First Congregational Church Indoor Sale

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Looking for matching items? Restocking your reading and media library? Seeking toys and sports equipment for yourself or your children? Need a particular garden tool?

Visitors to the first annual Indoor Yard Sale of the First Congregational Church of Marion might find any of these for sale on Saturday, March 24, or even walk off with underpriced treasures worthy of an appearance on Antiques Roadshow. The event, held to raise funds for the Church’s annual Christmas Cantata service and its ongoing programs, will begin at 9:30 am and last until 1:30 pm in Marion’s Community Center (at the rear of the General Store parking lot on Front St., Marion; handicap accessible). During the event, a hearty luncheon soup ($5) will be served.

While no clothes will be on sale, shoppers will find elegant and white elephants, books, CDs, DVDs, household items and furnishings, toys, sports equipment, lamps, garden items, and more. (For clothes, visit the Penny Pinchers Exchange, 39 Main St., Marion, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Wednesdays and 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Saturdays, beginning April 7.)

Donations are welcome. Call Connie Pierce (508-748-2372) after March 18 for drop-off instructions. Call Peter Sowden (508-748-1231) to arrange for large-item pick-up.

The First Congregational Church is located at the corner of Front and Main Streets in the village of Marion, Massachusetts. The Sunday service is at 10:00 am; coffee hour follows the service. Sunday school, adult and children’s choirs, and nursery care are features of the church’s program of worship, and pastoral care is offered to all. The Rev. Dr. Sheila Rubdi, pastor, 508-748-1053.

Plumb Mall Easter Celebration

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The Plumb Corner Mall will be celebrating their annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 7 at 10:00 am sharp. This year they will be offering an Easter egg hunt, crafts, face painting, pictures with the Easter bunny, cookie decorating and much more!

Marion Spring Water Flushing Program

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The Marion Water Division will begin its Spring Flushing Program on Thursday, March 15. We expect this program will take approximately eight weeks to complete. Residents in the immediate flushing area may experience discolored water and a drop in water pressure

Complete copies of our anticipated schedule are available at the Marion Department of Public Works Office located at 50 Benson Brook Road in Marion. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at 508-748-3540.

ORR Project Grow

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Rochester and Mattapoisett are still accepting applications for enrollment for children ages three to five years of age. Project Grow is an integrated preschool program located at Center School in Mattapoisett and Rochester Memorial School in Rochester. Please contact the Early Childhood Office for an application or more information at 508-748-1863.

Rochester Historical Society

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The March 21 meeting of the Rochester Historical Society will feature a program by Betty Beaulieu entitled Rochester Taverns, Inns and Stagecoach Routes. The meeting is at the East Rochester Church/Museum at 355 County Rd., Rochester at 7:00 pm. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Registrar of Deeds Talk

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John Buckley, Plymouth Country Register of Deeds, will speak on the history of the nation’s third oldest Registry of Deeds, the importance of Land title and how the Registry has adapted to change through use of technology on Saturday, March 17 at the Mattapoisett Library beginning at 10:30 am.

This presentation by the Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee is open to the public and will be of interest to property owners, history buffs, legal, real estate and banking professionals.

Gateway Youth Hockey Tryouts

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Gateway Youth Hockey will be holding registration and tryouts for the 2012-2013 season for all children in the South Coast including Wareham Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Fairhaven and surrounding towns. All kids from kindergarten through middle school are welcome. All tryouts will be held at Hetland Ice Arena in New Bedford.

•Wednesday March 21 – Girls (all ages)- 6:00 – 8:00 pm

•Friday March 23 – Bantams (13 and 14) – 7:00 – 8:00 pm

•Sunday March 25 – Mites (8 and under) – 10:30am- 12:30 pm

•Monday March 26 – Squirts (10 and under) – 6:30-8:30 pm

•Wednesday March 28 – Pee Wees (12 and under) – 6:00 – 8:00 pm

•Friday March 30 – Middle School (6 to 8 grades) – 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Please go to the web site warehamyouthhockey.com to print all the necessary forms you will need on the day of your child’s tryout and bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate along with a $150 non-refundable registration fee that will be put towards your final tuition. Please arrive 1 hour prior to the start of your tryout.

Mattapoisett Schools’ Budget in the Positive

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A preliminary budget for Mattapoisett’s elementary schools shows promise that Center School and Old Hammondtown will maintain services at a near level-funded capacity next year – with no significant cuts in programs or staff on the table.

At the Mattapoisett school committee meeting on Monday, March 12, Chairperson Gracinda Knox said the $5,752,725 preliminary fiscal year 2013 budget represents a 1.05 percent, or $59,882 increase, from FY 2012 levels. This budget would encompass $41,297 in increases for regular day education and $18,585 in increases for special education.

“It’s a one percent increase without any reduction to student services,” said Knox. She commended Superintendent Doug White on his efforts on the budget. “Over the last three years, he has learned our budgets really well.”

Both White and Knox said the budget is subject to change – and that the final Old Rochester Regional budget could marginally impact the numbers. A public hearing on the proposed budget is tentatively scheduled for the committee’s April 9 meeting – a required step before it is up for vote at the town’s May 14-16 Town Meeting.

