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How can you help your community?
How can the community help you and your family?

The mission of NB CARES is to promote communication within the community and families. Like spokes on a wheel, all the individuals and organizations can work together as one to provide a comprehensive, positive environment.

Do you want to receive weekly NB CARES Calendar Updates? Contact nbcares@yahoo.com and join the over 400 residents who have been receiving updates for the past two years.

THE DEPT EXCLUSION VOTE for the new fire truck passed.

CIVIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:

		PAL Parent/Professional Advocacy League - Are you looking for Local Support Groups? Information and Referral? Parent and Family Resources? Tools to Navigate the Mental Health Care System for your children? PAL's primary goal is to help families through advocacy, sharing resources and emotional support. Call Us, We can help you! Contact Mary Lambert at MaryLambert@charter.net or 1-857-366-2477 for information.

		The Meals on Wheels program is in desperate need of volunteers to deliver meals to seniors in North Brookfield on Wednesday’s. If you can spare 2-3 hours each Wednesday, you could make a difference to someone in need. Drivers are reimbursed for mileage and rewarded with the satisfaction that comes from helping others. Please consider volunteering for this vital program. For more information, call the Tri-Valley Elder Services Nutrition Site in West Brookfield at (508) 867-1411

		The North Brookfield Food Pantry (located in the basement of St. Joseph's Church) provides emergency food assistance to people living in North Brookfield, New Braintree , and Oakham. The pantry is open on the first Thursday of the month from 6:00PM to 7:15 PM and on the third Thursday of the month from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM. The North Brookfield Food Pantry welcomes donations. There are two barrels in the entrance of St. Joseph's Church to collect donations of nonperishable food items, still within their expiry period. The pantry receives most of its food from biannual area food drives and various government programs coordinated through the Worcester County Food Bank.

		The Pan Mass Challenge August 2nd and 3rd TWO DAY BIKE-A-THON to raise money for the Jimmy Fund and cancer research. For details, click Announcements/PAN MASS Challenge at left.

SAVE THE DATE

		September 21 Second Chance Animal Shelter's WALK ‘N WAG DOG EVENT See Announcements/Second Chance at left.

		September 27 (Saturday) The Second Annual North Brookfield Arts and Music Festival is looking for local artists, musicians, and crafters to display talents at our Event. The festival will be held. If you are interested please contact Jason at nb_artsandmusicfestival@yahoo.com. Thank you. "This program is supported in part by a grant from the North Brookfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency."

UPCOMING EVENTS:

		July 7 (Monday) 12 noon - BINGO & PIZZA PARTY Great Pizza – Great Time – Great Friends. The donation is $2.00 for the pizza. Don’t forget to bring in your pennies for bingo. Please stop by the North Brookfield Senior Center by July 3rd to sign up. If you have any question or need more info please call (508) 867-0220

		July 8 (Tuesday) 6:00-8:00pm CRAFTING GROUP ~ 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. Christ Memorial Episcopal Church. (Corner of Main and Spring Sts. in North Brookfield . We meet in the undercroft of the church. Bring your current project with you or something you would like to learn. There is plenty of seating and large tables at which to work. If you would like more information, please call Connie at 508-867-6535, Lois at 508-867-8339 or Van at 508-347-9326

		July 10 (Thursday) 7-8:30pm ~ EATING DISORDERS SUPPORT GROUP – Worcester West chapter of ANAD (Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders), meets in the basement of Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, at the corner of Spring Street and Route 67 in North Brookfield. This group is for people who have concerns about themselves, a friend or a family member. Come alone or bring someone for support. Informational materials are provided. The group meets the second Thursday and the last Monday of each month. For more information, visit http://www.anad.org/site/anadweb/ or send a confidential e-mail to shame2hope@yahoo.com

		July 16 (Wednesday) 12:00 noon "HOLDEN HEARING" hosted by The North Brookfield Senior Center, 29 Forest Street. senior forum on HEARING LOSS presented by Camille Catalano. This is a very worthwhile event and we hope you can attend. Camille will explain the different types of hearing aids. She will also be bringing the VERIZON Specialized Telephone Equipment Program. If you would like to join us for lunch this day, please call us to reserve a meal by 10 am on Monday July 14th. Thank you! (508) 867-0220

		July 17 (Thursday) 11:30 am ANNUAL SUMMER BARBEQUE at the North Brookfield Senior Center, 29 Forest Street, Please join us for a wonderful time and an old fashioned barbeque with hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, cole slaw and much more. Come watch and listen to Dick Chase perform a variety of music on 5 different instruments. We will be cooking outside while everyone relaxes in the air-conditioned center. Donations of baked goods would be greatly appreciated. Please stop by the Senior Center to get your tickets by Friday, July 11th. Ticket Donation is $5.00.

