|
|
January 1, 2023 ~
Building
Community One
Positive Story at a Time
|
|
The 39th Annual Christmas Sharing Program Gives Thanks |
|
Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago, I spoke to you about our 39th annual Christmas Sharing Program and said that with God’s love and your faith the communities of St. Ann’s, First Church, Cochesett Methodist, and West Bridgewater would make miracles happen. Well, you did - again. You brought joy and love to the 32 families, 82 children, 16 teen mothers and their 19 babies, and the 71 senior citizens in our Christmas Sharing program.
The parishioners of St. Ann’s, First Church, and Cochesett Methodist, along with local businesses and families provided more than I could ever have imagined. The value of the gift cards and cash donations was more than $15,000. In addition, we received gifts for the seniors and teen moms. One lady who handmakes cuddly animals donated 24 of them to our program.
Each family received $100 in gift cards for each child and $50 or more in grocery cards, along with stuffed animals appropriate to the ages of the children. Each teen mom received $50 in gift cards, and a blanket sleeper, clothing, and a toy for their babies. Each senior citizen received a small bag of goodies and $50 in gift cards. Five lucky families received a Christmas tree delivered to them by The Angel’s Garden Nursery. And a group from the Department of Correction bought all the gifts and groceries for three families.
Local businesses, organizations, and families that have supported us in the past came through again with $5400, even as the economy became more difficult for them!
|
|
Turner Steel, Raleigh Auto Body, Peter O’Connor (South Shore Packing), Consolidated Plumbing, P & H Travel Inc., W.B Lions Club, W.B. Fire Department, Bluestone Bank, Hockomock Liquors, W.B Police Department, Southeast Cyclones Youth Hockey, Rotary Club of the Bridgewaters, The Lincoln AA group, Wheels of Time and several families all made generous donations through the WB Emergency Fund. The local Girl Scout troop donated five cases of their delicious cookies! Gift Cards and very generous cash donations from the community and the three churches made up the rest of the funds.
The families, teen mothers, and their babies, and senior citizens were all overwhelmed by your generosity. In these awful times, you all made a difference in their lives.
I can’t offer enough thanks to the elves who worked on the program this year: Lynne, Leslie, Jenny, Debbie, and Arlene from the churches; Joan from the WB Emergency Fund; Ana from Project Grads; Fran from the Council on Aging; and Nancy, Mary, Elaine, Ann, Tina, Meg, Jim, Paul, and Kristen who helped deliver senior citizen gifts. What a wonderful way to share God’s love!
Thank you all for helping us to make miracles happen! No matter what you did, even if it was just a prayer for our families, seniors, teens, or babies, it was, and is, important.
Bless you all.
Linda Santry
|
|
Historical Tidbit:
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
Edmund Sears (1810-1876), born and raised in Massachusetts, wrote a poem titled "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" (better known as "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear") in 1849. He penned the words shortly after the Mexican-American War had ended (1846-1848). Although it was written in a time of social unrest, the poem describes a universal message of peace. In that same year, thousands of Americans were rushing to California in search of gold. Sears included three different references to gold in his poem: "harps of gold," "golden hours" and "Age of Gold". Was he inspired by the "forty-niners" or was it a coincidence?
Richard Storrs Willis (1819-1900), another Bostonian, composed a tune called "Study No. 23" in his Church Chorals and Choir Studies in 1850. Willis didn't know how his tune came to be used with "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear." A letter written by Willis simply states, "On my return from Europe [1876], I found that it [the tune] had been incorporated into various church collections apparently to Edmund Sears' text."
"It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" was one of the first Christmas carols to be written and composed by Americans - and it was done right here in Massachusetts!
Respectfully submitted, Jill A. Silvia
|
|
Town Hall
508-894-1200
WB Public Library
508-894-1255
Council on Aging
508-894-1262
Proof of residency is the only requirement.
1st & 3rd Wednesday each month
1:45 - 3p & 5:30 - 6p
457 rear, South Main St., Suite #1
|
Congratulations!
James Hill
You won a $25 gift certificate to Johnny Macaroni's Restaurant, East Bridgewater & Halifax
Bee sure to play our Historical Tidbit Trivia Game at the bottom of this newsletter.
Enter for this week's prize of
45 minute Reiki Treatment with
Jacquelyn Rose
|
|
Have a Christmas Tree to dispose of?
Sign up with West Bridgewater Boy Scout Troop 25 to have your tree picked up on Monday January 2, 2023, for only $15!
Please note, only 1 pick-up day this year.
Scouts and adult volunteers will pick up trees anywhere in West Bridgewater and haul them away. All trees must be tinsel free and decoration-free!
The Boy Scouts of America's goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels career orientated programs in partnership with community organizations.
All monies raised will help the scouts continue to serve our community.
Two convenient payment options;
1. Pay ahead using our online payment service and leave your tree at the end of your driveway (no need to stick around for pickup).
OR
2. Pay at pick up by selecting the "cash or check at pick-up" option. Checks made out to WB Troop 25. Event Brite Sign Up
|
Disorganized, Forgetful, Inflexible, Frustrated? Strategies to Grow Our Kids' Executive Functioning
January 23 @ 7 - 8:30p
Online free webinar
Inclusion Matters is proud to welcome Dr. Anjali Palav, a clinical neuropsychologist and clinical assistant professor at Brown University, for a free webinar designed to support our kids' executive functioning.
