The Marion Natural History Museum provided an opportunity on February 27 to get up close and personal with critters from the insect world, including praying mantises and jumbo-sized grasshoppers. Above: Tapper Crete, 7, was the first one brave enough to ask to touch a praying mantis. The event was hosted by Maire Anne Diamond, owner and educator at ‘Bugworks.’ Photos by Felix Perez
The next teen dance is on March 6 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm; admission is $8 at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Route 6, Mattapoisett. This is a safe place for 6th, 7th and 8th graders to have a good time socializing, dancing and listening to their favorite music on a Friday night. Knights of Columbus chaperones and a uniformed police officer are on site at all of our dances.
To the Editor,
We wish to thank the first responders from the Tri-Town area and Fairhaven who responded to a house fire at our home and business on February 18. Their quick response and professionalism despite the bitter cold conditions and frozen hydrants allowed us to salvage at least a portion of our personal belongings and memories. Thank you.
Our deepest gratitude also to everyone who has showed us so much compassion and support. We count ourselves truly blessed to live in such a caring tight-knit community. We only hope that we can in some small way repay the kindness that has been offered us.
Sincerely,
Jilly Jarvis and Paul Wildnauer
What’s in a collection? A whole lot if you are looking at Nate Bekemeier’s eclectic compilation of curious objects he has encountered and saved throughout his entire life.
Each little figurine, a memory. Every tiny trinket, a tale. Each of the odds and ends, an experience, a time, a place.
Bekemeier was one of several collectors who shared his treasures with the public at the Mattapoisett Historical Society’s February 26 event, “Sharing Your Passion: Personal Collections.”
Bekemeier thought his quirky collection was too special to be kept hidden away in a dark drawer to be forgotten. Thirty years ago, he hand built a special glass-top display table so he would have a place to put the interesting things he happened upon for all to admire. Many who paused to wonder at the table of a thousand things said it reminded them of a game of “I Spy.”
Bekemeier has many interesting stories to accompany his interesting objects. Among the dice and fetishes, in between campaign buttons and shells, and somewhere mixed in with the random figurines and a glass eye lies a roll of pennies that Bekemeier said is one of his favorites of all the little things that fill his display table.
As Bekemeier tells it, he had a friend who was “always doing funny things.” One day, he found the old man picking pennies out of a large chunk of cement. “He was painstakingly picking the cement off the pennies,” said Bekemeier.
When he asked his friend why he was doing this, he told Bekemeier that he had been tossing pennies into a cement bucket for years and had finally decided to cash them in.
“He placed the cement block on the counter and, unsurprisingly, the clerk would not accept it,” said Bekemeier. “But she told him that if he picked enough cement off each penny so that at least 50-percent of it was visible, he would be given full price for the penny.”
So, what did Bekemeier do at that point? He offered his friend a dollar for the fifty-cent roll and has kept it ever since.
“I thought his collection was hysterical,” said Mattapoisett Historical Society Museum Curator Elizabeth Hutchison. “If you sit and talk to him about it, it’s just crazy. What’s even more amazing is that he remembers everything that’s in there.”
Bekemeier’s was arguably the most popular collection at the event, but there were others with their own uniqueness, their own brand of treasure, for those looking around to admire.
Hutchison noted one remarkable collection of Chinese turquois-colored porcelain figures that Leda Kim had collected over the years.
“Those were beautiful,” said Hutchison. “Interesting, too, because it’s not something you often get to see.”
Ellen Flynn brought in her collection of porcelain, glassware, and a silver goblet with her name on it, which has been in her family for generations.
Flynn began collecting her pieces while in her 20s and, over the past 40 years, she has collected over 200 items – some from occupied Japan, France, and all over the world.
“I was impressed by the peoples’ collections,” said Hutchison. “We had a lot of fun stuff. It was interesting to see.”
Hutchison said one of the board members of the museum suggested the event, which was inspired by the Brooklyn Historical Society’s annual Collectors’ Night.
