A regular meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen was called to order on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:02 pm by Chairman Richard Nunes. Also present were Selectman Dan McGaffey, Selectman Bradford Morse, Town Administrator Richard LaCamera, and Administrative Assistant Veronica Lafreniere.

The board first opened a Tax Classification Hearing with the Board of Assessors in order to set the annual tax rate. "We don't have the figures that we need right now, we're hoping to finalize everything this weekend," said Assessor Jana Cavanaugh. "We're requesting a continuance to Tuesday, December 2 at 6:30 pm."

The board unanimously approved the continuance as requested.

The board next signed and authorized the Town Treasurer to take out additional short-term borrowing in the amount of $750,000 at a rate of 2.52 percent in anticipation of tax receipts.

At 7:10 pm the board continued a Dog Hearing upon a complaint against two dogs owned by Denis Seguin of Bennett Road. Mr. Seguin was notified by the town of several complaints against his two dogs -- initially thought to be Bull Mastiffs but later identified as English Mastiffs. The initial hearing was continued to this evening.

According to neighbor Yvonne Sasseville of Coombs Road, her two-year-old Labrador was attacked by Mr. Seguin's dogs on Bennett Road in front of his house. "The dogs came charging full speed, barking, smelling and circling around us," Ms. Sasseville wrote. "I started screaming and crying for help."

Likewise, neighbor Christine Thompson of Bennett Road wrote that she was walking her chihuahua Toby with her son riding his bike alongside when Mr. Seguin's dogs came toward them and she had to hold her dog out of sight to avoid a confrontation. "Considering their size, they should be on a leash, whether it is the law or not," Ms. Thompson wrote.

Resident John Duryea also sent an e-mail citing two instances where Mr. Seguin's dogs on Bennett Road in the last two years. In the first, he claimed the Mastiff lunged after him and grabbed the sleeve of his shirt. "The dog did not actually bite me, but in my opinion he tried to," Mr. Duryea wrote. During a later incident both Mastiffs went after Mr. Duryea's dog while he and his wife were walking her along Bennett Road. Although no one was hurt, "it was an ugly scene, my wife and I trying to pull the dogs off," he wrote.

"It seems the male Mastiff, Rocky I believe, is the aggressor," said Animal Control Officer (ACO) Anne Estabrook. "Both are Bull Mastiffs."

"I own English Mastiffs," Mr. Seguin corrected. "The dogs are kept in the house. I'm doing some work out of town right now and someone is staying at my house. We have an arrangement where neither dog goes out of the house together and we don't walk them on the street anymore. We walk them on conservation land out behind my property and they stay on a leash. All of these instances I apologize for. This (male) dog is a little bit aggressive (to other dogs), but he's never attacked a person. Unfortunately people get intimidated by him and they start screaming at him, which makes the situation worse."

After closing the hearing, the board unanimously voted to request that Mr. Seguin's dogs be restrained and confined to his property or the conservation land adjacent to his property, and that they remain on a leash at all times.

At 7:30 pm the board met with Tim Higgins to discuss the Connett Woods subdivision project between High Street and Ryder Road. The site contains a total of 560 acres and they plan to sell some 400 acres of open space to the Massachusetts Farm Bureau to keep it as conservation land. The planned subdivision will be confined to the remaining 160 or so acres.

"We'll be making a lot of improvements on the site, but to ensure it remains in open space, we have to put a conservation restriction on it," Mr. Higgins said. "All the hunting, fishing and trapping that has been taking place over the years will still go on, the cranberry bogs will remain, and there will be public access to the (open space). Access will be allowed through the development."

With that, the board unanimously voted to sign and approve an agreement to allow the 400 acres to be sold as conservation land to the Massachusetts Farm Bureau.

Under the Town Administrator's report, Mr. LaCamera noted they need to cancel the liquor license held by Towne Pizza since they have now gone out of business. As such, the board unanimously cancelled the license currently held by Towne Pizza and the owners have 60 days to either transfer it to another Rochester establishment or forfeit it altogether.

Mr. LaCamera noted that PMA Consultants has been chosen as the project manager for the Memorial School Building project. "The building committee will be presented with a contract on Monday night," Mr. LaCamera said. "We're moving forward and we feel the process will take six to nine months."

A planned appointment between the board and Town Clerk Naida Parker was again cancelled and Mr. LaCamera said he advised Ms. Parker to provide him with several dates which were convenient for her to meet with the board to discuss Dog Licensing. On that note, Mr. LaCamera reported they have decreased the number of unlicensed dogs in town from around 300 to just about 40.

In other matters, the board:

* Received payment from SEMASS/Covanta in lieu of taxes in the amount of $284,799 for refuse collected at the facility during the month of October 2008.

* Received notice that the Town of Rochester has been awarded a $43,200 grant for the Dexter Lane Recreational Area Improvement Project. According to Mr. LaCamera, this money will be used to fund a joint playground and basketball court on the Dexter Lane property.

"Mr. Davignon, a fourth grade teacher, wanted to start a community fund-raising project to put a playground at Dexter Lane," Mr. LaCamera said. "At the same time the Park Commission was looking to put a basketball court at Dexter Lane and they didn't have any funding at all. We applied for a grant and received a 60 percent reimbursement. The cost of the basketball court and playground was $72,000 and 60 percent of that would be funded through the grant with the remaining balance coming from the funds raised (for the playground)."

* Received payment from Verizon in the amount of $3,064.11 in PEG Access funding for the tri-town cable access efforts.

Selectman Morse noted they are still looking for members to form an Agricultural Commission in town. Members don't necessarily have to work in agriculture, they just have to be interested in serving on the seven-member board. Those interested should send a letter to the Board of Selectmen, c/o Rochester Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way, Rochester, MA 02770.

Mr. LaCamera noted the town's Annual Tree Lighting will be held on Monday evening, December 6 beginning at 6:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

There being no further matters to discuss in Open Session, they unanimously voted to go into Executive Session at 7:51 pm to discuss contracts and pending litigation and would thereafter adjourn for the evening.

By Kenneth J. Souza

Mattapoisett Library Director Judy Wallace passed away on Saturday, November 15 after a long battle with cancer. At just 54, Ms. Wallace certainly left behind a lasting legacy in the form of a newly-renovated and expanded Mattapoisett Free Public Library -- a project she nurtured from start to finish. She thankfully was present at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the library held on July 15, which ended up being her last official event.

Ms. Wallace has served as Mattapoisett's library director since 2000. Much of her eight-year tenure centered around the library renovation project, for which she did everything from campaigning to donating her own time and talents at various fund-raisers.

