At RMS it was Trunk and’ Treat

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They might call it “Trunk or Treat,” but at Rochester Memorial School on October 20, it could have been called “Trunk andTreat” with the way some of the participants treated the kids to an entire Halloween experience in itself from the back of their vehicles that sunny late Saturday afternoon.

Spooky music, talking ghoulish dolls, creepy lights and sound effects – some trunks were a virtual haunted house, while others offered an interactive experience with games of spin the wheel, mini golf, corn hole, the claw machine, and even a blind hand grab into a bowl of worms (spaghetti).

The PTO last year was looking for something new to do as a Halloween treat, and one of the parents had attended one nearby with her family. The first Trunk or Treat last year was a great time, says PTO member Jamie Alves, and about eight or nine decorated cars lined the RMS parking lot.

“The kids had a blast,” said Alves. “This year it got a little bit bigger – we had 15 cars! And, again, the kids had a blast! It was really nice to see everyone enjoying themselves.”

As Rochester residents know, Rochester is a town with narrow country roads that turn very dark at night.

“Rochester is a tricky place to go trick or treating,” said Alves. “So we said, what a great way for them to trick or treat and in a safe area,” said Alves – at RMS, in the parking lot with no cars passing on dark streets, no fear.

There couldn’t have been fewer than a hundred families there that night, Alves said.

And who else was there? Why, Santa and Mrs. Claus, of course, offering everyone the terrifying reminder that Christmas was only 65 days away, and now even closer as you read this (54 days as of this Thursday)! Danielle and Eddie Riggs made this Halloween ‘merry,’ joined by a few select skeletons instead of the usual elves and handing out candy canes to trunk-or-treaters instead of the usual Halloween treats.

Judging by the way the event has doubled in size in just one year and the elaborate tricked-out trunks, expect this particular event to evolve over time.

“We already have plans to make it better next year,” Alves said, adding that she recognized a few families from other towns nearby. “The more, the merrier!” said Alves. “It’s meant to be a community event, and it was, actually!”

By Jean Perry

MAC Call for Entries

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The Marion Art Center (MAC) is calling for entries to its annual juried Small Works exhibition. All works must be 144 square inches or less, including the mat and frame. The MAC will be accepting multiple works from artists who are selected to participate, as buyers will be allowed take works when they are purchased. Deadline for entries is Saturday, November 3. Selected artists will be notified by November 6. To be considered for the exhibition, please visit our website and fill out a “request for jury” form. Please note “Small Works entry” in the description box: www.marionartcenter.org/gallery/request-for-jury/

The exhibition runs Friday, November 23 – Saturday, December 22. All work is to be dropped off at the MAC on Monday, November 19 from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. The opening reception will be on Friday, November 23 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

Would you like to be considered for our Holiday Shop? Participation is only $50/day. Sell your handmade items on all three days, or just one day of your choosing. For more details visit: www.marionartcenter.org/holiday-shop-2018. Deadline for Holiday Shop registration is Saturday, November 10.

Loft School Yard Sale

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The Loft Cooperative School in Marion has cleaned out its attic. They will piggyback on the yard sale of their host, St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, October 27starting at 9:00 am. St. Gabriel’s will be selling all kinds of things, including many pieces of furniture. The Loft sale will focus mostly on books and toys. The Loft sale will last till 12:00 pm; St. Gabriel’s will continue until 4:00 pm.

Tri-Town Youth Basketball Recruiting

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Marion Recreation is pleased to announce that it will once again team up with Mattapoisett Recreation to offer a Fall/Winter Youth Basketball program for participants in grades 3-6. Deadline for registration is November 2and the cost is $95 per player. A $10 discount for each additional child in a family is also available. Games are played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and practices are an additional night during the week depending on age. More information is available on our website. In addition, participants may register online at marionma.gov/recreation-department. Open to all boys and girls in Mattapoisett, Marion, & Rochester.

Sippican Historical Society

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In 1998, the Sippican Historical Society commissioned an architectural survey of Marion’s historic homes and buildings. The survey was funded one-half by the Sippican Historical Society and one-half by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Due to the limits of funding, not all of the historic buildings were surveyed, but over 100 were catalogued and photographed. The results of the survey are in digital form on the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s website and in four binders in the Sippican Historical Society’s office (and at the Marion Town Clerk’s office).

