Sandy Schipple and Ken Hoyte, Scituate resident from the Hingham Club (what’s wrong with this picture??) were our guests on this cold night.  But our thoughts are with the members and their families that are having health considerations. First, Gail Goodrow is recuperating in the Life Care Center on the Driftway after her 2^nd knee surgery. Don Sladen’s son Barry was in the South Shore Hospital last week, and President Bart is resting uncomfortably after a fever and infection. Hopefully, they are all closer to being healthy by the writing of this letter.

Special thanks to Loic, his step son Colin (Suzanne’s son), Sue Katz, Janet, Walter Heller for their help in putting together a room at the Ruth House in Brockton . We spruced it up, and it needed sprucing.

Walter Heller was kind enough to fill in for President Bart at the meeting. Though the bone chilling cold continues, the hearty New Englanders remain fearless in attending our meetings. No more bad news about freezing pipes since last week, knock on copper. A letter was read from the Animal Shelter thanking us for our Christmas donation last month.                                                         

HAPPY/SAD BUCKS:  Judy Rego was not with us this night, but  wallets opened anyway. Loic was happy for dry real estate (since he owns so much of it) and everyone helping with the Ruth House painting; Beatrice had several bucks passed from Janet and Bart for the burst pipes flooding, Bill Coulter for his grandchild’s musical creation, Ken Hoyte for the Patriot’s win (we’re on the way to the Super Bowl), Sandy Shipple for the new twin grandchildren, Jack Borror for his Southern travels, Beatrice for St. Luke’s pipe problem although the choral production went on, Walter for all the Ruth House workers, and sad for Janet/Bart’s flood, Sue Katz for spending a great football Sunday with the Lind family.

The Senior Dinner was set up for February at St. Luke’s. However, there’s a snag. Not enough  Rotarians will be in town for the event—8 will be unavailable.  So it has been rescheduled to April 14^th, subject to confirmation with Chef Paul.

Mark Mason, Superintendent of Schools arrived in an injured condition, but  he did not want to talk about it. So he spoke about the Scituate School System. He credits  John Kulevich with putting the system in order before he left.  Mark has published a newsletter that keeps the citizenry advised of issues and elements of  4 elementary schools, one middle and one high school. An additional 120 students are moving thru the system which will tax the current budget. In addition, there is a plan for 275 new homes in the West end which will contribute a balloon of students that Scituate isn’t now prepared for. Seems like the town is not interested in slowing growth until it can handle the increase, i.e. water, schools, sewage, roads, recycling, etc. The high school construction is complete, but future budget considerations are for necessary repairs on the elementary schools. This town is very frugal and this is not a good time to ask for additional funds. Incidentally, $5300 is paid per pupil per year, and our rank is 38^th  out of 352 districts in the state. Only 2 students failed the MCAS. Good bang for the buck, says Mark Mason.

As we were leaving, we believed that this was our last meeting at Pier 44. Then we met the owner on the stairs and he assured us we could come back next week, so we will. But we are looking at Jamie’s in Marshfield for future meetings.

Judy, don’t forget to bring the tickets next week.

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