Based on Governor Baker’s Advisory as to Public Meetings, the meeting on the Industrial Drive Public Work’s Project scheduled for 6:30pm on March 18 at Center School is postponed. In lieu of a public meeting the presentation will be filmed and run on the Mattapoisett Government Cable Channels – Comcast 95 and Verizon 38 starting the evening of March 18 at 6:30pm.
Language is a gateway to a culture. Come to the Mattapoisett Free Public Library and learn some friendly greetings and conversational phrases in other languages. Townsfolk in the community will share some of these basics from their native languages in a casual informal setting. One class for each language for about thirty minutes – no pressure – and leave with a list of words and phrases so you can practice them and try them out with your neighbors or on your travels. All are welcome. Attend one or attend them all!
This will be an ongoing program with more languages to come, so check back!
Czech – Sunday, April 5 from 1:00 to 1:30 pm
Gaelic – Sunday, April 5 from 2:00 to 2:30 pm
Norwegian – Sunday, April 19 from 1:00 to 1:30 pm
The Library is located at 7 Barstow Street and is handicapped accessible.
The Marion Town Party Committee is pleased to announce that the event will return this summer. The Committee has decided to be proactive and plan the party earlier in the day to avoid having to cancel like last year. The party will be at a new venue this year and will have a new start time as well.
Join us at Silvershell Beach beginning at 2:00 pm until dusk on Saturday, August 22.
To kick off the party we will have a “Touch a Truck” event that will be held from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm on the field at Silvershell Beach. Fire, Police, Harbormaster and other vehicles will be on hand. Scheduled activities include rock wall climbing, inflatable games, moonwalk, music, and face painting. Food and drinks will be available for purchase beginning at 2:00 pm.
Once again, organizers are seeking corporate sponsors. This is a great opportunity for local businesses to get the word out and advertise their businesses. More details about the sponsorship levels will be available soon.
Donations from the community are needed to help underwrite the event. Food, services, cash or any other in-kind donation would be greatly appreciated. All contributions are tax-deductible.
To stay up to date with all event details please “Like” our Facebook page – Marion Town Party.
Marion Firefighters Association will partner with the Marion Harbormaster Department. All proceeds are for the local community and departmental needs.
For more information or to donate please contact Donna Hemphill at 508-748-3515, or email mariontownparty@gmail.com or you may send a check (made out to Town of Marion) to the Marion Town House, c/o Marion Town Party, 2 Spring Street, Marion, Massachusetts, 02738.
Katharine “Kitty” Hill Stanton, 91, died of natural causes on February 11. Born June 22, 1928 to Lucius and Helen Hill, she grew up in Brookline, MA.
Kitty thrived in her youth as a scholar/athlete at the Windsor School, Miss Porters School, and Vassar College. Summers, she blasted tennis balls at the Longwood Cricket Club in Brookline, MA. Her strong legs and tenacity carried her to #3 in New England in the 15 & Under Division. In the same year, she triumphed in the Western 18 & Under Girls Singles Championship, a sanctioned national event. Winters, she carved and spun her way through many New England junior figure skating championships, representing the Boston Skating Club.
As a young mother of three, she represented New England in the US National Doubles several times, battling the best players in the world. She also rose to the #5 ranking in New England Women’s Singles, and passed her love of the game to her three children. Both of her sons became career teaching professionals.
She married John K. Stanton in 1950 and they settled in Marion, MA, where she was elected to the Planning Board, and volunteered on the Republican Committee and the NE Junior Tennis Ranking Committee. She also served as president of the Sippican Tennis Club and the PTA, headed the local Girl Scouts, and sat on the board of the NE Home for Little Wanderers orphanage, where she directed the annual Christmas toy drive.
In the 1980s, Kitty moved to Brookline to work at The Country Club tennis shop and later to Lexington, where she volunteered at the Lahey Clinic. She was a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous and mentored several younger women as their sponsor. She spent her final days battling dementia with extraordinary grace and humor at Care One in Wilmington, MA.
