RCoMH - Scuttlebutt - February 14, 2026 (Feb 14, 2026)

Get into the mood for this week's special event with 2.5 hours of Mardi Gras music on YouTube.

Just copy and paste this link into your browser...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJARs46wMZ8

THIS WEEK'S BREAKFAST MEETING

Thursday, February 19

Thank you to last week's Breakfast Hosts - Michael and Judith

This week's Breakfast Hosts - Francie and Bob

Meeting Topic - Club Assembly

Possibly to Include the Club Board Meeting

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...Reminder...

- Very Special Event Invitation -

Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor is delighted to join The Landing Restaurant

and invite you to a festive evening celebrating

our Rotary Club

and

Mardi Gras!

Please join us on

Tuesday, February 17

6 p.m.

The Landing Restaurant

81 Front Street, Marblehead

Festive Attire Welcome!

Beads, Masks and Fun will be provided!

For information, contact Marguerite Frank-Peper, Event Chair

mfrank7347@gmail.com or 781-584-5677

Thank you to Marguerite Frank-Peper and Dinah DeSoto!!!

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Gentle Reminder:

MARBLEHEAD FOOD PANTRY FOOD DONATIONS

As you are able, please bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Marblehead Food Pantry.

We are so fortunate that the pantry's pantry is right downstairs from our meeting space...

so convenient for us!

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND SAVE THE DATES

• This Tuesday!!!!

Tuesday, February 17, 6 p.m.

RCoMH Night at The Landing

with all the flair of Mardi Gras!

Marguerite Frank Peper - Event Chair and Dinah DeSoto

We've requested seating for 40 people so definitely invite friends and family

and those who might like to consider getting to know more about Rotary and us

• Tuesday, February 24, 6 p.m.

The Landing Restaurant

Trivia Night - hosted by The Marblehead Current

Kris Olson - Trivia Master

Tickets at marbleheadcurrent.org

$35 each secures your space

Food and beverqge are not included

Teams of 6 people or fewer

• Thursday, March 5, 6 p.m.

Ed Bell Legacy Recognition

3 Honorees -

Outstanding Student Journalist - Grey Collins

Community Service - Teri McDonough

Philanthropist - The Philanthropic Lodge (The Masons)

Boston Yacht Club

Susan Wornick - Guest Host

Andrea Bell - Host

Tickets $50 per person

https://marbleheadcurrent.org/2026/02/05/a-legacy-to-celebrate-a-night-to-remember-ed-bell/

• April 22, 7 p.m. - Earth Day

From Judith Black and the Rotary International Environmental Group

"Plastic People" will be shown at the Cabot Theatre on Earth Day – April 22^nd, 7pm, and is free!

A flyer with more details will be forthcoming.

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From Judith's presentation last Thursday...

she made frittata, muffins and fruit salad.

It was fabulous (she says immodestly).

People (Linda leading the charge and seeing the impact this has on our food and environmental systems) were excited about creating a VEGAN NIGHT. Some great ideas emerged. A number of folks wanted some of the slides in the slide deck.

ENVIRONMENTAL POINTER # 2 4 :

B R A Z I L D I S C O V E R E D F U N G I D E V O R I N G

S I X TY P E S O F P L A S T I C I N W E E K S

Rotary E-Club of D-1850

Elizabeth Danckwerts

• Brazilian mycologists discovered a type of fungi named Aspergillus

tubingensis in the Amazon rainforest that breaks down six different

types of plastic. The fungus secretes enzymes that cleave polymer

chains, converting plastic into biomass and CO2 within 8-12 weeks.

• Researchers are scaling production in bioreactors, with pilot plants

treating plastic waste in São Paulo. The fungus works aerobically

(needs oxygen), making it perfect for landfill remediation.

Combined with bacterial digestion, this could create waste

treatment facilities that completely eliminate plastic pollution.

• Source: University of São Paulo Institute of Biomedical Sciences,

Environmental Science & Technology 2025

*****

• Being only vegan for one day saves:

• 1.100 gallons = 4.164 Liter of water.

• 40 lbs = 18 kg of grain.

• 30 sq. feet = 2,787 qm of forest.

• 1 animal.

• 20 lbs = 9 kg of CO2

Evidently, not all charted actions, individual and household actions,

to bring down carbon levels, are the same.

Here is one from the World Research Institue.

Going vegan is up there, but after eschewing your personal vehicle.

This rings true with me.:

19 Ways to Help the Climate, Rankedwri.org

This is from Science Direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590332223003548

Figure 3 shows results from a global survey demonstrating a mismatch between what individuals perceive to be the most effective choices for reducing emissions and actual impacts.

And the winners is>>>>>>>Having fewer children.

This one from the UN Environment Programme,

echoes the above and adds activism:

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/10-ways-you-can-help-fight-climate-crisis

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m

Windrush Farm is hiring!

Saturday Barn Staff Position

Based in North Andover, MA, Windrush Farm is a leading PATH-certified therapeutic riding center that serves children and adults facing physical, cognitive and developmental challenges. We have a 23-stall barn, large indoor and outdoor arenas, a sensory garden and access to miles of trails.

This position is for Saturdays. We offer competitive wages with growth potential. Our supportive team works closely together to ensure that the care we give our horses is the absolute best possible.

Duties of this position include feeding, turning in and out, cleaning stalls and water buckets, basic medical care, putting the barns to bed for the night and other tasks to keep the barns tidy and comfortable for our horses.

Candidates should have a strong work ethic, take satisfaction in ensuring our horses are well cared for, be diligent in their duties and pay attention to any signs that might indicate our horses need extra attention.

Please send a resume to Josselyn Shaughnessy at

Jo@windrushfarm.org

"Changing lives - one stride at a time...

If you have an announcement you'd like included in Scuttlebutt,

please send the write-up to

Jessica at jdharbar@comcast.net

by Friday night at 7 p.m.

Thank you!

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Be sure to participate in the 50/50 CARD DRAW

Are we still looking for the King of Hearts?

Consider starting 2026 with a chance to win "the kitty" and support the club.

1 ticket = $1 • 6 tickets = $5 • 12 tickets = $10

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MISSION STATEMENT

"As members of the Marblehead Harbor Rotary, we focus primarily on local community needs and opportunities through "Service Above Self." Accomplishing more together than we can individually, we also strive to connect and lend support regionally, nationally, and internationally by cooperating with new and well-established humanitarian programs, which are important to the health and well-being of people around the world."

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Thank You, Everyone!