Born in Southington, CT, the daughter of the late William and Rose (Dumond) Wallace, she was raised in Bristol, CT and lived on Cape Cod many years before moving to Mattapoisett in 2000.

Judy was employed as library director at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library since 2000. She previously was the library director at the Brooks Free Library in Harwich and had worked at several other libraries on Cape Cod and Bristol, CT.

Judy was a singer and songwriter who enjoyed playing the guitar and harmonica. She was a member of the Commission on Disability in Mattapoisett.

A vibrant and active supporter of the arts, Ms. Wallace also performed as a solo artist and fronted the Judy Wallace Group -- a jazz and blues ensemble featuring her husband, David Gries, on bass, and has opened for the likes of Roomful of Blues and Shawn Colvin. Ms. Wallace released three independently-produced CDs: Bringin' It Back Again in August 2001; Cape Blues in December 2004; and a collection titled Early Recordings: 1984-1988.

Survivors include her husband, David Gries; two sons, Ian Kahn and his wife Staci of South Boston and Matthew Kahn of Boston; her brother and five sisters, Sharon Scharrer of Roanoke, VA, Rose Wallace of Eastham, MA, Gayle Wallace of Jacksonville, FL, William Wallace of Orleans, MA, Suzanne Wallace-Correiro of Hyannis and Tina Masciangioli of Arlington, VA; several nieces and nephews.

Private funeral arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Road (Route 6) Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Mattapoisett Library Trust P.O. Box 475, Mattapoisett, MA 02739 or to Community Nurse and Hospice Care, P.O. Box 751, Fairhaven, MA 02719. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

A regular meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen was called to order in the Marion Town House on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 pm by Chairman Jonathan Henry. Also present were Selectman Roger Blanchette, Selectman Stephen Cushing, Town Administrator Paul Dawson and Secretary Helene Craver.

The board first met with representatives of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department and the Marion Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to accept the gift of a new ambulance which was purchased through funds raised by the Benjamin D. Cushing Marion VFW Post 2425.

"The ambulance was delivered last Thursday and is going through the final phases of being oufitted," said EMS Director Jeff Habicht. "It is a state-of-the-art ambulance and we look forward to putting it into service. On behalf of the Marion EMS and residents, I'd like to thank (Commander) Joe Napoli and the members of the Marion VFW for all their hard work in raising money to purchase this vehicle. I'd also like to thank Dale Jones, who has put in countless hours to get this ambulance ready to be put on the road."

Mr. Habicht estimated the VFW raised about $162,000 and the ambulance cost just under $150,000.

"It's a 450 chassis rather than the previous 350," Mr. Jones said. "It's a bigger vehicle, but it's certainly adequate for our needs."

Mr. Jones noted the existing ambulance will go to the Fire Department to be used as a backup emergency vehicle.

"This has been a very, very successful system for the town," Chairman Henry said. "And we appreciate the efforts of the VFW."

With that, the board unanimously voted to accept the gift of the new ambulance on behalf of the Town of Marion.

At 7:10 pm the board met with the members of the Board of Assessors to open the annual Tax Classification Hearing.

"The Board of Assessors requests a continuance to December 2," said Assessor Ray Pickles, noting they don't yet have the final numbers ready to make a determination.

"Wouldn't it be wise to invite the members of the Finance Committee (FinCom) to make a recommendation on the town's tax rate?" Selectman Blanchette suggested. "Doesn't it make sense that the FinCom might want to offer their input?"

"The Assessors have been looking at this very carefully over the years," Mr. Pickles said. "Changing the tax rate from a single to a split rate would affect small businesses in Marion. All of the commercial property in Marion will be increasing in value this year ... by roughly 5 percent."

"We have a lot of small businesses in town, but we also have a lot of businesses in town that are getting a free ride," Selectman Blanchette said. "I think this is worth looking into."

With that, the board unanimously voted to continue the Tax Classification Hearing to Tuesday, December 2 at 6:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall.

At 7:17 pm the board met with Police Chief Lincoln Miller and Special Officer Kevin Paulson of Fairhaven, who the chief is recommending to be hired as a full-time police officer with the Marion Police Department. "He's been with us for 12 years, we know him well, and he will save the department money because we won't have to send someone to the police academy for training," Chief Miller said.

With that, the board unanimously voted to promote Officer Paulson to full-time status.

At 7:20 pm the board opened a hearing to consider a change of manager for The Wave Restaurant. The request is to change the manager of the establishment from Todd Zell to Robb DeSimone. Mr. DeSimone has been working in the restaurant business since 1972 and has previously managed several establishments.

"I think what you're doing up there is pretty nice," Selectman Blanchette said.

With that, the board unanimously voted to approve the change of manager as requested.

In other matters, the board:

* Voted to declare a 1984 Ford Econoline van previously used by the Fire Department as surplus equipment.

* Signed and approved alcohol license renewals for 2009, including The Beverly Yacht Club; The Frigate Steakhouse; The Kittansett Club; Leo's Cheese and Wine Cellar; Lighthouse Liquors; Marion Country Package Store; Marion General Store; Sippican Cafe; The Stone Rooster; Spirits, Inc.; The Caz; and The Short Wave Bar and Grill.

* Voted to sign and approve an Owner's Project Manager (OPM) contract with Pomroy Associates of Easton, MA for the Marion Police Station for $150,000 to provide a full-time Clerk of the Works on the project. "With this contract in place, the next step is to negotiate the final design with the architect," Mr. Dawson said. "With the notice to proceed, he will be doing that forthwith."

Mr. Dawson said Phillip Gallagher has been proposed as the Clerk of the Works for the project, who will be working for Pomroy Associates. "He has been doing this kind of work long before there was a state requirement," he said.

Under the Town Administrator's report, Mr. Dawson first noted he has received a settlement offer from the D.W. White Construction Company for the recent sewer backup problem in the area of Arrowhead Lane and Reservation Way. "Their offer is $13,255 ... this offer represents a little more than 45 percent of the total cost to repair the blockage," Mr. Dawson said. "They contend that the blockage was caused by what the public is putting into the system, but the town maintains that a tee connection in the problem area was improperly installed. The bottom line is we don't really feel this is a fair offer."

Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent Rob Zora likewise noted the incident cost $27,782.14 to repair and he would recommend D.W. White, as the original contractor, be responsible for paying 100 percent of the cost or, at the very least, 75 percent or no less than $20,836.61.

The board agreed to reject D.W. White's offer and asked that Town Counsel look into their options.

