April 5, 2020
~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time
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Halifax Awards Announced
Fire Chief Viveiros presented the Citizen Hero Awards to John Keegan and Christine Tompkins.
John Keegan
On December 21st a small aircraft plummeted into the icy waters of the East Monponsett Lake. The pilot, who was soaking wet and could not swim, was able to climb on top of the aircraft as it slowly began to sink. Without hesitation or concern for his own safety, John immediately utilized a neighbor’s canoe and paddled through the icy water to make the rescue.
In recognition of his valor and heroism, John Keegan was honored with the Citizen Hero Award.
Christine Tompkins
Christine Tompkins truly embodies the spirit of community and selflessness that makes the Town of Halifax such a special place. There are very few people that care as much about our seniors and display such willingness to help their neighbor, as Crissy does. Even as this award is presented Christine continues to once again serve our community. As quickly as the Coronavirus appeared so did the need for additional PPE. Crissy immediately recognized that need and continues to put in countless hours sewing masks for anyone who might need one.
In recognition of her countless acts of human kindness, Christine Tompkins was honored with the Citizen Hero Award.
Congratulations John and Christine!!
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Let us know your good news! You Could Win $75
Write an original short story related to one of the BuzzAround Hives: Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Raynham, West Bridgewater or Whitman.
Entries must be 1000 words or less.
We are accepting one story per person until April 14th, 2020.
4 prizes of $75/ each will be given out on May 1, 2020 to the best short stories in the following categories:
Popular vote:
Vote on stories from April 17th till April 24th. The popular vote will include all short stories submitted that meet the above criteria.
Brockton
: 3 librarians from Brockton Public Libraries will serve as judges. The Brockton judges will only vote on stories submitted related to Brockton.
East Bridgewater, Halifax & Whitman:
There will be one judge from each of these towns. The 3 judges award a winner from stories submitted for Whitman, East Bridgewater and Halifax.
Bridgewater, Raynham, and West Bridgewater:
There will be one judge from each of these towns. The 3 judges will award a winner from stories submitted for Bridgewater, Raynham and West Bridgewater
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Historical Tidbit:
Standish Manor School
Halifax, Massachusetts
(from a small handbook at the Museum of Halifax)
A Special School for Girls
Halifax - near Plymouth -
Massachusetts
Miss Alice M. Myers, Principal
Hazel G. Cullingford, Assistant Principal
PART 2
Characteristics of Standish Manor
In these days of specialization, why not the Special School exclusively for girls? Why not a home school for girls who are unable to keep pace with others of their own age? Standish Manor meets the needs of such girls.
Some have been so situated that they have had only the advantages of country schools. Others have not been sufficiently strong during their childhood to keep up with their class in public or even private school; some, because of illness, have had to sacrifice school work entirely. When these girls meet and associate with friends who have known no delay in their studies, they seem to sense at once their own deficiency. Perhaps this discovery stimulates them to extra effort that they may catch up, but in so doing over study and subsequent strain may result. On the other hand they may become discouraged and not recognize their own ability to do good work because their friends can do better. For girls of these types, a special school is particularly satisfactory for then they can progress as fast as their strength and ability will permit. A few years spent in a school such as Standish Manor prepares a student to enter a higher school or to return home happy and ready to take her place with other useful members of society.
Teachers who understand the Individual Girl
When the Special School is further enhanced by an intimate home life, it becomes possible for the teachers thus closely associated with their pupils to develop in them possibilities frequently overlooked in larger groups. All parents value the sympathetic, "homey" atmosphere of this Special School for Girls.
The teachers have keen insight into the slowly awakening physical, mental and moral consciousness of these girls, and are enabled not only to direct but to develop strong lines of character. The delicate, sensitive girl is therefore no longer timid and uncertain of her choice in life, for she has come into her own; a clearly defined personality is hers.
