Bellingham Historical Commission Museum Renovation – How You Can Help!

Over the summer, the Commission members, with the cooperation and encouragement of the town administration, led by Town Administrator Denis Fraine, and assisted by a cadre of volunteers, embarked on a project to update the museum facility.

When the museum moved into the former library building in the late 1980s/early 1990s no facility upgrades were done.  It was time for a fresh coat of paint and more. 

In July we began by boxing up the collections from the book shelves and moving larger items into the basement of the building to be stored while the upstairs was renovated.  We were assisted by community volunteers for this project, including a few BHS football players.

Town Carpenter Ron Paulhas and his senior volunteers painted the whole interior, walls and ceiling and Ron fabricated fabulous new covers for the radiators.  We contracted with Bellingham resident and Owner of Car-Leo Floor Covering in Milford, Carl Deleso, to replace the worn,  outdated carpet with new weathered oak laminate flooring.  New bamboo window shades have been purchased to update the window treatments.  Gary Remillard, of G&L Electric, assisted by electrician and commission member Rick Marcoux, will be updating the lighting.

We are now working on reorganizing the collections to make the museum a more cohesive browsable collection of Bellingham history to tell our story.  The museum will have sections with categories of history, including:  schools and municipal items; farming and household artifacts; sports and recreation materials; military, public safety and civil defense items; as well as a reference library  section that will feature town reports, school yearbooks, and past issues of the Crimpville Comments.  Immediately upon entering will be a display case that will depict a timeline of Bellingham’s Founders.

We have had great support from the town to make this project possible, and we are now at the point that we are reaching out to members of the Bellingham community for financial support to complete the project. We are in need of the following furnishings and supplies to complete this project at the level we think the community deserves:  New display cases, tables and chairs as well as supplies for professional display of collections.

Below are some of our before and after photographs of the renovation as well as details about our sponsorship and  donation opportunities.  We’d appreciate your support! 

Here's another grant opportunity for all of you, so blasting out to the BBA                                                                   https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/covid-19-response/sector-specific-relief-grant-program-massachusetts-businesses

This was released this week by the State for specific industries listed on the site who have been hit the hardest. Bellingham does not have a role this time but it would be great to get as many Bellingham businesses applying! 

Thanks, Jim Kupfer  

James S. Kupfer, MPA, AICP

Town Planner/ Zoning Compliance Officer

10 Mechanic Street

Bellingham, MA 02019

Phone: 508-657-2893

jkupfer@bellinghamma.org

Dear BBA Members:

The Friends of the Bellingham Library are finishing up plans for their holiday fundraiser.  If you haven’t yet been contacted and would like to donate a gift card or other prize for our “Weeks of Winning” drawing, please let me know.  We are hoping to have all of the donations in by Monday, November 16^th, so please reply asap if you’d like to participate. We thank you all for your continued support of the library during these tough times, it is appreciated! Attached is a very rough flyer of the details of the fundraiser is attached. 

Bernadette D. Rivard

Library Director
Bellingham Public Library
100 Blackstone Street

Bellingham MA  02019
508-966-1660

508-966-3189 fax

brivard@bellinghamma.org 

Note from Paul Caci FBI...

I'm looking to rent the downstairs apartment in my office building.

Here's the information. Can you get the word out to the BBA members?

Here's the details:

Two bedroom apartment for rent. Newly renovated,  large kitchen and living room,

bedrooms are 12 X 12 and 10 X 10, washer and dryer in utility room, large storage room,

All Utilities included.   $1400

Contact Paul Caci 508 498 5316

Thanks for your help.

Paul

Future Bearings Inc.
90 Mendon Street
Bellingham, MA 02019
508-966-2742 FAX:508-966-2942
www.futurebearings.com

Message from Jim Kupfer, Town Planner - 

I have another grant opportunity for all of you to blast out to our Bellingham businesses: https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/covid-19-response/covid-19-grants-massachusetts-small-businesses 

This was just released by the State. Bellingham does not have a role this time but it would be great to get as many Bellingham businesses applying! 

