Post & Image Shared From
Jessica Parzyck
How is everyone’s quarantine going?
Went for a walk today and when I came home our neighbors where outside and he was playing music on pleasant street. 
Another neighbor came over who is a musician too and joined, of course keeping distance. 3/26/20
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Message from Bridgewater Police Chief, Chris Delmonte regarding Covid-19 and staying safe in your community.
Video courtesy of BTV
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Letter From Superintendent of Schools Derek Swenson:
In response to Governor Baker mandating school buildings stay closed until May 4, 2020.
Dear BRRSD Families,
We hope that the information below provides some guidance on how to keep students active with academics during this time. This district-wide guidance was shared with BRRSD educators on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 as means of ensuring consistency in academic expectations.
Communication:
Teachers, service providers, principals, and district administrators will be checking their emails every weekday and will respond to emails within 24 hours. Teachers and service providers will reach out to their classes or caseloads at least once weekly with the purpose of maintaining connections. We have asked them to establish a predictable, routine check-in process in order to continue the important relationships they have with your children. This communication may take the form of whole-class or individual emails, phone calls, or Google hangouts/virtual meetings.
Academic Resources:
Teachers will provide resources and/or activities to families to help students maintain skills already taught and/or to offer options for enrichment. We encourage BRRSD families/students to continue checking their teachers’ Unified Classroom, Google Classroom, Class Dojo pages, as well as other designated educational sites for these learning opportunities. For the time being, there will be no new instruction for students or expectation of work completion, however again we are anticipating new/additional educational guidance from the DESE Commissioner and this is subject to change.
Technology:
While schools remain closed, we all need to rely heavily on technology to communicate and provide opportunities for academic activities. We understand that this poses a hardship for many families with limited access to devices and/or internet services. If your child needs a device, please contact me at (508) 558-5491 and we will arrange a pick up for a district Chromebook. Please know that Comcast is also offering free hotspots and internet access to families. Go to
www.internetessentials.com for more information.
We realize that this unprecedented time has place strains on families and educators alike however, we must continue to work together as a team and community in order to do right by our children. I thank you for your time and please stay well.
Respectfully,
Derek J. Swenson, Superintendent of Schools
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Historical Tidbit:
Normal Hall 1880
"The State has erected upon the school premises a very pleasant and commodious Boarding Hall, which will accommodate all the pupils who desire board. Two students occupy one room. Each room has two closets, is carpeted, supplied with furniture, including mattress and pillows, heated by steam, lighted by gas, and thoroughly ventilated. One wing of the hall is occupied by the gentlemen.
The Hall is under the charge of the Principal, who resides in the house and boards with the students. No pains are spared to make the Hall in every respect a home for the pupils. It has a beautiful location, and every room is pleasant. A Reading Room, supplied with newspapers, periodicals, and some of the best new books, and a Gymnasium, are provided for the daily use of the students.
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The Hall was built and furnished by the State. The boarders are to pay the current expenses, which include board, fuel, light, washing, and the expense of keeping the Hall and its furniture in good condition. The aim is, to make these expenses not more than $80 a term, or $4 a week, for gentlemen; and for ladies not more than $75 a term, or $3.75 a week. Boarders who remain for any period less than half a term will be charged 25 cents a week additional.
The expense thus far has not exceeded the sum specified.
"
From: Catalogue and Circular of the State Normal School at Bridgewater, Mass. - Fall & Winter Term, 1880
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Academy Building Municipal Offices
66 Central Square
508-697-0921
Mon - Thurs 8a - 4p, Fri 8a - 1p Services available through phone, email & website only
Check Town website for needed updates
Public Library
15 South Street
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
The Bridgewater Senior Center is closed to the public. However, the following services will continue: Meals on Wheels and medical appointment/grocery store transportation services.
Food Pantry
Central Square Congregational Church
71 Central Square
508-697-6016
Thursdays - 10a - 1p
1st Monday of each month from 6 - 8 p
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Congratulations!
Lynn MacDonald
won a
$50 gift certificate to Beauty Counter products through Independent
You should play our
Historical Tidbit Trivia Game
at the bottom of this newsletter.
You could win a
$20 gift certificate to Johnny Macaroni
Take Out at any of their 3 locations.
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Free Breakfast & Lunch available to all children in the school district.
Thanks to the collective efforts of the BRRSD and Chartwells Food Services, we are happy to inform you that beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, both breakfast and lunch grab & go bags will be made available to all BRRSD students and children under the age of 18 within our communities of Bridgewater & Raynham. Upon its commencement on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, this meal service program will continue
Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the front entrance way of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School located at 415 Center St. in Bridgewater. There is no registration, ID, address, or name required. All meals are free and you may stop by anytime during the service hours.
