january and february 2018 www facebook com …€¦ · tuesday 6 - papa gino’s fundraiser...

My intent was to send you this newsletter during the 1st week of February. Life happened (a phrase I always associate with a cemetery group!). We have a lot of upcoming activities, and inside are only a few. I lead Volunteers in 3 meetings and Directors in 3 other meetings determining “What do we want to do in 2018”. We came up with several GREAT ideas! Now this charity has to turn our IDEAS into PLANS. We have a good track record, but with your help, 2018 can be GREAT!

We hold Meetings of the Volunteers on the 3rd Thursday of each month (except December) usually in the downstairs Community Room in the Library. Sometimes we hold them in the upstairs Genealogy room (as we will in March). The Middleborough Public Library has been our hosts for these meetings for 2 years, and we appreciate their support. We believe that our growth these last 2 years has been supported by our reliable meeting place. We invite you to come on in and visit with us.

Volunteers have been serving on our “Honorary Mayor of Middleborough” committee since November. They recruited some great Candidates! They planned some FoMC Signature Events, and the Candidates planned some Campaign Events. The date of our Inauguration event will now be on Saturday April 7th (the day of our Town and State Election). The HMoM contest is 4 years old now, and almost a Middleborough institution! Volunteers and HMoM “votes” make everything possible!

While much of what we do involves Stewardship of the cemeteries, we can actually do other things. We have barely touched “Historical Interpretation”. We have opportunities that involve new technology, photography, videography, and genealogy. We really like holding events, and those require Volunteers. We provide Community Service Opportunities, and every year more Middleborough High School students need to complete Community Service hours in order to graduate. If anyone wants to Volunteer, we can accommodate. We can use your existing skills and teach you new ones. Volunteers are never bored, frequently amused, and always appreciated, and truly valued. Consider becoming a Volunteer yourself, or recommend the FoMC to others. Be the change...

Chip Mangio President of the FoMC, and Editor of this e-Newsletter

VOLUNTEER WITH THE FOMC

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEFOMC JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2018

www.FriendsofMiddleboroughCemeteries.org

2018 Be the change that you want

to see, in Middleborough!

WWW .FRIENDSOFMIDDLEBOROUGHCEMETERIES .ORG

WELCOME TREASURER BOHNING

This charity is happy to welcome to our Board of Directors our

newest Director, Mr. Fred Bohning. Fred was recruited to serve as

our newest Treasurer. Welcome aboard!

Fred has been active in the Middleborough community for a

long time. He currently serves as a Director of the Middleborough

Youth Building and is a Trustee of the Middleborough Elks. He has

volunteered with the FoMC in the past. If you have seen our floats in

the Middleborough parades, then you have seen Fred towing the

float. Fred has already brought some new ideas as to how the FoMC

can improve out internal processes. We welcome his experience.

This charity depends on Members. There are two ways to become a Member. One way

is to make a donation of $20. The other way is to donate 10 hours of your time. Both methods

grant the same right of Membership. The Members vote on the Board of Directors at the

Annual Meeting of the Corporation. In 2018, the meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 8th.

Members will receive an invitation to the Annual Meeting from our Clerk. As in the past, we

will be meeting (and eating!) at Lorenzo's. Attendees, please bring an appetite!

Most of our Members become so because of the hours volunteered with the charity.

There are MANY opportunities between now and May 8th. Plan to attend our Volunteer meet-

ing on March 15th. Volunteers file their hours on a “Volunteer to Membership” form which we

will have available.

This charity does offer a “Lifetime Membership” option. For a one-time contribution of

$250, you could be a Lifetime Member. This charity also allows for “Current and Next Year”

memberships. I will publish the Membership Application in our next e-Newsletter.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERSHIP

SUBMISSIONS TO THE NEWSLETTER

Anyone can submit an article for publication in this e-newsletter. I will happily work with any-

one regarding submission guidelines, topics, images, and hyperlinks. Personally I would love

to read about some of the people whose stones our Volunteers have cleaned. Maybe one of you

could write something up for the rest of us to enjoy. If I ask, will articles come? Let’s find out!

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY , 2018

February, 2018 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

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18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 28 28

March, 2018 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

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4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

April, 2018 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

Saturday 7 - HMoM Inauguration Day!