Thanks,

Jim 

James S. Kupfer, MPA, AICP

Town Planner/ Zoning Compliance Officer

10 Mechanic Street

Bellingham, MA 02019

Phone: 508-657-2893

jkupfer@bellinghamma.org

Microenterprise Grant Applications Now Available
Bellingham is excited to offer a onetime grant opportunity of up to $10,000 to eligible Bellingham small businesses. Funding for this program is provided through a grant the Town has received from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. Eligibility requirements and grant program instructions are below. Please complete the Preliminary Application no later than Oct. 7th at 4:30 pm.
For questions please contact Paula Stuart by phone 617-388-1331 or email pstuart@cogincorp.com.
Preliminary Application

https://www.bellinghamma.org/…/brme_grant_preliminary_appli…

Grant Program Instructions
https://www.bellinghamma.org/…/brme_grant_program_overview_…

This is your chance to be involved, especially if you have set up a table at the Pumpkin Stroll in the past, so get your TRUNKS 'N CANDY ready!! No table needed, EASY, this year just decorate your trunk!! Join in this great fun event with the Bellingham Educational Foundation Bellingham, MA

The BEF is excited to announce that we will be hosting our annual Trunk or Treat event this year in the form of a Drive Thru on Sat. 10/24 from 1pm - 4pm in the BHS Parking Lot. In order to pull off this event we will need to follow the guidelines put forth by the Department of Health. If you are a local business, organization, club, PTO, family, etc. that are interested in hosting a trunk please fill out the below Google Form. Guidelines are provided on the form and on the below flyers. Please reach out if you have aquestions. https://docs.google.com/…/18frnztEmCCN18fqWuxviN_EiNYF…/edit   MyFM 101.3 Street Team will be joining the fun this year!! 

Thank you to the BBA Members who have donated bags to the library for our curbside service.  We have found that the most popular size we need is 10x8x4.  If any BBA members could provide a supply of bags of this or similar size to the library, we would be grateful.  We will acknowledge your donation on our library Facebook page.  If you would like to put your business card or company name anywhere on the bags, we are fine with that. Thank you!  For your convenience I’ve included the attached link as an example of the kind of bag we are looking for: 

https://www.amazon.com/x4-75-50-Shopping-Retail-Natural/dp/B00KZPGIXS 

Bernadette D. Rivard

Library Director
Bellingham Public Library
100 Blackstone Street

Bellingham MA  02019
508-966-1660

508-966-3189 fax

brivard@bellinghamma.org

"Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light."
George Washington, Letter to Charles M. Thurston, Sunday, August 10, 1794

FREE Announcements on MyFM Extended for 60 Days!!

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe, healthy, and well.   This spring has turned out to be very different from what any of us could have imagined and continues to present challenges that range from the highly personal to those on a global scale. One consequence of the coronavirus and social distancing is that Jeff's Place had to cancel our annual spring fundraiser on which we rely heavily to fund free programs for children and their families grieving the loss of a parent or sibling. Yet now, more than ever, we are painfully aware of the increasing need to offer hope and healing to those in grief. And so true to our vision - No One Grieves Alone - our dedicated team has reimagined this event and created an online fundraiser in which 100% of the proceeds raised will go directly to Jeff's Place. If you would like to help, here are some things you can do:

  1.   Learn more about Jeff's Place -   One of the greatest privileges of my life has been to serve on the Board of Directors at Jeff's Place.   Check out these three short videos made specifically for this online event and hear directly from our Jeff's Place Founder<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFay6KXs8wk>, Clinical Director<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLFGWEN94fY>, and Lauren<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Tsr5WKbss&feature=youtu.be&blm_aid=23710>, a sixteen-year-old who came to Jeff's Place after her father died by suicide.

  2.   Donate and Participate in our Online Auction - Take part in our silent online auction<https://cbo.io/bidapp/index.php>  where you can access a variety of fun auction items and packages. Or, you can make a donation<https://cbo.io/d/donate.php?slug=jeffsplace>  with a financial contribution that will go 100% directly to our program services.

