Good evening and welcome. We're absolutely delighted that you're all here tonight because we are excited about kicking off some reality check for Westport 250. This has been kind of a wonderful thought pantasy for this great
team that's come together and our goal has been to engage our full community in as many ways as we can to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary birthday and um I think it's starting to happen.
We're looking for continued activities in town. We're looking for new activities in town. We're looking for the town to really look at the 250th. I'm Irene Buck and I have a wonderful group of people who have just come together naturally. We're very organic.
Um we're going to start with Tim Whand who has something he's going to tell you about the sound, right Tim? Tim, you want to >> you want to Tom? I said Tim. >> Yeah. Okay. Here we go. >> Tom, do you want to tell people about the sound or we're all set? You're going
to record sound. Okay. Tom Whan is a filmmaker, documentarian, and an absolutely nice person who has joined a group of people that were quite up to speed with what he knows and we're all learning every day. So, he'll be talking
about the website and some of the other things that we need to do. Jane Dufo is our route to Westford. She has been here almost forever. Yeah. And so when I as a newcomer get up, I feel very secure. Um
Lou Baril is in the back and she is um relatively new but really has deep roots because her family's been in this town for a long time and she's here as much to get to know the town as to help us communicate what we're trying to about the history of our town. And Jeff
Fittton, I think he knows everyone in town also, but he has been a great help to us in so many ways because his experience as a parent, as somebody who's really been involved in so many parts of community living is uh helps
guide us and make choices because we have really tried to reach as many individuals, as many organizations to hear from all of you as possible. And we've finally decided we can't reach everyone. So tonight, those that are here, we're going to value your ideas
twice as much. And uh we are being videotaped and hopefully we'll get more attention and more information. This is an information gathering night. One of our members wasn't able to be here tonight and um she's been doing a lot of writing for us, Laura Mills. So we'll
all be working together over the next couple of months, maybe if the holidays don't get in the way, and trying to get ready for 2026. Um, we're going to start off today with a big picture. We're going to ask Jonathan Lang, who has actually talked
to us a few times before. Jonathan has 30 years of experience in public history, tourism, and cultural pro programming. Wow, that's impressive. And he has been uh the executive director of states revolution 250. He can tell you
about what's happening in 33 cities and towns that are actively involved and a lot more that are doing like us getting in engaged. Jonathan, why don't you come on up? You can talk here at the microphone. >> Um, >> thanks very much
>> and tell the world. >> Thank you. 50 years ago, I was at Conquered Bridge when President Ford spoke to uh the nation and the world about the importance of the events of what
happened in Massachusetts. And it inspired me at that moment for a lifelong passion of lowpaying jobs. So, I'm delighted to be here in Westport to help you talk about your own 250th uh commemoration.
uh and uh you know I was asked to sort of give the big picture and and I'm happy to take the conversation in any direction you choose. Um I'll tell you a little bit about my own journey here and where Massachusetts has gone and a
little bit about the national story and the regional story. It's, you know, there are so many different ways. I'm sure you'll figure this out. Uh, but there are so many different ways to tell the story. And we, uh, encourage people to find what works for their community.
Uh, it could be through the lives and experiences of the Minutemen or militia who go marching off to war. It could be the experiences of the maritime community who did so much to uplift and secure independence for the nation. And it could be through the lives of the
women and children who not only had to keep the family farms going, but really had to produce even more because they had to support an army in the field. It could be about the events that happened not in your town necessarily, but nearby. So let's talk about the raid on
New Bedford or the battle of Rhode Island on a quidneck island. Um, so I I mean I do come at this honestly. It has been a lifelong passion of mine, public history and and bringing history to life for people recognizing the value of this
to our tourism community of course and to the many businesses who support these kinds of programs. Um my father's family has been here for 400 years. For the last 300 years, we've lived in the Norton Foxboro area. Um although I was
raised in Rockland for reasons that I still don't understand. Um the um I should warn you I do have a fairly irreverent sense of humor. So I don't mean to offend anybody. If you're from Rockland secretly and you don't want to tell me that's okay. Um my mother's
family had very different journey. Obviously they they came uh to Fall River and Westport through from Ireland and u the I spent a lot of time personally in Westport. My aunt still lives here. Um, as I was saying, I've probably had more Fourth of July
gatherings in Westport than any other place in Massachusetts. Um, and for this history, uh, you know, uh, it really reminds me about the importance of the story we're looking to tell. Uh, to be sure, there are flawed
men and women in the story. There are experiences of which we need not necessarily be proud. But at the b at the end of the day, these are people who risked everything just for the hope of something better. And and that's really
what I try and convey through all the projects we worked on. Uh Revolution 250 is a consortium of uh organizations. We're a private 501c3. Um we uh have 75 partners that we're working with across the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and beyond. Uh working on the 250th. We got our start in 2015. We're our first event. I wasn't there for the first event. I hadn't been hired yet, but they did an event to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the
essentially the baptism of the Liberty Tree and the formation of the Sons of Liberty in Boston. And everybody, including the Boston Globe, thought that was a great event. But the people who organized it said, "We've already got jobs. We should get somebody else to do
this." uh and and I was hired the next year. The um it's been a remarkable story. From the outset, our plan has been to follow the words of John Adams. And John Adams would be very pleased we're doing this because nobody loves John Adams like
John Adams. Uh so we uh he said that the real revolution happened before a drop of blood got spilled at Lexington and conquered. it was the changes in the hearts and the minds of the people of Massachusetts. And so and and later on
he said um if you want to know the history of the revolution in Massachusetts, don't read histories of the revolution, particularly Mercy Warren's history of the revolution. She didn't mention John Adams hardly at all. Um but uh he said if you really want to
know the history of the revolution, look at the town meeting records. look at the committees of correspondence records and many of these are available and he's so right the the the wisdom that can be found in those communities. one of my
favorites in a town meeting and town meeting. We're we're doing a big thing with the Massachusetts moderators association in a couple of weeks looking at town meeting and its role in pushing the revolution forward and um town
meeting is such an important institution uh for uh communities to come together discuss these ideas. But the in January of 1773 town meeting in Newton uh passed a you know s series of resolves against the
tea act essentially and they said resolved that in the cause of liberty no good man can stay silent or inactive and I think that really strikes at the heart of what these people were feeling. And if you read the town meeting records
from this time period, um just filled with all kinds of wonderful activity and you really get a sense of what it took to keep a community moving forward. And and sort of tied into that in March of 1776, the general court
publishes an advertisement in the local newspaper saying, "We want every town in Massachusetts to discuss independence and whether they would support it with their lives and their liberty and their fortunes." And not every town got the message. Uh either they didn't take that
newspaper or we're not exactly sure what but we have about 50% of the town's responses at this point. And o overwhelmingly I think it's you 125-2. Um and and the two they didn't say no.
