The Mattapoisett Women’s Club will hold its 9th Annual Taste of the Town at Shipyard Park on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This highly acclaimed food tasting event on the pristine shores of Buzzards Bay features Mattapoisett’s finest dining establishments all together in one place under the Lions Club tent.

“Taste of the Town is one of our biggest fundraisers and is supported by—Gail’s Goodies, How on Earth, Nick’s Pizza, the Inn on Shipyard Park, On the Go, Oxford Creamery, Turk’s Seafood, Ying Dynasty and more,” said Eileen Marum, President of the Mattapoisett Women’s Club. “All of our vendors are tremendous and supportive, and all club members are eager to make this a banner year for students through scholarships.”

All proceeds are given back into the community, either through scholarships or flower plantings. Flowers can be viewed at the post office, Center School, Town Hall and at Town Beach.

This spring, the club awarded an unprecedented $4,000 to Mattapoisett scholars.  “I am grateful to each and every member and our vendors,” Marum said. “We couldn’t do this without them.”

Entertainment comes courtesy of the extraordinary and energetic Showstoppers, a singing troupe of local girls and boys.

$10 will buy 20 tickets for the event.  Each ticket is good for one taste at each table. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information, contact co-chairs Lois Ennis (508-758-2188) or Eileen Marum (508-758-9751).

By Deb Burdock

As the summer continues, so do the programs offered by the Mattapoisett Recreation Committee. While most of the activities offered revolve around athletics, the Recreation Committee added a new program to the mix this year: Adventures in Space.

“We were trying to come up with new activities for the kids and parents of the Tri-Town,” said Recreation Committee chairman, Jeremy Collier. This is the first time the committee has organized an education-based activity for the summer season. “We’re trying to get something that grabs everybody.”

The class, which runs all week at Mattapoisett Center School, is for kids under 10, and is proctored by Taunton resident Dave Heshion.

“This has been part of an on-going program I’ve done since 1986,” he said.

While working for Bank of Boston in the 1980s, Heshion, who has always loved space, said he became involved in some of the educational programs offered by the Museum of Science in Boston.

“I started doing schools in March of ’86 after Challenger, to get kids to understand why it’s important to go into space,” he said.

Over the last 27 years, Heshion has traveled to over 3,000 schools teaching students about all things space.

On Monday, participants learned the history of rockets, propulsion and had the opportunity to build their own rockets, which will be launched on Friday. Throughout the rest of the week, Heshion will teach the kids about space stations, airplanes, and what it’s like to live in space.

And on the first day, the audience was definitely paying attention.

“Whenever the rockets go off, you can’t really control them without wings,” learned eight-year-old Ethan Scully of Mattapoisett.

For Isabella Hunt, also eight years old, getting hands-on piqued her interest.

“My favorite part was building the rockets. I’ve never made one before,” she said.

Maybe this first rocket will inspire Isabella and kids like her to pursue a career in space exploration or development, which is exactly what Heshion is hoping for. He does what he does because of the teachers and astronauts he has encountered on his terrestrial journey through space.

“People traveling into space are only about 50 years old. It’s still in its infancy. I think about what these kids will see. I’m sure in their lifetime they will see man walk on Mars. In the end, they are the ones in this country who will make that happen,” he said.  “I’m trying to hang around long enough to witness it, myself.”

For more information on the Mattapoisett Recreation Committee summer programs, visit www.mattapoisett.net/Pages/MattapoisettMA_Recreation/index.

By Eric Tripoli