Marion (Old Rochester) is one of the oldest towns in the United States, and the Sippican Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of documentation on its historic buildings. The Sippican Historical Society will preview one building a week so that the residents of Marion can understand more about its unique historical architecture.

This installment features 115 Front Street. Built in 1916, St. Rita’s Catholic Church is at 115 Front Street on the corner of Front and Vine Streets. It is a handsome rectangular, one-story, gable-roofed, and brick- and wood-trimmed building. Representing an interesting mix of the Classical Revival and Craftsman styles, the Front Street side of the building features three entrances that are recessed behind an entrance porch with columns. Its side walls are pierced by clear and stained-glass windows, and a small dome cupola bearing a cross rises from the eastern end of the roof. The exposed rafters of the eaves illustrate the Craftsman style.

SLT Halloween Show

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Join the Sippican Lands Trust (SLT) for a special Halloween Show with Toe Jam Puppet Band on Saturday, October 27at 5:00 pm at the White Eagle property in Aucoot Woods in Marion. Renowned children’s entertainment duo, Mr. Vinny and Mr. Tom, will perform some spooky Halloween songs for kids and adults of all ages. White Eagle, part of Aucoot Woods, is a property managed together by the Sippican Lands Trust and the Marion Open Space Acquisition Committee (MOSAC).

Sippican Lands Trust’s White Eagle property is located off of Route 6 in Marion. Take Parlowtown Road across from the town cemetery and follow road until you reach the cul-de-sac. Bear left onto the dirt road and then follow signs for parking. Please try to carpool, if possible, as parking is limited. Costumes are welcome and make sure to wear proper footwear and warm clothing for trail walking in the evening. Please bring a flashlight for the walk back to your vehicle.

No registration is required, but a donation of $10 per family is suggested. Only the worst weather will cancel an SLT event. If an event is canceled, then information will be posted to SLT’s website and Facebook page. For directions or further information visit sippicanlandstrust.org or call Sippican Lands Trust at 508-748-3080.

The Officers King: Brothers by Blood and by Service

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On October 23, family and friends joined members of the Mattapoisett Police Department as officers Justin King and Jason King were appointed sergeant and interim captain, respectively, during the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen meeting.

Police Chief Mary Lyons said that after a promotional assessment process of the four candidates vying for promotion to sergeant, “Justin scored the highest.” Justin has been on the police force since 1997.

Speaking of Jason’s credentials, Lyons said, “He works with the detectives in the South Coast region and keeps the department running well.” Jason has been on the police force since 1994.

Town Clerk Catherine Hueberger performed the swearing-in ceremony while Sergeant King’s three children – Holden, Tristan, and Hadley – along with their cousins, Captain King’s children, Caitlin and Logan, beamed with pride.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, the children pinned their fathers’ uniforms with badges.

In other business, the selectmen considered a letter dated September 24 from Attorney Thomas Crotty in which he asks the board to designate him as counsel to the Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply District (MRVWSD) as a special municipal employee.

In the letter, Crotty notes that the conflict of interest law would not strictly prohibit the designation, and that all member towns’ boards of selectmen would have to do likewise. The community members to the MRVWSD are Marion, Fairhaven, and Mattapoisett. Rochester is also represented in the water district as a non-voting member.

Crotty is currently representing Fairhaven in a lawsuit against Mattapoisett.

On this point, Selectman Paul Silva commented, “Attorney Crotty has been counsel for 11 years [to the MRVWSD)], I feel it is a conflict of interest. I do not feel comfortable with his representing the water district and a party in a lawsuit against Mattapoisett. That’s where I stand.” He concluded by asking that the request be denied.

Selectman Tyler Macallister concurred with Silva, and the requested was denied.

“Now he’ll have a decision to make,” said Macallister.

Silva said he would advise the other towns of Mattapoisett’s decision.

Town Administrator Michael Gagne reported that the Fire Station Committee chaired by Michael Hickey has been meeting weekly and will be evaluating bid proposals received for a project manager in the coming days. He also said the committee has toured fire houses in Paxton, Walpole, Carver, and Oak Bluffs so far with at least two more facility tours pending.

In other business, a planned meeting to discuss the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement for the Tinkham Hill II solar array was postponed until November 13.

The Veterans Day observance ceremony will take place at 11:00 am at the Old Hammondtown School on Monday, November 12.