Mr. Dawson also announced the Board of Selectmen's Annual Pot-Luck Holiday Feast will be held on Tuesday, December 2 beginning at 7:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall.

The board also approved the following Holiday Schedule for the Marion Town House: Wednesday, November 26 - closed at noon; Thursday, November 27 - closed; Friday, November 28 - closed; Wednesday, December 24 - closed at noon; Thursday, December 25 - closed; and Thursday, January 1 - closed.

Mr. Dawson also announced the following Selectmen's meeting schedule for 2009 with all meetings to begin at 7:00 pm on Tuesday in the Conference Room of the Marion Town House: January 6; January 20; February 3; February 17; March 3; March 17; April 7; April 21; May 5; May 18 (Annual Town Meeting at Sippican School, May 22 Election); June 2; June 16; July 7; August 4; August 18; September 1; September 15; October 6; October 20; November 3; November 17; December 1; and December 15.

Under Old Business, Selectman Blanchette asked how Marion can increase the number of grants it receives for general government projects.

"I'm reading from time to time about other towns getting grants for things," Selectman Blanchette said, noting her read in the newspaper that the Town of Westport just received a grant to install a light to illuminate their Town Hall sign. "How does that happen?"

"There are grants that the town receives," Mr. Dawson said. "Many of them are for education, the Council on Aging, and public safety. But lately grants have been drying up at a quick pace."

The board also noted the next Tri-Town Selectmen's meeting will be held on Thursday, December 11 at 7:00 pm in the ORR Media Room at Old Rochester Regional High School, with Marion hosting.

There being no further matters to come before the board, they unanimously voted to adjourn for the evening at 8:07 pm.

By Kenneth J. Souza

While we've all either heard about wild nights on the town or have been willing participants in them, few can claim to have resulted in something of historical significance.

But a cadre of rough-and-tumble sailors from a yacht club in Connecticut managed to inadvertently turn a moment of drunken mischief back in 1941 into a valuable artifact that just recently returned home to Mattapoisett.

According to Mattapoisett Historical Society President Seth Mendell, it all began with a vague and mysterious telephone message from a man in Stamford, CT he received back in late May of this year.

"He was interested to know if we wanted the bulletin board that had come from the Town Hall in Mattapoisett," Mr. Mendell said. "The message didn't give much detail, so when I called back I said we'd be interested, but I asked him: 'why do you have it down there?' He was kind of vague, but he told me his father was up here on a cruise to Maine and they stopped by the Kinsale Inn, which would have been the Holiday House at the time. He and his crew had a few and when they came out they were ready to do some mischief. They came by the Town Hall and they saw the bulletin board and they ripped it off and took it back with them (to Connecticut)."

Mr. Mendell said the gentleman was noticeably embarrassed about the situation and asked that he remain anonymous. So in late October Mr. Mendell traveled down to Rowayton, CT -- just outside of Stamford -- to reclaim this unique bit of Mattapoisett's history that had been stashed away all these years.

"He told me the original notices were still on it," Mr. Mendell said. "He was very glad to give the board back to me and to Mattapoisett. He told me he had been unable to do anything about it while his mother was alive. There was a certain embarrassment about this in his family."

As the story goes, apparently in the summer of 1941 this man's father and a group of four or five other sailors were on a cruise from the Trysail Yacht Club in Connecticut to the Gulf of Maine.

"They came back, obviously, through the Cape Cod Canal and came through Mattapoisett where they dropped anchor," Mr. Mendell said. "Evidently they had a tough time in the Gulf of Maine and they were ready to cut loose. They came in to the Holiday House, now the Kinsale Inn, and after having a few libations they walked through the town and saw this bulletin board outside Town Hall and they thought it would be great to take it back to the commodore of their yacht club."

Unlike the small, glass-enclosed board currently outside Town Hall, this massive bulletin board resembles a barn door and is about eight feet high by four feet wide.

"Somehow they carried that thing from the Town Hall, down to the wharf, into their dink and somehow they got it out to their boat and sailed back to Rowayton," Mr. Mendell said.

According to the story as he heard it, Mr. Mendell said they initially set up this pilfered prize inside the confines of the Trysail Yacht Club, but soon the guilt of having stolen the sign began to set in.

"It was then hidden away and the woman of the house wouldn't let her husband or anybody else do anything about it," Mr. Mendell said. "When she recently passed away, her son decided to contact us."

When asked if he thought the family was fearful of any repercussions against them or, even worse, being charged with theft some 67 years after the fact, he laughed it off.

"I don't think anyone would care one way or another," Mr. Mendell said. "I think the family was more embarrassed about it than anything else."

Mr. Mendell was actually thankful the bulletin board was kept so well preserved and intact all these years and he noted that it likely would have been discarded or destroyed years ago had it remained attached to the front of the Mattapoisett Town Hall. In fact, no one was even aware of the large bulletin board's existence prior to getting the mysterious phone call.

"When I first received the phone call, I asked Mattapoisett Historical Museum Curator Bette Roberts if she had a picture of the front of Town Hall prior to 1942 to see if there was a bulletin board there," Mr. Mendell said. "Lo and behold, she came up with a picture and there was the big, black four-by-eight bulletin board (just outside the front door)."

The remarkable two-dimensional time capsule still has several public notices attached to its facade, a listing of those from Mattapoisett enlisted in World War II along with their respective draft numbers, and even an announcement of a performance of My Dear Children at the Harbor Playhouse in Marion starring Taylor Holmes. Tacked at the top, just under the painted heading "Town Hall," is a section of a chart of the Gulf of Maine on which a four-stanza poem has been scrawled in tribute to the mysterious "Commodore" of the Trysail Yacht Club, announcing this odd item as a keepsake of the crew's adventure and wild night in Mattapoisett.

At least these makeshift pirates had a sense of humor, as their veritable ode to vandalism reads:

From the coast of Maine where the icebergs float

We sailed the sea in a little boat.

The water was cold and the wind did veer,

But nary touched we of rum or beer,

Until Cape Cod behind us lay

And we hove in sight of a little bay.

We rounded up and the rum we hoisted

Off a town called Mattapoisett.

With the rum we forgot the Gulf of Maine

But that town will never look the same.

We beat on cars, we knocked down bars,

We left the town in a shambles.

We crawled in grass, broke bowls of glass,

got tangled up in brambles.

As we lurched through swinging doors

We thought of you -- dear Commodore

So we tore off the front of City Hall

With many a rum-soaked heave and haul.

We carried it down those winding streets,

Gibing round corners with started sheets.

We rowed it out in a rolling dink,

Half in the water and half in the drink.