As the owner of Executive Functioning Advantage, Dr. Palav coaches students of all ages to learn skills that help them:
- strengthen their abilities to pay attention at home and school
- become better organized
- more effectively plan and manage their time
- grow their emotional resilience, even when they feel anxious or stressed at school or at home
|
|
Author Talk Virtual Event
Wednesday, January 4 @ 7-9 pm
In conjunction with Tewksbury Public Library and many other libraries across Massachusetts, Enjoy a special evening with two of the country's top young adult authors as Maureen Johnson (Nine Liars) is interviewed by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Final Gambit), in this ZOOM webinar.
**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Meeting via email.**
|
Genealogy Workshop with
Rev. Diane Badger
Saturday, January 14
1 pm
162 Howard Street
We will cover the basics; starting with what you know and moving you back into your past. What are the sources available online; what are the sources to explore that are not online? Most of the workshop will concentrate on New England research, other areas will be covered. Bring a notebook to take notes, and any information you might have and we will try pointing you in new directions for your research. The cost is only $5 and starts at 1p.
|
Crocheting volunteers needed for the month of January
The West Bridgewater Council on Aging is looking for volunteers to help put granny squares together to make warm blankets for veterans and loved ones in their nursing homes.
Please sign up in the office or call 508-894-1262.
|
|
|
|
Wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year from all your friends at Bridgewater Farm Supply!
1000 Plymouth St (Rt 104) • Bridgewater • (508) 697-0357
|
|
United Way Funding Informational Session
January 12 9 - 10:30a
Zoom
United Way of Greater Plymouth County will host an informational workshop for any nonprofit organization interested in applying for United Way funding for FY 2024 (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024). The workshop will take place on Thursday, January 12, 2023 from 9 - 10:30a on Zoom.
All interested agencies, including first time applicants, are required to attend the workshop to be eligible for funding consideration.
With a mission to “unite people, ideas and resources to improve lives and to build a stronger community”, United Way of Greater Plymouth County aims to direct resources to the most vulnerable, lowest income population in our community. Therefore, we support programs that promote the education of our youth, the physical health and healthy lifestyles of our most vulnerable neighbors, and the financial stability of our families under the broad and interrelated pillars of Health, Education, and Financial Stability.
|
|
WEB (WB & EB) Girls Hockey
|
West Bridgewater Police Department
|
|
 |
Fusion Dolls
Doll & Toy Store in WestGate Mall
|
Looking for that Special Gift?
Stop by Fusion Dolls in Westgate Mall.
Locally owned & created!
Located inside WestGate Mall
across from Kay jewelers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coach Pennington named Boston Globe Volleyball Coach
of the Year
A huge CONGRATS to Coach Pennington as she was chosen as the Boston Globe Volleyball Coach of the year! Well deserved and THANK YOU for all your dedication and commitment to your players and to the sport of Volleyball!
|
|
Climate Can-Do:
Help save the Earth and your wallet!
In Massachusetts, we have access to free energy services that help save money. With the winter weather getting fiercer each day, we’ve been turning on the heat.
“How can I save money managing my heating and cooling ?” You might ask.
MassSave provides an assessment of your household or business energy use. In Massachusetts - we’ve already pre-paid for it through a surcharge on our electric bill.
Check out the MassSave website, to schedule a no cost virtual or in-person home energy assessment and an Energy Specialist will assess the status of your energy use. They will also provide solutions to lead a more energy efficient household. MassSave collaborates with NGRID, Berkshire Gas, Eversource, and Cape Light Compact. MassSave provides these services and energy assessments for any category of property here in Massachusetts, whether that be residential, multi-family, or business oriented. Check it out!
This Climate Can-Do Article was written by intern Sean Fitzgerald from Lasell University. We focus on actions which will help mitigate the environmental changes of our climate emergency. Our goal is to keep the Earth's temperature from rising 1.5˚ C to lessen the impact. We can do.
|
|
West Bridgewater Police Department Santa Tradition
Over the course of the past two weeks, officers of the West Bridgewater Police Department have volunteered their time to bring Santa Claus around town to visit all the good children of West Bridgewater.
As one of the police department's favorite traditions, they were able to visit over 500 children these past weeks. As Santa returns back to the North Pole to prepare for the big night, the West Bridgewater Police Department wishes you a safe and happy holiday season.
|
|
WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME
Have fun with us and bee entered to win
45 minute Reiki Treatment with
Jacquelyn Rose
Historical Tidbit Question:
Who wrote the poem “It Came Upon The Midnight Clear"?
Email us your answer at:
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 January 4, 2023, before 2p, we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.
|
The BuzzAround is brought to you this week by Jen Bellody, Mohamed (Moe) Ibrahim, Primrose Morrison, Janice O'Brien, Jacquelyn Rose & Greg Venezia. |
|
Starting Anew.
“Instead of saying, "I'm damaged, I'm broken, I have trust issues" say "I'm healing, I'm rediscovering myself, I'm starting over.”
~ Horacio Jones
“All great beginnings start in the dark, when the moon greets you to a new day...”
~ Shannon L. Alder
“So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don't sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we've satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late."
~ Lee Iacocca”
“The quiet regrowth of a forest,
fertilized only by its own burnt flesh,
is what I think of
when I think of survival.
When we are able to look death in the face
and prosper because of it, and not just despite it,
we prove that to live is to contradict.”
~ Belle Townsend
|
A New Year, a new day, a new hour. This is a perfect moment to decide to make it right, to start anew. Regenerate your self & your life. Make it work for you. You are the heroine of your own story, make it a happy New Year ~ Jacquie |
|
Your BuzzAround supports the dignity of all human beings, is actively anti-racist, and supportive of good law enforcement policies. |
|
|
Copyright 2023 Buzz Around West 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 West Bridgewater 1/1/23")
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
