SouthCoast Children’s Chorus Informance

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The SouthCoast Children’s Chorus announces its February informance on February 12 at 4:00 pm at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church at 124 Front St. in Marion. The “informance” is an informal performance in which the chorus demonstrates aspects of their rehearsal process – from beginning to learn a song, through the polishing phase, and on to complete performance. The Chorus will sing songs from their repertoire, demonstrate rehearsal techniques, entertain questions from the audience, and encourage the audience to join them in a song or two! The SouthCoast Chldren’s Chorus is a 35-voice auditioned regional chorus with singers from Marion, Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, New Bedford and Westport, and is directed by Leslie Piper and accompanied by Joyce Jacobsen. Admission is free, but a suggested donation of $5 per person ($10 maximum per family) will be accepted at the door.

Marion Democratic Town Committee

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A meeting of the Marion Democratic Town Committee shall convene for the purpose of electing four Delegates and three Alternates to the Massachusetts State Convention at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, Saturday, June 2. The caucus will be held at the Indian Cove Club House, 106 Indian Cove Road, Marion February 11 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Snow date Saturday, February 18 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

For more information contact Judi Havens at 508- 826-1027 or Eileen Marum at 508-758-9751.

Marion Census

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If you have not yet returned, or telephoned in, your 2012 Annual Street Listing (Census) please do so immediately to the Marion Town Clerk, 2 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738. Home visits will be made to all residents failing to respond. Should you have any questions please contact the Town Clerk’s office 508-748-3502.

RHS Takes a Trip Back in Time

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The February meeting of the Rochester Historical Society will be on Wednesday, February 15 at 7:00 pm at the East Rochester Church/Museum, 355 County Road, Rochester. Frances Florindo will present “A Trip Back in Rochester History” through the pages of an old Jenkins family scrapbook. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

It is with great pleasure the Heritage Days Committee extends a big thank you to the community and to the people who stepped forth to insure the event will continue.

The next meeting will be February 21 at 6:30 pm in the library meeting room, anyone who was unable to attend January’s meeting but wants to help is cordially invited to join us. As always feel free to contact theseamstress@verizon.net with questions, suggestions or concerns.

“The Climate Crisis”

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On Thursday, February 18 at 11:00 am in the Meeting Room of the Mattapoisett Public Library, 7 Barstow Street, the public is invited to join Mary Jane Sorrentino for a presentation on “The Climate Crisis” followed by an opportunity for questions. Discover the truth about the climate crisis and the meaningful steps we can take to bring about change. Ms. Sorrentino, trained by the Gore Climate Change Project, will be speaking about the causes of this global disaster, how it is affecting New England and particularly our coastal areas, and what responses our communities can embrace.

Mary Jane Sorrentino is self-employed as a Sustainability Consultant, helping non-profits, small businesses, schools and other organizations/individuals reduce their impact on the environment. She can help in the planning and implementation stages of “going green.”

She enjoys giving climate change presentations as a volunteer with The Climate Reality Project. Since 2007, Mary Jane has given more than 30 presentations to schools, libraries, businesses, and organizations in RI and MA.

Ms. Sorrentino recently completed her MS degree in Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England.  She already holds a MA in Museum Studies (1980) from the George Washington University in Washington, DC, and a BA in Art History and American Studies (1975) from Fordham University in New York City.  In March 2007 and January 2008, she participated in a training on climate change in the Northeast by the Union of Concerned Scientists in Boston.

Program sponsored by the Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee (MDTC).  The MDTC Caucus will begin at 10 am and precede Ms. Sorrentino’s Climate Change Presentation at 11 am.

Sippican School Kindergarten Registration

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Children who will be five years of age by August 31, 2012, and reside in Marion are eligible to enroll in Kindergarten. Kindergarten Registration will be held at Sippican School on Wednesday, March 20 from 9:30 to 10:30 am and from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

During these times, registration forms will be processed, and new parents will have the opportunity to meet with our Principal and Nurse. A copy of each student’s updated immunization record must be submitted at the time of registration. Records should include verification of lead screening, hepatitis B vaccination and other immunizations. An original birth certificate for each student must be presented to be photocopied. Proof of residency requirements must also be met. Three verifications of home address, (e.g. copy of lease or real estate tax bill, vehicle registration, driver’s license, current electric, cable or gas bill).

Information and forms will be mailed by Friday, February 17 to the parents of all prospective kindergarteners. Any parent not receiving this information should call Cathy Caramanica at Sippican School at 508-748-0100, ext. 316.

Mattapoisett Council on Aging

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Starting on March 2, the Mattapoisett COA will begin line-dancing classes with instructor Nancy Cabral on Fridays from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Beginners welcome. $2 suggested donation. 17 Barstow Street, Center School, 508-758-4110

Boating Skills and Seamanship Course

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A Boating Skills and Seamanship Course will be offered by the Onset/Marion Flotilla 63 of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Classes will be held on Thursday nights from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Lockheed Martin (Sippican) Training Room at 7 Barnabus Rd., Marion, MA  02738.