Kitty was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Kristy LeMond, and will be remembered with love by her brother Lucius Hill; her children, Seabury Stanton (Val), Jack Stanton (Pam), and Kathy LeMond (Barry); her 3 grandchildren, Leanna Stanton, Luke Stanton (Mandie) and Kevin LeMond; and 2 great grandsons, Oliver Stanton and Jack Jones.
She had a credo that she tried to instill in her children: “Always consider the pain behind the poor behavior of others.”
A memorial service will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church in Marion, MA, June 27, 2020 at 12PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be donated to a charity of one’s choice.
Harlyn D. “Butch” Froh, 64, of Rochester passed away Monday, March 9, 2020, after a brief illness. He was the husband of Kimberly (White) Froh. They had been married over 40 years.
Born in Newport, RI, he was the son of the late Harlyn H. Froh and Lucille B. (Mayer) Froh. He was raised in Acushnet and lived in Rochester for 34 years.
Butch was employed as a master mechanic for D.W. White Construction Company for 42 years. He also did many other kinds of work as he was a jack-of-all trades.
He enjoyed riding and racing dirt bikes and was well known for his long “wheelies” in his younger years. He attended Church in the Pines. He enjoyed shooting guns, building cars, using his creative skills, and spending time with his family and friends. He was especially grateful for every moment he got to spend with his grandson, Logan. He loved to travel and be in the warm weather, but what he loved most was his beautiful wife, Kim, who he adored until the day he died. It’s not “til death do us part” but “until we meet again.”
He is survived by his wife, Kim; his children, Melissa Douglas and her husband, Craig, and Gregory Froh; two brothers, David Froh and his wife, June and Mark Froh and his wife, Karol; his grandson, Logan Douglas; his aunts, Theresa Saulnier and Germaine Bourque and uncle, Maurice Bourque and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was the father of the late Jeremiah “Jay” Froh, and brother of the late Michael Froh.
His Funeral Service will be held on Saturday March 14, 2020 at 10 am at the First Congregational Church of Rochester. Burial will follow in White Cemetery, East Freetown. Visiting hours will be held on Friday March 13, 2020 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.
Richard W. Taylor, Jr. 60 of New Bedford died March 7, 2020 after a brief illness at home.
Born in New Bedford, son of the late Richard W. and Janice T. (Santos) Taylor, he was raised in Mattapoisett and lived in New Bedford most of his life.
Richard was formerly employed by Joseph Abboud Clothing for many years working alongside a wonderful team.
He was committed to both his faith and his country, having served in the U.S Navy.
Richard was known for his quick wit and kind spirit.
Survivors include his siblings, Florence Andrews of North Berwick, ME, Jo-Ann Taylor of West Tisbury, Elizabeth Taylor of New Bedford, Andrew Taylor, Sr. and his wife Paula and Kirsten Taylor and her partner Robert Gingras, all of Mattapoisett and Jonathan Taylor of Norfolk; several nieces and nephews.
His Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 14th at 10 am in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Rt. 6, Mattapoisett. Burial will follow in Chiltonville Cemetery in Plymouth. Visiting hours Friday March 13th from 4-8 pm.
By the testimony of colleagues, job references and other observers, Mike Nelson always had leadership qualities so it should not come as a shock that he is scheduled to become Massachusetts’ youngest superintendent of schools upon the June 30 retirement of Old Rochester Regional Superintendent Doug White (more on that below).
“For me, going to school was almost like a home away from home,” said Nelson in an interview with the Wanderer on Tuesday. “My schooling experience was always one of the most reinforcing aspects of my life being surrounded by positive people who were helping me achieve my goals. I remember being in high school thinking, ‘I want to be in education. This is what I want to do.'”
At 6-foot-6, basketball was Nelson’s game growing up, but he left sports behind to focus on his education at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. A political science major, he always wanted to be in education and was 99.9 percent sure it would be in the public schools.
His journey was founded upon the intention to take all the impact that educators made on his life and figure out how to pay it forward.
“When I reflected prior to the last interview (February 29), I really thought about ‘Why am I applying for this position?’ And that’s when I shared the comments about the analogy that educators can be lighthouses for children,” Nelson said. “I thought about how fortunate I was not only to have one lighthouse but many different lighthouses who were educators throughout my life. And I said, ‘That’s the reason why I believe I ended up interviewing for this position,’ because in some ways it helps me come full circle in terms of what people gave to me.
