Join the Mattapoisett Historical Society and Seth Mendell on Sunday, September 6 at 5:30 pm at Shipyard Park as he talks about the life of Whaling Master Charles Bryant, who was instrumental in the purchase of Alaska and in later life the proprietor of Mattapoisett’s Bayview Hotel. In case of rain, meet at the Mattapoisett Historical Society Museum at 5 Church Street. Suggested donation: $5. For more information, please call 508-758-2844 or visit www.mattapoisetthistoricalsociety.org.
The Marion Board of Selectmen met for a special meeting on August 21 to sign an agreement with the Sippican Historical Society to allow a cherished painting by a well-known Marion artist to indefinitely grace a wall inside the Marion Music Hall.
The framed oil on canvas titled “The Redhead” by Cecil Clark Davis (1877-1934) portrays an auburn-haired, finely-dressed female, identified in pencil on the back as Miss Adamson, seated in a mission style armchair at the Hotel des Grandes Ecotes in Paris.
The Sippican Historical Society acquired the piece in 2013. It was cleaned and lined and is mounted in a gilded frame.
Davis was born in Chicago but lived in Marion for many years. She was married to Richard Harding Davis, a famous war correspondent. She studied art under famous portrait artist John Singer Sargent.
The agreement the selectmen ratified Friday morning was contingent upon some changes Town Administrator Paul Dawson had made to the contract, which he called “minor edits.” Dawson said Town Counsel Jon Witten had reviewed the agreement, suggested the changes, and the amendments were forwarded to a representative of the society.
“It really was minor edits,” Dawson said. “I’m certain that the Sippican Historical Society will have no problem with it.” The society could come back in disagreement, said Dawson, but he doubted it.
“The Music Hall Committee is eager to have a piece of artwork that was done by Cecil Clark Davis,” said Dawson. He said the loaning of the artwork is for a long-term, potentially permanent basis.
The painting is slated for a wall in the front conference room of the Marion Music Hall.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for September 8 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Police Station conference room.
By Jean Perry
When 5-year old Kennedy Zussy of Marion overheard her parents talking about how some New Bedford schools don’t have a school library for students, Kennedy found it unacceptable. No books? How can kids be smart if they don’t have books, the little girl wondered.
“All year, they had, like, six books on the shelf in the ‘library,’” said Kennedy, reflecting upon the urgency she felt to take action; for little Kennedy is an avid reader who loves books, loves reading with her parents, and loves learning to read. Her favorite book is Disney’s Tarzan, and any Disney book for that matter.
Kennedy’s mother, Shannon Zussy, admitted that she was not as enthusiastic as Kennedy in the beginning. With a toddler and her job, she wasn’t quite feeling up to the task of driving home the need to the community and calling on people for books. She wasn’t quite up to driving to pick books up, either, and lugging boxes of books to whatever schools needed them.
But Kennedy begged her mother to help her reach a goal of collecting 100 new and used books to donate to the New Bedford Public Schools. She begged, and begged, and continued to beg until her mom gave in, created a Facebook page, and started sending the word out to family and friends.
That was back in February.
Within the first two weeks, Kennedy had totally surpassed her modest goal of 100 books; instead, she collected 915 books, including some she bought with her own allowance. By June, Kennedy ended up with a whopping total of 1,342 books.
Kennedy presented the books to the New Bedford School Department in June and was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the New Bedford Public Schools Department. New Bedford City Counselor Steve Martins was impressed by Kennedy’s dedication to her fellow young readers, and he invited Kennedy and her family to the City Council Chambers to present her with a citation for her good work.
Kennedy didn’t stop there, though. She started collecting even more books over the summer, and as of Monday, August 24, Kennedy had already collected another 487 books – just about halfway to her second goal of reaching another 1,000 books.
However, she better move fast, because, as is the case with most 5-year-old philanthropists, her attention span already has her thinking ahead to the next cause Kennedy wants to take on.
“When I’m bored with collecting books, I’m going to do animal shelters,” a confidant Kennedy said, brushing her long light brown hair away from her face and off her shoulders. “I’m going to collect stuff like blankets, pillows, food … because most animals don’t have any shelter.”
