Tabor Graduates Class of 2015

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The Tabor Academy community came together at the campus waterfront on May 26 to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2015.

Local graduate Logan Russell of Marion opened the ceremony with the National Anthem and 1971 graduate Carmine Martignetti addressed the guests as the chair of the Board of Trustees.

Co-Heads of School Ned Mitchell and Hadley Ramsay gave heartfelt speeches about their experiences at Tabor.

“I have been loved by hundreds more people than if I’d chosen to stay home,” reflected Ramsay about her choice to attend Tabor and the relationships she has formed over the past four years.

Travis Roy, founder of the Travis Roy Foundation, graduated from Tabor in 1995 and headed to Boston University where he would play on the hockey team. In his very first collegiate game, Roy was paralyzed from the neck down.

Despite his tragic accident, Roy has remained positive and has done a tremendous amount of good over the past 20 years he has been confined to a wheelchair. Roy spoke candidly about his experiences, urging students, faculty, and family members to enjoy “real moments” whether they are solitary or shared with others.

Roy also discussed the importance of expressing how we feel.

“Telling the people around us that we love them should be a daily occurrence, not something saved for special occasions,” said Roy.

Roy mentioned that the first thing he would do if he were to get out of his wheelchair would be to hug the people he loved. He described the power of hugs, saying if one is not ready to verbally express their admiration, they shouldn’t “be afraid to give them a hug.”

President of Tabor’s Cum Laude Society Chapter Kelli McSweeny then inducted the newest members into the society.

“The Cum Laude Society was initiated in 1906 ‘to give scholastic achievement of seniors as much recognition as that given to other activities,”’ said McSweeny. “The society grants a limited number of memberships to schools of superior academic quality.”

For a student to earn membership in the Tabor Cum Laude chapter, McSweeny said, he or she must maintain a 90 average in each semester of the junior and senior years “in a rigorous, challenging, and broad course of study that includes at least three Honors or AP courses in each year.”

This year, 19 students were inducted, making up about 14 percent of the graduating class.

Local inductees are: Melissa Hooke, Gweneth McCain, and Julia O’Rourke of Marion, and Abigail Taber of Rochester.

Awards were then handed out to a select group of graduates, which included a few local students.

The Matthew W. Houlihan Memorial Scholarship is given to a student “who has participated in the full range of the Tabor experience, demonstrating positive attitude, strong character and scholarship, commitment to classmates, and exemplary school citizenship.” This award was given to Abigail Taber of Rochester.

The William Makepeace Atwood Scholarship “is presented to a senior from the local area who has made an outstanding contribution to the life of the school.” This year two students received this scholarship: Julia O’Rourke of Marion and Connor West of Rochester.

The Lyndon Paul Lorusso Award “is presented to the senior who … has demonstrated an unselfish commitment and constant willingness to help in all phases of school life,” and was given to Gwen McCain of Marion.

Lastly, The Hamilton Webster Thayer Prize was given to the student “whose overall experience best exemplifies the ideals of Tabor Academy in scholarship, citizenship, and leadership.” This award was presented to Julia O’Rourke of Marion.

By Julia O’Rourke

 

Mattapoisett Yacht Club

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Next week, MYC begins its official sailboat-racing season. On Saturday, June 13, MYC sponsors the Annual Spring Round the Bay Race. This is a PHRF Handicap Race that begins with a “pursuit” start. Starting off Ned’s Point, the course takes boats to West Island, around the Weepecket Islands, to Cleveland’s Ledge and back to Mattapoisett. This has been a favorite for many sailors from both sides of Buzzards Bay. The Mattapoisett Boat Yard generously offers free moorings and launch service to visiting yachts.

On Friday, June 12 – the night before the race – the MYC will host a complimentary cookout (RSVP required). This year, the pre-race cookout will also be an informational event. In addition to “Round the Bay” participants, all area sailors who wish to learn more about the Yacht Club and its activities are invited to attend. Club members will be on hand to discuss the various opportunities that the Club offers including: the weekday night racing series, cruising destinations, social activities, and special events, such as our first annual Beginner’s Night race on July 15. For registration in the Spring Round the Bay Race or to RSVP to the cookout, please go to mattapoisettyc.org.