“Now, in terms of being a professional, (I am) being able to work with those people hand-in-hand in terms of helping other kids, and (I am devoting) my life to doing the same thing.”
Nelson, 36, grew up in New Bedford and later Wareham, where he attended the public middle school and high school. His father is a facilities supervisor at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School and his mother worked in the mortgage business.
Technically a millennial, of more relevance is his standing among his peers.
According to the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, of the 237 listed for public school districts in the state, the youngest superintendents for the 2019-20 school year include two at age 38 and four others at 39.
Pending fresh developments, the state will have a new titleholder, according to independent non-profit based in Bedford of which all superintendents are members and benefit from professional development, legal services, policy, etc.
“At the crux of it… I knew a goal of mine was to become a superintendent. At some point I would have to become a superintendent for the first time,” said Nelson. “At one point (in the interview process) I listed the different titles that I have maintained here from a responsibility standpoint.”
While many districts allow a director of special education or student services to focus exclusively on that job description or area of programming, Nelson considers himself fortunate.
“It’s also one of the reasons that I wanted to come here. I believe that the director of student services was going to be used to work with all students and on behalf of all students and families,” he said. “That’s why I mentioned I’ve been designated the civil-rights coordinator for the district, the special-education director, the homeless liaison, the foster-care point of contact. I have had my hand heavy in designing professional-development opportunities, working with the curriculum teams.”
Nelson learned quickly the many areas at which the Central Office is looked upon for facilitation.
“We’ve had some changes in positions and rollovers and some vacancies in Central Office in the last couple of years,” he said. “Even though those were challenging times in some ways, for me personally as a professional it meant I was actually able to step in and take on some responsibilities that typically wouldn’t have fallen on my plate, if you will. And it helped prepare me, at this point having served as the director of student services and then the assistant superintendent, it helped me prepare to have a base knowledge of having my hand in all those different responsibilities.”
Originally hired as director of student services, Nelson was promoted to assistant superintendent last year with the retirement of Elise Frangos. Since then Nelson has taken on more and more, and in doing so spread his wings and has become more widely relevant at ORR.
Nelson’s background in special education served as an important starting point, not only because of the impact he was able to provide in that role but because it helped form an inclusive philosophy that is core to the district’s belief system. In turn, relationships formed and were strengthened, setting the table for the tremendous outpouring of support during the selection process completed on March 5.
“I did not anticipate the level of support that I was given from staff, administrators and teachers and paraprofessionals, right through the ranks including parents and stakeholders when I initially applied for this position, and… I said, ‘Wow, it’s just incredible to know that when you commit yourself to do something that all the relationships and all the time and all the effort that you put into it… it was just such a powerful experience to have that level of support, and I’m extremely grateful for it,” said Nelson.
Presuming successful contract negotiations, there will be a reintroduction period next school year in which Nelson will become known as the superintendent of schools at ORR. During his February 29 finalist interview with the joint school committee, he was asked about the challenges that accompany emerging from inside.
“What does that mean moving forward? When I said that I might have had hard conversations, what I meant is that I would like to think that some of the reasons I’ve been able to establish those relationships is because I’ve always been transparent and honest in terms of listening to others’ points of view but also providing them feedback in terms of why I may have taken a position of using all the data points available in terms of making the best decision,” he said. “I’ve built these relationships in a way that I can continue to build off of them, and I will continue to do a lot of the things that I’ve done in terms of working collaboratively with all the stakeholders and make sure they feel valued in terms of shared decision making.
“So when I think about bringing in a new assistant superintendent and possibly a new director of student services, I think about that I can actually speak from my experiences, think about their skillset and their philosophy and really help them learn about our communities and our communities will learn about these new individuals as well.”
Nelson drives 30-35 minutes to and from ORR from his home in the south end of Plymouth, where he lives with his wife Jessica, a special education teacher, and their two sons and two stepchildren ranging from high school junior and sophomore to a first grader and a three-year-old now attending ORR’s preschool program inside the high school.