November 6 is Election Day with polls open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm at Old Hammondtown School. Earlier voting is now underway at Town Hall on Saturday, October 27, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Early voting will be open again on Monday, October 29, through Friday, November 2, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm with extended hours on October 23 and 27 from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen in scheduled for November 13 at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell

Jen Forker

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Jen Forker, a native of Rochester, MA, left this earth on October 22, 2018, surrounded by her loving family whom she called her team.  Not one to be wordy, Jen would politely yet strongly pass on the need for a summary of her life in the form of an obituary.  Instead, she’d prefer to note the things that made her life well lived.
– Be kind and treat others the way you want to be treated.
– Just be happy.
– Travel the world and write your own adventures.
– Love and be loved. I’m the luckiest because I was, and that is enough.
In lieu of cards, give hugs to your loved ones.  In place of flowers, donations may be made to the Pan Mass Challenge in honor of those who fought valiantly and those who continue to thrive.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Arch of the Meadow, 332 Mendell Rd., Rochester MA on Saturday November 3rd at 1PM

Mary P. (Howrihan) Nelson

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Mary P. (Howrihan) Nelson, 96, of Rochester, formerly of New Bedford, passed away peacefully on Monday October 22, 2018 at Our Lady’s Haven. She was the wife of the late Russell L. Nelson.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Timothy and Helen (Manghan) Howrihan, she lived in New Bedford all of her life before moving to Rochester in 2002. She was a graduate of New Bedford Vocational High School.

Mrs. Nelson was an active communicant of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, where she was a member of the Women’s Guild and the Couples Club. She was the recipient of the Marian Medal from the Diocese of Fall River for her service to her parish.

Survivors include two sons, Timothy J. Nelson of New Bedford and Thomas J. Nelson and his wife Lynn of Rochester; four grandchildren, Heather, Kathleen, Christine, and Kyle; four great-grandchildren, Andrew, Jonathan, Aaron, and Lucas; and nieces and nephews.

She was the sister of the late Catherine Beaumont, Margaret Pierce, and Timothy Howrihan.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday October 27th at 9 am at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Friday October 26th from 4-8 pm at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Leonard’s Pond Bridge Repair Discussed

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Engineer Bill Madden of G.A.F. Engineering came before the Rochester Conservation Commission on October 16 to engage in an informal discussion regarding the design and construction needed to repair the Leonard’s Pond Bridge on Mary’s Pond Road.

An accident left a portion of the bridge damaged, now Madden wanted to ensure his design and aspects of the construction are in line with the commission’s oversight.

Madden explained that construction would be required along 75 feet of the bridge’s curbing. He detailed methods that the contractor would use, describing the use of tools for notching and exposing substructures inside the concrete base. He also said that the exterior of the bridge would require a fresh coat of a stucco-like material to cover the repairs.

Regarding issues related to wetlands protection, Madden also described the use of silt socks to catch any falling debris.

Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon expressed her concern about the possibility of the mortar material falling into the water saying, “We are having this meeting to discuss best construction practices.”

Madden agreed, adding, “We’re doing as much as we can to keep it together.”

They also concurred there may be the need for G.A.F.’s presence during part of the repair work to ensure adherence to conditions required by the commission.

The commission was satisfied with the direction of the repair project, and Madden said he would be filing a Notice of Intent on Friday.

In other discussions, the commission is planning to meet with Joe Perry, forester for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Farinon said she has invited Perry to attend the November 20 meeting to answer questions regarding the changes to the Forest Cutting Practices Act and a Forestry Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the DCR.

Farinon also shared a drafted policy, Guidance on Agriculture and Solar Energy Under the Wetlands Protection Act, and SMART program she received from the DEP. She said it would impact the installation of solar panels in cranberry bogs. Farinon said that the DEP is “opening the door to the idea of cranberry bogs” as viable locations for solar panels. She said that the solar panel structural supports are higher than those used in other locations, allowing sunlight through to vines and possibly berries. She thought that the cranberry growers associations would need more outreach.

Earlier in the evening, the commission voted to allow the continuance of an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation filed by Borrego Solar Systems, Inc., for property located at 75 Vaughan Hill Road until the November 20 meeting, as well as a continuance to that same date for a Notice of Intent filed by Joseph Longo, CorGo LLC, for the construction of a single-family house on Mendell Road.

The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, November 7 at 7:00 pm in the town hall meeting room.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell