Children's Playgroups are back on the calendar!  Come join us!

We had another great playgroup in February with some familiar faces and some new faces. Hoping to keep that momentum going, the next weekend play group is going to be on Saturday, March 16th from 3:30-5:30pm. Michelle will host and provide cheese pizza and chicken fingers. Please RSVP to Michelle for the address.

Let's get together & play!

We had a small group last month to discuss our February book, The World According to Garp, which was chosen by the library to be the One Book, One Holliston read. Thanks to Deb for hosting.

This month we will meet on Wednesday, March 20, at 7:30 pm. to discuss Black Cake, by Charmaine Wilkerson. Please don’t feel that you shouldn’t attend if you haven’t finished (or even started) the book—Book Club is mainly an opportunity for old and new friends to get together and chat and snack. All are welcome—we would love to have some new members join our group.

We hold most meetings in person but also have a Zoom option if you can’t attend. Please contact Debbie if you have any interest in hosting a meeting.

In this moving debut novel, two estranged siblings must set aside their differences to deal with their mother's death and her hidden past--a journey of discovery that takes them from the Caribbean to London to California and ends with her famous black cake. In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett's death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking journey Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child, challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their family, and themselves. [Provided by the publisher]

February is the month to celebrate love, love among your family, significant others, friends and... your neighbors & community!  Join your HNN friends this month for an evening at the nail salon followed by cocktails.  Or get your kiddos together & make some friends at the next HNN playgroup.  As the Winter warms into Spring, HNN will be offering another couples activity, as well as preparing for our participation in Holliston's 300th anniversary!  We look forward to seeing you!

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with us and add some love to your nails! Join us at LZ Nails & Spa 74 Main St. Medway on Friday, February 9th at 5:30pm. There are only so many nail technicians, so please RSVP to Christel to save you a spot. First come, first served. 

See you then!

We’re excited to continue our beloved children’s playgroups.

The next weekend playgroup is going to be Sunday February 25th at 10:00 am. Please RSVP to Jackie to receive the location.

Our February weekday playgroup will be on Tuesday, February 27th at 10:00 am. Please RSVP to Michelle to receive the location.

Let's get together & play!

We had a great discussion last month about our January book, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, as well as many other subjects. Thanks to Jen for hosting. For our February meeting, we will be discussing The World According to Garp, by John Irving. This was chosen by the library to be the One Book, One Holliston read. The library will be hosting its own Garp events:

Join us at the library for a viewing of an Author Talk with John Irving, and an in-person book discussion of The World According to Garp at the Library Monday February 12, at 6:30pm. One Book One Holliston Discussion and Author Talk Viewing Sign Up. Also, why not come by and check out a screening of the movie featuring Robin Williams and John Lithgow? Thursday 2/8 at 2:30pm in the Gilman Room. 

Our HNN meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, at 7:30 pm. Please don’t feel that you shouldn’t attend if you haven’t finished (or even started) the book—Book Club is mainly an opportunity for old and new friends to get together and chat and snack. All are welcome—we would love to have some new members join our group.

We hold most meetings in person but also have a Zoom option if you can’t attend. Please contact Debbie if you have any interest in hosting a meeting.

The opening sentence of John Irving's breakout novel, The World According to Garp, signals the start of sexual violence, which becomes increasingly political. "Garp's mother, Jenny Fields, was arrested in Boston in 1942 for wounding a man in a movie theater." Jenny is an unmarried nurse; she becomes a single mom and a feminist leader, beloved but polarizing. Her son, Garp, is less beloved, but no less polarizing. From the tragicomic tone of its first sentence to its mordantly funny last line-"we are all terminal cases"—The World According to Garp maintains a breakneck pace. The subject of sexual hatred—of intolerance of sexual minorities and differences—runs the gamut of "lunacy and sorrow." Winner of the National Book Award, Garp is a comedy with forebodings of doom.

Happy New Year! 

I'm excited for the 2024 HNN year!

This year marks the 300^th anniversary of Holliston and the town has an amazing celebration planned. You can be certain that HNN will be participating and we'd love for you to join us!

To start off the year, please join us at our General Meeting on Wednesday, January 24th at 7:30 p.m. This is one of our two General Meetings each year in which all members are welcome. Also in January we'll have playgroups!  If you have little ones, mark your calendars for a playgroup on Wednesday, Jan. 24and Sat., Jan. 27, both at a member’s house.  And we're reading a fantastic book for the January Book Club, so learn about it in the newsletter.

Keep your eyes and ears open for more HNN activities & events in 2024, including another Poker Night! Lastly, we want to thank all of our past and returning HNN Club & Event Business Sponsors.

Best, 

Jennifer

New Year, New Friends

We’re excited for our beloved children’s playgroups to start up in January. There will be two playgroups - one that will occur on a weekday and one that will occur on a weekend.

The weekday playgroup will be on Wednesday, January 24th. Please RSVP to Michelle to receive the location.

The weekend playgroup will be on Saturday, January 27th. Please RSVP to Jackie to receive the location.

Dear Members,

HNN had a fabulous year of social events, civic activities and fundraisers thanks to its amazing members and dedicated Board & Committee Leaders! But before I reveal all of our successes, I want to give a BIG shout-out to Cheap Laughs Inc., Paul Gillespie and his hilarious comics who helped host and donated to HNN's first-ever Comedy Night at Anthony's on the Green. We had a blast, so please check-out Cheap Laughs Inc. on Facebook, sign-up for their newsletter and go to their next show on Dec. 6th at Prezo in Milford. And of course, visit our Club and Event Sponsor businesses listed on this newsletter!

Now take a look at the fun and success we had this year:

• 6 Social Events, including dinner gatherings at local restaurants, poker night and a Kentucky Derby Party.

• Recurring monthly activities, including Book Club and a restart of our playgroups in 2024.

• 4 Civic Activities that included delivering Thanksgiving meals to Holliston Senior and raising $7K for the Holliston Pantry Shelf and other organizations that serve local families & children in need!

• 4 super fun fundraisers that resulted in $8K of Community Grant Funds for us to share with Holliston organizations, services & departments!

Our organization is small, but mighty. Our Community Grant Fund supports the Holliston Summer Concert Series organized by the town's Parks & Rec. Dept., purchases MA museum passes for the town library to give its patrons, has purchased equipment for the police & fire departments, and funded the flowers planted throughout town by the Marigold Project. So, join us for some more laughs, fun and community spirit in 2024. Don't miss out!

Best,

Jennifer Mott

President