  3.   Share this information with your networks -   Help spread the word by visiting our website<https://u7909656.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=3fEYGmi31XGgDsS74mYbGnagdO3tHziJZtyL-2B8EcIXFJ4Nyhx4fmVSER5W72KSh8phH3vL8WCVse5VMkqUwE-2Bg-3D-3DU8WS_xGRFRHG-2BjDiOkWIi-2BmEypH2XJxgBV7J0jYXN9HTYFl6dxptxp5OD1dhYUpFXd-2BF67PyHH3KUt64W1hWvzgIWvDmfm5lQD-2BAugGSdM5lzZ3WV-2BJD75bfBIwexqv853MHWhIWOQ1lqo6UQmpCqfwyhizTCKRmM6rtd-2Fn7uYJuXmPspgn-2FZd1ANMObmTuiMTDFMiX7YdwQ37V0MtQUWCUeq2UOV6gRY4AV30mwd4ep7R9WzI8ZFzwysnFnnCMOengpcvS-2FjgQ4mRS1Eg79IcCcMOvofWtFjDEgz3FxgpqoH3zfVjJgESuIS9naxd2A4FwRl-2Bnk8v2r6AoS7WLW7hngOsnDOkGXEYlGJOGyqjjNWn6qJ-2BJ68URuHSy72ZRK-2BWsMFmw4zymRAH9EwQJRXRN4n2w-3D-3D>, and following and liking us on Facebook<https://u7909656.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=3fEYGmi31XGgDsS74mYbGh7T4EX3yvROs6drCSYWSHPEEljdVGgdeZOdfR-2FN0G43BexKMWbEha2FKXurPhM3-2FEAQLzQUJyCFJKa8rwGpSNk-3DGkTv_xGRFRHG-2BjDiOkWIi-2BmEypH2XJxgBV7J0jYXN9HTYFl6dxptxp5OD1dhYUpFXd-2BF67PyHH3KUt64W1hWvzgIWvDmfm5lQD-2BAugGSdM5lzZ3WV-2BJD75bfBIwexqv853MHWhIWOQ1lqo6UQmpCqfwyhizTCKRmM6rtd-2Fn7uYJuXmPspgn-2FZd1ANMObmTuiMTDFMiX7YdwQ37V0MtQUWCUeq2UOV6gRY4AV30mwd4ep7R9VrB2YU-2B4y-2BMu5WIBq8udm-2Fi-2BIu5d3BNU9V12kpqPAx2MUvP3HVol2GTuKUva7QAa7wPzmAnYkSqr8LXquu2JLEsn6kG6-2FBbKA-2FXXwnNuHJmMz6lJUMueyGiIWZlouTxMhW4zuqzPpZu3RDadVV1XF73B4OuGO9GPE0-2BSfCntUpAg-3D-3D>  and Instagram<https://u7909656.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=3fEYGmi31XGgDsS74mYbGkgDlTSgS-2F2756GqiwO-2BpxBJaoSTrceCesRu0b8YojmMBvGTW6zxYpIN0vTanYFoZlQocqsIMyQ7bNpFnKgSqec-3DCfvS_xGRFRHG-2BjDiOkWIi-2BmEypH2XJxgBV7J0jYXN9HTYFl6dxptxp5OD1dhYUpFXd-2BF67PyHH3KUt64W1hWvzgIWvDmfm5lQD-2BAugGSdM5lzZ3WV-2BJD75bfBIwexqv853MHWhIWOQ1lqo6UQmpCqfwyhizTCKRmM6rtd-2Fn7uYJuXmPspgn-2FZd1ANMObmTuiMTDFMiX7YdwQ37V0MtQUWCUeq2UOV6gRY4AV30mwd4ep7R9XfI8HPJRpfPALTavDKi94iEjrg5CitBmIqcQK8kv4Tg2kWzCjWxZ1zBH8DnzOURd4fgKO1oExLvSK5uffC3rRWu50MB-2FTmvonx0UBNe6102zlwwJYssO-2Fl1nvKoPk-2BLa8Y5NS90qjc95uGCBMyuKQy-2BidXTBHmzJJY0ifmMO9bLA-3D-3D>.

I know that times are tough for everyone right now and I cannot thank you enough for your generosity and support.   Please let me know if you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more about Jeff's Place. Please remember that the auction closes on May 3rd.

With deep gratitude,

Rick Kaplan

508-561-0445

Board Chair

Jeff's Place Children's Bereavement Center

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The following message is from the Board of Selectmen ~

Hello Bellingham Restaurants and Other Businesses!

We hope you are all staying safe and practicing social distancing.  We are actively looking to spotlight your business during our daily 10:00 show on ABMI.  To date, we have created a forum for grocery stores, coffee shops, pharmacies and some of the other larger scale businesses in town.  If you are interested in sharing what you are doing to continue to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic please send an email to me at cmcnulty@bellinghamma.org

Your participation will take place using Zoom.  We look forward to providing this platform for you.

Thank you,

Cindy McNulty

Board of Selectmen