Daffodil Days are back at NEBG at Towerhill Gardens

One of the most popular seasonal displays at the Garden, the Field of Daffodils signals the first signs of spring. When this field of more than 25,000 daffodils (Narcissus cvs.) comes into bloom, it is a dramatic sight to behold. Visitors flock to the Garden to experience this tapestry of color and take photographs.

The Field of Daffodils was first planted in 1991. For the best view, visit between the third week of April and the first week of May, when the bloom period generally peaks. 

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill has gifted two ISW organizational membership passes to ISW, which can be used by our members.  Complete this form AND send email to schoollead@iswonline.org. when completed.  You will get an email with the tickets.Please show the printed tickets upon arrival at the Garden for free general admission to Tower Hill.

If you are not an ISW member, do consider becoming one. One membership card admits three individuals for FREE, we have two, so 6 can visit per day.

The Shrewsbury Health Department (aka CMRHD) will be hosting a Community Education Session regarding Temporary Food events on 04/27/26 at 9:00 a.m. at the Shrewsbury Public Library on 609 Main Street, Meeting Rooms A & B.

This session is open to the general public but we are strongly encouraging the Organizers of these events involving food and/or food vendors (setting up a table or has a mobile food truck) to attend. Our hope is so that food vendors and organizers alike, can understand the behind the scenes requirements as well as ensuring proper food handling processes are in place.

For those who cannot attend, we will have a recorded link in a day or so available and it will be posted on the Shrewsbury website.

There will be representation of the following departments: Building Department, Fire Department, Planning/Economic Development, and the Select Board. There are many variables that go into a temporary food event to include but not limited to: tents, propane, zoning considerations, alcohol consumption, traffic control patterns, police detail, etc.

Reach out to Ms Kerry for Fee Schedule and one document outlining the Plastic Bag Reduction and Polystyrene Reduction By-laws that the Shrewsbury Board of Health has had in place for many years and enforces, and the deadline to apply prior to the first day of the event.

We are looking forward to working with all of you!
Kerry M. Stockwell, Principal Department Assistant
Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building
100 Maple Avenue, 2nd floor
Shrewsbury, MA 01545

Get ickets here soon 18th Annual Music Festival 2026
Apr 3 at 6:00 PM to Apr 5 at 8:00 PM 
Regis College 235 Wellesley St Weston, MA 02493, USA

Music Festival and lecture-demonstrations have been offered for more than two decades by LearnQuest faculty and renowned visiting musicians and educators. T

- By Asha Singh

महिला दिवस की बधाई !

नारी !

हैं भँवर छुपे मन के अंदर

औ’अधरों पर मुस्कान लिए,

पल पल मरती जीती है वो

यूँ खुशियों के अरमान लिए।

नव जीवन देने वाली जो

तरसे वो नित जीने के लिए,

भर देती उजाला नयनों में

ख़ुद पीड़ा की अनुभूति लिए।

कर्मठ है और समर्पित है

जग में खुशियाँ भरने के लिए,

कई बार उपेक्षित होती है

अपमान का कड़ुआ घूँट पिए।

मुस्कान बिखेरे अधरों पर

चुप रहे अधर को अपने सिए,

क्षमता आकाश को छूने की

अपने काटे पंख धरती के लिए।

तन से कोमल ,नाजुक है बहुत

मन में उसके है शक्ति अपार,

कभी ऐसे दृश्य दिखा देती

मुग्ध जिसे देखे संसार ।

वो नारी है एक नारी है

हर रिश्तों की सौगात लिए,

हस्ती भी मिटा देती अपनी

मेरे श्रृद्धा सुमन हैं उसके लिए।

आशा

As in the past years, we are excited to announce the WEAF 2026 coming up soon. The Westborough Environmental Action Fair is scheduled for Saturday March 14th from 1:00 – 4:00 PM at the Westborough High School. It is co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Westborough and Sustainable Westborough. The purpose of this event is to share ideas and information on environmental sustainability of our local communities. This Fair has strong local support and is attended by students, parents, teachers along with representatives from commercial vendors and local, state and federal agencies.

The highlights for this year are the following:

· Environmental Games

· Books & Clothes Swap

· Student Art and Poster presentations

· Student Discussion Panel

· ‘I Spy’ for toddlers

· Environmental Trivia

There is no fee for attending this fair. This is a fun and informative event open to all. A few spots for Exhibitors are still open. A number of volunteering opportunities are also available.

If you would like to get actively involved or wish to have more information about the WEAF 2026, please send an email to Sharad Mehta, President, Rotary Club of Westborough (smeht01581@gmail.com)

- By Asha

हमारा गणतंत्र दिवस !