Thursday 12 - Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday 19 - monthly Volunteer Meeting

Saturday 14 - “Flagging our Veterans“ Day

Sat 14 & Sun 15 - Visit us at the Herring Run!

Monday 16 - Patriot’s Day

Sunday 22 - Earth Day

Friday 27 - Arbor Day


Thursday 15 - Volunteer Meeting - GENEALOGY ROOM

Tuesday 6 - Papa Gino’s Fundraiser

Saturday 17 - VFW Breakfast & Meet the Candidates

Sunday 18 - Jeff Stevens at Oak Point for Sylvia’s Campaign

Saturday 24 - Dale and the Duds for Kate’s Campaign

For all of February, buy a reusable bag at Hannafords and they will donate $1 to the FoMC (see page 6).


Thursday 15 - monthly Volunteer Meeting

Friday 23 - Leilani Dalpe Song Auction

Sunday 25 - Bakeoff, Coffee, & Meet the Candidates

To be updated first on our activities, follow us at https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheFoMC/events/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheFoMC/events/


It’s Campaign Season! The 4th “Honorary Mayor of Middleborough” election-style fundraising season has begun!

This year there are 4 candidates working hard for the title of Honorary Mayor. Each candidate

has a “Deputy Mayor” running-mate and “Supported Causes or Organizations”. The

“Deputy Mayor” running-mates are deceased people from Middleborough’s past, and the

“Supported Cause or Organization” are entities which improve Middleborough’s future.

Combined, all three campaign elements work to improve Middleborough cemeteries today.

This year’s Candidates, Deputy Mayors, and Supported Causes or Organizations are:

_____ Kate Mackiewicz and Jane Lopes (1948-2017)

along with the “Soule Homestead Education Center”.

http://www.friendsofmiddleboroughcemeteries.org/kate.html

_____ Glenn Montapert and John Shaw Jr (1822-1891)

along with the “May Flower Lodge Ancient Free & Accepted Masons”.

http://www.friendsofmiddleboroughcemeteries.org/glenn.html

_____ Eric Jacobson and Wayne Maurice Caron (1946-1968)

along with the “Special Olympics Massachusetts”.

http://www.friendsofmiddleboroughcemeteries.org/eric.html

_____ Sylvia Camandona and Mertie Romaine (1893-1992)

along with the “South Middleboro Grange”.

http://www.friendsofmiddleboroughcemeteries.org/sylvia.html

Paper ballots are also available:

http://www.friendsofmiddleboroughcemeteries.org/2018-candidates.html

JOIN OUR VETERNS TEAM

http://www.friendsofmiddleboroughcemeteries.org/kate.html

http://www.friendsofmiddleboroughcemeteries.org/glenn.html

http://www.friendsofmiddleboroughcemeteries.org/eric.html

http://www.friendsofmiddleboroughcemeteries.org/sylvia.html

http://www.friendsofmiddleboroughcemeteries.org/2018-candidates.html


Sylvia Camandona

Mertie Romaine (1893-1992)

“South Middleboro Grange”

Kate Mackiewicz

Jane Lopes (1948-2017)

“Soule Homestead Education Center”

Glenn Montapert

John Shaw Jr (1822-1891)

“May Flower Lodge Ancient Free & Accepted Masons”.

Eric Jacobson

Wayne Maurice Caron (1946-1968)

“Special Olympics Massachusetts”.

From left to right, the 2018 Honorary Mayor of Middleborough Candidates,

their Deputy Mayor running-mates, and their Supported Causes or Organizations.

Who will be the 2018 Mayor?

Plan to attend the Inauguration Ceremony!

Saturday, April 7th. Town Hall Ball Room


A CALL FOR ART! - AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHINE!

PAGE 6

In November of 2016 and 2017, this charity held Civil War Art exhibits. Our first effort

raised awareness of the headstone cleanings that we were doing in the cemeteries. Last year’s

effort celebrated the completion of our Civil War Headstone Cleaning initiative, and we held

that event in partnership with the Middleborough Historical Association. We have learned that

we LIKE holding exhibits! Cemeteries are filled with ART and we like showing them off!

