Buzz Around West Bridgewater
Ousamequin Woman's Club Holiday Party

Ousamequin members donated toys for Operation Santa, a program that donates toys to needy children in the West Bridgewater area.  Ousamequin Club performs a charitable deed every month that benefits our community.  The charities supported vary from month to month, depending on the time of year.



Krisanthi Pappas and singers harmonized on holiday tunes.  Members danced with reindeer antlers on their heads.  General merriment was had by all.






Respectfully submitted, Adelene Ellenberg.


A BIG "THANK YOU" to our Community Volunteers!

"A special thanks to Ellen Pennington.  In addition to the many, many hours as a devoted volunteer member of the EB School Committee, 'thank you, Ellen' (and her kids!) for driving me, with three kids in tow, to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston - Twice!" ~ Lisa Rue
December 27, 2015
 
Happy New Year 


THERE IS STILL TIME TO RECOGNIZE YOUR VOLUNTEERS:
 Each week through December 31, 2015, we will feature shout-outs to our community volunteers:  SEND TO US AT

In addition to the Shout-Out, each person will be entered into a random drawing early January 2016 to receive any one of the following:  a $50 Gift Certificate to Grant's Rental; an hour-long massage from Melissa Goldmann Massage Therapy; a $25 gift certificate to Johnnie  Macaroni's, or a 7-day Shakology jump start - health kit w/ shaker cup & a variety of flavors, value $35 from Ruggiero Fitness Concepts.  

WB Town Buildings

 

Town Hall

65 N. Main Street

   (508) 894-1200

Mon, Tues & Thurs
8a-4p

Wed  8a-7p, Fri 8a-1p

 

WB Public Library

80 Howard St

508-894-1255

Mon, Thurs, Fri 10a-5p,
Tues-Wed 10a-7p
Sat 10a- 2p

 

Council on Aging

97 W Center St

508-894-1262

Mon-Fri 8:30a-4p 

 


 Prize Box
 

 
Congratulations!
Margaret Schneider
 
Margaret won a 
$35 gift certificate to Lambert's Deli 
826 Crescent St., Brockton 
 
You should play
our Historical Tidbit Trivia Game at the bottom  
of this column; 
you could win entrance for up to 4 children to Stardust Gym's Open Gym
Rt 106, East Bridgewater

Historical Tidbit: 
Why is January 1st New Year's Day?

Throughout antiquity, civilizations around the world developed increasingly sophisticated calendars, typically pinning the first day of the year to an agricultural or astronomical event.  The original new year's celebration, the massive Babylonian religious festival of Akitu, was held every year following the first new moon after the spring equinox.  In Egypt, the year began with the annual flooding of the Nile, which coincided with the rising of the star Sirius.  The first day of the Chinese new year occurred with the second new moon after the winter solstice.  Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and the first day of Muharram, the start of the Islamic calendar year, follow a lunar calendar and are both celebrated in the fall.
 
In ancient Rome, the original calendar consisted of 10 months and 304 days, with each new year beginning at the vernal equinox; according to tradition, it was created by Romulus, the founder of Rome, in the eighth century B.C. Over the centuries, the calendar fell out of sync with the sun, and in 46 B.C. Julius Caesar decided to solve the problem by consulting with the most prominent astronomers and mathematicians of his time who introduced the Julian calendar.  As part of his reform, Caesar established January 1 as the first day of the year, partly to honor the month's namesake:  Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, whose two faces allowed him to look back into the past and forward into the future.  In medieval Europe, Christian leaders replaced January 1 as the first of the year with days carrying more religious significance, such as December 25 (the anniversary of Jesus' birth) and March 25 (the Feast of the Annunciation). Pope Gregory XIII reestablished January 1 as New Year's Day in 1582, creating the modern Gregorian calendar that most countries around the world use today.

Info from: 
www.history.com/news/new-years
Monday, December 28
Exercise - 8:30a - Council on Aging (COA)
Outreach - 9a - COA
Supportive Care - 9a - COA
Lunch - noon - COA
Tuesday, December 29
Outreach - 9a - COA
Story Time with Ms Nanette - 10:30a - Library
Swedish Weaving - 1p - COA
Zumba Gold - 3p - COA
Wednesday, December 30
Exercise - 8:30a - COA
Supportive Care - 9a - COA 
Outreach - 9a - COA
Health Screening - 9a - COA 
Lunch - noon - COA
Bridge - 12:45p - COA
Yoga - 6p - First Church
Thursday, December 31 
Town Hall closes at noon
COA closes at 1pm
Library is closed today.
Friday, January 1
Happy New Year!
All town offices, banks, schools & library are closed.
Saturday, January 2
 
Church of St. Ann - Mass - 4p
 
Reminder:  No weekend MBTA Rail Service. 
Sunday, January 3
Church of St. Ann - 8:30a, 10:30a  
Cochesett United Methodist - Sunday Worship Service & Sunday school 10:15am
First Church - Worship Service and Sunday school 10a, 
Teen Bible Study 9a; Fellowship Hour - 11a 
Joy of Pentecost - Sunday school & Service 10a,
Evening worship 6p
Temple Baptist - 10a, 11a & 6p
West Bridgewater Baptist - 9:15 Sunday school, 10:30 Service, 
Evening worship 6p

 

* Information compiled in this issue from Town web sites & submitted information.  Feel free to submit events & information from your non-profit group.
Bridgewater Square Chiropractic


Wishes you Happy  Happy New Year!