Nelson says he has received some advice from White, including the need to devise an entry plan, to focus first on negotiating his contract. Once that is behind him, the more personal sharing and dispensing of pearls of wisdom will commence.
Nelson may be on the on-deck circle, but his philosophy only awaits his at-bat.
“One way I would like to use my skillset is in communicating from the superintendent’s office in real-time in terms of here’s the information we have, we want to share it with our communities,” he said. “I think that that will help build a level of trust between all the different community players in our three towns and a new superintendent.”
Until then, Nelson is appreciative of the support he has received, and regardless of what lies ahead he remains confident based on the focus around him and ability to naturally collaborate toward “what’s best for the kids.”
By Mick Colageo
March 5 was Super Thursday at Old Rochester Junior High School for Assistant Superintendent Mike Nelson, who was voted in as Doug White’s replacement as ORR superintendent of schools by a 6-3 margin among the ORR School Committee and by a 5-3 count among Superintendency Union 55.
A minimum of five votes on both the region and the union sides were needed for a decision.
After a spirited debate pitting the overall experience of Westport Superintendent Dr. Gary Reese against what Nelson has shown in his six years at ORR, the joint committee decided the ORR school district’s future in one round of voting.
In an emotionally charged auditorium full of spectators to the public meeting, observers were cautioned by region-side committee chairman Cary Humphrey against outbursts since members of the committee needed to be able to interact without distraction. A spectator asked at one point if the audience would be allowed to participate. Humphrey said no, citing the complexity of the task and the time it might take to complete.
Humphrey admitted arriving to the meeting undecided and addressed the divided voting body at the start of proceedings.
“Clearly we’re not all on the same page,” he said. “The fact is I’m less concerned about who you vote for as I am how you treat the people that don’t agree with you so I just ask for respect, professionalism, and understanding as we go through the process.”
Shannon Finning, chairperson on the union side, thanked both sides for their involvement.
“We’re very fortunate to have three very well qualified candidates, and I think to Cary’s point as we discuss candidates not just because it’s being recorded and it’s a public forum, but I think it’s of the utmost importance we’re mindful that there are professional ramifications for comments that are made here that could be long-standing and affect people,” she said. “We can certainly debate different issues, but we can be mindful. And ultimately the decision that we’re making is about the future of our schools… I’m certain that you all as I do take that very seriously.”
The battle lines of the debate were well established as discussion commenced. Reese was the candidate with matching experience in two different towns. Nelson as assistant superintendent was the candidate with relationships in and familiarity with the ORR district.
Dartmouth Assistant Superintendent Michelle Roy, the third finalist, was praised by multiple committee members for her professionalism, but the decision came down to the candidate with the most experience (Reese) versus the candidate with the inside experience (Nelson).
Three joint-committee members were assigned to check the references of each of the three finalists. All three yielded glowing results.
On the union side, ORR School Committee member Carole Clifford of Mattapoisett said she called on Nelson’s three references and additional people recommended by those references. Relaying some of the feedback, Clifford noted Nelson’s “stand-out” history at every level of his development in education, and additional comments suggested unqualified confidence in his ability to function in the role of superintendent of schools.
“One of the quotes was ‘He sees things not from 30,000 feet above the problem, but down into the problem,'” said Clifford. “All the different things I asked about budgeting, curriculum, they had no fear that he would be the best candidate to do all of those things, and actually they thought we were lucky to have him as one of our candidates.”
In the comments portion of the meeting, ORR School Committee member Sharon Hartley of Rochester focused on selection criteria in her pitch for Reese.
“It seems that we have two candidates that meet the selection criteria and one who exceeds the criteria, and that person is Gary Reese,” said Hartley, elaborating on Reese’s credentials including having fully developed budgets for two school systems. “His conversation with us, his interview with us, was compelling.”
Furthermore, Hartley openly considered it “irresponsible” of the joint committee to pass on the opportunity to hire someone as vastly experienced as Reese.
While several joint-committee members praised Reese for an excellent interview, the majority felt Nelson was the right person for the job.
