RHS members have booths at the Fair on August 16 to 18. Stop by to preview the new exhibit, “Rochester Businesses, Past And Present,” which will be at the Museum starting in September. Guess the use of artifacts relating to the exhibit. Saturday will feature a bake sale with goodies made by our now famous Rochester cooks. All things Rochester will be available for sale from tee shirts, hats, and sweatshirts to note cards, maps, game boards and Rochester history books.
Town Administrator Paul Dawson and Police Chief John Garcia are releasing the following statement to the public:
“The Marion Police Department has been made aware of a multi-jurisdictional investigation in Bristol County that may impact a member of this department and his conduct related to the performance of his duties as a Marion Police Officer.
“While not the target of the investigation, information received by Chief John Garcia has led him to place Sgt. Jeffrey Tripp on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and an internal investigation and review of the facts and circumstances by the Marion Police Department.
“The initial investigation is being conducted by a Bristol County law enforcement task force and the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. The Town of Marion is cooperating fully with that investigation. Unfortunately, we cannot release any further information at this time, as we do not wish to compromise the ongoing investigation. Additional information will be released when it becomes available. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as this process is completed.”
Marion Police Department Press Release
There’s usually a stillness in the early morning air on Nathaniel’s Drive in Rochester; recently, however, the quiet neighborhood softly awakens around 7:00 a.m., much like it did early Tuesday morning with the yawning sounds from the unhurried swishes of car tires as they pulled up slowly in front of Graham Levenson’s house.
The 4-year-old had been expecting them, the somewhat steady stream of neighbors and friendly faces who have been coming to Graham every morning now for at least a week for their morning cup of coffee before the summer day begins to swelter and coffee cravings melt into a thirst for something icier. For you see, Graham has left that old lackluster lemonade stand business to the other kids; what he’s pouring roadside has far more value to his customers at 7 in the morning.
It all began last month when Graham noticed the various farm stands around town suddenly stocked with fresh produce, and the corn stands were especially bustling. From somewhere inside his rapidly developing mind came a calling to open up his own corn stand, something he immediately told his mom he wanted to do.
“Graham wanted to sell corn and sell it at his own stand along the side of the road,” said Mom, Mary Levenson. “Everybody has stands along the side of the road and he wanted to get up early in the morning and sell corn.”
But the Levensons don’t grow their own corn, and a trip to another farm stand across town early enough to be back at Graham’s stand for 7:00 wasn’t feasible, because Mom has to get to her home office by 8:00 am where she works in sales. Lemonade didn’t seem like a great idea either, for who’s out for lemonade that early in the morning?
What ensued inside Graham’s 4-year-old mind was nothing less than genius at any age. Graham looked to his mom and got his best business idea yet.
“Well, you drink coffee,” Levenson said, quoting Graham. “So he ended up with a coffee stand.”
Graham had already had experience in the coffee business, according to Levenson.
“He’s always – since before could talk – scooped the coffee in the morning to grind, and then he grinds it and puts it into the filter and he pushes the on button.”
All that was missing was a real-life wooden stand, so he solicited the help of Levenson’s boyfriend, Reed Bacchiocchi, and Reed’s father, Bill Bacchiocchi, to build him one.
“Billy got the bottom part, and Reed did all the rest,” reported Graham.
Shortly thereafter, Levenson posted a photo of Graham at his coffee stand on social media, which spread the word about his coffee stand out past his own neighborhood swiftly into cyberspace, and subsequently into the heart of Rochester Police Officer Alyson Rego.
That morning when Officer Rego showed up for her first cup of Graham’s coffee, another neighbor spotted the caffeinated congregation across the street and posted her own pic on social media, which spread to other regions, even reaching a statewide TV station that then shared it on Facebook.
Officer Rego has been a bit more bright-eyed towards the end of her midnight to 8 am shift thanks to Graham’s coffee stand, and on Tuesday morning around 7:15 am, Officer Rego was back to plunking her 75 cents into a paper cup and having a lively chat with Graham over coffee and a homemade blueberry muffin.
“This place is a happening joint,” said Rego. “The best coffee in town.”
Rego commented on Graham’s new Patriots hat and the two were discussing the details behind its acquisition when another cruiser pulled up alongside the house and out came Officer Chris Zutaut for a cup of coffee and a muffin. Within a few minutes another familiar face arrived, and then another, until Graham’s paper cup of profits was nearly filled to the brim.
Officer Zutaut stirred in some half-and-half cream, took a sip, and complimented the barista.
“He’s very enthusiastic about it,” said Levenson. “And we’ve got some regular people now.
Just before closing up shop for the day, along came Meg Robinson from across the street for her to-go cup before leaving for work.
“If he’s out here I come,” said Robinson. “He’s quite the little businessman. I tell you, he’s going places. One day we’ll be reading about him in the Fortune500.”
