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NOTE: DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THIS NEWSLETTER, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO CLICK "VIEW ENTIRE MESSAGE" AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN IN ORDER TO READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER OR CLICK HERE to View as Webpage .
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Photo location: Westborough
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Hello Neighbors and Friends -
Winter is almost here in New England and Downtown Westborough at night is a beautiful sight (thank you, Rotary Club of Westborough!). You can feel the festive spirit of December here and many in the community are preparing to celebrate Chanukah, Christmas or Kwanzaa. I wish a happy celebration to all who are observing holidays this month.
To that end, December 5th is International Volunteer Day and earlier this week, we held our annual Cheers to Volunteers event in honor of our incredible Volunteer Team. It's worth sharing some impressive statistics that we shared with them. Across 2023, we were incredibly fortunate to have over 80 Volunteers who logged 2079 hours (so far!) to help us with 273 jobs. We absolutely could not have done what we did this year without their support. If you're interested in joining our team, please email Cheryl Thomas at cherylconnects2@gmail.com
As we all get ready to mark the end of the year, I know we are also holding in our hearts the cares and concerns of so many people here and around the world. I hope that 2024 brings joy, peace, love and CONNECTION to us all.
Yours in community,
Kelley Petralia
Executive Director, Westborough Connects
kelleyconnects1@gmail.com
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A curated selection of articles, videos, audio and resources that we find worthy of sharing each month (no matter where you live).
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Locally focused items centered on resources and announcements in Westborough. |
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Westborough TV along with Westborough Connects Volunteer and Sponsor, Dalia Izvolsky, did a beautiful job sharing the tradition of Dia de los Muertos and our local celebration in late October. Watch it HERE.
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HERE is a fun and feel-good Westborough TV recap of the Kickoff to Kindness Week and some of the events throughout this special week in Westborough.
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Thank you!
Among other things, this time of year is often called the season of gratitude AND the season of giving. We know there are a lot of incredible causes and organizations in need of support and we are grateful that so many people (151 donors!) were able to support our 2023 Annual Appeal with a donation.
We set some ambitious goals for ourselves. With your help, we sprinted past our $10,000 goal to earn our match from EG America and Cumberland Farms. (Thank you, Cumberland Farms and EG America!). There are still checks, employee match contributions and PayPal donations trickling in (it's never too late to give!) and we are getting closer to our overall goal of $17,000.
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UPCOMING PROGRAMS
(January is right around the corner!)
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Register in English or Spanish |
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This film focuses on the impact of our digital age on teens' decision-making in relation to substances such as vaping, drugs, and alcohol.
ALL WESTBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS will watch the film in their physical education classes this year. This is a great opportunity for parents, caregivers and all caring adults with youth in their lives to see this powerful and informative film.
Local pediatrician Dr. Safdar Medina will be available to answer questions following the film. Dr. Medina will also be the featured speaker for a follow-up event on February 6th. It will focus on youth and substance use.
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NOTES FOR JANUARY 9TH FILM SCREENING:
- The film will be shown in English with Spanish subtitles.
- Language interpretation is available with pre-registration by January 4th.
- It is recommended for parents and caring adults and is appropriate for adolescents aged 13 and older.
- Free on-site childcare provided by Westborough High School Honor Society (pre-registration is required).
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Register in English or Spanish |
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View translated flyers HERE. |
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Opportunities for Connection, Civic Engagement, Learning, and Helping Others & the Environment |
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Community Programs and Events in Westborough |
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Cookbook Club! Holiday Dessert Swap
Tuesday, December 12, 6:30-7:45pm
Location: 3rd Floor Meeting Space, 55 West Main Street
Bring a batch of your favorite holiday dessert to swap, share, and taste; bring an empty container to bring samples home! (Please bring the ingredient list/recipe too, in case of allergies). Whether you love to make cookies, bars, or cakes, and no matter what/if you celebrate, all adults and teens are welcome. Limited space available - Register HERE. (Registration closes Friday, December 8).
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Walking and other events will begin in January. Find out more HERE.
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“Empathy has the power to bring together people who would otherwise never meet. It has the power to teach us and to reach us in moments of isolation when we think nobody understands.”
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, United States Surgeon General
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Westborough Connects, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN # 84-1751472), is a community connector with a mission to help build a thriving, kind, and connected community where everybody belongs. By listening and responding to the needs of the community, we connect people to resources and to each other. We foster meaningful relationships through events, collaborative partnerships and communications.Westborough Connects is the proud winner of the Civic Pride Award as part of the Westborough Economic Development Committee's 2022 Year in Review Awards. |
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westboroughconnects@gmail.com
www.westboroughconnects.org
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