		July 22 (Tuesday) 6:00-8:00pm CRAFTING GROUP ~ 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. Christ Memorial Episcopal Church. (Corner of Main and Spring Sts. in North Brookfield . We meet in the undercroft of the church. Bring your current project with you or something you would like to learn. There is plenty of seating and large tables at which to work. If you would like more information, please call Connie at 508-867-6535, Lois at 508-867-8339 or Van at 508-347-9326

		July 28 (Monday) 7-8:30pm EATING DISORDERS SUPPORT GROUP – Worcester West chapter of ANAD (Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders), meets in the basement of Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, at the corner of Spring Street and Route 67 in North Brookfield. This group is for people who have concerns about themselves, a friend or a family member. Come alone or bring someone for support. Informational materials are provided. The group meets the second Thursday and the last Monday of each month. For more information, visit http://www.anad.org/site/anadweb/ or send a confidential e-mail to shame2hope@yahoo.com.

		August 1 (Friday) LIFE LINE SCREENING ~ TESTS that can SAVE YOUR LIFE at the North Brookfield Senior Center, 29 Forest Street, to perform FOUR separate tests. (1) Stroke Screening/Carotid Artery (2) Atrial Fibrillation Screening (3) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening (4) Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening. Life Line Screening is America’s leading provider of preventative health screenings. These tests are fast, painless, non-invasive and inexpensive. All four tests can be performed in less than one hour. You can choose to have all four tests performed or just one or two. It’s up to you. The cost is $45 for each individual test or $139 for all four screenings. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please call Life Line to register or if you need further information @ 1-800-324-1851

		August 19, (Tuesday) 7-9pm ~ THE HASTON LIBRARY BOOK GROUP meets for lively discussions of a wide range of fiction and nonfiction on the third Tuesday of every month, at the Haston Free Public Library. August 19, Michael Pollen's The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. To sign up for the Book Group and order a selection, call the Library at (508)867-0208. New members are always welcome. To sign up for the Book Group and order a selection, call the Library at (508)867-0208.

ON-GOING

SUPPORT the North Brookfield EMERGENCY SQUAD: To read the 6/18/07 T&G article, click: Announcements/NB Emergency Squad on left sidebar. The NB EMS Annual Subscription form for 2007, found at left by clicking NB EMS Annual Subscription link on left sidebar, can be printed and sent with subscription.

Complimentary Computer Access Do you want to find out more about your child’s educational needs but don’t have access to the internet? Do you want to e-mail professionals in an effort to help your child succeed? Do you need to type a letter to reach out for help with your child? Do you need to use the internet to access any state or federal agencies or support systems? The North Brookfield Pupil and Academic Services office is happy to announce we have a computer available for your use! We have been very fortunate to receive a donation of a brand-new computer just for this purpose, and a place is reserved for you. Please stop in anytime during school hours.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

North Brookfield Cultural Council: What's your wish list for arts and culture in town? Concerts, plays, and festivals? Arts in the school or after school? Environmental or science education? Local history and preservation? Projects by local artists? Support for community arts and cultural groups? Your suggestions will help shape the Council's funding priorities. Email: FABHICKS@aol.com or click Community Resources/Cultural Council/2007 Questionnaire Menu at left to view questionnaire.

The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) is a state-created, non-profit organization that helps Massachusetts families obtain information about college financial aid. MEFA recently provided a workshop for parents at North Brookfield High School that covered the entire financial aid application process and explained how aid was awarded and what factors impact financial aid eligibility.Everything MEFA does is provided to Massachusetts families as a public service. MEFA has two services that could be of help to families with students in high school.

		The web site www.mefacounselor.org was created so parents would have a safe, credible means of applying for financial aid online, while avoiding scams and unnecessary fees.

		The second service for parents of students in grades 9 - 12 is PAS. This free email service provides parents with regular information that will walk them through what they need to do senior year to apply for college aid. Parents of students in the three earlier grades will get helpful tips about how to search for colleges and how to effectively navigate the college admissions process.

Under the direction of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, volunteers in the Brookfields are making strides in planning efforts to help citizens cope with a serious emergency such as a natural disaster or epidemic of avian flu. As part of that effort, the planning team is committed to the belief that citizens can participate by preparing and supplying their own homes and family members to handle a situation in which local services – fire, police, utilities, communications, and health care providers – may not be readily available. We hope you will take a moment to read the tips (see Emergency Planning link on left sidebar) and make a plan of action for your family’s peace of mind.

What Can You do If Your Personal Information Has Been Compromised? Visit www.ftc.gov. For more information from the Federal Trade Commission, use the Information and Resouces/ Identity Theft sidebar link to the left. Important email addresses and phone numbers are included.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the North Brookfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.”

Suzanne Lewandowski
NB CARES Webmaster