BCCR 2023 Year in Review Reel

Thank you to David Michael

Click the play button to play the video.

Please scroll down through the page to see an adage and image for each month followed by that month's activities.

December  Is Here

                                                     I heard a bird sing
                                                     In the dark of December.
                                                     A magical thing
                                                     And sweet to remember.

                                                     "We are nearer to Spring
                                                     Than we were in September,”
                                                     I heard a bird sing
                                                     In the dark of December.

"I Heard a Bird Sing," by Oliver Herford
From Welcome Christmas! A Garland of Poems (Viking Press, 1955).
Accessed 11/28/23. This poem is now in the public domain.

Image by 12019 from Pixabay

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Saturday, 12/9/2023 at 10:00 a.m.

BCCR Standout Bridgewater Center

Stand out for Peace
Stand up Against Antisemitism and Islamophobia

November

Autumn: A second spring when every leaf’s a flower.
-Albert Camus, 1944, Le Malentendu (The Misunderstanding), Act 2
Click here for more context about this quote
Image Credit: R.Fleisch Cordeiro

11/2/23 ~ Multicultural Symposium
Moderated by Carole Copeland Thomas

Topic:
Censorship or Book Banning? ~ Has America Gone Too Far?

!Panelists include BCCR Members!

November 13, 2023
BCCR Members Attend MA State House Hearing

Legislation to Prohibit Native American Mascots
In MA Public Schools

MA Indigenous Legislative Bills S.245/H.247 (current bill numbers November, 2023) request the prohibition of Native American mascots in MA public schools.

Click the S.245 and/or H.247 links above to read the bills.

Two BCCR members stand in front of the MA State House holding flyers supporting the MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda.

About 25 schools in the Commonwealth currently use such mascots. Academic research reveals that Native American mascots create a hostile climate for Native Americans and increase bias among non-Native people, which is clearly not educationally sound. In particular, for Native American students, exposure to these mascots decreases self-esteem and capacity to imagine future achievement, and increases negative feelings. You can find these research findings here.
email source

   As requested, supporters wore purple to show support. This post is outlined in purple with a light lavender background!

11/18/2023 - BCCR Standout
Transgender Awareness

Transgender Emergency Fund of MA

Programs, Resources, Info for & about the Trans Community
Human Rights Campaign


More Information
Southern Poverty Law Center

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October Reflection

Could a greater miracle take place than for us
to look through each other's eyes for an instant?

Thoreau, Henry David. (1995 [eBook #205]). Walden. Urbana, Illinois:. Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 9/4/2023 from https://www.gutenberg.org/files/205/205-h/205-h.htm

Image by John Hain from Pixabay

October 4, 2023  

Hybrid Forum at Bridgewater Public Library and via Zoom
The  Discussion: Book Challenges at University, Public, and School Libraries

Moderator - Carole Copeland Thomas
Interim Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Curry College

Panelists
Pamela Hayes-Bohanan
Bridgewater State University, Senior Librarian

Jed Phillips, Bridgewater Public Library, Director

Kristine Richards
Bridgewater/Raynham School District, Coordinator of Teaching & Learning

Laura Rotolo, ACLU MA, Field Director

bios_forum_10-4-23__.pdf
File Size:	141 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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One of many signs BCCR members made for a pre-forum standout.

Left: Forum panelists in library and via Zoom. Right: Forum attendees.

Library Director Jed Phillips and BCCR Member Beryl Domingo.

Forum moderator Carole Copeland Thomas (center) & BCCR members.

 More photos available thanks to Marc Vasconcellos of The Enterprise 
Thank you to Peter AJemian and BTV Access for recording the Book Banning Forum.
Please click here!

Monday, 10/9/23

Indigenous Peoples Day Vectors by Vecteezy modified for this page

Retro Vectors by Vecteezy

Click to learn more about Indigenous People's Day

Click to Download 2023 Resolutions for the Town of Bridgewater

10/14/23 Standout Bridgewater Center

In response to 10/7/23 Hamas Terrorist Attack on Israel

Thank you, David, for the pix!

BCCR Members Attended the

10/24/2023 ~ Interfaith Peace Vigil

Hosted by Bridgewater State University

Did you miss the vigil? Would you like to revisit it?

This event can be seen on Channel 9, during a special edition of InFocus. Airing at: Thursday at 11:30am
Saturday at 7:30pm
Sunday at 11:30am, and Tuesday at 8pm.

You can also watch & subscribe to the BTV YouTube Channel @BTV Access Corp.
Thank you to Jeff Fowler and John Luck

A vigil for peace was held at Bridgewater State University on October 24, 2023, following the latest Gaza-Israel conflict.