The weekday night racing series also begins next week. Tuesday, June 9, will be Race #1 of the June series for Ensigns and 420 one-design classes. Wednesday, June 10, will be a practice race for the Handicap fleet. Racing series are open to members ($60) and non-members ($75); go to mattapoisettyc.org for further information.

Hard Work, Preparation Make Junior Semi Memorable

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When looking through this year’s Old Rochester Regional High School yearbook, pay close attention to the ‘Favorite Memories’ section of each senior’s special write-up. An event commonly mentioned by the Class of 2015 as the most memorable is the Junior Semi-Formal, which this year occurred on Friday, May 15.

One of the most important events of the school year, the Junior Semi was met with a warm reception by the Class of 2016. Junior Class Advisors Hilary Owen and Andrea Moniz spoke about the challenges and rewards that come with planning one of the school year’s marquee events.

Junior Semi is the unofficial kick-off of senior year for the junior class. Think of it as a sleepover for the entire junior class – with ample amounts of food and soda – taking place mainly in the ORR gym. Combine that with an elegant dinner and a school dance that rivals the intensity of Homecoming (although with more space to actually dance) and you have an event like no other.

The event kicked off at 6:30 pm, and after the long line handed in their tickets and waited patiently in the courtyard, dinner was served in the cafeteria. Students could choose from a wide array of foods, though the majority opted for the chicken fingers and French fries, accompanied by a salad or pasta dish.

Afterwards, the music began and the dance floor slowly filled in. Many students split time between the dance floor and the photo area that featured clothing items of the ‘Masquerade’ theme. There was also a candy bar that received plenty of visitors throughout the evening.

The DJ earned great reviews for a playlist that leaned heavily on 2000s pop/hip-hop hits, as well as some more current tunes. The dance concluded at 10:30 pm, and Phase 2 of Junior Semi quickly began.

By 11:30 pm, most students had changed into more comfortable clothes and were hanging out in the gymnasium. In addition to a plentiful food supply, basketball games, volleyball games, and a bouncy-house kept students entertained.

After midnight, the hypnotist began to perform in the auditorium. Over 20 students volunteered to have their minds altered, although only four made it to the 1:30 am performance end. Junior Haily Saccone stole the show with her dancing, and sophomore Dillon McCarthy, hypnotized to think he was James Bond, suspended the audience in disbelief. Earning a standing applause, the hypnotist was regarded as one of the high points of the evening.

At this point in the evening, most attendees of the event were fighting off sleep. Two films were now played back-to-back in the auditorium: 21 Jump Street and Identity Thief. Even though these were popular films, more students were leaning back in their chairs sleeping than enjoying the two comedies.

Concurrently, basketball and volleyball games continued to be played in the auditorium, while the bouncy-house was now filled mostly with sleeping bags. At 5:00 am, the students headed out of the gym and into their cars, in pursuit of sleep after a memorable evening that can truly be called a one-of-a-kind experience.

Owen and Moniz spend their days working in the Learning Support Center (LSC) at ORR. However, the pair also serve as advisors to the Class of 2016, this year’s juniors. They worked closely with the student council to plan this year’s Junior Semi-Formal event.

“This is my third year as the class advisor, and when I became an advisor, I recruited [Moniz] to work with me,” Owen said.

The duo picked the date for Junior Semi in September and began to meet with the class officers in January. “After we picked the date, some part of the planning was done every month from there,” Moniz said.

Both spoke about the challenges of planning such a unique event. Moniz emphasized that “making sure it’s what the kids want” was one of the biggest challenges. Owen acknowledged, “So many details couldn’t be figured out until the day of the event.”

After all the hard work, both were pleased with the final product.

“The DJ got everyone on the dance floor and kept them there,” Owen said, speaking to one of the event’s high points. “Even the kids who weren’t dancing were enjoying themselves,” Moniz added.

Judging by the terrific reception of the event, the long months of planning for Junior Semi paid off.