On her way to her car Robinson calls out, “Thanks, Graham! I’ll probably see you tomorrow!”
The coffee supply had dwindled by that point, and as the officers returned to work, Graham began packing up shop, satisfied with another day of hard-earned coins.
Thus concluded another morning at Graham’s coffee stand where, whether his customers take their coffee black or with cream, with or without sugar, inside every cup of coffee is an extra added sweetness, served always with a smile.
By Jean Perry
Avid nature lovers take note: the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission has added a new option to the town’s Senior Property Tax Work-Off Program – spending time out in nature.
“Our former member of the commission, Joe Keogh, thought of including open space trail maintenance as part of the Senior Tax Work-Off Program run by the Council on Aging,” said MOSAC Chairman John Rockwell. “We really like it because it gets folks out on our properties, who will then tell their friends about these great places to take a walk.”
MOSAC has seven properties in mind for some light trail maintenance and trail conditions reporting: Grassi Bogs, Boyd’s Land, Great Swamp Woods, Goldavitz Bogs, the Town Forest, Hales Brook, and Washburn Park, all lovely places in Marion that attract those who like to go bird watching or simply taking quiet walks through the woods.
“It also helps us out as we have no budget for trail maintenance,” Rockwell said. “This will keep the trails from getting grown in, and alert us to any serious problems that arise on the properties.”
So, obviously, there’s more to this deal than just walking and basking in the natural beauty so abundant in Marion – nothing too technical or backbreaking – but definitely tasks better suited for those with a strong set of legs, a pair of good walking shoes, and an adventurous side.
Some of the tasks involve light pruning of branches and brush encroaching on the trails, removal of any small trash found along the way, and reporting of any evidence of abuse of the property such as ATV use, dirt bike use, or vandalizing, and any storm-related damage. Walking and inspecting the properties should take around 45 minutes each visit, and participants would never be required to operate any power tools.
And aside from the obvious benefit of a reduction in one’s tax bill, it’s got other bennies, too, as Rockwell pointed out.
“It’s light exercise for folks, and that’s always a good thing,” said Rockwell.
The Senior Property Tax Work-Off Program offers residents age 60 and up the opportunity to earn a maximum of $750 towards their property taxes in exchange for performing various tasks for the town. Applications are made available in October at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, and further information can be sought by contacting Sue Schwager at 508-317-9577.
By Jean Perry
To the Editor:
Good time had by all! The weather blessed us with another perfect picnic night.
It’s always so much fun to browse all the tables to see the themes people have enthusiastically chosen for their tables – some beautiful and serene, some dramatic, some fun! We chose to pay tribute to the latest addition to town, the “Veo Ride “. It is great to see people riding through town on these colorful bikes.
Looking forward to next year!
Joyce Almeida, Mattapoisett
The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wandererwill 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 Wandererreserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderermay choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wandererhas the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wandereralso reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.
Last week, Tabor Academy greeted about 40 students from around the world for their residential and day Marine Science Camp. In its first week, the students, about half of whom will participate for the full three-week offering, enjoyed learning about Marine Biology.
The tanks in Tabor’s Schaefer Wet Lab are all full with the many critters and fish the students have been collecting for observation. Kerry Saltonstall, director of communications, shared, “The students really enjoyed the rocky tidal pool at Sandwich Beach to collect various crabs and mollusks, then taking to the cold waters there with snorkels and fins to collect fish. They found baby horseshoe crabs, tiny sea stars and fish galore. It was hard to get the students back on land as they were having such fun despite the cold water!”
Back at Tabor, they created tanks full of their fishy finds! Each morning the students monitor the tanks for dissolved oxygen, salinity, and temperature. Another group measures the tanks for ammonia, alerting the tank owners to any problems. Saltonstall explained, “These are the basic vital signs fish need to stay alive in captivity and the students are responsible to maintain the tanks to keep the fish healthy so we can release them.” Students are also engaged in various research projects with the critters, such as observing the various mechanics of the different crab species they caught, how fiddler crabs behave together and how they build their homes. They are testing different types of traps to see which are best for trapping which kinds of species (despite their names). Further afield, they are observing the biodiversity and density of fish in three Sippican Harbor locations: Tabor, Ram Island, and Bird Island. And, one day they took off to enjoy an exciting whale watch in Cape Cod Bay where a whale breached right in front of their eyes!
This week the students will explore Marine Technology. They will be learning about the benefits of aerial photography using drones off of Provincetown, MA, to track whales and sharks. They will learn to use the marine ROV build by Tabor’s Advanced Engineering class, as well as the various probes the school has on hand. They are invited on board RV ZEPHYR, a research vessel with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, for a morning to help their scientist collect specimens for their research projects. After, Marine Biological Laboratories will host the group for a tour of their facilities. In week three, the focus will turn to Oceanography… but that will be a story for another day!