They just said they they said we're not going to instruct our representative. This is back in the day when you elected a state representative, you could tell them what to do. H and and they would do it uh because they only serve for a year at a time. So uh because they're elected
at every town meeting. So they uh they would instruct their representatives to support independence or not. And the only two towns that did not instruct their representative absolut definitively came out and said we're not instructing our representative are Barnstable. And the story there is a little
complicated. Um and it's um I knew I was going to forget this one. I'm going to say Lancaster, Massachusetts. and Lancaster and Hbertton and all that those sort of northern western Worcester County towns. You know, they they've got more than
their fair share of loyalists out there. I'm just going to say it. You know, that doesn't make them bad people. It's just the way it was. Um, so that was our guiding light when we set out. And obviously, we want to tell the big stories. We want to tell the Tea Party and the Massacre and Lexington and
Conquered and Bunker Hill. We wanted to do all of those things. and and but but to do it differently, right? It's not always about the big reenactment, right? It's not that's not something for everybody. We need to approach it a different way. So, Tea Party ships, we
spent a lot of time talking about Phyllis Wheatley in our book of poetry that arrived on the same ships. The the first street lights for Boston arrived on the tea ships. Uh so we we were looking at uh you know different ways to approach these stories um to to engage
Lexington and conquered the battle of monottomy which I'm sure you all know um is of course the part of April 19th the red coats come marching back through what is today Arlington and that's where most of the men died in Arlington uh
both red coats and um and and and patriots uh or or provincial militia if you prefer. They um and the fighting was particularly fierce and you know we one of the weirder experiences of my life this past July we had Kurt Russell a
descendant of J um um sorry uh Jason Jason Russell who uh who was murdered essentially on his own doorstep. I mean, defending a man's home is his castle. And uh Kurt Russell was incredibly moved
by that experience. He didn't know anything about it growing up. His sons were the ones who discovered the connection and but he wanted to come see it for himself. And and that's the power of this story, right? It isn't always I mean sometimes you have a story like that but sometimes it's about the seven
men from Danvers who marched from Danvers to Arlington on April 19th. Seven of them killed and they had to be brought back in a wagon. And just what a what a horrific moment that must have been for those Danvers families. And they mark it every year in Danvers. They
go around from grave to grave to grave and honor the service and sacrifice of those men. Um, you know, it's about children. Again, another favorite story from Arlington. Uh, British Red Codes bursts into a house. They they they order a woman who's just given birth out
of the house with her baby. Not knowing there were four other children still in the house. They set the house on fire. And the children banded together, used the family's vat of newly brewed beer to put out the fire and save the house. And
um you know uh I said to a local brewer up in Arlington I said if you don't create a beer that's called fire quencher I don't know what you're I don't know what you're doing anyway. So we we've looked for different ways you know some towns uh there isn't a mode of commemoration that I don't think I've
been part of. Obviously, grave markings are big with the heritage societies, D, SAR, and and they can be great people to engage with in your community because they they have a passion for this history already. Um, the Society of
Cincinnati, how many of you know the Society of Cincinnati? One. Okay. Excellent. So, I'm a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. We are all descendants of officers who served with George Washington. And uh why you should know them isn't necessarily
because we're descendant of officers of George Washington, but they have an annual grants program. It's not huge money. Couple thousand here, couple thousand there, but sometimes it just gets you over the top. So they they do it the applications are due once a year,
you know. So, at the end of August, I tell everybody, make sure your grants are in because they'll review those and the they distribute the money typically in in December. Um, you should also not be hide bound by dates. Uh, sometimes, uh, you know, we're working on a big
event right now in Gloucester. So, again, a weird experience. We couldn't do the Battle of the Bunka Hill in Charles Town. They I'm talking about the reenactment. the the reenactors were very keen to do this and we can't do it in Charles Town because the largest open
space in Charles Town is at the Bunker Hill Monument which is National Park property. They don't allow opposing forces to uh face each other and shoot at each other or people pretend dying or whatever on park property which totally
respect. That's their policy. It's it's the same everywhere. Gettysburg and Heeden wherever. Um we ended up doing it in um Gloucester and uh there was a big NPR piece about
why Glosser it's awkward when the mayor of Boston comes over to you and says what are you doing taking it out of Charles Town? Madame Mayor, I I apologize, but you know, the only open space other than Bunker Hill in Charles Town is the Charles Town High School
football field. And why I am I amuse myself thinking about the playbyplay of that that particular event. It wasn't it wasn't the experience the reenactors wanted. It's not really the experience we wanted the public to have. So, yes.
So we moved the battle uh whatever it is 35 miles away a thousand reenactors from around the nation around the world really because we had a number come from Great Britain and France um and 20,000
people I mean just turned out to see this this amazing uh experience and again it wasn't just about the battle reenactment there were programs there with women talking about the lives of women who followed the armies or the lives of women at Charles Town who lost
everything during the battle because they burned the town of Charles Town. It was about the children who were in the ranks serving as drummer boys. Youngest person on the field at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 12 years old. I mean, that's got to be dad of the year, right?