Many advantages exist at Standish Manor which are not to be found in other schools because this school is planned in every detail for the special girl. A richer, fuller, home life gives the girl at Standish Manor every possible encouragement to progress. The special training of the teachers fits them precisely for their different lines of work. In addition young women companions, rather than teachers, inspire the student's admiration and confidence.
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Town Hall
781-294-1316
Office personnel available through phone
and email only.
For needed updates, check the town website.
Holmes Public Library
781-293-2271
Office personnel available through phone
and email only.
Council on Aging
506 Plymouth Street
781-293-7313
Office personnel available through phone
and email only. All in person activities and
events are suspended.
Food Pantries
Halifax Congregational Church
503 Plymouth St. (Rt 106)
781-293-6393
Tuesdays -2:30 - 4p
St Vincent De Paul
Our Lady of the Lake Church
580 Monponsett St, Halifax
(781)293- 7971
2nd & 4th Saturday 9a
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Does your small business need help adapting to taking on-line orders?
BuzzAround can help!
Want to let our community know how you can service them?
BuzzAround publishes to 10,000 subscribers, it's a great time to advertise,
our readership is UP!
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Congratulations!
Heather Fowler-Wechter
won a
$20 gift certificate to
Johnny Macaroni Take Out
at any of their 3 locations.
You should play our
Historical Tidbit Trivia Game
at the bottom of this newsletter.
You could win a
$15 gift certificate to Pinches & Pounds Candy Store Rt 18, Whitman, MA!
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How about some good news in these trying times...
THE HOPS BRICKS ARE HERE!
A huge thank you from the Friends of HOPS to everyone that purchased a personalized brick to support our playground.
We look forward to setting them in place as soon as it's safe to do so.
Stay safe everyone. Can't wait til we can see you all on the playground again.
A lot of folks are asking if they can still order a brick. The Friends of HOPS is checking with the brick company to see if it's a possibility. Stay tuned...
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Message from The Friends of HOPS
The Friends of HOPS are hoping everyone is staying safe and sound during this unprecedented time in our history.
While we are so proud of our new playground... and think it's an amazing spot for our children... we have to face the reality of our current situation.
It's not what anyone wants to hear right now... but in the essence of our public health and safety please consider the playgrounds of Halifax off limits during this time.
While it may be feasible to keep a six-foot distance between children... the fact remains the structures are not being cleaned... and trust us when we tell you there are hundreds of little hands touching each and every inch of that playground on a daily basis..
The only way these closures will work to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases is if we continue to take the necessary precautions... as unfortunate as they may be.
As for the upcoming 7th annual "Hop for HOPS" 5K scheduled for May 17th we will continue to monitor developments and hope to make a decision on the event in the coming weeks.
Thank you all for your understanding. We wish you nothing but good health and happiness in the coming weeks.
The Friends of HOPS
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Massachusetts Residents:
Check your symptoms for COVID-19 securely, online, for free
Massachusetts residents can visit
Buoy.com/mass
to get advice from an online health assistant safely at home, for free.
Buoy will connect you with the appropriate health care resource based on your symptoms and risk factors for COVID-19.
Here’s how it works:
- Tell Buoy about your symptoms and risk factors.
- Figure out if you should be tested for COVID-19.
- Get directed to the most appropriate health care resource.
- Learn about the virus, access prevention tips, and more.
Buoy's online tool is not to be used in place of emergency medical care. If this is an emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.
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Annual Town Meeting Postponed.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Halifax Board of Selectmen has approved a new date for the Annual Town Meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, May 11, 2020. Instead, the Annual Town Meeting will be held on
Monday, June 15, 2020 beginning at 7:30p in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Halifax Elementary School. In addition, there will be a special town meeting on same date and location beginning at 8:00p.
Along with this change, the Board has rescheduled the
Annual Town Election, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2020, to a new date,
Saturday, June 20, 2020 from 10a to 6p in the Halifax Elementary School Gym.
