Peace Poster Contest Winners

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Each year, Lions Clubs around the world proudly sponsor the Lions Club International Peace Poster contest in local schools for sixth graders. This art contest for kids encourages young people worldwide to express visions of peace. For more than 25 years, millions of children from nearly 100 countries have participated. This year’s theme was “Our World, Our Future”. The posters were judged on originality, artistic merit, and expression of the theme.

This year’s winning posters can be viewed in the lobby of the Mattapoisett Post Office. Congratulations go out to first place winner, Cuylar Mathieu, second place Anneliese Schipper, third place Jillian Higgins, and honorable mentions to Grayson Lord, Elyse Pellegrino, and Erin Scott. A special thank you goes out to “No Kidding” for the donation of gift certificates.

Marion Garden Group Holiday Boutique

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The Marion Garden Group will hold its annual one-day Holiday Boutique on Saturday, December 15, at the Marion Music Hall on Front Street in Marion. The doors open at 9:30 am, and this year the sale will conclude at 11:30 am. We encourage people to get there early! Eager buyers gather early, and there is always a mad rush when the doors open.

“Our members have been busy for months creating beautiful decorations and elegant arrangements inspired by nature and our seaside location for this highly-anticipated event,” said MGG’s President, Kitsie Howard. “Every year people are waiting at the door for us to open and things go quickly! Word has already spread about the great selection of festive, hand-made, holiday decorations on offer this year. The talent and dedication of our membership is inspiring.”

Throughout the fall, Marion Garden Group members attend in-home workshops and create handmade ornaments, arrangements and decorative gifts for the sale. Workshops this year included: holiday lanterns, natural birdhouses and festive nests, piney paddles and lobster buoys, sea glass wreaths, seaside garlands, holiday hurricanes, shell trees and ornaments. The week prior to the sale, Marion Garden Group members create table arrangements, garlands, wreaths and floral decorations with fresh greens to be sold at the boutique.

In addition to creating holiday fare for the boutique, earlier this week the Marion Garden Group membership gathered for two days to create over 150 wreaths for members of the community who pre-ordered them. Each wreath was hand delivered as soon as they were completed. All you have to do is drive through the tri-town area to admire the group’s handiwork.

For information regarding the Marion Garden Group’s Annual Holiday Boutique, contact them at mariongardengroup@gmail.com.

Tinkhamtown Annual Christmas Carol Sing

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The Tinkhamtown Chapel on Acushnet Road in Mattapoisett will hold its annual Christmas Carol Sing on Saturday, December 21 at 5:00 pm. Join your friends and neighbors in a 19th century country chapel, heated by a wood stove and lit by oil lamps, as we sing the old favorites to the tune of an antique pump organ. Children are invited to participate by playing an instrument, reciting a poem, or singing a special carol. For more information, call 508-758-9559 or email groberts@sailsinc.org.

Helping Our Winter Friends

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On Wednesday, December 4th, the Marion Natural History Museum after school program explored different ways to help our local animals get through the lean winter months. The students also created their own “suet” feeders to bring home.

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Overdue Lunch Fees Discussed in Marion

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All children are entitled to lunch, even if they can’t pay for it. Overdue lunch fees for 62 students who owe a total of $760 were discussed by the Marion School Committee on Wednesday evening. Of the 389 students who purchase school lunches, 327 students have positive account balances while 62 students have negative balances. Reminders to pay overdue balances will be sent to parents who are behind in payments for school lunches.

Schools in Massachusetts have been following a set of guidelines since 2012 which spell out the nutrition standards for foods and beverages. The goal, according to Food Services Director Caitlin Meagher, is to improve the health of children by promoting the availability of snacks that are rich in whole grains or protein, in addition to low-fat dairy products, fruits, and vegetables.

Principal Evelyn Rivet provided her report and noted that over 25 large boxes of food were donated to the Damien Food Pantry. The collection was the combined effort of the Student Council and others. Rivet thanked Ms. McKeen and her third grad class for leading the charge to stock the pantry.

