Buzz Around Bridgewater, MA
Community Dance Series at Bridgewater Senior Center



Tons of fun! 
BRIDGEWATER COMMUNITY DANCE SERIES

The year-long Bridgewater Community Dance Series, now in its fifth season, features a mix of international folk dance, and New England Squares and Contras.  The sessions are held every other Friday night, from 7:30 - 9:15 pm, at the Bridgewater Senior Center.

The dances are open to all, and beginners and singles are welcome!
$ 8 / night.  For more information, contact Sam Baumgarten at 508-697-6848 or 774-208-2933, or e-mail sbaumgarten@verizon.net.
February 07, 2016
Click to watch video

 

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Town Buildings

 

Town Hall

64 Central Square

508-697-0921

Mon-Thurs 8a-4p

Fri 8a-1p

 

Public Library

15 South St

508-697-3331

Mon-Wed 9a-8p 

Thurs 10a-5p

Fri & Sat 10a-2p

 

Cole-Yeaton Senior Center
10 Wally Krueger Way
508-697-0929

Mon-Thurs 9a-3p

Fri 9a-noon 

 

Food Pantry

Central Square Church

71 Central Sq.

 508-697-6016

Thursdays - 10a


 Congratulations!
Noreen Asci
Noreen won a 16-oz candle from East Bridgewater Candle Company.

You should play
our Historical Tidbit Trivia Game at the bottom 
of this column; 
you could win a 
$35 Gift Certificate to Lambert's Deli.

Send us your news: bwater@buzzaround.info
Historical Tidbit:  Churches of "Old" Bridgewater 

"Old" Bridgewater, incorporated in 1656, was divided into four Parishes - East, West, North and South.   The first settlement of Bridgewater in 1651 was in what is now the town of West Bridgewater.   That same year, organized worship meetings were held in people's homes.  By 1661, a log meeting house was constructed and its first preacher was Benjamin Butler from Charlestown.  The first settled pastor was Rev. James Keith in 1663 and he preached his first service standing upon Pulpit Rock.


In 1716 the South Parish, now the town of Bridgewater, was incorporated as the second precinct.  In 1717, the 2nd Church of Bridgewater was formed.  The first minister was Rev. Benjamin Allen, ordained in 1718.   The current building, built in 1845, was designed in the Greek revival style.  The steeple housed a Paul Revere bell, but in 1954 Hurricane Carol toppled the steeple and the bell was sold to a museum.

In 1720, the 3rd Church of "Old" Bridgewater was raised in the East Parish, now the town of East Bridgewater.  Its first minister was Rev. John Angier.  In 1723, the East Parish was constituted as the 3rd precinct.

Monday, February 8

Painters - 9a - Cole-Yeaton Senior Center (CYSC)
Nurses Hours - 10a - CYSC
COA Meeting - 10:15a - CYSC
Lunch - noon - CYSC
Home Instead Health Care - 12:30p - CYSC
Drop in Story Time - 1p - Library

Tuesday, February 9

Zumba - 9a - CYSC
Shopping - 10:15a - CYSC
Valentine's Day Luncheon - noon - CYSC
Valentine's Bingo - 4:30p - Library
Conservation Comm - 7p - Police Station
Wednesday, February 10
Exercise - 9a - CYSC
Crafters - 9a - CYSC
Book Babies - 9:30a - Library
Shopping - 10:15a - CYSC
Quilters - 11a - CYSC
Story Time - 11a - Library
Last Day to register to vote in primary
Thursday, February 11
Zumba - 9a - CYSC
Caregivers Support Group - 10a - CYSC
Nurses Hours - 10a - CYSC
Book Babies - 11a - Library
Cribbage - 1p - CYSC
Friday, February 12
Exercise - 9a - CYSC
Crafters - 9a - CYSC
Mah Jongg - 9:30a - CYSC
Saturday, February 13
Visit with Jasper - 10:30a - Library
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Mass - 4p
Whist - 7p - CYSC
Sunday, February 14
First Parish Church - 10:30a 
Bridgewater Baptist Church - 10a
Saint Thomas Aquinas Mass - 7:45a, 10 and 12p 
Trinity Episcopal - 8am and 10a worship services, 10a Sunday school 
Central Square Congregational, UCC - 10a
Bridgewater United Methodist - 10a
Faith Chapel Assembly of God - school 9a, service 10a
Trinity Covenant - 10a
United Methodist - 10a - Worship & school 
New Jerusalem - 10:30a
Scotland Trinitarian Congregational - 10:30a 
St. Basil's Chapel - 10:00a and 5p - note new 5p time * -
BSU Campus  
West Bridgewater Baptist Church - 10:30a
 
* Information compiled in this issue from Town web sites, submitted information and "Senior Publishing."  Feel free to submit events & information from your non-profit group.