you know, I mean, it's just um just uh horrific to think about these experiences and yet these things happened and we wanna we want to honor that. Parades. I can't say enough about I love parades. I I can't say enough
about parades. Um there's been obviously lecture series, concerts, people looking at the 18th century through music and dance. So holding a you know colonial dance we've had plays the plays have been particularly popular this uh this
commemorative period uh there have been plays about the experiences of Norwell and Situit plays from the the town meetings of Plymouth there have been plays about the tea party about Phyllis Wheatley meeting Ben Franklin in London
um there there's uh there's a myriad of different ways to look at these issues. And I'm just going to go right out and say there none of them are wrong, right? Because you're building a commemoration that's for your town and you know your
town better than anybody else. I am here to say that I hope you will look upon me as a resource. At the back of the table there, I've got a stack of cards. Take one, please. Uh just, you know, help me clear my desk. Um would be great. Um and
stay in touch and and let me know the resources you need. Do you do you need a Paul Rivere? I've got a Paul Rivere. Do I've got several Paul Riverers. Weirdly, I at one point I had four Paul Riverers. I What is happening here? U Some ride,
some don't ride. Same thing with George Washington. Some Georgees rides, other Georgees don't ride. You need to keep those separate. Um it's a very weird job in some ways. Um, but if you want to hear what Abigail Adams experience was,
you know, she's standing on the hill near her house watching Charles Town burn to the ground. Uh, what, you know, taking care of the family farm while John is off having a good time in the Continental Congress. We know what kind of good time he had there. Um,
viewing parties is this is the latest thing, right? Ken Burns new series starts up in a couple of weeks. a lot of communal screenings, people getting together so they can sit and watch it together, talk about it. Uh, I've seen, you know, a 46 minute preview. It's
classic Ken Burns. If you like Ken Burns work, you're not going to be disappointed in this one. Um, and then, uh, sort of looking beyond our borders. So, I did say we we do some regional things. Obviously, we're thickening the Henry Knox story right now. So, we're
working a lot with New York at this point. Um, recreating snippets, not the entire length. Um, I will say when I first took this job, I met a guy who did the bsentennial reenactment of the Henry Knox where they
walked the 225 miles from Fort Ticonderoga all the way to Boston. And there's no way OSHA was going to let us do anything like that this year. I just want to say plus I love the fact the imagery of the oxen getting to the
Massachusetts state lines and the Massachusetts health officials won't let them in because they don't have the right veterinary certificates. That was that that's classic. I love that. Um and I'm glad I wasn't there for that. But the um but it's exciting to you know
this is an event that that ties together um 50 communities from essentially from Crown Point, New York all the way to South Boston, Massachusetts. Um so we're doing a series of programs but we're including all of the communities so they
can participate in these stories. Uh lots of great scholarship has been done since the bsentennial. So, we do literally stand on the shoulders of giants. Um, and we have more stories to tell about uh the it's an entirely civilian operation. There's no military
involvement in the Knox Trail. Henry Knox himself, they call him Colonel Knox as a courtesy. He actually hasn't been commissioned. He doesn't get his commission until he gets back to Cambridge in January of 1776.
Um, we are uh working with Saratoga 250, not just on the Knox jail, but looking ahead towards 2027. Revolution 250 doesn't just want to tell the stories of what happens in Massachusetts. Revolution 250 wants to tell the stories
of places where Massachusetts people made things happen. So, we're talking about General Glover down at Pel Point. We're talking about General Glover at the crossing of the Delaware River. We're talking about General Glover saving Washington's army for the third bloody time when he get evacuates them
off of Long Island in during the Battle of New York. We want to talk about how 40% of the Continental forces at Saratoga are Massachusetts men. 70% of the militia at Saratoga are Massachusetts men. We want to make sure
we tell these stories. We want to tell stories of not just the great things they did. Let's talk about, you know, Paul Rivere and and the crew that went up to Ponobscot and tried to reduce the British fort there and got absolutely waxed by the British army and navy. So
much so that Paul Rivere actually got court marshaled for his ex he was he was exonerated. Uh but uh still it was not a good day. Massachusetts lost its entire navy in that one battle. We had five ships, some of them built Swansea. Uh
there were two ships built out of Swansea, one built out of Bedford. Well, now New Bedford. Um uh one in Kingston and one in Nubberport and what's Newport, Kingston, Bedford.
Oh, in Swansea. So five ships all destroyed in the same day. Um not a great day for the Massachusetts sailors. Uh so you know we're working with you know Vermont Battle of Bennington. We're working with our friends up in uh New
Hampshire uh on uh telling the story of John Stark uh who of course served nobly in Massachusetts. We were working with uh the people down at Yorktown looking ahead towards 2031. I mean I know it's crazy, right? You
you're you're you think you're you've got a why. We've got time, but there is no time. Uh it just there there I never thought we'd make it till the tea party quite frankly and that was two years ago and and then I thought oh after the tea party we'll
have a little break before Lexington conquered not a chance you know there's so for me and this is what makes this all so exciting you know this is a human story uh the the these are the lives of people
I I've spent more time in cemeteries in the last eight years than I ever thought I would. And I love it because I'm just looking around at at thousands and thousands of life stories. And how can you not be
excited about learning from their experiences? Um, America 250, uh certainly uh, and I'm I know we're being recorded here, so I'm going to try and be a little restrained. Uh, America 250 from
my perspective has been a disappointment quite frankly. Um, the very first event I went to as head of Revolution 250, the D held an event at their headquarters in Washington DC and their guest speaker was Senator, the former Senator John
Warner, who some of you may not know um, headed the bicesentennial from the national perspective. And again, you know, when the president of the United States comes to you, hands you a checkbook, and says, "Don't make me look
like an idiot." I mean, that's a powerful powerful office. Nothing like that this time. Uh, obviously, President Obama formed the bis the semi-quincentennial commission. Uh, it's been staffed under Trump and then
restaffed under Biden and now re- restaffed under Trump. Um, but there's been a lot of distractions along the way and they will put something together. Um, I they're hyperfocused on the 4th of July as many people are. Oh, you know,
we we're finally at the point in the 250th where people have stopped asking me when is the 250th and now they're asking me how much longer for the 250th. Um, and mostly that's my wife. That's just a just a um
but it's not just about the 4th of July, right? This is a story and the 4th of July declaring independence. That's at the beginning of the story, gaining independence. That's the story. and you know the the people of this
region, you know, all over Massachusetts, but let's talk about Westport, the people of Westport, the people of Old Dartmouth. Uh, and I'll talk about old Dartmouth in just a moment. uh the people of old Dartmouth they you know this was years this was a
decade or more of their life decade and a half of their life dealing with this you know dealing with the general court sending down hey we need 50 more blankets from you or hey can you get us 25 pairs of shoes or the army's hungry
can you protect your cattle from the British raids and send them to the Continental Army instead And uh oh, and we're going to pay you in paper money because that's a good idea. Uh there's, you know, there's there's all kinds of amazing stories to tell and
I encourage you wholeheartedly to just think about what your town wants. What what does how does your town want to express it can be a picnic, it can be uh America 250 is pushing on July 5th a national potluck supper.
Um that's that's one of their initiatives. Uh, and if that's something you think the community could get behind, absolutely. Quite frankly, if you just serve strawberry shortcake, I'd be happy with that. That's that's fine for me. Um, maybe a little bit of Gray's
ice cream. I don't know. I just um, so I'm I'm going to leave it off there because I I literally could go on all night and I don't want to keep you. I Let me just say this. In addition to the cards, there's some Revolution 250 pins.