There are cul-de-sacs and there are “fake” cul-de-sacs, explained Mattapoisett Highway Surveyor Barry Denham on August 6, and the one proposed for Snow Fields Estates is a fake one, Denham said, taking a firm stand against what he perceives as a roadway plan that favors Snow Fields Estates while plowing past regulations.
Denham listed his objections before the Mattapoisett Planning Board and cited the regulations that require specific dimensions for dead-end roads and dimensions for paved turning circles, which, up until that point, was slated for pavement in developer Dennis Arsenault’s plan.
“This turning circle creates lot frontage and does nothing for public safety,” said Denham.
Planning Board Chairman Tom Tucker objectively pointed out, however, that the latest plan provides for a gravel turning circle, mitigation for developing within the wetlands. Still, Denham argued, the reason for a cul-de-sac is for large emergency vehicles to be able to make the turnaround. In this case, he said, the ‘cul-de-sac‘ serves no such purpose.
“Instead of a cul-de-sac, [the road] goes to provide access,” said Denham. “It’s just a circle on a piece of paper to provide frontage…
“So we don’t know how serviceable that cul-de-sac is going to be in all weather,” Denham added, referring mostly to snow plowing, which the board later pointed out would be left to the residents as the road would not be accepted by the Town.
The board’s Planning Assistant Mary Crain asked Denham to review the revised plan with her, pointing out to him various changes to allay his concerns.
Denham acknowledged the plan had changed and noted that the cul-de-sac wouldn’t be built because of the wetlands, but he maintained his position on the revised plan, saying, “To call it a cul-de-sac and use it for frontage for lots – it does not exist; it can’t exist,” he asserted.
Perhaps the cul-de-sac did not perfectly comply with the board’s regulations, commented Tucker, “But sometimes common sense has to come in,” Tucker stated. The new plan may ultimately favor the developer, he added, but nonetheless, it was a compromise to reduce the environmental impact.
“I’m with Barry on this ‘fake cul-de-sacs’,” said Planning Board member Janice Robbins, “but the trade-off is the environmental impact reduction.”
“As long as the trade-off doesn’t end up being a human life,” said Denham. For him, it’s his job to ensure emergency access to those lots, he said. “If you find that it’s not a concern, then I’ve done my job because I said it was. You’ve done your job and you said I don’t think your concern is that important.”
Tucker asked Denham to please understand that the board did not discredit his concerns, and he thanked Denham for his due diligence.
The fire chief and the police chief both signed off on the relocation of the cul-de-sac, accepting it without concern.
In order to accommodate for a peer review study of the project, the developer’s engineer, David Davignon, said he would file for a 60-day extension to the application timeline in order to extend the deadline out to November 5 for the board to take a vote.
The public hearing was continued until September 16.
Also during the meeting, residents of Brandt Point Village left disappointed after Tucker informed them that there would not be a hearing as a result of a technicality on behalf of the developer – no green cards.
Abutters must be duly notified of a public hearing, Tucker explained, and the proof of that notification via certified mail are the green cards that the post office returns to the sender after the letters are signed for and received.
“Because you weren’t notified officially with the green cards … we can’t hold the hearing,” said Tucker.
Abutters had questions and concerns they wanted aired, but Tucker was overly cautious that evening about discussing the case outside of the continued hearing, fearing possible Open Meeting Law violations. Furthermore, some of those questions concerned septic system concerns, which Tucker was reticent to talk about at all.
“I’m really treading some thin ice here,” Tucker told them. “What you’re discussing is not what the public hearing is this evening.” He advised those concerned to seek advice from the Board of Health, the entity with jurisdiction over septic matters.
That hearing was continued until August 20.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for August 20 at 7:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Town Hall.
Mattapoisett Planning Board
By Jean Perry
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 196 Front Street. Baxter Infirmary. Baxter Infirmary, located at 196 Front Street, was built in the early 19th century. In 1855, it was owned by John Burgess, who drove Sippican’s glassed-in hearse and always wore a high silk hat when he headed a funeral procession. Burgess is listed as the building’s owner in 1855 and 1879. By the early 1900s, C.E. Hellier owned the house. Tabor Academy acquired the house for the purpose of establishing an infirmary. Named for Dr. Raymond Harding Baxter, who had faithfully served the town since 1921, the new infirmary provided Tabor Academy students and faculty with a more up-to-date medical facility.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, next to the Town Beach in Mattapoisett, continues their 134 year tradition of visiting clergy from Massachusetts and beyond. Services using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer are conducted at 8:00 am and 10:00 am each Sunday through Labor Day weekend. The Reverend Robert Malm, Rector, Grace Church, Alexandria, VA will officiate the services on Sunday, August 12. Come visit our historic chapel by the sea in Mattapoisett! All are welcome.
