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Hello Neighbors and Friends -
The tradition of New Years Resolutions is a common topic this month. As you think about commitments and desired outcomes for 2025, I have a few suggestions to add to your list. Each can bring positive health impacts to you, others around you and our community! (Setting quantifiable goals for each can certainly help you keep your intentions, but I'll leave that part up to you).
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Connect with community - Commit to attend an upcoming event, invite some friends for coffee or tea, or even join a local club.
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Volunteer - giving back has mutual benefits! If every person found at least one hour (or maybe even 5!) a month to volunteering, think of how much we could accomplish in our community!
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Engage, civically - In Westborough, you can attend Town Meeting. There are many volunteer committees and boards that provide opportunities for individuals to take part. If you cannot serve, familiarize yourself with how decisions are made and be informed on the important topics currently being discussed. If you're not in Westborough, check out your local town or city website!
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Build relationships with people who aren't like you - Having conversations and relationships with people who might vote differently, come from different cultural backgrounds or hold faith traditions outside of your own can break down silos, enhance belonging and lessen the feeling of being "divided" in our country, communities, neighborhoods and families. This is difficult to do on social media, so look for opportunities to be close up and in person.
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Reduce non-essential screentime - We only have 24 hours in a day. The more time we spend on our phones, iPads, etc., the less time we have for all the other things on this list!
If you follow Westborough Connects and/or this newsletter, you'll learn more about events, resources and opportunities for all of these suggestions throughout the year, so stay tuned!
Wishing all those marking the Lunar New Year beginning later this month a wonderful celebration, and welcome to the Year of the Snake.
Hope to see you at the upcoming 7th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration in Westborough (see below for all the details)!
Yours in Community,
Kelley Petralia
Executive Director, Westborough Connects
kelleyconnects1@gmail.com
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A curated selection of articles, videos, audio and resources that we find worthy of sharing each month (no matter where you live).
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On November 20th, the Square One Collaboration presented Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition - a documentary film exploring the impacts of tech use on kids’ development and offering solutions for navigating the digital world and heard from a local expert panel. Over 122 adults and youth attended the program. This bulletin includes resources for parents, families and other caring adults as they navigate screens and social media in the lives of the youth in their lives.
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Curiosity can be a path to connection, belonging and more. Listen to this TEDTalk, "Can Curiosity Heal Division," (8 min 37 sec) to hear more.
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Locally focused items centered on resources and announcements in Westborough.
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Westborough Annual Town Meeting, which takes place in March, is where proposals related to town governance and budget expenditures are voted upon by registered voter residents. A lot of preparation takes place ahead of time and there are many opportunities to learn about what will be voted upon. Over the next few months, various committees and boards will be meeting frequently to discuss items that will be on the warrant. Visit the town website to keep up to date on meeting dates and agendas HERE. You can watch recordings of meetings via Westborough TV.
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View translated flyers HERE.
The 7th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration is an “all ages” event. This year’s theme is “Purpose, Partnership and Power: The Path to Civic Wellbeing” and will feature facilitated conversation for adolescents and adults, led by Jerren Chang.
Children are invited to a special interactive program taking place at the same time, facilitated by WPS' Pre-K-8th Social Studies Coordinator, Tara Gestrich, and the WHS Black Student Union. Drummer Otha Day will return to Westborough for this program and all in attendance will have an opportunity to participate in an interactive drumming session. Complimentary, light refreshments will be offered to all. Attendees are encouraged to bring a can of soup or beans for the Westborough Food Pantry.
Live language interpretation will be available with pre-registration by January 8th.
This annual event is co-hosted by Central MA Connections in Faith (CMACIF), Westborough Interfaith Clergy, Westborough Public Schools and Westborough Connects.
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Partial grant funding provided by Westborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Additional funding provided by Price Chopper's Golub Foundation. | |
Local Opportunities for Connection, Civic Engagement, Learning, and Helping Others & the Environment | | |
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Nomination Papers for the 2025 Annual Town Election in Westborough are available at the Town Clerk’s Office in Town Hall, 34 West Main Street, Westborough. Elected positions are open to all resident voters who wish to hold and serve in an elected seat. Nomination papers are available to pull through Thursday, January 16, 2025 and are due back to the Town Clerk for certification by 5pm on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. For more information and a list of open seats, click HERE. | |
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO JOIN THE 2025 MARKET PLANNING COMMITTEE!
The Westborough Farmers Market is looking for a few volunteers interested in getting involved in the pre-season and during the season planning. Different levels of participation and committed are needed!
Minimum commitment: an hour a month for the meetings - zoom is an option if you are unable to be there in person.
Do you enjoy: Marketing? Organizing? Talking to people? Volunteer coordination? Planning activities and fun events? Join today and be part of a team trying to make a difference in the community! Meetings start in January.
Interested? Email Kristin Bradley, Market Manager, at farmers@westboroughrotary.org
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Westborough
Neighborhood Food Drives Initiative
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Westborough Connects is continuing our Neighborhood Food Drives initiative, which began as part of Kindness Week 2024.
This is an opportunity for any Westborough resident to host a weeklong food drive in their own neighborhood or community.
View and sign up HERE.
Questions about this iniative? Please reach out to Westborough Connects (westboroughconnects@gmail.com)
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Sign up for Tuesday nights, 6:30-7:30pm HERE
Sign up for Friday mornings, 10:30-11:30am HERE
Volunteers will be required to complete a CORI form prior to participating. If you do not have a CORI on file with Westborough Public Library, please contact them at 508-366-3050 or drop by the Circulation Desk.
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Community Programs and Events in Westborough | |
January events calendar can be found HERE. | |
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Westborough Public Library
Additional January events include:
- The Ethics of AI (1/9)
- Mindfulness Meditation with Greg Topakian (online, Tuesday evenings)
- Conversation Circles (Tuesday evenings and Friday mornings)
- Book clubs
- Yoga
- Paint Night for Teens (1/30)
- Storytime for Kids
- ..and MUCH more!
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January newsletter with details can be found HERE. | |
The Town of Westborough Senior Center has several events happening in January:
- Sunshine Cafe for caregivers/partners and their loved ones with memory changes (1/16)
- Bagels with the Select Board (1/21)
- Generation Bridges intergenerational club (multiple dates)
- ...and MUCH more!
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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. Westborough Connects is the proud winner of the Civic Pride Award as part of the Westborough Economic Development Committee's 2022 Year in Review Awards. | |
Interested in becoming a sponsor of Westborough Connects? We'd love to talk to you. Please email us at westboroughconnects@gmail.com | |
westboroughconnects@gmail.com
www.westboroughconnects.org
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