Fairhaven Neighborhood News A publication of all things Fairhaven FREE!Including event listings from Cape Cod to RI The little paper with a big voice! Volume 10, Issue 15 • April 16, 2015 Teeming with information you need. (And some you don’t need, but will be glad you have anyway.) Whatever shall we do with them? L-R: The Rogers and Oxford school buildings are empty and decaying as town officials try to find the right fit for each building. A Request for Proposals yielded only one response for each building (see page 12). The Selectboard decided to reject both proposals (see page 4) and start over again. The board will draft a new RFP with different requirements. Photos by Beth David. Also Inside: • Selectboad: Page 4 • Appeals Board: Page 13 • Acushnet: Page 16 • Rocket Club advances: Page 13 From Fairhaven Neighborhood News Volume 10, Issue 15 The Editor Thursday, April 16, 2015 WEST ISLAND — Copyright 2015 Elizabeth A. David A day late and many dollars short. Editor: Beth David News Correspondents/Photographers: Michael Smith, Lots of good stuff for you Samantha Wunschel this week. On page 13 there’s a story Published weekly on Thursdays by Fairhaven Neighborhood News, LLC, at on the last Zoning Board of 166 Dogwood Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719 Appeals meeting. Please take [email protected] note of a trend I’ve noticed www.NeighbNews.com and have mentioned once or 508-979-5593 • Fax: 508-991-5580 twice. But this time it was so Beth David, Publisher Contributions: The Neighb News accepts press releases, editorial obvious. One of the members actually started contribu tions and letters to the editor at the above address; by email whispering during the meeting, during a public hearing. with copy in the body of the email, not as an attachment. If mailed by A .... public .... hearing. PUBLIC, HEARING. Those words USPS or faxed, editorial must be typewritten, 500 words or fewer. Unfortu - nately, The Neighb News is not able to pay money for contributions at this mean that the public....should (get ready for it)...hear time. Contributors agree, by virtue of their submissions, to grant The what’s going on. Fairhaven Neighborhood News, LLC, the right to publish submissions in It is NOT okay for board members to turn their heads print and online. Contributors also verify, by virtue of their submissions, that they own the right to publish the work submitted. Any claims of away and whisper so that the public cannot hear what copyright infringement will be referred to the contributor, who will also they are saying. be responsible for any and all costs associated with said claims. So....cut it out. Advertising: Call or write for rate card and sample issue or visit our On another note... website at www.NeighbNews.com. West Island is getting a convenience store. And the The Fairhaven Neighborhood News, LLC, reserves the right to refuse advertising and editorial for any reason. The Neighb News will not assume Selectboard approved a wine and beer license for it, too any liability, financial or otherwise, for errors in ads or in editorial (see page 4). content submitted by contributors. The Neighb News will run a correction Lots of people showed up at the meeting, some to on the inside front cover to rectify any misprints or errors in the previous complain, some to speak in support of it. week’s issue. Readers, advertisers, and writers are responsible for I live on West Island, so no matter which side I take, notifying The Neighb News of any inconsistencies or errors in the paper. Advertisers are responsible for all claims made in their ads. The Neighb I’m going to get a neighbor or two unhappy with me. News is not be liable in any way for claims made by advertisers. It’s times like these that a smart reporter, a good Advertisers are responsible for their own content. We will, to the extent editor, and a thoughtful publisher would just keep her reasonable, try to verify any claims that seem unreasonable or unlikely to be true. Readers are encouraged to report any problems with our opinions to herself. advertisers. And I am all of those things and more, am I not? But, Subscriptions are available for 6 months (24 issues) or one year (48 whatever, I’m not gonna do that. issues) at $1.75 per issue for a total of $42.00 or $84.00 respectively. Also The very first call I got was from someone who said available for free online at www.neighbnews.com, www.northfairhaven.org, www.westisland-ma.com. For free email subscription, send to NeighbNews@ it would ruin the “character” of the island. I’m not sure comcast.net and include your first and last name. what that means. It’s not a Home Depot, it’s a Copyright 2015 Elizabeth A. David convenience store, and there used to be one there a long time ago. I bet I went there when I was a kid. Contents The problem I have with it now is much more serious. Acushnet Selectboard...........................................................16 Y’see, people