Tri-Town Graduates and Awards

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Berklee College of Music announces that Benjamin Burns of Mattapoisett has earned placement on the Dean’s List for the spring semester of the 2013 academic year.

The following Tri-Town residents were named to the Dean’s List during the spring 2013 semester at Salve Regina University: Allison LaCrosse of Mattapoisett, a junior majoring in Nursing, and Abigail McBride of Marion, a junior majoring in Marketing.

Eleanor Severance was named to the spring 2013 Dean’s List at Choate Rosemary Hall.

Taylor Craig, Mattapoisett, was a recipient of the Dean’s Award for academic excellence during the 2013 spring term at Colgate University, where Craig is a member of the Class of 2015 and studies History.

Robert Gammell, Mattapoisett, has been named to second honors on the Clark University Dean’s List. This selection marks outstanding academic achievement during the spring 2013 semester.

Andrew Hadley of Marion graduated from Assumption College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Eagle Scout Project in Mattapoisett

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Members of Mattapoisett’s Boy Scout Troop 53 gather around the completed for Owen Lee (top). The scouts were aided by the Highway Department in transporting the lifeguard stands to Town Beach. Photo courtesy of Bodil Perkins.

Make Toys From Recyclable Materials

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Join in the fun on July 26 at 1:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Historical Society, and engineer your own toy boat by using recyclable materials. We’ll even have a place to check out whether your craft is seaworthy or not! Ages 8 and up; registration encouraged. The program is free; donations are accepted. For more information or to register, please call 508-758-2844 or email mattapoisett.museum@verizon.net.

Last Tuesday of the Month Free Movie

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On July 31 at 12:00 pm, the Mattapoisett Friends of the Elderly hosts a free showing of Silver Linings Playbook at the Council on Aging. Pizza is available for $2. Pizza requests must be pre-paid by July 30 at 3:00 pm.

Silver Linings Playbook: Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Pat has lost everything – house, job and wife. He lives with his mother and father after spending eight months in a state institution. Pat is trying to be positive, rebuild his life and reunite with his wife. Pat’s parents want him to get back on his feet and to share their love of the Philadelphia Eagles football team. Pat meets a mysterious girl, and things get complicated. She offers to help Pat, but only if he’ll do something in return. As it plays out, silver linings appear in both of their lives.

Please RVSP the Mattapoisett Council on Aging at the Center School, 17 Barstow Street, or call 508-758-4110 even if you’re not having pizza, so we know how many seats to set up.

Friends of Faye Alzheimers Walk

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The “Friends of Faye” Walk to End Alzheimers team is sponsoring a fundraiser on July 28 featuring psychic/medium Matt Fraser. Matt is a gifted and spirited psychic medium who has been on CBS Radio and NBC Morning News. His live shows are standing-room-only crowds. His engaging and entertaining personality makes his shows a wonderful experience. On July 28, he will be at the Wareham Lodge of Elks from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Doors will open at 12:30 pm. There will be a raffle, cash bar and coffee. The cost of tickets is $40.

Our team walks to honor Faye Miles, who was diagnosed with Alzheimers five years ago and is now in long-term care. Faye was an intelligent, energetic woman who loved to golf, garden and read. She taught at Old Rochester Regional High School for 28 years. 5.4 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimers. Every 69 seconds, someone else is diagnosed. Alzheimers is a terminal illness and is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S.

On September 22, our team will participate for the fifth year in the Walk to End Alzheimers at Bristol Community College. Proceeds from this event will go to the Alzheimers Association on behalf of our team.

If you are interested in attending, you may go to Matt’s website, www.meetmattfraser.com, or call Barb Meehan (508-291-0660) or Sue Camacho (508-295-2691).

Young Adult Authors at Shipyard Park

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The Mattapoisett Free Public Library presented a unique opportunity to catch four popular authors at the height of their powers before last Thursday’s Teen Dance.

Scott Blagden (Dear Life, You Suck), Kimberly Marcus (Exposed), Joe Lawlor (bully.com), and Rebecca Maizel (Infinite Days) write for a 12- to 18-year-old audience, typically, and tackle subjects that tend to appeal to that age group.

Blagden’s novel – recently nominated for the Young Adult Library Services Association Best Fiction Award – features a Holden Caulfield-esque protagonist, and the Wareham resident said he enjoys running his workshops for young people through the Mattapoisett Library.

“I did write when I was a teen, but I gave it up, and I didn’t pick it back up until my 40s,” Blagden said. “I regret that, so talking to these kids about writing is something I’m passionate about.”

On Thursday night, Blagden could be seen mentoring fan and aspiring novelist Jacqueline Leduc, a 14-year-old Acushnet resident.

Marcus, who lives in Dartmouth, said she is drawn to both “silly rhyming books for children and angsty, edgy teen novels.” Exposed fits the latter description, but Marcus has published both.

Lawlor’s novel centers on cyber-bullying. The advertiser turned teacher turned author said he has seen bullying up close, and said that today’s brand is different from more obvious bullying in the past.

“These days, it’s different. You don’t always know who the bully is. I wanted it to be topical, but I didn’t want to make it too heavy,” said Lawlor of his mystery. “When you have a school fill of suspects, it’s a really nice way to begin a story.”

Maizel, meanwhile, said that there is a “stigma about supernatural fantasy, like, ‘Oh, another vampire book,’ but I think the idea of emergence and finding your identity really resonates with teenagers.” Infinite Days is the first book in Maizel’s Vampire Queen series, and the second, Stolen Nights, is also out now.

