Vaccinations Over Vaping … For Now

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The Marion Board of Health has not forgotten about its agenda to ban flavored nicotine and tobacco products in Marion, products like flavored “e-liquid” vaping juice and flavored cigars, but the focus for now is on flu clinics to provide flu shots to residents who want one.

For the most part, Marion Health Agent Karen Walega said on October 9 that the flu clinics are “dominating everything” for the time being at the Marion Public Health Office. There has been a steady stream of residents seeking flu vaccinations, she told members of the Board of Health, and although there has been enough staff for the clinics at the Town House and the Council on Aging at the Community Center, the department had been “scrounging” a bit for staff.

When asked about whether the board would take up the matter of flavored nicotine any time soon, Walega reassured the public that, once flu shot season was over, the board would revisit the topic and continue towards a flavored tobacco and nicotine ban. Once a draft regulation is completed, the board will hold a public hearing for public input.

“There’s just so much going on,” Walega said. “We will get back to that: we just don’t have the time right now.”

Flu shots are free to Marion residents, sponsored by the Board of Health; however, donations are accepted. For more information about getting your flu shot you can call Public Health Nurse Kathleen Downey at 508-748-3530.

In other matters, the board approved a variance for a septic system for 295 Delano Road.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health will be part of the Marion Rochester Regional Health District meeting scheduled for October 24 at 4:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Marion Board of Health

By Jean Perry

 

Kriss-Lynn Lopes

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Kriss-Lynn Lopes, 31, of Acushnet, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 14, 2018 at St. Luke’s Hospital surrounded by her family.

Born in New Bedford, she was a daughter of Maria (Botelho) Lopes of Acushnet and the late Joao Lopes.

She attended Old Colony Regional High School in Rochester. Kriss-Lynn loved nature and horseback riding.

Surviving in addition to her mother is her sister, Susan Lopes and her companion Paul Francisco of New Bedford; her niece, Felicia Lopes of New Bedford; her godparents, Joao and Adelina Bravo of Acushnet; her uncle, Manuel Botelho of New Bedford; and several cousins.

Her Funeral will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 9am from the Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, 136 Earle St., New Bedford. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Wednesday 5-8pm. For online tributes please visit: www.rock-funeralhome.com

 

Mattapoisett Friends Fall Sale

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The annual fall sale at the East Mattapoisett Quaker church will be held from 8:30 am to noon on Saturday, October 20, at 103 Marion Road (Rte. 6).

Vendors should call Alan Harris at 1-508-317-3601 to see if inside tables or outside space are still available.

To donate sale items (no electronics, heavy furniture, or bedding) call Brad Hathaway at 508-758-3579. He hopes to return this year with a special table offering paper collectables including stamps, covers, postcards, books, and historical memorabilia including an 1853 issue of the “Whalemen’s Shipping List”.

Marion Veterans Day Ceremony

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The Town of Marion will hold its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Sippican School Multipurpose Room on Sunday, November 11at 11:00 am. Please enter the building though the Bus Loop on Park Street. The Sippican School Band led by Mrs. Hannah Moore will perform selections of patriotic music. This year is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. The community is invited to join the Town of Marion as we honor our Veterans.

Rochester Historical Society Meeting

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The Rochester Historical Society will meet on Wednesday, October 17at 7:00 pm at the East Rochester Church/Museum, 355 County Rd. In keeping with our focus on Rochester Businesses, Steve Sperry, founder of Sperry Tents, now Sperry Fabric Architecture on Dexter Lane will explore the development of the company from a one man operation to a global company selling their tents and other fabric creations all over the world. Come early and check out the display, “Rochester Businesses, Past and Present” and our Gift Shop for all things Rochester and stay to learn about this Rochester business. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

The Museum at 355 County Rd. will be open every Sunday from October 7 to October 28 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The exhibit and the Gift Shop will be open at that time.

Mark Twain and His Southcoast Benefactor

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At 45 Center Street in the center of nearby Fairhaven stands the historic Millicent Public Library. It is named after the library’s primary founder Henry Huttleston Rogers’ daughter who died at the young age of 17. It is a monumental memorial of architecture by Charles Brigham in Romanesque and Renaissance architecture.

On the wall of the reading room today is the masterpiece of a brass panel memorial replica of Mark Twain, a friend of Rogers. He is etched forever in time, sitting in a comfortable chair and reflectively smoking his pipe. Therein is a monument to the consequential meeting and lifetime friendship of these two prominent figureheads. Twain had become a world-famous writer, and Rogers had become a magnate in the oil business and principal financial benefactor to the Town of Fairhaven.

Rogers was born in Mattapoisett and grew up in Fairhaven to become the most successful and famous native son, a member of the first graduating class of Fairhaven High School. As a youth, he worked as a town clerk, and then a railroad baggage handler. But at the age of 22, his career turned the corner toward fortune when he went into the oil business, founding the Wamsutta Oil Refinery in Pennsylvania, and then eventually was made vice-president of Standard Oil.

Still, despite amassing a fortune of more than $100 million, Rogers never forgot who he was or where he came from. He had a grassroots quality that both he and Twain shared together, which was solid common ground for their friendship, as portrayed in my illustration.

