Rochester Woman’s Club Welcomes Trick or Treaters

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The Rochester Woman’s Club will be welcoming in Halloween this year by opening its doors to local Trick or Treaters. Members of the club will be dressed in costume and handing out treats between 4:30 and 6:30 on Halloween evening.

The Rochester Woman’s Club is a non-profit organization of local women (not only Rochester residents) who are dedicated to promoting civic, educational, intellectual, and social interest among its members and in our community. We are located at 37 Marion Road in Rochester.

Please stop by with your little ones this Halloween.

Justine R. (DiLorenzo) Bondi

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Justine R. (DiLorenzo) Bondi, of Revere, formerly of East Boston, passed away at home on October 10, 2018. She was the daughter of the late Federico DiLorenzo and Iola Peroti.

Beloved wife of 60 years to the late Pasquale Bondi. Loving mother to Joseph and his wife Sheryl Bondi of South Berwick ME, Diane Bondi-Pickles and her husband Ray Pickles of Marion, Richard and his wife Karen Bondi of Wakefield and Linda and her husband Mark Tartaglio of Sugarland TX. Justine was cherished by her grandchildren; Joseph Bondi, Cheryl Bondi, Stephanie Miller, Christopher Pickles, Justine Pickles, Leah Pickles, Amanda Bondi, Jason Bondi, Matthew Tartaglio, and the late Charles Pickles and Mark Andrew Tartaglio. She was a great-grandmother to Madelyn, Sophia, Danika, Ella, and Ada. She was a dear sister to the late Mary Maniachi, Rachael Myers, Josephine Barletta, Jenny DeMaria, Muffie Dinarello Bell, Nora Fiorino, Rocco DiLorenzo, and Jerry DiLorenzo.

Justine was a loving and generous person with a great sense of humor. Her kind heart and hospitality brought family and friends together. She will always be remembered for her generous heart and loving soul. Her beautiful smile will be greatly missed.

Family and friends will honor Justine’s life by gathering in Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach St., Revere on Monday, October 22 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and again Tuesday morning at 9:00 am before leaving in procession to the Immaculate Conception Church, Revere for a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in her honor at 10:00am. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.

Donations in Justine’s memory may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472. For guest book and directions www.vazzafunerals.com

 

Zoning Article Advances with Board Support

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The majority of the Marion Planning Board voted in favor of supporting the Residence E zoning bylaw on the floor at Fall Special Town Meeting on October 22.

No one from the public attended the public hearing for the zoning amendment proposed by town resident Sherman Briggs. The article, which will be on the warrant at the Fall Special Town Meeting, seeks to amend the Zoning Bylaw by reducing the minimum rear and side setback requirements from 20 feet to 10 feet in zoning District Residence E.

Members of the board took the opportunity to reiterate their positions on the proposed amendment.

Vice Chairman Stephen Kokkins reminded the board that he was in favor of the zoning change, citing that for the Briggs project, the reduction in setbacks allows the inclusionary housing required for the development to be co-located on the parcel.

“These reduced setbacks should take into account adjacent properties,” said Kokkins. “This is something the Planning Board can consider as they consider the special permit.”

Member Kristen Saint Don-Campbell expressed her concern that the Town was creating a bylaw for a specific project, adding that in the future if there were more Residence E properties, the owners may not have the Town’s aesthetic or other interests in mind.

Member Andrew Daniel spoke in favor, pointing out that the board will retain the opportunity to address any setback issues during the Special Permit negotiation process.

“This property is unique,” said member Eileen Marum.

All the members of the board but Saint Don-Campbell voted to support this article at Town Meeting.

The board voted to send a letter of support to the Community Preservation Committee for the Marion Open Space and Acquisition Commission’s (MOSAC) multi-use bike path proposal on Point Road.

Board member Chris Collings, who was calling in to the meeting remotely, suggested the board and MOSAC consider contacting Eversource and Verizon about moving utility poles on Point Road during the construction of the path. Collings noted that, “[The utility companies] are obligated if they are in the way to move them. [We] pay Eversource to move the lines. There’s a whole office at Verizon that does it. We must survey and locate the poles; they move the poles on their dime. [Let’s make sure] the group doing the bike path gets the best bike path they can get!”

Daniel asked if the Transportation and Circulation Task Force was aware of the opportunity, and Town Planner Gil Hilario said he would bring it up at its next meeting.

Chairman Will Saltonstall cautioned that Verizon may move the poles for free, but the cost of moving the lines is a big unknown.

In concluding the discussion of the letter of support, member Norm Hills underscored that the MOSAC proposal was no more important than other town applications, saying in the Planning Board’s letter that “the board supported the CPC funding [for the MOSAC proposal] commensurate with other town applications.”

Also during the meeting, the board authorized hiring a consulting engineer to review the application for the solar farm at 78 Wareham Street. The engineer will be selected from a list compiled by the board three years ago in response to a request for proposals. The board felt they should consider updating the list in 2019.

