The Bellingham Bulletin February 2011 : Page 1
The Bellingham Bulletin ~ News updates Hometown at www.BellinghamBulletin.com • Become a fan on Facebook! Bellingham’s Favorite “Good-NewsPaper” for the past 16 years! FEBRUARY 2011 Postal Patron Bellingham Bulletin Since 1994 Bellingham, ma 02019 PRST-STD U.S. Postage 1 Bellingham BULLETIN Permit No. 107 Bellingham, MA P A I D S t i l l D i re c t -M a i l e d i n to e v e ry Ho m e & B u s i n e s s i n B e l l i n g h a m F R E E O F C H A R G E ! Enter o ur Va lentin extra e’s Vagan za! Details on pg. 2 i t e, m , ebs letin.co s w ul ur te it o amB da Vis ellingh nt up e Thanks for w. B qu w w o r f re delivering f to: Volume XVII, Issue 5 Bellingham’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1994 february 2011 Town Mourns the Loss of Ernie Taft Bellingham. Though Ernie Taft’s death disabled by arthritis at age 63, after a fall from a young age, that broke his neck, he put his heart and came much too soon soul into our commu-for those of us who nity, working daily to knew and loved him. make it a better place A glimpse at the year-to live, all the while ly Directory of Town, remembering the past State and County Of-and preserving these ficials, put out by the memories for all of us Town Clerk’s office, to treasure. is a testament to Er-The Historical nie’s on-going com-Museum in the town mitment to the town. center was a labor of His name shows up love for Ernie, filled not only under the with artifacts, many Historical Com-of which he had per-mission, which he sonally solicited from chaired for many residents, or from oth-years, but also under ers who had a connec-the Housing Author-tion to the town. Ernie ity. And that was just kept the museum open this year. each Sunday after-In the past he Ernie Taft was always ready to share a bit of Bellingham history. He’s shown here at Silver Lake, noon, welcoming any served on numerous previously known as Hoag Lake, holding a playbill from the theatre that was once there. who chose to stop by, town committees: eager to share stories and explain interest-the Historic Book Panel Committee; the also served on the Anniversary Ball Com-ing tidbits of information. He was comfort-Council on Aging; Finance Committee; mittee and the Town Hall Clock Project. He Cultural Arts Council; Chairman of Disaster served on three Town Common committees able talking with young children as well for The Greater Chapter of the American before the present Town Common was as adults, respecting them equally. The Red Cross; Metacomet Land Trust; a poll built. He was a member of the Recreation tangible proofs of yesteryear stand silent worker; member of the Democratic Town Trail Committee, the South School Crooks now, missing Ernie’s voice to bring them Committee; a delegate to the State Annual Corner Park Committee, the Bellingham alive. However, the Historical Commission Democratic Convention; co-writer of the Veterans War Memorial Committee, and members are working to continue to operate Crimpville Comments; and curator of the the Town Hall Restoration Group. Ernie the museum, which will be open the first Bellingham Historical Museum, which he was also a member of the Silver Lake As-Sunday of every month from 1 to 4 PM or was instrumental in founding. sociation, the Oak Hill Cemetery Associa-by appointment, by calling the Municipal He published the History of Bellingham tion, and the Bike Trail Committee. He was Center. As I walked through the Town Admin-booklet in 1995, A Historic Guide to Bell-recently appointed by the Bellingham Board istration building and chatted with people ingham in 1998, and Town Hall 200 Years. of Selectmen as the official Bellingham shortly after his death, it was as though Er-In 2002, he wrote the Bellingham book in Town Historian. nie’s ghost followed right behind me. “An-the Images of America series. He served All these contributions to the community nie, how are you? How’s it going?” Town as a member of the 275th Bellingham An-still say little about Ernie Taft, the man. We Clerk Ann Odabashian recalled the words niversary Committee, overseeing the 2019, wanted to capture a glimpse of the “essential by which Ernie invariably greeted her.“Not 2044, and 2094 Time Capsule Project. He Ernie,” the man who was part and parcel of ERNIE TAFT —continued on page 23 PHOTO BY MEREDITH ALBRIGHT Town Clerk Ann L. Odabashian has an-nounced that the 2011 town census forms have been mailed to all Bellingham house-holds. “In most cases, verification of current information is all that will be needed. Simple instructions are included for mak-ing any changes, corrections, additions or deletions,” Odabashian explained. “Any resident who has not received a form or has any questions is asked to contact me at 508-657-2830.” The local census is required by Massa-chusetts law to determine the residents of individual cities and towns. The town clerk wishes to impress upon every resident the importance of responding to this census. Failure to respond to this mailing may result in removal from the voting list. Residents