Helicopter Unavailable for Vaccine Distribution

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The Marion Board of Health met on April 17 and began with a discussion on mosquito control and Rabies vaccinations. For mosquito control, locals can apply to have their wetland area sprayed; 500 acres in Marion and 50 acres in Rochester are eligible.

            The board then spoke on a letter regarding a variance approval and conditions of approval for 80 Delano Road. Chair John B. Howard MD stated “we don’t have to discuss that,” citing other municipal jurisdiction.

            There were septic updates from 15 West Avenue. The owner was present to discuss plans to add a bathroom in the space present above the garage and a plan to tie it into the current septic system. The house had been listed on Airbnb as a four-bedroom, though the septic tank is listed as a three-bedroom unit. The fourth room counted as a bedroom was discussed by the board to be below regulation height, being a 6-foot, 4-inch maximum ceiling height rather than the required 7-foot average. The owner stated the proposed bathroom would be used with the gym that is also located above the garage. The bathroom was confirmed by the board with the stipulation that the room be exclusively a lavatory, having just a sink and a toilet.

            There will be a farmers’ market at Washburn Park on Tuesdays in May through October, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

            For the orally administered and baited Rabies vaccine, there was originally a scheduled drop on May 5. However, the town has been notified there is no helicopter available for the spring distribution this year. The board was still unsure as to what the solution or method of baiting will be used. Hand baiting and distribution was discussed, though manpower is an issue.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is currently scheduled for Thursday, May 1, at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Board of Health

By Sam Bishop

Marion Planning Board

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Dear Editor:

            Earlier this year, I filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) regarding the actions of my fellow Town of Marion Planning Board Members. My complaint relates to numerous occasions during the past several years when the male members had engaged in bullying behavior toward me during board meetings. The aggressive and abusive behavior consisted of shouting at me, interrupting me, ignoring me, and cutting me off, and ignoring my raised hand, all with the intent of silencing me. This misogynistic behavior was also directed at my female colleague on the board.

            My complaint against my fellow Board Members was submitted to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). It has been dismissed under “804 CMR 1.08 (1)(c) (2020)” for the reason that the Commission lacks jurisdiction over the parties or the subject matter of the complaint. I am aware that I retain the statutory right to file a lawsuit in Superior Court based on essentially the same claim.

            The leader of the Board (i.e., Chairperson) should possess both competency and humanity in their dealings with fellow Board Members and with the public, particularly in a town known for its beauty and history like Marion.

            There should be no difference in the treatment of Board Members based on gender. My only “offense” has been my attempt to provide competent and effective views in performing my job as a Board Member. I believe the abusive behavior I have experienced is directly linked to my gender, competency, and age.

            I am an 80-year-old woman. I graduated as a Government major from Smith College. I have taken thirty (30) Citizen Planning Training Collaborative courses and understand how town government and a planning board can work effectively for the benefit of all town residents.

            The abusive behavior has been stressful, demoralizing, and destructive both to me personally and to fellow Board Members. The abusive behavior of the Chair has consisted of talking over me, shouting at me, interrupting me, cutting me off, and ignoring my raised hand, effectively silencing me.

            A Boston attorney, Regina Ryan, was hired by the Town of Marion to deal with the public relations resulting from my complaints against fellow Board Members. Instead of rendering an objective criticism of the male members’ conduct toward me, she characterized their actions as a “robust exchange of ideas.”

            When a Town Administration engages a public relations attorney to produce a comprehensive report mitigating the perception of harassment and bullying perpetrated by male Board Members, it raises significant concerns regarding the efficacy of managerial practices within local government. Such an approach to addressing issues suggests a tendency to suppress rather than resolve underlying problems. Although her public relations report did, to some extent, momentarily mitigate the conduct of the male Board Members, it did not permanently eliminate the tendency of male Board Members to engage in misogyny, bullying, and ageism.

            I believe that the Superior Court would likely reach a conclusion with the same rationale that was provided by the MCAD in regard to my claim. Consequently, I have decided not to pursue this claim further, and I rest on the fact that I navigated this process with integrity and honor.

            Sincerely,

Eileen J. Marum, MPP, MPW, AB

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 great 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 may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.

