This month our selection is The Almost Legendary Morris Sisters by Julie Klam. This title is a fun and quick read, and we hope you will join us for some socialization and book discussion. An email reminder and the zoom link will be emailed a few days before the meeting to all HNN members who selected book club as an interest group. Please check out our Facebook page, or email one of the co-chairs with any questions.

Looking ahead, will be reading The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle in May, and will wrap up the year with Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead.

About the book: "Ever since she was young, Julie Klam has been fascinated by the Morris sisters, cousins of her grandmother. According to family lore, early in the 20th century the sisters' parents decided to move the family from Eastern Europe to Los Angeles so their father could become a movie director. On the way, their pregnant mother went into labor in St. Louis, where the baby was born and where their mother died. The father left the children in an orphanage and promised to send for them when he settled in California - a promise he never kept. One of the Morris sisters later became a successful Wall Street trader and advised Franklin Roosevelt. The sisters lived together in New York City, none of them married or had children, and one even had an affair with J.P. Morgan. The stories of these independent women intrigued Klam, but as she delved into them to learn more, she realized that the tales were almost completely untrue.

The Almost Legendary Morris Sisters is the revealing account of what Klam discovered about her family - and herself - as she dug into the past. The deeper she went into the lives of the Morris sisters, the slipperier their stories became. And the more questions she had about what actually happened to them, the more her opinion of them evolved. Part memoir and part confessional and told with the wit and honesty that are hallmarks of Klam's books, The Almost Legendary Morris Sisters is the fascinating and funny true story of one writer's journey into her family's past, the truths she brings to light, and what she learned about herself along the way"-- Provided by publisher.

Cindy and Sue, Book Club Co-Chairs

Cindy Carr carr.cynthiad@gmail.com

Sue Hatton hncbookclub@outlook.com

Spring is right around the corner! How can I tell? Because our spring events are in full swing including Easter Baskets with the Holliston Pantry Shelf thanks to Tricia Benson and Prize-A-Day calendar raffle planning thanks to my co-chairs Bo Yai and Pamela Pinter Parson. We are still working on the possibility of some other events but we are going to need your help there - so stay tuned.

We have had a lot of new HNN members during this membership year and I would like to let you all know that we would love it if you wanted to be more involved. There are so many committees & board positions that you can choose from - from civic to fundraising to social activities. It is a great way to see how HNN does what it does and to have a say in where we are going. So take a look at all the positions on the HNN website and see what fits you. Email hnnexecutiveboard@gmail.com if you have any interest or questions!

Debbie Colburn

President

We would like to thank the businesses that have signed up to be 2022 Sponsors so far

• Platinum: AnyFence Co
• Gold: Authentic Auto Body, Harelick Dental Associates, Jacks Automotive
• Silver: Bright Agency Jensen Sheehan Insurance, Goldfish Swim School of Milford, Magical Moments Vacation (Donna Goyette, HNN Member)
• Bronze: Anatas Lock & Safe Co, Archambault Construction, Blessed Beginnings Preschool, Bon Fete/Hostess Helper, Deland Law Office, Holliston Sewer Service Inc, Superior Shoe Repair, Prana Yoga & Acting Center,

If you or someone you know would like to sponsor HNN, please email committee.newcomers@gmail.com.

The details of the sponsor benefits are on our webpage at https://hollistonnewcomers.org/Become-a-Sponsor.

A goal of Holliston Newcomers & Neighbors is to give back to our community. One of the ways this is accomplished is in the form of grants. Grant money is raised during the various fundraising activities held throughout the year. The 2022 Community Grant Fund contributions came from the following fundraisers - 2020 & 2021 Prize A Day Calendar Raffle, 2021 Dinner Made Easy Dream Dinner & No Cook Night, 2021 The Great Pumpkin Trail Walk, and 2021 Gingerbread House Decorating.

At the January General Meeting, it was again decided not to open grants to the general community but instead to target our two recurring community project recipients - Holliston Public Library Museum Passes and Parks & Recreation Summer Concerts. The two organizations were contacted to see what their requirements would be for this year. After some adjustments, our Grant total will be able to cover these requests. Any funds not distributed will carry over to the 2023 Community Grant Fund along with the proceeds from any 2022 fundraisers that occur.

Thank you to all that organized and participated in these fundraisers.

Giving back to our community wouldn’t be possible without you!

