Compiled by The Bedford Citizen
To mark the beginning of 2016, we offer greetings from The Bedford Citizen and from some of the organizations and people you’ve read about in our pages through 2015:
The Bedford Citizen
Ginni Spencer, Board President
On behalf of everyone at The Bedford Citizen, Happy New Year! 2016 will bring change and challenge to all of us: a local election in March, seeing the final touches brought to the Bedford Marketplace, and Town Meeting in the early spring just for starters.
You can look to The Citizen to keep you informed and help you make sense of all of it. Read us…write for us…support us. Let’s make it a great year!
State Senator Mike Barrett
May 2016 be a very good year — for the people we love, for the people we don’t even know, and for the planet we share.
State Rep Ken Gordon
To the residents of Bedford, and the people who work here, Happy New Year. I am looking forward to continuing to working together to make our community a better place to work and to live.
Middlesex Community College
Dr. James C. Mabry, President
Happy New Year!
Middlesex Community College is proud to have a beautiful 200-acre campus in Bedford and be an integral part of a community that truly values education. With a diverse student body of over 4,000 students on this campus, and with 50 Bedford high school students currently earning dual enrollment credits, we are making a high quality college education accessible and affordable. Everyone at MCC is dedicated to helping students overcome obstacles and transform their lives through education.
On a beautiful fall day this past October, the college hosted my inauguration on the Bedford campus, which marked the symbolic start of new leadership at MCC. The day started with a series of wellness activities kicked off by a 5k run through the campus trail system. The day culminated with a reception that raised more than $36,000 for student scholarships.
On a more personal note, my wife and I have settled in Bedford and are busy getting to know our neighbors and members of the community. We are immersing ourselves in the wonderful culture of the community – we marched in the Bedford Day Parade and experienced a unique form of democracy by participating in the Fall Town Meeting.
It has been a very positive year for the college and it is wonderful to be part of this supportive community. We look forward to building even stronger relationships with our community partners in the coming years.
Bedford VA Medical Center
Veterans, you served our great nation, now let us serve you! Let us be part of your new year’s healthy resolutions! Wishing a happy and healthy new year for all Veterans, families, volunteers, first responders and the community. Follow us on Facebook to learn about all the new things we have in store for 2016, and the ways you can be part of supporting our nation’s heroes. Thank you for partnering with us to give Veterans better care than they have ever received. We are truly honored to be part of this community, come visit us in 2016!. -Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital (Bedford VA).
Town Manager Rick Reed
As the Town staff look forward to serving the citizens of Bedford in the New Year, we hope that all will consider taking some time to help better our community in the coming year. Opportunities to serve the community are available both within Town government and the outside of it in one of the many Bedford organizations that do good work in the community
Town Clerk Doreen Tremblay
Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year.
Fire Chief David Grunes
The Bedford Fire Department’s 30 Officers and Fire Fighters love serving the residents and businesses in town, and we are very grateful for the positive feedback and support the community gives us.
May everyone have a safe and happy New Year!
Police Chief Bob Bongiorno
From all the members of the Bedford Police Department, we wish the community safe and happy holidays this season. As we ring in the New Year, I’d like to take a moment to thank the residents of Bedford for continuously supporting their police department as we work to protect and serve you every day. Let 2016 bring nothing but success, happiness and prosperity
Planning Department
Glenn Garber
As Bedford heads into 2016, the Planning Department sends its best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year.
Recreation Department
Amy Hamilton & Ron Richter
2015 was a great year. Nearly half of the town participated in Recreation activities with all of our fantastic youth and adult programming and the open activities such as Bedford Day, Summer Concerts, Tree Lighting and visits to Springs Brook Park. As a special treat, in 2015 the town hosted a special fireworks event that was a wonderful celebration and beautiful display. Recreation never stands still as we continue to evolve our programming to meet the needs of the town and to delight those that participate. We take great pride in the diversity and quality of our offerings. In order to continue to meet the needs of the town, we look forward to continued community engagement and encourage suggestions and feedback.