With at least three joint-committee members having arrived to the meeting undecided, Nelson’s supporters needed to convince them that his limited experience applied to the top job. Reese’s supporters needed to convince them that his broader experience has decisive value and also that he would remain committed to ORR despite having left his Amesbury job after three years and being ready to leave Westport after two.
Both Nelson and Reese have teaching backgrounds in special education, but Nelson’s participation at ORR beyond that scope swayed those on the fence into believing he was the right choice.
None of the three finalists for the position, Nelson, Reese or Roy, were present at the meeting. All three had sat in the same room to interview with the joint committee on February 29.
James Hardy, field director representing the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, was present to guide the process and recommended that votes be alternated on each side. Members were given the option of voting for any of the three finalists or “present,” meaning that they had weighed in for the opening round without a decision.
The votes in Nelson’s favor were met with roars of approval and hugs in the auditorium.
After a short recess, Finning announced that pending negotiations Nelson had accepted the committee’s offer for the position.
Citing the emotional outpouring of support for Nelson, Humphrey said, “We need your group to support Mike in a way higher than you’ve ever supported somebody because the only way this district improves is with the team, as I mentioned earlier, working together, and he’s going to need your support more than ever.”
White, ORR’s 10-year superintendent of schools, will retire from the position at the expiration of his contract on June 30.
Hardy noted after ORR reached a decision in one round of voting that the Silver Lake Regional District recently needed six rounds to reach a decision. He reiterated the appreciation that Diana Russo was shown earlier in the meeting for her hard work.
The meeting opened with a moment of silence in honor of Pat Harriman, who passed away on March 1 at age 70 after a brief illness. The Marion resident was a school teacher for 47 years, including 40 years as an English teacher to seventh and eighth grades at ORR Junior High.
Representing Mattapoisett and Rochester, respectively, Finning and Humphrey, sought a Marion-based representative from the joint committee, and Michelle Smith agreed to join with them to negotiate a contract with Nelson. If successful, the contract will be brought before the ORR School Committee at its next scheduled meeting on Monday, March 23, at 6:30 pm at the ORR Junior High School.
ORR Joint School Committee
By Mick Colageo
This event has been cancelled.
March is designated Women’s History Month, and the year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote. Author and researcher Hannah Kimberley, Ph.D. will speak about women’s suffrage and her book A Woman’s Place is at the Top, a biography of Annie Smith Peck. One of the most accomplished women of the twentieth century, however, few know the story of this remarkable woman. An early feminist and accomplished adventurer, Peck led an incredible life. She was a scholar, writer, lecturer, mountain climber, who first gained fame for scaling the Matterhorn – not for her daring feat, but because she climbed wearing pants.
She was ardent feminist, marched in suffrage parades, was president of the Joan of Arc Suffrage League in New York City, and was a political speaker on women’s right to vote. Hannah Kimberley is recognized as an expert on Annie Smith Peck, and in her empowering biography, she brings Peck’s entire life to the page.
Ms. Kimberley will be with the Sippican Woman’s Club on Friday, March 13 to present her work. A book signing will follow her talk.
The presentation will be at Handy’s Tavern, the clubhouse for the Sippican Woman’s Club, 152 Front Street, Marion. There will be a light finger lunch at 12:30 pm before the program. Guests and new members are always welcome! If you would like to join us, call Jeanne Lake at 508-748-0619. Parking is across the street on Island Wharf.
Sippican Lands Trust is leading a Signs of Spring Walk on Saturday, March 14 at 10:00 am at our Hagemann Woods property on Point Road in Marion. The walk will explore the various plants and animals as spring comes to life on the property.
Hagemann Woods is a 23-acre parcel of land acquired by Sippican Lands Trust in 1998 and features white pines, oaks, red maples and mixed wetlands providing a wide range of wildlife habitat. The parking area for Hagemann Woods is located off of Point Road (approximately) two miles south of the intersection of Route 6 (Wareham Road) and Point Road in Marion.
The walk is free for SLT members with a suggested $5 donation for non-members. If the Signs of Spring Walk is canceled due to inclement weather, then the 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.