December 15, 2019
~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time
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Congratulations to the New Superintendent!
West Bridgewater School Committee unanimously voted to appoint Mr. Mark Bodwell, Principal of the MSHS, as the next Superintendent of the West Bridgewater Public Schools.
Mr. Bodwell will succeed Dr. Patty Oakley upon her retirement on June 30th 2020, after 15 years in the position.
Mr. Bodwell has served the West Bridgewater Public Schools in the capacity of teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal of both the Howard and Middle Senior High School. For over 20 years, Mr. Bodwell has shown consistent support of West Bridgewater students, families and staff, along with willingness to work tirelessly for the growth and well-being of the district. The committee is unanimous in their belief that Mr. Bodwell has all of the skills and qualifications to be a successful superintendent, and is by far the best person to make our already great school system an even better one!
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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
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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 Street
508-894-1255
Mon, Thurs, Fri 10a - 5p
Tues - Wed 10a - 8p
Sat 10a - 2p
Council on Aging
97 West Center Street
508-894-1262
Mon - Fri 8:30a - 4p
Food Pantry
1st & 3rd Wednesday each month
3:15 - 5p
Spring Street School
2 Spring St WB
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Congratulations!
Mary Blye
won a
$50 gift certificate to Beauty Counter products through Independent Consultant Christine Harkins.
The clean revolution
You should play our
Historical Tidbit Trivia Game
at the bottom of this newsletter.
You could win a
45 minute Reiki Treatment with
Jacquelyn Rose.
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Holiday Sweater Day at COA
Mon Dec, 16th
Please make lunch reservation by 9:00a 12/16
Join us for lunch on and wear your “festive”, “outrageous” or “ugly” holiday sweater for a fun, friendly competition.
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The Polar Express
Family Movie Night
Fri, Dec 20th
Doors open 5:45p, Movie starts 6:00p
WBMSHS Auditorium & Cafeteria
The West Bridgewater National Honor Society will be hosting a family movie night. Wear your pajamas and enjoy some hot chocolate & popcorn while enjoying The Polar Express! Come out to WBMSHS for some holiday fun with your family and friends while supporting the NHS Senior Scholarship Fund!! Children $5, family cap of $15.
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Julie's School of Dance at the EB Christmas Parade. Great job! You make WB proud!
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Happy Holidays from your Friends at
BRIDGEWATER FARM SUPPLY
We're Your
COMPLETE
Garden, Farm & Pet Store!
Come check out our great gifts for the holidays! Farm themed toys, doggy shirts & sweaters, bird feeders, garden decorations and oh so much more!
Stop in today!
1000 Plymouth St (Rt 104) Bridgewater •
(508) 697-0357
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Laughter Yoga
Tue, Dec 17th
10:30a
WBPL
Laughter Yoga is a practice for adults that uses spontaneous and prompted laughter to release stress, increase happy thoughts and bring a sense of well-being. Try it! You’ll come away feeling lighter and healthier. This is a seated chair practice.
http://www.westbpl.org/program/adult/
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Winter Wonderland Celebration
Sat, Dec 21st
10:00a - 2:00p
Join us for a family friendly Winter Wonderland Celebration. Decorate cookies, do a craft, watch a holiday movie, get your face painted, partake in the festivities with a hot cup of cocoa.
FREE & Open to All!
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The First Church of West Bridgewater, 29 Howard Street, will hold a Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Tuesday, December 24th at 11:00 p.m.
This service will include Lessons and Carols and the Lighting of Candles. All are welcome to attend.
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5
Ways to Reduce Waste & Recycle During the Holidays
‘Tis the season for a huge increase in solid waste and recycling across Massachusetts. As the holiday gift-giving and entertaining season kicks in here are 5 ways of effective recycling:
1. Offer recycling bins at your parties. *place a labeled recycling bin near the trash can. *avoid single-use plastic, aluminum, glass, and paper products.
2. Use eco-friendly gift wrapping paper made from recycled materials. Most cities and towns accept wrapping paper in their recycling collections, as long as it’s non-metallic and glitter-free. However, tissue paper is not recyclable.
3. Recycle the cardboard. Break down the boxes and put them in your recycling bin or take them to a drop-off center. Remove any plastic film or Styrofoam packaging.
4.Throw all malfunctioning lights and tinsel into the trash.
5. Shop sustainably. When shopping for your holiday gifts this season, consider choosing brands that are made with ocean plastic, reused fibers, or recycled paper and that avoid unnecessary packaging.
Recycle the old when you bring in the new
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Bethel Family Medicine * Bethel Women’s Wellness
Comprehensive healthcare for every member of your family.
Accepting New Patients
CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT!
111 Torrey St, Brockton (508) 588-1200
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BEAUTY COUNTER
CHRISTINE HARKINS
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Clean Beauty makes a great gift!
Contact me today to order yours!
Our Clean Promise: Over 1,500 questionable ingredients are never used in our formulations.
