MYC Spring Round the Bay Race

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The Mattapoisett Yacht Club Spring Round the Bay Race on June 7 is the first race in the Buzzards Bay Trophy Series. The Spring Round-the-Bay Race is a “pursuit start” PHRF Handicap race for Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker Classes. The course begins and finishes outside of Mattapoisett Harbor. This is the first race in series of long-distance races sponsored by local yacht clubs to determine the overall winner of the 2025 Buzzards Bay Trophy. Scratch sheets will be available online. The entry fee is $65.00 for both members and non-members. Information and registration are available on our website: www.mattapoisettyc.org

Tour de Crème

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This coming Sunday, we will once again offer riders the chance to sample the frozen wares from our creamery sponsors while enjoying the SouthCoast’s charming countryside by bicycle. Not just a bike ride, The Tour de Crème is 3 pedal powered tours of Southcoast Creameries and a seaside party brought to you by the Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Friends of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail. Proceeds from the event help build and maintain recreational trails.

We have 3 tours starting and ending in Mattapoisett. The 9-mile-tour departs at 12:00 pm to Little Bay Road on the bike path. For those who want to ride a little further, we have a 25-mile tour departing at 11:00 am from the Town Beach to Little Bay Road on the bike path. Lastly, for the true bike-and-ice-cream aficionados, we have a 45-mile ride departing at 10:00 am.

            If you would like more information about the Tour de Crème, please contact Jane Finnerty at 631-312-2560 or email at jane.mattrail@gmail.com.

SLT Arthur Scholarship

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Sippican Lands Trust is pleased to announce the 2025 recipient of the Richard I. and Helen A. Arthur Scholarship. This award is given to a high school senior or a student in their first or second year of college who is a Marion resident, with a preference towards students interested in the environment, conservation, or a related field of study.

            The scholarship is made available through the Sippican Lands Trust Scholarship Fund. This award was created and named after Richard I. “Dick” (1933-2018) and Helen Adams Arthur (1940-2008), who were beloved residents of Marion and long-time volunteers with the organization. Dick and Helen were deeply committed to preserving Marion’s beautiful open spaces.

            Sippican Lands Trust is delighted to announce Elizabeth Houdelette from Old Rochester Regional High School (ORR) as this year’s award recipient. Elizabeth stood out as an exceptional applicant, demonstrating intellectual curiosity through rigorous academics and leadership in student government, as well as on the tennis court and hockey field. She also gives back to her community—coaching youth field hockey, serving as a peer tutor and an active member of ORR’s Community Service Club, and volunteering regularly at Damien’s Pantry in Wareham.

            Elizabeth’s passion for biology was particularly compelling, especially her insight into the connection between environmental and human health. While she aspires to be a physician’s assistant, we are confident her knowledge, drive, and talent will open many doors for this promising young scientist.

            Sippican Lands Trust wishes Elizabeth continued success in her future endeavors.

A Continued Continuance

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The Marion Conservation Commission met on Wednesday, May 14 for a continued hearing on the Oren Robinson Revocable Trust 2017’s property at 16 Spinnaker Lane for the Notice of Intent for the reconstruction of a single-family dwelling. Though this was main on the docket, a representative was not present, and a further continuance request was requested and granted for Wednesday, May 28.

            Next, the Commission discussed comments for the Zoning Board of Appeals, where they said Sippican Holdings LLC’s 14 Barnabas Road was not juristically to the Conservation Commission, and proceeded with no further discussion.

            694C Mill Street has an enforcement order placed upon it and is currently undergoing the beginning of restoration work. Board members discussed what they had seen on the property the previous weekend, saying it looked “fantastic” and were surprised by the amount of work done.

            The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission will be held on Wednesday, May 28 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Police Department Conference Room.

Marion Conservation Commission

By Sam Bishop

Marion Independence Day Parade

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The Parade will be on Friday, July 4, beginning at 9:00 am sharp. The Parade will form beginning at 8:00 am in the ball field behind the Marion Town House and adjacent to the Sippican School. Parade organizers will be on-site to check participants in and to line up the parade. Trophies will be awarded for First, Second, and Third place in each category listed on the application. There is also a Best in Parade award.

            Insurance regulations prohibit the throwing of any objects from parade entries.

            Candies or other such items may be passed out by individuals walking beside the parade entry.

            For questions please contact the Parade Committee at 508-748-3520 or email Donna Hemphill at dhemphill@marionma.gov.

            We look forward to celebrating with you! All units participating in the Independence Day Parade are required to report to the ball field behind the Marion Town House on the corner of Spring and Main Streets on Friday, July 4. All units are to be on-site no later than 8:30 am to assemble.

            The parade will start promptly at 9 am and proceed as follows: East on Main Street to Spring Street, North on Spring Street to Route 6, East on Route 6 to Front Street, South on Front Street to Main Street, West on Main Street to the ball field for disbanding.

            Complete the online application before June 30 by clicking this link: Independence Day Parade Online Application.

            Paper copies are also available at the Marion Town House.

            For more information, please call 508-748-3520 or email dhemphill@marionma.gov.

Farm Stand Hearing Postponed

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The May 15 meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals included a Special Permit Application filed by Mike and Elizabeth King for property located at 84 North Street. The agenda item reads, “Case #1563: Petition of Micheal and Elizabeth King, Wyandotte Farm… request to seek a special permit for a Farm to Fork Stand and Farmers Market.” But prior to the meeting, King was advised that a Variance not a Special Permit was required on the advice of the town’s legal counsel.

            In a follow up, King said there had been some confusion but had been told a Special Permit was needed not a Variance. He asked for and received a postponement to allow for further clarification in this matter before filing anything further. The new date was scheduled for June 26.