on West Island have a tendency to think Classifieds ..............................................................................21 we’re our own little kingdom over here. We ARE on an COVER: Rogers & Oxford RPF reponses ............................12 island, after all, and that really does make us special Election follow-up....................................................................3 (well, it makes our houses special anyway). Fairhaven Board of Appeals.................................................13 The biggest problem I see with this thing is that I may Fairhaven Selectboard ............................................................4 FHS rocket team advances to nationals.............................13 not have to leave the island for days, and days, and Happenings ......................................................................5, 8, 9 even more days. Legal Notices/Public Hearings................................................. Think about it: I work from home; my beach fix is just Letter from the editor.............................................................2 a few blocks away; I have a 338-acre wildlife reserve a Letters to the editor..............................................................20 few blocks away (for my hiking fix), and that leads to Recipe of the week................................................................10 another beach (for another beach fix) Recreation Center this week................................................14 I can fish, quahog, jog (okay, I don’t jog), ride my Senior Center this week .......................................................14 bike, get food, get groceries, and even beer and wine. Tides .......................................................................................21 He’s going to carry bread and eggs and butter and Upcoming meetings/Fairhaven & Acushnet ......................21 cream. This is a problem. And I will not be alone in this dilemma. WE’LL NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE! CORRECTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS Think of it: A whole bunch of West Islanders, able to shun civilization for days, even weeks at a time. We may never shower again. Why bother if we’re only walking up the street to cont’d next page cont’d from previous page WE’LL NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE! grab a six-pack or a Merlot? Election Update In his twisted attempt to be In last week’s issue, we did not I’ll bet he’s even going to carry customer-oriented, he even said we bait. have final numbers for two races in should ask him if there’s anything the April 6 election. I’ll bet he carries sunscreen and we want and he’ll look into it. There was no candidate for Com - sunglasses and beach towels and That sounds all well and good, mis sioner of Trust Funds. Incumbent visors and water toys and penny but...WE’LL NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE! Gail Isaksen did not indicate if she candy and soda and barbecue stuff. If he puts a Citizens Bank ATM was running a write-incampaign and He might even have coffee and there, I’m doomed. no one attended the candidates donuts on a Sunday. Doomed I nights seeking the position. WE’LL NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE! tell you, In an upset, newcomer Coleen Heaven help us if he starts DOOMED! Silvia received 27 write-in votes, carrying good beach books. beating out Ms. Isaksen who received 18. Third Annual Cherry Blossom Festival A seat on the Planning Board for an unexpired term also had no name on coming up soon the ballot. Ann Richard, who was appointed to fill the seat, won with a The Whitfield-Manjiro Friendshiop drumming and kempo karate, raffle & write-in campaign. She received 32 Society and the Fairhaven Colonial sale of Japanese items. votes, which beat out the nine votes Club will hold the third annual Also featuring tours of Fairhaven received by Armen Migirdicyan. Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival on Colonial Club and Whitfield-Manjiro Sunday, May 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 Friendship Museum. Tickets (limited p.m. at Cooke Memorial Park, number): $20/adult, $10/child Progress is a nice Fairhaven (corner of Cherry and (under 12). To reserve tickets: call Pilgrim Streets). Gerry at 508-995-1219 or e-mail: word. But change is Features Bento picnic box lunch [email protected] its motivator. (no raw items), names written in Sponsored by: the Whitfield- Japanese (free), origami (paper- Manjiro Friendship Society and the And change has folding) instructions, green tea and Fairhaven Colonial Club its enemies. cherry cheese cakes, bonsai, quilt & To learn more about the WMFS kimono displays, Japanese taiko visit http://whitfield-manjiro.org/ Robert Kennedy You’re another year closer to retirement. Jeffrey D. Moore, RFC®, LUTCF Are you saving enough? Let’s fi nd out. 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