are now able to verify their vot-ing status on their census form. Any resident who wishes to register to vote through the mail need only check the voting status sec-2011 Census Forms Mailed CENSUS —continued on page 20 Jamison Mendall Tree Removal “Serving all your tree needs” Pruning, Storm Damage, Aerial Bucket & Bobcat Services Stump Grinding, PLOWING & more... L icensed & i nsured • F ree e stimates 1-508-958-0747 the Advantages of Working with an BEER PIZZA•SUBS•CALZONES 828 Diamond Hill Rd. WINE SALADS•PASTA•GYROS Woonsocket, RI 401-765-3555 • 401-765-3755 NEW ITEMS AVAIL ABLE Moussaka Plate Souvlaki Plate Shish Kabob Dinner Pork Chops Plate Kafta Dinner Greek-Style Pizza Home of tHe Gourmet Pizza www.santas-pizza.com M O R E C H O I C ES … B ET T ER Q U A L I T Y … B ES T P R I C E Visit us on our website at RealtyExecutivesTriCounty.com Serving MA & RI • Nous parlons Francais Delivering to So. Bellingham, Woonsocket & Blackstone 508-966-3563 TRI COUNTY RETriCounty@comcast.net Member, Bellingham Business Association 2 LARGE CHEESE PIZZAS $ 12 99 + tax 2 LARGE buy 3 SubS 1-TOPPInG GET 4 TH PIZZAS Sub FOR $ 15 99 99 ¢ + tax May not be combined with any other offers 116 mechanic st. (across from U.S. Post Office) • Bellingham, MA
Town Mourns The Loss Of Ernie Taft
Marjorie Turner Hollman Bulletin Correspondent
Ernie Taft’s death at age 63, after a fall that broke his neck, came much too soon for those of us who knew and loved him.A glimpse at the yearly Directory of Town, State and County Officials, put out by the Town Clerk’s office, is a testament to Ernie’s on-going commitment to the town.His name shows up not only under the Hi s tor i c a l Commission, which he chaired for many years, but also under the Housing Authority.And that was just this year.<br /> <br /> In the past he served on numerous town committees: the Historic Book Panel Committee; the Council on Aging; Finance Committee; Cultural Arts Council; Chairman of Disaster for The Greater Chapter of the American Red Cross; Metacomet Land Trust; a poll worker; member of the Democratic Town Committee; a delegate to the State Annual Democratic Convention; co-writer of the Crimpville Comments; and curator of the Bellingham Historical Museum, which he was instrumental in founding.<br /> <br /> He published the History of Bellingham booklet in 1995, A Historic Guide to Bellingham in 1998, and Town Hall 200 Years.In 2002, he wrote the Bellingham book in the Images of America series. He served as a member of the 275th Bellingham Anniversary Committee, overseeing the 2019, 2044, and 2094 Time Capsule Project. He Also served on the Anniversary Ball Committee and the Town Hall Clock Project. He served on three Town Common committees before the present Town Common was built. He was a member of the Recreation Trail Committee, the South School Crooks Corner Park Committee, the Bellingham Veterans War Memorial Committee, and the Town Hall Restoration Group. Ernie was also a member of the Silver Lake Association, the Oak Hill Cemetery Association, and the Bike Trail Committee. He was recently appointed by the Bellingham Board of Selectmen as the official Bellingham Town Historian.<br /> <br /> All these contributions to the community still say little about Ernie Taft, the man. We wanted to capture a glimpse of the “essential Ernie,” the man who was part and parcel of Bellingham. Though disabled by arthritis from a young age, he put his heart and soul into our community, working daily to make it a better place to live, all the while remembering the past and preserving these memories for all of us to treasure.<br /> <br /> The Historical Museum in the town center was a labor of love for Ernie, filled with artifacts, many of which he had personally solicited from residents, or from others who had a connection to the town. Ernie kept the museum open each Sunday afternoon, welcoming any who chose to stop by, eager to share stories and explain interesting tidbits of information. He was comfortable talking with young children as well as adults, respecting them equally. The tangible proofs of yesteryear stand silent now, missing Ernie’s voice to bring them alive. However, the Historical Commission members are working to continue to operate the museum, which will be open the first Sunday of every month from 1 to 4 PM or by appointment, by calling the Municipal Center.<br /> <br /> As I walked through the Town Administration building and chatted with people shortly after his death, it was as though Ernie’s ghost followed right behind me. “Annie, how are you? How’s it going?” Town Clerk Ann Odabashian recalled the words by which Ernie invariably greeted her.“Not Many people call me Annie,”Odabashian explained.