The board also discussed the Town Meeting logistics of the proposed kennel bylaw and determined that Marum will answer any questions that arise, with help from Hilario and other board members, on both the kennel and marijuana articles.

The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for November 5 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Town House.

Marion Planning Board

By Sarah French Storer

Community Purrs for Octopurr Fest

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Halloween time in the Tri-Town is full of fun, festive events, but few are as enjoyable and endearing as Octopurr Fest at It’s All About the Animals in Rochester.

Now in its fourth year, Octopurr Fest is the non-profit cat shelter’s largest fundraiser of the year, raising over $10,000 last year and likely more this year, judging by the huge turnout of community members and cat lovers on Octopurr 14, showing their support for their local animal shelter.

“Everybody seems to be having a great time,” said It’s All About the Animals co-founder Pam Robinson, who started the cat shelter with her husband, Oren, back in 2009. Since then, the shelter has expanded, with a brand new addition and “catio” completed last year.

Running the shelter costs the Robinsons around $75,000 annually, so a successful event like Octopurr Fest is vital in order to supply the cats with veterinary care, food, and supplies to keep them purring.

The shelter is operated 100 percent by volunteers, of which Pam Robinson says she is always seeking more. Robinson herself spends about 14 to 16 hours every day working in the shelter – and that’s seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Octopurr Fest was a smash because of the volunteers who dedicated their time to serving hotdogs and other treats and selling raffle tickets. Over 50 vendors sold their wares that included collars and leashes and other implements of pet ownership, and even a couple sheep donated their precious time to support the cats.

There are plenty of kitties that need a home and are available for adoption. It’s All About the Animals is located at 103 Marion Road, and visiting hours are Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. For more information about adoption, volunteering, or donations, visit www.itsallabouttheanimals.org or email ohnokitty1@gmail.com.

By Jean Perry

Tabor Academy Hosts Visiting Author

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Maggie Shipstead will be visiting classes during a week-long residency at Tabor Academy the week of October 15 – 19 in an effort to expose Tabor students to professional American writers. The author will meet with faculty groups and students in their English classes, as well as the staff of the student newspaper or those who might aspire to a career in writing. She will share her writing process and habits as well as insights into life as a fiction writer, tips for working with publishers, how to create cover art, and writing for magazine assignments.

Maggie graduated from Harvard University in 2005 and from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 2008; she was a Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford. Shipstead has completed two novels: Astonish Me and Seating Arrangements, which was on the NY Times bestseller list, and won the LA Times book prize for first fiction and the Dylan Thomas Prize for Authors under 30.

Beyond her novels, Shipstead regularly works as a freelance writer whose work has been published in: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Condé Nast Traveler, andTravel + Leisure.

The school will host a reading and book signing at Tabor Academy, open to the public, on Thursday, October 18at 7:00 pm in the Fireman Center for the Performing Arts in Hoyt Hall at 245 Front Street, Marion. Shipstead will stay to sign copies of her books from 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm.

November Book Sale at MPL

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It’s the perfect time of year to warm up under a blanket or next to the fire with a new book. The Friends Book Sale is the perfect opportunity to stock up on some reading material. The Friends of the Mattapoisett Library will be holding their Second Saturday Monthly Book Sale, November 10, from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm, downstairs at the library, 7 Barstow Street. Stop in to browse our great selection and buy a “Bag of Books” for only $15.00.

The Friends wish to thank the many donors who keep the library supplied with quality book donations. Book sale proceeds enable the Friends to sponsor many of the special programs offered at the library, and to make special purchases of books, museum passes, equipment, etc. Book donations are accepted at the library circulation desk during regular library hours.

The Friends of the Library is a 501c3 nonprofit group of volunteers created to support the library. The Friends always seek adult volunteers to help with setup and during the sale, as well as, help with various library events through the year. To become a member of the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library, inquire at the book sale or look for our membership forms located at the library circulation desk.

Marion’s New Playground

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Remember when you were a little kid and going to the playground was so much fun? Where I grew up, the only playground was on the grounds of the Catholic orphanage. We weren’t supposed to go there, but we did. Then came the day I fell off the monkey bars and landed on my face. By the time I ran home, my face and hands were covered with blood. Standing at the foot of the stairs in our duplex yelling for my mother was a disaster. Of course, she freaked out. Needless to say, my best friend and I were forbidden to go back. Our mothers reinforced this order by telling us if we got caught then we could be put in the orphanage and our parents wouldn’t be able to get us out. We were only seven — we believed them.

Fortunately, children in Marion don’t have to sneak in anywhere. There is a new playground by Silvershell Beach. There are swings and two sets of slides. One is your basic slide, but will accommodate two sliders at the same time. The other slide is a child’s dream come true. There are multiple ways to get to the top. Daring little climbers will love the options. There are two slides attached. One is your basic straight down; the other one spirals down. There are bells to ring so everyone will know you are there. In addition, the merry-go-round and the “jumpy chipmunk” are still there.