Some members from BCCR held signs at the 10/24/23 Peace Vigil at Bridgewater State University.

Speakers at the BSU Interfaith Peace Vigil represented diverse backgrounds and faiths.

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It's September

Source: Mathew, Philip. The International Journal of Servant-Leadership; Spokane Vol. 13, Iss.1 (2019) 391-399.
https://www.proquest.com/openview/7b4d00c03598235e1cdaa5593f56ba08/1?cbl=3887264&pq-origsite=gscholar
(accessed 7/20/23; access provided by Bridgewater Public Library)

Image credit: Rebecca Fleisch Cordeiro

Opening Event - 9/17/23
Third Annual Peace
in Bridgewater and Beyond

The Third Annual Peace in Bridgewater and Beyond, a week of programs, was organized by the Bridgewater International City of Peace Committee. The first day’s events, held at First Parish UU Bridgewater, were led by the First Parish Church and Bridgewater Communities for Civil Rights (BCCR).

Individuals from First Parish, BCCR, and Bridgewater State University participated in the opening event for the celebration. Special thanks to the Social Justice Choir of Southeastern Massachusetts for lifting up our spirits in song during the Peace Pole re-dedication.

The dedication included moving statements by several individuals. Subsequently, participants attended a church service, led by lay ministers and Rev. Jennifer Johnson. Finally, the group marched from the Church to the Bridgewater Common to Stand Out for Peace.

9/26/23

BCCR Held a Anti-Book Ban Standout

Image by Amy from Pixabay

“Each attempt to ban a book by one of these groups represents a direct attack on every person’s constitutionally protected right to freely choose what books to read and what ideas to explore,” said Caldwell-Stone. "The choice of what to read must be left to the reader or, in the case of children, to parents. That choice does not belong to self-appointed book police.”   
                                                               From a March 2023 press release by the American Public Library Association

BCCR members, and Bridgewater State University President Fred Clark, hold signs as they stand out against book banning on 9/26/23.

9/30/2023

Orange Shirt Day Standout
Bridgewater Center

Orange Shirt Day, also called National Day for Truth and Reconciliation or National Day of Remembrance, is observed yearly on September 30 in Canada and the United States.

The orange shirt is inspired by Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s experience of having her orange shirt, given to her by her grandmother, taken away upon arrival to the Mission school. The orange color reminded Webstad of her experience and “how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.” 

For more information about the U.S. & Canadian Residential Schools, and to listen to Phyllis Webstad, click here.

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Thought for August

Source: The New Book of Runes. Commentary by Ralph Blum
www.angelfire.com/space/isots/EBooks/Blum.Ralph.The.New.Book.Of.Runes.eBook-EEn.pdf
Format: v1.5 (PDF - no security), Genera: Divination / Runes,
Extra's: Pictures Included, Copyright: 1990 / 1991, Scanned: September-18-2002
Accessed 7/12/23

Image by Maria from Pixabay

August 5, 2023

BCCR Members Were Present At:

A Nuclear Disarmament Standout in Bridgewater
and
A Story Hour Protest in Mattapoisett

Attend an in-person or virtual event memorializing bombing victims. For attendance info, scroll to the MAPA ARTS and PEACEBUILDING info below.

For a history of the bombings, click to read this page by History.Com editors (updated 4/18/2023).

This sign represents some of the sentiments expressed by concerned citizens about the "See You at the Library" story hour that included a Brave Books book titled "As You Grow."

The library requested that no photos be taken, but you can see a photo and learn more about the protest by clicking here.

To see Brave Books Purpose and Mission, click here.


  Thank You, BCCR Members, for your Social Justice Activism!

August 28, 2023

BCCR Members Stand Out Against
Racism & Gun Violence in Jacksonville FL

BCCR members display signs condemning another racist shooting, this one in Jacksonville, FL on 8/26/23. "The shooter left behind several manifestos for media, his parents and law enforcement detailing his hatred for Black people, according to authorities, who said they may release the writings at a future date" (Reuters).

Signs remind passersby of previous victims and the correlation between gun violence, racism, and Black Lives Matter.

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It's July!

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay This image, file name "Sisyphus Struggle," was selected deliberately, given our current discord, and modified with color for this page.

Quote accessed 7/2/2023: BlackPast, B. (2007, January 25). (1857) Frederick Douglass, “If There Is No Struggle, There Is No Progress”. BlackPast.org.
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/1857-frederick-douglass-if-there-no-struggle-there-no-progress/

               Please take time to read this 1857 speech by Frederick Douglass.