If you want a pin, take a pin. You don't feel compelled. This is not a cult. I'm I'm I'm not trying to persuade anybody, although, you know, we are a nonprofit, so you know. Um, also, uh, on the shelves out back, and I should have enough for everybody. I have two scarves. It's, uh, I always like pulling
these out at wintertime because I get them made in the middle of summer, and everybody looks at me like I'm crazy. Um, but we have the, uh, original, uh, Revolution 250. It's double-sided. This is made by the same company that makes the Premier League scarves in for the
Premier League teams in in in Great Britain. Then we have the um also double-sided. We have the Major Events of Massachusetts uh scarf here. This should should be enough for everybody. Uh but if for any reason you don't get the one you want, let me know. I'll make sure I get it to
you. Uh do you want to ask any questions while we're here? >> Did you speak Gilbert? >> Oh. Oh, yes. Thank you. Old Dartmouth 250 that she is not able to be with us. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So Diane and I met early on in my
tenure at Revolution 250 and the Akens House, the Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust has been one of our great supporters and partners uh pretty much since 2017. And uh about a year ago uh we were talking about the Battle of
New Bedford. Now I've done a lot of studying about the Battle of New Bedford. I've written some uh various papers on the battle of New Bedford. I think it's a great story. I mean, not for New Bedford, but um but the uh but it is a tremendous story because it
involves so many people of note, particularly on the British side. Um and there are still a few mysteries around the experience, but it really is again a power it's the largest landing force by
British Army in New England. Um, after the siege of Boston, now they sent 4,000 British soldiers marching on the beaches of Clark's Point in New Bedford. They marched up to the head of the
Aushnet River, crossed over the bridge, killed a few Americans, burned everything along the way, and the uh amount of losses by the people of New Bedford were greater than any community other than Boston and Charles Town
during the siege. It's about 180,000 pounds of of loss. They burned 81 ships in Bedford Harbor. Uh some of them quite sizable. They had captured by French war their prizes of the French uh which
probably irritated them no end as well. Um but it's an important moment because uh you know most of the American soldiers were over here at Tivetan. Uh you they had just uh evacuated a quidneck island from the battle of Rhode Island where I had a number of ancestors
wounded uh amongst other things. So it is a little bit of a personal story for me. Um but uh so about uh two years ago Diane and I and and some of the my other colleagues started talking about telling the story of old Dartmouth uh talking
about you know ship building talking about uh the agrarian community that supported both armies willingly or unwillingly um through their livestock. You know, they when they got to um when they got to Martha's Vineyard right after burning
New Bedford, the British captured 10,000 sheep and brought it back. And one sheep will feed a 50 men. So, they were looking to feed thousands of British soldiers. And Martha's Vineyard was where it was at. If you wanted sheep, that's where you went. Not anymore. I
think that's changed. Um but they uh but it's incred I mean again it's an incredible uh to take a moment to think about how that how it has changed is really remarkable. Uh so we want to tell all those stories
and you know David was showing me stuff he's written on Paul Cuffy. Paul Coffee looms large in this part of the world. So we want to make sure we tell his story. uh Revolution 250 and amongst many other programs, we have a weekly podcast. It's every Tuesday at 11
o'clock. You can download it from all your favorite distribution channels. Uh you can go on YouTube, watch the video, or you can download just the audio, whatever your particular bent is. We have almost 300 episodes at this point
and uh it's heard all around the world. It's downloaded in more thanund 125 countries. in all 56 states and territories. And it speaks to the power of the stories we're telling. We're not just interviewing scholars. We're
interviewing public historians. We interview children's authors, novelists, museum people. Uh anybody who has a story to tell, we're eager to we're eager to do it. We just recorded one with the New Bedford Whale Museum and part of the conversation was around Paul
Cuffy and Paul Cuffy's stories. We want to talk about the raid, William Barton's raid on capturing General Prescott, uh, down on Aquid Neck Island, which involved, you know, people of color, uh, one indigenous person, Daniel Page, uh,
and a whole host of essentially southeastern Massachusetts farmers. And, you know, there they are out in a whaleboat and in the dark of night trying to capture this British general, which they do successfully. Um, so Diane and I got together a group and we've had
two meetings so far. If you're interested, let me know. We'll make sure you get on the mail-in list. But we're the the we're we're not just talking about what happens in 1778. You know, we're trying to look at other stories that are of importance to the community.
U the one of the great maps we have from that raid is actually one drawn by John Andre who is in the column. Uh John Andre, for those of you who who may not know him, um was uh hanged for spying by
uh George Washington. So any questions, don't forget your scarf. >> They do. Yes. Uh but it's they don't call it a reenactment. And the way they work it is it's called a u trying to think of what they the phrase they use
it. It's a tactical demonstration. >> The the two forces never actually oppose each other. >> Thank you, Jonathan. We wanted Jonathan uh and Diane Gilbert who wasn't able to join us today to open the door to this
celebration, but we really tonight are here so that we can focus with those of you that already are working on projects and also how our Westport 250 committee is anxious and excited about promoting
it to the whole community. We know that an event encompasses or surrounds the per people working on it. And there's many things that you're going to find out. We put a few together just to demonstrate how we hope to promote. We'll uh Tom and Lou, would you come up
and we'll start talking about that and then Jeff, would you follow up with some of the ideas we had for promotion because what we're anxious to do is to continue this conversation with more and more of the community involved. But thank you so much for giving us all that background. And you don't have to have
relatives that were here in the 1600s to participate. Some of us have relatives that just got off the boat and it still is an exciting story. So let's go on with the technical part. >> Okay. So I don't think I need it. Do I
need a >> picked up? I can speak over there. Okay, take that. Um, again, I'm Lou Burl and um I live over on River Road in the Harbor and the mic. >> I am Lou Burl and I live over on River
Road in the Harbor. Um, I have been meeting with Jane and Irene and Laura and Jeff and now Tommy, a whole bunch of us for a while and we've come together just we just want to bring people together because all of these stories are so incredible
and that's sort of what we hope people will share. But really, our country is like no other country in the world. And it has been like that for 250 years. And the work that went into it um was is what sort of Jonathan was talking about.
