major problem in many local communities. EB Insurance is happy to report that they have once again had a very successful food drive this year, thanks to the families and friends of the East Bridgewater Community. A very special Thank You to EB School Staff, EB Town staff, and our community for your 12th year of support! Please continue to donate to both EB food pantries throughout the year.

Source: EBIA November Newsletter

Climate Can Do:

Shop Local

$68

REMAINS HERE

For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $68 recirculates and remains in our local economy.

Only $43 remains in our community when it’s spent at a national chain.

Local businesses are owned by your friends and neighbors who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in our community’s future — just like you.

Repost courtesy of sustainableconnections.org

Bridgewater State University Hosts Student Film Festival



Second annual student film festival:

The Bridge

Wed, Dec 4

Moakley Auditorium

The free event will include a range of activities such as student film screenings, a Q&A session with filmmakers, and a networking session featuring complimentary hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and beverages. Attendees can also look forward to an industry panel discussion titled The Art of the Pitch and an awards event where the 2nd Annual Bear Award will be presented.

Organized by students and Professor Michelle Meek, the festival celebrates short films from public high school and college students across New England. Categories include narrative live-action, animated, and documentary shorts, each under 10 minutes. The festival's mission is to “spotlight diverse films by student filmmakers in New England and foster connections among film students from public institutions across the region.”

Lighting of the Common

Thu, Dec 5

5:30-7p

EB Town Common

225 Central St

The East Bridgewater Kiwanis Club invites you to attend the annual Lighting of the EB Town Common! Join us in lighting up East Bridgewater and kick off the holiday season with a beautiful community-wide event. Learn more about Club Kiwanis events at www.ebkiwanis.org.

Source: Town of EB

Christmas Parade

Sat, Dec 7

10a - 11a

175 Central St

Join the annual East Bridgewater Christmas Parade! This year's theme is "40 Christmas Cheers for Our Ruby Year." The parade will step off onto Spring St at 10a and join us after for Christmas activities at the EB Jr/Sr High School. If you have any questions, contact the Christmas Parade Committee at ebchristmasparade@gmail.com.

Source: EBCP FB

Central School Building Project Public Forum

Tue, Dec 10

6:30p

Central Elementary School Cafeteria

107 Central St

The Central School Building Committee will host its first public forum concerning the proposed building project on Tues, Dec 10. This will be an opportunity to meet the project team leading the design and construction of the potentially new or renovated school. The presentation will provide an overview of the MSBA process, discuss how the community can be involved, and time will be set aside for questions. As the project is currently at the earliest stage of the Feasibility Study, educational visioning and space programming are the focus. Childcare will be available in the gymnasium.

Please see the attached flyer for more details. For more information, scan the QR code or visit the new project website at www.centralesproject.com.

Source: Town of EB

Town Common Displays Field of Flags in Honor of Our Veterans



On Nov 2, the Kiwanis Club of East Bridgewater gathered the community to honor our veterans. Together, they planted a Field of Flags across the Town Common to be displayed for the two weeks to follow and Veterans Day.

"Each flag represents the courage and dedication of those who have served our country," said the Kiwanis Club. Family, friends, and neighbors were invited to walk among the flags, remember the fallen heroes who served to protect us, and reflect on the sacrifices that continue to keep us free.

Thank you to the Kiwanis Club of EB and to all who attended and participated in the Field of Flags for this incredible tribute and for giving the community a special space to commemorate our veterans.

Source & Photo Credit: Kiwanis Club FB

Story written by Sara MacKinnon, BuzzAround Intern, Providence College

WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME



Have fun with us and bee entered to win:

a free month of training and a free uniform from Premier Martial Arts, Raynham

Historical Tidbit Question:

Where in Plymouth do the Natives and their allies gather for the National Day of Mourning?

Email us your answer at: Prizes@buzzaround.info Please include your name and phone number with your answer.

Prize Box Rules

By entering, you give us permission to print your name in next week's Buzz Around.



On November 27, 2024, before 2p, we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.

The Buzz Around is brought to you this week by: Paris Hugley, Sara MacKinnon, Jamie Puhi, Jacquelyn Rose, & Greg Venezia.

Your BuzzAround supports the dignity of all human beings, is actively anti-racist, and supportive of good law enforcement policies. 

Turkey image credits: Sue Basile

What am I doing with Thanksgiving?

I no longer say: “What am I doing for Thanksgiving?” It's now: “ What am I doing with Thanksgiving?”

I love Thanksgiving, each year is a celebration, expressing gratitude and having fun with family. My first reaction to hearing about the National Day of Mourning, was to accept it as how “they” acknowledge the day. That was a mistake. That IS the problem. 

When we and our society doesn't recognize the Wampanoags' part in Thanksgiving and the pain they have suffered since; when we publicize only the positive ideals; we are ignoring their suffering, and treating them as if they don't matter in a story where they are essential. 

In 2011 BuzzAround hired our first employee; a Craigslist ad for PT office support brought Marla to us. She had a calm demeanor to balance my extra energy. A wiz at software; what Marla didn’t know, she learned quickly, she was a huge benefit to our BuzzAround Team. Marla had relocated here from Canada, and was a full-blooded Ojibways of Onigaming from Ontario. Marla had courage, how much courage I did not know, but I would learn. 

As we approached Thanksgiving, Marla shared that she would be going to Plymouth to attend the peaceful National Day of Mourning march. Since 1970, Indigenous people and allies have gathered to remember and honor their ancestors at Cole Hill. She shared with me how the European settlers took this land, killed the inhabitants, and tried to erase their culture. To native peoples, Thanksgiving serves as a reminder of the unjust treatment they have received since the 1620 Plymouth landing. Marla would stand in solidarity.

Then she continued to share her own story: In Canada, as well as in the US, residential schools operated to “kill the Indian, save the man.” (Capt. Richard H. Pratt on the Education of Native Americans) In Canada from 1894-1947, an estimated 150,000 native children were forcibly taken from their families and placed into these schools. The schools were funded by the government and run by various church groups. At the school, Marla's parents were forbidden to speak any language other than English, their rituals, their songs and their traditional clothes, forbidden, and the children suffered tourchous treatment.

Beginning in 1819, the United States, like Canada, working with several denominations of the Christian Church, adopted an Indian Boarding School Policy expressly intended to implement cultural genocide. There were more than 523 government-funded, and often church-run, Indian Boarding schools across the U.S. in the 19th and 20th centuries. Indian children were forcibly abducted by government agents, sent to schools hundreds of miles away, and beaten, starved, or otherwise abused when showing signs of native culture in any way.

When living in community, a pain suffered by a part of us, is a pain suffered by all of us. Learning about all parts of American history gives us the opportunity to mourn together and our civilization is stronger as a whole. When we ignore people's pain we are deciding they are not worth acknowledging. 

What will I do with Thanksgiving? Rethink its core: I can have gratitude and family, AND I can relearn American history. Attempt a native dish, learn about native culture. Walk in solidarity in Plymouth. Start somewhere. Start anywhere. 

Sources:  US Dept of Interior Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative

boardingschoolhealing.org

For more about National Day of Mourning, visit www.firstnations.org

In the 1970's The Ojibways of Onigaming were the First Nation that transferred the responsibility of the elementary and later secondary education to their own self-governance structure. Onigaming First Nation School

Copyright 2024 Buzz Around East Bridgewater. 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 East Bridgewater 11/24/24")

At the Buzz Around, we promote healthy community. We support the dignity of all human beings, are actively anti-racist, and supportive of good law enforcement policies. Individual groups are responsible for how they represent themselves on their websites and in their promotional materials. BuzzAround is not responsible for the media content of other organizations.