We lashed it over the forward hatch

And used the head by the light of a match.

We sailed it home 200 miles,

Blocking the deck and driving us wild.

We brought it to the Connecticut shore

And never want to see it no more.

So the Trysail Club has done its duty,

We've ravaged the coast and brought home booty.

This sea-going rum soaked pair of lugs

Are known to you as Tom and Muggs.

"Everyone I've told the story to thinks it's the greatest," Mr. Mendell added. "It certainly is an interesting piece of history. We get all kinds of things like this, which is certainly nice."

By Kenneth J. Souza

Although the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) recently voted to endorse a revised plan submitted on behalf of the Sardinha Family Trust for a Dunkin' Donuts retail franchise at 450 Wareham Street, members of the Planning Board unanimously voted to take the matter under advisement earlier this week, with an eye toward scrutinizing the plan details during their December 1 meeting in the hopes of ultimately taking a final vote on the matter during their December 15 meeting.

While representatives for the Sardinha Family Trust maintained that the changes from the previously-approved site plan given to the Planning Board in 2000 were only minor, some Planning Board members felt the new proposal was substantially different and would require a complete site plan review before being approved.

According to Jack O'Leary of Merrill Associates, Inc., the new Dunkin' Donuts site plan was revised on October 30 and includes the following key changes from the previous plans:

* The proposed 2,400 square foot bank with two drive-up teller windows has been removed from the proposal and that area has been replaced with a picnic area, walkways and landscaping;

* The proposed southernmost driveway, intended to serve the proposed bank, has been eliminated, leaving just a single proposed driveway;

* The proposed Dunkin' Donuts building location has been adjusted to allow for a proposed parking easement and to provide more landscape buffering to the existing residences to the rear of the site; the front setback has been reduced from 51 to 35 feet and the side setback has been increased from 31 to 55 feet;

* An easement has been provided to the northerly abutter (Santoro's) to allow for that abutter to have additional parking; and

* Most of the subsurface storm water management system has been relocated to the landscaped surface basin.

"The biggest change is the elimination of the bank building from the project entirely," Mr. O'Leary said. "The Dunkin' Donuts building will essentially stay the same ... but the building will be located closer to the street. The other change in the location of the building is it's been moved to the right a little bit. We think it's a significant improvement. Obviously there's going to be a lot less traffic and there's only going to be one driveway now. The facilities, the parking, the dumpsters -- everything has been pulled away from our existing abutter."

"We have to make a determination tonight if this is a minor change to the 2000 plan or if it is a major change, which would trigger a site plan review by our architect," said Planning Board Vice Chairman Peter Winters.

"This board, with the exception of maybe one member, has never approved a site plan for this project," said Planning Board member Tom Magauran. "If a special permit is required ... to move the building closer to the street, a site plan review is going to be required. That would have to be addressed by the Planning Board ... no one else to my knowledge has the authority to do that."

But Attorney Leo Scarry, who was representing the Sardinha Family Trust, contended that with the approval of the ZBA in hand -- which was done in response to an appeal filed in Superior Court -- the Planning Board should be willing to consider this revised plan a "minor" change so that it wouldn't require a complete site plan review and the Planning Board could simply approve those changes that weren't included in the previously-endorsed 2000 site plan.

"This board will make a determination of whether or not they will require a site plan review," Mr. Scarry said. "We are now in a negotiating process on a minor change to the previously-approved site plan. If the board holds on to this being a major change, it is going to go back to where it is now: in court. I respectfully suggest that this board work toward what is in the best interest of the Town of Marion."

"I understand that the elimination of the one building appears to be a major thing, but it was what was requested by the town and it's an overall betterment, is it not?" said Chairman Napoli. "So now we should concentrate on what we're going to be placing on that piece of land."

"We finally have made an agreement with the ZBA to remove their objections ... and their primary objection was to the traffic coming out of Wareham Street," Mr. Scarry said. "We have tried to accommodate the Town of Marion through the ZBA. They have now agreed with us that we are getting closer to something that would be acceptable to the town. We are going on a revised plan, not on a new submission. Some of these things have been approved by different boards over the years. We have endeavored all through this ... and have exhausted every opportunity to accommodate the Town of Marion and we now feel we have come to a real, satisfactory and safe plan."

"It's still a major site plan change," Mr. Magauran said. "This is a new plan from 2000. We never reviewed this plan. I don't want to shortcut the process just because it's taken so long."

While many Planning Board members concurred that the changes in the updated plan were for the better and represented considerable improvements over previous proposals, they still felt compelled to conduct a complete site plan review.

"This is a vast improvement over what was there before and you've certainly taken a lot of our concerns and incorporated them into the plan," Mr. Winters said. "But the problem is this hasn't gone through a peer review with our engineers, so I'm not even sure this complies with our by-laws. There's no other way for me to feel comfortable with this plan unless it goes through a site plan review."

"Essentially what we need to do is get the site plan that was approved in 2000 and compare the changes between that one and the one submitted tonight," Chairman Napoli added. "I realize you've been working on this for eight years, but with the exception of Ms. Crowley, no one was on this board when the plan was approved in 2000."

"The issue here is getting into a dialogue," said Attorney Mark Colton. "We want to be cooperative, but we want the board to be reasonable. What we want to do is be in a productive dialogue. This board has a lot of discretion to determine what type of reviews they want to have done. Our concern with a site plan review is it starts with a whole new plan and (how can we preserve) some of our rights issues."

"It seems to me to be a change -- a change with lesser impact and a change for the better -- but still a major change," said Planning Board member Patricia McArdle.

"If you remove a building, that's a major change," Planning Board member Jay Crowley agreed. "Considering the interest that the town has expressed in this (project), I think it should be a full site plan review."

"Those are minor changes because we are improving the project for the betterment of the town," Mr. Scarry countered. "It's obvious to everyone here that we've improved this plan. It's a safer site. We've declawed the animal that was reprehensible to many in Marion."

Planning Board clerk Jay Ryder suggested taking the matter under advisement until their next meeting on December 1, at which time they could review and compare the previous plan with the newly-revised plan, then vote on whether it should require a full site plan review during their December 15 meeting.

"As a practical matter, we can't determine what the scope of the review is until we have an agreement in hand," Mr. Winters said. "I want to respect the work of our fellow ZBA ... but we have to follow our own by-laws."

