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.
|
|
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 .
|
|
Hello Neighbors and Friends -
Many of our subscribers to this newsletter live in Westborough and March is a busy month for the town - with our town election (tomorrow) and Town Meeting (March 23). You'll find links to more information about both in this newsletter. It's a good time to call your attention to a relatively new monthly segment of this newsletter shining a light on the values that drive our organization. We select one value each month and share an example or explanation of how we live out that value in our work. This month's Value in Focus is "We are empowered by our neutral, impartial and apolitical stance. We take a stand, without taking political sides, for kindness, justice, and inclusion." (please see that section further down in the newsletter - make sure you view the newsletter as a webpage so you can read in its entirety). This can be incredibly challenging to live out during a time when everything feels political, and we are working really hard at it because it is important to us.
March is National Women's History Month and we had a great program to celebrate International Women's Day. Thank you to all who came and those who supported the event (see below!). Also this month, Muslims will celebrate the month of Ramadan, which began last evening. The Hindu festival of Holi will take place on March 25th and Christians will celebrate Easter on March 29th. We wish all who are observing special holidays this month wonderful and meaningful celebrations.
Finally, enjoy the sights and sounds of early spring which begins March 19th!
Yours in community,
Kelley Petralia
Executive Director, Westborough Connects
|
|
 |
A curated selection of articles, videos, audio and resources that we find worthy of sharing each month (no matter where you live).
-
Did you miss it? Westborough TV recorded our recent Square One program: Let's Talk About It: Substance Use and Youth with Dr. Safdar Medina. Watch it HERE.
-
As with all our programs, we aim to provide supplemental substance use resources for people. HERE is the follow-up newsletter we sent to attendees of the program with Dr. Medina.
-
NPR recently offered 5 tips for creating connection and reducing loneliness. Read or listen (6 minutes) HERE.
|
|
|
|
Locally focused items centered on resources and announcements in Westborough.
-
We are very fortunate to have a vibrant WPS Fine Arts department, which brings many opportunities to all in the community to enjoy and support the arts. Check out their recent February newsletter HERE.
|
|
|
|
We are excited to announce that we have hired our new Volunteer Engagement Coordinator - Tracy LaCroix.
Tracy has been a long-time fan of Westborough Connects and attended many of our programs over the years. She embodies the spirit of service and the values of Westborough Connects. She will be a great addition to our team. She has a lot of volunteer experience, has coordinated volunteers and helped plan events. She also has a background in social work, which we love!
|
|
|
Thank you to the following sponsors for renewing their support of Westborough Connects in 2024!
Inteplast Group
Avidia Foundation (grant)
Mirick O'Connell Attorneys at Law
|
We recently received an Amazon Gives Grant to support Kindness Week. Thank you, Amazon!
|
|
|
|
We celebrated International Women's Day on March 7th (a day early!). It was a joyful event with our co-hosts Westborough Women's Club and Westborough Historical Society.
Thank you to all our Featured Guests, Volunteers and BORO SugarShack. We also wish to thank the many businesses who contributed to the day! Cha Cha N Beans, Yummy Mummy Bakery, Swanski’s Bakeshop, Lindsay Taylor SPAtique, Vivacity Nutrition, EG America and Hygge House Books.
|
|
|
|
Westborough Unplugs, inspired by National Screen Free Week, encourages us to "unplug" when and where we can and discover the incredible local opportunities beyond our screens. We work with community partners to host and promote some local events, culminating in the annual Unplug and Explore Nourse Farm on May 11th. Want to learn more about this annual initiative? Check out last year's details HERE.
We are seeking Volunteers to join our planning team and we have an upcoming meeting. If you're interested, please email Laura Cerniglia (lauraconnects3@gmail.com).
|
|
Local Opportunities for Connection, Civic Engagement, Learning, and Helping Others & the Environment |
|
Westborough Town Election
March 12th
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. There are three contested races this year - School Committee (2 candidates for 1 seat), Library Trustee (5 candidates for 3 seats, Trustees of Soldiers Memorial - Veteran (2 candidates for 1 seat). There are 2 candidates on the ballot and a write-in candidate campaign for Trustees of Soldiers Memorials - Non-Veteran (2 seats available). You can learn about all of them and most of the remaining candidates who participated in a Candidates Forum sponsored by the Westborough Democratic Town Committee HERE.
The Westborough Public Library also held a Meet the Candidates Night for Library Trustee candidates. You can watch the recording HERE.
|
|
Westborough Town Meeting
March 23rd
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 town warrant for the meeting (the list and details for the 46 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 (click on Government from the top navigation and scroll down to the Advisory Finance Committee videos).
There are 14 citizens petitions on the Warrant this year. The Select Board and Advisory Finance Committee held a special joint meeting last week to hear presentations from the proponents on each of the articles. You can watch that HERE.
|
|
|
(What is a town meeting? How about an "article"? Check out this helpful "Citizens Guide to Town Meetings," from the Secretary of the Commonwealth of MA office).
|
|
Project Graduation 2024 Needs YOU!
Project Graduation is an independent organization that provides Westborough High School graduating seniors a safe alcohol and drug-free environment to celebrate graduation. The evening is a festive overnight lock-in event at Teamworks in Northborough complete with decorations, food, sports, games, and live entertainment. For over 30 years, they have relied on volunteers from the community to make this important and spectacular event happen.
This is a great opportunity for adults with younger children to pay it forward AND for adults whose kids have already graduated to give back. They are currently accepting donated items to create the absolutely incredible decorations that help transform the space each year. You'll find their Wish List HERE. See all opportunities to support this effort HERE.
|
|
Annual Earth Day Town-Wide Cleanup
hosted by Westborough Community Land Trust
Week of April 6-13, 2024
ONLINE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Join the annual town-wide litter clean-up sponsored by WCLT! Come on your own, or rally your family, co-workers, or neighbors and form a team to beautify our town!