And I believe um that these stories need to be shared, need to be told because I feel like people don't know um sort of how we became to be. And we're we're incredible and I think we just have taken it for granted in so many ways. So this is really a great opportunity. I
mean, as he spoke, we all know that there's the you not we all know, but the battle of New Bedford was huge and what happened in Rhode Island was huge and we really were in between. So, there's no way that our Westport ancestors were not deeply part of this. Okay, we are all
part of this and we are here because of them. So Tommy has created this website and we're in the very early stages but we want to create a platform where people can share any event or any um event well event that they want to share
with the community and the area and that might pertain to um Westport 250. And this is again early stages but we want people to say to be able to go on here and share what event they're having. We will have a calendar. Tommy's gonna walk
you through sort of the early stages and then show you what we've done so far. Yeah, go for it. >> I'm Tommy Whan. I'm a uh sevenyear resident of Westport. I've been working in Westport though with the schools for a number of years, long-term ed uh educator uh in Swansea, Massachusetts
for a while and I've known Irene for 20 years. So, she shanghai me to participate uh in this. So, >> all by secret, >> right? So, um, anyway, uh, as a, uh, I'm also a business owner in town, uh, and this is kind of like my thing between media and and, uh, websites, etc. So,
um, we've been working as a group to try to just build the platform, uh, to at least um basically work with the other organizations that are already in town, that already have their information that they're getting out to be able to find the central location for this stuff to
to to go out. So, um, the purpose of the website isn't to kind of spearhead and take over all the things that are happening. It's to really basically find a spot where we can bring it all together, um, and be able to, you know, so if like the historical society has an
event going on, we can post it here so that there's some kind of central location where people can find all the information. So um the the main functionality of the site that we're going to um as we build this framework out is uh we'll have regular stories that are happening or regular stories
that we want to draw attention to um that will appear here. So for example like Westport's own Paul River is one of the stories that was kind of um picked out as being something of importance now for those >> um when you click to it. So basically, and what we'll do is we'll have uh links, stories, and all the stuff that's
built into the site so that if people just want to passively, you know, view it and and look at it, they can do it that way or if there's some kind of event that's linked to, they can find that information there as well. So, um the uh aside from that, um we have uh
the the one of the more important parts of the website is going to be uh for the events part of things. So uh this is going to be a forum where um anybody from town or anyone any organization can actually submit their event to us that
we can also publicize. All right. So uh again um not everyone's always you know aware of what else is going on and what other people's what other organizations in town are doing. So we're trying to at least like facilitate that and at least provide another form where people can
can go and see it. Um so uh this allows us to uh you can basically click on you can go on to the website you could list your event here it would come to us as a form and we would just add it to the website right and this is going to be coupled with a calendar which is uh going to be a spot where all the events
will be out over the course of 2026 and you'll be able to see what's going on on a month-to-month basis um in that sense. So um again these are all just framework pieces right now. It's nothing that's um that's really concrete yet because we're really dependent on all the different
organizations and people in town to kind of submit to this so that we can uh keep it moving. Um >> adding to that, we're not event planners. We're trying to just raise awareness and then provide this um platform. >> And we'll also add like uh I know this was Lou's idea to add in a shop so that
we can actually start to have like merch and things that are related to the the um the town uh selling celebrating. Um so there's basically as the need presents itself we will build it into the site uh over the course of over the course of time really the next couple
months here as we get into January it will start to take more shape but uh it's really going to be userdriven you know um and so the more suggestions we get the more uh you know feedback we get we can kind of you know tailor make it for for um the different organizations
>> and we hope to hear from you tonight but you can send it to us after tonight if it doesn't get you that this is what you want until you wake up at 2 in the morning, write it down and get it to us. >> It's pretty much it. So, if you have any suggestions on this stuff, there is uh
we we started a contact page. We're in the process of again getting all this up and the website is live though. It is westport ma250.com. So, you can go on to it. Um, again, don't be looking for a lot of new stuff right now, but as as we get into uh next
year, there will start to be a lot more things. >> Five Westports. So, make sure you write Westport Ma250.com or you might be in Ireland. >> 11. >> Five. Five were the ones I was thinking about. But anyway, make sure you stay in Massachusetts.
>> Sure. >> I actually live parttime in Westport, Ireland, so it's actually really weird for me. So, uh, Westport to Westport makes it easy though because I never I can never forget where I'm living. >> I was wondering if it's possible to have a way to find out who is involved with these. If you wanted to be interested
within the community, there's someone you could contact directly. >> Yes. So, there's there's two ways. Um, if you go to about um that's sort of about how we came together and then under construction. Oh, let me let me uh >> I mean for the people for the different
>> for an organization of these. >> So there's there's two um well there's two ways people can they can either share their event that they're going to have or they can contact us. There's a contact button with with >> through you. You're saying >> yeah
is this Westport focused or statewide or what's your >> Westport? Westport specifically, >> it could be the things that Jonathan is talking about that lap over. Um, but right now what we're trying to do is is really open the whole community using
modern um, social media so that you know there's a place because so many people in my experience kind of look at their own organizations but they don't really look at others that they don't have much to do with. And our hope is to not only um share the information, but to get
people thinking about the community as a whole. Civic pride is a big part of what we're anxious to to get people excited about. But that but Betty's question is on the application form. Is there a place for me to look and see how to get
back to one of these events or one of the 40 events or whatever is happening? when you fill out your >> well the once you fill it out we will eventually put it on the calendar and you'll be able to see it is basically what it is. So um people will have to submit it to us and then we will take it >> get the data into
>> I think that they're wondering if they wanted to volunteer say say somebody's having >> uh square dance and it's the XYZ committee that's doing it. If you say oh I really want to volunteer for the XYZ square dance how do I reach the XYZ
that's a great point. So the idea is that we're just facilitating the other organizations that are coming to us. So we would be able to put there and like for example, let's let's say it's the historical society. We would say who's managing it and so they could reach out to them directly. >> Tom, I think if you click on the the words there, I think it's a really good
example. >> Oh, perfect. >> Yep. Okay. So this right here is uh something from the historical society that's going on right now and it talks about uh this is taken directly from the website. This was just a sample again as this was uh coming as as it was being
put together. So um but when you when you go and you want to look at the historical society I think I have this link live. >> Yes I do. Okay. So that's the kind of stuff that I'm talking about that like it's really not to um you know commandeer all the stuff that people are doing. It's trying to help get it out to
people. It's an event that Jenny is starting on December 9th um transcribing the original town meeting notes which might not sound that exciting to people but knowing how important Jonathan mentioned how important town meetings are and were um that'll be something that some people
can do and then might as well tell about Betty and David the shop. So yeah, this is this was just posted here. Um I don't have the more info set up for this yet, but um you know, all these stories that kind of come across our desk, so to
speak, we'll start to get up there and um as soon as people start sharing the events, we'll share them back with you. >> If if we don't feel comfortable like the Mayflower shelf, this is not the Mayflower shelf is representative of our story. It's a Paul Cuffy story. So could
we suggest that we >> absolutely there's there's um contact us. There's one link that's contact one thing is share your uh event. So the contact and you can send us a message and or copy. You can send in anything. >> Okay. We had real challenges because
we've been asking for a while to get stuff directly from Mayflower and stuff and it hasn't arrived. So we know that this is not going to happen overnight. We're going to hope then if we get it started in November and we have time to
deal with the technical issues, we hear from all of you. You can write us a note. You can put it on the email. You can whisper in my ear. Whatever whatever works for you. This is what I need. This is how this will be helpful. That's what this is all about. And um you know,
we'll keep trying. That's all we can do. >> I think too what Betty if you whatever wording you want, >> whatever wording, however you want it. um on the website. You're the one in any organization, you're the one that will send it to us and then it goes right on. So, >> this is sort of like a template that
>> you sent you sent to us. >> All right, Kate has ahead. >> Is there a way to promote this on actual social media platforms? Because like I didn't know about this. I was told to be here by someone else who just happened to be watching the town meeting like and
99% of my age group do not pay attention to town meeting until it's a necessary umformational piece that makes a difference for them. This is something the whole community can easily get behind. But I didn't even know it was happening and I've been here all year.