The two little guys I watched today were having the time of their lives. Climbing, sliding, running between the two slides. Their mom and I talked about how exhausted they would be when they got home. That has to be a plus for parents. If you haven’t visited the playground at Silver Shell yet, please do. Your children will love it and you will love watching how much fun they have.

Salty Silvery Moon Soiree

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On Saturday, October 20at 5:30 pm on the Dunseith Property, Route 6 and North Street, the Mattapoisett Land Trust offers a unique story teller, Danny Dullea, for their annual “Salty Silvery Moon Soiree” celebration with a fire to make s’mores.

Danny Dullea’s stories, he said “are about Environmental Justice to honor the beauty and integrity of complex associations of the flora and fauna of healthy ecosystem.” Dullea is one of only a few professional storytellers who focus on tales that illuminate the human/environment relationship, natural history, and wilderness.

Dullea believes in relating timeless human values with modern life and his tales are first and foremost that of one who “spins the yarn”.

Dan Dullea, a retired Director of Creative Media for Clarkson University, Potsdam NY, is a performance storyteller, actor, and civic media filmmaker. He tells stories to countless people at festivals, fairs, conferences, colleges, schools, parks, and campgrounds, throughout New York State and other locales.

Dullea and his wife, Marianne, travel to Ireland each year where he says, with his experience, “his story telling has become one of humanity’s oldest communal activities linking us with the past as we contemplate the future”.

Come and enjoy Dan Dullea’s “Tales of the Anthropocene” meaning how human activity dominates the environment. You will be spellbound by his hilarious engaging storytelling of dreams and culture. You will also be treated to a cook fire and s’mores.

Yasmina Reza’s “ART” at the MAC

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Yasmina Reza’s “ART” will open at the Marion Art Center (MAC) on Friday, November 9with subsequent performances on Saturday, November 10; Sunday, November 11; Friday,November 16, and Saturday, November 17. All Friday and Saturday performances will begin at 7:30 pm, while the Sunday matinee performance on November 11 will begin at 2:00 pm.

How much would you pay for a white painting? Would it matter who the painter was? Would it be art? One of Marc’s best friends, Serge, has just bought a very expensive painting. It’s about five feet by four, all white with white diagonal lines. To Marc, the painting is a joke, but Serge insists Marc doesn’t have the proper standard to judge the work. Another friend, Ivan, though burdened by his own problems, allows himself to be pulled into this disagreement. Eager to please, Yvan tells Serge he likes the painting. Lines are drawn and these old friends square off over the canvas, using it as an excuse to relentlessly batter one another over various failures. As their arguments become less theoretical and more personal, they border on destroying their friendships.

The cast includes Scott Fishman as Marc, Tony Oliva as Serge, and Lee Bonia as Yvan. Those behind the production include Director Linda Costa, Stage Manager Susan Sullivan, Sound & Lighting Manager Steven McManus, and Set & Tech Assistant Geoffrey Sullivan.

Tickets ($15 for MAC members, $18 for non-members) may be purchased during regular hours in person (Tue-Fri 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Sat 10:00 am – 2:00 pm) at the Marion Art Center, located at 80 Pleasant Street in Marion, MA, or online at www.marionartcenter.org. A limited number of cabaret tables are available for reserved parties of 4, and attendees may bring their own refreshments. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Human Case of West Nile Virus Confirmed in Plymouth County

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today the first confirmed human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Plymouth County.

In addition to the case just identified, there have been 41 other human WNV cases identified in Massachusetts this year – the highest number of cases Massachusetts has ever recorded in a single year. The previous record was 33 cases in 2012.

WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at a higher risk for severe infection. When present, WNV symptoms tend to include fever and flu-like illness. In rare cases, more severe illness can occur.

“Mosquito season is winding down, but mosquitoes will still be active on warmer and more humid days,” commented Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH.

In addition, the mosquitoes that are alive at this time of year are old for mosquitoes and are actually more likely to be carrying West Nile virus. Long sleeves and pants will help reduce bites and mosquito repellent may still be necessary when it is warm and humid.

People have an important role to play in protecting themselves and their loved ones from illnesses caused by mosquitoes.

Please avoid mosquito bites by wearing appropriate clothing, using repellents, and staying indoors during peak mosquito activity.

By taking a few, common-sense precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their loved ones:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

-Be aware of Peak Mosquito Houses – the hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up, and/or wearing repellent.

-Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

-Apply insect repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picardin (KBR 3032), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-methan 3, 8-diol (PMD), according to instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.

Mosquito Proof your Home

-Drain standing water- many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the numbers of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed be either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change water in birdbaths frequently.

-Install or Repair Screens- some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV activities in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at https://www.mass.gov/dph/wnv.