Is your computer running sluggish?
Time to  shape it up:
 Wipe & Reload    $109

Charlie's Computers 
992 Bedford St., Bridgewater
(508) 279-1080

     




Forum on Islam & Syrian Refugees
Sunday, Feb. 7, at 11:30 am

 First Parish Church, 
50 School St., Bridgewater
(Note change in location)

All are encouraged to come learn more about Islam from an Imam, meet Syrian refugees who live among us, and gain a better understanding of the Syrian crisis.  We hope to seed understanding and goodwill.

Some focus-issues will be:
(a)  What is Islam; what does the current ISIS movement have to do with Islam?
(b)  What is the civil war in Syria about?  Who is fighting whom?  What is at stake?
(c)  Why are residents fleeing Syria?
(d)  What is the U.S.'s refugee screening process -- what precautions are taken to reduce likelihood of terrorists entering the U.S.?
(e)  How can we in this community help -- in everyday life as neighbors; in town life as responsible citizens; in our communities as spokespeople, financial supporters, or hosts?

Speakers:
Muslim representative -- Imam Abdul Rahman - The value of human life and security, and the commonalities between religions.
Legal representative -- Legal official - explain the rigorous vetting process.
Refugee representatives -- Ahmad and his father, and another refugee family.
Nonprofit Organization Fundraiser -- Dr. Abdul Fattah Elshaar, Syrian American Medical Society.


Sponsored by: BSU Catholic Center, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Bridgewater, BSU Center for Middle East Studies, BSU Muslim Student Association


 

BRIDGEWATER FARM SUPPLY
  Bwater Farm Supply - dog food central!  
One stop for all your pet needs


Proudly Serving New England Since 1947

Like us on Facebook      
             

       1000 Plymouth St 
 (Rt 104) Bridgewater, MA  
                       (508) 697-0357 
 
First Parish UU 50 School St Bridgewater, MA
Facebook Event
[Sense]ation Day - Free Family Fun at Fuller Craft
Thurs., February 18th

Come to Fuller Craft Museum for a day filled with hands-on activities, craft demos, new exhibitions, and fun! 
An exciting day of discovery!
 FREE admission for up to 2 adults per family when accompanied by children 12 and under from 10 am - 4 pm (FREE activities from 10 am - 2 pm). 
Celebrate Black History Month: make a Freedom Quilt square  
Decorate a Tiny (bird)House, Toothpick Building Craft; &
Storyteller Tim Van Egmond at 1:00 pm captivates kids and parents with "The Story Bag."  For more info, visit fullercraft.org.
 

TED x BSU Watch Party
Mon., Feb. 22, 5-8:30 pm

Sponsored by University and Community Partnerships
Honey Tree Nursery School 
Taking enrollment now 
for Sept. 2016
Caring & customized developmentally appropriate preschool education
9 am - noon
2-day & 4-day programs 
lunch bunch optional

36 years of experience
Honey Tree Nursery School
645 Locust Street, Raynham, MA

Brockton Symphony Orchestra presents:

Sizzling Symphonic Favorites
Sunday, February 21, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Buckley Performing Arts Center,
Massasoit Community College,
1 Massasoit Boulevard, Brockton
Warm your winter afternoon at our family-friendly concert of orchestral favorites, featuring principal clarinetist and chairman of our BrSO family, Torben Hansen.
www.brocktonsymphony.org
Bridgewater Square Chiropractic

Optimize your spinal column structure and bio-mechanics. You'll be amazed at the improvement!



Like us on Facebook 63 Main Street Bridgewater 
           (508) 697-0050

Town of Bridgewater Town Clerk's Office
Information on Absentee Ballots
mkhunt@bridgewaterma.org
508 697-0921
Bridgewater's Student Wins Local Lions Peace Poster Contest

Bridgewater's Jaylee Borges's Peace Poster

Jaylee Borges, a grade eight student at Bridgewater Middle School won a local competition sponsored by the Bridgewater Academy Lions Club with her peace poster.  Borges's poster was among more than 375,000 entries submitted worldwide in the 28th annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest.  Lions Clubs International sponsored the contest to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.

