Welcome to your Buzz Around Weekender, our regional "what's good" and more!
March 27, 28 & 29
Your Buzz Around is excited to offer this exclusive weekly column with Paul Engle, Director of Brockton Public Library.
Prior to Brockton, Paul was the Director of Library Services at Berklee College of Music. An accomplished professional musician as well as librarian, Paul brings to the Brockton Area a unique view on library services; he is "passionate about diverse cultures sharing ideas, free and open access to information, libraries as a space for sharing artistic, scientific and cultural ideas, and promoting life-long learning skills." So, sit back and relax as Paul introduces us to the beginnings of the blues. ~ Jacquie
In March of 1951 Ike Turner and his band recorded the song Rocket 88 for Sam Phillips’ Sun Records. Released the following month under the name Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, Sam Phillips had a hit, and Rock and Roll was born out of a 12 bar blues. 
The blues is, arguably, the biggest single influence on American popular music from around 1920 to the present day. The country blues is what blues was before it became electrified in the early 1940’s. In it one can hear the basic song forms, rhythms, treatment of harmony, improvisational language and expressive vocal techniques that can still be identified in current popular music.
           Below is a list of some very influential country blues recordings with links to YouTube for your exploration. This is not a complete list, nor is it meant to replace your own research and discovery; it is intended to be used as a starting point into the rich American heritage that is the blues. 

Sounds of the South on YouTube ~ An excellent beginning, this set of songs from Alan Lomax’s 1959 trip through the American South is early 20th century country blues in that we can hear the early use of guitar-harmonica-piano accompaniments.
Blind Lemon Jefferson - King of the Country Blues ~ Jefferson is a major figure in early country blues and one of the earliest recorded artists. His finger picked guitar parts and treatment of harmony demonstrate a link to early ragtime.
~ This collection reveals the early but fully developed style of Robert Johnson’s chief mentor, Son House, as well as many of his contemporaries. It’s a great overview of classic Mississippi delta blues.
Classic Blues Women ~ A wonderful overview of the earliest female blues singers up to and including Billie Holiday, beginning with what is considered to be the earliest blues recording ever, Mamie Smith’s “Crazy Blues” from 1921.
Robert Johnson is the biggest name in blues; a superior composer. As a guitarist Johnson, to quote Keith Richards, “upped the anti”. Much of electric blues owes its shuffle rhythms, bass patterns and harmonies to this one person.
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee - Blowin’ the Fuses ~ Sonny and Brownie are one of the greatest blues bands of all time.
Leadbelly - Go Down Old Hanna~ Leadbelly’s range of material can’t be contained in a single cd but this one tries; a major interpreter of blues and folk music; Indispensable.
Muddy Waters - The Complete Plantation Recordings ~ The Mississippi artist who would later electrify his delta blues; it’s these exact songs that are at the very root of electrified Chicago blues.
Memphis Minnie – Bumblebee ~ Essential recordings by Memphis Minnie, a major female country blues artist.
Great Ideas:

Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch (Video) t ravelandleisure.com/museums

22 ways to leave home without actually leaving the couch, from virtual zoo exhibits to museum gallery tours www.insider.com/virtual-tours

Europeana : 50,000,000 European works of art, books, music, and more

Smithsonian Open Acces s : Search 2.8 million images and 3D Models

Mexican Ministry of Culture : Short films, books, radio, paintings, from all cultural orgs

Administration : Virtual portal of 100 institutions

NASA Image & Video Library : All NASA content is in the public domain

MIMO : Musical Instrument Museums Online (64,000+ instruments)

BioExplora : Natural science open collections portal (3D images, bio diversity)

Archaeological Analytics : Archaeological Open Access Collections

English Heritage : Variety of mediums of British content (Podcasts, videos, etc.)

Open Culture Coloring Pages : 113 museum coloring books

V21ArtSpace : Over 100 exhibit virtual tours

Arte.tv : Cultural documentaries, films, and more.


Kids Resources:








Check your local library website for their innovative programs.
Mindful Breathing to Destress and Build your Immune System from Bliss Through Yoga

Ujjayi Pranayama is a breathing technique which will strengthen your immune system while relaxing your mind, body and spirit. In times of stress, it is recommended to practice this for 20 minutes, twice a day. To try: Sit or lie comfortably and notice your breath. As your breath moves in, your breathing areas naturally expand, and as your breath moves out your breathing areas soften and sink back. Now exaggerate the sound of your breath by gently narrowing your throat. Simply use your throat muscles to do this. You can find them by gently clearing your throat. They are the same muscles you would use to fog up a mirror. Now listen to the sound of your breath as it moves. Allow it to ease and slow and become more internal. If your mind wanders, no worries, just return to the sound, once more. Let your breath be easy, just add sound. Your throat muscles are only and inch from your inner ears, listen with your inner ears. The sound of your breath is the most important part of this breathing practice, simply focus on the sound of your breath as you relax your body and mind.
BLISS THROUGH
YOGA is NOW open in
Your OWN Home!
Now Live Streaming ALL Classes!

Tuesdays @ 5:30 pm
Wednesdays @ 10 am
Thursdays @ 7 pm
Fridays @ 6:30 pm
Saturdays @ 9 am

Contact Janice to register

Find YOUR bliss at Bliss Through Yoga!
Yoga for the Rest of Us!