Establishing school libraries for kids without books: check. Poor shelter animals without blankets or pillows, do not despair. Kennedy Zussy will soon be there.
If you would like to donate any used or new books before Kennedy moves onto the poor shelter animals, Kennedy is collecting books for preschool up to high school age level. You can contact Shannon Zussy via email at szussy82@gmail.com, or you can go to Kennedy’s project’s Facebook event page, “Kennedys Love for Reading 2.”
“We are very proud of her,” said Shannon. “She’s always had a big heart.”
Books make kids smarter, Kennedy firmly believes. She imagines how much smarter and happier other kids will be with 2,000 books. Now, about those animal shelter supplies….
By Jean Perry
With family at his side, George Bruce West II died peacefully in the morning of August 20, 2015 in Plymouth, Mass. Bruce, as he was known, was born in Washington, DC, the son of Charles Krug West and Margaret Braitmayer West, on December 14, 1927.
He graduated from St. Albans School in 1945 and from Washington and Lee University in 1949. He served briefly in the Pacific during World War II and as a staff sergeant during the Korean War. He began his professional career at Pan American Airways and then spent two years as an account executive with Bell Advertising in Washington, DC.
Bruce married Joyce Marie Corbett on January 29, 1955. While living in Washington, DC, he and Joyce spent twenty years raising their five children. In 1958, Mr. West and Jerry Brady founded West and Brady Advertising. Advertising allowed him to express his creativity by marrying his passions for visual art, the printed word, and music. Bruce served on the boards of The Potomac School, St. Albans School and Children’s Hospital, among other organizations. In 1974, he and his family moved to Marion, MA, to start a new chapter at Clearwater Farm.
Bruce West lived passionately, filled with a deep and abiding love for the people around him. He was an old- school gentleman – quite literally, a gentle man. Bruce spoke thoughtfully across the wide range of favorite topics always on his eclectic palette. He was a natural educator who loved learning as much as teaching. This gift served him well during his ten-year career as an English teacher at Tabor Academy where he was also the faculty advisor to the school’s newspaper and yearbook. He immersed himself in the community of Marion, building life-long friendships and actively engaging in civil discourse. The pace in Marion was slower, which enabled him to spend time on the things he truly valued: his art, the land, the community, his family, and his many friendships. He loved the sky, the wind, the water, painting, dreaming, writing, and talking. He loved gardening, travel, Ireland, music, fine wine, the Snow White, his Nikon, the Redskins, the Celtics, the Patriots and the Red Sox. Bruce loved playing tennis, swimming in salt water, and sharing his musings, preferably while sailing. This was a man who loved being alive. An ideal summer Sunday for Bruce began with a morning of men’s doubles at the Sippican Tennis Club followed by a sail to Bird Island and a picnic with his family. Once the Gnome was back on her mooring in the harbor, he would swim to Meadow or Ram Island and back to the beach on Cedar Point. The day would not be complete without a family dinner of fresh cherry stones, corn on the cob, a salad, and a cheeseburger or steak, followed by a raucous game of charades.
He was a poet, an artist, and a composer — a Renaissance Man who loved to share what he created. He was a tinkerer, and the counter in his pantry was filled with gifts of his making: a dream catcher, a copy of his latest cd, a piece of weathered driftwood fashioned into an award for finding the most beautiful shell. He lovingly created each gift because, for Bruce, the act of giving was the true purpose of living.
Mr. West is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joyce Corbett West, his sister, Margaret Braitmayer Root, and his brother, David Wallace West. He leaves behind his daughter, Margaret Wendy West and her wife, Rebecca Leeman, of Portland, ME, and his sons, Charles Krug West and his wife, Liz, of Rochester, MA; Jonathan Braitmayer West and his wife, Cassy, of Mattapoisett, MA; Mark Corbett West and his wife, Cyndy, of Nottingham, NH; and George Bruce West III and his wife, Jeanie, of Peterborough, NH. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren, Ian Derrick West, Taylor Graham West, Robert Braitmayer West, Reilly Evans West, Madeleine Jarvis West, Connor Martin West, and Georgia Catherine West.