We have decided to hold another exhibit in 2018. This one will be held during late April

and all of May. May is recognized nationally as “Preservation Month”, so we are going to

participate by highlighting the art that the FoMC is preserving each time we clean headstones!

The name of the exhibit is simple - “Art in Our Cemeteries”. We would like your help!

We are asking for YOU to visit a Middleborough cemetery and take photos. The only

request that we have is that any photos that you submit (by replying to this email) have been

taken at high resolution. We want to be able to zoom in on an image. We are not defining your

subject matter in any way. Art is subjective. You decide. All submissions can’t be used for this,

but will be kept in reserve for future exhibits (and trust me, there will be future exhibits!).

As with all exhibits, there will be a Reception. At this time, we have not scheduled this.

Do not fret - we will publicize this well. If you'd like, hit REPLY and we will email you a

personalized email invitation. Chances are pretty good that the Reception will be held in May.


JANUARY AND FEBRUARY , 2018 PAGE 7

HEADSTONE RESETTING AND REPAIR - IN MAY 2018!

On May 10, 2016, TaMara Conde spoke at our Annual Meeting. Her talk was entitled

“Headstone Repair: What’s Possible in Your Town”. It has always been the FoMC’s intent

to have her back in Middleborough to lead a workshop. That is happening in 2018! It is with

great pleasure that I announce our first ever “Headstone Resetting and Repair” workshop!

We have scheduled this for the weekend of May 5 and 6. It is planned for Saturday, with

the rain date on Sunday. It’s at the Reed and Gilbert Pierce cemeteries on Marion Road.

There are several footstones lined up against the wall that all need to be put back into place.

There are lots of broken stones and upturned bases. Attendees can get hands-on experience!

There are 2 cemeteries at this location. Imagine a low stone wall down the middle of the

image above (that actually once existed). Gilbert Peirce Cemetery is on the right. Volunteers

have cleaned all of the stones. On the left is the Reed Cemetery, where only Civil War Veterans

stones have been cleaned. Notice that the white picket fence has been removed. This year, a

Boy Scout from Troop 96 will be replacing the fence as his Eagle Scout project. The trees and

stumps that were along the fence path have been removed and ground. Signs of progress!!!

Our Documentation Team can resume documentation of the stones as soon as they wish.

Cleaning stones requires warm weather. We plan to clean all stones at Reed Cemetery this year,

and typically we begin cleanings in May.

If you want to be involved with the “Headstone Resetting and Repair” workshop, or

the Documentation or Cleaning of the stones, or to support the Scout in his effort to rebuild the

fence, reply to this newsletter.

If you want to follow our progress, log into Facebook and LIKE the cemetery pages:

https://www.facebook.com/FoMC.Reed https://www.facebook.com/FoMC.GilbertPeirce

https://www.facebook.com/FoMC.Reed

https://www.facebook.com/FoMC.GilbertPeirce

TREE REMOVAL AT WARRENTOWN CEMETERY

There are a lot of trees (Pine, Oak, Cedar, and

Cherry) in Warrentown Cemetery. Their growth went

unchecked for a very long time. Maintenance has been

required, so the FoMC has been “assisting” with that

need. In January, one of our longest-desired goals was

achieved! The 75 foot tall Pine Tree in the back center

was removed. This tree was filled with rot. Branches

had been falling and crashing to the ground for years,

and we always dreaded walking in one day and finding

the stone for 5 year-old Leonard Rickard (June 6, 1782 -

September 12, 1787) or any of the other nearby stones

shattered into pierces, beyond repair. Tragedy averted!

Cherry Trees line the left side of the cemetery,

and lean into a horse paddock. That paddock has not

been used for years because Cherry Trees produce

cyanide when the leaves are wilted, and affect horses

within hours of ingestion. To remove the Cherry Trees,

we need to make them accessible by removing some of

the Pine Trees. Those grew up into power-lines.

The Oak Trees are magnificent! There is one on

the right side of the front along the fence line. It is entirely within the bounds of the cemetery,

but pushing the granite posts that establish the boundary. It could be the oldest tree on the

grounds! There were a lot of dead branches within it, and frequently we would find branches

down on Summer Street or in the “driveway” of the cemetery. During a January snow event,

we found branches bent onto the Slate stones below. There are a lot of dead Oak Trees here too

(perhaps victims of the Gypsy Moth Caterpillars that thrive here). We have pruned back the

dead branches. Hopefully it will stay healthy for a long time. Some Oak Trees here have died.

