If you have received this email as a forward and wish to subscribe to the Westborough Connects mailing list, please click HERE. For previous newsletters, click HERE.
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Hello Neighbors and Friends -
As we sit today, in between two weather systems bringing late winter snow, it's hard to believe that the first day of spring is March 20th. Weather is one of the ways New England holds its charm and gives us something to talk about with family, neighbors and strangers, alike. Right? Well, I am ready for spring!
If you read this newsletter and/or attend our programs, you know that input and feedback is important to us. It speaks to our mission and shapes our work. I'd like to ask you each to take just a few minutes to complete our annual Community Input Survey (information below).
March is National Women's History Month. There are also several religious and cultural traditions in March: the popular festival of Holi, an ancient Hindu tradition, will be celebrated on March 8th and Muslims will begin their holy month of Ramadan on March 22nd. Lent continues for Christians in the lead up to Easter, as well. On behalf of Westborough Connects, I hope those observances and celebrations are full of the traditions you cherish.
You'll read on to see several local programs and community events happening this month. If you're not from the local area, it's OK; there is still content in this newsletter that we hope will be useful for you, regardless of where you live! Please read on to see for yourself.
Yours in community,
Kelley Petralia
Executive Director, Westborough Connects
kelleyconnects1@gmail.com
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Please Take Our Community Input Survey |
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As a grassroots nonprofit, it is important to listen and respond to the needs of our community. We have developed our annual Community Input Survey so we can better understand what YOU want and need from Westborough Connects.
Will you take some time to complete our survey? The survey takes only 5-10 minutes and your responses will be completely anonymous.
Thank you!
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Upcoming Westborough Connects Program |
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March 8, 2023, 6-7:15pm
Forbes Municipal Building, The Great Hall
45 W. Main Street, Westborough, MA
Join for an inspiring evening focused on stories of leadership.
Enjoy this multigenerational program connecting women leaders, friends and neighbors. Attendees will have an opportunity to listen to women leaders from Westborough share their stories and to ask questions and speak within small groups.
All are welcome! This event is free and designed for
women of all ages and youth, ages 10+. Light refreshments will be provided.
OVER 70 ALREADY REGISTERED!
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Next week - with SPARK Kindness |
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March 7, 2023, 7-8pm
via Zoom
This program will address how to raise children who work to promote justice, compassion, and belonging for themselves and others. Dr. Traci Baxley will discuss the principles of Social Justice Parenting and offer strategies for implementing these values into your daily life.
The program will be hosted by Kate Storm, Board Chair of Westborough Connects. Kate will bring her perspective as a parent, social worker, and leader who is passionate about social justice parenting.
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April 30 - May 6, 2023
Westborough Unplugs celebrates community resources and offerings that do not require screens to access, while promoting a healthy balance of screen use in our lives. Community-wide activities will include:
~WCLT-guided All-Ages Nature Walk~
~Bookin' It to Bay State~
~Unplug and Explore @ Nourse Farm~
Interested in helping plan Westborough Unplugs this year or learning about sponsorship opportunities? We welcome help and support to bring this to the community. Please email Laura Cerniglia (lauraconnects3@gmail.com
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May 7, 2023, 3-6pm
Spring into Wellness is a free community program for all ages- from children through senior adults. Through a wellness expo, hands-on activities, and opportunities to learn about health benefiting tools, we will connect attendees to resources which support mental and behavioral health, showcase various ways to positively impact well-being, and decrease the stigma surrounding mental health.
This program is presented by the Square One team. Square One is a collaborative partnership between Westborough Public Schools, Westborough Youth & Family Services, the Rotary Club of Westborough, Westborough Public Library and Westborough Connects. Together, we offer free programming and resources designed to support community education and resilience around substance use & mental health.
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Join us at a Connect Over Coffee |
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March 16
9-10:30am
Red Barn Coffee Roasters
17 South Street
March 20th
4-5pm Leduc Art & Antiques
5 Milk Street, Suite 1
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Our Connect Over Coffee initiative provides an opportunity for informal meet-ups with fellow community members. Please drop in for conversation and snacks with Westborough Connects staff, volunteers, friends and interested community members. A special thank you to Red Barn Coffee Roasters for generously providing coffee and pastries for our Connect Over Coffee events. Feel free to bring a friend! Please bring your own mug, if you can!