Every year, the Junior Semi-Formal manages to represent both the end of an era and a new beginning for the junior class. As the dance usually coincides with the end of the year for seniors, the juniors become the leaders of the school and celebrate with an epic party. The event also serves as a prelude to the end-of-school events, and serves as a nice way to finish off students’ penultimate year of high school. None of it could be accomplished without the hard work of the junior class advisors, and once again Junior Semi provided a memorable experience for its participants.

By Patrick Briand

 

Making it Happen

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On Saturday, May 30 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, the South Coast LGBTQ Network will be sponsoring its second annual spring event, “Making it Happen” at the Waypoint Center on New Bedford’s historic waterfront. The Network welcomes everyone to get involved including LGBTQ individuals, friends, families, neighbors, community leaders, businesses and allied organizations to ensure that LGBTQ at-risk youth, isolated seniors, and parents who need more information find the resources and support necessary to make our community stronger.

Tickets can be reserved by contacting the Network at sclgbtqnetwork@gmx.com or calling Rebecca at 508-996-3343 ext. 25. All proceeds benefit general operating for the South Coast LGBTQ Network and support the Program Coordinator position to enable the Network to grow programs, services and resources for LGBTQ youth, seniors, individuals and families across the age spectrum. For more information or to buy tickets online, log on to www.sclgbtqnetwork.org or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SCLGBTQNETWORK.

The South Coast LGBTQ Network is a fund and project of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts. The Network was officially launched in May 2014 and continues to seek new members to increase its community outreach and further its mission to build and maintain a comprehensive support network for LGBTQ individuals and families across the age spectrum. All donations are tax deductible as a project of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts. The need is great and community support is critical to reaching its ultimate goal of providing a central organizational home for the exchange of ideas, resources and collaboration to improve and enrich the lives of LGBTQ South Coast residents.

22nd Annual Buzzards Bay Swim

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With just one month left before the 22nd annual Buzzards Bay Swim on Saturday, June 20, hundreds of swimmers across the SouthCoast and Cape Cod are signing up to take the plunge and show their support for clean water.

“I look forward to the Swim every year for its physical challenge, but also the excitement of being part of the crowd swimming,” said Alan Harris of Marion, who is returning for his seventh Swim this year. His 13-year-old daughter, Ruth, is swimming with him for the second year in a row because “it’s the least I can do to help my environment.”

Swimmers can sign up to join Alan, Ruth, and more than 300 others on June 20 at www.savebuzzardsbay.org/swim.

The Buzzards Bay Swim is a fun community event that supports a great cause: clean water in Buzzards Bay. Swimmers complete a 1.2-mile open water course across outer New Bedford Harbor, starting at The Edge Seafood Lounge in New Bedford’s South End and ending at Fort Phoenix State Reservation in Fairhaven.

The Swim draws participants of every age, ability and fitness level. Some swimmers form teams with their friends, families and fellow swim team members. First-time swimmers are also welcome and encouraged to participate.

“Last year was my first time ever swimming across the Bay, so it was really intimidating at first,” said Ruth Harris. “But after I finished the Swim, I felt really happy and proud of myself.”

Now in its 22nd year, the Buzzards Bay Swim is a signature outdoor event in southeastern Massachusetts. Swimmers hail from communities across New England and as far away as Alaska, Arizona, and South Dakota. At the finish line celebration, families and community members will enjoy food and festivities, including live music, an awards ceremony and free beach activities for children.

All funds raised from the Buzzards Bay Swim support the Coalition’s work to protect clean water in communities across the Buzzards Bay region, from Westport to Woods Hole.

To register and learn more about the Buzzards Bay Swim, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org/swim.

If you’re not a swimmer but still want to get involved with the Buzzards Bay Swim, you can volunteer to help with check-in, food service, and other important tasks. To volunteer, contact Lynn Coish at 508-999-6363 ext. 200 or coish@savebuzzardsbay.org.