By Shawn Badgley

Mattapoisett Bike Path Update

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In a recent conversation about bike path progress, Michael Gagne, Mattapoisett Town Administrator, stated that he was “hopeful” that a finalized legal document will be presented to Mattapoisett Selectmen for signature at the August Board of Selectmen meeting. The document will formalize the gift of land by the YMCA to the town, and is the last document needed to be filed with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation before proceeding to the required public hearing and then to final construction plans. Gagne had met with Selectmen in executive session on July 9 to review specific aspects of the draft before providing direction to legal counsel.

Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path are also “hopeful” that all parties to this agreement will work expeditiously to execute it so that this long-delayed project can be put back on track.

Is Mattapoisett a “bike friendly” town? Judging from the increase in bicyclists in the Village over the last few years, it would seem that yes, people find our town a very nice place to bike. If we could complete the bike path, improve some of our intersections and make better bike access from the north side of town, as well as create safer conditions for biking to our businesses, then we might say we are on the road to being bike friendly. What more does it take? Informed bicyclists who practice the rules of the road and safe cycling, motorists and bicyclists who willingly share the road, and a town government that supports policies and planning to make our infrastructure safer for bicyclists.

The American League of Bicyclists (LAB) has a program called “Bike Friendly America.” Communities across the nation are invited to apply for “Bike Friendly” status. It’s free. The LAB provides a toolkit of projects, policies, programs and plans designed to make biking in our community better. Wouldn’t it be great to arrive to our town’s borders and see a sign that says “Welcome to Mattapoisett, a bike friendly community”? It’s not unlike the Arbor Foundation’s “Tree City USA” program. What we need to get started is a small group of people to participate in targeted activities that will result in our town being designated a Bike Friendly Community. Are you interested? You can find out more about Bike Friendly America online at www.bikeleague.org/bfa. Come to our Harbor Days booth, check out the information packages there, and sign up for more information. We will be scheduling an evening meeting in upcoming months to bring every one up to date.

But even if you don’t want to join the group, please start right now helping us to become more bike friendly by visiting the LAB website for great information about rules of the road, safe cycling, learning to ride effectively and more. There are great short videos, too. Among the most important rule: ride with the traffic, not against it. Drivers are not looking for bikes going the wrong way. Ride a safe distance from the shoulder – 18 inches to two feet. Other best safety tips: wear bright clothing and a helmet, make eye contact with drivers at intersections, don’t wear earphones when you are riding, and let people on the bike path or sidewalk know you are passing with a ring of your bell or calling out “passing left.” Enjoy your summer!

Showstoppers Performance

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The Showstoppers performance troupe will provide cabaret-style entertainment in the Mattapoisett Chowder House Function Room on July 18 and 25 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Patrons will have the opportunity to order drinks, appetizers, and/or entrees from the regular menu while the talented youth perform throughout the dining room. While there is no cover charge, the performance troupe will be accepting donations of any size to help with expenses associated with their scheduled August 8 performance in Disney World.

The Showstoppers community service singing troupe volunteers hundreds of hours annually performing at nursing homes, senior centers, community fundraisers and civic events all year long! They have been invited to perform in Disney World: a fitting reward for these youth who share so much of their time and talent for the benefit of others.

All donations are tax-deductible. Showstoppers Musical Entertainment is a division of Showstoppers Performing Arts, Inc., a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.

For more information about this event or about the singing troupe, contact Kelly Zucco, Co-Founder and Director, at 508-758-4525.

2013 Tri-Town Basketball Camp

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The 2013 Tri-Town Basketball Camp, under the direction of Coach Rick Regan for the 17th year, was held again this past week (July 15-18) at the Old Rochester Regional High School gymnasium. The girls’ camp from July 22-25 will not run this year due to low numbers, but the boys’ camp was a huge success, with over 50 campers showcasing their skills. Coach Regan and the Tri-Town Basketball Camp staff would like to thank all of the campers for their great effort and a job well done this year! Campers may find pictures of themselves by liking our page Tri-Town Basketball Camp on Facebook. We look forward to seeing our former and new campers again next summer!

Marion Art Center Fundraiser a Hit

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“This is the party of the summer,” said Marion Art Center board member Shelly Richins as she collected tickets to the MAC’s cocktail party fundraiser on Friday evening. The event was held at a private waterfront home that had a large white tent and plenty of great food, wonderful music and a record turnout.

Music was provided by the Third Shift Jazz Quartet, which played songs from the Great American Song Book. Hundreds of people came to support the effort that raises money for the Marion Art Center, which has two galleries and a community theater located at 80 Pleasant Street in Marion.

“I’ve been going for 15 years,” organizer Kimberly Owens said. “We don’t have a silent auction or anything like that, we just want people to come and enjoy the company of friends and neighbors, enjoy wonderful food and music, and enjoy it all with this beautiful view.

“The funds raised are used for ongoing building restoration, and maintenance and general expenses.”

The Buzzards Bay Music Fest musicians had the evening off and enjoyed the party as the MAC’s guests. It was a chance for the hosts of the musicians to bring their guests, and for the musicians to socialize with one another. Attendees were thrilled to meet the musicians, which they had heard from their seats at the BBMF over the previous two evenings.

“This is a real opportunity to meet and speak with these incredibly talented musicians,” said Trudy Kingery, who helps organize the annual music fest. The MAC fundraiser is always held to coincide with the Buzzards Bay Music Fest so the musicians can enjoy the party and have a night off during their visit to Marion.

The weather held out, and the gathering was enjoyed by all.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry