Roses are red, violets are blue...

... don't forget Valentine's Day is about loving yourself too! This week's newsletter brings you ways to celebrate all kinds of love, from a fun day of furry & feathered friends, to a day of self-reflection and self-love.

With snow on the ground and the negative temperatures fresh in our minds, it can seem less than appealing to bundle the family up and head out to a community event- but don't forget the best way to make unforgettable memories is by spending time with your community.

What is the Community Connections Newsletter?

The mission of this weekly newsletter is to help you start the week feeling positive & more connected with your community. Every Monday at 8 AM, you'll find this newsletter waiting for you with open arms, ready to inform you of:

• Fun events happening on the South Shore (both family friendly and 21+ events)

• Small business news about local shops around you, not the big box stores!

• Features about members of your community who have interesting stories to tell

• Weekly segments such as 'This Week in Local History' or 'Pawsome Pet Story of the Week'

Small Business Spotlight:

4GoodVibes in Kingston

The Largest Gift Shop in MA Is Getting Bigger!

4GoodVibes revealed that they are expanding their Kingston location, which is already the largest handmade gift shop in Massachusetts, by adding a second store across from the first one!

Click here to check out my article published on NewsBreak that covers the details about what this new store will carry and when it'll be opening!

Family Event Of The Week: 

Farm Fun in Duxbury

'Animal Kissing Booth' Celebration at a Local Farm!

If celebrating Valentine's Day with furry & feathered friends seems like a dream come true, you won't want to skip this too-adorable-to-miss event! This family-friendly fun day will include"face painting, a holiday craft and plenty of photo opportunities."JEM Learning promises that event attendees will get to"share the love" with "our favorite barnyard animals: Applejack, Snickers, Dali, Waffles, Kiki and more. (Donkeys, Lambs, Goats, Bunnies, Chickens & a Pig)"

• WHERE: JEM Learning ( 655 Franklin St. Duxbury, MA 02332 )

• WHEN: Sunday, February 12, 2023

• TIME: 11 AM - 12 PM

• COST: Tickets range from $25 - $50

• TICKETS: Please visit the official event page by clicking here.

• MORE INFORMATION: For more information or to speak directly with JEM Learning, please visit their official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JEMLearning/

21+ Event Of The Week:

Craft & Sip in Hingham 

'Love Yourself' Valentine's Vision Board Craft & Sip Event

You're invited to join vision board artist Stephanie Olsen for a fun Valentine's Vision Board Workshop! At this three-hour event, you'll "think about what and who you love, what you want to work towards, things you want to pursue or incorporate into your life- and then put it on your board."

Share your intentions with new friends while creating your masterpiece and enjoying refreshments. All materials will be provided, including a vision board, frame, and magazines for crafting.

• WHERE: Weir River Farm (140 Turkey Hill Lane, Hingham, MA 02043)

• WHEN: Saturday, February 11, 2023

• TIME: 1 - 3 PM

• COST: Member $36 / Non-member $45

• TICKETS: For more information about purchasing tickets, please visit https://thetrustees.org/event/82612/

Free Community Event Of The Week:

Winter Fest in Lowell

Celebrating the Cold with Community!

The City of Lowell invites you to celebrate the coldest months of the year with the annual community festival, Winter Fest! From a live fire show to a marshmallow roasting station, there is sure to be something for every member of your family at this exciting event!

• WHERE: Lowell Memorial Auditorium (50 E Merrimack St, Lowell, MA 01852)

• WHEN: Friday, February 17, 2023 & Saturday, February 16, 2023

• TIME: Friday 6 PM - 10 PM / Saturday 12 PM - 10 PM

• COST: Free

• MORE INFORMATION: For more information about Lowell Winter Fest, visit https://www.lowellwinterfest.com/

Get Involved Community Corner: Plymouth

Have You Ever Considered Running for Local Office?

The Town of Plymouth has announced that citizens interested in running for local elected town office can now begin the process! The town also published an easy-to-follow checklist that breaks down every step you need to take to complete the entire process. To learn more, check out my full article that explains the details. Click here to read it for free on NewsBreak).

Pawsome Pet Story Of The Week

Louie, the Hardware Store Cat from Wareham!

This adorable furry feline, originally named Scar, was adopted from the Scituate Animal Shelter in 2022. Louie now lives and works at the Aubuchon Hardware store in Wareham! His daily duties include bonding with staff or greeting customers (some of whom come to the store simply to see him!)

Donut Miss Out!

Next week, I'm revealing the best small business donut shops you've never heard about! Be sure to add me to your contact list so that you donut miss out on the delicious news coming your way.

Want to Keep in Touch?

To be one of the first to know when new articles come out, be sure to follow me on the free app, NewsBreak. I publish free-to-read stories about your community- from trending topics to community updates and local events.

How can I provide free quality content for you every week? Thanks to NewsBreaks Creator Program, I get a part of the ad revenue that NewsBreak makes. That means the more time you spend reading my free articles, the more you are supporting local, independent journalism.

Interested in becoming a local NewsBreak content contributor? Click here to learn more about the NewsBreak Creator Program, or feel free to contact me directly by responding to this email!