Bridgewater Gladiators Game Tomorrow Night

Bridgewater Gladiators vs. Brockton Buccaneers

"Gladiators try to extend to a 4-0 this week against the 2007 Champs"

What: Sporting Event
Host: Bridgewater Gladiators
Start Time: Tomorrow, August 1 at 6:00pm
End Time: Tomorrow, August 1 at 9:00pm
Where: Bridgewater Raynham High School

Ice Cream Party at Bridgewater Public Library

The Bridgewater Public Library will be hosting an "End of Summer Reading" Ice Cream Party on Thursday, Aug. 6 @ 12:30 p.m. The bike raffle will be held and the winner of the "guess how many" jar will be announced.

Registration is required:
Please call asap, 697-3331 and ask for the Children's Room,
or email to bwpl@sailsinc.org, including "Attention Children's Room" in the
subject line.

08/17/09 Lions Club Blood Drive: Sign Up Here

Donate Blood at Conant Community Health Center

Sky Hawks Program Starts Monday

Bridgewater Recreation is offering the Mini-Hawks and Mighty-Hawks sports programs with the best progressive sports curriculum available for children 4 - 8. The program provides safe and positive athletic experiences that build foundations of healthy and active lifestyle choices while encouraging kids to have fun.

Teamwork, winning and losing, and sportsmanship are critical lessons for athletics and life. Skyhawks is a nationwide organization whose goal is to teach children and young adults life skills through athletics. It has been a recognized name in delivering quality sports programs for children and young adults for 30 years. Skyhawks believes that every child should experience the joy and benefits of athletics. All Skyhawks programs are focused on developing and building the skills and confidence of young athletes in a fun and safe environment.
In order to provide top quality instruction, each Skyhawks program is based upon three things: Safety, Fun, and Skill Development. In addition, Skyhawks programs are non-competitive, and promote sports in a positive and enthusiastic manner.

I can do that! Every child can find success in being active! Skyhawks curriculum is specifically designed to enrich the experienced young athlete while engaging the novice with fun and energetic games and drills. Skyhawks started with the philosophy that every child should have the opportunity to experience the joys of athletics. That thought remains at the core of every camp Skyhawks runs. So, if you want to hear your child say "I can do that!" then sign them up for our Skyhawks camp today!

Skyhawks will be offering both the Mini-Hawks and Mighty-Hawks half-day programs this summer to accommodate kid's ages 4 - 8 years old. Mini-Hawk Multi-Sport is a great introductory program for kids 4 - 6 years old. The next level is Mighty-Hawk Multi-Sport for kids ages 6 - 8 that covers three sports: Basketball, Baseball & Soccer. Programs will be offered the weeks of August 3 - 7 and August 10 - 14 from 9:00 AM - noon at Legion Field.

Parents and athletes can find more information or obtain forms for upcoming programs at www.bridgewaterma.org/government/recreation. For more information call Bridgewater Recreation at 508-697-8020. Pre-registration is required.

Meat Raffle on Saturday

There will be a meat raffle at the Bridgewater Knights of Columbus Council 488 building located at 582 Bedford Street this Saturday.

The event will take place from 1PM to 3PM.

Hatred Hits Home in Bridgewater

Though on Around the Common we like to focus on the positive within the community, it is a shame that hatred via vandalism has hit home here in Bridgewater. Please click here to read about the vandalism that took place in a Bridgewater neighborhood.

In light of these recent events, perhaps it is a good time to pause and reflect upon actions, words and thoughts that really have no place not just in Bridgewater but across the globe. All of us in Bridgewater should use this opportunity to rise up and reject racism, bigotry, prejudice and oppression and instead support equality and fairness in everything we do. Whether it be an off-color joke or graffiti tagged to a street sign as is the case here, attempting to feel better about yourself by inflicting either direct or indirect emotional stress on others is about as low as one can stoop to.

Around the Common supports the efforts of the Bridgewater Police Department to find the cowards that enacted this hate upon not just a few residents but upon the town as a whole.

The photo above is just one example of the hatred left upon this community, the other images are completely too graphic to show here but are eqaully as repulsive and stupid.

For some good reading, please click here to check out the New England Anti-Defamation League's website.

Library Coffee Sale

The Friends of the Library will be placing a "Bridgewater Brew" coffee order on Thursday, 7/30. If you are interested in "special ordering" coffee, please contact Rebecca McGrath at 508-697-5193 or at bifbec4@comcast.net.

Coffee will be available at the front desk of the Library beginning Tuesday, 8/5. Payment will be due at that time. In case you do not special order, a limited amount of coffee will also be available
at the front desk.

Thank you for supporting the Friends of the Bridgewater Public Library!

Farmers' Market Coming to Bridgewater!