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Bridgewater State University
offers twenty-five $1,000
Scholarships!
It's that time of year again when University and Community Partnerships offers twenty-five $1,000 scholarships. They are offered to students who are seniors, will be graduating this year and who are accepted to BSU. The students must live in Bridgewater or are attending Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School.
For more information, email the University and Community Partnership Director, Susan McCombe
smccombe@bridgew.edu
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Info on the $2 Trillion Economic Rescue
Plan Stimulus Payments.
Most adults will get a one-time $1,200, although some would get less. For every qualifying child age 16 or under, the payment would be an additional $500.
How much you get depends on your income:
Single adults with Social Security numbers who are United States residents and have an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less would get the full amount. Married couples with no children earning $150,000 or less would receive a total of $2,400. And taxpayers filing as head of household would get the full payment if they earned $112,500 or less.
Above those income figures, the payment decreases until it stops altogether for single people earning $99,000 or married people who have no children and earn $198,000. According to the Senate Finance Committee, a family with two children would no longer be eligible for any payments if its income surpassed $218,000.
You can’t get a payment if someone claims you as a dependent, even if you’re an adult. In any given family and in most instances, everyone must have a valid Social Security number in order to be eligible. There is an exception for members of the military.
College students do not get anything if anyone claims them as a dependent on a tax return. Usually, students under age 24 are dependents in the eyes of the taxing authorities if a parent pays for at least half of their expenses.
Your adjusted gross income can be found on Line 8b of the 2019 1040 federal tax return. If you haven’t prepared a tax return yet, you can use your 2018 return. If you haven’t filed that yet, you can use a 2019 Social Security statement showing your income to see what an employer reported to the I.R.S.
If the Internal Revenue Service already has your bank account information, it would transfer the money to you via direct deposit based on the recent income-tax figures it already has.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he expected most people to get their payments within three weeks.
If you haven’t filed tax returns for "19 or '18 it would that affect your ability to receive a payment.
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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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Disconnect with Cyberspace.
Reconnect with
Open Space.
The mission of this initiative is to reconnect families and children with the great outdoors.
This
‘Take a Hike!’ Guide is for individuals, groups and families who are interested in exploring the State Parks and Forests of Southeast Massachusetts.
While the visitor centers are closed, all state parks and comfort stations across the Commonwealth remain open and available for the public to utilize. DCR reminds residents and visitors to avoid gathering in groups, maintain social distancing, and practice healthy personal hygiene to stop the spread of the virus.... BUT YES!!!! GET OUT AND HIKE!!!
Here are more easy ones. Most trails are well marked. Trail maps & directions may be found at
mass.gov/dcr. You will also find directions to these parks at the above website. You will need a good pair of sneakers or boots and a bottle of water!
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School Committee March252020.mp4
The B-R School Committee hosted a Zoom meeting on March 26th (prior to the Governor announcing new restrictions on the school calendar).
Read more
btvaccess.viebit.com
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Census 2020
The time is now, before April 1, 2020. Help shape your future, and your community's future, by responding to the 2020 Census. Where
The 2020 Census will determine congressional representation, inform hundreds of billions in federal funding every year, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade.
School lunches. Plans for highways. Support for firefighters and families in need. Census results affect your community every day.
The official Census Bureau mailings include detailed information and a Census ID for completing the Census online, but your census can be completed with or without your code... just get it done!!!
Count yourself in the population now!
Click
here to visit the official website
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No Utility Shutoffs
The
Dept. of Public Utilities has prohibited utility companies from shutting off gas, electric, or water utility services for any customer while the State of Emergency Exists. That includes both residents and businesses.
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NEED LEGAL ASSISTANCE?
For folks who have legal questions during this time. The state funds the Mass Legal Assistance Corporation which offers a range of legal aid programs.
sccls.org
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On-site Laboratory * Cosmetic Services
* Weight Management
* Menopausal Medicine ~ Caring for infants, children, adolescents, and adults
Accepting New Patients
CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT!
111 Torrey St, Brockton (508) 588-1200
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D'Agostino Insurance
111 Torrey St Suite #1
Brockton, MA 02301
Call (508) 586-0414
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A note from Sam Baumgarten at Bridgewater Community Dance
Hi All,
Just for fun and to keep dance on your brain:
Watch this Contra dance from the “Flurry,” a big New York State event held every year in Saratoga Springs. My daughter went to the most recent one. 200+ dancers in the hall!
Finally, one of my dance teaching colleague did a virtual folk dance party the other night from Oregon. It’s an
hour and a half of non-stop dancing (of course, you can stop any time!), with some very accessible dances, a few of which we have done over the years. She teaches everything quickly and clearly. You, too, can danc
e in your living rooms!
Enjoy—keep moving and stay healthy!