Mattapoisett Annual Town Meeting And Election Information

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The Annual Town Meeting in Mattapoisett is scheduled for Monday, May 12 at 6:30 pm at the Old Rochester Regional High School Auditorium. Please arrive and check in early as we are hoping for a prompt start. The Annual Town Election will be held on Tuesday, May 20 at Old Hammondtown School. Polls will be open from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm. Vote by mail ballots can be requested and will be available for mailing soon. Check the town website for more information. Please call the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-758-4100 x 2 with questions regarding these two important events.

Local Writers Monthly Meeting

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A group of local writers meet once a month to share their writing and offer feedback. If you are interested in honing your writing and want to share a rough draft in a supportive setting, come join us.  No need to bring a piece of writing every time. Current members write mystery/crime, picture books, humor, memoir, etc.

            The group meets on the 4th Friday of each month (e.g., April 25, May 23, etc.) 10:15 am to 12:15 pm at the Mattapoisett Library’s basement-level Community Room, 7 Barstow Street in Mattapoisett.

Artists Honored for Exceptional Work at Art Show

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Superintendent Michael S. Nelson and Principal Michael Devoll are pleased to share that artworks of 15 students from Old Rochester Regional High School were featured in the annual 9th Congressional District Art Show held at the Plymouth Center for the Arts on Friday, April 4.

            Three of those students from Old Rochester Regional High School received Honorable Mention recognition for their works of art. That’s out of a total of 199 works of art that were showcased in the 9th Congressional District Art Show, which featured welcoming remarks and award presentations by U.S. Congressman Bill Keating.

            MJ Brissette won an Honorable Mention in the painting category for his work, titled “My American Gothic.” Devyn Southern also won an Honorable Mention in the painting category for his work, titled “Devyn Devyn Devyn Devyn.”

            In the mixed media category, Owen Osterday won an Honorable Mention for a collage made from cardboard, called “Layers of Personality.”

            Also representing Old Rochester Regional High School were Georgia Bailey, Kelsi Chick, Sara Duane, Phoenix Ducharme, Eden Dupre, Lily Hinds, Cy Huggins, Varunyu Phimolmas, Lauren Sherpa, Madison Spangler, and Tessa Winslow.

            In his opening remarks, welcoming guests to the event, Congressman Keating emphasized the power of the arts to connect people across diverse backgrounds. Congressman Keating spoke thoughtfully about the artistic process as a vital form of communication, and he commended art educators for their role in fostering creativity and self-expression in students.

            Karen Wasielewski, Deputy District Director for Congressman Keating, has organized this celebration of student art for more than a decade.

            The reception for the event included light refreshments, providing attendees the chance to view the artwork, which was on display from April 4-6.

            Superintendent Nelson and Principal Devoll congratulated the artists and thanked Congressman Keating for hosting the art show, along with Wasielewski for organizing the event.

            “I am incredibly proud of our art students,” said Principal Devoll. “I’d like to congratulate all of them for their efforts to put their works on display as part of the Congressional District Art Show, and we also offer a special congratulations to our Honorable Mention winners. And thank you to Congressman Keating and his staff for hosting and organizing such an awesome event each year.”

            “These students, and our art teachers, have a deep commitment and passion for the arts. That’s very clear by just looking at the works they produce and the excitement that they express,” said Superintendent Nelson. “Thank you to Congressman Keating for hosting this event and for the opportunity it provides our art students to share their work with the community.

Sounds of the Past

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The Sippican Choral Society is marking its 60th Birthday with a concert perfectly tuned to both its past and its legacy for quality choral musicianship.

            Its “Anniversary Celebration: 60s Songs for 60 Years” presentation will be performed at Wickendon Chapel, Tabor Academy, Marion, on May 4. The 41-member choral group will begin with the two musical selection that opened its first concert in 1965, pieces by Bach and Aaron Copeland. Then the concert will honor its birth year with 1960s tunes for the remainder of the event. Society president Kelli McSweeny said pop, folk, jazz and Broadway samplings including the works of The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Frank Sinatra, Burt Bacharach, and Antonio Carlos Jobin will be featured. “We wanted to honor the decade of the 60s,” she said, “and our first concert.”

