Arts in the Park goers enjoyed a picture perfect day in Marion Center. Local artists exhibited their work at Bicentennial Park on Saturday, sponsored by The Marion Art Center. Photos by Jean Perry

Alewives Anonymous is excited about a 156 percent increase in the number of herring during this year’s annual herring migration count. This year, the group counted 55,429 alewives (herring) in the Mattapoisett River, almost 34,000 more fish than the 2013 count of 21,613.

“We don’t have any explanation for such a large increase,” said Benner during a phone interview on July 7. “In 2012 there was about a 100 percent increase, and that was a surprise.”

            Starting in March, the group monitored the counters located within the Mattapoisett River and the Sippican River where they visually witnessed a lot of herring at different times, which leads them to believe that their counters are functioning accurately. On some days, the group counted 6,000 to 8,000 herring a day.

Benner’s passion for helping restore the herring population stems from his childhood days when he would watch the herring climbing the ladders. He said back then, there were so many herring in the water, “It was thick enough you could walk across on them.” And over the years, he said, the herring decreased every year due to overfishing and a decline in the quality of the river.

In 2000, according to Benner, Alewives Anonymous counted 130,000 herring, but then the bottom fell out the next year when only 5,000 were counted. Benner said this trend was witnessed all along the east coast. In 2004, there were less than 5,000.

“And it just dropped off by half, year after year,” he said.

Benner said he hopes Alewives Anonymous can keep the momentum going, and he pointed out that two or three years ago, Tri-Town had a significantly successful spawning season. But it takes about four years for the fry (baby herring) to mature and return to the pond to spawn.

“We’d be very happy to see it hold its own over a few more years,” said Benner.

The rain that preceded Hurricane Arthur might have incidentally given this year’s spawn a big boost with all the water it dumped on the Tri-Town area. It rejuvenated water levels in the rivers and ponds, which is essential for the fry’s first journey to the ocean. If water levels are low, said Benner, then the fry are forced to remain in the ever-evaporating ponds throughout the summer, making it likely that larger fish in the pond would eat them.

“It would be a big benefit if we could get them out of the pond early,” said Benner.

Herring are smack dab in the middle of the marine life food chain, between feasting on plankton and being feasted upon by larger fish such as bluefish and bass, as well as birds and seals.

Of the 80,000 to 100,000 eggs the herring spawns, Benner said only two or three adult herring actually make their way back to Snipatuit Pond and Leonard’s Pond, Tri-Town’s two main spawning sites.

“We’ll cross our fingers for another great year coming,” said Benner.

For more information about Alewives Anonymous and Tri-Town’s herring migration, visit http://www.plumblibrary.com/alewives.html.

By Jean Perry

Harbor Days, the quintessential Mattapoisett summer tradition, is almost here and the Mattapoisett Lions Club has been planning this summer’s event since way back in September, trying to come up with fun ideas and new ways to fill Shipyard Park with food, fun, and summertime entertainment.

“We’ve got a ton of new stuff,” said Donald Bamberger, King Lion of the Mattapoisett Lions Club.

For starters, on Friday, July 18, kicking off the Harbor Days weekend is the “Friday Night Fish Fry,” a first-time Harbor Days event that Bamberger said is a shift from the traditional seafood dinner held in prior years.

“’Friday Night Fish Fry,’ it has such a nice ring to it,” said Bamberger. Enjoying a dinner of fried fish by the harbor side, said Bamberger, “How could it be any better?”

The new Hollywood Scoop on County Road in Mattapoisett will cater the event that Bamberger said could exceed 300 people. Guests can enjoy a six-ounce fillet of fish, French fries, and coleslaw from 5:30 to 7:00 pm for $9, during which time there will also be a silent auction.

After the fish fry, guests can enjoy a performance by The Dave Charnley Band, a “high energy country and blues” band from 7:00 to 10:00 pm.

Saturday the 19^th brings an extra special treat that Bamberger initially did not think would pan out. But with a little perseverance, he managed to secure a visit from the Boston Red Sox 2013 World Series Championship Trophy! You can get up close and personal with the championship trophy at the Shipyard Park gazebo from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, and a two by four-foot replica of the Fenway Park scoreboard, created by local muralist M-C Lamarre, will be the backdrop for the trophy and then raffled off later in the afternoon.

“Getting the trophy was really just me shooting for the stars,” said Bamberger. He was hoping to get the trophy for longer than the hour and a half, but he said the shooting for the stars turned into settling for the moon. “We were lucky,” he said.

Back again for a second year is the Free Family Movie, which Bamberger said was a great success in 2013.

This year’s movie is On Golden Pond, but what makes this special is the “Meet the Creator” event after the film, when Oscar-winning playwright Ernest Thompson, who wrote On Golden Pond, will give a talk and meet with guests under the tent. Thompson will be bringing along with him the Oscar he won for the film.

“That was sort of a last-minute thing,” said Bamberger, who just happened to know someone who knows someone married to Thompson, explained Bamberger. The movie starts at 8:00 pm.

On Sunday the 20^th at 1:30 pm, the Mattapoisett Fire Department will give a rescue demonstration, followed by a lesson on how to use a fire extinguisher.

“They are bringing in a car wreck and they’re going to use the Jaws of Life,” said Bamberger. He said firefighters will light stuff on fire and show how to properly extinguish a fire.

“And they hope to have the old fire truck that is being restored on display,” said Bamberger.

The traditional artisan craft fair will go on Saturday through Sunday, and Lobsterfest will start at 5:30 pm on Saturday evening. On Sunday from 8:00 to 11:00 am, the Lions Club will serve up a pancake and sausage breakfast.

The annual Triathlon will be held on Sunday, July 13, starting at Mattapoisett Town Beach at 8:00 am. The race includes a 0.25-mile swim, followed by 10 miles on a bicycle and then a 3.4-mile run to the finish line.

So, what has been the most challenging aspect of coordinating the 2014 Harbor Days?

“Getting volunteers,” said Bamberger. “The club, in size, is shrinking a little bit.”

Bamberger said the Lions Club receives a lot of support from the Town for Harbor Days and other events, but there is a real need for volunteers during the actual events, especially Harbor Days. “You don’t have to be a Lion to help out,” added Bamberger. The hardest part, he said, is always getting the people to help out.

“But failure is not an option,” said Bamberger. He said the lions have been meeting monthly since September planning for Harbor Days and eventually stepping it up to weekly meetings. “Then we take a breath,” said Bamberger.

What is Bamberger most excited about for this year’s Harbor days?

“I’m most excited about Monday the 21^st,” laughed Bamberger.

More seriously though, Bamberger said when he first moved to Mattapoisett in 2005, he knew nothing about Harbor Days, and he enjoyed all that it had to offer. The next year, though, he saw the events dwindle a bit, so he made it his mission to continue to expand and improve upon Harbor Days when he eventually became King Lion.

“Because I think it’s the best thing in Town,” said Bamberger. “It’s good for us and it’s good for the Town.”

If you would like to volunteer for Harbor Days, contact the Lions Club at mattlionsclub@gmail.com.

By Jean Perry