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

St. Gabriel’s Church Rummage Sale

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St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Marion will hold its Annual Rummage Sale on Saturday, October 27, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Sponsored by the Adult Choir of St. Gabriel’s, the sale will benefit both the music program and St. Gabriel’s outreach and relief efforts. The sale takes place in the Parish Hall of St. Gabriel’s Church, located at 124 Front St. in Marion, and will feature furniture, rugs, gift items, sporting equipment, antiques, housewares, tools, a Christmas room, and much more. This is our 8th annual event, and it just keeps getting better each year – shop early for the best selection. The choirs will also host a food sale at the same location, so plan to come and spend some time browsing and picking up some delicious baked goods, soups, and casseroles. For more information, contact Director of Music Leslie Piper at lesliepiper@msn.com.

Take Time to Remember on November 11

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The peaceful and democratic society we enjoy was created by the efforts and sacrifices of generations of Americans who have put their lives on the line in the cause of peace and freedom around the world. Remembering and learning all that Veterans have sacrificed helps us better understand our nation’s history and its future.

At the end of the World War I, many people heard about the Armistice through bells ringing. When the bells rang out on the 11th month of the 11th day on the 11th hour in 1918, they announced the end of the most catastrophic war the world had yet seen. This year, 2018, marks the centenary of the Armistice, now called Veterans Day.

To collectively remember and honor those veterans who put their lives on the line on the battle field, the Mattapoisett Women’s Club launched a “Veterans Day Bells of Remembrance” project in 2017 to rekindle that spirit of togetherness. The Bells of Remembrance project is asking communities throughout Massachusetts to pause for a minute of silence and mark the centenary of the Armistice by ringing church and municipal bells on the 11th month of the 11th day on the 11th hour. Last year, several churches and municipal buildings from Wareham, Fairhaven, Marion, and Mattapoisett participated by ringing their bells and this year many more Massachusetts communities will participate.

There is a special free smart phone app “Bells of Peace Participation” that is available from iTunes and Android stores and that may be downloaded onto your smart phone. The app has a built-in countdown timer and will toll 21 times on 11/11/11 in remembrance of this very special moment when the fighting stopped.  Go to ww1cc.org/YourAce on your smart phones and the site will direct you how to set up Bells of Peace.

The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club has resolved to promote Bells of Remembrance on November 11 to remind the public of that Armistice Day peace pledge. We are also asking church members either in their bulletins or from the pulpit, to work for peace. One hundred years after the first Armistice Day, and given the special significance of this year, 2018, the commemoration takes on added importance. Let’s pause for a minute of silence and ring those bells on the 11th month of the 11th day on the 11th hour to commemorate the end of the “War to end all wars!” and recapture peace on 11/11/11.

Artistic Interpretations of Land Trust Properties

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Wooded vistas, marshlands, trails thickly padded by fallen leaves, birds at rest, colors in shadow and light, the surprise of unexpected objects adorning a tree… The Marion Art Center’s show “The Lands of the Sippican Lands Trust” features all of these images and so much more, now on display through November 12.

The show is a masterful partnership between the Sippican Lands Trust and the Marion Art Center (MAC) that offered local artists the opportunity to render their impressions of these protected open spaces using a wide variety of mediums.

On October 12, the opening night reception quickly found artists and art lovers cheek to jowl as enthusiasm for the show swelled. The gallery walls were heavily covered with 39 pieces by 26 different artists whose creations were simply breathtaking.

Although this show was not juried, the level of artistic endeavor and achievement was unmistakable. From fabric to shadow box to oil pastel, from watercolor and oils to pencil images depicting land trust spaces, the artwork drew the viewers into a suspended moment in time.

While there were a fair number of local professional artists, works on display also included first-timers such as young Blake Gagne of Rochester, whose shadow box titled “Dragon Lair” delighted the attendees. His mother, Michelle Wood, also entered pieces of fanciful fairies created in pencil, making it a family affair.

Professional artist and teacher Sarah Brown selected the White Eagle property for her pastel landscape, while Janet Smith-Flaherty of Rochester, who has been painting for 18 years, joined her friend and fellow artist Jane Egan of Lakeville visiting land trust properties.

“We had a fun day making sketches and taking photographs to bring back to our studios,” Smith-Flaherty said.

Egan, a Mass Art graduate, has had her own exhibition in the past at the MAC. Working in oil pastels, Egan said doing so was a “messy affair,” but the end result is a rich, layered, dense work of art.

Sippican Lands Trust Director Jim Bride explained, “It’s the third time the art center has held this event. We take the artists out on walks in the properties so they can be familiar with the spaces.”

And finding inspiration in one of the many natural settings isn’t difficult. The artists selected locations such as Kenney’s Landing, Brainard Marsh, Peirson Woods, White Eagle, Ludes Estuary, Benson Brook, and Piney Point to name a few.

“I love the idea of this collaboration,” MAC board member Jennifer Webb said.

MAC Executive Director Jodi Steven added, “This is the third year we’ve done this show with the land trust … on an every other year basis. … The result is wonderful.”

Given the number of guests attending the opening reception, it is clear that the collaboration is a natural pairing. Visit www.marionartcenter.org for dates and times.

