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June 18, 2023 ~
Building Community
One Positive Story at a Time.
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Mary E. Baker Elementary School
Kicks Offs New Tradition
To kick off their new tradition of “We All Belong Day”, the Mary E. Baker Elementary School presented a surprise portrait of their namesake to twenty members of the Baker family on Friday, June 9. As a notable activist in Brockton, Baker’s community service and leadership efforts in Brockton led to great change towards affordable housing and educational integration. In the weeks leading up to the event, students engaged in a variety of lessons as fifth graders dived deep into the study of Mary E. Baker’s life and legacy with a visit from her daughter, Denise Baker-Inegbenebo.
Story: Angel Benjamin, BuzzAround Writing Intern, Brown University
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Historical Tidbit:
The Vega Club
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Like many others encouraged by the promise of opportunity in the 1840s, Swedish immigrants left their homeland to settle in the bustling factory town of Brockton, MA, particularly the Campello neighborhood. Daniel Larson (Lawson) from Frostorp, Sweden was actually the first Swedish person to arrive in Brockton, and soon joined by thousands of Swedish immigrants in the following years. With the Swedish community and cultural influence having left a distinct mark in the New England area, it is no surprise that the Vega Club continues to be a significant part of Brockton today.
The Vega Club was founded by a group of Swedish immigrants on September 11, 1882. The name was borrowed from the famous S.S. Vega, which was the first ship ever to complete a voyage through the Northeast Passage and was conducted under the leadership of Finnish-Swedish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöd. Such a name was only fitting for a place intended to be a hub for the neighborhood’s Swedish men to socialize and connect with their heritage.
Originally, this cultural space allowed membership for men of solely Swedish ancestry. However, as of 1985, due to financial failures, the Vega Club expanded its rule and now allows participation of men from any ethnic descent. This open inclusion helps to prevent the fraternal organization from being lost to history, allowing it to continue on for many more generations.
Today, the current building, designed by the well-known Frank Irving Cooper, has been standing strong since 1917 after the first clubhouse burned down some time prior. Here, the club remains an active presence within the Brockton community by sponsoring baseball teams, offering scholarships, providing an affordable venue option, and hosting family-friendly holiday events.
Through its' community support, the Vega Club continues to foster connections and camaraderie amongst the community, all while honoring the legacy of its Swedish origins.
The Vega Club can be found at 895 Warren Ave and on FaceBook.
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Submit to the City's Events Calendar:
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City Hall
45 School St 508-580-7123
Check the city website for important updates
Brockton Public Library
Main Library - 304 Main St. 508-580-7890
East Branch - 54 Kingman St. 508-580-7892
West Branch - 540 Forest Ave. 508-580-7894
Council on Aging
Temporarily at The Shaws Center,
1 Feinberg Way 508-580-7811
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Congratulation!
Deb Meredith
You won a 45 minute Reiki Treatment with
Jacquelyn Rose
Bee sure to play our Historical Tidbit Trivia Game at the bottom of this newsletter.
Enter for this week's prize of
a $25 gift certificate to
gifts * tea * vintage clothing * reflexology
626 Bedford St (Rt 18) EB
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Massasoit Community College Free Training
EKG Technician:
June 5-August 19
EMT Basic Certification:
June 5-August 19
Office Support Professional:
July 11-August 20
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Downtown Brockton Museum Presents Brockton Summer Solstice
Wednesday, June 21
3–8p
City Hall Plaza
26 School St
Fun for everyone!
Music, Vendors, Food, Children’s activities
DJ All Rhymes
John Bakutis Acoustic
Mariah Rose
Keira a Marie Trinidad
Bag Full of Blues
Sound provided by ThunderbolT Productions
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Climate Can-Do: Start Your Own Garden
With summer and the warmer weather approaching, gardening is a fun project for your family and yourself to work on together. Whether you have a green thumb or not, gardening is a great and simple hobby to take up. It also has many benefits for yourself and the Earth.
All plants go through the process of photosynthesis, which is when plants intake water and the atmosphere's carbon dioxide. In return, the plant releases fresh oxygen for us to breath and enjoy. Therefore, more plants result in more oxygen, a crucial element our bodies need!
In addition to improving our environment, gardening is proven to improve your mental health as well. Gardening has been found to lower stress and anxiety levels, as well as increase mindfulness and gratification. The Mayo Clinic Health System Website states that "It's very gratifying to plant, tend, harvest and share your own food. Routines provide structure to our day and are linked to improved mental health. Gardening routines, like watering and weeding, can create a soothing rhythm to ease stress."
The National Agricultural Library Website has numerous resources from gardening tips to factsheets about every vegetable or flower you may be interested in planting. The website highlights that, "A well-kept vegetable garden is a source not only of profit to the gardener but of pleasure to the entire family."