Her poster was selected by Bridgewater Academy Lions Club Board of Directors for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, "Share Peace."  Bridgewater Academy Lions Club President, Beverly Saccocia, said she was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students at Bridgewater Middle School and their art teacher, Ms. Kerry Bean.  "It is obvious that these young people have strong ideas about what peace means to them.  I'm so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their visions."  Borges and 34 other students will be honored for their participation by the Bridgewater Academy Lions Club.
  
Jaylee's poster won the district competition at the District 33-S Mid-Winter Conference in Hyannis in January.  Congratulations to her for winning the district!

There were multiple district and international rounds of competition, where an international grand prize winner will be declared.

Last Year's winners can be found at peace-poster-contest/ppc-winners
At the end of February the 2015 winners will be posted. 
One grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected.  The grand prize includes a cash award of US $5,000, plus a trip for the winner and two family members to an award ceremony.  The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of US $500.

View International grand prize and merit and winners at www.lionsclubs.org.
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with 1.35 million members in more than 46,000 clubs in 208 countries and geographic areas.  In addition to its efforts toward conquering blindness, the organization has made a strong commitment to community service and helping youth throughout the world.
 
"Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall." ~ Ray Bradbury
"If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them from growing." 
~ Coco Chanel

"A bird is safe in its nest - but that is not what its wings are made for." 
~ Amit Ray, World Peace:  The Voice of a Mountain Bird

To soar, we must first learn to fly.  Time to get out and flap around a bit!
 ~  Jacquie
Small Businesses make our Community Strong.  Support them every day!

Living Happy
by Julie Gerstel
Happiness is a choice.  It is a choice we make from moment to moment and day to day


Like us on Facebook

Ruggiero Fitness Concepts
Starting February 15th, I am looking for people who want to WORK TOWARD THEIR OWN  Clean Eating goals with my team and me for 30 days! 

to get started!



 
Please remember to
mention you read about these advertisers in the
 Buzz Around !
Kindergarten Registration Begins February 8

 Please note that Online Kindergarten Registration will begin on Monday, February 8, 2016.  The link posted below will bring you to the formal letter of instruction issued by the school district.

 As a PTO, GMSPA sponsors an orientation program called Road to Kindergarten (RTK).

 RTK is a volunteer effort that organizes and hosts events for new K families to assist with the transition process to Kindergarten from preschool. The Kindergarten class in Bridgewater is typically 200-250 students, so as you can imagine, there are many new friends to be made!!

 Chairing this years RTK committee are board members Kristen Jackson Clifford and Jenny Bratby Burr!  Please watch for many more posts in the months to come so you can join us getting ready for Kindergarten! 

 RTK committee members will be on hand at the registration events at the Mitchell and we look forward to meeting you and your student and on April 1, the RTK website will go live.  It's designed to help answer all things K related that might start to pop into your head as the start of school draws near. 

 We look forward to serving you all and especially meeting the new students! 

 For more information, please visit:  http://www.bridge-rayn.org/district/onl/

Valentine's Day Luncheon

Tuesday, Feb. 9, noon

Bridgewater Senior Center

 

Please join us for a delicious roast beef dinner & dessert. 

Entertainment by singer 

Laura James will follow.

Please stop by to purchase your ticket now as seating is limited. 

Only $5.00 per person.

Benefit Pancake Breakfast for a local veteran
Saturday, February 13th Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2125 in Bridgewater 

  All the proceeds of this month's Breakfast will go towards local disabled veteran, James Crosby.  James is confined to a wheelchair from receiving an injury in Iraq.  He took an RPG round in the back and has limited use of his lower extremities.  Along with the proceeds of the day's event, VFW Post 2125 with match 100% of what is raised. 
Pancakes

James' house needs major renovation to fit an elevator so he can comfortably move about his home.  He currently has to crawl out of his wheelchair and drag himself up and down stairs in his home.  A numerous amount of veteran groups have banded together to help James raise the money for his rehab.  VFW Post 2125 has joined this fight.  Donations can also be made on our website, by clicking the yellow "Make a Donation" button in the upper right.  From now to the end of February, all donations made that way will go towards James.
Community Breakfast Feb. 13th.
 