Like us on Facebook63 Main Street
Bridgewater, MA     
(508) 697-0050
Kitty Doherty, coordinator of the West Bridgewater Department of Conservation, Preservation and Recreation, will be the main speaker.  Kitty will present Nunckatessett Greenway 
"Our Place of Wolves in the Woods."

The First Church of West Bridgewater will hold its next Benjamin Beal Howard Lecture on Monday, January 4, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. 

The Nunckatessett Greenway is a network of land and water trails connecting the Town River and the Bay Circuit Trail to public conservation areas and urban centers.  Kitty will speak about a place of historical interest along the trail where differing stories concerning the settlement of this land were told.

The lecture is free and open to the public. 
Eldon Moreira was honored with "Eldon Moreira Way"
With over 40 years of dedication to the Town of West Bridgewater, including 34 years' service as "The People's Selectmen," Eldon Moreira was honored with a roadway in his name, "Eldon Moreira Way," on November 24, 2015.
Thanks to West Bridgewater TV for sharing this story. 
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BRIDGEWATER FARM SUPPLY
  

Why does popcorn pop?  Read our blog

Like us on Facebook
 1000 Plymouth St 
 (Rt 104) 
Bridgewater
                               (508) 697-0357 
 
Ring in the New Year with the First Church calendar fundraiser.  Each day is a chance to win. 

Contact the church office to purchase one. firstchurchwb@juno.com
            Lambert's Deli
~ Brockton's Best Deli!
Happy New Year!
Deli Platters
Fruit Baskets
                       Poinsettias
                       Like us on Facebook
 
Stop By ~ You're gonna love it!
           826 Crescent St 
            Brockton, MA 
            (508) 580-2736
                                  lambertsbrockton.com
 

Town-Wide Winter Parking Ban
Image Credit:  WBTV
 Just in time for vacation: 
a list of all the museum passes available through all the SAILS network libraries:  Plan your excursions now!


Healthy New Year's Resolutions
For Children of all ages from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

I will clean up my toys after using them.
I will brush my teeth twice a day.
I will wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating. 

I will talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I need help or am scared.
 
I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!
 
I'll be friendly to kids who have a hard time making friends & ask them to join activities such as sports or games.

I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables every day, drink plenty of water, and I will drink sodas only at special times.  

I will spend only one to two hours each day - at the most - for video games and Internet use.

I will help out in my community - through giving some of my time to help others, working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.

Coping with Grief at the Holidays by Kim Noble, RN, MBA; YHC Program Coordinator

The holiday music is playing from car radios throughout shopping centers and the grocery stores.  Both traditional and new holiday movies are on cable TV daily.  Decorations are everywhere!  It is a festive time of the year.  However, for families who have experienced the death of a loved one, this can be a challenging time.  There is someone missing at the table for gift giving and at all the traditional family celebrations.  If this is the first winter holiday season since that loved one's death, families can struggle with how to celebrate while also acknowledging grief they feel. Hospice Calgary has compiled a 6-page resource, "For those who grieve:  a holiday survival kit," that addresses coping strategies, ways to cherish memories and includes a holiday checklist to help families really consider what traditions they want to do this year and also think about possible new options.  Please share these resources with families you know who are coping with grief during this season.

To learn about developmental differences in children's grief, visit The Dougy Center.

Special thanks to South Shore Hospital's Youth Health Connection for this information.
United Way of Greater Plymouth County and its community partners worked to collect coats and donations for "United Way's Grateful Giving:  Keeping Kids Warm This Winter" reaching local children in need in Plymouth county.

For the month of November and into December, United Way of Greater Plymouth County and its community partners worked to collect coats and donations for its third year of "United Way's Grateful Giving:  Keeping Kids Warm This Winter," a winter apparel drive for the local children in need in Plymouth county.

Donations were received from Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Plymouth, BlumShapiro, Empower Yourself, Macy's and Target.  With funds from the Hurley Trust and with these generous donations, United Way was able to provide coats, hats, gloves and boots to over 150 families in Plymouth county.

"We are thrilled to see the community come together to help with this initiative.  Working together, we were able to get these items to the children who really need them this winter," said United Way President & CEO Dennis Carman.  "As long as there are children who need warm clothing, we hope our Grateful Giving Initiative will continue for years to come."

The winter apparel items were donated to The Arc of Greater Plymouth's Food Pantry at Algonquin Heights, the Family Center at Community Connections of Brockton, and Carolina Hill Shelter in Marshfield.
We have a little tradition at the Buzz Around that when the newsletter falls on an important date, we nod to it in some way. 