(508) 331-3564
D'AGOSTINO INSURANCE

D'Agostino Insurance
111 Torrey St Suite #1
Brockton, MA 02301
Call (508) 586-0414

Bridgewater - Parks & Trails Where are the trails in Bridgewater, you may ask? Here is a poster showing the many places in your town you can take a leisurely walk. Just remember to keep your distance from fellow strollers.
Brockton - Digital Art Archive Fuller Craft Museum. This Digital Archive is a window into the Fuller Craft Permanent Collection. With a few clicks you can access images and information about a vast selection of craft works from the collection. Search by artist/maker, title, media, and more. Browse specific categories and perform advanced searches with key words or phrases.

Boston - Boston Family & Kids Events Fun things to do. Many events online.
Halifax - Audio books Holmes Public Library. Enjoy your favorite audio books in the mobile app or on your computer. Our desktop app supports transfer to a variety of devices.

Pembroke - 24/7 access Pembroke Public Library. eBooks, audio books, movies, language courses, access to Boston Public Library, & music.
Plymouth - Plimouth Plantation Virtual Field Trip Take a virtual trip and learn about a 17th-Century English Village and Wampanoag Homesite. Also find an award-winning interactive web activity with this link.

Raynham - Local Trails Hewitts Pond Conservation Area – North Main St: Pond, trail, dam, bird watching (No hunting is allowed at the Hewitt Pond Conservation Area located on North Main St or the Kransberg Conservation Area located on King St at Dam Lot Brook.). Forge River Conservation Area – South Main St: River, forest trail, historical site, bird watching. Raynham State Forest – Locust St: Upland forest, trail.
The Children's Museum in Easton daily #socialdistancelearning challenge
can be completed at home with everyday materials, If your child gives one of our activities a try, tag us on social media and use the hashtag #socialdistancelearning and we will share your child's project!
Today's Project: Clean Your Pennies!

Have you ever noticed coins can get pretty dirty, especially pennies? Well here’s a quick science activity that “mixes” oohs and ahhs with a little chemical reaction fun!

Directions:

  1. Pour ½ a cup of white vinegar into a bowl.
  2. Add a teaspoon of salt to the vinegar and mix until it’s dissolved.
  3. Dip a dirty penny ½ way into the mixture and hold it there for ten seconds.
  4. Lift up your penny for a clean surprise!

Science Behind the Experiment:

When you put a dirty penny into vinegar and salt, the copper oxide and some of the copper dissolve in the water, leaving some of their electrons behind. This means some copper atoms leave the penny and start floating around in the mixture. 

Did you know that the date of your penny affects your results? 
It could and here’s why: 

If your Lincoln Memorial penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If it is dated 1983 or after, it is made of 97.5% zinc and plated with a thin copper coating. 1983 pennies can be tricky to determine because both copper and zinc center were made during that year. Using this information, test and compare the results of different pennies.
GRANTS RENTAL
Grant's sends out support & care to all of our communities.
We're all in this together.

10 Bedford Park, Bridgewater
 (508) 279-0950

How Often Should You Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned?

If you want to improve the indoor air quality of your home, you must take the cleaning of the air ducts seriously. When the air duct is dirty, dust, allergens, and other debris will continue to accumulate and circulate in your home and may cause...

Read more
www.moldguysrestoration.com
Taunton - Old Colony History Museum Virtual Tour 66 Church Green. Thanks to TCAM TV, if you can’t join us in person enjoy a walking tour of some of Taunton’s oldest homes and buildings hosted by the OCHM’s Community Programming Coordinator Saria Sweeney. Check out our blog
Disconnect with Cyberspace.
Reconnect with Open Space.
The mission of this initiative is to reconnect families and children with the great outdoors.

This ‘Take a Hike!’ Guide is for individuals, groups and families who are interested in exploring the State Parks and Forests of Southeast Massachusetts.
While the visitor centers are closed, all state parks and comfort stations across the Commonwealth remain open and available for the public to utilize. DCR reminds residents and visitors to avoid gathering in large groups, maintain social distancing, and practice healthy personal hygiene to stop the spread of the virus.​... BUT YES!!!! GET OUT AND HIKE!!!
Most trails are well marked. Trail maps & directions may be found at www.mass.gov/dcr ,
You will also find directions to these
parks at the above website. You will
need a good pair of sneakers or boots
and a bottle of water!
West Bridgewater - Free Childrens Books WB Public Library. Friends of the Library donated books for children for the public. A cart will be outside of the library. Please be considerate of how many books you take, a limit of 5 would be appreciated.

West Bridgewater - Free Public WiFi WB Public Library. Access right out side the library even when they are closed. Network: WB-Library-Guest, Password: hoWard80

West Bridgewater - Old Bridgewater Historical Society Lectures You can check out some of our fantastic lectures on YouTube! The Memorial Building is closed.

West Bridgewater - Conservation Area Trail Maps Wondering where you can walk and keep your distance while staying close to home? Enjoy some of our towns open spaces while getting some much needed exercise and fresh air.  

Whitman - Libby by Overdrive Whitman Public Library. Access to thousands of eBooks and audio books. You can borrow them, instantly, for free, using just the device in your hand.

Whitman - Digital Magazines Whitman Public Library. Download a wide range of magazines including areas such as sports, entertainment, travel, business, & more. iPad®, iPhone®, Kindle Fire, and Android® compatibility.