By Kenneth J. Souza

With the soft economy making finances tight for many in the tri-town region, people are searching for as many ideas as possible to stretch their thinning wallets as the holiday season approaches. One idea that is proving to be popular among area residents is hunting for bargains at local white elephant sales and church bazaars. One such event, the "Winter Wonderland Fair" held on Saturday, November 15 at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, attracted large crowds that jammed the Church's Reynard Hall over the course of the morning and early afternoon hours.

For many the fellowship hall of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church proved to be a more than ample alternative to the strip plazas and shopping malls on this rainy autumn Saturday morning as it was transformed into a recreation of a small village marketplace. With a variety of booths and tables each representing a shop or storefront, the fair with its brightly-decorated walls and tables was the perfect shopping destination for the discriminating bargain hunter. Many of the items were made and donated for the sale by members of the congregation. Other items donated by local residents and businesses were either new or were items that had been previously purchased but were never opened, while others were as close to new as possible.

In the children's section there were dolls, puzzles, games and a skateboard or two that still had their original packaging. Of particular interest to shoppers were items being offered at the silent auction and raffle tables. Customers milled around this area of the sale for long periods of time as they perused gifts donated by local businesses that could be had for as little as $1 -- if that is, chance smiled upon someone in the form of a winning ticket. Nearby other tables were overflowing with crocheted goods of every color of the rainbow and incredible handmade necklaces, earrings and bracelets.

Another appealing aspect of this type of sale is the chance to sit down and have a hot meal with friends for very little money. With coffee only 75 cents a cup and donuts selling for a quarter, it was possible to have a quick breakfast before shopping for a mere dollar. For those who arrived a little later in the day a bowl of hot minestrone soup was awaiting to help recharge the batteries before a round of shopping. For those who wanted to bring a little something home, there were also plenty of baked goods at the village bake shop while another booth offer home cooked meals, prepared by members of the congregation and then frozen for serving at a later date.

Other area churches and local groups also have sales of this type scheduled including the First Congregational Church of Rochester's Christmas Sale on Saturday, December 6 and St. Anthony's Church in Mattapoisett who will hold their sale on the same day. The Marion Garden Discussion Group will have their annual Christmas sale in conjunction with the Sippican Women's Club Holiday House Tour on Saturday, December 13. The common theme of all of these events is the tradition of giving back to the community as a way to display gratitude towards the towns and all fellow men, women and children.

During these particularly uncertain times many will turn to these and other organizations for a helping hand that is often made possible through the gift community members give in the form of purchases made at church and club sales. So while the old adage may be it is better to give than to receive, perhaps it is better still to buy your gifts this season from those who will reach out and give back to friends and neighbors here in our own back yard.

By Robert Chiarito

On Monday, November 17, the Old Rochester Regional High School's new sailing club met at the Mattapoisett town beach to clean out the bath house and pack up their equipment for the season. Nine out of the 17 students who had signed up in September were chosen to participate in ORR's first-ever sailing club this fall. The club spent eight straight weeks sailing around the local harbors and training in the sport. The members, as well as their two instructors, used three separate Capri 14.2 model boats to sail out from the Mattapoisett moorings. A chase boat was also provided, which was kept docked nearby.

Practices were held after school on Mondays through Thursdays. Jim Broadwater and Amanda Medeiros, who both taught the junior sailing program which was held during the past two summers, served as the club instructors. This new high school sailing club was designed to give those who have grown out of the age range necessary to qualify for the summer program (ages 9-14) an opportunity to continue doing what they enjoy.

The sailing club is beginning to work its way into becoming an actual league, in which they will be able to compete against some of the other 85 sailing teams located in the New England area. They were first required to form a club where their interest for sailing would be put to the test. If it appeared obvious that there was great dedication and commitment from the members, then they would be able to move further. The members of the ORR Sailing Club all passed the test, giving off a very positive response throughout the entire season on the water. Due to this enthusiasm, Jim Broadwater explained that the club will continue meeting throughout the upcoming winter. Since it will be much too cold to sail during those months, the club will instead participate in classroom-based work, reviewing tactics and planning their future events.

By spring, the club will be returning to the ocean, putting their new knowledge to use and becoming proactive in the sailing gig once again. The team members, as well as their instructors, are hoping to begin competing at this time and then go on to becoming a certified league by next fall. They are also eager to replace their current sailboats with 420s -- which are more commonly used by official sailing teams. All of the members will be continuing throughout the two seasons and have expressed their excitement for the club's future plans. One boy even went as far as to exclaim: "Our team is going to kick butt next spring."

Within the next week or so, the ORR Sailing Club will be selling T-shirts and sweatshirts at the school. The clothing items will have logos of the school mascot, the bulldog, sailing on a boat. These can be purchased inside the office of the school's athletic director, Bill Tilden. As a reminder, the Old Rochester Regional High School's Sailing Program is funded solely through donations, with a little extra help from fund-raisers, yacht programs and the Mattapoisett Recreation Committee. For anyone who would like to make a contribution to the club, donations can be sent to Mattapoisett Community Sailing, P.O. Box 947, Mattapoisett, MA 02739.

By Olivia Mello

To the Editor:

To the voters of Mattapoisett, Marion and Rochester: Thank you for your strong support of my candidacy for Plymouth County Treasurer. I'd also like to thank The Wanderer for your informative coverage of the race.

Although the campaign was extremely challenging, it was also very rewarding. It began back in February at the "grass roots" level with a handful of supporters, and by Election Day it had grown into a county-wide network with hundreds of volunteers. My message of restoring integrity and fiscal accountability to the Plymouth County Treasurer's Office resonated with voters as I captured close to 85,000 votes.

I'd like to thank my family, friends, campaign staff, and everyone who spread the word about my candidacy. Whether you put a sign on your lawn, held a sign at a standout or at the polls, or simply voted for me, it all added up! I also want to congratulate my opponent, Tom O'Brien, and wish him well during his term in office.

Although we didn't win numerically at the voting booth, we met thousands of great people along the campaign trail, generated debate on the viability of county government, and raised issues that may otherwise have gone unchallenged. In this regard, I consider the race a success.

Sincerely,

Edward J. O'Connell

Marshfield, MA

The views expressed in the "Letters to the Editor" column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the greater Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester area provided they include the author's name, address, and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense, and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.

The Machacam Club will hold its next meeting on December 5 at the American Legion Hall on Depot Street in Mattapoisett. Social time is 5:30 pm with dinner served at 6:00 pm.

The speaker this month is Michael Botelho, one of the club's members and the Town Administrator in Mattapoisett. Mike will speak to the club on his military experience as Procurement and Production Officer tasked with overseeing the production and introduction of the M60A2 Tank in the 1970s. This project, which generated 500 tanks, ultimately established the Armor Unit's ability to literally "shoot on the run." Mike has an interesting view of this process and it should make for a very interesting presentation.