>> So I'm just wondering is there a way to take this lake? This will get expanded the website with >> it. I have to stop talking and have people that are a little younger. Go ahead, you guys. >> But put it on all the like the town pages on Facebook and on Instagram and
share it with all the different local businesses in town >> um and local agencies, things like that. Um just to spread the word so that people can add to it and you grow an awareness. >> Yeah, the business that's a whole other conversation that I would love to like just get the businesses behind. We haven't even sort of tapped into that.
>> Are you guys going to be managing the site? >> The website? Yes. And we're gonna we're going to need a website master or web. >> Yeah. My my part in this is really to get it started. And in terms of social media, like that's basically what I do for a living, too. But, uh, again, the manpower behind it is a huge ask, you
know. So, we are going to need help. You know, it's going to be something that especially be it would be something that I think uh be perfectly set for something to do with the schools as well potentially because you have young people that understand how it works. Um and you know maybe there's like internship kind of stuff. I mean there's
a lot the there's a lot of possibilities there. It's just that there is a a ton of I mean even just getting the site up takes time, you know. So >> that's why we wanted to get started now so that you can hear, you can share it and give back. 2026 isn't that far away.
There's a little bit of busyiness in most of our worlds between Thanksgiving and the holidays and so on. But if you can feed information, we'll get keep working on the tasks that we put ahead. >> And we need more people now that we've sort of jumparted this. We definitely
need more people with with more talents than I have and some of us. But just to you know if you know someone who's you know great at social media and who might be interested in helping with this. So it's definitely this is going to be a word of mouth thing as well. So yeah David
>> do you know what Westport was called by the British >> Jenny >> the devil's pocket. Oh. Oh, yeah. >> Because ships could come in here, >> escaping them, and they couldn't follow them in,
>> right? >> And so they sat out offshore and cannonballs in. But I think the devil's pocket emphasizes the estuary, its protective cover and it links in very well to the whole shallop
story that we're going to bring a Mayflower shall here and have a greeting and celebration and all the rest in the devil's pocket. And the last thing Clark's Cove was was the devil's hell
hole. And I think we got a much easier story to tell and much more positive. I think that could be emphasized as a subtitle for Westport is the devil's
box. >> He speaks my mind. >> There are so many things we can do. I mean, I picture, you know, murals and timelines and I used to teach history at high school many, many years ago. But it there's just so many directions we can go with this that will I feel like will
energize Westport. Um >> I think we have a representative from the schools here tonight. Thank you. I know you have a big night over there. We don't put you on the spot, but this is such a open window, open door to possibilities for
education. and and another subtitle of what we're trying to accomplish is to bring different groups in town together in very purposeful ways. So, how do we talk to all of the different communities that use different ways to hear about each other? I hope we will try to come
back together in January when we've heard from you tonight. Jeff's going to talk about some of the other ideas we have before we >> Sure. So, um, we're very grateful for the, um, interest we've had from the
Westport Community Schools, Holly Hograves, uh, the new director of curriculum, and, uh, the Mumbre principal, Stacy Duket. Um, and as Irene said earlier, I was very involved with the schools when my children were
growing up here and PTO president for three terms. So I do know a lot of people and I really want to get engaged with them again because I think it's very important that we're going to learn about Westport 250 and you know somebody commented well we're not 250 well this
this land was here 250 years ago plus. So we are going to learn about where what part we were of little Compton and old Dartmouth. Um, so it's more about what is what was Westport and how we've
come from, you know, the 1600s to today. And the important thing is that we want to learn about each different community, each different organization, each neighborhood, and bring people together so we can learn about one another and be
a community. And so moving forward, you know, one of the big things what we want to do and Tommy and Lou demonstrated through the website is for people to be able to see what's going on, to make those collaborations, to make those
connections, to share, to be able to volunteer at an event. And that's what we're going to do. Um, we can help you promote them. we can help you with um making uh partners. Uh we're looking for
many different things and you know uh Jenny has an an amazing um thoughts and um projects for uh 2026. And so we're very grateful for Jenny and the historical society and that we can
work together. Um, a lot of the information that we're going to share on the website uh will be information that the historical society has um has gathered um and and David and and Betty has have done so much research um and as
we learned about Abnner Brownell Jane discovered that and so you know we hope that we are able to highlight that and show more about what is going on and what happened in Westport 250 years ago
versus the the United States. So, it's important what we've done, how we've come and where we are today. Um, and who are the who are the people that that brought us here? Uh, the farmers, the
ship builders, uh, English. >> Sure. >> Okay. Yes. So, um, as you can see around the room, we have different things. We're looking to, um, create banners to put around town, uh, and not just down
Main Road. We want to be present in all the different neighborhoods. Um, so we're looking at doing some long banner that is just going to remind everybody this is what's going on. Our website is on it, our email is on it. Um and as we
said, we do need to get uh across uh social media um at a much uh greater speed and but again we do need assistance to get that done. Um we're looking out to reach to organizations
and if you want us to come and visit your meeting, your monthly meeting or whatever it is, we're happy to do that and to talk about what's going on. So I want to reach out to the different PTO's um at the schools
um whatever whoever wants us wants to hear from us and how we can work together um it's important we are also looking at some of the established events that happen annually um in the first place and then just to further uh
engage people in them and try to um promote people to get involved get organiz organizations involved. And you know, of course, the Westport parade on July 4th is, you know, always a big turnout, but we'd like to see if we can
engage groups to uh build floats and do more of um more of an educational uh opportunity. Uh we talked about timelines, but you the other thing um we want to make sure that it does happen
and happen multiple times uh across the town is that we read the Declaration of Independence. And so, you know, perhaps we can do that uh in the parade. Uh one idea, I'll let you know later what I thought. Anyway, um so, you know, we can
help you um with uh promotional materials. Of course, we're going to put you on the website. We have the calendar um because we know it's it's challenging around town to know what other organizations are doing. So, we want to make sure that people either are are
working together so they're not stepping on one another's toes or as Jonathan said, um it doesn't always have to be the the right date in the right place and you know, so we can be can work with that. So are there questions or you know
thoughts and ideas that you want to share with us and I can put them on here so we can incorporate them into our notes and then if need be reach back out. Some folks in the room have um expressed uh interest in in joining the
committee and and of course you know we will look forward to that. Uh there are people are that aren't here uh this evening that want to get involved. the um the veterans uh office in the town hall, our town hall annex. Um and I
think that's very important that um we are able to recognize um the veterans. I know it it it will happen in a week or so in in the high middle high school, but that's only those folks. Only the students and teachers get to see that.
