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 8, Issue 22 • June 6, 2013 Teeming with information you need. (And some you don’t need, but will be glad you have anyway.) Seniors graduate under sunny skies L-R: Ashley Brown and Kay Mullen perform their signature chest-bump after graduation ceremonies at Fairhaven High School on Sunday, 6/2. The two played basketball and volleyball together, and often celebrated a win with the chest-bump. See story on page 16. Photo by Beth. See it in color at www.NeighbNews.com Visit us at www.Facebook.com/NeighbNews to see more photos of this and other events. Individual photos are available for purchase. Also Inside: • Selectboard: page 4 • Judge throws out ballot: page 3 • ConCom: page 18 • Letters to the editor: page 24 From Fairhaven Neighborhood News Volume 8, Issue 22 The Editor Thursday, June 6, 2013 WEST ISLAND — Copyright 2013 Elizabeth A. David A day late and many dollars short. Editor: Beth David News Correspondents/Photographers: What a week in our litle burg. Mali Lim, Jean Perry, Heidi Winnett A judge threw out the contested ballot that gave Published weekly on Thursdays by Peter DeTerra the one-vote Fairhaven Neighborhood News, LLC, at margin of victory in the Board 166 Dogwood Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719 of Health race (see page 3). The [email protected] election is not over... www.NeighbNews.com 508-979-5593 • Fax: 508-991-5580 It has still not been decided Beth David, Publisher yet, though, if there will be a Contributions: The Neighb News accepts press releases, editorial new election. DeTerra will appeal and if that ballot gets contribu tions and letters to the editor at the above address; by email reinstated on appeal, then we’re back where we started. preferred, in the body of the email, not as an attachment. If mailed by Meanwhile, the same judge is hearing arguments on why 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 there should or should not be a whole new election. No, time. Contributors agree, by virtue of their submissions, to grant The the tie doesn’t mean there’ll be a new election. It only Fairhaven Neighborhood News, LLC, the right to publish submissions in means there was no one elected. It could be a coin toss. print and online. Contributors also verify, by virtue of their submissions, Maybe a checkers game. Who knows? Have to find that they own the right to publish the work submitted. Any claims of something it the bylaws. I doubt, however, that anything copyright infringement will be referred to the contributor, who will also short of a new election will make everyone happy. be responsible for any and all costs associated with said claims. We had a great day for graduation this Sunday (see page Advertising: Call or write for rate card and sample issue or visit our 16). The ceremony was held outside, which was good. website at www.NeighbNews.com. The Fairhaven Neighborhood News, LLC, reserves the right to refuse That squeezatorium is beyond claustrophobic. We need a advertising and editorial for any reason. The Neighb News will not assume Henry Huttleston Rogers to give us a couple of million any liability, financial or otherwise, for errors in ads or in editorial bucks to push that wall out and make a proper auditorium. content submitted by contributors. The Neighb News will run a correction We have all kinds of fun stuff in this issue. The on the inside front cover to rectify any misprints or errors in the previous Conservation Commission is in a bit of an upheaval. Old week’s issue. Readers, advertisers, and writers are responsible for issues, new issues, and the world’s worst neighbor on notifying The Neighb News of any inconsistencies or errors in the paper. Bella Vista island are taking their toll on members. The Advertisers are responsible for all claims made in their ads. The Neighb News is not be liable in any way for claims made by advertisers. issue would surely be helped with an influx of new blood, Advertisers are responsible for their own content. We will, to the extent however, after reading Jean’s article on page 18, we’re not reasonable, try to verify any claims that seem unreasonable or unlikely to sure anyone wants to be on that board. be true. Readers are encouraged to report any problems with our C’mon, people, I KNOW someone out there can do this. advertisers. Speaking of which....the Selectboard appointed and re- Subscriptions are available for 6 months (24 issues) or one year (48 appointed a bunch of people on Monday as part of their issues) at $1.75 per issue for a total of $42.00 or $84.00 respectively. Also annual ritual. Lots of boards have vacancies, so if you want available for free online at www.neighbnews.com, www.northfairhaven.org, www.westisland-ma.com. For free email subscription, send to NeighbNews@ to get involved, but you’re not sure what you want to do, comcast.net and include your first and last name. shoot an email over to Anne Kakley in the Selectboard office ([email protected]) and find out where Copyright 2013 Elizabeth A. David the vacancies are. Fairhaven has lots of boards that cover lots of areas. You’re bound to find something you’re Contents interested in. Board of Health ballot tossed out by judge ........................3 AND...if you’ve been holding back because you think Classifieds ..............................................................................21 they’d never appoint you because of some....er, history COVER: Graduation...............................................................16 you may have with someone, give it a shot anyway. You Fairhaven Board of Appeals.................................................19 might be pleasantly surprised. New faces on the board, Fairhaven Conservation Comm...........................................18 new opportunities for you. Fairhaven Selectboard ............................................................4 School’s not out yet, so summer isn’t officially in full Graduation list.......................................................................17 swing yet, but we’ve had enough warm days for the Happenings ........................................................................6,7,8 waterfront to be buzzing. Motorcycles are out in force, too, Legal Notices/Public Hearings.............................................20 so keep an extra eye out for those of us on two Letter from the editor.............................................................2 wheels...including bicycles. Oh, wait...I had a whole big great thing for the graduates Letters to the editor..............................................................24 to get in here this week, but, alas, I waited too long and Melansons are March of Dimes Ambassadors ..................22 now I need to go to print. So, I’ll keep it simple. I’ve said it Recipe of the week................................................................10 before and I’ll say it again: just don’t hate your job. I think Recreation Center this week................................................14 much of the misery in the world today is caused by people Senior Center this week .......................................................14 who are miserable because they hate their jobs. You don’t Tides .......................................................................................21 have to love every second of it, but you really should have Upcoming meetings/Fairhaven & Acushnet ......................21 fun. You will spend a lot of time at work so you need to be happy. Find your passion, indulge your passion, and CORRECTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS most of all, do your job well. No matter how trivial you may think your job is, it is worth doing right. It is worth doing well. And you are the one being counted on to do it right and well. Until next week then... Judge throws out ballots, BOH election is a tie By Beth David with the election. checks and balances to protect against Editor In the DeTerra camp, the tie these problems that have arisen.” Superior Court Judge Robert Kane election does not necessarily mean Some of those problems are that tossed out the contested ballot in the the town should have a new election. the some ballots were not counted at Fairhaven Board of Health race, The judge would not order one based the precincts, ballots were not making it a tie. Incumbent Peter on a tie; he could, however, order on secured after they were counted, and DeTerra was declared the winner by based on the other irregularities town clerk Eileen Lowney hand one vote after a recount of the close found with the elecion. counted votes that were in envelopes. 4/1 election that had been marred by In the Wethington camp, either Other problems, such as the check- mistakes, missteps, and improper scenario necessitates a new election. ins and check-outs not matching, and handling of ballots. Challenger John Information on what the bylaws mislabeled envelopes are also Wethington contested two ballots at say in case of a tie was not available reasons Ms. DeNardis says the the recount, one that went for Mr. by press time, but lawyers for both process was “tainted” and a new DeTerra (see photo below) and one candidates agree it would be up to election should be held. that was declared a blank. the town to decide. Mr. Markey, however, said the Judge Kane ruled that neither one “We are seeking a new election,” problems with the handling of the should count, saying it was not clear said Mr. Wethington’s attorney Ann ballots and the mismatches in the to him that the mark, which was Ponichtera DeNardis. “Any other voter sheets are minor issues that outside the circle, was meant for mechanism would disenfranchise the happen in many towns. He said most DeTerra.