The West family invite you to join in a celebration of Bruce’s life on Saturday September 12th at 1:00 at St. Gabriel’s Church, 124 Front Street, Marion, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers please feel free to make donations to The Buzzards Bay Coalition, 114 Front Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, 02740 or to The Marion Art Center, P.O. Box 602, Marion, Massachusetts, 02738. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
To the Editor:
I want to voice my concerns about the condition of the grounds at Old Rochester Regional High School. It is deplorable! Everything is overgrown, the four ponds are not being taken care of, and bushes, trees and plants need to be replaced. This is not a good representation of Mattapoisett when people visit or attend activities and events.
Looks like more manpower is needed to care for the grounds; it is more than one person can handle.
Let’s get it back to what it should be and used to be!
James Dexter, Jr., Mattapoisett
The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.
What’s black and white and read all over? If you write it well, your memoir! Record your precious memories before they fade. The Elizabeth Taber Library and the Sippican Historical Society have teamed up again this year to offer a free, four-session memoir writing course, led by Marion’s Judy Rosbe, an accomplished author and historian, with five local history books to her credit.
To be held at the Elizabeth Taber Library from 3:00 – 5:00 pm on four consecutive Tuesdays – September 15, 22, 29 and October 6 – the memoir writing course will accommodate up to 12 participants. SHS has donated copies of Legacy: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Personal History for all course participants to check out and use.
Registration is required. Please call the Elizabeth Taber Library at 508-748-1252 to reserve your spot today!
The Marion Board of Health formed a consensus on increasing the minimum age for purchasing tobacco and nicotine products in town from 18 to 21, but some board members hesitated on placing minimum prices on or banning all flavored tobacco and nicotine products from behind the counters of Marion stores.
Bob Collett, director of the Cape Cod Regional Tobacco Control Program, had the draft legislation in hand on August 25 for Board of Health members to vote on, but board members Dr. John Howard and Albin Johnson were reluctant to take action that evening.
“I’m a little hesitant to regulate prices on things,” said Johnson. “I think our biggest issue is making it twenty-one.”
Johnson said he was in favor of including e-cigarettes and other nicotine delivery products in the 21 and over law, “But once you start naming specific products, it’s a slippery slope,” said Johnson. “It’s too difficult to regulate.”
Collett’s defense for adding at least the minimum pricing to the age minimum, if not the total ban, was that these products are specifically targeted for those under 21. Making the product less accessible would inhibit their use by young kids.
“The likelihood of a person twenty-one or older buying this product is much less than a sixteen- or seventeen-year old,” said Collett.
Kathy Wilbur, program manager of the Tobacco-Free Community Partnership, said she leads several youth groups, and the number one reason that kids said they tried smoking was because of the flavored tobacco. Wilbur said, when questioned if they would have tried smoking tobacco without the added flavors of bubble gum, cotton candy, sour apple, or cherry, there was a resounding no.
“Twenty-one, while it is a step in the right direction, it’s not a silver bullet,” said Wilbur. “Unfortunately, kids under twenty-one are going to get their hands on flavored products as long as they’re on the shelves. We like the flavor ban with the twenty-one, to make the strongest possible defense against kids becoming addicted.”
Health Director Karen Walega said she would prefer seeing the minimum age increased to 21, along with a flavored tobacco and nicotine products ban included in the legislation.
“I say go for the whole thing,” said board member Betsy Dunn. “I say go for the blunt wraps, the flavored tobacco, all the e-cigarettes…”
Johnson and Howard remained united in their front to keep the legislation strictly to the age minimum, but Howard did state that he was prepared to vote either way.
“As a conservative idiot, I like to keep things as simple as we can,” said Howard. “And logical. Practical.”
The board will consider the legislation language in the weeks leading up to their next meeting and, once legislation content and language is chosen, the board will hold a public hearing on the new tobacco and nicotine regulations to give residents a chance to speak.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for September 8 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House conference room.