July 4, 2023

BCCR Marched in Bridgewater's July 4th Parade

                Members of BCCR pose prior to marching .                           BCCR members marching -- before the rain!

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Saturday, 7/22/23
BCCR was busy

BCCR Members Held a "Cluster Bombs Awareness" Standout
in Bridgewater Center

Read this BBC article, which presents both sides:

Cluster bombs: Biden defends decision to send Ukraine controversial weapons

     A navy veteran walked by as I was holding my sign. She thanked us for standing out, and particularly for clarifying support for Ukraine vs. opposition to cluster bombs, expressing her dismay at that decision.
     I thanked her for her service, and she said, "I served all those years so you could stand out here today."   rfc

Also on 7/22
some BCCR members joined
the Women's Alliance and the Our Bodies our Loves Coalition
at a Reproductive Justice Rally in New Bedford

These rallies in New Bedford began after the passage of the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision by the Supreme Court on June 24, 2022.

                 Thank you to David Ehrens and Charlie Perry for the rally photos.

1 More Instance of BCCR Activism
on 7/22
Rally against sand mining in Wareham, MA

Statement from one of our members who attended the rally (see sign on the right):

I attended the “No Sandmining” protest in Wareham on Saturday, 7/22/23, along with others from surrounding towns that have had enough of the trucks, pollution, acquifer disruption, and more, in Carver, Wareham & Plymouth.  I plan to continue to support the Community Land & Water Coalition as they work constantly to protect our fragile environment from abuses by big business.

Please click here for more background and info on this rally,

July 24, 2023 in Plymouth

BCCR Members Attend anti-Holtec Rally

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts environmental regulators have denied a request by the company [Holtec]dismantling a shuttered nuclear power plant to release more than 1 million gallons (3.8 million liters) of radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay.

                                              To learn more about this topic, click here.

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June Contemplation

I snapped the above image when visiting the Embrace Memorial at the 1965 Freedom Plaza in Boston this year (2023).

The quote is embedded on a low granite wall inside the plaza area and is credited to Coretta Scott King.

To see the photo this memorial was inspired by and additional photos and information, click here.

6/1/23  ~  Third Annual

PRIDE Flag Raising Bridgewater

Click on each image to enlarge it and to display a caption beneath it.

Play this slow motion video (on the right) of the American and PRIDE flags swaying in the breeze.

Click the diagonal arrows on the bottom right of the video to make it full size.

Press the ESC key when you're finished to return to our BCCR website!

Saturday, 6/10/23 - LGBTQ+ Standout

Beautiful weather and a lot of supportive honks and thumbs up by passersby put smiles on our faces as BCCR members held a standout in support of the LBGTQ+ community.

           Photo above: never camera shy, we gathered together for a quick snapshot.

                     2 photos below: individual photos taken by BCCR members. TU!

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2nd Annual

Juneteenth Flag Raising Bridgewater

6/15/23
Hover over each image to see a call-out of the caption.
or
Click on each image to enlarge it and to display a caption beneath it.

Click here to watch a recording of the Juneteenth Flag Raising.

Thank you BTV for the video recording and David Wilson for the sound!!!

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The Story of Juneteenth 2023

               What in the world happened to Juneteenth 2023?
                        A Very Rainy, Stormy Day in Massachusetts

Our Juneteenth committee in Bridgewater, MA, worked diligently planning our 3rd annual event. We were all set, and then Mother Nature intervened. We vigilantly watched the weather models, which kept fluctuating. At 6:00 p.m. on Friday, 6/17, the "most accurate" model predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms smack in the middle of our event. And our vendors would have been smack in the middle of the football fields, not an ideal place to be during thunder and lightening. And we had to cancel.

We'd at least like to share with y'all what you missed! Please check some of the highlights below. And you're not even seeing the numerous vendors who planned to come: nonprofits, including several healthcare tables, food, and crafts. There were children's activities, including crafts and races. And then there was our famous raffle.

                                                     Just wait until next year!

           And now, look at some of what we'd planned for 2023.

First from 2023, a Special Video

Image by Felipe Blasco from Pixabay

Next from 2023---Juneteenth 2023
Program Souvenir Book Cover
Design by Melvyn Purefied

Download your own copy of the book by clicking the cover!

Herbert Block (1909-2001) became the most honored cartoonist of his time, winning three Pulitzer Prizes and sharing a fourth. His work was exhibited in the National Gallery of Art and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Herblock was at his best during the Civil Rights Era.

Visit his exhibit at Bridgewater's Juneteenth!
All Herblock cartoons, copyright The Herb Block Foundation

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Photo Courtesy Kerry Quinn                                                                                                                                Photo Courtesy Dhana Whiteing

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Check the Fred  Woodard collective out here on Facebook or here at their website.

