As we close out the HNN year, and I close out my final year as President, I feel grateful for our outstanding Board, Committee leaders, volunteers and participants. I'm also grateful for the opportunity to help our small and mighty club thrive.  I hope you enjoyed our socials, fundraisers, playgroups, and civic activities, as well as found a sense of community with us this year.  Finally, please join me in welcoming and supporting our next President, Justin, as we look forward to another great 2025-26 HNN year!

Children's Playgroups are in full swing and it has been great to see some new faces at our recent gatherings. Hope you can join us at our next gathering on Sunday, June 22nd at 2pm. For RSVP and  location information, or if you have any questions,  please reach out to Jackie.

We had a great discussion of our May book, The Cliffs; many thanks to Sue for hosting. We hope you will join us for our next meeting, on Wednesday, June 18, at 7:30 pm, when we will be discussing Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout. “The author returns to the town of Crosby, Maine, and to her beloved cast of recurring characters [including Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge] as they deal with a shocking crime, fall in love and yet choose to be apart, and grapple with the question ‘What does anyone's life mean?’”

You are more than welcome to attend Book Club 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.

This will be our last meeting of the season, so we are also looking for books to read in the fall. Feel free to offer suggestions at the June meeting or via email.

The Holliston Public Library reserves several copies of each book for us; ask at the circulation desk for the HNN book.

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.

I'm looking forward to a beautiful May and all of its celebrations, including HNN's annual Touch a Truck & Food Truck Fundraising Event on May 17th!  This is one of HNN's most fun family events and our biggest fundraiser.  So, please sign up to volunteer for a shift that day, as well as enjoy the event with your family and friends!  Next, join us for cocktails and art at a Sip and Paint Night Social on May 23rd.   Due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to host a Kentucky Derby Party this year as planned.  But we hope to revive that special social event next year!  Finally, I want to thank Trisha for her unwavering support in organizing our Easter Basket Drive for the Holliston Food Pantry in April.  This, along with the Thanksgiving Basket Drive, are important hallmark civic activities for HNN, so we're grateful to those who organize it and donate. 

Join us for a creative night out at Muse Paintbar, 115F Apex Drive, Marlborough on Friday, May 23rd, 7pm. An instructor will guide us through step-by-step on how to make this painting and provide all of the materials. No art experience required! 

Refer to our newsletter for further details. You must sign-up using the dedicated link to reserve your seat as spaces are limited, and ONLY AFTER you are registered please email Christel. Feel free to bring a friend!

Children's Playgroups are in full swing and it has been great to see some new faces at our recent gatherings. Hope you can join us at our next gathering on Sunday, May 18th at 2pm. For RSVP and  location information, or if you have any questions,  please reach out to Jackie.

We had a great discussion of our April book, Real Americans, and welcomed a couple of new club members as well. Thanks to Beth for hosting. We hope you will join us for our next meeting, on Wednesday, May 21, at 7:30 pm, when we will be discussing The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan: “A novel of family, secrets, ghosts, and homecoming set on the seaside cliffs of Maine.” You are more than welcome to attend Book Club 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.

We are also looking for books to read in the fall, so feel free to offer suggestions.

The Holliston Public Library reserves several copies of each book for us; ask at the circulation desk for the HNN book. For those who want to get a head start on next month, our June book will be Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout.

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.

I really enjoyed getting to know new members and laughing with our seasoned members at our March General Meeting last week.  Thank you to both for your enthusiasm and support of our Club! 

We have so many exciting developments & events that I can't mention them all, so please read this Newsletter and be on the lookout for future announcements.  First, log-in to your Member Profile on our HNN webpage to edit your preferences and opt-in for text messaging announcements.  Second, take our very brief member survey.  We want to hear from you, and it only takes a minute!  Third, Prize a Day in the Month of May calendars are now on sale!  Get your calendar(s) and share the link with friends and family, for a chance to win a prize every day in May!  As Ina Garten would say... "How easy is that?"  There is so much more (playgroup, book club, etc.), but in the meantime, mark your calendars for our Kentucky Derby Party on May 3^rd and watch for the details soon. Finally, congratulations to our HNN Community Investment Grant recipients!

As we look forward to another fantastic year of community building and friendship, it's time to select the future leadership of our cherished organization. Our upcoming annual board elections will take place in May, and now is the time to consider the opportunity to help guide HNN. 

Positions Open for Election:

A few reasons to consider running include; make a meaningful impact in your community, build lasting relationships with neighbors, help shape the future direction of our organization, and work alongside a passionate team.

No prior board experience is necessary – just enthusiasm and a willingness to contribute to our vibrant community. Current board members will be happy to answer any questions about the position and provide guidance during the transition.

 If you interested in running or want to learn more? Please contact Justin Parliamentarian, April 15th.

The HNN Community Investments Committee is pleased to announce the 2025 Community Grant Recipients!

• Holliston Public Library - Museum Passes to Boston Children’s Museum, New England Aquarium, Museum of Fine Arts and Ecotarium
• Holliston Parks & Recreation - Summer Concerts in the Park
• Holliston Community Farm - Continued Electrical Upgrades for the Barn
• Holliston Historical Society - Shoe Shop Upgrade
• Downtown Marigold Project - Growing Benches

Remember that the HNN Community Grant Fund is raised during the various fundraising activities held throughout the year, and why it is so important for the Newcomers & Neighbors membership to volunteer at and support these events. The 2024 fundraising events that contributed to the 2025 HNN Community Grant Fund were Prize A Day Calendar Raffle, Touch-A-Truck, The Great Pumpkin Trail Walk and The HNN Comedy Night. Thanks to all who organized and volunteered at these events.

Thanks also to fellow committee members Jennifer, Michelle, Melissa and Beth for the time that they put into the review process.