ORR Students to Attend State Convention

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Ten members of the class of 2013 at Old Rochester Regional High School will be attending Boys’/Girls’ State Convention sponsored by the American Legion’s Florence Eastman Post 280, June 16-22, at Stonehill College in North Easton.

The Mattapoisett Lions Club will sponsor Kevin Noone, Nicholas Pacheco, Jaclyn Hahn, and Chandra PerezGill.  Lawrence DiCara, Esquire will sponsor Edward Costa, Adam Costa and Alexandra Saccone.

To be eligible for Boys’/Girls’ State, a student must be a member of the junior class who has achieved high academic success. Delegates must also show evidence of leadership ability and an interest in the democratic process. At the convention, delegates will study local and state government. They will establish and operate their own cities and towns and state of government in miniature. This will include forming two political parties, holding conventions, nominating candidates, conducting campaigns, and electing officials. The primary goal of Boys’/Girls’ State is for attendees to develop a better understanding of how State Government functions.

BoxTops/Campbell’s Labels for Education

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Please help support Center School and save your BoxTops and Campbell’s Labels. Funding from these products helps pay for transportation to field trips and recess equipment.  Community collection boxes for the BoxTops and soup labels are located at the Mattapoisett Town Hall, the Children’s department of the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, and at the Mattapoisett Senior Center. Thank you for supporting your local school!

Rochester Historical Society Event

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The Rochester Historical Society will present Three Centuries at Eastover Farm and the Sippican Mill, an interesting peek into the history of this beautiful Rochester farm and the families responsible for its preservation for over 300 years. 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the Hiller family involvement with the property. The meeting is at the East Rochester Church/ Museum on Wednesday, June 20 at 7:00 pm. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

MCS Class of 1952 Seeking Classmates

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In mid-July, members of the graduating class of 1952 from the Mattapoisett Center School will gather in Shipyard Park to celebrate its 60th anniversary. The committee is looking to get in touch with the following classmates: John Bowman, Walter Bowman, Thelma Cambra, Mary Cruz, Barbara Dexter, Robert Dudgeon, Perry Enos, Perry Faria, Ray Faria, William Fields, Oliver Fonseca, Richard Frates, Donald Gerry, Eva Hathaway, William Hubbard, John Hyland, Catherine Jones, Carl Junior, Harry Kerst, George LeForest, MOnette LeForest, Irene Morgado, Edith Oliveira, Madelina Oliveira, Pat Pacheco, Eleanor Peacock, Charlotte Purrington, Jo-Ann Raphael, Richard Roberts, Donald Russell, Alice Souza, Jose Souza, Ronald Sylvia, Patricia Stone, Robert Sturtevant, Betty Tripp, Lottie Vaughn, Lenora Veira, David Vermilyea, George Washburn, Robert Waterhouse and Peter Wertz.

For more information on how to join the celebration, contact Donald Correia at drtire@aol.com or 508-758-4738.

Marion Recreation Summer Programs

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Camp Silvershell is for children entering Grades 1-6. New this year, each two-week session will include a field trip, such as Roger Williams Zoo and Battleship Cove. The camp is Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. (No camp on July 4). Early Drop Off and Late Pick Up are available.

Marion Recreation has created a fabulous sitting area at Washburn Park. We’d like to ask community members to donate any new or gently used picnic tables that you no longer need. We would also like to have some picnic tables at Silvershell Beach as well. Please call 774-217-8355 and we will gladly pick up any donated item.

There are many new programs offered this summer:

•Sign the kids up for Art Classes with Mrs. Erin Kirk. The classes are Creating with Clay, Mimicking the Masters, Fiddling with Fibers, Amazing Animals and A Plethora of Printmaking. Sign up early, space is limited!

•For children going into Grades 1-3, there is the Junior Scientist Summer Mixology Camp. The children will experiment with a variety of chemistry, biology, ecology and geology hands on activities. One week only!

•Tap and Hip Hop Dance Camps are offered for ages 5-13. There is also a Musical Theatre Camp based on the movie “Lemonade Mouth”. Each of these one-week long camps will be held at the Music Hall during the month of July.

•Horsemanship Program is offered in August. It will consist of learning the basics of horse handling, safety and horse care, as well as a riding lesson for beginners to advanced.

•Movies in the Park will be held each Wednesday night beginning July 11 at 7:00 pm. Admission is free! Bring your blankets and chairs and enjoy a show with the family. Refreshments will be available for purchase. All proceeds to benefit Marion Recreation Programs.

For more information and for many more programs such as Swimming and Sailing Lessons, please check out the website at http://marionrecreation.com/Marion_Recreation/Home.html or call Marion Recreation at 774-217-8355.

