Autumn in the North Cemetery.

Sixty miles west of Boston, Massachusetts there is the small New England town of Sturbridge. Located at the junction of I-90 (The Mass Pike), and I-84 it has become known as the "Crossroads of New England". The town was first settled over 300 years ago, and like other small New England towns it has grown just enough over the years to be in a difficult place today. How do we embrace the future without forgetting how we got to our present? How do we attract the right kind of growth, and maintain who we are? And, what about our culture out here in Central Massachusetts?



These pages will cause one to think about how to protect what we have, our future direction, and how to move on in the very best way.


Those thoughts, and other ramblings, will hopefully inspire more thought, conversation, action, and occasionally a smile...

...seems to be working so far

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Memorial Day Schedule



The Sturbridge Veterans Council cordially invites all residents, youth groups and a special invitation to our Veterans to participate in the annual Memorial Day Parade.  The Parade this year will be held on Monday, May 25, 2015.  The parade will follow the same route as in the past; the parade will end at the Town Hall. The Honorary Parade marshal for 2015 is Sturbridge Resident Roland “Rollie” Hewitt a WWII veteran and survivor of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.


 09:30 A.M.      Parade formation at the Old Fire Station at RT 20 & RT 148

 09:45              Parade Step-Off

 09:50              Parade Stops for ceremony at the American Legion Monument

10:00               Parade Stops in St. Anne’s Cemetery for service, reading of “In Flanders Field”

10:20               Parade Marches out of St. Anne’s to board buses

 10:45              Parade Reforms in front of Public Safety Complex

 10:50              Ceremony at Firefighters Monument

 10:55              Parade Step Off, 2nd part, proceeds to North Cemetery

 11:10              At North Cemetery, memorial service, reading of the Gettysburg Address

 11:25              Parade returns to Town Common for final ceremony

 11:30              Memorial Service for Old Cemetery, Decoration of Monuments, Replacement of                           the POW Flag, National Anthem and Flag raising

 12:00 noon     Open House at the American Legion, All parade participants and residents invited.
                       
Bus transportation will be provided BEFORE the Parade, starting at the Town Hall at 09:00 A.M., Safety complex at 09:10 A.M., Senior Center at 9:20 A.M. Legion Hall at 9:25 A.M. at Old Fire Station for 9:30.  Bus transportation will be provided during the parade from the Senior Center to the Public Safety Complex, and after the parade from the Town Hall back to the Old Fire Station with stops at the Safety Complex, Senior Center and Legion Hall.  Any veteran, elderly or disabled person needing a ride for the parade is asked to call the American Legion Post 109 at 347-3248 by Friday May 22nd. 

For more information call Phil Courville @ 413-237-7879.








         STURBRIDGE Pre- Memorial Day ACTIVITIES

All Veterans are encouraged to attend any or all of the events listed.

Friday, May 24,
1: Annual Memorial Day breakfast and ceremony, 8:00 AM Tantasqua Regional Junior High School, All veterans invited, please call the Junior HS to confirm your attendance, 508-347-7381.

2: Annual Burgess Elementary School Memorial Day assembly, 1:30 P.M.
           
            3:  Veterans who want to help decorate graves are asked to meet the American Legion                       Hall at 6:30 P.M.


Sunday, May 26:

All veterans are invited the annual Memorial Day Sunday Service of the Sturbridge Federated Church.  Veterans are asked to meet outside of the Church at 10:15 A.M.

Monday May 27:

Annual Memorial Day Parade and Services.  Parade Forms at 9:30 A.M. at the old fire station, Corner of Rt. 20 and Rt. 148, proceeds to St. Anne’s Cemetery, for services at 10:00 A.M. then reforms at the Public Safety Complex at 10:45. Parade concludes at 11:30 on the Town Common.
Open House will follow at the American Legion Hall. 
Bus transportation is available before, during and after the parade.
Veteran’s needing rides are asked to call Post 109 at 347-3248. Before Friday May 24.

For further information call Phil Courville @ 413-237-7879.



Saturday, May 2, 2015

Spring Bird Walk At Heins Farm

Upcoming Bird Walk

Come join FrOST for an evening bird walk with Bill Cormier from The Bird Store and more. Bring your binoculars and birding field guides. We will  be looking for spring migrants and breeding birds. 

When
Saturday May 9th

6:30pm – 8:30pm

Where
197 Leadmine Road

Heins Farm

Take Stallion Hill Rd past OSV to Leadmine Road.
The parking lot is on the left, just past the top of the hill.


Thank you
Gary Staab