Callers are reminded to bear in mind the importance of call list accuracy. Please report your lists no later than 9:00 on December 1 by calling 508-758-9311. Last-minute changes can be made by members calling the same number no later than 9:00 pm on December 1.

Rochester Center is having their annual Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 6. The First Congregational Church, Plumb Library and merchants at Plumb Corner Mall have joined to bring the holiday spirit to Rochester. Along with the celebrations at the Plumb Library and Congregational Church Fair, the Plumb Corner Mall will be collecting toys for the area's children. The toys should be new, unwrapped and left at Mayflower Bank, Hitching Post and Bev Loves Books. Donations of canned goods are also accepted at Damien's Pantry. Food and toys will be collected now through December 16. Please help make a child's Christmas a little brighter. For more information or directions, please call Bev at 508-763-5503.

The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Tri-Town planning committee is holding its next meeting for the 2009 season on Monday, December 1, 2008 at 6:00 pm at the Old Rochester Regional High School Library located at 135 Marion Road, Mattapoisett.

Relay For Life is a fun-filled, overnight event that brings the tri-town area together to celebrate survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer), remember loved ones, commit to fight back against this disease, and raise money to assist in finding a cure for cancer.

Relay For Life is as much an awareness-raiser about the progress against cancer as it is a fund-raiser. Individuals who are willing to give their time and energy to this exciting event, as a volunteer or participant, have made a commitment to fight back against this disease and let our community know that you, too, can beat cancer.

Volunteers are needed to organize and recruit teams, seek community support, coordinate logistics, find refreshments and prizes, plan entertainment and lend their support in any way.

To learn more about Relay For Life, please visit www.relayforlife.org. For information about the December 1 planning committee meeting, or if you would like to participate at the Relay For Life of Tri-Town event, please contact Caryn Hodges at 508-989-7805 or Carol Lareau at 508-758-9229.

A reminder for those parents who have signed their children up for the upcoming Holiday Crafts program at the Mattapoisett Museum and Carriage House -- this program begins at 2:00 pm on Thursday, November 30. To inquire about any openings for this event, please call the museum at 508-758-2844.

As part of the town's Christmas Stroll on Saturday, December 6, the Museum and Carriage House will be open at 11:00 am to 2:00 pm that day. Jean West's String Group from ORR Junior High School will be entertaining around 11:15 am. The museum will also be decorated for the season, so do plan to stop by for a bit of holiday cheer!

Join the South Coast Community Church on Sunday, November 23 at 4:00 pm at Sippican School for Marion's Thanksgiving Service.

The one-hour service will include words from scripture, personal stories, upbeat music and a chance to stir up a contagious spirit of gratitude within our community.

Why not bring your family and friends and join them for a time of thanksgiving? Rediscover the contentment that only comes through a grateful heart.

After the service hang around for coffee, punch and some light refreshments. Please park in the back of the school and use the Park Street entrance.

For more information, please call the South Coast Community Church at 508-748-3200.

The North Rochester Congregational Church located at 247 North Avenue is an independent church and welcomes everyone to worship at 10:00 am every Sunday. The pulpit is filled by volunteers from the congregation or guest speakers. Nancy Sparklin is in charge of the music, assisted by Holly Gordon and Charles Chace.

On the second Sunday of the month, following the service, everyone is invited to join together for food and fellowship at a brunch prepared by the members of the congregation. The church is handicap-accessible. For more information on special events or changes to the schedule, please call Barbara Besse at 508-763-8838. Please note: the church is not UCC affiliated.

Upcoming guest speakers include:

* November 23: Reverend Dr. Kathy Gayoski;

* November 30: Don Spirlet;

* December 7: David Ouellette - Communion;

* December 14: Reverend Dr. Kathy Gayoski - Brunch;

* December 21: Lessons and Carols - 7:00 pm service (no morning service).

A Baked Ziti Dinner will be held for John Lafleur and his fiancee Patty Crossley. Patty has been diagnosed with leukemia and has had a round of complications from the disease and treatment. Friends have joined together to have a dinner for them on Sunday, December 7 at the Ponderosa on Route 105 in Acushnet. The dinner will be from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, with music and raffles. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at Bev Loves Books in Rochester.

On Saturday, December 6, Saint Anthony's Church on Barstow Street in Mattapoisett will be holding their Harborside Christmas Fair from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. There will be a Grand Raffle with a first prize of $500, which would be welcome at this time of year. There will be a bake table, candy table and a next-to-new table, a knit table, plus other holiday offerings. There will be coffee and malasadas for the early shoppers, and a lunch will be offered for $8.

The children's table is always a big hit and the young shoppers will find many buys for the holidays. Hope to see you there as the monies earned help defray expenses of the parish and also fund a scholarship for graduating seniors.

The holiday gift-giving season is fast approaching, so now is the time to pick up a copy of Sippican Historical Society's popular book, A Picture Postcard History of Marion, Massachusetts. Comprised of more than 250 postcards on more than 150 colorful pages, it is available for purchase in both hardcover and paperback. This wonderful publication chronicles the growth and changes in the town, as recorded on postcards during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Before telephones became commonplace, postcards were the cheapest, fastest modes of long-distance communication. Eventually, the postcards from that era became collectibles, some for their historical relevance and others for their visual appeal. For the book's editor, Pete Smith, the interest in local postcards has been lifelong; for him, postcards of Marion, "bring back memories of places, people, and a way of life long gone. They also stir a bit of awe ... about how some aspects of the town endure -- through the generations, alongside the press of commercialism and development, and despite repeated attempts by Mother Nature to remake the landscape with wind and water." For more information, please call 508-748-1116 or stop by the Sippican Historical Society at 139 Front Street in Marion, open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Shop early for the holidays at Center School in Mattapoisett. The school is having its annual Scholastic Book Fair on Thursday, November 20 from 9:30 to 11:00 am and also from 2:00 to 8:00 pm. There will be many choices of books for all ages and also some great stocking stuffers. The fair is open to the public, so bring your family or come alone to shop!

Rochester will hold its annual Christmas tree lighting at the Town Hall on Monday, December 8 beginning at 6:30 pm. The event will feature music provided by the students from Rochester Memorial School and a visit from Santa, who will arrive via fire engine.

On Saturday, December 6, during the town's Annual Christmas Stroll, the Friends of the Elderly will be selling Dine-Out books from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in a tent at Shipyard Park. Also for sale will be some aprons (must be seen!) and T-shirts. Come by and do some Christmas shopping.