The hope is that the current State orders concerning the size of gatherings will have been discontinued by these dates. If these orders or other measures prevent the Town Meeting and Town Election from occurring on the new dates listed above, the Meetings and Election will be rescheduled again.
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See our amazing disappearing chicks.
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We have wood pellets, feed & grain and
we're open for essential items!
Please call with your order and drive up.
1000 Plymouth St (Rt 104) Bridgewater
(508) 697-0357
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Help for Businesses
Dear Metro South Business -
I’m writing to encourage you and every impacted business to complete this simple application to receive up to $10,000 toward strengthening your business and helping our regional economy recover from COVID-19.
To receive a $10,000 forgivable SBA loan advance to help your business and our regional economy recover from COVID-19, follow this link...
covid19relief.sba.gov.
After completing, also check out how the SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loan can assist your business in recovery longer term with up to eight weeks of business and payroll expense forgiven.
Thank you for applying and spreading the word.
Chris Cooney,
President and CEO
Metro South Chamber of Commerce
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Halifax Town Government
Schools
- Buildings closed through Sunday, May 3rd - see also
slrsd.org. “Grab and go” lunches will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for eligible families who completed the survey or called into our food services director. Call Halifax Elementary info 781-293-2581.
Town Hall
- The staff will continue to perform their duties and be present to assist you via telephone 781-590-3888 or e-mail during their normal business hours. No public allowed in the building. Please contact the appropriate department for assistance -
directory.
Council on Aging
-The entire staff will be providing transportation to medically necessary doctors’ appointments, deliver Meals on Wheels, and phone check-ins.
If anyone would like to donate non-perishable food items and toiletries for the seniors they can be dropped off in the bins on the porch of the Council on Aging/Pope's Tavern. . Building closed to the public, COA activities & events are suspended.
Library
- Staff available to answer questions by phone and many online services are being offered.
Building closed up to April 7th with all fines waived.
Recycling Center
- curbside trash and recycling following normal schedule; bulky waste collection for April is on Thursday, April 30th - registration deadline is Thursday, April 16th at 2p. The "pink bag" pick-up service through Simple Recycling has been suspended on an indefinite basis.
The Recycling Coordinator will continue to perform her duties and be present to assist you via telephone (781-293-1732) or e-mail
sjohnston@town.halifax.ma.us during normal business hours from Monday to Thursday from 9a to 2p. Building & offices closed to the public.
Water Department
-Services being provided; residents call the office 781-293-1733 with any issues.
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JOHNNY MACARONI'S
Eat well, Laugh often, Love much
Take out ONLY at all of our award-winning restaurants, offering curbside pick up!
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NEW SPECIALS (effective 3/17/20)
**All GIFT CARDS ordered online only
are discounted 25% (until further notice)!
**Receive a $10 gift card for each
TAKE-OUT order $50 or more!
Click on location below for
full take out menus.
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We're Open!
Some FYIs to our loyal customers: we’ll be following social distancing guidelines and taking all possible safety precautions to protect you and our staff, so be patient shopping! See you soon!
318 Plymouth St. Halifax
(781) 294-1767
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Top 10 Tips and Resources from a Reluctant
(at first) Homeschool Mom
“I’m not a teacher.” “I don’t have the educational background, the subject knowledge, nor the patience to homeschool my kids…”
Don’t worry! You’ve can do this. Let’s face it, your children will never forget this time spent in quarantine together. Learning will not only add normalcy and purpose to their lives, it can lead to a wonderful appreciation for each other. Experiential learning as a family has the power to inspire new interests and to create lifelong bonds among siblings.
Along with my tips and resources, I will share insights that will hopefully save you time and dispel any uncertainties you may have about your new job. You can do this! You have everything you need. At your fingertips. Literally. The internet offers a vast network of support for every academic subject imaginable.
