Third Annual 5K Turkey Trot

on October 28, 2013

The Third Annual 5K Turkey Trot hosted by the Marion Recreation Department will be held on Sunday, November 24, at 10:15 am.

The start and finish lines are on Front Street at Tabor Academy. Last year over 400 runners, joggers, and walkers participated in this great event. The Marion Recreation Department is pleased to announce that Guard Oil is once again the event sponsor: 100% of all proceeds benefit the Marion Recreation Department. The first 300 runners registered by November 1 will receive a t-shirt.

For more information and to register, please visit www.marionrecreation.com or www.5kturkeytrot.com, call the Marion Recreation Department at 774-217-8355, or email info@marionrecreation.com.

YMCA Halloween Hayride 2013

on October 28, 2013

Lions, tigers, bears, mummies, ninjas, pilots, princesses, football players, fairies, superheroes, and more all came together at the YMCA’s annual Halloween Hayride in Mattapoisett on Friday night. Photos by Felix Perez.

Tri-County Symphonic 52nd Season

on October 28, 2013

The Tri-County Symphonic Band kicked off their 52nd season on Sunday at the Fireman Performing Arts Center with “An Afternoon at the Opera,” featuring renowned bass vocalist Tianxu Zhou. Photos by Felix Perez.

Town House, Fin Com Come to EMS Deal

on October 28, 2013

With the Fall Town Meeting just hours away, the Marion Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee have agreed on a recommendation for Article 4, an appropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars to bolster EMS staff and resources.

But it’s not the Article 4 officials started with, and the funds will not be in the hands of the Fire Department, as originally planned. If a motion to amend Article 4 stands up on Town Meeting floor tonight, the Selectmen will control more than $230,000 in general funds to spend on EMS upgrades. Those could include the use of a private ambulance service in some capacity.

Article 4 originally called for upward of $350,000; the new language reflects a budgetary appropriation for “eight-twelfths” of Fiscal Year 2014, and will earn the OK from the Finance Committee before the town votes.

Finance Committee Chairman Alan Minard had last week expressed skepticism in the revenue estimates presented by Town Administrator Paul Dawson and Fire Chief Thomas Joyce, who estimated a five-year average of 600 ambulance calls annually. Minard said he believed those figures to be inflated, and undertook a quick study in the following days.

What he found was a three-year average of 444 ambulance calls annually, and more modest revenue potential.

Regardless, Minard said during a special meeting on Friday that Marion must respond to the state’s calls for drastically improved response times and quality standards.

“We can go crazy calculating revenue, but we are arguing whether to pain the room blue or green,” Minard said. “The point is, the room needs painting.

Minard added that he was relieved to have hammered out a solution with the Board of Selectmen, but also that he was dissatisfied with the timetable on the article.

“It was a short runway for those of us on the Finance Committee to figure out a way to fix this,” Minard said. “Moving forward, we need to understand where the money is going. With the funds under the Board of Selectmen’s control instead of the Fire Department, we can maintain some flexibility and have some choices down the line.”

Fellow Finance Committee member Margie Becker agreed.

“This is an opportunity to really scrutinize our ambulance service,” Becker said. “We’ve got to put the Fire Department on notice that they have to do better.”

“The state’s already put them on notice,” Minard replied. “We know we have some personnel issues, but we thought a lot of money could exacerbate those issues. We have till February [the state-set deadline for an improvement plan] to come up with a strategy.”

Fall Town Meeting takes place tonight, Oct. 28, at 6:45 pm at the Sippican School.

By Shawn Badgley

Chowder and Kale Soup Cook Off

on October 27, 2013

The First Congregational Church of Marion will host their annual Chowder and Kale Soup Cook Off on Saturday, November 2, in the Community Center starting with hors d’oeuvres at 6:00 pm.

In addition to chowder and kale soup, crackers, wine, dessert, and coffee will be served. Tickets are $12.50 for attendees, but free for those who sign up to make their special chowder or kale soup.

Special aprons will be awarded for winners in both categories. The Cook Off will be held in the Community Center, 144 Main St. (behind the General Store), Marion. Though tickets will be available at the door, to register to be a chef or attendee, please call 508-748-2428.