First trimester grades have closed and report cards will be issued to grades 1 – 6 on December 9. Current enrollment is 456 students and attendance is at 98%.

Volunteers at Sippican School (VASE) coordinated a sixth-grade field trip to the New Bedford Whaling Museum in New Bedford where students attended a solo performance of “Through the Eyes of a Friend: The World of Anne Frank”, sponsored by the Zeiterion Theater. According to Rivet, students described the performance as “different, emotional, and very sad.”

Facilities Director Gene Jones reported that the interior and exterior light upgrade at Sippican Elementary is completed. Jones also noted that he is conducting an energy envelope with NSTAR and will have the boiler room insulation redone to maximize heat efficiency. The emergency generator upgrade for code compliancy is completed and fully operational.

In other business, the committee, along with school administrators, is beginning the fiscal year 2015 budget process. A budget subcommittee will meet on a regular basis to work on the process.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

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Lawrence E. Eich

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Lawrence E. Eich, 89, of Rochester died Thursday December 12, 2013 at Tobey Hospital. He was the husband of Anna (Stanko) Eich.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, the son of the late Lawrence and Caroline (Ochs) Eich, he lived in New Hyde Park, NY for many years before moving to Rochester 26 years ago.

He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church.

Mr. Eich was formerly employed as a credit manager for American Chicle Company, which later merged with Warner-Lambert Pharmaceuticals.

He was a graduate of St. John’s University in New York.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy.

He enjoyed fishing, gardening, golfing, and his dogs.

He is survived by his wife Anna; and his daughter Linda Arectos of North Truro.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 9:30 AM at St. Rose of Lima Church. Burial will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. Visiting hours will be on Monday from 1-4 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Nature Crafts and Holiday Party

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The Marion Natural History Museum will be hosting a Nature Crafts and Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 18 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. The cost is $4.00 for members and $6.00 for nonmembers. The event will be held at the Marion Natural History Museum, 8 Spring Street, Marion. We have a lot to be thankful for this year!

Please help us celebrate as we move back into our home. We will be working on projects for gift-giving using materials we find outside our front doors. Volunteers to help with crafts would be most welcome. Light refreshments will be served, but please alert us to any food allergies! Please pre-register through our website: www.marionmuseum.org or call 508-748-2098 for further information.

Bright Season Ahead for Grey Season

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You may not have heard of the folk/rock band ‘Grey Season’, but chances are you will in the future. Local musicians Ian Jones (ORR 2011) of Rochester and Ben Burns (ORR 2011) of Mattapoisett, along with their band mates, have been invited to record their first full-length album.

During a recent gig in Boston, where Jones and Burns are currently students at Berklee College of Music, they were noticed by Ben Grotto, a music producer affiliated with Levon Helms Studios in Woodstock, NY. Grotto suggested that the group meet with engineering recording great, Justin Guip, whose work has earned him a Grammy Award and who is also part of Helms Studios.

            For the uninitiated, Levon Helms was a musician whose talents found him playing in the 1950’s and 60’s with such greats as Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan, just to name a few. In his later life, he settled into working with younger talented musicians by mentoring, instructing, and helping them mature in their craft. Also probably obscure to the average music listener are Bobby Grotto and Justin Guip. Grotto’s curriculum vitae lists Aerosmith, The Dresden Dolls, and 2010 Producer of the Year at the Boston Music Awards, while Guip’s contains being a three-time Grammy winning engineer.

Grey Season’s musical style, as stated on their Facebook page, is a blend of ‘Mother Folk and Father Rock’. When I spoke to Ian by phone recently, he was just beginning his busy day of classes, but his excitement over this opportunity came through loud and clear: “This is going to be huge for us!” He said the band was originally a trio that he and Burns spotted in Boston. Soon they joined the group, adding depth with bass and drums as well as other vocal talents all blending with Irish instruments and guitars, and producing a truly unique sound worthy of notice. Playing their original scores at venues around Boston, as well as the traditional street performances, the group has come together with soulful new combinations. It was this sound that perked the ears of Grotto. But even when opportunity knocks, there is a cost to pay.