The Marion Planning Board listened to John Rockwell on August 6 as he presented the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission’s proposal for a bike path along Point Road and a summary of the results of their Open Space and Recreation Survey.
Rockwell began his presentation by providing context for the bike path proposal, reminding the board of its efforts back in the late 1990s to put a bike path along Point, Converse, and Creek Roads, an attempt that “languished” except for the Creek Road portion.
The proposal this evening, for which Rockwell was seeking the board’s endorsement for the Commission’s application to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), was for a 4,000-foot section of Point Road, modeled after the Creek Road bike path.
Rockwell described it as a “separated path” from Point Road, with a 5-foot separation from the road, going around utility poles and hydrants.
In support of the project, board member Chris Collings remarked, “I’m terrified I’m going to hit someone [on Point Road].”
The path would be approximately 12 feet wide; 8 feet of pervious surface made up of a 2-inch gravel base, and a top layer of processed stone. Two feet on either side would be cleared of vegetation for visibility from Point Road. The path is designed for families and casual bicyclists, and safety is paramount, Rockwell said.
“We want people to feel secure and be secure – that’s why we want it to be visible from Point Road, to car traffic.”
The Commission is not proposing to pave the path at this time due to the added cost and will address any complaints of its condition in the future if necessary.
Rockwell noted that the Commission would seek input from the public as to the location of the path, saying, “We will stake out the center line and invite people for comment, including the Planning Board and the chief – both chiefs, I guess.”
Planning Board member Andrew Daniel spoke in favor of the project, saying he preferred to see the bike path paved but advocated getting kids with bikes off the road.
Board member and Selectman Norman Hills reminded the board that the Commission had previously come before the CPC and had been directed to coordinate with the Transportation and Circulation Task Force, which they did.
The bike path proposal is ranked third in the list of 15 projects included in the Complete Streets application. The path also is incorporated in the Town’s Master Plan.
Planning Board Chairman Will Saltonstall assured Rockwell that the board would consider writing a letter of support for future grant applications pursued by the Commission.
Rockwell also briefly summarized the recent Open Space and Recreation survey completed by the town.
The survey was sent to every tenth Marion voter, with a resulting 46-percent response rate.
Rockwell noted that every time the town has been surveyed since 1994, planning issues have been at the forefront of the concerns of town residents.
Based on the results, town residents support the protection of open space, and prefer using zoning rather than outright purchase to achieve that objective.
Rockwell highlighted two zoning bylaws – the Waterfront Compound and the Conservation Subdivision – as “flawed” bylaws that could be improved and utilized more effectively for open space protection.
With the Conservation Subdivision in particular, Rockwell suggested that an applicant cannot comply with the conditions of the bylaw without requesting a waiver.
Hills interjected to remind the board that in 2016 it had discussed this survey and “…asked [the Commission] not to do it.” Hills said. “[The Commission] did it anyway.”
According to Hills, the Stewards of Community Open Space were planning to hire SRPEDD to perform the survey. Hills added, “[John Rockwell] has had [the survey] for 20 years – there are no facts collected.”
In response, Rockwell retorted, “Norm has tried to ‘deep six’ the survey…” but the Stewards have accepted it for the purpose of writing the town’s Open Space plan. He urged the town to forget about disagreements over who does the survey and try to give the residents what they want – a preference for protecting open space through zoning.
Collings sought clarity on what Rockwell meant by the use of zoning over purchase, summarizing it by saying, “[The] preference of the community is to fix the rules to allow people to secure open space when they develop their land.”
Hills assured the board that the bylaws referred to by Rockwell are part of a group of bylaws to be reviewed by the Bylaw Codification Subcommittee.
In other business, the board unanimously approved an Approval Not Required application by Mark Barry to subdivide land at 18 Pleasant Street. The land is at the rear, or western edge of the applicant’s property and the property of the Marion Art Center. Lot A-1, made up of 1,354 square feet, will be retained by Barry; the 2,126 square-foot lot A-2 will be conveyed to the Marion Art Center.
Also during the meeting, Planning Director Gil Hilario reported “big, big, big happy news” of the receipt of a $94,000 Office of Coastal Zone Management Coastal Resilience grant.
The Town’s eight sewer pump stations are all currently vulnerable to coastal flooding, with two of the pump stations in the velocity zone.
The grant provides funding to compare the current and future flooding and storm surge data at the individual pump stations to help understand the impact of storm surges. This data will be used to develop solutions to protect each pump station.
Hilario reported that this was a very competitive grant with only 16 towns in the Commonwealth receiving funding.
The town is required to provide a 20 percent match, and will have one year to complete the study.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for August 20 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Police Station.
Marion Planning Board
By Sarah French Storer