The Seniors' Christmas Luncheon will be held on Thursday, December 11 at 12:00 noon at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Route 6 in Mattapoisett. Please pick up your free ticket at the Council on Aging (COA) office at Center School.

Please keep saving your Shaw's receipts. Collection sites are the Seaport Coffee Shoppe, the COA rooms in Center School, and the Mattapoisett Town Hall. The Friends receive money from these receipts, which are used for the town's seniors.

The sixth grade at Sippican School in Marion is holding a Scholastic Book Fair through November 21 in the Multipurpose Room at Sippican School. All proceeds will benefit the Sixth Grade Activities Fund, which provides funding for special end-of-the-year activities, including Mountain Classroom and the Sixth Grade Bike Trip along the Cape Cod Canal.

The Book Fair will be open to members of the school community only on Friday, November 21 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm and then to the public on Thursday, November 20 from 3:00 to 8:00 pm. During the school day, all visitors must sign in at the office.

Ornament, Southern New England's Premier Rock Orchestra, will present a concert titled "A Tribute to the Trans Siberian Orchestra" in the main auditorium of Old Rochester Regional High School (ORR) on Friday, December 12 at 7:30 pm. The concert is sponsored by FORD, the Friends of Old Rochester Drama .

Ornament, a twelve-piece rock orchestra currently in their third year of touring, presents the music of the Trans Siberian Orchestra (TSO). Reproducing the actual shows performed by TSO on a smaller scale, they include narration, lights, smoke machines, lasers, and snow machines. Using music and narration to tell a story of the true meaning of Christmas, the show helps us all remember what the holiday season is truly about. This is a show appreciated by all ages and uses traditional holiday carols and songs sung to rock, blues and gospel music.

In the spirit of the season, the concert will help raise funds for the Drama Club at ORR. The Ornament concert will begin at 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors in advance. All tickets will be $10 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at No Kidding in Mattapoisett, The Bookstall in Marion and Plumb Corner Market in Rochester. For additional ticket information, please contact Brenda at 508-789-6625 or by e-mail at brobin23@aol.com. More info can also be obtained through the Ornament web site at www.ornamentband.com.

Old Rochester Community Television (ORCTV) is opening their studios for anyone to come in and have a Holiday Greeting videotaped. Sing a song, tell a story or simply send your holiday greetings to your community! The greetings will play through the whole month of December on the local access television channels. Pick a half hour slot on Tuesday December 2 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm or Wednesday, December 3 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. Please call the studio to schedule a time at 508-748-1600 or with any questions.

Rochester Boy Scout Troop 31 is collecting .05 recyclable cans/bottles and old cell phones. Anyone who would like to donate can call 774-271-1681 to arrange a pickup of bags of cans/bottles. Old cell phones can also be dropped off at Bev Loves Books, located at 565 Rounseville Road in Rochester.

The Town of Mattapoisett's Recycling and Disposal Services will host a Question and Answer Session at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Thursday, November 20 at 10:30 am. Health Agent Dale Barrows along with members of the Mattapoisett Board of Health, representatives from ABC Recycling and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will make a short presentation on Mattapoisett's recycling services and then answer questions about curb side pick-up, the recycling center, disposing of hazardous materials, and ways for residents and business to make the most of these services. The session is sponsored by the Mattapoisett Sustainable Living Club.

The Marion Garden Discussion Group will hold their annual Christmas Boutique on Saturday, December 13 at the Marion Music Hall on Front Street. The doors open at 9:30 am.

"We are very excited to have a new venue of The Music Hall for our boutique this year," said cochairman Kyle Riseley. "We have so many beautiful items we outgrew the Saint Gabriel's library."

This year's theme is "Christmas at the Cottage." The sale features decorations handmade by the garden club members. The Boutique is a stop on the Sippican Women's Club Holiday House Tour. "People traditionally buy their special holiday arrangements, swags or ornaments at this sale," said Laurie Fearing, coordinating chairman of the many workshops members use to create the unique and beautiful items sold at the boutique.

"We have added many new items to our traditional selection including table top trees and many new tree ornaments," added cochairman Kitsy Howard. "We emphasize use of natural materials for all our items. This is one of our biggest fund-raisers of the year."

Proceeds from this annual sale are used for community projects including Flower Therapy at the local nursing facilities and continued beautification of Marion Village with the planting and maintenance of the town's window boxes.

Upcoming Events

* Square Dancing Class: Join us on Monday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 pm for a Square Dancing class. It's a fitness program that will fit your budget. Donation of $4 per class, paid directly to the instructor. All levels of expertise are welcome. The instructor is Paul Letourneau. Many may remember Paul from his years of teaching at the Rochester Grange. Come to just watch or dance. All ages and anyone is welcome!

* Line Dancing: Join the Rochester COA for two hours of Line Dancing with instructor Rose Daley, as she leads in the current new dance steps. Learn new steps to country and western beats, as well as other contemporary and old-time favorites. Why not stay for both! Cost for the night is $5, paid directly to the instructor. All ages are welcome.

* Healthy Losers: This is a weight loss support group. There is no charge to join this Rochester weight management group. Just come! It meets every Monday from 1:30 to 2:30 pm. Members are weighed in weekly and information is shared weekly with attending members on experiences, healthy recipe choices, and other nutritional tidbits. No special diet is followed. It's whatever you're comfortable with. Please consider joining! All ages and genders welcome.

* Volunteers needed: The Rochester COA needs a few strong volunteers who would be available on a Monday or Thursday afternoon, around 3:30 pm, to help take down tables and move chairs in preparation for the evening dance classes. If you have a half hour to spare on either or both of these days and would like to help out, please let them know! They'd be so grateful.

The COA is also looking for a few good cutters with extra time to cut up coupons from the newspapers and advertisements. The suggestion was made recently to start a coupon file to have on hand in the lobby for those who could make use of the coupon discounts, particularly during these tough financial times! They need cutters, a person to file the coupons and make sure they are current and ads/newspapers to cut up. Lots of hands would make light work of this effort.

Coupons are also needed. Do you have store coupons you're not using? Please bring them in to the Senior Center to be clipped and filed ! Donating store coupons is a great way to help seniors save on their grocery bills. Seniors are welcome to take as many coupons as they can use from our new coupon file. Check back often.

