Black History Month is a time to celebrate and a time to remember sacrifices made as well as challenges overcome.

            It has been said that when something bad happens, oftentimes something good can come out of that negative experience. No experience amplifies that point more clearly than the experience that John Excellent suffered. On February 8, Excellent gave opening remarks at the Tri-Towns Against Racism (TTAR) annual poster contest. His retelling of a brutal attack he suffered showed how it later helped him find TTAR. He shared that rather than dwell on that horror, he sought a venue to use his experience for positive change – enter Tri-Town Against Racism.

                        TTAR began with a group of mothers whose children had experienced racism. They strove towards bringing such issues to a wider audience in the hope that all people, all races, all genders, and gender identifications would have a voice. From their website, “Tri-Town Against Racism is dedicated to defending our community against racism through education, positive communication, and amplifying the voices of those impacted.”

One of the many programs developed by TTAR is an annual art contest where school aged children (from 1st grade to 12th grade) can share their vision of inclusivity, positivity, and the power of art. The Mattapoisett Free Public Library is hosting the exhibit which is marking its fifth year. Some 30 junior and senior students from Old Colony and Old Rochester Regional Jr. Sr. High School and (new this year are younger students) 70 elementary students from the Tri-town’s submitted poster art projects. Many of the young artists selected civil rights leaders focusing on the impact these leaders of what became a monumental movement for equality and inclusivity had had throughout our nation.

            Excellent said that the motto of the TTAR organization is: “Start where you Live.” He said, “I humbly suggest that we all strive to live up to those words.” Bringing even more clarity to the motto was this point Excellent shared, “…this sort of gathering 60 years ago could have been seen as dangerous…”pointing out the many races that were present in the room who might have been seen as suspicious “…we could have been called communists.” But he also made it a point that not just people of color should be hailed for bringing down fences both real and of the mind. He asked the audience to consider the Caucasian men James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman who were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan. Why? Voter registration activities.

            Excellent beseeched the audience  to, “… never waiver from your core believes that racism and discrimination are a disease to our humanity…”

            The winners of the poster contest were Izzy Jezierski (first place), Kai Castelhjo (second place) and Lacey Sears (third place).

            The exhibit featuring these many creative works may be viewed through March 1at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library. To learn more about TTAR, visit tritownagainstracism.org.

Tri-Towns Against Racism

By Marilou Newell

Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55 Superintendent Michael S. Nelson and Principal Silas Coellner are proud to announce that three students represented the District in Boston on Saturday, January 25, as Project 351 kicked off a year of youth-led service.

            The three students – Genevieve Hebert of Mattapoisett, Sophie Zhou of Marion, and Esther Smith of Rochester – have been named eighth-grade service Ambassadors, joining representatives from the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns.

            “We’re so proud to have Genevieve, Sophie, and Esther representing us at the state level for Project 351,” said Superintendent Nelson. “All three students have stellar academic records, and we’re certain they will leave a lasting impact on our communities.”

            On Saturday, January 25, the student Ambassadors were joined by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, state Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, and other community leaders for a day of service and celebration in Boston.

            “The young people who serve with Project 351 are great examples of what makes Massachusetts a leader in so many important ways,” said Gov. Healey. “These Ambassadors demonstrate what is possible when we work together to make the changes we all want to see in our own communities. I’m proud to join them as they embark on this important year of leadership and service.”

            Project 351, a nonprofit organization, annually unites a class of unsung heroes for a transformative year of leadership development, enrichment, and impact through unifying statewide service campaigns.

            “Project 351 is an incredible opportunity for our students to learn about service and leadership,” said Principal Coellner. “Genevieve, Sophie, and Esther are all excellent students, and they will surely represent us well during this year-long campaign to better communities across the Commonwealth.”

            This year, Project 351 celebrates its 15th year with a collective social impact on more than 1.4 million lives. Project 351’s annual Launch celebration honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.

            “It’s inspiring to see the incredible passion of these young people at work in their schools and communities,” said Lt. Gov. Driscoll. “With every service project that is undertaken, a ripple effect travels across the state, impacting thousands of lives and strengthening the bonds that connect us all.”

            Launch Day kicked off 12 months of leadership development through Alumni mentorship and enrichment through Project 351’s Service Leadership Academy. Through Project 351, Ambassadors develop the skills and confidence to mobilize their hometowns in service campaigns that address critical issues including hunger, clothing insecurity, and educational equity.

            “I first experienced Project 351’s amazing students while principal at Brighton High School,” said Secretary Tutwiler. “I continue to be impressed by these young Ambassadors and what they’re able to achieve in communities across Massachusetts. The students associated with this incredible organization will be the next generation’s leaders and they should inspire and energize all of us.”

            On Launch Day, Ambassadors traveled from across the state to convene at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for a celebratory morning program. Wearing their signature navy tee, Ambassadors mobilized by Service Hero teams for an afternoon of service at La Colaborativa, Brighton High School, and Cradles to Crayons. In partnership with these community leaders, Ambassador service impacted more than 34,000 neighbors.

            “Project 351 is powered by the idealism and ideas of 8th-grade change makers,” said Carolyn Casey, Project 351 Founder and Executive Director. “As we welcome our 5,588th Ambassador, we celebrate the transformative good made possible when we unite in common cause. And we uplift the values they stand for – kindness, compassion, and respect for the dignity of all.”

Though we may be forecast for some snow, February will hopefully see clear skies for all the constellation and planet viewing. As stated last month, compared to areas near Boston or New Bedford, generally speaking, the tri-town has pretty good dark skies. We are very fortunate in that regard. Though we can’t normally make out the Milky Way’s signature glow, we can still spot a lot. For the astrophysicist in us all, please use this month’s guide to complement your stargazing and cosmic sightseeing.

            The current visible planets are Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. Saturn is currently opposite the sun and is very difficult to spot. The Andromeda Galaxy is relatively easy to spot, as well as the Orion Nebula (within the like-named constellation). The Pleiades cluster is visible to the south, near Jupiter in the sky. The International Space Station (ISS) is visible every night at various times. It’s hard to miss when it’s clear and you know where you’re looking.

            February 9 will see Mars come close to the nearly-full moon in the sky. Around 8:00 pm. The two will be nearest. Though it will make a close pass to the moon relative to our eyes, Mars’ red glow will shine with a high magnitude.

            The next full moon will be on February 12. Generally called the “Snow Moon” due primarily to the aforementioned common snowy weather. It is also referred to as the “Hunger Moon” or other names highlighting the time of year’s lack of sustenance, “Goose Moon,” “Bear Moon,” “Trapper’s Moon,” “Storm Moon,” and many others.

            On February 16, Venus will be at its brightest for the year. It will be low on the horizon to the west after sunset.

            The final day of the month, February 28, will also have a new moon.

            There is plenty to see and plenty of apps, websites, and other resources to aid in identifying. NASA is always great for events and flyovers.

Astronomy Update for February

By: Sam Bishop