Award of Excellence

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Donald Bamburger, President of the Mattapoisett Lions Club, one of 45,000 Lion’s Clubs around the world, announced the recipient of 2013 Mattapoisett Lion’s Club Award of Excellence in the amount of $5,000.

This year’s recipient is Colleen Packard, a senior at Bishop Stang High School who will be attending George Washington University in the fall and will be majoring in chemistry. She is recognized for her work in community service, her goals when she completes her studies and her academic record.

Funds for this award were raised through the efforts of the Mattapoisett Lions at their annual Harbor Days Arts and Crafts Festival and other events throughout the year. For information on how to join the Mattapoisett Lions Club, please go to www.mattapoisettlionsclub.org. The Mattapoisett Lions Club Awards Committee includes Helene Rose, Deborah Lariviere, Bruce Boren and Ron Ellis.

Blogging, Now and Then

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The public is cordially invited to attend the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Sippican Historical Society, to be held June 11 at the Marion Music Hall. The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm, and will feature a brief wrap-up of the Society’s business year, followed by the special presentation titled Blogging, Now and Then, by Harvard Professor Robert Darnton. Darnton’s lecture will explore how, long before the Internet, Europeans exchanged information in ways that anticipated blogging. The key element of their information system was the “anecdote,” a term that meant nearly the opposite then from what it means today. By tracking anecdotes through texts, we can rethink the history of books and reassess a rich strain of history and literature.

Professor Darnton, a part-time Marion resident, is an accomplished academician and author. After teaching at Princeton University from for almost 40 years, Darnton became Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor and Director of the University Library at Harvard in 2007. His outside activities include service as a trustee of the New York Public Library and the Oxford University Press (USA) and terms as president of the American Historical Association and the International Society of Eighteenth-Century Studies. Among his honors are a MacArthur Prize Fellowship, a National Book Critics Circle Award, election to the French Legion of Honor, and the National Humanities Medal conferred by President Obama in February 2012. Professor Darnton has written and edited over two dozen books, one of which – The Great Cat Massacre and Other Episodes in French Cultural History – has been translated into 18 languages. His latest books are The Case for Books; The Devil in the Holy Water, or The Art of Slander in France from Louis XIV to Napoleon; and Poetry and the Police: Communication Networks in Eighteenth-Century Paris.

The Marion Music Hall is located at 164 Front Street, and ample parking is available across the street in the Island Wharf lot. The event is free to the public and no reservations are required. For more information, please email info@sippicanhistoricalsociety.org or call 508-748-1116.

Seniors’ Final Week

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The seniors’ final week before graduation started on June 4, with the senior prom at Wequasset Resort and Golf Club. Promenade was held at the school at 4:15 pm for pictures. Students left the school after promenade in limos, party buses and other transportation methods and headed to Harwich, the location of Wequassett Resort. Doors opened for the prom at 6:30 pm. Latecomers were not allowed in.

The dance ended officially at 10:30 pm. Dinner was served at the resort, with each student getting a choice of a chicken dinner, a steak dinner or a vegetarian option.

Seniors had Wednesday off. The events continued on June 6 with a graduation rehearsal in the morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Later that night, seniors met in the gym at 6:00 pm with their graduation gowns (no caps) for Senior Awards Night. This event is mandatory. Parents and family members were encouraged to attend.

June 7 is Senior Assembly. Seniors must arrive at the gym with their gowns by 8:30 am. The assembly will officially begin at 9:15 am and end at 10:38 am. Proper footwear should be worn for the seniors to perform their ceremonial graduation lap around the gym.

After the assembly, seniors will report to the field (weather depending) for their Senior Cookout and yearbook signing.

The dress code is consistent for Senior Awards Night, Senior Assembly and Graduation. Girls are expected to wear appropriate dress and shoes for each event, with the exception of sneakers being allowed for Senior Assembly. Boys are expected to wear dark pants, a collared shirt and tie.

June 8 marks the seniors’ final event, Graduation. All seniors are expected to arrive no later than 12:00 pm. All seniors should report to the gym to pick up tassels and flowers. Gowns and caps are mandatory. The event will begin at 1:00 pm. Should the weather be uncooperative, seniors will report to the library and Graduation will be located in the gym. An outdoor graduation is guaranteed seating for all, but an indoor graduation will have limited seating to those with tickets.

By Jessica Correia

Marion Town Party Date Set

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The Marion Recreation Department, in conjunction with the Marion Firefighters Association, once again is proud to announce the date for the Marion Town Party. The event will be held on August 24 (rain date, August 25). The party will take place at its traditional location on Spring Street in front of the Marion Town House. Festivities will begin at 4:00 pm.

A cherished Marion community tradition, this year’s event will feature a climbing rock wall, bubble bounce, dunk tank, music, bake sale, bonfire and more. Seasonal menu items and beverages are planned. Admission will be free.

Proceeds will be distributed between the Marion Firefighters Association and Marion Recreation to benefit local community needs. Marion Firefighters plan to use proceeds to provide new thermal imaging equipment for the Marion Fire Department, while Marion Recreation plans to use funds for the construction of playground facilities at Washburn Park.

Organizers are seeking donations from the community to help underwrite the event. Food, raffle prizes, services, bake sale items, cash or any other in-kind donation would be greatly appreciated. All contributions are tax deductible.

Please plan to attend with your friends and family to help make this community event a success.

For further information, or to make a donation, please contact: Steve Gonsalves at 508-264-5852; Chris Berg at 508-776-1615 or Jody Dickerson at 774-217-8355.  You may send also a check to: Friends of Marion Recreation – Town Party, P.O. Box 539, Marion, MA 02738, Tax Exempt ID: 27-0944172.