“I don’t let many people call me Annie! But with Ernie, it was fine.”She looked over my shoulder as she repeated the words, as though Ernie, with his cane and rolling gait, might stroll through the Town Administration building at any moment.His twisted, bent-over body and everpresent cane set him apart in any crowd, a reminder of his arthritis, which cut short his“working”life. This limitation prevented his entrance into the military, a source of regret, but it never stopped him from Graduating from Bellingham High School or Holliston College. It also never stopped him from giving back to others.Jacqueline Bokoski, Administrative Assistant to the Selectmen, looked thoughtful when I asked what first comes to mind as she thinks about Ernie.“That wonderful smile of his—he was always happy, willing to help. He had tons of knowledge and could just rattle off things without having to look anything up. It was just up in his mind. He was very dedicated to the town, to the people. He’s going to be missed. He would come into my office and just brighten the room with his smile.He’d crack a joke—such a fun guy, a caring person.”<br /> <br /> Jim Hastings, the Chairman of the Memorial and Veteran’s Day Committee, talked about when he first met Ernie.“I was on the committee for the memorial on the common.Ernie knew a lot of the people who are listed on that memorial. He felt guilty about not being a veteran, but when we had to move the memorial to the common from in front of the Baptist Church, he helped us make sure it was done right.”<br /> <br /> Lynn Scornavacca, a resident of Silver Lake, recalled,“Ernie was the first person I met after moving to the lake. He introduced himself, came over and told me the history of my house. He brought a plot plan, told me about Camp Mayflower. He was always placing flags on the graves of veterans in town. The little flag in my garden is one that Ernie gave me this past summer. I loved his stories—he was the best resident we had.”<br /> <br /> Scornavacca then chuckled at a memory.“He was always in his car. Ernie and the geese at the lake—he was always chasing them in his car. Ernie also opened and closed the gate to Silver Lake faithfully every day.If there was someone still playing at the Beach, Ernie waited until they were done before he locked up. One day I was six or seven miles from home. [Scornvacca is a runner, as well as an ironman.] Ernie pulled up next to me and said, ‘You look like you’re running, but your dog looks like she’s walking.’”<br /> <br /> A man of small stature, Ernie seemed to grow as you talked with him. I met him often along the shores of Silver Lake, where he kept a small trailer. “My summer place,” he would smile, waving his cane at the little trailer tucked under the trees next to the water. Then,“How are your kids? They’ve gotten so big, haven’t they?”<br /> <br /> My children, like many others, grew up with this man, who lived in our neighborhood.He was always on the move, yet never in such a hurry that he didn’t have time to chat. But he always managed to talk about anyone other than himself. It has only been since his terrible fall and subsequent death that many of us have learned the extent of the legacy Ernie Taft has left behind, this man so many of us have grown to think of as“Mr. Bellingham.”As Lynn Scornavacca said,“We lost a town treasure.”
2011 Census Forms Mailed
Town Clerk Ann L. Odabashian has announced that the 2011 town census forms have been mailed to all Bellingham households.<br /> <br /> “In most cases, verification of current information is all that will be needed.<br /> Simple instructions are included for making any changes, corrections, additions or deletions,” Odabashian explained. “Any resident who has not received a form or has any questions is asked to contact me at 508-657-2830.”<br /> <br /> The local census is required by Massachusetts law to determine the residents of individual cities and towns. The town clerk wishes to impress upon every resident the importance of responding to this census.Failure to respond to this mailing may result in removal from the voting list.<br /> <br /> Residents are now able to verify their voting status on their census form. Any resident who wishes to register to vote through the mail need only check the voting status secTion (Party) and an application will be sent to their home. Mail-in applications are also available at the Bellingham Library and Post Office and the Registry of Motor Vehicles.<br /> <br /> List all members of your household including children. Members of the service and students, even though living away from home, are still considered legal inhabitants of Bellingham for voting purposes, unless they have chosen to establish a permanent residence elsewhere.Their names should be reported in the census by their parents.<br /> <br /> Residents are asked to return their forms immediately to the Town Clerk’s office. Returns can either be mailed or returned to special dropoff points within the town.<br /> <br /> Special “Drop-off Boxes” for census returns will be available at the following locations:<br /> <br /> Town Hall Mailbox (front of Municipal Center); Bellingham Public Library front desk; Town Clerk’s Office; Rockland Trust Bank.<br /> <br /> The Town Clerk wishes to thank each resident for their anticipated cooperation in making this the most accurate and successful census count possible.