Bedford Free Public Library
Richard Callaghan
On behalf of the Bedford Public Library Trustees and staff, I want to extend our wishes for a happy and healthy new year. We hope to see all Bedford residents coming through our doors in 2016 to take advantage of the services the library offers: programming for patrons of all ages, information services, interlibrary loan, free internet computers and Wi-Fi, equipment (including laptops, a Roku, and our new Wi-Fi hotspots!), art exhibits, museum passes and of course books, magazines, music and movies and more!
If you can’t get to our brick and mortar building, our virtual branch is open 24/7. Ebooks, e-audiobooks, digital comics, music, magazines, videos and databases (including Consumer Reports, Chilton Car Repair, and Tumblebooks, interactive books for kids) are available through our website www.bedfordlibrary.net.
You can even learn a variety of new skills through Lynda.com, our new online learning library! https://www.lynda.com/portal/patron?org=bedfordlibrary.net
If you need assistance with any new gadgets you receive over the holidays, stop by the Library for our Drop-in Tech Help (no sign up needed) on Wednesday evenings (7-9pm) or just give us a call (781-275-9440).
Bedford Youth and Family Services
Sue Baldauf
Looking forward to 2016, Bedford Youth and Family Services expresses gratitude to Bedford residents for their generosity and caring for all our neighbors and friends, especially those who may have been facing some emotional, physical, or financial struggles.
We count on that generosity and kindness to do our job of keeping Bedford healthy in collaboration with our Town and School Department partners. We are looking forward to continuing to enhance the great quality of life in our town with the acceptance of the newly developed Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and with the on-going planning of the Selectmen and Town Manager to expand local transportation options.
We will also be taking a close look at our recent survey responses to make sure we as a department are doing all we can for our residents. We are so appreciative of working for Bedford – thank you, residents all!
Council on Aging
Alison Cservenschi
During the holidays I like to keep things simple. Too many plans, too much travel and too many expectations can become overwhelming very quickly. So this year I would like to give everyone an ‘out’ when it comes to making the holidays a perfect time of year. It can be difficult to keep up with the expectations of others and ourselves considering all the emotions of the holidays, be that good or bad.
Holidays are for giving, yes, but what you give can be so simple. Checking in on a neighbor, offering someone your seat that needs it, being patient in line when someone is taking a little more time than usual are examples of giving which means a lot and it does not cost a thing.
My hopes for 2016 include more engaged, involved seniors through the great programs and activities COA has to offer. I hope for more baby boomers to find the courage to visit us and see what we are up to. Make us part of your retirement plan! I hope that anyone 60 and older opens the COA newsletter (as we have found some do not!) and read it, find out what is going on, visit, get involved, ask questions and make suggestions.
My final thoughts for the New Year are to let you all know that the COA is here for you. But we are only as good as your suggestions and ideas. The amazing COA staff has great ideas but they are best when they come from our seniors. I am grateful for each and every senior I meet and look forward to meeting even more in 2016. We are here for not only seniors but their families, caregivers and anyone else interested in engaging with our most wonderful generation!
On behalf of the staff of the Council on Aging we wish each and every one of you a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy and engaged 2016!
Bedford Town Historian
Sharon McDonald
As you hang your new calendar and begin to write your dentist’s appointments on it, celebrate with me: Happy New Year!
Bedford Schools Superintendent Jon Sills
The approaching New Year is an opportune time to reflect upon all that we can be grateful for. It is a privilege to serve a community that is so devoted to its children’s education and so generous with its time and resources. I’ve recently had the pleasure of working with parent and community volunteers on our Space Needs Task Force, and I am once again struck by how capable, caring and creative the members are, and how, in their willingness to devote hour upon hour of their personal or family time, they epitomize the qualities of good citizenship. They remind me of all the other parent volunteers in our schools and on our committees, of the community volunteers on our many town boards, and of all of the time and effort that our teachers and support staff volunteer beyond their regularly scheduled responsibilities.