            That concert, McSweeny said, was performed in 1965 in what was then the Bristol Auditorium at Old Rochester Regional High School. The group was then called the “Regional Civic Chorus” and consisted of 15 members, and it was part of the Tri-County Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the late John Pandolfi. It was renamed as the “Sippican Choral Society” in 1972. “It started as a small group,” she said, “made of people who wanted to start a local choral group. They were members of local church choir groups who wanted to start a group that did other than church music.”

            Jeanne Sheets, an alto voice in the group, has been a member of the choir for 26 years. “I grew up in a musical family and have been a singer my entire life,” she said. She recalled that a local “League of Women’s Voters” member, a tenor in the group, told her to join. She was hooked from the first rehearsal she attended. “I love the group,” she said. “I love the camaraderie. Love the singing. Love the practices.”

            Jerry Bardwell has been a tenor in the choir for 27 years. He said he’s loved singing since high school. He sang in the Navy Chorus when he served in the armed forces. He moved to Marion 30 years ago and joined the Sippican chorus soon afterwards. “I’m here for just the sheer joy of singing,” he said.

            He said he’s also there because of the valuable skills of the choir’s piano accompanist for the past 30 years, Michelle Gordon, and the director, Darry Dolezal “He brings out the artistry in our performances,” Bardwell said of Dolezal. “His persona is very relaxed. But he’s an expert. He knows what he wants from us. He can put something complex and turn it into language us non-professionals can understand and get a professional sound.”

            Bardwell noted the choral members have ranged in age from 14 to as old as the late 80s, and their concerts are always well-attended. The chapel, where the choir has performed the most times over the years, is usually 70-80 percent full, he said.

            “People here just want to be a part of a musical community,” he added. “We come here for the friends, the camaraderie and to share the gift of music.”

`           The Sippican Choral Society’s “Anniversary Celebration: 60s Songs for 60 Years” will be performed at Wickendon Chapel, Tabor Academy, 88 Spring St., Marion, on May 4 at 4:00 pm. Tickets are $20.00 general admission, $10.00 for Students, Free for Children 14 and under, and free to anyone born in 1965, the year of its founding. Tickets can be purchased at Marion General Store, Isabelle’s in Mattapoisett, Symphony Music Shop in Dartmouth, from Choral Society members, at the door with cash or check, or online on the Society’s Tickets page.

By Michael J. DeCicco

Mattapoisett Town Meeting Warrant Approved

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            On April 22, the Mattapoisett Select Board met with the Finance Committee to review and approve the Spring Town Meeting scheduled for May 22. But the Board ended up waiting for the arrival of several members of the committee sliding forward their meeting with Jenny Martin, candidate for the open position of Mattapoisett Library Director.

            Martin shared her background that included project management, database development, grant-writing, donor outreach and staff development. She also shared coming from a small town where the library was a favored place, “…it was my home.”

            Martin said that her family would be moving to the New England area through an upcoming marriage and so it made sense to move closer to their ultimate location. She said that the Mattapoisett Library is a treasure for the community and commented on the building’s physical appearance. Regarding programming Martin said that if you lined up what Mattapoisett offered against other communities Mattapoisett was equal.

            Martin responded to questions about what she might do in her first few weeks if she became director. She said it was important to review the collections and build on what is working while stating the library could “dream bigger.” Martin said regarding how best to engage teenagers it was important to, “meet them where they are,” suggesting that if they are interested in podcasting a program for building podcasts might prove beneficial.

            But Martin emphasized the importance of taking time to observe the library operations and not change things for the sake of changing.

            Of the three candidates that originally were vying for consideration as the next director, Martin was the favorite of the Library Trustees. Mike Rosa, the trustees, said Martin’s extensive experience, which includes having been an educator, impressed them.

            The board then moved on to the warrant. The May 2024 Spring Town Meeting will have 34 Articles. They are:

            Article 1: Elected Officers Compensation; Moderator $303, Select Board Chairman $6,186, (each) Select Board Members $5,602, (each) Assessors $5,602, Town Clerk $79,825, Board of Health (each) $724, Highway Surveyor $92,185, Mattapoisett School Committee (each) $724, Tree Warden $10,978, and Herring Inspector $1,037; Article 2: General Operating Budget; Article 3: Appropriation for OPEB Liabilities; Article 4: Departmental Revolving Fund Authorization, Article 5 Amendment to Roadway Design and Construction Revolving Fund.