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Community Programs and Events |
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PLEASE NOTE: A goal of this newsletter is to highlight free, community-focused events that are open to all and bring us together. We do our best to keep up with all the great things going on around town, but we need your help! Please reach out and let us know about any events that would be important to include! Email us at westboroughconnects@gmail.com. Thank you.
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All Aboard! The Train and Industry Pull into Town
Hosted by Westborough Historical Society
March 6th, 7-8:30pm
The Willows, 1 Lyman Street
Historian Phil Kittredge describes Westborough’s transition from farm town to industrial powerhouse with the advent of the railroad in 1834. Presentation will include restored rare vintage photographs.
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Midday Matinee: Ticket to Paradise
Hosted by Westborough Public Library
March 7th, 11am-1pm
55 West Main Street
Did you miss a hit movie on the big screen? Catch up at the library! This month we're showing Ticket to Paradise.
(From the cover:) Academy Award winners George Clooney and Julia Roberts team up as exes who find themselves on a shared mission: to stop their lovestruck daughter from making the same mistake they once made. Ticket to Paradise is a romantic comedy about the sweet surprise of second chances.
Bring a snack or lunch and covered drink.
No reservations needed, but space is limited. (PG-13)
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"Yours For Humanity - Abby": One-Woman Historical Show
Hosted by Westborough Public Library
Thursday, March 9th, 6:30-7:45pm
55 West Main Street
This program is appropriate for grades 6 through adult; a talk-back with the actor will follow.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Westborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. It is also sponsored by the Friends of the Westborough Public Library.
Limited space is available and pre-registration is required. Register HERE.
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Meet Abby Kelly Foster, Massachusetts' radical abolitionist, human and women's rights activist. Visit 1854, a time when political and social differences divided the US--a time that parallels our own. Listen to Abby's powerful speeches against slavery and prejudice, which changed so many minds. This informative and eye-opening program portrays Abby’s determination, perseverance, and dedication on behalf of the enslaved and women, and brings the past alive and into the present.
In 2011, Abby was nationally recognized as she was inducted into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame, Seneca Falls, NY and the National Abolition Hall of Fame in Peterboro, NY. Ms. McKenney Lydick, the actor who portrays Abby, was asked to accept these honors on her behalf, and has received acclaim for her inspired portrayal of this remarkable woman who did so much to change the hearts and minds of thousands of people around the United States.
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Snakes of New England and the World
Hosted by Westborough Community Land Trust
Saturday, March 11
TWO SHOWS: 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
Knights of Columbus Hall, 17 Willow Street
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Bring the family and join us for our always-popular live animal show! Meet some fascinating harmless reptiles you may find while out walking in Westborough, as well as some impressive specimens from around the world. Learn to identify, respect, and protect these fragile creatures.
You will be allowed to touch the animals—this show is always a big hit with the young and the curious of all ages! Plan to arrive early as seating is limited. Presented by Rick Roth of the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team.
This program is free and no reservation required. Donations to WCLT gratefully accepted at the door. Contact events@westboroughlandtrust.org with any questions.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Westborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Also supported in part by the Westborough Newcomers Club.
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Intro to Islam and What is Ramadan
Hosted by Westborough Public Library and Boroughs Islamic Society
MARCH 15th, 67:45pm
55 West Main Street
The holy month of Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a month of fasting, worship, service, communal gathering, and spiritual development. Fasting in Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Learn about the history and pillars of this ancient faith. Ifran Baig, a member of the Boroughs Islamic Society, will be on hand to present and host a question-and-answer session. Register HERE.
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Hosted by First United Methodist Church
March 17th, 7:30pm
A night of blues music, fun, and coffee.
This is a free event, but donations are appreciated toward future coffeehouses!
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Janet Parnes presents: Dolley Madison
Hosted by Westborough Public Library
March 29th, 6:30-7:45pm
55 West Main Street
Round out Women's History Month with a one-woman performance by Janet Parnes! In this live show, Historical Portrayals by Lady J presents Dolley Madison, wife of America's 4th president, and an inspirational figure in her own right.
Check HERE for more information. Registration opens March 13th.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Westborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
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Upcoming SPARK Kindness Program - YOU are invited! |
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March 23rd, 7-8:15PM
via Zoom
In this talk, author Renee Jain, MA, will offer practical, supportive techniques to address anger and other intense emotions in ourselves, our children and our teens with more understanding and less screaming. She will discuss how to uncover what's underneath these big feelings and how to empower individuals, parents, and children to shift to more positive response patterns.