Plumb Library Event Roundup

on October 27, 2013

On Thursday, November 7, at 6:30 pm at the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library, 17 Constitution Way, Rochester, William Geasey of New York Life will present a free workshop on “Plan and Pay for College (Without Going Crazy or Broke).” This workshop is specifically for parents of children ages 4-17. Participants will learn how to avoid college debt, and how to make a plan, and will receive a free workbook. Registration is required. Call the library at 508-763-8600 or email info@plumblibrary.com.

On Saturday, October 26, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Plumb Corner Mall, the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library is participating in a “Halloween Town” Celebration for the community. Activities at the annual event include trick or treating at the merchants, hayrides, a costume contest, music by DJ Howie, and a raffle for a Kindle Fire donated by the Law Offices of Matthew H. Beaulieu. New this year will be tents set up by the Plumb Library Junior Friends, Rochester Women’s Club, First Congregational Church of Rochester, Relay for Life, and the Schwartz Center where they will hand out candy or offer activities for the kids. The Rochester police will be there too!

If you are a community organization that is interested in participating in this free event, call the library at 508-763-8600 or email info@plumblibrary.com for more information.

On Friday, November 15, at 2:30 pm, the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library, Elizabeth Taber Library, and Mattapoisett Free Public Library will present an author’s tea with Hank Phillippi Ryan at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, 7 Barstow St. Ms. Ryan will be presenting her newest bestseller The Wrong Girl, a mystery featuring gutsy Boston newspaper reporter Jane Ryan as she gets involved with a respected adoption agency with a terrifying secret. Copies of the book, and copies of Hank Phillippi Ryan’s other titles, will be available for purchase and signing. Refreshments will be served courtesy of the Friends of Plumb Library and the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library. For more information, call the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library at 508-763-8600 or email info@plumblibrary.com.

The Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library is planning a marathon reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Saturday, December 14, from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm at the library at 17 Constitution Way. We are currently looking for volunteers to read chapters or sections of the book. If you love A Christmas Carol, talk to us about becoming a reader. For more information or to sign up to read, call the library at 508-763-8600 or email info@plumblibrary.com.

The Friends of Plumb Library are planning their annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 7, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. We will be looking for donations of items or services for their Silent Auction. Donations can be left at the library until Wednesday, December 4, at 6:00 pm. Call the library for more information.

“Just the Facts” Nonfiction Book Discussion Group will be reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo on Thursday, November 21, at 6:30 pm. Annawadi is a makeshift settlement in the shadow of the luxury hotels near the Mumbai airport. As India starts to prosper, the Annawadians become hopeful that they can rise out of the slum to achieve the good life, the “full enjoy.” But then terror and a global recession rock the city, and suppressed tensions over religion, caste, sex, power, and economic envy turn brutal. Copies of this amazing book are available at the desk.

Think Pink Day

on October 27, 2013

Fourth graders at Sippican School under the guidance of teachers, Nicole Radke, Kim Souza, MJ Menezes and Courtney Sheehan, organized the school’s first ever ‘Think Pink Day’ on Friday, October 25th. The purpose of this spirit-wear fundraiser was to build community support and recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Students created posters, shared announcements over the intercom, and delivered flyers to classrooms to promote the 1-day event.

Their determination and hard work paid off last Friday when both staff and students dressed from head-to-toe in pink and came together for an all school meeting in the multi-purpose room. Students wore pink shirts, pink pjs, pink ribbons, and even spray painted their hair hot pink. Several even wore pink tutus!

When the teachers noticed that Principal Lyn Rivet and Vice Principal Sarah Goergus were a bit underdressed, 4th graders called out for a “makeover” in which the 4th grade teachers assisted the administration in getting into the spirit of things with some pink props!

Donations were collected & counted by the 4th grade students/teachers to the sum of over $1300. All proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Fund for research and treatment of breast cancer. Photos courtesy Nicole Radke.