            Article 6: Amendment to Conservation Commission Revolving Fund; Article 7: Memorial Brick Revolving Fund; Article 8: Police Department Vehicle Revolving Fund; Article 9: EV Charing Stations Revolving Fund; Article 10: Dissolve Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund.

            Article 11: Opioid Settlement Special Revenue Fund; Article 12: Water Reserve Account; Article 13: Sewer Reserve Account; Article 14: Cyclical Annual Property Revaluation and Town Mapping.

            Article 16: Personnel Schedules; Article 17: Reserve Allocation Collective Bargaining Agreements; Article 18: Acceptance of Report of Capital Planning Committee; Article 19: Capital Plan Funding; Article 20: Authorization lease purchase of Medium Dity Truck (Highway Department).

            Article 21: Various Project Funding to fund – Math Curriculum $70,000, Grant Matching Funds $30,000, Replacement of loader bucket (Highway Department)Town Wide ADA Improvements, MS Permit Reporting and Testing $20,000; Article 22: Renovation of Highway Department Building $4,000,000; Article 23: Reconstruction of Oakland Street $1,300,000; Articles 24-29: Allocation of Revenues Community Preservation Act, for Museum Carriage house ADA Improvements $45,000, Hammond Cemetery Restoration $10,000, Historical Commission Survey $30,000, American Legion Post 280 S10,544, Old Hammantown School; Community Garden $ $17,500.

            Article 30: CPA Funding Transfer for Affordable Housing $250,000; Article 31: Acceptance if Statutes Relating to Veterans; Article 32: Amendment to Bylaws for Parking of Trailers on Public Ways; Article 33: Permanent Easements Pearl Street; Article 34: Increase Mattapoisett Select Board from three to five members.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell

Upcoming Events at the Elizabeth Taber Library

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Find exciting afternoon activities for kids grades K through 4 every Thursday in May from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Elizabeth Taber Library.  On May 1, kids can make metal bookmarks and learn the difference between embossing and debossing.

            Banned Book Club will return Tuesday May 12 at 6:00 pm.  May’s banned book title is “Year of Wonders” by Geraldine Brooks. Find copies available at the circulation desk.

            Starting this May: The Cozy Cup Book Club will begin meeting Wednesday mornings at the library.  Join us for snacks, sips, and cozy conversations.  The first meeting will be Wednesday, May 14 at 11:00 am.  The first title selection is “The Gardener’s Plot” by Deborah Benoint.  Find copies available at the circulation desk.

            The Friends will be holding a book sale at the Marion COA on Saturday April 26 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Donations for the sale will be accepted the sale day from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, also at the COA.

            For more information on the Elizabeth Taber Library visit us at www.ElizabethTaberLibrary.org or email the library at ETLibrary@sailsinc.org.

Mattapoisett Democrats Candidates’ Night

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On Wednesday May 7 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, The Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee will host a Candidates’ Night in the downstairs public meeting room of the Mattapoisett Free Public Library.

            All candidates for any elected position in our upcoming Municipal Election on May 20 will be extended an invitation and provided an opportunity to give a brief opening statement to the public and answer questions of attendees.

            The uncontested race candidates (Select Board, Mattapoisett School Committee, Library Board of Trustee, etc.) will proceed first and then the two main contested races for the Board of Health and the Old Rochester Regional School Committee will be the last of our presentation.

            Please come with a neighbor, family member or friend and bring any questions you might have for the candidates or just listen in. For more information, please reach out to Nicki Demakis, Chair, at ndemakis@tidlaw.com.

Events at the Rochester Historical Museum

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This year we are changing things up. The last few years, our July meeting with music and ice cream social was always on an incredibly hot night, so we’re going to have our Ice Cream Social on May 21 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Historical Society Museum at 355 County Rd. in Rochester.

Before the ice cream we will have music with Tom and Sheila Perry. If you have an old song that you would like to include in our sing-along, you can send it to me at eshbach2@aol.com or call 508-763-4932 before May 10.