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George Hebert Retires
George Hebert retired after bringing Joy to the world for almost 60 years.
George Hebert started to bring Joy (the Magical Clown) to life, some time in the late 1950s when he began clowning and doing magic. He was around the age of 17 (almost 60 years ago). George always had a love of magic and making people laugh.
Early on he learned magic from a man he idealized by the name of Jonny Sission. George started when he was a young boy doing strolling and pocket magic. He never stopped learning his craft. Over the years, Joy has gone to numerous clown and magic conventions all over the country, learning new techniques and tricks and sharing his magic and clowning secrets along the way.
Joy is a member of a few clown organizations, but no doubt is most proud of being part of the Shrine Clowns, which is no small feat! Joy's make-up aka Face, is a registered clown trademarked to the name Joy the Magical Clown.
Though Joys outfits and iconic BIG clown shoes have changed over the years, his name and face have remained the same. One of his proudest moments as a clown is meeting Muhammad Ali and teaching him magic.
Over the years, Joy has taught and mentored many magicians and clowns, both young and old. George even taught at the Red Cross school of clowning. His students are now performing all over the country. The students he must be most proud of are his grandchildren, his magic and routines have been handed down to his oldest grandson Ben, now 22 years old. Ben enjoys performing what his grandfather has taught him adding his own twist. He is now a professional worship leader. His 18 year old grandson has also learned a lot of Joy's magic and enjoys the idea of performing and has been doing theater for over 10 years. George's other younger grandchildren, Abigail, age 3 and Elias, age 4 have never been able to see him perform as Joy, they just know George as a funny, loving Grandpa.
Joy has been seen performing all over America, but has always been an icon at many New England events. Joy performed at the very first West Bridgewater Park Day and he made many return encore appearances over the 28 years. Joy's performances have been seen at schools, community events, parades, churches and camp grounds. Joy has volunteered making countless appearances at charitable events and visiting children in hospitals. In the unlikely event you haven't see one of Joy's performances, perhaps you've seen him traveling to one of his shows on countries interstates. Often he's in one of the "Joy Mobiles" that's been everything ranging from a small pull behind trailer, to a van, and even a big motor home but at events he's often seen buzzing around on his miniature car.
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George, aka Joy, is also a Justice of the Peace. Joy the Magical Clown has married many people and even attended funerals. George has won many awards and recognition as Joy, including a prestigious award given in Boston once as "Worlds Best Clown". George doesn't need to be performing as Joy to bring happiness and laughter to a crowd. George has been seen in a tuxedo and top hat delivering flowers for Pillsbury Florist, and as the owner of the former Estabrooks Family Restaurant, he would perform magic at the tables, always pulling a quarter out from behind a child's ear. George also worked as a guide on tour buses, entertaining thousands on countless busing adventures.
George may be retiring Joy but he can still be found behind the wheel of his van, of his company "Need a Ride". At the end of every show Joy has ever performed, he says "If I have brought just this much (shows a pinch with his fingers) happiness in to your life, for just this much time (shows a pinch with fingers again), it means this much happiness in my life forever (opens both hands out wide)." Though some things change some stay the same.
George is a long time resident of West Bridgewater where he and his late wife Liz Estabrooks raised his two Daughters Melissa Hebert- Wilcox and Karen Hebert-Vanover. For a short period of time when she was only 10, Karen preformed as Bubbles the Clown. She attended clowning school at Red Cross Clown School with her dad.
Submitted by Jerry Lawrence
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WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME
Have fun with us and bee entered to win a
45 minute Reiki Treatment with
Jacquelyn Rose
.
Historical Tidbit Question:
Who composed the tune that was used for the song "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"?
Email us your answer at:
Prizes@buzzaround.info
Please include your name, phone number with your answer.
Prize Box Rules
.
By entering, you give us permission to announce your name in next week's Buzz Around Bridgewater.
On December 18, 2019 we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.
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Ups and Downs
I am heartened by the fortitude of the New England farmer. Ingenious, resourceful- farmers "Get 'it done!" any way they can, when the weather changes it up.
"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings."
~
Masanobu Fukuoka
" Life on a farm is a school of patience; you can't hurry the crops or make an ox in two days." ~
Henri Alain
"Farming is a profession of hope."
~
Brian Brett
Yes, with the snow and the wind and the rain, I think of the work of our farmers and it gives me hope.
Let's see...
How are we going to have healthy bodies? Eat local produce.
How are we going to fight climate change? Source local food.
How are we going to have more money for our schools & kids programs?
Support our local businesses.
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Weather ups and downs got you thinking? Plan a garden.
Have some hope.
~ Jacquie
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The
Buzz Around is brought to you this week by: Sage Barr, Jen Bellody, Janice O'Brien, Jacquelyn Rose, & Greg Venezia
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Copyright 2019 Buzz Around West Bridgewater.
You have our permission to share and copy this issue in its entirety or as much as you like. If you take it in part, please give credit: ("Buzz Around West Bridgewater 12/15/19")
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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