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Books Courtesy

Herb Block Foundation

Juneteenth Committee

One Book One Community

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Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay Modified for this page

   Did someone say books? 

Staff from BSU's Maxwell Library will be displaying books by and about African American authors.

   Plus, did you know they're open to the public and have resources beyond books?
               Visit their Juneteenth table to learn more! Maxwell Library at BSU.

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Raising money for Juneteenth 2023

On December 4th, 2022 we tabled at
Central Square Christmas on the Common

Did you see us there? We raffled some beautiful seasonal baskets!
Had some very happy winners.
Fundraising for Juneteenth 2023 had begun!

That ends the Juneteenth 2023 Section!

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BCCR's Stance on

Supreme Court's
Affirmative Action Reversal

6/29/23

On Thursday, June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court struck down Affirmative Action, erasing the policies that had been in place for the last 50 years. 

Schools and universities can no longer consider race during the application process for marginalized populations. Now, many institutions of higher education will be allowed to deny qualified Black and Brown students the opportunity to be admitted to the colleges and universities of their choice. 

Striking down Affirmative Action has also brought into question legacy admissions which favored students whose relatives had previously attended certain educational institutions.

We encourage colleges and universities to stay committed to equal opportunity for all students.

 BCCR will continue to stand for equal rights and access for all. 

Image credits to Avatar Vectors by Vecteezy Modified for this page

June 30, 2023
BCCR Members Attended
Shabbat Service at Agudath Achim in Taunton

Pride Shabbat
Congregation Agudath Achim had planned a Pride Shabbat for June 30, 2023. The post on their website page said: Join us at Taunton’s beautiful, 110-year-old synagogue to celebrate our LBGTQ+ friends and family...

Racist Vandalism
In mid-June, homophobic, antisemitic, and racist graffiti had been spray painted at a home in Taunton and at the synagogue.

A Broader Shabbat Service
Responding to BCCR's question about how we could show support, Agudath Achim's President said, "The evening is [was] to celebrate the LGBTQ community but I feel the three communities have common ground and must support each other."

In a show of allyship and support for all, some BCCR members attended the 6/30 service. We were warmly received by Rabbi Reaboi and feel all who attended drew some comfort from his sermon and the evening's solidarity.

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Star Of David Vectors by Vecteezy Modified with color for this page

A Meditation for May

                            Harvard Foundation Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian of the  Year at Harvard University, 9/27/2013
Click here for entire speech                                                                                                                       Click here for above statement

5/6/2023 Visit to Boston

African Meeting House
&
Abiel Smith School

Our visit to the African Meeting House was  a phenomenal experience. The host was beyond enthusiastic, providing time for us to explore the Abiel Smith School and then bringing us across the way, where he provided a brief history of the Meeting House. We then serendipitously were included in a presentation by Professor Kerri Greenidge from Tufts University.

For more information about the Meeting house, visit these links:
National Park Service
Museum of African Amercan History

The Embrace Memorial "...honors the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King...."

For more information about The Embrace:
Read about the unveiling at Boston.gov
Visit the EmbraceBoston.org website

5/8/2023

Another Gun Awareness Standout

There have been two mass shootings in TX in the last 10 days, one on April 29th in a TX home, the other on Saturday, May 6, at an outdoor mall. Nevertheless, mass shootings aren't the only cause of gun violence.

The BCCR standout was to raise awareness about guns. According to some sources, the majority of registered voters are in favor of at least some gun control measures, including raising the legal gun-buying age and requiring a 30-day waiting period on gun purchases.

5/13/23  Enough is Enough Rally

BCCR joined the Women's Alliance
&
Our Bodies Our Lives Coalition

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Adage for April

4/8/2023 Gun Awareness Standout
BCCR, Town Officials, community members stood together.
Our goal: bring awareness to gun violence.
We received many supportive honks and thumbs up (and a few thumbs down)
Click the play button below to play video of the 4/8/23 standout.

Click the videos above and below to see some footage from the standout.

4/15/2023

BCCR Joined in Solidarity with

Women's Alliance & Our Bodies Our Lives Coalition

The Women's Alliance SE MA and the Our Bodies Our Lives Coalition held a protest against the TX ruling on medication abortion.


BCCR joined several other advocacy groups in front of the Federal Building in New Bedford, MA.


       
Lots of energy and positive responses from passersby.

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​BCCR members (and Sparky) attended the Family Fun Day held at the First Parish Church in Taunton. A great way to have some fun, participate as an LGBTQ+ family member or ally, and connect with other social justice orgs.