My New Year’s wish is that this generosity of spirit, similarly expressed by community volunteers around the world, will be a bulwork against the forces of hate that threaten from without and within. My New Year’s hope is that the children we educate will become the kinds of independent and complex thinkers that can capably resist the siren songs of simple solutions or extremist dogma. My hope is that we can better help kids heal the hurts that metamorphize into meanness, and that all children will be socially accepted for who they are. My New Year’s resolution is to personally resist the lure of stereotypical thinking that fear inevitably engenders.
Best wishes for a healthy and more peaceful New Year. And thank you for giving us such great kids to care about.
Davis School
Beth Benoit, Principal
It was an exciting end to the 2015 year at Davis. As a whole school we gathered for an all school assembly celebrating the light around the world. Alison Hannah, Music Teacher, and Paula Springer, Guidance Counselor, topped all assemblies this year with their thoughtful tribute to all of the members of Davis School. With tears in our eyes, we enjoyed the various traditions that members of Davis School celebrate. Different students taught us words, traditions and demonstrated important dances from their culture or families’ country of origin. We sang songs together and watched a video that highlighted what classrooms look like around the world. Our assembly ended with an important message from Ms. Nocera’s 1st grade class, “It is what is inside that matters”. We at Davis School hope you have a wonderful Holiday season and a healthy and happy 2016!
Lane School
Rob Ackerman, Principal and Keith Kinney, Assistant Principal
From all of us, to all of you: Happy 2016!
John Glenn Middle School
Kevin Tracey, Principal
On behalf of the JGMS staff and school community, we wish all of our children, their families and all Bedford citizens, a wonderful holidays and a safe, relaxing vacation with family and friends. May your new year be filled with good health and happiness.
Bedford High School
Henry Turner, Principal
As our students continue to impress and demonstrate that they are among the best in Massachusetts, we wish our students, parents and teachers success in their academic and personal lives in the year ahead.
Additionally, thank you to the Bedford community for supporting this great high school, and on behalf of our staff, I wish you all a Happy New Year.
First Baptist Church
Pastor Scott Arnold
“Peace on Earth, Good Will to All” is the message the angels gave to shepherds in Judea about the birth of “Christ the Lord”. The church family of First Baptist Church of Bedford is deeply committed to living in faith that reflects faith over fear, peace over prejudice, justice over social inequity, mercy over judgment. We are a racially diverse body of Christian believers, dedicated to living the Biblical message in deed and word. We pray that our worship and witness be authentic and that we grow in service to God and the communities we are placed in. We lift up the love of God in Jesus Christ without apology, and strive to love people who may differ in belief because they are loved by God.
Find out more about us at: www.fbcbedford.net Pastor: Rev. Dr. Scott T. Arnold [email protected]
First Church of Christ, Congregational
Rev. John Castricum
For me, one of the messages of Christmas that often gets drowned out by the celebrations and busy-ness of the season is that when God dwells with humans, God chooses to be with the those laid low by life. God desires to come especially into lives of the poor, the homeless, the sick, the desperate and oppressed and offer new life. It is my prayer that God comes to all who cry out in the night of despair. Blessings and peace to you all this season and throughout the New Year.
First Parish, Unitarian Universalist on Bedford Common
Rev Megan Lynes and Rev. John Gibbons
We send you and yours all our good wishes for 2016! May this year be one of much peace between neighbors and nations. In friendship and solidarity,
St. Michael Parish
Msgr. William Cuddy, Jr.
To the citizens of Bedford, the advent of the New Year brings hope! Hope that comes with a birth, a marriage, a graduation and so many more milestones in life but let us remember that all of these must be viewed through eyes of faith. Faith reassures us and grace strengthens us so that we in this “Jubilee Year of Mercy” may offer each other mercy and fill one another with hope. May God’s peace and blessings be upon us as we enter this New Year!
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Chris Wendell
As the New Year begins, St. Paul’s Church offers its prayers, blessings, and best wishes to the entire Bedford community. As we share our life together in this town, may the coming year bring us an enlivened spirit of togetherness in times of joy and sorrow, a deeper curiosity about our differences in culture and life experience, and a renewed sense of responsibility to care for and cherish all who call this place their home. Happy New Year!