Plumb Library June Programs

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•Café Parlez’ selection for June is “The Three Junes”, by Julia Glass, winner of the National Book Award. If this book were a triptych, you’d have the first section, where Paul, a Scottish widower on vacation in Greece, reminisces about his life, marriage, three sons, and the death of his wife. The middle – a larger section – would be about Paul’s oldest son, Fenno, a gay expat who runs a bookstore in Greenwich Village. He befriends Malachy, who is dying from AIDS, and has an unexpected dalliance with photographer Tony. The third section would be about Fern, an American who met Paul in Greece, and whose vacation with Tony is interrupted by Fenno and one of his brothers. Taking place in June of 1989, 1991, and 1999, this book is about life, death, and the importance of family. We will be discussing “The Three Junes” on Thursday, June 28 at 6:30 pm. Books are available at the desk, or bring your own copy.  Café Parlez is sponsored by the Friends of Plumb Library.  Continue the discussion on Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com

•Join fellow knitters and crocheters around the world for the annual World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP Day).  Started in 2005, WWKIP has grown from 25 events in 2005 to over 700 in recent years. There are events scheduled in Australia, China, Ireland, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, and the United States.  Our event will take place at 10:30 am on Tuesday, June 12, and will last throughout the day, ending at 4:00 pm. We will meet in the gazebo. Participants are asked to bring lawn chairs, a bag lunch, and their latest knitting or crocheting project. Come and go as you please. The Friends of Plumb Library will provide beverages and dessert.

For more information, call the library at 508-763-8600.

“Dream Big—Read!”  This is the theme for the 2012 Summer Reading Program, for ages 3-9.  Registration starts on June 16 and will end on June 30. Children can register at the library, and online at www.readsinma.org/rochester. After registering for the program, children can read books or magazines, read aloud to others, listen to books being read aloud by parents or older siblings, listen to audio books, or participate in the online book service Tumblebooks; keep track of the hours spent reading or listening; and report online or in person at the library. Events this summer will include magic, comedy, puppets, cartooning, inventions, scavenger hunts, and a stuffed animal sleepover.

Important dates in June are:

•June 16: registration and logging starts

•June 18-Aug 25: Weekly drop-in activities

•June 23, 11:00 am: Greg McAdams presents “Team Magic”, at the Congregational Church

•June 30, 11:00 am: Pumpernickel Puppets presents “Sir George the Dragon”, at the library.  Sponsored by the Rochester Cultural Council

•Tweens/Teens ages 10-16 can register for “Own the Night”. Adults ages 17 and up can register for “Between the Covers”. In both programs, logging reading hours can earn raffle tickets.  Weekly drawings will take place starting June 18.

Elizabeth Taber Library Summer Programs

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Children ages 2-12 and their families can discover the joy of reading at the Elizabeth Taber Library this summer. The fun begins continues through Thursday, August 2. Play the “Camp Out at the Library Reading Game” for fun, prizes and a good cause. We are using the time spent reading to support the work of Heifer International.

Join us for our “Kick-off” event: Alex-the-Jester on Monday, June 25 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 Tuesday, June 26 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 Wednesday, June 27 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 Thursday, June 28 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.

•Reading Activities: Play the “Camp Out at the Library” Reading Game! Independent readers going into grades 2-7 and/or family groups of all ages can read together for fun, prizes and a good cause.

•Pre-Readers: Help decorate our “Campsite” by putting up a Camping 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 18 for more information and to fill out an application.

•Make a Teddy Bear Sleeping Bag! Wednesday, June 27 at 2:00 pm Get ready for a Teddy Bear Camp-out at the Library! Bring your stuffed animal and we’ll help you make their very own sleeping bag for a camp out at the library.

•Make Your Own First-Aid Kit! Wednesday, July 11 at 2:00 pm Kathy Downey, RN, MSN, our Town Nurse, will show us how! You’ll learn all about first aid while assembling your very own kit to take camping.

•Awesome Robb! Magic! Juggling! Comedy! Monday, July 16 at 2:00 pm. Performance will be held at the Music Hall

•Build a Fairy House! Wednesday, July 18 at 2:00 pm.Upstairs in the Marion Natural History Museum Create a home for fairies with materials from nature; rocks, twigs, shells, flowers, feathers and more.

•Make a ”Sit-Upon” for Campfire Fun!  Wednesday, July 25 at 2:00 pm Cozy around the campfire on these soft pillows and toast marshmallows!

•Make a Beaded Compass Lanyard! Wednesday, August 1 at 2:00 pm. Personalize your new compass with a beaded lanyard to find your way home!

•Ice Cream Sundae Social. Thursday, August 2 at 2:00 pm. For everyone that enjoyed reading and the library this summer!

