Mattapoisett Road Race Committee

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The Mattapoisett Road Race Committee recently met to continue preparations for its 43rd 5-mile run to be held July 4 at 9:00 am. The Race Committee is headed by Bill Tilden, ORRHS Athletic Director.

Throughout the history of the race, the Race Committee has given over $120,000 in awards to Tri-Town students who have been involved in running. Proceeds from this year’s race will go to ORRHS senior athletes.

The Committee will also give recognition of the most spirited spectators along the race route and sell “Future Runner” shirts the day of the race.

Online registration is ahead of last year’s pace. Runners are encouraged to do online registrations by June 26 or mail in registrations postmarked by June 24. Runners can also sign up at Shipyard Park on July 3 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm or on July 4 from 7:30 to 8:30 am.

More information and/or register at www.mattapoisettroadrace.com and like us on Facebook!

SCOPE Kids Have Busy Week

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You have to hand it to the seventh-graders who opt out of Old Rochester Regional Junior High School’s Survival Week: They don’t just sit around twiddling their thumbs.

ORRJS science teacher Kathy Gauvin heads up the school’s Selected Courses Offered for Personal Enrichment program, which serves as the alternative for students who don’t sign up for Survival. Though Survival is rightfully legendary for the challenge it sets forth for students – fending for themselves far away from the societal conveniences they’re accustomed to – SCOPE’s goals are also admirable.

“We want them out of their comfort zone, but we also want them to have some fun,” Gauvin said. “We’re aiming for some diversity in the events during the week, from trust- and team-building exercises to taking them to places they might have never been before.”

During SCOPE 2013 this past week, students visited Sky Zone in Providence, the YMCA ropes course, the Mattapoisett Land Trust for hiking and other activities, and Fort Phoenix. They also went bowling.

“That’s why I did SCOPE,” said seventh-grader Hannah Farias during Wednesday’s hike. “There are more things to do. There’s one day of hiking and being in the woods instead of a week. I can handle that.”

Classmate Kimmy Rigby agreed.

“It was muddy and gross, but it ended up being really fun,” she said. “I liked seeing another part of Mattapoisett.”

Gauvin, with the help of other ORRJS faculty, guided the scores of students through a scavenger hunt, a “human knot,” and other physical and mental obstacles.

“Some of them are friends, and others haven’t spent much time together,” Gauvin said. “You really see not only character and self-esteem being built up, but also friendships.”

Gauvin said that some kids at first feel the stigma of not participating in Survival, but most of them overcome it by week’s end.

“We rate it on how happy they are, and engaged,” she said. “The kids are having a blast. As long as they’re having fun and learning things outside of the classroom, the program is a success.”

By Shawn Badgley

 

Mary I. (Coutu) Ringuette

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Mary I. (Coutu) Ringuette, 73, of Mattapoisett died June 13, 2013 at St. Luke’s Hospital after a brief illness.

She was the wife of Robert E. Ringuette.

Born and raised in Pawtucket, RI, the daughter of the late Albert and Lorraine (Grenier) Coutu, she raised her family in South Attleboro before retiring to Mattapoisett in 1983.

Mrs. Ringuette was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church.

She enjoyed spending time with her family, baking and ceramics.

Survivors include her husband; 2 sons, Robert Ringuette, Jr. and his wife Norma of Franklin, MA and Michael Ringuette and his wife Jeraline of Davidson, NC; 2 sisters, Teri Beaugrand of Dighton and Janet Woodhead of South Attleboro; a brother, Albert Coutu, Jr. of Pascoag, RI; 6 grandchildren, Gary, Cory, Lindsey, Justin, Kayla and Nicole; 3 great-grandchildren, Alexa, Christian and Paige; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was the grandmother of the late Jason Ringuette, the great-grandmother of the late Pace Ringuette and the sister of the late Lillian Paquette.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11 AM in St. Anthony’s Church, Mattapoisett. Visiting hours will be on Monday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Donate Your Books

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Are you getting your house ready for summer? Take some time to clean your shelves of your best used books to make way for the new ones you’ll be buying at the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library’s annual book sale. We’re looking for good-quality hardcover and paperback books, audio books, DVDs and children’s books. Please, no periodicals, encyclopedias VHS tapes or textbooks. Donations can be left at Eastern Bank, Mayhew’s Valet Cleaner’s and Shepley Financial Services, all along Route 6 in Mattapoisett. Please note that the “Book Donation” container in town is not associated with the Friends or with the Mattapoisett Free Public Library.