As they fall, their shards land among the stones. Nothing has broken recently, but we have no

idea if the many broken stones came about as a result of other long-passed Oak Trees.

Photo Credit:

A hearty “Thank You” goes out to

Rhonda Roberts for her supervision of

the site work of the Tree Removal and

for the photographs that she took as

the trees came down. Excellent work!


JANUARY AND FEBRUARY , 2018 PAGE 9

Tree Maintenance is one of the most expensive aspects of this charity. Trees do not need

much care, but when they need to be addressed, it’s costly. If you would like to donate to this

501(c)(3) to enable us to address this ongoing need, we invite you to do so.

To make a donation using PayPal, click on this link.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=vP0h9tOIug0gcBi-TEUwJ9k8c5cgzYAPKldNrIsVbvd-U8E-gl3srqvSSC2mt3eW6zApFG&country.x=US&locale.x=US


Everyone advocates “Buy Locally”. Many of us choose to “Buy Globally”. If you

choose to shop over the Internet, and you use Amazon.com, well, be aware that this charity has

an Amazon Smile account: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/45-2515489 . If you sign up and use

it, you can designate the FoMC as the charitable organization you wish to support. Amazon

will donate 0.5% of the price of your purchases to us. Amazon distributes quarterly, and their

checks are a pleasant surprise in our account. Please, consider and embrace this opportunity to

help the Friends of Middleborough Cemeteries. Every little bit helps!

CORPORATE SUPPORT HELPS!

If your Company has a program that could benefit the FoMC and you wish to raise

awareness of it, reply to this newsletter. Help comes in many forms, and we always aim to

support those who support us. Our newsletter audience has continued to grow ...

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/45-2515489

Friends of Middleborough Cemeteries, Inc. partners with the

Veterans’ Services office of the Town of Middleborough.

Middleborough has ongoing efforts that honor Veterans, and our official third purpose

(To preserve and promote the memory of those persons interred within Middleborough) is

complementary to those efforts. Our efforts are predominantly, but not exclusively, cemetery-

focused. We assist with the Flagging of the Graves of all Veterans. We maintain Valor by

ensuring the proper placement of Medallions. These efforts arise from our ongoing presence in

the burial grounds. We photograph, clean, and (soon) repair Veterans’ monuments. We hope to

soon have in place some new methods of historical interpretation (such as with Re-enactors).

This charity established a Veteran’s Team, and we hope that you will join it.

One of the efforts that the team will undertake will be to participate in Parades. We want

to enable more of our Veterans to be able to participate in the events that honor their service.

Towards that end, we designed and purchased two banners (8 feet wide by 2 feet tall) that will

adorn both sides of the float. When not in use at a parade, we intend to have them on display

throughout town (such as on the Town Hall lawn or at various cemeteries). (Yes, we will need

to create two wooden frame for them to be on during display periods). We need people who

can decorate our float as well as people who can walk along side our float and hand out FoMC

postcards and candy. Do you love a Parade? REPLY to join our Veteran’s Team!




The Honorary Mayor is now on Facebook! Please show your support by giving the page a LIKE!

https://www.facebook.com/Mayor02346

All campaign season events should be listed on the EVENTS tab. If the Mayor is going to be

someplace during their term, then that event will be listed here too!

We are working to add photos from this current year and our previous campaigns. If you have

any photos that you would be willing to share, please REPLY to this email.

Do you know how to INVITE people to like a page? It’s EASY, and one of the ways that YOU

can help grow this charity. See the Learn More blue box? INVITE is below it. Click it and try!

Do you Administrate a Facebook page? Did you know that Pages can LIKE other Pages? If

you would like assistance doing this for the Honorary Mayor page, just REPLY and we’ll help!