Art in Bloom Opens Tonight

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The Marion Art Center’s Art in Bloom opens tonight at 6pm, and organizers and volunteers gathered Friday afternoon to prepare the exhibit. Works by Mary Jane McCoy and Arthur Kvarnstrom will be paired with interpretative floral arrangements by members of the Marion Garden Discussion Group.

Bobby Fuller and Karilon Grainger assembled an arrangement for a McCoy painting.

“I love her use of color,” Grainger said. “It’s fun re-creating and interpreting the paintings as best we can. It always gets interesting discussions going with visitors.”

MAC Executive Director Deborah Bokelkamp said that Kvarnstrom and his wife were en route from New York.

“I am very much looking forward to meeting him,” Bokelkamp said. “His is a special kind of work, plein air, all watercolors created outdoors and all about variation on a theme.”

Bokelkamp said that Marion artist McCoy’s “interiors and gardens are so vibrant.”

The arrangements take the exhibit to a different level.

“It’s so cool to see what people come up with,” Bokelkamp said. “It’s a summery, fresh exhibit.”

Art in Bloom runs through July 13. The Marion Art Center Gallery is open on Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and on Saturdays from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. Admission is free and open to the public.

Rogers Resigns From RMS

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After only one year at Rochester Memorial School, Dr. Moira Rodgers has resigned from her position as principal, but she assured members of the Rochester School Committee that she had taken all the proper steps for a smooth transition to the next principal and administration.

“I want to make sure that everyone knows that I will have as much in place that I can have in place [so that everything goes smoothly next year],” said Rodgers. “I feel confident that the transition will be successful.”

She also took the time to thank everyone on the Rochester School Committee, as well as staff, students, and parents at RMS.

“Words cannot express my gratitude,” Rodgers said. “I’ve learned so much and I’m so grateful to everyone and everything that this year has afforded me.”

She added that she felt that the school had taken some major steps within the year that should be beneficial for years to come.

“I feel that we have made some plans and changes that will be best for the students and staff there,” she said.

Members of the Committee also thanked Rodgers for her service.

In other news, the Committee unanimously decided to change Kindergarten from a half-day to full one. The class would also remain free of charge.

According to White, Marion and Mattapoisett both have full-day programs, and he also said that half-day is still an option for students, but that decision is up to the parents.

Full-day bus transportation will be included for Kindergarten students, but half-day students would need to provide their own ride from school.

“It’s very exciting for the kids,” member Tina Rood said.

By Nick Walecka

Flash Flood Watch Through Saturday

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The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for our area through Saturday as heavy rains are expected while the remains of Tropical Storm Andrea pass though our region.

It’s True “Sippican’s Got Talent”

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Eighty-four students, thirty-seven performances, six acts, and two teachers add up to one great night of entertainment. The talents showed through at Sippican School’s “Sippican’s Got Talent” this evening. There was dancing, there was singing, magic and even stand up comedy, they had it all.

Photos by Paul Lopes

Elizabeth Taber Library

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Dig Into Reading!: Children ages 2-12 and their families can discover the joy of reading at the Elizabeth Taber Library this summer. The fun begins on June 24 and continues through August 1. Play the “Dig Into Reading Game” for fun, prizes and a good cause.

Ed the Wizard: June 24 at 2:00 pm. Young audiences will enjoy mystifying magic, juggling, colorful costumes and comedy. Performance will be held at the Music Hall (corner of Front and Cottage streets). This performance is made possible in part by the Marion Cultural Council.

Lunch Bunch I begins June 25 at 12:30 pm at the Elizabeth Taber Library. Children ages 7-10 can bring lunch and a drink (we supply dessert) and listen as we begin reading aloud. Contact the library to join this group.

Summer Story Time begins June 26 at 10:30 am for 2-4 year olds (accompanied

by enthusiastic adult companions). Sign up today and enjoy the fun!

Lunch Bunch II begins June 27 at 12:30 pm. Children ages 5-7 can bring lunch

and a drink (we supply dessert), and listen to a book being read aloud. Contact the

library to join this group.

Drop-in Activity Days are every Friday and Saturday during the summer program at the

Elizabeth Taber Library. Instructions and materials are available in the Children’s Room during regular library hours.

Pre-Readers: Help decorate our “Cave” by putting up a sticker each visit to the library.

Junior Volunteers: Students going into grades 5-9 can become junior library aides

for the summer. Contact Mrs. Grey at the library or by email at rgrey@sailsinc.org before June 17 for more information and to fill out an application.

All events are free of charge! For more information, call the library at 508-748-1252, and check our website at www.elizabethtaberlibrary.org.

Local Pan-Mass Challenge Team

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Team oN A Mission is a group of 12 riders; nine college students, two ORR seniors and our athletic director, Bill Tilden, all from the Tri-Town area riding in the 34th Annual Pan-Mass Challenge taking place August 3 and 4. As a team, we have a minimum fundraising goal of $51,600, with 100 percent of that money going to Dana-Farber Cancer Research Institute via the Jimmy Fund. Team oN A Mission is holding a two-mile run/walk with a 1/4 kid’s run on June 22, with 100 percent of the registration fees and other donations going directly to Dana-Farber, which will impact research and treatment at the world’s best cancer research and treatment institute.

Team oN A Mission was started last year by Sarah Marchisio and cousin Beth Peucker to ride in memory of Nancy and Richard Marchisio (Sarah’s parents), as well as Maura Scanlon-McRae (the duo’s aunt) and every other human that has been touched by cancer. We are all riding the 192-mile journey from Sturbridge to Provincetown with heavy hearts yet hopeful ones, and are joined by 4,000-plus other riders who will not stop until a cure is found. Registration for the run/walk online can be done at http://racewire.com/register.php?id=3202, and more information about the team and individual riders can be found at http://www2.pmc.org/profile/TG0112.