The book sale this year will be held at the library, 7 Barstow Street, July 17 through 20, with a Members-Only Preview the evening of the 17th. Membership forms can be found at the library, or through the library’s website at MattapoisettLibrary.org. Volunteers are always welcome.

The Friends of the Mattapoisett Library is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 corporation that serves the library’s needs. We provide a number of museum passes annually; support the summer Children’s Programs, and others by request; and serve to provide the library and its staff with wants and needs as they arise. Our funding comes from our membership fees, our monthly and annual book sales, and our jewelry and accessories sales.

SHS 50th Anniversary

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In July of 1963, a meeting was called at the home of Dr. Hugh Hencken for the purpose of forming a historical society in Marion. Seven people were present. On that evening, the Sippican Historical Society was born, established with the mission to preserve Marion’s history. The purpose of the Society has remained constant over the years: to create and foster an interest in the history of Marion; to encourage historical research and writing; to collect documents and relics and to provide the proper care for them; and to establish a museum to hold the historical material pertaining to the history of Marion.

The Society has come a long way since its inception almost 50 years ago. With a membership of more than 200 individuals and families, it has become a vibrant community of people who value the mission to preserve Marion’s past and promote a greater appreciation for the historic New England values which have been so important over the years. Over the past decades, SHS has sponsored numerous preservation and beautification projects throughout town, most recently the renovation of the Broomhead Bandstand in Island Wharf Park. In recent years, it has emerged with more frequent program offerings – from the popular Classic Film Fridays to entertaining and informative lectures by noted authors and local experts.

At 50 years young, the SHS has reason to celebrate! On June 29, the nonprofit will host an evening to commemorate this exciting half-century milestone. To be held at the Sippican Tennis Club, the party is open to SHS supporters past, present and future, and will include cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The evening will feature both live and silent auctions, with items to include vacation accommodations, gourmet dinner parties, day cruises and sports packages, to name a few. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Historical Society’s ongoing endowment and preservation efforts. Admission is $75 per person, and tickets can be purchased at the Sippican Historical Society (139 Front Street in Marion) or ordered by calling 508-748-1116. Inquiries and orders can also be emailed to shs50anniv@gmail.com

Gateway Hockey Golf Tournament

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The second annual Gateway Youth Hockey Golf Tournament will take place June 29 at the Bay Pointe Club, 19 Baypointe Drive, Onset. Registration is at 11:45 am, with a shotgun start at 12:45 pm. Dinner is at 6:00 pm. The format is four-person scramble. Entry fees are $125/individual, $475/team. Dinner is only $25. The entry fee includes green fee, golf cart and dinner. Sponsorships also available; please call Ben Hathaway at 774-454-1114. All proceeds benefit Gateway Youth Hockey.

Seniors Say Farewell

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The seniors’ graduation week held three of the most famous events all high school students hear about during their four years at Old Rochester.

June 6 was Senior Awards Night in the ORR gymnasium. Students were awarded certificates, medals or trophies (depending on award) without prior knowledge of what they were to be given.

One award for every senior academic class was awarded, as well as a “Department Award” for each section of ORR’s academic institution. Academic class awards were given as certificates, some to two or three students at a time. Department Awards went to one student per department. Department Awards were awarded as followed: Emun Legesse in French, Abigail Hiller in Latin, Edward Costa in Spanish, Kristin Nascimento in English Language Arts, Joshua Bardwell in History and Social Sciences, Drew Cunningham in Mathematics, Edward Costa and Sophie Harding in Physical Education, Alexander Milde in Science, Technology and Engineering, Tori Hayden in Art, Michael Bliss in Band, Caroline Reusch in Chorus and Naomi Reed in Family Consumer Science.

There were also awards for Community Service hours, AFS recognition, Drama Club and National Honor Society. These were awarded to all seniors who qualified.

Top 10 Scholar Awards were given to the top 10 students in the senior class.

Numerous other awards were awarded that night, including but not limited to the Principal’s Leadership Award, which went to Sophia Santos and the Scholar Athlete Award, given to Edward Costa. All scholarship awards won by seniors were announced for the crowd as well.

The next morning was Seniors’ Last Assembly. Speeches by Class Officers, Principal Michael Devoll and the Junior Class President were presented about the senior class in between student performances and two video presentations. The school band performed, as well as the chorus. Performances included the following students: Madelyn Pellegrino, Katelyn Kiernan, Maxwell Houck, Nick Mathieu, Caroline Reusch, Ethan Faulkner, Justin Smilan and Eliza Treichel.