- Sign up for larger groups were held from February 1st - March 10th.
-
Families and individuals go HERE between April 1-4 to sign up and choose an area to clean.
Trash bags will be dropped off at participants’ homes by the 5th, or if necessary, you can arrange to pick up. Clean your chosen area any day or time before noon on April 13. Leave closed bags by the road in the area you cleaned, and they will be removed on April 13. Wear gloves, long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy shoes. There will not be a picnic this year, due to decreased attendance, but the people and wildlife of Westborough will be grateful for your efforts!
|
|
Community Programs and Events in Westborough |
|
Westborough Environmental Action Fair
Saturday, March 16th, 1-4pm
Westborough High School, 90 W. Main Street
A family friendly, jam-packed Westborough Environmental Action Fair. Games for kids and adults. Representatives s from Tufts Veterinary School, the IRS, Mass Save, Nourse Farm, PaperPie Books; Experts on rooftop solar, heat pumps, native plants, EV’s; Student exhibitors and artists. Plus town representatives discussing local initiatives. And of course, yummy snacks. You can find more information through their Facebook event HERE. This event is sponsored by Sustainable Westborough and Rotary Club of Westborough.
|
|
BORO Sugar Shack is hosting... |
|
15 East Main Street, Westborough |
|
Westborough Public Library has a number of events on their March calendar and there is something for all ages.
- Mindfulness
- Conversation Circles
- Jeff Snow presents: The Softer Side of Celtic (A Westborough Cultural Council program)
- Marcia A. Zug —You'll Do: A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love
- Be a Prankster: Teen Program
....and more! Check out their calendar HERE.
|
|
Hygge House Books has several free programs this month.
- Kids Half-Day Make-and-Take Crafts
- Silent Book Club
- Bunco Night
- Third Place Book Club
...and more! Learn more HERE or on their Facebook page HERE.
|
|
Tatnuck Bookseller has several Author Events in March. Check out their calendar HERE.
|
|
Upcoming SPARK KIndness Program |
|
March 20, 7-8:30pm
Wilson Middle School, 22 Rutledge Road, Natick
In this interactive talk, author and child development expert Deborah Farmer Kris, M.Ed., will give practical advice about how to help kids name, normalize, and navigate their feelings – especially the tricky ones – so they can better manage themselves and the world around them.
Learn more and Register HERE.
|
|
As a values-based organization, our work is grounded in the 11 organizational values we have adopted. Each month, we'll highlight one of our values - perhaps sharing an example of it in our own practice or a resource we have found useful. This month's Value in Focus: |
|
We are empowered by our neutral, impartial and apolitical stance. We take a stand, without taking political sides, for kindness, justice, and inclusion.
As an apolitical organization, we do not advocate for specific candidates or legislation. This is incredibly important for two reasons - 1: with our 501(c)3 status, the IRS strictly prohibits our organization from "participat(ing) in, or interven(ing) in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” AND 2: Supporting specific legislation, including Town Meeting warrant articles, can put us in direct conflict with our mission and some important work we are focused on called Bridging Differences & Divides.
Westborough Connects wants to make space for multiple perspectives and that is difficult to do within the perceived binary (left OR right). Empowering ourselves and others through neutrality is particularly challenging in our current high-stakes political environment that doesn’t hold a lot of space for courageous conversations. Then, we remember that each value does not exist within a vacuum. We also believe in curiosity and humility. We also believe in generosity of spirit. We collaborate through conflict. We promote a growth mindset. We understand that impact is more important than intention. We encourage people to be engaged citizens and to take the time to educate themselves on candidates, warrant articles and other things that will impact the community and the people who live here.
We suggest asking questions related to these values: Is this kind? Is this just? Is it inclusive? Am I being curious and humble? What is the impact? Is there room for collaboration? We also encourage people to talk (and actively listen, with empathy) to people who are outside of their immediate circles and who hold other perspectives and lived experiences than their own - and to do that outside of social media. (We know this isn't easy!).
Here's how we do take a stand:
-
Kindness: Each year, we celebrate Kindness Week which challenges us to view kindness as a committed and deliberate action throughout our life span. The week serves as a re-dedication to this core value and inspiration for the entire year.
-
Justice: As a supplement to our 2021 MLK Community Celebration, we published a Racial Justice Toolkit - a series of newsletters focused on learning more about each other and centering communities that have been historically marginalized, with a desire for empathy and belonging for all.
-
Inclusion: We host and/or participate in programs throughout the year that help us take a stand for inclusion, including several cultural celebrations. In June 2023, we were thrilled to participate in the regional Pride Parade and Celebration in Hopkinton. It provided an opportunity to actively support the LGBTQ+ community and affirm the value of all individuals. We were also inspired to publish a dedicated bulletin devoted to resources for Pride Month. We will continue this work and have been asked to take a more active role in the planning of the 2024 celebration in Hopkinton. (If you'd like to join our program planning and support team, please reach out!).
|
NOTE: Our organizational values have been shaped since the earliest days of our founding in 2017, through the mentorship and guidance provided to us by SPARK Kindness and through further development and practice as an organization. They were formally adopted by our board of directors in 2022. You can view our values HERE.
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
Interested in becoming a sponsor of Westborough Connects? We'd love to talk to you. Please email us at westboroughconnects@gmail.com |
|
westboroughconnects@gmail.com
www.westboroughconnects.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