Tx to First UU Middleboro for notifying us & to South Coast LGBTQ+ Network for hosting.

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4/22/23

Earth Day Cleanup at Ironworks Park

Stanley Ironworks Park Steward Steve Black led a successful cleanup at this lovely parkland, located at 151 High Street in Bridgewater. BCCR Members, Boy Scouts, and other community members helped with the cleanup. See the pictures and a video with a portion of Steve providing a history and description of the park.

                      Learn more about the parkland here.

     Many thanks to Steve for his continual care of this land.

                                                                       From Steve to all participants:
" A grateful thank you to all who helped out at the Park for the Earth Day cleanup, including community members, Bridgewater Community for Civil Rights members, neighbors, and especially to the scouts of Troop 31 and their parents! You all have really made a difference in making our community a nicer place to live in!"

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Earth Image by Steven Goddard from Pixabay

View a video (above)  to learn a bit about Ironworks Park in Bridgewater.
Read about some other non-BCCR related environmental events here.

Town Council Proclamation

4/28/23 is Arbor Day in Bridgewater

At the 4/4/2023 Town Council Meeting, President Fred Chase read the Proclamation shown here.

BCCR expresses our thanks to a hard-working Tree Committee
and
the Bridgewater Town Council.

Arbor Day Celebrated in Bridgewater

On 4/28/23 our Tree Committee Celebrated Arbor Day

Bridgewater's Tree Committee Celebrated Arbor Day by planting 2 new trees
at Marathon Park
(75-77 Crescent Street-
- behind the Police Station).

You can watch the ceremony during the BTV Access News time slots on Channel 9, airing daily at 6am, 7am, 8am, 12pm, 6pm, and 11:30pm, on BTV's YouTube channel at BTV Access Corporation, and by logging on to btvaccess.com/watch.

 Click here for a direct link

Arbor Day Vectors by Vecteezy

Learn about the many benefits provided by trees and forests, among them:

Clean Air
48 lbs of carbon dioxide are absorbed by mature trees in one year.

Clean Water
Trees are natural sponges, collecting and filtering rainfall before its released into rivers and streams.

Noise Buffering
Trees are effective sound barriers, buffering background noise.

Learn more about the Tree Committee at our Town Website here:

Read more about the importance of trees below in the Town Council's Proclamation declaring 4/28/23 Arbor Day in Bridgewater.

4/29/23~9:00 a.m.-Noon

Town Wide Cleanup

BCCR members, some of whom participated, expresses our thanks to Town Councilor Dennis Gallagher

and WinWaste Management

for a successful Townwide Cleanup

Gloves, garbage bags & snacks provided by WinWaste Mgmt

Garbage Vectors by Vecteezy

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Message for March

Flowers Vectors by Vecteezy

March 11, 2023

Standout Against Antisemitism

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Reflection for February

It has almost always been

the creative, dedicated

minority that has made the

world better.

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Excerpt from Draft of Chapter VI, "A Knock at Midnight," by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Source: Stanford University: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute

Image credit Black Vectors by Vecteezy

BCCR Standout February 11, 2023

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Thinking About January
I wonder if the snow LOVES the trees and fields,
that it kisses them so gently?

Lewis Carroll: Through The Looking Glass (Chapter 1). Source

January 14, 2023
Standout for Black Lives Matter & Martin Luther King
Brrr!

January 21, 2023

Bridgewater's Juneteenth Committee members visited InFocus to describe preparations for their 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration.

When: Saturday, June 17 from 2:00-6:00 p.m.

Where: Bridgewater Middle School, 166 Mt. Prospect Street

What: Entertainment, Food, Vendors, Raffles, Children's Activities
You can watch online at BTV access; download a copy at the BTV Access page here

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JUNE 15 PRE-JUNETEENTH

2 Events!

3:30 p.m. Flag Raising

3:00-8:00 p.m. Black Hat Buyback

Black Hat Brew Works
25 Scotland Blvd
Bridgewater MA 02324

Proud to Support
Bridgewater's

3rd Annual Juneteenth

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Buyback Night at Black Hat Brew Works


BHBW donates a percentage of their profits to Juneteenth!
June 15, from 3:00-8:00 p.m.

Grab a
beer, a soda,
or  even water!

Music Alley
at Black Hat

Vance Gilbert
&
Avi Jacob

Hungry?

We've got you covered

Enjoy the Thursday Night Food Truck!

Image of cans Illustration Vectors by Vecteezy

Image of food truck Food Truck Vectors by Vecteezy

Image of notes Music Notes Vectors by Vecteezy

Win a Raffle Basket

Beach Theme

and

Picnic Theme