The public is cordially invited to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Sippican Historical Society, to be held Tuesday, June 16 at Marion’s Music Hall.
    The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature a brief wrap-up of the Society’s business year, followed by the presentation to the Stone Family of the 2009 SHS Award, honoring dedicated service and commitment to the preservation and enrichment of the town of Marion.
    The evening’s main event will be a lecture and image presentation by SHS Board President, Judith Rosbe, on Marion in the Golden Age, which is also the title of her latest book. The presentation will take the audience on a virtual trip back to the late 19th century when, as the book explains, “Marion became a treasured sanctuary from city life. Teeming with prosperity and the blossoming arts, this hamlet offered a setting so breathtaking that it inspired some of the world’s foremost creative minds . . . prominent artists, architects, writers and celebrities flocked to Marion.”
Mark Twain, Henry James, President Grover Cleveland and Ethel Barrymore were but a few of the famous faces that graced the small town’s shores. Marion in the Golden Age will be available for purchase and signing at the Annual Meeting, with all proceeds to benefit the non-profit Sippican Historical Society.
    For more information, call (508)748-1116.

    A one-man exhibition of paintings by Willoughby Elliott opened at the Marion Art Center last week and will run through June 24.
    Mr. Elliott is currently a professor of painting and printmaking at UMass-Dartmouth.  He received his BFA from the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles, and received his MFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. Currently, Mr. Elliott is a professor of painting and printmaking and UMass-Dartmouth. He has been exhibiting his works in prestigious group shows such as the Boston Printmakers National, North Dakota 100 International Works on Paper, The Parkside National Exhibition in Kenosha, WI,  as well as in galleries and juried shows across the United States including Duxbury Art Complex, Newport Art Museum, the Worcester Art Museum,  Brockton Art Museum, Cape Cod Art Association, DeCordova Museum, and the Marion Art Center to mention a few.  His work is represented in Rogers Gallery, Mattapoisett; The Harrison Gallery, Williamstown; Jules Place, Boston; Left Bank Gallery, Wellfleet; Artana Gallery, Brookline and Old Sculpin Gallery, Edgartown, Massachusetts.
    The Galleries at the Marion Art Center are open to the public Tuesday – Friday, 1-5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Beginning on May 31, Sunday hours will be added from 1-4 p.m.
    Admission is free.  The Marion Art Center is located on the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets in Marion. 

    The Mattapoisett Power Squadron and the Taunton River Power Squadron jointly announce presentation of the seminar “Using the VHF and VHF/DSC Marine Radio” at Bristol Community College Fall River, MA. 
    VHF marine radio is the mariner’s primary means of communication for inland and coastal navigation.  VHF is the preferred method of communication because, unlike the cellular telephone which is only received by the person being called, VHF a “party line” monitored by the US Coast Guard 24/7 and heard by all boaters using radios. Digital Selective Calling or DSC is a newly added fully automatic digital signal on channel 70 that enhances the safety of the mariner.  DSC vastly simplifies and improves rescue and routine call signaling; however, you need to know how to use it. This seminar explains basic VHF operation and answers the needs for DSC.  Cost of the seminar is $35 per student. For this each seminar attendee will receive a Student Notebook, a CD with a DSC simulator for practice and a handy waterproof copy of McGraw - Hill’s Captain’s Quick Guide to Using VHF.
     The Using VHF and VHF/DSC seminar will be presented on Saturday, June 13, 2009 from 9 a.m. to noon in Room E 208 in building “E” on the Bristol Community College Campus, 777 Elsbree St Fall River.  For easiest access, park in the back lot behind building “E”.
    You may register online at:  http://www.usps.org/cgi-bin-nat/eddept/cfind.cgi?S
For additional information call Dave True at (508) 763-5241 or Wayne Cardoza at (508) 947-6317

    The Rochester Country Fair Committee is in the process of organizing its 10th annual Fair which will be held Aug. 21-23.  This year’s theme is Mardi Gras.  There will be theme events, as well as annual favorites including, the tractor pull and show, children’s games, military display, woodsman show, fiddle contest, bon fire, block dance and parade  Vendor spaces are available and sponsors are being sought for the fair booklet. Forms are available online at http://www.rochesterma.com/ and at Bev Loves Books in Rochester.

  
    Beginning on Sunday, June 7, the Historical Museum will be open on Sunday afternoon from 1-3 p.m.. for the summer. 

    Cheers.