All events are free of charge! For more information, call the library at 508-748-1252, check our web site at www.elizabethtaberlibrary.org or email Rosemary Grey, Children’s Librarian, at rgrey@sailsinc.org.

Sippican’s Got Talent 2012!

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Families and friends packed Sippican Elementary School’s auditorium on Tuesday night for the fourth Sippican’s Got Talent show.  The evening featured over 30 performances by about 60 students, including dancing, singing, and piano playing.

Stacey Soucy, the school’s enrichment teacher, has helped to organize the talent show since it first began four years ago. Despite the energy it takes to keep the attention of five dozen students, she loves offering the chance for parents and friends to see their talented children on stage, under the spotlights.

“I love seeing them with their costumes. You can tell how much time they have put into their routines. That’s my favorite part,” said Soucy before the show.

She put together the talent show with the assistance of the Sippican School Student Council, who opened the show with a dance in the pitch dark, each member wearing a black body suit with neon green glow sticks attached to the front, in the form of a stick figure. They danced to a medley of modern pop and rock tunes, before two members of the Student Council took over the mic to act as Emcees for the evening.

As each student dared to dance, joke, and sing in front of an audience of their eager peers and families, their smiles got bigger and the cheers got louder. It seemed that the performers knew that, no matter what happened during their acts, everything was going to be great and their friends and parents were there to support them.

Third grader Emma Williamson was in the follow-up act to the Student Council’s neon stick figure dance.  She and her friend Grace Magee danced to a song from one of their favorite websites, Moshi Monsters. It was her first talent show, and her father, Roger, and step-mother Liz were in the audience.

“I’m very nervous, but I’m very excited for her,” said Roger. “We’ve seen a little bit of the routine, but not the whole thing,” Liz said.

It seemed that the majority of the performances were designed or created by the students, with very little outside help.  Emma and Magee’s dance was choreographed by the girls themselves, who are also neighbors. “She got together with one of her friends down the street, and they came up with this together,” said Roger.

In addition to featuring student performers, the tickets and refreshments were also sold by enthusiastic Sippican School students.

By Eric Tripoli

Selectmen Welcome Newcomer Dickerson

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The Marion Board of Selectmen welcomed newly elected member Jonathan “Jody” Dickerson to the board at his inaugural meeting held on the evening of Tuesday, June 5. Dickerson defeated Ted North in the Town Election on May 25 for the available seat.

“I will have to accept that I finished second in a two-man race,” said North. “But you will serve the community well and you have my support.”

June 5 marked the first meeting held after the Annual Town Meeting. As a result, the board reorganized itself. Stephen Cushing replaced Jonathan Henry as Chairman of the Board, while Henry takes over the reigns as Vice Chairman.  Dickerson will serve as the Board’s Clerk.

In other news, the Selectmen approved a bid for a new lighting system outside of the Music Hall. The bid is currently set for $8,100, but does not include installation. With all financial factors included, the Selectmen worry the figure could grow as high as six-figures.

“$8,100 is a lot of money,” said Dickerson. “I will second the motion with great hesitation.

Despite the high figure, the Selectmen acknowledged the fact that the new lights are necessary.

“The lighting is just not adequate and the existing fixtures may or may not be repairable,” said Town Administrator Paul Dawson.

The Selectmen also voted to allow the Energy Management Committee to draft zoning solar bylaw plans for the potential solar farm that could be implemented at the Marion Landfill. The committee will work with the Planning Board in order to get bylaws in place in time for the Fall Town Meeting.

Lastly, the Board voted to approve the coordination of a Town Employee and Committee Member Appreciation Cookout. The event will be held in the summer. A date will soon be selected and invitations will be drafted and sent out.

“I really think we should continue this tradition,” Dickerson said. “These employees put plenty of hours in and I feel like a lot of it goes unrecognized. This Board should recognize it.”

The Marion Board of Selectmen will meet again on Tuesday, June 19 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Town House.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

ORR Boys & Girls Track SCC Champions

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Old Rochester Boys and Girls Track – The boys and girls are both undefeated SCC Champions.

Old Rochester Boys Tennis – The Bulldogs lost to Canton 3-2 in the first round of the Division 3 South Team Tournament. Matt Teefy, however, had a good match, winning both his singles matches 6-4 and 6-0. Jake Jaskolka did as well, winning both of his 6-0. ORR’s record now stands at 12-7 overall and 10-4 in the SCC.

Old Rochester Lacrosse – The ORR boys concluded their season with a 13-5 loss to Westwood. Ethan Lizotte, Marc Gammell, Gared Glavin, Cam Severino and Mike Durocher all scored for the Bulldogs, and Anthony Cammarano had a strong game as goalie. ORR finishes their season with a record of 12-5.

By India Krawczyk