मैं भारत माँ पर गर्व करूँ

औ” नित नित शीश नवाऊँ,

मेरी वाणी में सामर्थ कहाँ

गुणगान जो उसका कर पाऊँ।

वर्षों से गुलामी की बेड़ी ने

भारत माँ को जकड़ा था,

वीर शहीदों ने दी आहुति

संघर्ष कर जंजीरों को तोड़ा था।

पुलकित मन से हम सबने

देखी आज़ादी की नई भोर ,

अब अपने हाथों में सहेज

थामीं हमने दायित्व डोर।

मिल जुल कर कुछ विद्वानों ने

लिखा फिर अपना संविधान,

जिसमें है नीहित हित सबके

ऐसा है अपना विधि विधान।

समान न्याय ,अधिकारों का

वर्णन इसमें हमें मिलता है,

सुशासन से अपना देश चले

इसकी ये व्यवस्था करता है।

२६ जनवरी सन पचास से इस दिन

हम ‘गणतंत्र दिवस ‘ मनाते हैं,

लोकतंत्र है शासन का स्वरूप

हम मिल कर देश चलाते हैं।

सारे देश के सब संस्थानों में

उत्सव ये मनाया जाता है ,

मुँह मीठा कर और खुश हो कर

तिरंगा फहराया जाता है ।

दिल्ली में ‘कर्तव्य पथ’पर इस दिन

सेनाएँ करती हैं शौर्य प्रदर्शन,

सांस्कृतिक झाँकियाँ मन मोहे

लोक धुन पर करते हैं नर्तन।

सेना से सलामी लेते हैं

अपने माननीय राष्ट्रपति,

स्नेह निमंत्रण भेजे जाते

विदेशों से आते मुख्य अतिथि।

गणमान्य सभी और जन समूह

यह परेड देखने आते हैं ,

खुश हो कर करतल ध्वनि से वो

सबका उत्साह बढ़ाने हैं ।

अति भव्य आयोजन होता वहाँ

सैनिक कर्तव्य निभाते हैं,

संगीत के सुर में ताल मिला

मनोहारी दृश्य दिखाते हैं।

नए शस्त्र और तकनीकों को

मिलता इस दिन सम्मान वहाँ

वायुयान करतब दिखाते नभ पर

जयघोष का गूँजे नाद वहाँ।

अपने देश की धरती पावन है

संस्कृति व विरासत है महान,

ऋतुएँ सारी होती हैं यहाँ

है खड़ा हिमालय सीना तान।

अपने श्रम और शुभ कर्मों से

भारत को श्रेष्ठ बनाना है ,

हो विश्व में जय जयकार सदा

सुख शांति कि अलख जगाना है।

वंदे मातरम !

   - By Uma Sridharan

“My Friends” by Fredrick Back man is a tender, reflective novel about how friendship, love, and shared memories shape who we become long after childhood ends. Through a group of friends bound by loyalty, quiet sacrifices, and unspoken pain, Backman explores how people carry both joy and grief together—and how the people who truly know us often save us without realizing it. The story moves between past and present, revealing how small moments, kindnesses, and forgiveness can leave lifelong imprints, and how growing up doesn’t mean letting go of the friendships that once made us feel seen.

Key Lessons:
True friends see you clearly—even when you can’t see yourself.
Love is often shown through small, consistent acts rather than grand gestures.
People carry invisible struggles; compassion matters more than judgment.
Childhood friendships leave permanent marks on our hearts.
Healing comes from connection, honesty, and forgiveness.
Best Quotes:
“The people who love us don’t save us from pain—they sit with us in it.”
“Friendship isn’t about perfection; it’s about staying.”
“Some memories hurt, but they are still proof that love existed.”
“Growing up doesn’t mean forgetting who made you feel less alone.”

The other interesting dimension is it moves swiftly between parenthood, childhood and hiw what we do and don’t do shapes who we are and who the children become

And my personal favorite is ““It’s art that helps me cope. Because art is fragile magic, just like love, and that’s humanity’s only defense against death. That we create and paint and dance and fall in love, that’s our rebellion against eternity.”

Join Book Fan Club run by  WEW   
Snehalata Kadam ISW-WEW@Iswonline.org

ISW ISW Awards (coming soon)

Henry David Thoreau Foundation  offers scholarships to Massachusetts high school seniors committed to environmental studies. For more details, click here.

Om Hindu Community Center Scholarship  Bedford, MA announces Vidya Hindu Scholarship for Massachusetts High School Students. Registration for the scholarship begins on January 5, 2026, and applications must be submitted by March 1, 2026.

Summer Internship in Washington DC. Apply to the Asian Pacific American Center’s 2026 Summer Internship Program! Offering two tracks -- Education and Operations. The internship provides all interns with stipends and an immersive experience within Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex! Deadline: February 6 at 11:59PM ET.  $8,500 for ten weeks

NY Times Internships The New York Times offers a 10-week, paid internship that takes place at their headquarters in New York City. Opportunities span across Technology, Advertising, Marketing, Product and Design and Data teams

Shrewsbury Rotary Club 2026 Scholarship Opportunity
The Rotary Club of Shrewsbury will be awarding two or more $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors who are planning to attend college in the Fall 2026. Any high school senior who lives in Shrewsbury or attends a Shrewsbury High school is eligible to apply. Application Deadline: March 27

Shadaj at Lexington High School, March 28, 2026

URL with discount code for ISW members:
10% Shadaj membership Discount
10% Early Bird Discount until December 31

मोहक पतझड़

हे प्रकृति ! मैं तुझ पे बलिहारी

क्या ख़ूब चलाई पिचकारी ,

चित्रकार नहीं कोई तुझ जैसा

जो दृश्य दिखाये मनोंहारी ।

प्रभु नें रहमत बरसाई है

रंगों से करी है कारीगरी ,

फूलों के दर्प को चूर किया

पत्तों की बनाई फुलवारी ।

राहों के किनारे पेड़ों की

मोहक ये छटा प्यारी -प्यारी ,

ऑखों से गुज़रते दृश्य लगें

ज्यों दुल्हन की चुनरी न्यारी ।

प्रभु तेरी लीला अजब - गजब

अद्भुत लागे ये छवि सारी ,

कहनें को मौसम पतझड़ का

पर ऋतु की महिमा है भारी ।

मन मोहित है , आनंदित है

एक अमिट छाप मन पे न्यारी ,

कुछ दिन में समय फिर बदलेगा

बिछुड़ेंगे सभी बारी बारी ।

है धन्य रचयिता हम सब का

अनुपम श्रृँगार पे मैं वारी ,

मन ! मंत्र -मुग्ध हो जाता है

कर जाता ऐसी जादूगरी ।

फिर नई कोपलें आयेंगी

होगी हरियाली सुखकारी

परिवर्तित करके रंग -रूप

यूँ ही चलती है सृष्टी सारी ।

            आशा