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Opportunities for Connection, Civic Engagement, and Helping Others & the Environment |
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OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE:
Golf Club Building Use Committee
At their meeting on February 14, 2023, the Select Board approved the creation of the Golf Club Building Use Committee. The charge of this committee is the following:
- Recommend whether or not the town should consider significant capital investment in the Country Club Building (whether it be renovation or construction).
- Identify expected use of the building considering the needs of the golf course, pro-shop and maintenance barn. Specifically address any level of food service desired.
- Consider other recreational uses or community needs that may be addressed by the building.
- Make recommendation to Select Board by October 1, 2023.
The composition of the seven (7) member committee will be made up of the following: Select Board Member, Town Manager or designee, Recreation Commission Member or Recreation Director, Westborough Golf Club Golf Pro, 1 Resident who is a Golf Club Member (with a preference for an individual who lives in Westborough full-time), Residents who are not Golf Club Members (with a preference for individuals who live in Westborough full-time).
Letters of interest must be received at the Select Board’s office by March 10, 2023. More information can be found HERE.
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Public Information Session - Town Meeting Article 12
Hosted by the Library Building Committee
March 21st, 7-8pm
Galfand Meeting Room, Westborough Public Library
55 West Main Street
The Library Building Committee will hold an information session about Article 12 on the upcoming Town Meeting Warrant. The article seeks $360,459 for design work on the repairs that are needed in the library building.
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Westborough Town Election
March 14th
8am - 8pm
location for voting in all precincts
Westborough High School
90 W. Main Street
There are several elected town positions on the local ballot this election.
Candidates for elective office in the town of Westborough will take part in a Candidates Forum sponsored by the Westborough Democratic Town Committee. Candidates for Select Board, School Committee, Trustees of Library, Planning Board, Town Clerk, Town Moderator and Trustees of Soldiers Memorial have been invited.
The forum will be held March 5 beginning at 6 pm online and can be viewed via Westborough TV's cable (Verizon 28 or Charter 192) or YouTube channels.
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Annual Town Meeting
Saturday, March 25th, 9am
Westborough High School
90 W. Main Street
This is an opportunity for registered voters in town to decide matters related to town spending and governance. HERE is a link to the draft town warrant for the meeting (the list and details for the 39 articles to be voted upon).
Each year, numerous presentations and meetings are held in preparation for Town Meeting. Presentations made to the Advisory Finance Committee related to many of the articles can be found on Westborough TV's Government channel and on-demand via the Westborough TV website HERE.
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Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day
limited to the first 100 cars
March 18th, 7:30am-noon
DPW facility, 133 Oak Street
Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day is a community-sponsored chance for residents to properly dispose of toxic materials. To protect public health and the environment, certain wastes should not be put in landfills or incinerated with ordinary trash. For more information, click HERE.
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Earth Day Town-Wide Cleanup &
Cleanup Volunteers’ Picnic
Hosted by Westborough Community Land Trust
Advanced online signup required
NOTE: Clean your chosen area any day or time before noon on April 15. Picnic takes place on April 15th, 11:30am-12:30pm.
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Join the annual town-wide litter clean-up sponsored by WCLT, and enjoy a drop-in Earth Day Volunteers’ pizza picnic lunch afterwards! Come on your own, or rally your family, co-workers, or neighbors and form a team to beautify our town!
- Larger groups please email earthday@westboroughlandtrust.org by March 15 to sign up.
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Families and individuals register HERE between April 1-6 to sign up and choose an area to clean.
Trash bags will be dropped off at participants’ homes by the 7th, or if necessary, you can arrange to pick up. Leave closed bags by the road in the area you cleaned, and they will be removed on April 15.
Then, head over to Bay State Commons for an appreciation picnic of pizza with all the sides! For the cleanup, wear gloves, long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy shoes.
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Project Graduation 2023 needs YOU!
We are so excited to have begun work on Westborough Project Graduation 2023!
For over 30 years, on the evening of graduation, we have been offering all of our graduating students an alcohol-free, chemical-free event to celebrate with their fellow graduates called Project Graduation.
We organize a festive overnight lock-in event at Teamworks in Northborough complete with decorations, food, sports, games, and live entertainment. Our dedicated group of parent volunteers work tirelessly for months prior to graduation to coordinate the evening. The Class of 2023 has over 260 students preparing to graduate on June 3rd. Congratulating these seniors on their success and keeping them all safe on the evening of their graduation is a priority for our entire community and Project Graduation.