The Buzzards Bay Swim is a Waterkeeper Alliance SPLASH Series Event, presented nationally by Toyota. The SPLASH Series engages local citizens in recreational use of our waterways to celebrate access to clean water with activities that the whole community can enjoy as they raise critical funds to support their local Waterkeeper organization. For more information, please visit www.splashseries.org.

Sippican 6th Grade Car Wash Fundraiser

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Each year, the Sixth Grade class at Sippican School enjoys a number of activities including the bike ride to Scusset Beach and the annual trip to the Appalachian Mountain Classroom. To help offset the cost of these trips as well as the yearbook, class T-shirt and DVD, the class hosts a number of fundraisers throughout the school year.

The Sixth Grade Parent Group at Sippican School will host the first fundraiser for the incoming sixth grade class.

There will be a car wash on Saturday, June 13 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Rain date is Sunday, June 14.

It will be held in the bus loop of Sippican School off of Park Street – at the back of the building – for $5 per wash.

All money raised will be for the incoming Sixth Grade activities. For more information, please contact us at sippican6@gmail.com.

Marion Art Center Opening

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The Marion Art Center is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibition of paintings by Kim Morin Weineck and Eli Cedrone from June 5 to July 11. A reception honoring the artists will be held on Friday, June 5 at the Marion Art Center from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Cecil Clark Davis Gallery. The show will run until July 11. At the opening on Friday, June 5, members of the Marion Garden Group will present “Art In Bloom” exhibiting beautiful fresh floral arrangements interpreting the paintings. Special Event: On Saturday, June 27 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, both artists will give demonstrations in their “Portable Studios” at the Marion Art Center on the Pleasant Street Patio.

Eli Cedrone has always been influenced by the power of images to express ideas and emotions. “Painting is a process of discovery and decision-making where disparate elements pull together until the image is clearly expressed,” she feels. She is drawn to the human form where figures exist both in representational and painterly worlds. Often she’ll explore a narrative theme in order to capture the emotional power of a moment in time. “I think that common, everyday things can be beautiful and resonant without being manipulative or artificially provocative. For me, landscape painting is a journey in search of something that evokes a personal response to nature beyond the obvious. Ultimately my concerns are with the expressive qualities of light captured with paint.”

Soon after graduation from the School of Art & Design, Suffolk University in Boston, Eli decided to skip the harsh New England winters, choosing instead to begin her career in Bermuda at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising. She took a brief sabbatical from her job to study art in Florence, Italy. After nearly five years on “the rock” she developed a case of island fever and set her sights on California. For the next 10 years she lived in Laguna Beach, working as an illustrator and magazine designer. Marriage and the birth of her daughter brought her back to Boston where she continued studies at the School of the MFA and began painting full-time. She returns often to Bermuda and California to visit friends and teach painting workshops. She is a member of the Copley Society Boston, Oil Painters of America, Portrait Society America, the MFA Boston, Guild of Boston Artists, and Laguna Plein Air Painters.

Of her work she says, “I work primarily in oils, and feel it’s important to work from life. Contemporary Impressionism best describes my style. I often paint outdoors and develop larger works in the studio from the model, memory and a variety of references.”

Eli resides in a suburb of Boston, MA, with her husband, daughter and two Boston Terriers, Sargent & Sorolla.

Kim Morin Weineck is a pastel and oil painter who concentrates on the beauty of interpretive landscapes. She is a juried member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA), Signature Member of the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod (PPSCC), Artist member of various art associations and Founder and Instructor of the Neponset Valley Artists (NVA) her active atelier. Look for her work to be highlighted in The Pastel Journal’s vaunted Pastel 100 issue due out April 2015. Her piece was selected from 2500+ paintings!

Kim holds a BFA in Fine Art, 2D from Massachusetts College of Art and Design where she graduated with distinction and found her artist-voice studying in Pont-Aven, Brittany, France. Kim has served as Gallery Director at Gallery9, Norwood, MA.

A mother to two young daughters, Kim describes herself as a happy wife struggling to juggle it all, which includes teaching and painting but also making homemade jam for fresh scones in the morning. “It’s a lot of fun squeezing in time to paint!”