Two video presentations were made. The first was by the AFS Club to give recognition to ORR’s three foreign exchange students and to give them a chance to give ORR recognition in return. The second video closed the assembly, a combination slideshow/video made by Tim Gonsalves and Erin Murphy that highlighted the Class of 2013’s years of schooling.

The next afternoon saw the final commencement in the gymnasium. Speeches were given by: Senior Class President Abigail Hiller, Superintendent Doug White, Principal Michael Devoll, National Honor Society Vice President Fred Murolo and Valedictorian Edward Costa. The school band performed the usual graduation processional and recessional as well as “River of Life” from the musical Les Miserables. Highlights of the speeches included Devoll’s “Know Your Class” game show and Costa’s fitting Toy Story-themed speech. (The seniors’ Homecoming skit was Toy Story and their Senior T-Shirt quote was “To Infinity and Beyond.”)

The afternoon ended with students receiving their diplomas and the traditional switching of the tassels from right to left.

By Jessica Correia

Yacht Race Readies for Launch

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The biannual Marion to Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race is set to start on Friday, June 14, with First Attention Signal scheduled for 11:30 am, preceded by the final days of preparation in Marion.

On Thursday, registration runs from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, followed by the Skippers’ Meeting and Weather Briefing at Tabor Academy at 5:00 pm and Gosling’s Captains and Crew Dinner at 6:00 pm. Officials expect “beautiful” conditions for the race, which is a 645-mile course to Bermuda, where an action-packed week awaits.

The starting line is approximately four nautical miles off of Sippican Harbor. Fans and followers can track the progress of the anticipated 40 crews – including 2011 runner-up Pescatore of Marion – at www.marionbermuda.com.

Sprague’s Cove Monies OK’d

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A $12,000 request to be used for fencing and treating invasive plant species at Sprague’s Cove adjacent to Silvershell Beach was approved by the Marion Conservation Commission at their meeting on Wednesday evening. The area is a storm water retention area that was overgrown for years, resulting in an impact to the integrity of the dikes and berms in the area.

Approximately $5,000 will be spent on eradicating fragmites, an invasive species that has spread into and around the finger dikes. The remaining $7,000 will be used to construct a split rail fence with wire backing behind it along the parking area at Silvershell Beach.

Board member Steve Gonsalves discussed the issue of maintenance on both sides of the fence, which will be ongoing. “Let’s do it right and make sure the fenced area doesn’t get overgrown, causing more problems,” he said. “This is taxpayer money, and we want to make sure we’re addressing issues that will come up over time.”

In other business, the committee discussed a Request for Determination of Applicability to construct an 18-by-26-foot addition to the northeast corner of the Saltonstall Architects building at 380 Wareham St. The proposed addition is located in a flood zone and located approximately 62 feet away from the delineated wetland line. Will Saltonstall addressed the Commission.

The proposed addition would be set on six pre-cast concrete posts installed via backhoe. At issue was the proposed parking area, which the board felt was encroaching upon the wetland area. The board agreed to revisit the area to discuss the request.

Next up was a Request for Determination of Applicability by Frank Cerkovitz, Lot 39 Cross Neck Road, to convert cranberry bogs into wetlands as mandated by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

At issue is an old cranberry bog being abandoned and left to nature’s way.

“Trees will grow in the bog,” Cerkovitz said. “I have a 10-year plan to keep fragmites [an invasive species] out.”

Cerkovitz said he plans to monitor the transformation of the bog to a natural setting. Water levels, which were kept in check when the area was a bog, are now flowing freely, creating a water flow conducive to fish and wildlife activity.

The board continued a request from Warren P. Williamson IV and Lee H. Williamson, southerly of 125 Converse Road, who filed a Notice of Intent to perform the following activities within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to a Bordering Vegetate Wetland: construct a portion of a deck, install a portion of a drainage pipe, and perform land clearing and grading associated with the construction of a dwelling located outside the Buffer Zone.

The continuation was rescheduled for 7:40 pm on June 26.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

Rochester Land Trust Wild Edibles

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The Rochester Land Trust is planning a two-hour forging walk with Russ Cohen on June 26 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Church’s Field on Mattapoisett Road in Rochester. Cohen is a professional environmentalist and wild foods expert who is the author of Wild Plants I Have Known … and Eaten. More information about foraging and wild edibles may be found at his website, http://users.rcn.com/eatwild/bio.htm.

The site, Church’s Field, offers a combination of open fields, wetlands, uplands and riverbank habitat that should yield an interesting bounty of wild edibles at this time of year. For further information, call Bunny Mogilnicki at 508-763-0088 or email bunnymogilnicki@comcast.net. Please wear suitable clothing for field and forest and bring bug spray.