* Stepping and Stretching: Join the Rochester COA on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, for a fun-filled hour of easy exercise bending and stretching and building up your strength and improving your balance! Most exercises are done from the comfort of your chair! This program is designed to improve physical conditioning, decrease risk of falling and improve health, memory, mood, balance, bone density, flexibility and endurance. You go at your own pace. This program is made possible through a grant from Coastline Elderly Services, Inc. Donations are appreciated.

* Moving With the Oldies: This upbeat exercise class offers a low impact, moderate level cardio workout, followed by a dose of muscle toning and stretching to some of your favorite oldie tunes. Instructor Clare Hartford offers classes on Wednesday and Friday and the time is 9:00 to 10:00 am. Donation $4 per person.

* SHINE Program: SHINE is a program to assist seniors with their health insurance, Medicare and prescription coverage. Our state certified SHINE counselors, Jill Bodeau and Gordon Helm, will assist any senior at no cost with any insurance issue, private group plans, as well as Medicare and Mass Health. Please call the Senior Center to make an appointment to meet one-on-one with one of the counselors.

* Bingo: Feeling Lucky? Why not try your luck at the Rochester COA's weekly Bingo game at the Senior Center? The crowd is building. It is held on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 3:30 pm with refreshment break. They play by the Senior Citizen Recreational Bingo Massachusetts laws. Cost is 50 cents per card with no card limit and 25 cents a game. All money collected will be given in prizes that afternoon. Anyone is welcome to come!

* Computer Classes will resume with instructor Charles Tate on Mondays at 1:00 pm. However, feel free to stop in at any time to use the computers at your leisure. They are all hooked up to the internet and the printer for you use.

* Large Print Library Books: The Plumb Library has brought a large print collection of library books at the Senior Center. Anyone who would like to sign out one of these books is welcome to do so. If you want to read a book, please sign it out in the book and sign in when you return it.

* Scrabble Anyone? The Rochester COA has had requests lately for Scrabble Games. Please join them on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 am for Scrabble. As long as two people show up, they can start. Hopefully, there's enough interest to offer several games of scrabble at once. Hope to see you there!

* Wii Games at the Senior Center: Join the Rochester COA on Thursday afternoons for a game of Wii Sports. They have all the equipment and will show you how to use it. You can play in teams or play by yourself. Enjoy billiards, bowling, baseball, tennis, basketball or golf. Wii sports games offer low-impact exercise with a full range of motion that's similar to tai-chi or chair aerobics.

* Web site Volunteer: A volunteer is needed to take charge of updating the Rochester Senior Center web site each month by posting the monthly newsletter, photos and events and other updated items. If you have the computer savvy and the time and interest to help, please contact Sharon Lally at the Rochester Senior Center.

* Flu Shots: This year the Rochester Board of Health will be offering annual Flu Shots for Rochester Seniors at the Senior Center on Friday November 21 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Any senior wishing to receive a flu shot should come to the Senior Center. No appointment is necessary. You should bring your Medicare Card with you. Seniors without a Medicare card will be asked to give a $5 donation to cover the cost of the shot.

* Soup and Sandwich Returns: Now that cooler weather is here, the Soup and Sandwich Luncheon returns to the Senior Center for all who wish to enjoy. Your requests and suggestions are welcome. Served at 12:00 noon, just sign up in advance so that we have enough food for all. There is no charge for the meal, but a suggested donation of $5 or whatever you can afford would be greatly appreciated in order to cover the growing costs of the food products.

November Trips

* Friday, November 21 - K-Mart and Dollar Store in Fairhaven and Lunch nearby. Leave at 9:00; return at 2:00.

* Monday, November 24 - South Shore Mall in Braintree and Lunch nearby. Leave at 8:30; return at 3:00.

* Wednesday, November 26 - Grocery Shopping Shaws/Fairhaven. Leave at 8:30; return at 1:00.

Friday Movies

The following Friday screenings at the Rochester Senior Center are new releases or recent movies - with popcorn!

* November 21: Leathernecks.

The Sippican Seniors will sponsor a Holiday Party on Friday, December 12 at the VFW on Route 6 in Marion. The menu will include the Famous Buffet, which will be served at 12:30 pm with "Happy Hour" from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Cost is $12 per person. Please bring a swap (new) gift. Tickets are available from Natalie at 508-748-1467.

The December meeting of the Rochester Women's Club will be held on Wednesday, December 3 at 6:00 pm at 37 Marion Road in Rochester. The club will be enjoying their annual Christmas Party. This year they will feast on a Pot Luck Dinner. The main entree will be provided. Please call Nancy at 508-654-6621 to find out what is needed to complete the menu. They will need vegetables, salads an desserts. Drinks will also be provided. Please bring along a Christmas tree ornament to swap at the Yankee swap.

There is a New York City day trip planned for December 12. The bus leaves at 5:45 am from the Park 'N' Ride near Kings Highway and returns there around 11:00 pm. Please call Nancy for details at 508-654-6621. There is limited seating, so please call for details immediately.

Join the Old Rochester Regional High School Drama Club for some laughs the weekend of November 20. The Man Who Came to Dinner, written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, is a comedy about a gentleman (Mr. Whiteside), who spends six weeks confined to a wheelchair in the house of a wealthy factory owner since his slip outside the residence. Threatening a lawsuit, Mr. Whiteside takes over control of the house with his hilarious insults, outrageous demands and a constant barrage of phone calls and gifts.

Since its premier performance on October 16, 1939, The Man Who Came to Dinner has been performed by over 5,000 professional and non professional theater companies nationally. Sixty-four students make up the cast and crew of ORR's production of The Man Who Came to Dinner. Cast members are Alyssa Ray, Holly Gordon, Rob McDavid, Holly Cardoza, Grant Patton, Megan Pierce, Alex Mello, Rachel Vincent, Ian Vincent, Chelsie Nectow, Luke Parker, Koby Williamson, Julia Kantner, Spencer Johnson, Kayla Costa, Abby Duncan, Ashley Mello, Catalina Llanas-Colon, Kate Oleson, Jillian Zucco, Cameron Kelleher, John Daniels, Mikayla Florio, Shannon Frink and Matt Kalaplastos.

Directed by Paul Sardinha with costumes by Helen Blake, The Man Who Came to Dinner will be presented in the Gilbert D. Bristol Auditorium at ORR on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 23 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Tickets will be available at the Pen and Pendulum in Mattapoisett, the Marion General Store and the Plumb Corner Market in Rochester. Tickets will also be available at the door.

The ORR Drama Club gives special thanks for the Davis S. Hagen Performing Arts Series, started many years ago at the school. Old Rochester Regional High School is located on Route 6 in Mattapoisett. For additional ticket information, please call Patty at 508-763-9347.