Bridgewater will host a farmers' market this year on each Tuesday of the summer beginning this Tuesday, July 21st. The farmers' market will take place at the Bridgewater State College parking lot at the corner of Spring and Broad Street and will run from 3PM to 6PM.

Please make sure you stop by to enjoy local produce and support our local farmers.

Running for the Twins

Every year we receive many requests for donations to worthwhile causes. The last five years, my wife Carol, my daughters Courtney, Kylie and I have devoted our efforts to supporting a cause that is very close to our hearts. Our good friends Bridgette and Tony DeBoe have eight-year old twin daughters who suffer from Thalassemia, a blood disorder affecting the body's ability to produce hemoglobin. There are many different kinds of Thalassemia, from mild to life threatening. Alexia and Kailyn suffer from the most severe form and since the age of 3 require monthly blood transfusions to survive. Unfortunately, these transfusions are just a treatment and not a cure.

Each day they must also take medicine to remove the excess iron caused by the transfusions. Modifications to this medicine must continually be made for it to remain effective. The removal of their spleens a few years ago has helped the girls in their battle, but unforunately has presented other issues with dealing with bacterial infections and fevers. While a bone marrow transplant remains the most viable option for a possible cure, there are tremendous risks that accompany this process and there are no guarantees it will work. Also a match would need to be found. The costs associated with both fighting this disease along with looking for a cure, are astronomical and continue to rise.

The twins continue to live life to its fullest: they dance, play soccer and hope to start cheerleading this year. The Deboes continue to battle this terrible disease and hope and pray that research will someday produce a cure.

Four years ago we thought a great way to help out this wonderful family would be to ask family, friends and members of the Bridgewater and outlying communities to sponsor me in my first running of the Falmouth Road Race. This is how the “Running for the Twins” was started. From running on my own the first year, to 4 runners in the second year, and 10 runners the last 2 years, we continue to get wonderful support from our friends, family and neighbors throughout the Bridgewaters and all over Massachusetts and also from the generous race directors of the Falmouth Road Race. This year 11 friends of mine will be joining me in running the 7.1-mile race in Falmouth on Sunday August 9, 2009 in support of these beautiful and courageous little girls.

If you would like to sponsor us in our “Running for the Twins V” race, please mail your donation to the address below or contact me and I will be more than happy to stop by and pick it up. Any donation large or small would be greatly appreciated. Checks should be made payable to the Alexia & Kailyn DeBoe Family Fund. This fund was set up by the twins’ grandmother at Bridgewater Savings Bank. Every dollar donated goes directly to the family to help offset medical and other related expenses not covered by their health insurance; my team and I absorb all the costs associated with the race and fundraising efforts. Please feel free to share this letter with your family, friends and neighbors who may be interested in supporting our team and the twins.

I realize there are many worthwhile causes so please do not feel obligated in any way. What I will ask is that you keep Alexia and Kailyn in your thoughts and prayers.

Keith Buohl
10 Fieldcrest Drive
Bridgewater, MA 02324

Starship Story Hour and Crafts

The Bridgewater Public Library is offering a Starship Story Hour and Crafts program on Thursday July 30th from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Children ages 3-8 are invited to participate. Space is limited and registration is required. Sign-up begins July 14th.

Children are invited to join the "Warm Cookies" class from Bridgewater State College's PCC (Project Contemporary Competitiveness) program for stories and crafts activities based on the Starship Adventure Reading theme.

The PCC program is a partnership between Bridgewater State College and twenty local school districts. The six-week program is designed to give ninth and tenth grade students a chance to explore subjects not usually offered in high school.

To register for the story hour, drop by the Children's Room at the Bridgewater Public Library or call the library at 508-697-3331 during regular library hours:

Tuesday: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

New Senior Center Hours

The new hours of operation for the Cole Yeaton Senior Center in Bridgewater are Monday through Wednesday from 9AM to 3PM. The Senior Center is closed on Thursday and Friday.

4th of July Battle of the Bands Tonight!

The Bridgewater 4th of July Committee will be sponsoring a Battle of the Bands event this evening beginning at 7PM. Six bands will be competing at this year's Battle of the Bands.

The event will take place at the East Bridgewater Commercial Club located at 1 Neilson Avenue in East Bridgewater.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. The event will also feature a 50/50 raffle and door prizes. A cash bar is available with proper ID. For more information, please call Nora Tarr at 617.775.0868.

Starship Adventure at Bridgewater Public Library

The Bridgewater Public Library announces their Summer Reading Program for Children. The program is designed for children who are in pre-school through age 12. The reading program will be held from July 7th through August 6th with sign ups for the program taking place on the 7th.

All participants are eligible to win a bike from B&B Bike Shop that has been donated by Estabrook & Chamberlain Insurance Agency.