Marion was anything but boring on Saturday, May 9. The town bustled with loads of family-friendly activities that spanned the entire day, beginning early in the morning at the Marion Music Hall where residents gathered to lend a hand in cleaning up the community.
It was the annual Marion Spring Cleaning – sponsored by the Marion Tree and Park Committee – and just under 100 participants showed up to don fluorescent yellow vests, choose a street to clean up, and rid the streets of Marion of litter.
Tinker Saltonstall of the Sippican Lands Trust said the turnout this year was slightly less than last year, but that is partly because Tabor Academy now hosts its own community service clean-up days when they used to collaborate with the Annual Marion Spring Cleaning Day.
“Also, the weather was pretty yucky,” said Saltonstall. It was a damp morning, with dark skies threatening rain, but throughout the day the Town’s activities were mostly spared, aside from random passing sprinkles.
Saltonstall said the Boy and Girl Scouts play a huge part in the clean-up event, with the Boy Scouts taking Washburn Park and the Girl Scouts taking Silvershell Beach.
“We feel very gratified,” said Saltonstall. “We accomplished our goal.”
Following the clean up, the Sippican Lands Trust invited participants and townspeople to “Spring Fest,” which featured a number of activities, including a performance by the Toe Jam Puppet Band, a climbing wall, a Sippican School band performance, and a petting zoo.
“That was a big hit,” said Saltonstall. “And it went on all afternoon.”
Marion Recreation also hosted their second annual kid’s equipment day on Saturday.
A row of different Town-owned vehicles – including a police cruiser, ambulance, earth diggers, a fire engine, and fire trucks – lined the Town House field.
There were plenty of Department of Public Works, police, and fire personnel on hand to demonstrate how each vehicle worked, to turn on lights and alarms, and to answer questions.
“I think [the workers] may have had more fun than the kids did,” said Marion Recreation Administrative Assistant Donna Hemphill.
Jody Dickerson, Marion Recreation Director and Chairman of the Board of Selectman, was on hand to pass out free colorful plastic firefighter and construction hats to the kids. After exploring the equipment, children removed their shoes to play and jump in the free bouncy house.
By Jean Perry