Social Media is Free and it invites results! Help us spread the word about the Honorary Mayor!

https://www.facebook.com/Mayor02346/



Leilani Dalpe recently appeared in a Brockton Symphony Chamber concert. In Song Auctions,

she doesn't sing until somebody pays! Admission is $10.00 and each attendee receives $10 in

vouchers to use towards bids. There will be a list of songs and each song is auctioned off to the

highest bidder and then Ms. Dalpe sings. The more you bid the more she sings! Attendees can

also bid with good old US dollars. Songs will include selections from Phantom of the Opera,

and many popular Broadway shows as well as light classical numbers. There will also be a

raffle and CD's for sale. Light refreshments will be served in a cabaret style atmosphere.

All proceeds count as VOTES towards Candidate Glenn Montapert.

Friday, February 23rd 7pm-10pm

Central United Methodist Church on 14 School Street


Bake-off, Coffee, and Meet the Candidates. $5.00 entry donation

$10 per family, max!

Raffles held during the event.

There will be a tasting of local Bakeries and their yummy goodies.

You can vote for your favorite goodie!

Free coffee and other beverages will be available.

Middleborough Town Hall Ball Room

Sunday, February 25th, 2018

11am until 2pm

Honorary Mayor Candidates will be present for you to meet.

Learn about their “Deputy Mayors” and their “Supported Cause or Organization”.



“Meet the Candidates” Breakfast VFW Post 2188

12 Station Street

Saturday, March 17th 9am-10am

$8 per Adult $6 per child under 12

Door Prizes. Basket & 50/50 raffles.

Proceeds from this fundraising event benefit the four Candidates running for

Honorary Mayor or Middleborough. All proceeds are split evenly.

www.Facebook.com/Mayor02346 www.Facebook.com/theFoMC




Jeff Stevens is the FoMC expert on Colonial Era Gravestones. He has conducted tours of both

Cemetery at The Green and Titicut Parish Cemetery. He produces videos that appear on cable

under the title “Middleborough’s Historic Cemeteries”. He will present an “indoor tour” of our

various types of Colonial Era Gravestones. Attendees will be entertained and learn a bit too.

All proceeds count as VOTES towards Candidate Sylvia Camandona.

Sunday, March 18rd at 2pm

Oak Point Ballroom

SPRING CLEANUP ARE COMING SOON!

I close this longer-than-normal issue with thoughts of SPRING.

This charity does not organize Fall Cleanups. There is no point. By the time the last leaf

falls, we are into the holiday season. The wind just blows all of the leaves of Middleborough

and surrounding towns into the cemeteries anyway, and we would never finish. Pointless.

Instead, we aim to do Spring Cleanups. We have been fortunate to have Volunteers who

want to do the Landscaping activities. The Middleborough cemeteries, as a whole, have never

looked better than they did in 2017. We hope to achieve as much in 2018.

Spring Cleanups are an excellent opportunity to do Community Service. We have all the

equipment needed. We just need Volunteers. Want to arrange some raking & leaf gathering

events? Want to donate so that others can have the supplies they need to do the actual work?

Lets talk and make something happen. Or, wait for our announcements of upcoming events.

On the thought of SPRING, here is an image of SPRING. This photo was taken at the

Cemetery at The Green. I am not an Arborist, and I have no idea what the plant is. I just like

looking at it, and wish that there were more of them about. Another reason to visit cemeteries!


Friends of Middleborough Cemeteries, Inc.

P.O. Box 172

Middleborough, MA. 02346

www.FriendsofMiddleboroughCemeteries.org

www.Facebook.com/TheFoMC

To Preserve, maintain, and restore the cemeteries

located in Middleborough, including the graves,

burial grounds, and burial plots;

To Promote an improved awareness of the history and care

of Middleborough cemeteries;

To Preserve and promote the memory of those persons

interred within Middleborough.

Our purposes are:

Volunteer Meetings

monthly, on the 3rd Thursday

6:30pm - 7:30pm

Middleborough Public Library

102 North Main Street

Walk-ins welcome!

Board of Directors Meetings

monthly, on the 2nd Thursday

6:30pm - 8:30pm

American Legion Post 64

8 Thatcher’s Row

We are a 501(C)(3) charity: EIN 45-2515489

We provide Community Service Opportunities

january and february 2018 www facebook com …€¦ · tuesday 6 - papa gino’s fundraiser...

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