The group has to raise some front money in order to accept the invitation-only recording date. An entry fee of $10,000 is needed by December 22. They are just north of half way there as they get the word out to their fans and supporters. The fee covers necessities such as studio costs, professional mixing, mastering, and duplication, which are all elements needed to bring a great sounding group to the masses. Their “Kickstarter” fundraising is in full swing. To learn more, visit www.greyseasonmusic.com or contact greyseasonband@gmail.com. You can also call Jones at 949-689-6676.

By Marilou Newell

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/62101034/grey-season-recording-first-full-length-album-at-t?ref=live

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Winter Sports Preview: Boys’ Basketball

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Last year, the ORR varsity basketball team lacked experience playing in the competitive South Coast Conference. With only two seniors on the team, and a handful of returning juniors, the boys were not able to keep up with the field, and ended the season with a disappointing 6-14. This record also failed to qualify the boys for the MIAA state tournament. But it was a rebuilding year last year, and now the Bulldogs, who return all but 2 players from last year’s squad, are looking to storm the SCC and possibly the state tournament.

The team, led by Coach Steve Carvalho, has big goals for the season. “Our first goal is to make the state tournament,” said team captain and 6’5” center Jeremy Bare. “From there, we’re looking to win the SCC Championship, and then just win as many state tournament games as we can.”

The team has a legitimate shot at the SCC Championship this year, as perennial powerhouse Wareham High School lost several key seniors, including star player Darien Fernandez. Even with the loss of returners, however, Bare admits that Wareham will still be tough competition.

“Wareham’s been conference champions multiple times in the past decade, so most of the teams in the SCC will be gunning for them. Until someone proves otherwise, they’re the team to beat,” said Bare.

The biggest asset to the Bulldogs this year will be their height. Bare was not able to disclose the varsity starting lineup, as it has not been officially announced, but he stated that each member of the starting lineup would likely be over six feet. The size of the team members, along with their athleticism, should be key factors in winning games this season.

The strategy for the Bulldogs this year revolves around this athleticism. Bare says the team plans to use their athleticism to move the ball up the court and score, along with getting out and running transition. However, it is early on in the season, and the team still has some work to do before they are ready for their first game.

“We could definitely improve on our back court game and ball handling,” noted junior Jordan Menard. “You can always improve on defense, too. We’re just looking to bring the final pieces into place and be ready for Stang.”

The boys’ first game will be on Saturday, December 14 at Bishop Stang High School. The game is slated to begin at 6:30 pm.

By Michael Kassabian

James Joaquin

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James Joaquin, 90, of Mattapoisett died December 13, 2013 at home after a brief illness.

He was the husband of the late Rosalie V. (Vas) Joaquin.

Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Antonio and Adelaide (Gomes) Joaquin, he was raised in Acushnet and lived in Fairhaven before moving to Mattapoisett 30 years ago.

Mr. Joauqin was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett.

He was the proprietor of Center Liquor Store in Fairhaven and was plant manager of Ace Cabinet and International Dryer for many years until his retirement.

Mr. Joaquin was a member and past president of the Panthers Athletic Club and a member of the Mattapoisett Lions Club.

Survivors include a son, James A. Joaquin of San Francisco, CA; a daughter, Jacqueline Joaquin of New York, NY; a brother Horace “Jack” Joaquim of New Bedford; 2 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Irene Medeiros, Mary Rosa, Lil Gallion and Rose Lebert.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, December 21st at 10 AM in St. Anthony’s Church. Burial will follow in Cushing Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Mattapoisett Lions Club P.O. Box 1022 Mattapoisett, MA 02739. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For on-line guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.