• Be a student. When I first started homeschooling my kids, I spent many sleepless nights preparing lessons for the next day. You don’t need to plan extensively, and you don’t need to be an expert in any subject! You are a student right along side your children. We read the classics, learned (or relearned) Algebra 2, performed many chemistry experiments, and competed in an aerodynamic paper airplane contest together. (The teacher lost.) It’s ok to not know the answers. Your kids don’t need you to be perfect, just to be there for them. YouTube.com has thousands of videos to explain just about anything.
• Experiment! There are so many wonderful science experiments that you can perform with household items and minimal supplies. Our favorite science website is
sciencebob.com
. His experiments on the Jimmy Fallon show are amazing and hysterical! There are wonderful chemistry and physics experiments available at:
stevespanglerscience.com
;
interestingengineering.com
. Nothing beats experiential learning.
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OLD COLONY YMCA
East Bridgewater
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Virtual fitness workouts from Les Mills, MOSSA, and Y360 for the whole family!
Download our app – Search for
Old Colony YMCA
to get started!
Kids - do the online sport challenges found on our
Facebook Page
!
Join the weekly challenges and earn rewards for staying active!
#stayhomestayhealthy
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Grant's sends out support & care to all of our communities.
We're all in this together.
10 Bedford Park, Bridgewater
(508) 279-0950
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Send us pix, video & stories - What are you doing with your free time?
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Local Community Member Provides Free Handmade Masks!
Chrissy Fontaine Tompkins is hard at work sewing masks for free. She hangs them on a tree in her front yard. Here is her post:
"Grab a ziplock and come grab a mask! (These need to be washed before use!)
#UPDATE
: I am now making 2 panel masks with ties instead of elastic bands. Nurses are saying they like the pocket so they can put a protective liner in it. (Also the elastic gets sore behind the ears). "
Chrissy is accepting donations of 1/8” or 1/4”elastic, pipe cleaners and pro grain ribbon (not silky).
Please drop off at
37 Chestnut Rd Halifax.
"
#WeAreAllinThisTogether
! **** disclaimer ****THESE ARE NOT SURGICAL GRADE!!! The elastic kind are 3 ply 💯 cotton fabric stitched together with a pipe cleaner insert to bend around your nose. These are used OVER your mask if you need to reuse your PPE or if you work in retail etc. they are a reminder to NOT touch your face and that someone cares! (It was pointed out to me that I did not specify) Stay healthy everyone! ❤️"
If you sew, this is a great way to help! Masks can be hung on the tree when done."
Photo & Story Credit: Chrissy Fontaine
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WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME
Have fun with us and bee entered to win a
$15 gift certificate to Pinches & Pounds Candy Store Rt 18, Whitman, MA!
Historical Tidbit Question:
What did a Standish Manor School prepare a student for?
We are looking forward to giving you more opportunities to win!
By entering, you give us permission to announce your name in next week's Buzz Around Bridgewater.
On April 8, 2020 we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.
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The Buzz Around is brought to you this week by: Jen Bellody, Theresa McNulty, Janice O'Brien, Megan Piche, Stacy Rancourt, Deena Anzum, Jacquelyn Rose & Gregory Venezia
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Parents...
"They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Carl W. Buehner
"Kids don’t remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.”
~ Jim Henson
“Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” ~ Lady Bird Johnson, Former First Lady of the United States
"There is no need to be perfect to inspire others… Let people get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.”
~ Robert Tew
"It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.” ~ L.R. Knost
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You are your child's first and most important teacher. Take care of yourself so that you can show up as your most compassionate self for your child. We are rooting for you!
~ Jacquie
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Playing For Change's
Teach Your Children Well
This powerful live performance from Adelaide, Australia, features Tula, Roberto Luti and the PFC Band. This performance embodies all that they believe in: "soulful music with an inspiring message helping us to move forward as a human race, one heart and one song at a time."
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Copyright 2019 Buzz Around Halifax.
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 Halifax 4/5/2020")
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.
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