Sam
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Community Dance
Yankee Doodle Mixer
~ from 6 months ago. See you'all on the other side of this! ~ Jacquie
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Send us pix, video & stories - What are you doing with your free time?
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Wood Palace Kitchen Designs
Check out Tim's Fireside Chat
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7 Mill St, Middleboro
(508) 947-1975
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MOLD GUYS RESTORATION, LLC
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Call today to get your
air ducts cleaned!
An air duct cleaning service is an investment not only in your health, but in the health of your HVAC system!
(781) 910-5029
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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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Looking at the physical distancing statements in Gov. Baker's advisory:
For the sake of our physical health, we all know to stay away from each other, what the World Health Organization now calls "Physical Distancing" (yes, the term "social distancing" is a misnomer, and they have changed it.)
"Residents are advised to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel and other unnecessary activities during this two-week time period. "
"The Baker-Polito Administration does not believe Massachusetts residents can be confined to their homes and does not support home confinement for public health reasons."
So PLEASE NOTE: we are not being told to stay inside. There are activities you can participate in that are outside and do not come in contact with others. Our mental health and physical health demand that. Sometimes going out in your neighborhood or community is a necessity to accomplish these things. Get creative. Take up jogging. Do art & music. Take a walk in the woods. Fly a kite. Pick up trash. Please be mindful and take care of yourself, eat right & comply with the physical distancing protocols. ~ Jacquie
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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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BLISS
THROUGH
YOGA
is NOW open
in
Your OWN Home!
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Now Live Streaming ALL Classes!
Tuesdays @ 5:30p; Wednesdays @ 10a; Thursdays @ 7p; Fridays @ 6:30p;
Saturdays @ 9a
Contact Janice to register
Find YOUR bliss at Bliss Through Yoga!
Yoga for the Rest of Us!
(508) 331-3564
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Bridgewaterites helping the Homeless through this rough time.
L Street Mission
3/17/20
Today was misty, wet, and cool. The library, and other sources of warmth and day time shelter for the homeless community are closed due to the coronavirus. So we jumped in the Jeep to provide a lunchtime mobile distribution of blankets, socks, and other warmth items on the streets of Brockton. Today however we had home made warm soup and biscuits thanks to the cooking skills of my wife Beth. Beth joined me today and helped with the distribution of hot food and love to the homeless in Brockton.
We were almost out of food when to our great surprise we found a group that were teamed up with Pastor Roberto to distribute food at his church. They gave us some of their extra food which allowed us to continue serving under the overpasses and at a camp site in the woods. Tim Southern has made a dish to be distributed tomorrow. Patrice Johnson has offered to donate sandwiches and chips. Kathleen and Alex from Bridgewater Honeydew offered to donate baked goods for the cause. Also, Peter Kelleher (Soup Man) called me today to inquire about how we can coordinate efforts tomorrow.
Coronavirus has tried to make things even worse for the homeless community. However God has provided so many blessed people to make things better. Gods will be done as always.
God Bless You All!!
Rob Basler
L Street Mission
& Central Square Congregational Church
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WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME
Have fun with us and bee entered to win a
$20 gift certificate to Johnny Macaroni take out at any of their 3 locations.
Historical Tidbit Question
:
How many students where in a room in the Normal Hall?
Email us your answer at:
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 April 1, 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
Deena Anzum,
Jen Bellody, Janice O'Brien, Megan Piche, Jacquelyn Rose, Gregory Venezia
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You are the center of the universe AND you are a speck of dust.
This old Hebrew teaching about our ego speaks to me today. Rabbi Simcha Bunim, a great Polish Hasidic master at the turn of the 19th century, taught: “Everyone must have two pockets, with a note in each pocket, so that he or she can reach into one or the other, depending on the need.”
Every single day, we should feel worthy, loved, appreciated. If we don’t, we “should reach into the right pocket, and, there, find the words: ‘Bishvili nivra ha-olam’ The world was created for me." (BT Sanhedrin 37B).
I will say it now to you, dear reader; you are worthy, loved, appreciated. Take care of yourself, eat right, exercise. Today, your smiling face is more important than ever.
And also, when we feel full of ourselves, unjustly put out by what our community needs of us right now, “one should reach into the left pocket, and find the words: ‘V’anochi afar v’efer’ I am but dust and ashes." (Gen. 18:27).
Walking in the forest, I feel both those at once. Feeling as tiny as an ant surrounded by great trees, and at the same time knowing how I affect those around me. Today and always, each of us has an important role to play in keeping our community strong. Making eye contact and smiling are important. Call each other, write notes, create public art. This is our challenge.
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Your impact is huge. Ants can carry up to 40 x their weight. We are a speck, but we are mighty.
~ Jacquie
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Copyright 2019 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 3/29/20")
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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