Anthony-Hunt-Hamilton American Legion Post 221
OC O’Connor
“This is Not Your Grandfather’s Legion” – our volunteers respectfully and eagerly invest thousands of hours each year; passionately helping patients at the VA, supporting families on and off Hanscom Air Force Base, actively contributing to all Bedford’s patriotic ceremonies, donating to BHS scholarships, hosting social events for our seniors, sponsoring The Danny Oates Memorial, providing youth development and leadership programs (Boys & Girls State and MA State Trooper), and enthusiastically sponsoring Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and a Venturing Crew in town.
We’re officially known as Anthony-Hunt-Hamilton American Legion Post 0221 at 357 The Great Road. The American Legion Family is made up of past & present male and female armed service members, women in the American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of the American Legion, we continue to serve providing a diverse array of involvement, assistance and Veteran support in our community.
We look to the past with respect and honor to those who “wrote a blank check” payable to the United States of America. We also keep a vigilant eye to the future continuing to serve our all-volunteer forces, our Veterans and our community. For more information please call (781) 275-3140 – or visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BedfordLegion. Hall rental availability/information and membership inquiries are welcome. Wishing all here at home, and especially to those deployed far away, a Healthy, Safe and Happy New Year!
Bedford Arts & Crafts Society
Sylvia Mallory, President
Art Brings Us Together: On behalf of the Bedford Arts and Crafts Society (BACS), I extend our heartfelt good wishes for the holidays, and for a bright new year, to the Bedford community. As 2015 draws to a close, it is natural to look back on local, national, and global successes of the past year, and also to reflect on the challenges and divisions that confront American society and the wider world. It seems appropriate in this season of celebration to appreciate the ways art can bring people together and help to bridge differences, as it serves as an avenue for positive expressions of self, culture, and values—and reveals the common threads of our humanity.
I thank all of those who support the efforts of BACS members to express themselves creatively and to share their passion and skills with others. This partnership is one of many relationships that help to make Bedford the vibrant, tight-knit community it is.
In 2016, we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Bedford Arts and Crafts Society. If you are not a BACS member, we hope your new year’s resolutions will include joining the group or participating in some of the activities we are planning. Happy 2016!
Bedford Boy Scout Troop 114
Ben Bennett
Boy Scout Troop 114 is looking back on a great 2105. We had great participation for our summer camp, had many camping trips through the year, had a fantastic ski trip, and much more! We closed the year with our annual wreath sale, and the generous support by the town has put us in a strong position for 2016. One of the troop made Eagle last year, and it looks like a couple more scouts will be ready this coming year. We are also preparing for a trip to Philmont Scout reservation over the summer.
Bedford Boy Scout Troop 194
Peter Ricci
2015 has been a very busy year for Boy Scout Troop 194, stationed out of the American Legion Post 221 on The Great Road. We are proud to be a civic group that supports boys as they become young men, learning leadership and life skills. In addition to the monthly outings, which usually revolve around outdoor activities, the Troop was involved in town activities such as The Bedford Diversity Fair, Memorial Day, Bedford Day, POW/MIA recognition, and most recently, the inaugural Bedford Walkabout.
Scouting has a long history in Bedford, and Troop 194 strives to continue its legacy at the highest standards as we enter 2016.
Happy New Year to all.
Bedford Center for the Arts Photo Group
Bob Bass
The BCA Photo Group wishes you a joyous holiday season and a happy new year. May all of your images be properly exposed, stunningly composed, and enthusiastically received. Come visit us in the new year to learn more about all aspects of photography to share your art with us. www.bcaphoto.org
Bedford Chamber of Commerce
Adam Schwartz & Maureen Sullivan
The Bedford Chamber of Commerce want to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a healthy and happy New Year.
The mission of the Bedford Chamber is to advance the economic, industrial, professional, cultural and civic welfare of the Town of Bedford. We feel that by making Bedford better for business, our businesses can help make Bedford a better place.