So, >> uh Luke, do you wanna >> Well, I was wondering if what's the fast? But I don't want to keep people too long. >> The library does close at some point. >> Okay. >> At 8:00 >> get up there and you guys can just throw out ideas because I think all of us crowding on those pieces of paper might
take too long. >> Or you can take a marker and write something. What we do want is make sure that you if you have an idea or suggested or >> I'm going to start um you know >> let's record it so we don't forget about
>> media person. All right, I'm just getting going. Who else? >> Theme. >> All right, >> that is a great What did we have on the website? There was some some theme about something the past and something in the future.
>> Celebrating the past, inspiring the future. >> Yes. >> And devil's pocket. >> Oh, yeah. Let's just write anything. >> Devil's pocket book, right? >> Pocket. Okay, >> I have a deeper problem with this is
that >> this we're talking about reading the town meeting. It is not Westport. It's old Dartman. >> And we have to think about as part of old Dartman. >> We know that that's where we're coming
from on both sides. So the town meeting records, you can't tell it's West. >> No, we know that. >> So we've been been as you have too, we've been working with people Dart to do these these things. So if you have an
issue like that, you should work with Dartmouth. It just becomes Dartmouth old >> old DT. >> I find that is a problem with a lot of things that we're trying to do. Not a problem, but an interesting situation.
>> But just one aspect of that is Paul Cuffy. There was no Westport during the war. Paul Cuffy didn't live here. He lived over in in Dartmouth and he probably operated out of Russell's Mills
on his travels to Nucket. So he I keep wanting to get Dartmouth and Russell's Mills to take more ownership of Paul Cuffy. We'll be happy to share it with them. So far they've been too busy with
other things. But anyway, that he he he they operated out of old Dartmouth and and then the most direct channel was right down through Russell's Mills in the Sloum River before the Westport River ever got into or the Copford River
or whatever it was. >> Yeah. The Westport part for the two 50th is for the people that are living here now. There are 16,000 people that we hope feel touched in some way with this national statewide celebration, but the
history of the town goes wherever it goes. And that's, you know, bound >> for the event. The Westport River Gardeners would like to think about something. So, we're also in the beginning stages that um included the idea of possibly being in the parade in
some fashion, but uh anyhow, yes, stay tuned. All right, that's great. >> Jill, >> I guess I have >> but our members go beyond Westport. >> Perfect. I have sort of a functional question. Um, one, it's there's a lot of
organizations that are already organizations that may be 501c3s, may not be there, and may want to raise money specifically for what they want to do here. And one, if organizations like
that. Can they raise money through Mass 250? Could they have money funneled through you and earmarked for Westport thing? >> So, let me just say um in theory, yes. Okay. >> Um I just want to clarify MA250
Massachusetts 250 is different from Revolution 250. >> So MA250 only came about in the last two years. But is MA250 a three 50 >> state government office? We're not going to use those for fundraising.
>> Got it. Revolution is a 501c. Okay. >> And and really the any of your community I mean the reason we started out under the financial uh sponsorship of the Massachusetts Historical Society. >> Got it. >> But our fundraising goals couldn't
align. And that's why we became a 501c3 because our they they had a different dream for the 250th than re 250s partners. And so that's when we became a 501c3. So but if you don't have that conflict, you can operate under the
fiscal sponsorship of somebody in town who does have a >> and our working group and that's what we're calling ourselves can meet on a regular basis with those kinds of topics. We've been meeting mostly about how can we promote and create this crossover, but we could have a meeting
for groups in town that are looking for a way to raise money. Not not everybody needs to to make it a major effort, but they because they've got membership that can help. But I think that conversation is one that we should include up there because it always comes up how we going
to pay for this. >> Exactly. That I mean that's the >> So I think we you can follow up. >> You want a big tent to read the math. Can I just say one thing about social media? Yes. >> So, so the best success that me or any of my partners have had with social media involves short clip videos.
>> Yes. >> Uh so, and these are something everybody who's got a smartphone can do. There's there's no reason why regardless of age or or or acuity with with the with the product, there's no reason why anybody
can't record a 30 second story. And it would be so powerful, I think, for all the different members of the community, all different ages, high school kids. We did a thing with with Bunker Hill where we had the kids research Gloucester men who who were at Bunker Hill and they go
out and record short videos. Um, we had teachers get involved, local town selectmen, and that I mean, everybody can do this. And if you can record a short 30 second video, you're gonna get more attention than you will >> any sort of blog. Any sort of blog post.