This Climate Can-Do Article was written by Meghan Lotti, BuzzAround Writing Intern, Bridgewater State University. We focus on actions which individuals can do in the face of our climate emergency. We can do!
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Clean Up
Saturday June 24
8:30a
East Middle School Parking Lot
The Brockton Beautification Committee is leading a clean up at the East Middle School. Kids and parents are welcome to come out and help with the efforts!
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Reading Hour Club
Tuesday June 27, 6 - 7p
304 Main Street
Come practice some reading in the Story Room at the Main Branch of the Brockton Public Library! Children in grades 1-4 will be engaging in a variety of reading activities to enhance their skills such as a group read-along and literacy games.
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2023 Farmers Market
Brockton City Hall Plaza
45 School St
Join us at 10a, Fridays, June 23 - October 27
for the 2023 Season.
New farms, new vendors.
New SNAP Match Program sponsored by South Coast Community Foundation. Cooking Demos by UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program sponsored by Eversource.
Special thank you to our Market Sponsors this year: MassDevelopment, Eastern Bank, Metro South Chamber of Commerce, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, North Easton Savings Bank, Eversource, Mass Cultural Council, HarborOne Bank, Waltham Farmers Market.
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A New Cohort of Firefighters Graduate
Congratulations to the 16 new firefighters as they embark on their career! They were welcomed into the Brockton Firefighters Local IAFF 144 at a celebration dinner on Thursday, June 8 as they prepared to graduate from drill school. The Executive Board were present and a part of the excitement as they introduced the new graduates and their families to the union.
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Brockton Special City Council Meeting 6-5-23
Video Courtesy of BCA
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Pet Yard Sale
June 24
10a–1p
1300 W Elm St
Rain date: Sunday, June 25
They have a large selection of cat towers, beds, stairs, ramps, crates, carriers and so much more.
Shop a variety of pet supplies, all at the cost of a donation to the Animal Protection Center.
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Juneteenth Poetry
Saturday, June 27
2–4p
Driscoll Art Gallery
2nd Floor - Main Branch
304 Main St
On June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Texas were told they were free. A century and a half later, people across the U.S. continue to celebrate the day, which is now a federal holiday.
Host Marvin. Featuring youth poet Laureate Hannah Baptist, Danielle Georges, Charles Coe Rose Conservatory, Courtney Henderson and Prof. Emmanuel Daphnis.
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Summer Nights at the Club
July 5 - August 18, 4:30 - 9p
233 Warren Ave
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South are back with another round of summer fun for teens! Youth aged 13-20 are welcome to participate in a variety of activities in the coed basketball league, a music studio, fitness room, and cooking. Dinner will be provided each night and everything is free of cost!
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Congrats Brockton Massasoit Graduates
Congratulations to all the Brockton graduates from Massasoit Community College! Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and you should be proud of your accomplishments. Best wishes for a bright and successful future ahead!
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Congratulations Massasoit Graduates!
Massasoit Community College hosted its 56th Commencement Exercises on Thursday, June 1 in Brockton. The 838 graduates of the Class of 2023 were recognized at this year's Commencement.
Read more
buzzaround.info
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WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME
Have fun with us and bee entered to win:
a $25 gift certificate to
gifts * tea * vintage clothing * reflexology
626 Bedford St (Rt 18) EB
Historical Tidbit Question:
What year was the new Vega Clubhouse rebuilt?
Email us your answer at:
Please include your name and phone number with your answer.
By entering, you give us permission to print your name in next week's Buzz Around.
On June 21, 2023, before 2p, we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.
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The Buzz Around is brought to you this week by: Angel Benjamin, Mohamed (Moe) Ibrahim, Janice O'Brien, Jacquelyn Rose, Fatina Mulumba & Greg Venezia. |
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Wisdom of Tolerance
Sometimes, the hardest thing we do is be tolerant. It helps me to remember that no one person or group has the keys to all the wisdom.
Human beings are complex. There is always something we can learn from one- another. If we shut ourselves down to receiving ideas from a person, we cut our selves off from their wisdom.
“Tolerance isn't about not having beliefs. It's about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.” ~ Timothy Keller
“I do not like what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” ~ attributed to Voltaire
"If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life you will have been all of these.” ~ George Washington Carver
“No boundary or barrier surrounds the heart of a person that loves their self and others.”
~ Shannon L. Alder
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Tolerance does not imply acceptance. It means we proceed with our disagreement with respect.
Enjoy your week, folks. ~ Jacquie
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Your BuzzAround supports the dignity of all human beings, is actively anti-racist, and supportive of good law enforcement policies. |
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Copyright 2023 Buzz Around Brockton. 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 Brockton 6/18/23")
Disclaimer: At the Buzz Around, we promote community and family. There are links to town committees and other non-profit groups, in the newsletters. 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.
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