Please join us for our monthly Community Breakfast!
Menu items include:
  • Pancakes and French Toast
  • Bacon
  • Scrambled Eggs and Home Fries
  • Coffee, Apple and Orange Juice
All this and more for an $8 donation for adults and $5 for kids.  Children under 2 eat for free!  Veterans with ID eat for free!


Reminder:
Monday, February 15, is President's Day.  All town offices, schools, banks, & library are closed.
School vacation begins.
Registration is open for the 2016 Spring Baseball season


Anyone interested can visit 
to register.
South Shore Hospital's Youth Health Connection suggests this great Grade by Grade Parent resource: 

NBC News Education Nation and Pearson USA have created an on-line Parent Resource Toolkit with a great depth of content designed to help parents support their child's growth & development in the classroom and beyond.  The toolkit is divided into single grade levels Pre-K through 12th grade and each grade level contains information on: academics, health & wellness-nutrition, health & wellness-physical development and social & emotional development. Within the "Tips and Guides," section you can access videos, academic, health & wellness or social-emotional development content.  The social-emotional development section offers: tips, conversation starters and age appropriate book lists for content related to empathy, exploring emotions, relationships, resiliency and self-esteem; respecting diversity and conflict resolution.  This website has great depth of content, resources, videos and more.  It is easy to navigate and sections are divided by individual grades or in some sections within developmental age categories.  Spend some time and check out this resource.
"Coloring for Adults" at the Bridgewater Public Library on February 24th at 1:00 p.m.
 
Come join the fun!  Coloring is a great way to inspire one's creativity, relaxation, reduce mind and body tension.  This program is for adults only.  All supplies will be provided.  No registration is required.

Open air burning of brush and forestry debris will be allowed in the Town of Bridgewater from January 15 to May 1 under the following conditions:
  • With the permission of the local fire department
  • Between the hours of 
  • 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  • When the air is circulating well but winds are light.
  • Not less than 75 feet away from any dwellings.
  • On your own property and as close as possible to the source of material(s) to be burned.
  • Garden hose in close proximity to fire.
  • Small piles, no leaves and monitor fire and extinguish at 4 p.m.
  • No unattended fires.
  • Do not be a nuisance to neighbors.
Burning will only be allowed during periods of good atmospheric ventilation, without causing a nuisance to neighbors; burning of brush and trees from commercial land clearing operations is prohibited. Burning of grass, hay, stumps, building debris and tires is prohibited.  No fires will be left unattended.  Keep a hose in close proximity to fire.  Call Fire Station daily for a permit to burn brush (508-697-0900).  There is no charge for a burning permit.
Random Acts of Kindness 2016 
Random Acts of Kindness Week will run from February 14-20, 2016.  Now is the time to consider what your class, club, sports team, or group of friends might do to participate.  To help you out, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has a website full of resources, such as:  Kindness in the Classroom lesson plan downloads, ideas for inspiration, reading lists, research information on kindness, videos, posters, kindness cards, inspirational quotes, and a newsletter.  For Classroom teachers there is a free online "Teaching Kindness Notebook:  Kindness in the Classroom" lesson plans for grades K-12.  Looking for more inspiration?  Check out the Stories tab on the website. 

To view the 7-minute overview video:

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation: Kindness in the Classroom Program
Random Acts of Kindness Foundation:  Kindness in the Classroom Program


Thanks to South Shore Hospital's Youth Health Connection


WINTER FAMILY DANCE SERIES
 
Dance instructor Sam Baumgarten will be offering a family dance series on three Sunday afternoons this winter:  February 21, 28, and April 3, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm
at the Bridgewater Senior Center. 

The series will include a mixture of circle dances, mixers, dances from other countries, and New England squares and contras.  All dances will be instructed, suitable for all ages, and appropriate for adults and children dancing together.  The series is intended to provide enjoyable family fun and the opportunity to experience the joy of rhythmical movement and traditional dancing.  Admission to the dances will be $3 per child, $5 per adult, and $10 per family (three or more individuals).  Contact Sam if you would like an information flyer or more information:  
508-697-6848 or 774-208-2933
 prize box  
WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME

Have fun with us
and beeee entered to win a 
$35 Gift Certificate to 
Lambert's Deli
826 Crescent St., Brockton


Historical Tidbit Question:
What year was a log meeting house established?
 
 
 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 Bridgewater.
 
On February 10, 2016, 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 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 Bridgewater 2/07/16")    
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.