We partner with our members and civic groups to host a number of events throughout the year including our Annual Dinner Awards and Celebration, Tee it Up Golf League, Prom Stroll, Monthly Networking Events, Innovation Nights, Trunk or Treat, Flavors of Bedford, Economic Development, Walkabout & Tree Lighting, Holiday House tour and more. Be sure to get the latest updates on our events and important local business issues through our Newsletter. ( https://www.bedfordchamber.org/redir-newsletter.php)
If you are involved in a business in or around Bedford, looking to start a business or just want to talk about business, we would love to talk to you. ( https://bedfordchamber.chambermaster.com/contact/)
We look forward to continuing to promote community and commerce in Bedford and hope you have a prosperous 2016.
Bedford Community Table & Pantry
Peter Grey
As we enter into 2016 I would hope that we could all make a resolution for the New Year to accept all regardless of their religious beliefs or their life style and of course their skin color. Hopefully this resolution may lead to a safer and more peaceful world.
Bedford Education Foundation
Meg McAllister & Jennifer Kelley
Greetings, Bedford Citizens! As we look forward to 2016, the board of the Bedford Education Foundation would like to extend our best wishes for a peaceful and joyous new year to you all. We feel so fortunate to live in this wonderful community with such incredible educational opportunities for our children. Thank you to all of our dedicated educators for their tireless work, and thank you to the many supporters who have enabled us to assist in the enhancement of creativity and innovation already so prevalent in our classrooms. And finally, please consider attending our Back to the 80’s Winter Bash on January 30th, sure to be a fabulous throwback evening of fun and excitement as we look to raise even more funds in the new year for our schools!
For more information on the Bedford Education Foundation, please visit our website at https://bedfordeducation.org. And don’t forget to like us on Facebook to stay updated on future grants and events!
Bedford Elementary Schools Together
Dawn Kociubes
As supporters of our elementary schools, we wish all a year of growth and happiness in 2016.
Bedford Family Connection
Kristine Shah and Becky Gould
Bedford Family Connection truly “connects” young families in town. We provide a safe and happy place for parents and young children to come together for support and companionship. Best to all in 2016!
Bedford Garden Club
Carol Amick
As the Bedford Garden Club enters its 60th year, our wish for all Bedford residents is to enjoy the beauty of our natural world, to protect our natural and historic resources, and to appreciate those among us whose love of gardening produces gorgeous landscapes and gardens, on both private and public lands. We believe in Audrey Hepburn’s famous comment, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”
Bedford Historical Society
Don Corey
Hoping for a Historic New Year!
To ring in the New Year, the Bedford Historical Society has just completed major upgrades to its on-line virtual museum. The web host, PastPerfect, improved its operating platform significantly this year, while the Society refined its own site and uploaded much more archival data. Stop by & visit! Just go to the Society’s website – www.bedfordmahistory.org – and click on the “Virtual Museum” link. The “Random Images” button will give you a sampling of the Society’s collections.
In 2016 the Society also hopes for continued progress in re-establishing a local historic museum for the community. The Massachusetts Historical Commission just invited Bedford to submit a full application for a 50/50 matching grant to fund the Museum Feasibility Study, with an estimated total project cost of $50,000. The study will consider preferred locations recommended by the Ad Hoc Museum Study Committee, including preliminary cost estimates.
Bedford TV
Julie Antriasian & Paula Gilarde
Bedford TV would like to wish our Community Partners, our volunteers, our viewers and the people of Bedford a very peaceful and happy new year. We are grateful for your support and are committed to bring you the best in local programming, training and equipment we can provide.
The new year marks a new beginning, new shows to record, new adventures to enjoy and new memories to create. Don’t forget to check our website to see when new classes are starting: www.bedford.tv. Here’s wishing you all a wonderful 2016!
Citizen Scholarship Foundation
Ron Stewart
As we close out 2015, the CSF of Bedford Dollars for Scholars Board of Directors wish to extend a very grateful thanks to the whole Bedford Community for the tremendous outpouring of support during the Chapter’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Chartered in 1965, this celebration was enthusiastically embraced by residents, educators, businesses, professional groups, and town officials, along with many current and former board members. Click to read a summary of CSF’s activities in 2015
Correction on January 3: The ‘Bedford Cub Scouts’ are now correctly identified as Bedford Boy Scout Troop 114
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