"There is a fountain of youth: It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love.  When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age." ~ Sophia Loren

"You don't stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing."
~ George Bernard Shaw

"Wisdom is the reward for surviving our own stupidity."
~ Brian Rathbone
"In terms of days and moments lived, you'll never again be as young as you are right now, so spend this day, the youth of your future, in a way that deflects regret.  Invest in yourself.  Have some fun.  Do something important.  Love somebody extra.  In one sense, you're just a kid, but a kid with enough years on her to know that every day is priceless."
~ Victoria Moran

As I turn 50 years old today, here is my nod to aging, wisdom and life.  I am so very excited at the possibilities of dreams and the beauty of love.

Thank you, dear reader, for sharing your stories, possibilities and love with us. 
 Have a Happy New Year. 

~ Jacquie
A big "thank you" to our advertisers... 
You guys rock!
East Bridgewater Candle Company
Hand poured 100% soy candles,100% cotton wicks, no dyes.  Scented with a blend of essential and fragrance oils.
Available at:
Lavender Sky Gifts 
494 Bedford St
East Bridgewater

C.N. Smith Farm
325 South St
East Bridgewater, MA


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Melissa Goldmann Massage Therapy
Massage gift certificates, the gift they won't let the ink dry on! 

Now offering Thai Table massage.

516 N. Bedford street
(Inside Waves Salon)
E. Bridgewater, MA 

508-857-7744 


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The Transfer Station: 
Use of the Transfer Station limited to Town residents for
disposal of household trash.
218 South Elm Street
West Bridgewater, MA 
(508) 894-1216
Hours:  Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 
7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 
(Closed on all holidays.)
Open day after every holiday except Thanksgiving.

You'll need a 2016 Transfer Station Sticker as of January 1! They are on sale in the Town Clerk's Office.  Stickers are $85 each, limit two per household. Bring a copy of your registration.

Transfer Station stickers can also be purchased by mail by mailing a self-addressed stamped envelope to Town Clerk, 65 North Main Street. Please include a copy of your registration and a check made out to the Town of West Bridgewater.

NEW LOCATION:  
* 4 dance studios, * client area,  * dressing room, * student study area.

We are honored to host Joffrey Ballet's Summer Intensive Auditions.
 Sun., January 17th.  All DTNE and non-DTNE dancers ages 9-25 are welcome.  Don't miss this opportunity!

Dance Theater 
of New England
25 Scotland Blvd, BWater
(508) 697-5255

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MATA Karate

"Never Lose The Fight Within"

After School Classes
Enrolling Now!

 516 North Bedford St
2nd Floor
East Bridgewater

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Ruggiero Fitness Concepts
The Total Health Solution
* Health & Wellness Coaching
* Clean Eating &
  Private Accountability  
Facebook Groups

*One-on-One Training

*Personalized gym & home workout programs




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Please remember to 
mention you read about these advertisers in the 
Buzz Around !!!
WEST BRIDGEWATER    HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM  
 
  Does your home need repair? 
The Towns of Avon and West Bridgewater are administering a new Housing Rehabilitation Program funded through a 2015 Community Development Block Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. Funds are available to income eligible homeowners to make repairs, accessibility improvements, and to correct code violations and health hazards, such as 
lead paint and asbestos.
Go to the Town's homepage at www.town.west-bridgewater.ma.us or to the West Bridgewater Council on Aging at 97 West Center Street to obtain an application.
TAI CHI at the Council on Aging
Fridays, 9:00 - 10:00 am
$5.00 per class.  Tai Chi helps reduce stress and anxiety.  It also helps increase flexibility and balance.  Tai Chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels.  
The benefits of Tai Chi include: 
* Decreased stress and anxiety  * Increased muscle strength and definition   
* Increased aerobic capacity  
* Increased energy & stamina  
* Increased flexibility, balance and agility.  Some evidence indicates that Tai Chi also may help:  * Enhance the immune system * Enhance quality of sleep  
* Improve joint pain  * Lower cholesterol levels & blood pressure  
* Improve overall well-being in older adults.   
Michael Showstack was trained in Tai Chi at the Chung Wan Center and has taught classes at the W.B. COA since 2003.   
No Tai Chi experience is necessary to join this class and all ages are welcome.
prize box  
WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME  

Have fun with us
and beeee entered to win entrance for up to 4 children to Stardust Gym's Open Gym.
Rt 106, East Bridgewater 
Historical Tidbit Question:
Who established Jan. 1 as first day of new year?
 
Email us your answer at: 
Please include your name, 
phone number & town
with your answer.
By entering, you give us
permission to announce 
your name in next week's 
Buzz Around West Bridgewater.
  
On December 30, 2015, we 
will randomly pick a winner
from the correct answers.

 

The Buzz was compiled

this week by Theresa McNulty, Sarah Primack, Stacy Rancourt, Jacquelyn Rose, Jill Silvia & Betty Stirling.
  

Copyright 2015 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 12/27/15")    

Disclaimer:  At the Buzz Around, we promote community and family.  Occasionally, there will be links to town committees and other non-profit groups, as a way of sharing local information.  Individual groups are responsible for how they represent themselves on their websites and in their promotional materials.  The Buzz Around does not claim to support any particular view.