Mark Twain was from an even more humble background as a laborer on the steamship docks of his birthplace, Hannibal, Missouri. He rose to apprentice captain of a Mississippi riverboat to begin a literary journey to meet William Dean Howell, editor of American magazine. Editor Howell would provide stewardship as Twain’s remarkable editor and writing mentor for almost Twain’s entire career. With Howell, The Adventures of Tom Sawyerand The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnwere published in 1876 and 1885 respectfully. These and other works such as Pudd’nhead Wilsonand A Yankee in King Arthur’s Courtbegan to skyrocket.

Twain’s works have been taught, quoted, and reprinted more than any writer other than Shakespeare. However, by 1893 when he met Rogers, he was nearly bankrupt.

Like many national celebrities, he had fallen for too many get-rich schemes that profited only the false perpetrator of the investment. Rogers immediately untangled the gnarled web of Twain’s misfortunes and financially bailed him out. It was a momentous favor to be returned by Twain’s frequent appearance in local town events in Fairhaven as an indentured friend. He spoke during the commencement ceremony for the first graduation of the new high school, as well as dedication of the Millicent Library. Speaking to library board of trustees there, he can be quoted in his remarks, “This public library and others can be the most enduring of memorials because the literature of its temples are sacred to all creeds and inviolate. If other things pass away, there will still be libraries. When by mutations of language, the books that are in it now, will speak in a lost tongue to our posterity.”

May my concluding tribute to his immortal words be appropriate and simply, Amen!

By George B. Emmons

Bourne Wareham Art Association

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The Bourne Wareham Art Association will meet on Tuesday, October 16at BBs Restaurant, Cranberry Hwy, Wareham from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

            John Wiliszowski will be presenting a short course on Digital Photography. Wiliszowski is a freelance & fine art photographer living in Wareham. He has a Master’s Degree in Communications -Photography and Visual Arts from Clarion University with post-graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh and New England School of Photography in Boston, Massachusetts.

            John is a former editor of “Video Systems,” a national/international magazine on video production and the visual arts. He has taught degree programs in photography at Robert Morris University and Allegheny College in Pittsburgh and in the professional photographer’s and continuous learning environments.

            Throughout his career, John has enjoyed the challenges of photojournalism, advertising, portrait and event photography; always hoping to capture that special moment, deliver a stirring story, or elicit a heart-felt response from the viewer. He brings his wealth of knowledge in digital photography to tonight’s meeting.

Academic Achievements

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Paul George Matos of Rochester made the dean’s list at Wentworth Institute of Technology for the school’s summer 2018 semester.

SLT Approves Executive Officers

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At a meeting of the Sippican Lands Trust (SLT)’s Board of Directors held on September 11, 2018, a new slate of Executive Officers was approved. The new Executive Officers are Alan Harris as President, Jonathan Howland as Vice President, Wayne Tirrell as Treasurer, Susannah Davis as Clerk, Kate Ross as Past President, and Randy Parker as Chair of the Stewardship Committee.

Alan Harris has served on the Sippican Lands Trust’s Board of Directors for close to 20 years and is excited about his new role as President. Harris said that “I am looking forward to working with our dedicated Board of Directors. Our 45th year at Sippican Lands Trust (SLT) should be exceptional in providing opportunities to get out in our valuable Marion open space.” Kate Ross, SLT’s outgoing President, noted that “Harris has been involved in local, community conservation efforts for over two decades and his leadership will give SLT additional opportunities to expand its land conservation work in Marion.”

Chris Bryant, Marian Howell, and Kellie Crete will be leaving as Executive Officers, but will continue to serve on the SLT Board of Directors. SLT’s Executive Director, Jim Bride, “commended Bryant, Crete, and Howell for their strong service to the SLT Executive Committee and is thrilled to know that their combined knowledge and expertise will continue to serve the SLT board into the future.” Bryant most recently served as Past President, Crete as Treasurer, and Howell as Clerk.

SLT has protected 1,350 acres of land in Marion and holds numerous walks and special events on its properties throughout the year. SLT is currently working on raising funds to build a 1,835-foot accessible boardwalk at its Osprey Marsh property.

Focus on Photos: History of Photography

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There will be a lecture by Liz Waring entitled, Focus on Photos: History of Photography on Sunday, October 28at 2:00 pm at Mattapoisett Free Public Library, 7 Barstow Street. The event is co-sponsored by the Mattapoisett Historical Society & the Mattapoisett Free Public Library.

Have you ever seen the first photograph made in 1826? Do you know when the first person was in photograph and why? How many iconic photographs through the years can you recall?

Learn more! Starting with the beginning of photography, many important moments in history are revealed, recorded by well-known photographers in a fast-moving program, ending at the pre-digital era.

Researched and compiled by Waring, compelling images are shown, from bold and graphic, to ethereal and translucent, which speak to and about emotions from heartache to ecstasy.

Waring’s passion for photography began at childhood, a college fine arts degree, and studies with the most highly respected photographic portrait artists through the country. Having been a certified professional photographer for twenty-five years creating children, family, mayors, and clergy portraits, her three grandchildren through the years are well documented. Currently Waring creates mixed media portraits of “best friends” – pets!