With July 4th week approaching, there were not many public meetings to recap.

But Sturbridge still had a lot going on.

Between the Kids Block Party on Friday and the town’s America250 celebration on Saturday, it was a weekend full of families, volunteers, local organizations, and residents coming together.

It was also a good reminder that civic life is not only what happens in meeting rooms.

It is the parade.
It is the block party.
It is kids running around town events.
It is people volunteering, organizing, setting up, cleaning up, and showing up.

Events like these take a lot of work, and they do not happen by accident. Thank you to the town staff, volunteers, committees, local groups, public safety officials, businesses, and residents who helped make the weekend happen.

The Town Minute usually focuses on meetings, budgets, projects, and local decisions. Those things matter, and we’ll get back to them.

But this week also felt like a good reminder of why this newsletter exists.

The Town Minute is about helping more residents stay informed, feel connected, build relationships, and take part in the community around them. The more people who follow along, share it, and get involved, the stronger Sturbridge becomes.

This week felt like a good time to pause and recognize something simple:

Sturbridge is a special place to call home.

And after this weekend, I’m especially proud to be from here.

Thanks again to everyone who organized, volunteered, participated, and helped make this weekend feel so special.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July.