The Marion Art Center is located at 80 Pleasant Street, Marion. Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Admission is free and open to the public.

Music of the 1940s

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The Tri-County Symphonic Band’s 13th Annual Benefit Pops Concert “Music of the 1940s” will be held on Sunday, June 7, Social Hour & Raffle at 2:00 pm followed by Concert, Cupcakes and Coffee at 3:00 pm at the Grand Tent at the Fireman Performing Arts Center, Tabor Academy, 235 Front St., Marion. All proceeds will benefit the John R. Pandolfi Scholarship Fund.

Come join us in an elegant, spacious tent on the scenic shore of Sippican Harbor, as light fare and cupcakes from On The Go Catering adorn the tables and the raffle ensues. The Tri-County Symphonic Band’s program will highlight music from the big bands, classic movies, and Broadway musicals. Please help us celebrate our 13th annual Pops Concert with this afternoon event.

Concert tickets are $25 each and can be purchased at The Bookstall in Marion and The Symphony Music Shop in Dartmouth. Raffle tickets are $20 each ($1,000 Grand Prize!) and can also be purchased at The Bookstall in Marion and The Symphony Music Shop in Dartmouth. All proceeds from the concert and raffle will benefit the Tri-County Music Association’s John R. Pandolfi Scholarship Fund.

Girls’ Lacrosse Clinches Tri-Championship

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Here is a look at the seventh week of scheduled games for Old Rochester Regional High School spring athletics.

Baseball: The boys’ baseball team started their week off with a tough 2-1 loss to out-of-conference Coyle-Cassidy. Despite an RBI double from Sam Henrie and an overall strong pitching effort by senior Brendan Deverix, the Bulldogs were unable to squeak out a victory, marking only their third loss of the season. However, the boys did manage to turn their luck around later in the week with a huge 16-0 blowout over Bishop Stang that lasted only five innings. Henrie, Jordan Menard, and Austin Salkind all had three hits apiece, with Bryant Salkind and John Breault adding two hits apiece. Defensively, the Bulldogs played well, with Henrie picking up another shutout from the pitcher’s mound and strong fielding throughout. The boys’ record currently stands at 14-3.

Softball: The Lady Bulldogs had a less than ideal week, suffering two losses to drop their overall record to 8-10. Early in the week, the girls suffered a 13-4 loss to Seekonk and were later defeated by Bishop Stang, 8-3. Despite the loss, Kaleigh Goulart played well, hitting a two-run homerun in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Hannah Guard also provided some offensive heft with two hits during the game.

Boys’ Track: Both of the track teams competed in the SCC Championship Meet this week, which features the best athletes across the conference. The boys’ team placed third overall with 60 points, only behind Dighton-Rehoboth and Seekonk. ORR had several impressive performances on the day, notably from Kevin Saccone and Ben Rounseville. Rounseville claimed the 400-hurdle title in 60.53 seconds, while Saccone won three events – the long jump, triple jump, and 110-meter hurdles. On both the boys’ and girls’ sides, ORR athletes swept the hurdles events, showing the depth of the Bulldog hurdling program. The boys’ also got notable places from Jacob Blezard (sixth, shot-put), Trevor Oldham (sixth, 100-meter), and the 4×100 meter relay team (third). The track teams will now look to perform well on the state level at the Division 4 State Championships next weekend.

Girls’ Track: The Lady Bulldogs also had an excellent day at the SCC Championship Meet, claiming the team title with 156 points. ORR’s underclassmen shined on the day, with freshmen Rachel Demmer and Madisen Martin winning the 400-hurdles and 800-meter, respectively. The girls got several wins throughout the meet, including Maddie Meyer (two mile), Zoe Smith (high-jump, 100-hurdles), and the 4×400 meter relay, which in the most exciting meet of the day, caught Dighton-Rehoboth right at the line to secure the win. Other top finishers for the Lady Bulldogs included Sam Ball (second, mile), Lexi Afonso (second, long jump), Arden Goguen (third, 100-meter), Nicole Mattson (second, 400-meter) and Nina Bourgeois (second, 800-meter). The win also marked the sixth consecutive year the ORR girls have won the team portion of the meet.

