The state has agreed to house the refugees at the Quality Inn in Middleborough through June 2024 and also contracted with a restaurant to provide meals for them for at least another month, which could mean those meals would end in early November. These welcome developments decrease the urgency of what is being asked of FUUSM and give us time to plan for when our assistance may be needed. The town has received so many in-kind gifts that no more are currently needed.

The Haitian refugees in Middleboro now number 147 according to Nemasket Week on October 3. Getting meals to them, or getting them to meals, is the biggest challenge.

The Cash in the Plate for the month of October will be donated to South Shore Resource & Advocacy Center and the United Way of North Central Mass. for the Leominster flooding victims.

Report by Brian Engles  The placement of white supremacist signs near Black-owned businesses on Oak Bluffs should be treated as a hate crime, according to Task Force Butler, a research group made up of veterans. The D.A.’s office has declined to say whether that will be the case.

FUUSM’s Conflict De-Escalation Training by Impact Boston on Saturday, Sept. 16 was attended by 18 people including two from North Congregational Church, during what was forecast to be the height of post-tropical storm Lee.  Feedback has been positive.  Impact Boston is interested in continuing to partner with FUUSM in offering these trainings regionally.  So stay tuned if you weren’t able to attend this one.

The Rotary Club has asked if we would like to host a Peace Pole.   We received this invitation too late to take action this year; Peace Week is already in progress.  Here’s a photo of Bridgewater’s Peace Pole, with the same message in many languages around four sides of the pole.  The Middleboro Rotary has acquired two poles similar to this, and would install one on our lawn if we agree.  Would you like FUUSM to host a Peace Pole on our lawn?  If so, we will begin arrangements now for next September. (photo by BCCR) 

The MA Indigenous Legislative agenda for 2023 consists of 5 bills.  Here are two of them: An Act to Protect Native American Heritage. H.3248/S.2186 (Rogers/Biele, Collins) This would ensure that Native American funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony (those of cultural, traditional or historical importance to their heritage) held in governmental, municipal or non-profit collections are not sold for profit. The hearing for this bill was to be held on September 18.  Written testimony is normally accepted for some weeks after the hearing, so you can still support this bill.  As Becky from BCCR summarizes, “There are

Please consider signing the Land and Water Coalition’s Petition to Stop Sand Mining in the Pine Barrens of Plymouth County: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/end-sand-mining-in-southeastern-