Last Tuesday of the Month Free Movie

on October 26, 2013

On Tuesday, October 29, at noon, the Mattapoisett Friends of the Elderly will host a free showing of The Great Gatsby (PG-13, 2 hr., 22 min.) at the Council on Aging. Pizza is available for $2. Pizza requests must be pre-paid by Monday, October 28, at 3:00 pm. Even if you’re not having pizza, please RVSP so we know how many seats to set up. Go to the Mattapoisett Council on Aging at the Center School, 17 Barstow St., or call 508-758-4110.

The Great Gatsby: This faithful adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel is visually stunning. It brings to life the art of social climbing, circa 1922. The very modern soundtrack is, at first somewhat discordant, but eventually actually enhances the story. Leonardo DiCaprio is perfect as Gatsby and Carey Mulligan is beguiling as Daisy. Also stars Toby Maguire and Joel Edgerton.

Politics and Prose at the Mattapoisett Library

on October 26, 2013

The Mattapoisett Free Public Library will host author Lawrence DiCara, former Boston City Council President and Marion summer resident, for a book reading, discussion, and signing on Tuesday, November 19, at 6:30 pm in the Library Community Room, 7 Barstow St.

The event is co-sponsored by the Elizabeth Taber Library in Marion, and the Joseph H. Plumb Library in Rochester. The Marion Bookstall will sell signed copies at the event (accepting cash or checks only).

DiCara’s new book, Turmoil and Transition in Boston, offers insights into his personal and political story as the youngest person ever elected to the Boston City Council. DiCara’s story is intimately woven into the fate of his hometown of Boston. Then a federal court order mandating busing to achieve racial integration in the public schools ripped apart the city and changed the course of history.

DiCara shows how public policy decisions and economic and demographic changes from that time transformed Boston into one of America’s most diverse, affluent, and successful cities in the 21st century.

The event will be held just after the Boston Mayoral election and at the early stages of the state’s Governor’s race, offering a timely discussion of Boston and Massachusetts politics, its history and future. DiCara has been a fixture on the region’s political scene for over three decades.

Everyone is welcome to this free program. The library facility is handicapped accessible at the side door, where there is an elevator to the downstairs meeting room.

CSL Spurs Charitable Halloween Spirit

on October 26, 2013

Old Rochester Regional High School’s Community Service Learning club (CSL) completed their Halloween costume drive last week. The drive was a success, collecting 44 costumes from the high school location alone. Each of the elementary schools in the ORR district were also collecting gently used costumes for infants to age 12.

All costumes will be sorted by student members of CSL and then distributed to kids within the school district who are in need. Any remaining costumes will be donated to Gifts to Give, a charity in New Bedford.

Mary Cabral, the advisor for CSL, explained why they chose to start the year with a costume drive. She said, “I actually had read an article in a newspaper that said the average amount of money that families spend on Halloween is about $70 … I know for a lot of people in this economy, it’s tough to come up with money to make Halloween a special event for their kids.”

Cabral continued, noting, “Kids only wear a costume maybe one time, two times? And then they pack it away, and it probably doesn’t get used again.”

Thus the idea for a costume drive began to form. Why not put these old costumes to good use?

“Two students created a flier, and that was hung up around the school,” Cabral explained, “It was also sent out to the elementary schools.”

With the word out, it was time to grab people’s attention.

“In our front lobby, we created a spooky display,” Cabral said. Student members of CSL hung a banner, Halloween lights, and costume decorations at ORR. This colorful presentation effectively encouraged students to donate their neglected Halloween costumes.

With one successful project completed, what’s next for CSL? Cabral said that the club will be developing a partnership with The Mattapoisett Land Trust.

“We’re going to meet with someone from the Land Trust, and we’re going to do that in conjunction not just with CSL, but also with the Environmental Club and AFS.”

CSL is also thinking ahead to their annual Toys for Tots drive, which will be taking place during the holiday season. “That’s a big, school-wide project,” Cabral said.

As CSL members make plans to spread their generous spirit, the students involved always stay true to CSL’s main goal. Cabral said this mission is “to identify problems locally, within our schools, nationally, and globally, and then to work toward solutions for those problems.”

By Renae Reints