It is the latest in trash and recycling technology and, once a contract is signed and the funding appropriated at Town Meeting, is likely coming to Mattapoisett in July of 2014.

ABC Disposal, Inc. has a new trash pick-up system that many area communities are adopting, which is saving the towns money and encouraging residents to recycle more.

“It’s a complete change in what people are experiencing now,” stated Board of Health Agent Dale Barrows. He said it will make trash pick-up and recycling much simpler.

Under the new system, a new specially-designed garbage truck uses a mechanical arm that picks up the trash bins and dumps the contents into the back of the truck.

Each residence would be given two new large plastic receptacles – one blue 65-gallon bin for trash and one black 95-gallon bin for recyclables – designed specifically to be lifted by the mechanical arm.

The wheeled bins are equipped with a hinged lid that is attached to the bin and lifts up for easy loading and unloading by the truck. Every bin will be provided with a barcode identifying that particular bin with its designated address in case of loss or theft.

Operations Manager at ABC Disposal Jerry Dugan said each community is unique and comes with its own “quirks.” So, depending on the verbiage of the contract, residents may need to call ABC Disposal to schedule a pick-up of furniture or other bulky items that do not fit into the bin. Dugan said, in some communities, the driver will occasionally manually throw bulky items onto the truck, but Dugan emphasized that those details will be specified in the Town’s own contract with ABC Disposal.

Dugan said some of the concerns from towns who are either considering the new system or have already adopted it were questions such as what if a car parks in the way, what if the bin is too heavy for me to roll to the curb, and what if there is not enough room for the bin.

“This is what I meant by every town has its own quirks,” said Dugan. Mattapoisett, he said, is a relatively rural area, which makes utilizing the system easier. For example, there are not as many cars parked along the streets and, most likely, the problem would be resolved by the driver simply exiting the truck to move the bins manually over to the truck.

“In Mattapoisett there should be very little obstacles,” said Dugan. “New Bedford has a lot of cars … but it is done all over the place much easier.”

Pickup schedule would remain the same, continuing with a biweekly recycle pickup.

The new system would save the Town $32,000 annually, according to Barrows, and he hopes the new system will encourage residents to recycle more, because recyclables would no longer have to be sorted. All glass, paper, and plastic would be thrown together into the one black bin.

“All good things,” said Dugan, adding that the brand new trucks all run on natural gas so they are cleaner and quieter than the “old school” garbage trucks.

Barrows said town counsel is still looking over the contract and, once it is signed and the funding appropriated, ABC Disposal would send each individual residence an informational letter in the mail providing specific details on the transition process.

“I’m pretty confident it’s going to happen,” said Barrow about signing a contract and Town Meeting appropriating the funding. “It’s going to be a great program.” He added, “I’m confident that everybody will vote for it. It’s gonna save the Town money.”

Barrows strongly urged residents who have any questions about the new proposed system to contact ABC Disposal, not the Board of Health office. He stressed that once the system is adopted, residents would be contacted and provided the appropriate information they would need.

By Jean Perry

The tri-town FORM concert brought together students whose combined musicality entertained a full house. The performers sang song style selections from spiritual to jazz and the crowd pleaser “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Rochester Memorial School. Combining the voices of nearly 300 students the finale was a soulful treatment of “Wade In The Water”. Funds raised through FORM concerts support scholarships awarded each year to graduating seniors who have completed at least two full years in a school music program.

There was a lot of action at the old Frigate Restaurant on Monday evening.  The Marion Fire Department held a fire training drill at 6:30 pm, with three engine trucks, a ladder truck and an ambulance standing by.  Approximately twenty fire department personnel and Emergency Medical Technicians took part.  The drill lasted two hours.

Fire barrels were placed in the building and were filled with hay, which was then ignited.  The ladder truck pulled up to the building and cut three holes in the roof above the area with the most fire and smoke.  “We cut a hole in the location over the fire which dissipates the heat and smoke,” said Deputy Chief Joe Dayton, who organized the drill.

The fire department personnel put on their breathing apparatus and followed each other, in a line formation, into the building.  “It was dark and there was smoke everywhere,” said Tom Nye, who took part in the drill.

“We follow the person in front of us,” said Dayton.  The team of firefighters had two chances to rotate through the building.  Portable fire extinguishers were also used.  According to Daton, the breathing apparatus unit lasts approximately thirty minutes and then has to be refilled with 4500 pounds of compression.

“The drill was excellent and we were lucky to have the owner of the property allow us to come in and practice,” said Nye. “For some of the younger department members, this was their first chance to have this kind of practice.”