Debbie

Community Investments Committee Chair

Debbie Colburn  HNNCommunityInvestments@gmail.com

We will gather over zoom on Wednesday, March 16 at 7:30pm. This month our book selection is The Radium Girls: the dark story of America’s shining women, by Kate Moore. Just in time for Women’s History Month, join us for some socialization and discussion about this fascinating story.

From the author’s website, “Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the “wonder” substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives.”

Please let us know you will be coming so we can send you the link. Check out the book club Facebook page or email one of the club co-chairs for details. HNN club members will find titles on reserve at the Holliston library about one month before the meeting. Look in the book club section or ask the librarian for help in finding them.

Next month we will be reading The Almost Legendary Morris Sisters by Julie Klam.

Cindy and Sue, Book Club Co-Chairs

Cindy Carr carr.cynthiad@gmail.com

Sue Hatton hncbookclub@outlook.com

With the holidays behind us - I hope everyone had a relaxing January. But now that we are fully into 2022 - it’s time to think about our spring fundraisers & get-togethers. Our Dinner Made Easy - No Cook Night is right around the corner thanks to Amy Forman and the planning for Prize A Day for the Month of May is in full swing thanks to my co-chairs - Pamela Pinter Parsons & Bo Yai.

As for the other fundraisers, they are on hold again this year. I’d like to thank everyone that attended our January General Meeting where it was decided Touch A Truck will take another year off but we still have hope for the Princess & Superhero Party. Maybe a little later than usual and with a different venue - stay tuned…

This is a great organization that does great things for our community which is only possible because of the members that volunteer their time and ideas. But we need more of you to get involved - many hands makes for light work - as the saying goes. Help us keep this organization going strong!

Hope to see you at future HNN events & Stay Warm!

Debbie Colburn

President

president.hnn@gmail.com

This fundraiser works by selling a Month of May calendar where every day is filled with different give-aways from businesses in Holliston and the surrounding communities. Each calendar entry will have a number associated with it. Then during May, a calendar number will be selected each day and the person who has that number will win that day’s prize. You can buy as many calendars as you want and you can win multiple times on the same calendar - how fun is that!

We are in the middle of contacting the local businesses for donations but items from individuals are accepted too. If you or someone you know can make a donation - gift certificate, items, services, or classes - email committee.newcomers@gmail.com.This calendar highlights our local businesses - why shouldn’t that be you!

Bo, Pamela & Debbie

Prize A Day Co-Chairs

Bo Yai mareournyai@gmail.com

Pamela Pinter Parsons newpamela@comcast.net

Note the change in day for this month’s regular book club meeting, which will be held over zoom on Tuesday, February 15. We join the library’s annual One Book, One Holliston community read project where they invite the whole town to read together. This year, the book selection is, Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted, by Suleika Jaouad. The author takes us on her journey from illness to recovery and back to "normal life" with a 15,000 mile road trip and a dog named Oscar.

An Emmy Award-winning writer and activist describes the harrowing years she spent in early adulthood fighting leukemia and how she learned to live again while forging connections with other survivors of profound illness and suffering.

BYO beverage and snacks and join us on zoom! Please let us know you will be coming so we can send you the link. Check out the book club Facebook page or email one of the club co-chairs for details. As always, HNN club members will find titles on reserve at the Holliston library about one month before the meeting. Look in the book club section or ask the librarian for help in finding them.

Looking ahead, we will be reading, Radium Girls, by Kate Moore, in March; The Almost Legendary Morris Sisters by Julie Klam, in April and May/June-are still TBD. Your ideas are welcome!

Welcome to 2022!

We ended our year with a number of accomplishments!  An in-person Halloween Fundraiser, a virtual Gingerbread Fundraiser, and of course we had a great time at our virtual Ladies Escape Annual Holiday Party. 

Now we are looking forward to 2022 and the second half of our membership year. We look forward to our Prize A Day in the Month of May fundraiser and will be planning a couple of ‘Dinner Take-out’ Nights between now and then as well. Plus some great ideas for Ladies Escapes were discussed at our Holiday Party - so look for those opportunities to get together.

It’s been a tough couple of years but one of the bright spots for me has been being part of Holliston Newcomers & Neighbors with all of you.  We have done such good things in the community and had a lot of fun along the way.

Just as our motto says - Building Friendships, Building Community.

Happy New Year!

Debbie Colburn

President

president.hnn@gmail.com