By Marilou Newell

Neighbors Oppose RCF Committee Requests

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The Rochester Country Fair (RCF) Committee had its three requests approved by the Rochester Board of Selectmen on October 15, but not without opposition from neighbors near the Pine Street fairgrounds.

In light of a significant financial loss this year due to poor weather, the RCF Committee hopes to recoup the roughly $10,000 lost by adding four additional fundraisers during 2019. The committee also asked for approval to build a permanent structure at the site – a 40-foot by 100-foot pavilion – that could be used instead of renting a giant tent, an expense that suddenly spiked in cost this year.

The committee also asked for more leniency on alcohol consumption while allowing alcohol to be served at specified times during all four days of the fair.

Some residents who live near the fairgrounds opposed adding more fundraising events at the site, with one resident expressing his concern over the “slow creep” of the Country Fair within the neighborhood.

Richard Masciantonio of Quaker Lane said when the fair first relocated from Plumb Corner to Pine Street, the neighbors were reassured that no permanent structures would remain on the site after the fair was over, and the recent agreement between the RCF Committee and the Town provides for only 10 usable days for fairgrounds events, including the four for the fair. Now, he fears the RCF will continue to expand and ask for further exceptions that will affect the neighborhood.

“The fact that the fair didn’t make money shouldn’t be a burden for the neighborhood to assume,” said Masciantonio. “If the fair can’t make money, the fair can’t make money.”

RCF Committee Chairman Kelly Morgado said the RCF account needs to reach $40,000-$50,000 in its account in order to fully fund the fair, but this year it only reached a maximum of $32,000.

“We’ll have to significantly cut back on what we can do for the fair unless we increase some fundraiser dates,” Morgado said.

Leading up to the 2018 RCF, Morgado said the committee was unable to hold all of its six planned fundraisers at the fairgrounds, as allowed by the agreement, due to inclement weather. These fundraisers, said Morgado, are strategically planned to keep noise in the neighborhood at a minimum, which include tractor pull competitions of the quieter antique tractors.

Hartley was skeptical, and referred to the additional fundraisers as potential “Band-Aids” rather than solutions.

“To me, what this is about is a neighborhood who used to look at a field who now looks at a [fairground],” Hartley said. At the start, activities were planned for three days, he added. “[The neighborhood] is now looking at something going on over there one weekend every month. That’s not what was the original idea, in my mind,” said Hartley.

Selectman Brad Morse, who attended a recent meeting with the RCF Committee and spoke with some abutters, made the motion to allow the additional fundraisers, resulting in a unanimous vote to approve.

The proposed pavilion also got 3-0 approval; however, it was only a preliminary approval. The RCF Committee will have to return with a proposed design and a plan, subject to final.

RCF neighbor Jeremy Peck supported the committee’s requests, and cited concerns over development of the open field should the RCF no longer exist. Another abutter, Craig Parker, emphasized that he supports the RCF, but not an expansion of it.

“We were guaranteed that when the fair … was over, we would never know that the fair was there.” Parker said neighbors were also told a green vinyl fence would be put up around the fairground perimeter, but that didn’t happen either.

Resident Brad Correia, concerned about the fate of the fair, said, “The price of things goes up all the time. If we can’t evolve, I think this fair is going to be lost, and I’m not sure that’s what [we want] to happen.”

Scott Hartley wondered how the Town benefitted from the RCF, other than by simply having the event. He said he didn’t see how he personally benefited from the RCF.

“It’s pretty much the only community event this town has,” said Morgado, although Hartley replied that he attends plenty of little league games, equating that to a community event.

Resident Kevin Thompson, who also leads the local Scouts, said the community does benefit form the fair, especially the Scouts.

“The [country fair] is our single fundraiser for the entire year,” said Thompson. The funds pay for the kids to go to camp and host events and activities, he said. “Without that fundraiser, we have to get back to the drawing board. … The fair is extremely important to what we’re doing. … We have a vested interest in the fair succeeding as well.”

The committee also asked to expand alcohol consumption during the fair by adding additional days and opening up the entire grounds as opposed to offering only one small cordoned-off “beer and wine garden” that even had Hartley admitting, “The concept didn’t work.”

Morse said the police chief had no concerns, and an extra detail officer could be added for further security.

Alcohol consumption was unanimously approved for Thursday-Friday from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Saturday from noon – 9:00 pm, and Sunday from noon – 5:00 pm, but the RCF Committee would still need to apply for an alcohol license when the time comes.

Addressing the residents, Hartley acknowledged, “There’s no way we’re gonna make everybody happy.”

In other matters, the board referred several zoning bylaw amendment articles to the Planning Board for inclusion on this Town Meeting’s warrant.

The board also approved and finalized the warrant for the Monday, November 19 Fall Special Town Meeting taking place at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Memorial School.

Also during the meeting, the board approved a renewal for a $192,000 bond anticipation notice (BAN) for the ambulance debt. The original BAN was $240,000.

The Rochester Town Hall Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held on December 3 at 6:00 pm.

The meeting room that night was filled with local Scouts present to observe the meeting as part of earning their citizenship in the community merit badge.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen will be a special meeting for Friday, October 26, at 9:00 am at the Rochester Town Hall in order to hold a classification hearing.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Jean Perry