“We are very pleased with how the drill went,” said Dayton, who plans to interview each department member on how they thought it went and to solicit suggestions for future drill ideas.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

On March 5, I had the pleasure of meeting with a handful of parent volunteers at Center School in Mattapoisett. Melanie Vandal, Shannon Giumetti, Monika Whalley, Pamela Souza, Barbara Pepin, and Erin Moreau all made time to meet with me first thing that Wednesday morning. As a mother myself, I have always been curious about what takes place inside the walls of our children’s schools, and who better to shed a little light on the subject than a group of women who spend an abundant amount of time there? These women also give the often unrecognized gifts of patience and compassion to our children and our community.

Melanie began by introducing herself as a mother of two and a volunteer at the school for the past two years. Before that time, she had volunteered at East Fairhaven School. Her reasons for getting involved were that she “wanted to get to know the teachers and the kids as well.” She has enjoyed learning about who her children gravitate towards in school, and has also found that it’s helpful at parent-teacher conferences to have already established a relationship: That way they can get right down to the nitty-gritty.

Shannon spoke up next about her experience with volunteering, saying that she moved to Mattapoisett before her son, Ben, started kindergarten. “He’s my only child. He’s the sole reason I wanted to volunteer.” She found that Center School welcomed her with open arms and now, with her son in 3^rd grade, she has made quite a name for herself as a dedicated contributor to the school. “I do it because I can. Volunteering is my life, and I love it.”

Pamela became involved when her daughter started kindergarten as well. “I felt like I knew nothing. I wanted to see how the teachers interacted and see who the kids were. And when you volunteer, you get to know the moms. You get to pick their brains.”

The moms chatted a bit about the principal, Mrs. Rose Bowman. Words such as “fantastic” were used, and Monika claimed that “she’s not a principal, she’s a fairy!”

Monika began volunteering when her eldest daughter started kindergarten at Rogers School in Fairhaven. “I grew up in Europe, and it’s a very different school system there.” Monika said that she wanted to learn more about the school system that her children would be attending and at one point vividly remembers reading somewhere about “recess” and thinking “what is recess?” Her family moved to Mattapoisett at the beginning of this school year, and since then she has been a part of Center School.

Barbara started volunteering when her grandsons began school. She has helped a second grade class to make a quilt that they then donated to the women’s shelter in New Bedford. She’s also taught the children how to make apple-dolls by peeling apples, cutting faces into them, and dipping them in lemon juice and letting them shrivel up for two weeks. Then it’s time to dress them up with outfits made with fleece, felt, fur, feathers and beads. These particular apple-dolls were made to represent either Native Americans or Pilgrims, and even little bonnets were made. “The kids love it. Even the boys. I let them sew on my sewing machine.”

Erin, a mother of three, likes to come in and help with reading and writing. She says that “it’s very fulfilling to volunteer. The children feel very valued.” She says her own children are very proud to have her there and that it’s very important to them. She interlaced her fingers and explained that that she believes that volunteering really helps mesh the community and the school together.

Pamela laughed about a time when she was talking with her family about going back to work, and her daughter’s reaction was “can you not? I want you to keep coming into school.”

Monika shared a sweet story about a time when she was volunteering in the library and a little boy came to check out a book. Unfortunately, he already had three books out and that was the limit. He explained that he had just brought the books back, but had put them on the wrong shelf. Monika told the boy that next time he should bring the books right to her because she needed to let the computer know that the books have been returned. The boy leaned right up to the computer and said loudly “Computer, I brought my books back!” All the moms agreed that the kids make them laugh all the time.

I asked how parents who are not volunteers can be more involved. The ladies agreed that by asking their kids specific questions, parents will find out more about what’s really happening in school, rather than a shrugged off “my day was fine.” Questions about whom they sat next to at lunch, or what the worst thing was that day, or asking about the curriculum. Teachers are also a good source of information, and they seem to really encourage communication via phone or email. The moms agreed that email is great. Melanie added that “knowledge is power. You have to be involved.”

I was left with a sense that these women experience fulfillment and joy on a regular basis coming into the school. Not to say that it isn’t draining at times. Sometimes the work that they do is more of the brunt work, which allows the teachers the ability to focus on the children and the curriculum. Sometimes the kids test the limits, and the moms need to establish boundaries.

The work these ladies do is not often broadcasted into the community, and it feels good to acknowledge them and show some appreciation and thanks. They are the glue that keeps the school solid. I also could not have conducted this interview were it not for the brilliant organizational skills of Center School’s front desk woman, Laurie. (I’m leaving off her last name because she did not want to give it to me, saying she didn’t need recognition, but I think she does.)

All in all, it was a lovely and informative morning and I’m happy to have learned as much as I did about the role these women play in Center School. We are fortunate to have them looking out for our kids!

By Sarah Taylor