At the Monday meeting, White and the two schools’ principals – Rosemary Brown and Matt D’Andrea – offered a snapshot of the possible budget and changes in Mattapoisett staffing and student population for next year.

The latest numbers – which reflect increases tied to contractual obligations and higher curriculum costs for new ELA and Science programs – was the result of the school committee’s ability to whittle down $47,113. The committee so far has identified reductions in supplies, psychology services, professional development, travel/conferences to bring down expenses, according to White’s presentation.

Changes in staff, a reduction in special education tuition costs and utility savings all helped keep the budget manageable.

According to the principals’ presentation, both Center School and Old Hammondtown are projected to welcome fewer students than last year, 283 and 209 respectively. The loss accounts for the potential drop of one teacher in both Grade 1 and Grade 6. In Grade 6, 85 students will move up to Junior High, only to be replaced by 63 incoming students.

In other business:

• The School Committee voted to approve a new colorful sign for the Council on Aging, which was designed by resident Sheldon Hill. The COA office is directly attached to Center School on the southerly end, and COA Director Jackie Coucci said she hopes to sign brings more visibility to the program and its services.

• Director of Student Services Teresa Hamm said that a survey on bullying will be administered to all district students Grades 3 through 12 to assess the impact of anti-bullying policies implemented last year.

By Laura Fedak Pedulli

Dates Set for Harbor Days

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Mattapoisett Lions Club will hold its annual Harbor Days on July 20, 21, and 22.  Over 100 crafters and artisans will set up in Shipyard Park (rain or shine) from 9:00am to closing Saturday and Sunday.  There is continuous entertainment throughout the weekend.  The Lions Club’s famous homemade Chowder and Seafood Roll Dinner on Friday July 20 at 5:30pm, followed by a Silent Auction and concert under the tent at 7:00pm by Couto & Mulligan, starts off the weekend.  Saturday evening is the Lobster Dinner at 5:30pm.  Sunday is the pancake breakfast from 8:00am – 11:00am.  Food booths featuring hot dogs and hamburgers, linguica, and cacoila rolls, and the Lions’ famous Strawberry Shortcake are open throughout the weekend along with live entertainment on the Gazebo.  There is also a Silent Auction and Raffle.  The Mattapoisett Lions Club has been serving the community since 1953.  All proceeds benefit Lions charities and local projects helping those in need within our community.  For more information visit www.mattapoisettlionsclub.org.

Mattapoisett Lions Club Triathlon – July 8

The annual Trialthlon will be held on Sunday, July 8, 2012 with an 8:00am start and sign in at 7:00am at the Mattapoisett Town Beach.  T-Shirts guaranteed to the first 250 entrants. The race includes Swim .25 mile / Bike 10 miles / Run 3.4 miles and is open to individuals or teams.  Pre-entry fee (before July 1st ) $70 individual / $100 Team entry.  Post-entry fee is $90 individual / $125 Team entry.  Register online at www.baystateevents.com  or download an application at www.mattapoisettlionsclub.org.   All proceeds benefit Lions charities and local projects helping those in need within our community.

Lions to hold Electronics and Household Appliance Recycling Day – May 19

The Mattapoisett Lions Club in conjunction with the Village Scoop is sponsoring an Electronics and Household Appliance Recycling Day on Saturday May 19, 2012.  The event will be held on the grounds of the Village Scoop, 20 County Road, Mattapoisett, MA between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM.   This is a great opportunity for residents and businesses to clear out clutter and recycle electronic devices, TVs and household appliances.  Bring them to the event and for a nominal fee have them recycled and disposed of once and for all!   All proceeds benefit Lions charities and local projects helping those in need within our community.  For a list of accepted items, visit www.mattapoisettlionsclub.org or contact Lion Bob Saunders at 508-758-4675 for more information.

RLT To Hold Electronics Recycling Day

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On Saturday, March 24, from 9AM to 1PM, environmentally conscious folks or just those wanting to get back their garages and cellars are urged to bring unwanted electronic items and appliances to the Rochester Town Hall parking lot in the town center. There, CRT Recycling of Brockton and members of The Rochester Land Trust will collect these items and CRT will truck them away to their Brockton facility for sorting for reuse or to be broken down for appropriate recycling of the components. Whatever the final outcome, less solid waste will enter the landfills. Interested persons may visit

http://www .recyclingelectronics.com/ for more information about CRT.

The following items will be accepted: crt’s (monitors/televisions), computers, network servers, large office computer equipment, cpu boxes, laptops, printers, fax machines, cd-roms, dvd-roms, vcr’s, audio equipment, video games, disc drives, modems, cards, keyboards, computer mice, electronic wires or plugs, pc speakers, recording, surveillance or camera equipment, digital cameras, cell phones & accessories, lcd products, parts or pieces of computers as well as regulated and non-regulated appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, mini-refrigerators and coolers.

There will be $15 or $25 charge for televisions, depending upon their size/type and a $10 charge for monitors. These items require extra care in recycling due to their cathode ray tubes. A video showing part of the process can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPx09iB7R04. While there is no charge for other items, the RLT requests a donation of $5 for other electronic items or bag/box of accessories and $10 for appliances and other large items. Funds raised will go toward protecting open space in our community. RLT members will be there from 9-1 to help you unload. For more information call David @ 508-763-5267.