“It was a fun thing to do,” said Hutchison. “That’s essentially what a museum is for, so we can share things. It was an opportunity for people to share their collections and their passions.”
Felix Perez contributed to the content of this article.
By Jean Perry
Due to poor weather conditions the Department of Environmental Protection hearing scheduled for Thursday evening in Mattapoisett has been postponed. At this time a new date for the meeting has not been scheduled.
Board of Health Agent Dale Barrows told the Mattapoisett Finance Committee on February 25 that rubbish collection costs in subsequent years are expected to drastically increase.
“The downside of the whole project is that [prices] will go up,” said Barrows. He explained, saying that the SEMASS agreement was up for negotiation as it nears the end of its 28-year contract. He said when the contract was first written, pricing was set to attract customers. The original contract, Barrows said, was for $22 per ton; prices are now anticipated to soar to $65 per ton.
Barrows said ultimately the solution is for more waste to go into the recycle barrels versus the solid waste barrels.
If that happened, the Town could then hold down solid waste expenses. However, costs overall would continue to increase.
“The downside of the whole project is that it will go up,” he said, adding that tonnage of solid waste is supposed to go down as people get into the habit of recycling more materials. He quoted SEMASS pricing as soaring upwards of $85 to $90 per ton. While the coming year won’t be affected, said Barrows, subsequent years will.
Town Administrator Michael Gagne said that Zero Waste located in Rochester, a sister company to ABC Disposal, was competing with SEMASS for customers. He also said the Town is looking at other companies for a cost-effective solution to both solid waste and recyclable materials.
Barrows concluded his budgetary presentations for recycling and solid waste removal by saying, “It’s your tax dollars you are going to have to put to this…. [You’ll see] in 2017 $120,000 more than what you pay today.”
Barrows’ budgets for fiscal year 2016 are: $148,213, up from $143,896 in FY15; rubbish collection $248,337, up from $241,103 in FY15; town disposal (SEMASS et al) $123,827, up from $68,000 last year; transfer station $5,000 (flat year over year); Board of Health $121,657, an increase from $119,203 in FY15.
Also on the agenda that night were the library and the Water and Sewer Department.
Making her case for an increased budget was Library Director Susan Pizzolato, accompanied by members of the Library Trustee Committee.
She shared achievements over the past fiscal year, touting the library’s certification and the commitment of the staff members.
“It is important for us to stay certified,” said Pizzolato, referring to the ability to draw materials from other libraries in the state’s systems.
Pizzolato also commented on the success of opening the library to the public on Sundays saying, “We have between 85 and 100 people visiting the library on Sundays.”
But that success was not without its downside, she noted. Staffing was an issue, asserting staff hours as a priority as the committee reviewed her FY16 budget requests.
Pizzolato asked the committee to consider a new part-time professional staff member for 19.5 hours per week, given the demand for expert technology assistance by the community and coverage during the Sunday openings.
She said the new position would require that the staffer be certified in computer technology to meet the public demand for that level of expertise. Pizzolato is asking for $20,436 to fund the new position, along with an increase in staff hours for existing employees totaling $14,500.
The library’s overall budget for FY16 is $425,796, up from $358,966 in FY15.
Nick Nicolson, superintendent of the Mattapoisett Water and Sewer Department, was last up to meet with the committee.
The most significant difference between the FY15 and FY16 budgets appears on the sewer spreadsheets. Nicholson said a decrease in assessment fees from Fairhaven was $75,915.
Nicholson’s narrative on the budgets he presented reflects an overall increase of $27,405 for the Sewer Department and $41,974 for the Water Department. Salary increases, retirement sick time buy-out, utilities, equipment repairs and legal fees all add into those increased budget requests.
The Mattapoisett Finance Committee will meet again on March 11 at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.
By Marilou Newell
Frank M. Suzan, 83, of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts passed away peacefully March 3, 2015 at Sippican Healthcare Center surrounded by his family.