By Jean Perry
Dear Mattapoisett Water Commissioners:
I am writing this letter on behalf of the Angelica Point Improvement Association, Cove Street, Mattapoisett, MA. As you are aware, the Water/Sewer Department has just finished a new sewer installation and a water main replacement project on Cove Street. This letter pertains to Nick Nicholson and the superb job he did as Superintendent of the Water/Sewer Department representing the Town of Mattapoisett.
I started working with Nick about seven years ago when I approached him regarding the desire of our association to have sewer installed on Cove Street. Nick knew the Cove Street environment would be a challenge for sewer installation approval; however, he understood the benefits to the town and the residents in doing so.
During the following years, Nick worked closely with all the regulatory commissions and state departments to push the project forward towards approval. He was diligent and steadfast in his efforts to work on our behalf. If Nick encountered a road block, he used his extensive background knowledge to address any concerns so they were allayed.
Once the project obtained all necessary approvals, Nick worked to obtain the necessary funding. His warrant articles at Town Meeting were clear, concise, and well presented which resulted in his obtaining the necessary funding we needed for the next step.
Nick was instrumental in organizing and preparing two “Informational Sessions” for the residents of Cove Street. He worked with us to obtain any questions we may have had regarding the sewer installation and he ensured our questions were answered by the appropriate person at the meeting. It was of great comfort to all of us to know Nick took an interest in our issues and they were not ignored.
When the project started, Nick would be seen walking Cove Street along side Pat Sheridan and KRR, the contractors. He remained an integral part of the team even during the implementation and installation phase of the project.
Nick is the consummate professional. He has the right temperament to handle a job that is complex and to handle people whose personalities are complex.
Thank you, Nick, for your commitment to your job and your commitment to getting us sewer and a new water main.
Sincerely yours,
Alice McGrath
Vice President, Angelica Point Improvement Association
The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.
On Saturday, September 19, cyclists from 14 area communities will ride to the YMCA Dartmouth to celebrate the completion of the 2nd Annual Summer Bike Challenge. Over 110 cyclists have ridden over 56,000 miles since May 1 and hope to reach 60,000 miles by Labor Day for the South Coast Bikeway Alliance Team which is part of the National Bike Challenge. Riders will gather at the YMCA Dartmouth’s Fall Festival and be recognized for their accomplishments. Over $1000 in prizes will be awarded. Prize categories include: Top Male and Female Overall, Second and Third Place Overall and Top Male and Female in each community. Additionally, the community that logs the most miles (per capita) will receive a trophy. Come see what the South Coast Bikeway Alliance is doing towards their goal of achieving a 50-mile continuous system of bike paths and bike lanes that will connect Rhode Island and Cape Cod.
What: South Coast Bikeway Alliance Bike Challenge Awards Ceremony; Date: Saturday, September 19; Where: YMCA Dartmouth, 276 Gulf Rd., Dartmouth, MA 02748; Time: 11:00 am. Cyclists are encouraged to ride their bicycles to the event!
We can continue to log miles for the National Bike Challenge, which concludes on September 30 (nationalbikechallenge.org). The SCBA Team is ranked 27th in the National Bike Challenge at the time of this writing. Congratulations are due to the entire SCBA team whose efforts have placed SouthCoast at the head of all Massachusetts teams participating in the National Bike Challenge. For more information about joining the ride to the event as it goes through your community, please contact selectemanBobEspindola@gmail.com, call 774-263-1046 or post a note onto our Challenge page at https://nationalbikechallenge.org/team/4669.
The Rev. Jeffrey Cave, Retired, Diocese of Atlanta GA and author of “The Church by the Town Beach” will conduct services at 8:00 am and 10:00 am on Sunday, August 30 at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Mattapoisett. All are invited to attend.
Then, at 4:30 pm, The Rev. Cave will lead a Hymn Sing with anecdotal comments on many favorites. Requests from the congregation are encouraged. Following the informal Hymn Sing, a reception will follow in the side yard. All are welcome!