Yeah. Tik Tok or Facebook reels or Instagram reels, whatever. And I think recently the the students from Westport Community Schools have been having these short videos and course it was um interviewing the
veterans and sharing that information and you know and that's why we're very excited to get involved with the school >> um because we want to educate on every level and we want the students to learn and then and teach out as well to their families and grandparents and cousins
and things of that nature. Um, so we really are looking to, you know, get everyone involved >> and looking beyond the history, right? I mean, like you were talking about the river uh gardeners and things like I mean all of those things, all of the things that make Westport special are of
interest to people out there. >> That was one of our challenges to create a sample website. We had so many stories. We have lots of stories, but we tonight was just to give you a taste, >> but there's lots of other things to taste over here. >> Well said.
>> So, I want to make sure that if you have a suggestion or concern or whatever, you can get up there whether you give it to L to write or you write it yourself. We'll meet again in a couple of months with a lot more hopefully uh planned
out. But we wanted to get a reaction and a response from the community. And if any of you want to spend more time talking to any of us with your ideas, please do so. But it's 7:15 and I know the library closes at 8. So is there more if we can write on the wall? Do you
want to get up? >> Don, you had a Okay. >> Could I suggest u because I think there are already some defined events that people have made commitments to. example shalom and I think I heard Jenny saying
that she's got something going on. >> It may be uh helpful I think to post that and at least put it out here. These are defined events and that I think that would help other organizations to say oh I'd like to you know for example and we we're going to be talking with David I'm
involved with u with Buzzards Bay coalition and we have a lifeboat and you know I want to talk to you about that as far as the lifeboat and participation solid. We have a lot of Yes. >> Yeah. So, you know what I'm saying? So, but but when you get uh you can put the
defined events up first and then you say, "You know what? I think I could I could help with that. I bet this idea." So, I think that's a very key part of >> and that's more about connecting opportunities and making sure the calendar does that. two events, a
cemetery tour where Revolutionary War veterans are known and it includes the small um we only have about eight of them that we've been able to discover, but we that's one. The other is Westport Point
grew up because of the revolution. So we are going we've done a lot of work on that but we want even more is how did the revolution affect Westport Point and how did Westport Point deal with with the So that's two that that we're also going to
>> do you have a date for the tour. >> Do you have a date for the cemetery tour? >> No. >> No. We have to talk about >> No, but the shallop is >> the shallop is the >> August 14th. 15. Well, the the shops coming in on the night of the 14th,
15th. It'll be the 15th and the 16th here. Leave the evening of the 16th. So, Saturday and Sunday, the 15th and 16th. >> And with it, there's two other ships, two other >> We're having a a So, over the next
couple, we need to gather all of this in written form. That was one of the things about creating a model. We didn't want to overload you with details because we had a lot more. There's much much more to do. What were you going to say? >> I mean, don't forget that Paul Cupy's
mother and wife were long enough. >> Yes. >> How did the Revolutionary War affect women? >> Yes. And we we've met with Chief Rob Robert. >> Yeah. >> Running out. Um and we've talked to him and I know um there's an artist that's
working on a bronze sculpture of him and Oh, you you're married. Oh, I've only seen your name written down. Thank you in New Bedford until the end of the month till the 23rd. >> That was a problem of posting. The waiter wood story is certainly this
time >> that's also going to be part of the Charlotte Wood that day. We'll have Wer Wood story. We'll also have a story, a woman who's written a a film on the TR Paul CPY going, you know, running the
blockade. She's going to present her film. So, that will be >> actually um I'm gonna um photograph her. She's doing um a small um preview fil.
>> So, I'm going to photograph that >> I need to be Actually, it's going to be a music video and they're they're working with a musician, but it's going to have the story of Cookies. So, I don't know exactly like she's certainly
some contemporary ideas. >> We've been working with her for two years. >> You get all of this information out early enough that people could plan because, you know, you're starting with holiday events and so on and all of a sudden you say, "I didn't know about
that." that if we can share information in a timely way and have the community begin to feel the energy that just a few of these events promote. Um if you do have chance get over to the Victor Art Museum to see the work that's been started with
>> Yeah, there's a um basically I had Chief Rob 3D scan. So, you know, it's kind of exactly like a threedimensional Xerox instead of interpreting him through clay or anything like that. It was um because
really I wanted the decision to have about how he looked to be his decision and not interpreted through me which is why I had him 3D scanned. But at this point we have um a 3D Mckette. It's a 14inch mckquette. So and um the surface
simulates bronze. It's not bronze, but um ultimately we want to have a slightly larger than life bronze over at WER Woods. Um and I called it Eastern Native Woodland Indian as imagined by Chief T.
So, I know it's a long title, but it describes what it is. >> Just the brief conversations that we're having of those groups, what you doing, and what other organizations have on the calendar begin to realize we're going to have a lot and
that doesn't talk about the new possibilities that might happen in all of the other organizations in town. So, help us gather this information. That's our concern that we don't want to lose any. We're going to have Tommy put not only on the website is the um contact
information, but once he finishes the the team, our email addresses will also be on that so you can contact. >> I just had one other thing. I'm a very visual person and I' I've been talking to people about even today I said, "Oh, we have a meeting for the 250th." And
the person kind of looked at me like 250th >> what? And I really think people in town, the majority still are not thinking of that, but I think once we get these posters and banners and we're we're looking at, you know, starting in
January, once we get that around and you drive down the streets at the north end and all the way down to the heart and you see these signs, it's going to uh make people, oh, that's right. you know, and then they'll go on that website,
they'll see, you know, the address, the web address, and um and once you get it out on social media, as you mentioned, the once we get it out on the the town websites there, the social media on Facebook, it's going to go like wildfire
fly fire. But I I really think visually seeing this um down the street as you drive is going to bring uh much more awareness uh to the people in the town because I I still think we we're not thinking of
that yet. >> So >> last two things I think. Um I want to quickly introduce Laura Miles who just snuck in. She's part of our team and um is a superstar. Um and she um having uh
she couldn't be here earlier, so we're happy she's here. >> And then the other thing is I can put some markers out if anyone just wants to jot down ideas, thoughts, words, places, names, I don't care what it is, but we'll take all these back and we'll start to organize and can now start the
next um chapter of of this of this program. So, >> we're going to give you time to be able to to each other. If anybody knows somebody here that they want to ask questions about, we want to make sure that you at least take one cupcake. >> We haven't passed or haven't put out
because this is just the beginning. We'll be back. We promise you. >> And I do have plates and tin foil if you want. If you have to go home, um there's to go. You can take it with you, please. I don't want to bring any of that home. >> Yes. Thank you all.
>> Thank you Jonathan for sharing so much wonderful