He was the loving husband of the late Meredith S. (MacLean) Suzan.
Born in in Milton, Massachusetts he was the son of the late William P. and Bena (Erhard) Suzan. He lived in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts and San Diego, California most of his life.
Capt. Suzan was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church.
He was a graduate of Holy Family High School and Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Capt. Suzan later joined the Merchant Marines before serving a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy for 26 years. Following his retirement from the Navy he was the general manager of Mahoney Oil and business partner in Sea Gas.
He was an avid golfer and a member of the New Bedford Country Club.
Capt. Suzan loved the Town of Mattapoisett. He would often be seen at the town wharf, the lighthouse and most days riding his bike around the village handing out treats to all the town dogs. He served two terms as Selectman for the Town of Mattapoisett from 1979-1985.
The family would like to extend a personal thank you to Debbie Mayer and the nurses and staff at Sippican Healthcare Center for the excellent care that Frank received the past three years. He considered all of them family and would refer to Sippican Healthcare as his second home.
His survivors include his son, F. Mitchell Suzan, Jr. and his wife Deborah Lowney Suzan of Mattapoisett; a daughter, Merry Suzan McCleary and her partner Ann Elizabeth Pasky of Atlanta, GA; a brother, William P. Suzan, Jr. of the State of Washington; 3 grandchildren, Erika Suzan Osetkowski and her husband Brett, Carly Suzan DuBeau and her husband John and F. Mitchell Suzan, III; 2 great-grandchildren, Mollie Elizabeth Osetkowski and Harper Leigh Osetkowski.
He was the great-grandfather of the late Connor J. Osetkowski.
His Funeral will be held on Saturday at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett, followed by his Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church at 10 AM. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 4-8 PM. For directions and guestbook, please www.saundersdwyer.com.
MaryEllen Kelly, born in New Bedford,MA 9/3/61, beloved daughter of David and Maria Harrington passed away at Falmouth Hospital on March 4. MaryEllen was predeceased by her father, Robert F. Kelly.
MaryEllen grew up in Dartmouth,MA and later Marion,MA. She attended elementary school at MT Carmel School, graduated Bishop Stang High School and earned a BA at UMass Dartmouth. MaryEllen was proud to have worked at NBIS and N.B. 5 Savings Bank.
Battling brittle Type I diabetes from adolescence she suffered a hypoglycemic coma at age 30 which left her brain injured.
As MaryEllen would like to say, ” I love the fresh air!” She most enjoyed long walks with her mom where she could enjoy the sunshine, beautiful flowers and then celebrate with her at lunch at the Wayside Inn, Sudbury,MA.
She is survived by her parents, her sister, Carolyn Higgins and her husband, Mickey Higgins; 3 nephews; Nicholas, Jonathan and Logan and 1 niece, Julianna. She also leaves her stepbrother David Harrington and his partner, Julie. Her uncle Dr. Anthony deBarros and Aunt Ninette, Aunt Elaine and late Uncle Hudson along with her Godfather Raymond Silveira mourn her loss. She was predeceased by her kind loving godmother, Louise Silveira. Mary Ellen was adored by Cousin Linda and Cousin Sue. She also leaves behind cousins; Sandy, Pamela,Hudson and her Godson Tristan de Barros.
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Bosun’s Seven Hills Community Services for caring for MaryEllen in her last few months and providing for her with a happy warm place to call home. Jennifer your time with MaryEllen is priceless to us. We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Dr Tadbiri and his staff for their care that extended well past that of their jobs. Lastly Maria and David cannot express enough gratitude to Dr Irvine of Falmouth Hospital. His patience and guidance was invaluable. The nursing staff of Falmouth Hospital, ICU cannot be fogotten. We would like to express how deep our gratitude extends for their compassion and unwavering support. Danielle,Faith, Emily Chris and Tracey you exemplify all that is good and you proudly represent your profession.