Registration and classes will begin on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. This course is directed to the first time boater and as a review for the more experienced boater. For more information contract Warren Washburn after 6:00 p.m. at (508)789-3680.

Anatomy of Rhythm

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Students at the Old Hammondtown School in Mattapoisett were treated to a special presentation on Tuesday focusing on drum music from Ghana, Africa. Music educator Ian Gendreau, who has been playing percussion since he was young, travels to schools around Massachusetts with a variety of African rhythm instruments, teaching students about the music of an ancient nation no larger than the size of Oregon.

Mr. Gendreau was first exposed to African music late in high school. Later, while pursuing his undergrad studies in music in Buffalo, he became interested in teaching.

“When I was in college, I got involved with some people who did African music and Caribbean music. But they were all teaching artists, doing residencies, workshops, and assembly programs. So I really got the bug for teaching and sharing stuff with kids,” he said. Today he teaches at Tufts University in Medford, as well as Bristol Community College in Attleboro.

So for one hour, sixth graders at Old Hammondtown School put down the pencils and picked up African kpanlogo (hand drum), gankogui (duel-tone bell), and atoke (single-tone bell), and learned hands-on some of the basic rhythmic patterns found in the music of Ghana. Most of the drums were made in Africa, but a few were made in the United States by natives of Ghana.

He began with a brief geography lesson, informing the students of Ghana’s location on the west coast of Africa, and kept them enamored with his explanations of the carvings on the drums, and how different animal skin – used for the drumheads – can offer different tones depending on the drum.

Then it was playtime.

The students carefully but excitedly gathered around the circle of fragile instruments, eager to play. Mr. Gendreau worked individually with each group based on instrument, explaining the role they would play in the rhythmic structures they were going to build together.  Once the kids locked in with each other, their pensive expressions gave way to confident smiles as they realized they were making music as a community. The students had opportunities to play each instrument and learn two different songs.

The presentation was organized by Debra Nettles and the Mattapoisett PTA. Martha Loer, assistant to Nettles, was there for the performance and understands the importance of programs like these in expanding students’ worldviews.

“The hands-on interaction the kids get with the drums is something they’ll never forget and it can only broaden their awareness of other cultures in the world,” she said.

Mr. Gendreau is careful to illustrate to the students that these drums and this music only represents a very small part of an enormously dynamic and culturally rich continent.

“I love the joy of teaching this stuff, as well as correcting a lot of the popular misconceptions of what Africa is like.  Ghana is one element of a much bigger picture,” he said.

By Eric Tripoli

Scaled Down Pico Beach Home Approved

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The Mattapoisett Planning Board held its regular meeting on Monday, February 6 at the Town Hall. The agenda was comprised of two points of new business, both involving land zoning. The first was a Request for Approval of a Repetitive Petition, by engineer Doug Schneider on behalf of applicant, Dian L. D’Orlando, regarding renovations to be made to a beach house at 52 Pico Beach Road.

Mr. Schneider was submitting revised plans in an effort to be in compliance with orders from the Zoning Board of Appeals, who decided the overall square footage should be reduced by 25 percent. The plans call for the original single-floor, three-bedroom structure to be razed, with a two-story structure to be built atop the existing deck and pylons.

This new home was originally to have a second full bath, as well as five total bedrooms.  Following the initial rejection of the plans by the Zoning Board, Schneider and the applicant scaled back the vision for the project by eliminating two bedrooms, lowering and simplifying rooflines, and shaving off “bump-out” sections of the second floor. In total, Mr. Schneider said they reduced the area of the second floor from 1233 square feet to 916 square feet. Despite having twice the original square footage, the second home will still fit the footprint of the original structure.

During the discussion, Attorney Marc R. Deshaies, on behalf of a next-door neighbor to the D’Orlando property, voiced concern that the overall height of the home would obstruct the views of the ocean for homes located in lots nearby. Even with the lowered rooflines, the “home would be 12 to 15 feet too high.”

Mrs. D’Orlando’s husband, Allen, responded by saying that restricting the height of the home would be unfair because there were four houses close by that were two stories.

Planning Board member Karen Field inquired about the exact height of the home, but Mr. Schneider did not know the exact measurement. “It will be well below the 35 foot maximum,” he said.

“Overall, there has been a pretty dramatic changes made to the aesthetics of the house,” said Planning Board Clerk Ronald Merlo.

The Planning Board decided that since the Zoning Board Committee did not set more specific standards for how the home’s size should be reduced, they voted unanimously to approve Mr. Schneider’s petition.

“They have lost the overhangs, reduced the visual impact of the house, and the number of bedrooms. I find that is a substantially smaller house, taking everything into consideration, than what was originally proposed,” said John Mathieu, of the Planning Board. The plans must now go back to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Mr. Schneider was also presenting a Form A application on behalf of an applicant who wished to remain unnamed. The Planning Board approved a division of land near Park Place and Park Lane that fully conforms to zoning regulations for frontage and area.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for March 5 at 7:00 pm.

By Eric Tripoli