            In other matters, a request for a Variance solicited by Timothy and Shyana Fisher, 4 Mattakiset Road was granted. The applicants’ plans include the removal an existing garage and shed.

            North Eastern Trade Service, on behalf of Nancy Griswold, 5 Bay Road, filed a Special Permit request for the construction of a master bedroom above an existing garage with no outward expansion. The request was granted.

            A Special Permit filed by James DePierre, 20 Cove Street for the construction of a new home on a flood compliant foundation was granted. Also granted was a Special Permit requested by George Luber, 13 Waterman Street to elevate an existing home.

            Representing Alexandra Ablon, 4 Island View Avenue was David Davignon of Schneider Davignon and Leone for a Special Permit to construct a breezeway and garage addition to a single-family dwelling. The garage will become an accessory dwelling unit. The permit was granted.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for June 19 at 6:00 pm in Town Hall.

Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals

By Marilou Newell

Leaving the WHO/Defunding USAID Penny Unwise and Pound Foolish

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Penny Unwise and Pound Foolish

President Trump announced on the day of his inauguration that he was withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization, a process that takes a year under a joint resolution of Congress passed in 1948. The stated reason was the WHO’s failure to quickly sound the alarm about COVID-19.

            In fact, the WHO’s general director told the world to get ready on Jan 23, 2020, and a week later declared a world-wide public health emergency. It was the Trump administration that down-played the pandemic and delayed the U.S. response, leading to hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths.

            On March 28, the Trump administration announced it was shutting down the US Agency for International Development (USAID), including all its disease-fighting initiatives around the world.

            Do either of these decisions help the U.S.?

            U.S. foreign aid in all its facets accounts for some 1% of the federal budget, and health-related spending is only a fraction of that.

            What do we get for our financial support?

            A global vaccination campaign led by the WHO led to the elimination of smallpox from the world. Global efforts have produced a 99.9% reduction in yearly polio cases, with polio now endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan. American support has led to a dramatic reduction in AIDS in South Africa. Malaria and tuberculosis deaths will both rise because U.S. aid has been stopped, and American tourists will also suffer.

            With the world totally connected by trade and tourism, outbreaks in a distant country will inevitably reach the U.S. and strain our health system. When a few imported cases of Ebola occurred in 2014, 45 health centers here spent over $53 million to gear up. Since the question is not “if” but “when” the next pandemic arises, do we want to fight it alone?

            WHO initiatives have directly benefitted Americans. Efforts by the WHO led to the discovery and standardization of oral fluid replacement for children suffering severe diarrhea, and this treatment is now widely used in the U.S.

            Cutting American support for the WHO and reducing our support of health efforts around the world will save us a little money in the short-run but at the cost of millions of deaths in less-developed countries and in the long-run will end up costing us more as diseases first spread abroad and then reach American shores.

            Write your Representatives and Senators and beg them to reverse this short-sighted decision.

            Edward Hoffer MD is Associate Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard.

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Edward Hoffer

Mattapoisett Friends Meeting

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On Sunday, June 1, Mattapoisett Friends Meeting will have a small celebration for a wedding that took place 117 years ago. Florence Martocci of Mattapoisett has donated her grandparents’ Quaker wedding certificate to the meeting. Joseph Lilburne Hiller and Florence Louise Crowell were married in the meeting house May 28, 1908.

            After a 10:00 am to 10:30 am unprogrammed (silent) meeting for worship, there will be a brief explanation of Quaker weddings, the tradition of Friends’ wedding certificates, and the Hiller family. This will be followed by mounting the original marriage certificate and light refreshments in the community hall. All are welcome.

Peter B. Hodges Memorial Scholarship Awards

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Robert Haley, President of the Mattapoisett Lions Club, one of 49,000 Lions Clubs around the world, is pleased to announce that Emerson Gonet and Bailey Pelland, both seniors at Old Rochester Regional High School, are recipients of the Mattapoisett Lions Club’s Peter B. Hodges Memorial Scholarship Award. Each student was awarded $2,000 towards their school of higher education.

            Emerson and Bailey are recognized for their numerous achievements in community service, academic achievements and career goals.

            Funds for these scholarships are raised through the efforts of Mattapoisett Lions Club members at their annual Harbor Days Arts and Crafts Festival, as well as other events. For information on how to join the Mattapoisett Lions Club please go to www.mattapoisettlionsclub.org/contact.

Upcoming Events at the Elizabeth Taber Library

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Spark your imagination and create custom metal jewelry with Karenna Maraj, Saturdays in June at 10:30 am. All tools and materials are included. This series is supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Spaces are limited, call the library to register. Sign up for one or multiple classes; June 7 – The Art of Wire Wrapping; June 14 – Cabochon Pendant; June 21 – Copper Cuff Bracelet, Kids can create fun and wearable jewelry at Karenna Maraj’s kids beaded jewelry workshop, for ages 7-13; June 28 – Kids’ Beaded Jewelry Class

            The Elizabeth Taber Library is transitioning to our summer programming schedule, so be sure to take a close look at our event calendar. We look forward to sharing more about our summer reading program with you soon.

            The last family story time for the spring will be held Tuesday, May 27 at 10:30 am.

            On Thursday, May 22 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm our afternoon activities program will introduce the principles of 3-D Design using the library’s 3-Doodler 3-D pens. The final afternoon activities program of the school year will be held from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Thursday, May 29 as participants build and decorate butterfly houses. Afternoon Activities programs are recommended for kids grades K-4.

            When school releases early on Wednesday, May 28, tweens in grades 5-7 are invited to the Library for a Tween Takeover. Drop in anytime between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm to make DIY Croc Charms.

            For more information on the Elizabeth Taber Library visit us at www.ElizabethTaberLibrary.org or email the library at ETLibrary@sailsinc.org.