Girls’ Tennis: The girls’ tennis team earned two big wins this week, one over Bishop Stang and one over Case. Against Stang, the girls won 4-1 thanks to individual wins from Julia Nojeim (first singles), Morgan Middleton (second singles), Olivia Bellefeuille (third singles), and KK Bindas and Sophie Church (second doubles). The girls went on to shutout Case 5-0, with all previously mentioned players earning wins, and with Amy Bichajian and Emma Collings adding a win at first doubles. The girls’ record currently stands at 13-4 overall.

Boys’ Lacrosse: This week, the boys’ lacrosse team earned a huge 18-5 win over Bishop Stang. Previously in the season, the boys won their first game against Bishop Stang despite an altercation between the two teams that led to the police being called. This week, the boys’ managed to defend that victory thanks to a trifecta effort from Landon Goguen, Ethan Lizotte, and Thomas McIntyre. The sophomore, senior, and freshman each scored four goals apiece to power the ORR offense to their 14th victory of the season. Other goals for the boys came from Charlie Tirrell (2), Ryan Manning, Jack Devlin, Kyler Berry, and Nick Rego. Goalies Gerald Lanagan and George Whitney split the time in net, effectively halting any offensive momentum Bishop Stang hoped to gain. The boys will look to continue their season as the postseason looms closer.

Girls’ Lacrosse: The girls’ lacrosse team started their week off with a heartbreaking 12-11 loss against Bishop Stang. Though the score was close for the entirety of the game, and Bailey Truesdale scored a hat trick to lead the Lady Bulldog offense, Bishop Stang gained possession with just a few minutes left and managed to keep the ball away from ORR hands, effectively clinching the victory for out-of-conference Bishop Stang. The girls also suffered another loss this week to Fairhaven, 10-6. Despite the loss, however, the girls clinched a three-way SCC Championship crown with Fairhaven and Apponequet. Had the girls defeated Fairhaven, they would have won the championship outright, but the title is still significant as it is the first in the program’s history. The girls’ record currently stands at 14-4-1.

Below are the overall spring team records, followed by the conference records in wins, losses, and ties as of May 25.

Baseball: (14-3-0) (12-2-0); Softball: (8-10-0) (8-8-0); Boys’ Track: (6-2-0) (6-2-0); Girls’ Track: (8-0-0) (8-0-0); Boys’ Tennis: (15-1-0) (13-0-0); Girls’ Tennis: (13-4-0) (12-3-0); Boys’ Lacrosse: (14-1-0) (7-1-0); Girls’ Lacrosse: (14-4-1) (7-3-0).

By Michael Kassabian

 

Old Rochester Farmers’ Market

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The Old Rochester Farmers’ Market starts on Tuesday, June 2 from 3:00 – 7:00 pm. The market starts in spring and runs every Tuesday until October 13. Old Rochester Farmers’ Market is held at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School outside the gymnasium. This year’s market will have entertainment and face painting for kids. We will also have a number of new and existing vendors including our two produce farms: Cervelli’s Farm and Skinny Dip Farm. Joining us once again throughout the season: Reins Real Baking, Omega Olive Oil, D’s Lectables, Wyandotte Farm, Running Brook Vineyards & Winery, Al’s Backwoods Berrie, Say Cheese, Amir’s Natural Foods, Nautical Creations and Wicked Good Soups. Some of our new vendors include: Bradford Farmhouse Toffee, Sweet and Salty Farm, No Joke Smoke BBQ, Donde Thiago, Carberry Kitchens (dog treats), Smackadoodles, Farm to Baby, Herb-in-Fusion/Sprig, 1773 Roasters, Wicked Good Kettle Corn, Lily Mae Gardens and Wareham Trout Farm. Periodic guest vendors and artisan vendors will be attending the market. We are still accepting applications for new vendors. Check us out on a weekly basis for an updated list of which vendors will be attending the market at http://rfmarket.blogspot.com.