Her funeral will be Monday beginning in the funeral home at 9:30 A.M. and continuing with a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 10:30 A.M. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery. Visitation will be held in the funeral home on Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. Arrangements placed in the care of Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St. New Bedford, Ma 02740
In Lieu of flowers please send contributions to Joslin Clinic, One Joselin Place, Boston, MA
For online Condolences please go to www.perryfuneral.com.
Debbie O’Carroll’s Magic Irish Tea Party: Saturday, March 7, 1:00 – 2:00 pm. Debbie’s magic tea pot is the center of this participatory magic show with the Irish Fairy Godmother for children ages 3-7 at the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library, 17 Constitution Way, Rochester. After the show, the children will join in a creative theater activity and learn to make and perform a magic trick to take home, along with an origami puppet that they fold themselves! Pre-registration is required. Register by calling the library at 508-763-8600 or go to the Events Calendar on the Plumb Library website, www.plumblibrary.com.
Pi is the infinite number that starts 3.141592653… On Saturday, March 14, at 9:26 in the morning or evening, all of the numbers will line up. To commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime event, we will be making Pi Day bracelets from 11:00 am to noon on Saturday, March14. All participants will receive a special Pi Day sticker. This craft is best for children ages 4 and up; pre-registration is requested. Call the library to register or go to the Plumb Library Events Calendar on the website and click the registration button on the Pi Day event.
For their March book, “Just the Facts” Nonfiction Book Discussion Group will be reading Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston. Jeanne Wakatsuki was seven years old in 1942 when her family was uprooted from their home and sent to live at Manzanar Internment camp with 10,000 other Japanese Americans. Along with searchlight towers and armed guards, Manzanar featured cheerleaders, Boy Scouts, sock hops, baton twirling lessons, and a dance band called The Jive Bombers. This book is the true story of one Japanese American family’s attempt to survive the indignities of forced detention, and of a native-born American child who discovered what it was like to grow up behind barbed wire in the United States. We will discuss this book on Thursday, March 19 at 6:30 pm. Copies are available at the desk.
The Café Parlez’ selection for March is What is Visible by Kimberly Elkins. Before there was Helen Keller, there was Laura Bridgman. At age two, Laura lost four of her five senses to scarlet fever. At age seven, she was taken to the Perkins Institute in Boston to determine if she could be taught. At age 12, Charles Dickens declared her his prime interest for visiting America. And at age 20, she was considered the 19th century’s second most famous woman. This novelized version of her life story spans many decades and characters. We will discuss this novel on Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 pm. Books are available at the desk or bring your own copy.
On Saturday, March 21, the Friends of Plumb Library and the Rochester Friends of the Elderly will present “Dinner and a Movie” starting at 5:30 pm at the Rochester Council on Aging, 67 Dexter Lane, Rochester. A spaghetti supper will be followed by a showing of Night at the Museum. Tickets are available at the Plumb Library and at the Council on Aging, and cost $5 each or $20 for a family of four or more. All proceeds will benefit both the Friends of Plumb Library and the Friend of the Elderly. For more information or to reserve tickets, call the library at 508-763-8600.
The Spring FORM Concerts are almost here! Both concerts are in the ORRHS auditorium and start at 6:30 pm. The Instrumental Concert is Tuesday, March 10. The Choral Concert is Tuesday, March 17. Tickets are: Adults – $6/Students & Senior Citizens – $4/Family Pass – $20. Tickets, available at the door, are good for both concerts, so save your March 10 tickets and reuse them on March 17. The FORM Concerts are a wonderful tradition that incorporates musical performances from throughout the Old Rochester Regional school district – grade school through high school. FORM is proud to host these annual concerts. The monies raised from the ticket sales are a major source of funding for our annual FORM Scholarships. Your participation is integral to our work, and we greatly appreciate your support. For more details, please visit our website www.FORM02739.org or email us at orrFORM02739@gmail.com.