Project Graduation relies solely on donations from families and businesses that care equally about the safety of our graduates and the importance of celebrating this milestone in their education. For information, including ways to contribute to this initiative, please click HERE.
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CONNECTing Through Kindness |
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One of the initiatives during our annual Westborough Kindness Week is encouraging people to write notes of kindness and place them anonymously on parked cars and trucks throughout Westborough.
This year, the strong and courageous clients at New England Recovery Center spread kindness by creating handmade cards for this initiative and staff placed them across a shopping center parking lot. In turn, Westborough Connects delivered "Kindness Connects Us" stickers and a thank you card to show appreciation for helping amplify the kindness in our community.
These simple messages can serve as powerful affirmations for the creators, the recipients AND those of us who bear witness to these reminders that we can all be connected in kindness.
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Do you have a story to share about connecting through kindness - during Westborough Kindness Week or another time in 2022? If so, we'd love to share it! Help us turn up the volume on our kind community. Please email westboroughconnects@gmail.com.
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Westborough resident Professor Mary Christensen has released a podcast series, "When the Pandemic Came to Town: How a Small New England Town Survived Covid with Kindness and Resilience," featuring WESTBOROUGH! Mary conducted extensive research and worked for months with Westborough TV to interview and document the community during the first 2+ years of the COVID-19 pandemic. With 12 episodes, Mary includes a multitude of voices and stories from many different perspectives and experiences (including Westborough Connects in episode 6). You can find it on Spotify, Amazon and Apple.
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Our neighbors in Northborough are celebrating their 2nd annual Kindness Week (February 27th-March 3rd) and we are thrilled to see this initiative spreading! Click HERE to see the exciting and inspirational ways they have been celebrating and amplifying kindness this week.
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You may have noticed some people camped out overnight during the cold evening of last Saturday, February 25th on East Main Street in Westborough. Westborough residents John Bogaert, Brady Henderson and Gray Sassetti were there as part of the annual A Night in the Cold to raise money and awareness for homelessness. This year, they raised over $20,000 for Abby's House in Worcester. To read more about it, click HERE.
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You may have noticed there are SEVERAL community programs being hosted this month by the library. If you'd like to keep up-to-date on all the happenings at Westborough Public Library, sign-up for one or all of their 3 newsletters (general, teen and children HERE.
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This new section will help readers get to know a little more about
some Westborough Connects' sponsors!
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Meet New England Recovery Center, a Westborough Connects Community Sponsor. In there own words...
Located atop a 25-acre campus in Westborough, the New England Recovery Center (NERC) offers immediate availability to inpatient detox and residential treatment for adults struggling with substance use disorders.
One client recently shared, “I’ve been to rehab a number of times and without a doubt, this was the best one I’ve been to -- the staff, facility, the group therapy, the structured day, and thorough aftercare plans. It’s set me on a path to lifelong sobriety. This time I’m loving being sober, am attending meetings, exercising, meditating, and actually enjoying my life.”
NERC is in network with all major commercial insurance plans and provides transportation assistance when needed. For more information, visit www.newenglandrecoverycenter.org or call 1-877-MyRehab.
The New England Recovery Center is a subsidiary of Spectrum Health Systems, Inc. Founded in 1969, Spectrum Health Systems is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals impacted by substance use and/or mental health disorders. Over the years, Spectrum has established a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment services throughout Massachusetts, including inpatient services, outpatient counseling, medication for addiction recovery, and peer recovery support.
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Noteworthy Reads and Resources |
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On loneliness and connection: Here's a share-worthy article from Greater Good Science Center: "Want Better Relationships? Here’s What to Do Today" (sub-title: "A new study finds that even just one conversation with a friend could make you feel more connected and less stressed").
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On kindness: In honor of Random Acts of Kindness day last month, CNN offered this article, "The health benefits of a simple act."
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On the Digital Age: Dr. Sanjay Gupta has dedicated this current season of his podcast "Chasing Life" to an in-depth exploration of screens, including social media, the impacts on our lives and society, and use among youth and adults.
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On belonging: This Forbes article, "How To Cultivate A Culture Of Belonging—And Why It’s The Ultimate Competitive Edge," discusses the reasons for and approaches to creating a culture of belonging in a business context, with lessons that can also be largely applied in community and school settings.
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“The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen.”
-Rachel Naomi Remen, MD
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About Westborough Connects
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.
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westboroughconnects@gmail.com
www.westboroughconnects.org
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