Tabor Gateways Program

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The Tabor Gateways Program is underway at Tabor Academy through August 17. Tabor has welcomed 35 students from China and other countries for two three-week sessions of Tabor Gateways. The students, entering 8th to 11th grade, arrived on July 15. The program, in its third year, is a unique language immersion program for Chinese and English language learners who wish to learn each other’s languages. All of the students this year are from China or have a Chinese background and live in English speaking countries such as Canada and Australia.

Students are offered four academic seminars in history, Model UN, marine science, and chemistry and cooking taught in English during the day where they can interact and share ideas. During the afternoon, they enjoy swimming at the waterfront and playing field games and team sports such as basketball, badminton, and baseball. Squash is also popular. In the evenings, the students go back to class for one hour of language instruction to learn communication skills in English or Chinese. The Chinese speakers record interviews with native English speakers to improve their skills, while the native English-speaking students are instructed in Chinese by Tabor faculty and have time to practice their skill with their Chinese classmates.

Five days of each session are devoted to excursions around our local area to enjoy shopping, tourism, and to support the academic program they are engaged in. They will enjoy a whale watch in Plymouth, take the Cliff Walk in Newport, and visit top U.S. universities in our area: MIT, Brown, and Harvard, all highly regarded in China.

The teaching staff includes four Tabor faculty for the seminar classes, three Tabor faculty as program leaders, and four Tabor alumni as teaching assistants and residential leaders. The goal is to promote cross cultural friendships and exchanges in a shared learning and living environment, with a focus on honing academic skills and achievement.

Board Approves House on ‘Unaccepted’ Way

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In a relatively quick wrap-up to Nicholas Araujo’s request for a Variance to build a single-family home on Old Schoolhouse Road, the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals voted on July 26 to allow the construction, but with a couple conditions.

As discussed during the ZBA’s July 12 meeting, Araujo will not be allowed to further subdivide the 15-acre lot into additional lots or add any additional houses.

The matter had been discussed over the span of three ZBA meetings as the board was careful not to set Araujo up for any future negative consequences as a result of building the house on the somewhat dubiously-classified road – Old Schoolhouse Road – deemed a road not accepted by the Town.

Araujo’s engineer, Rick Charon, had to prove to the board that Old Schoolhouse Road is in fact a legitimate road, which he did when he provided several past cases where the Planning Board made mention to Old Schoolhouse Road as “an ancient way” and also allowed other residents to build on the road. Charon also had to demonstrate that Araujo could legally access his property via an easement.

The only thing stopping the board from approving the Variance back on July 12 was board members’ desire to see a certified plan displaying the frontage of the lot and a quick review by town counsel.

Old Schoolhouse Road neighbors weren’t supportive of Araujo’s plan, which they believe would exacerbate an already rough unpaved road surface, but that was outside the scope of the ZBA.

The next meeting of the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for August 9 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals

By Jean Perry

 

Franklin Ernest Robbins “Red”

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Franklin Ernest Robbins “Red”, 66 of New Bedford passed away Sunday, July 29, 2018 at St. Luke’s Hospital. Born in New Bedford, he was the son of the late Franklin E. Robbins, Sr. and Marjorie (Leddy) Robbins.

He graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School and worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Lakeville Hospital until his retirement. He loved sports especially the Red Sox and Patriots.

Survivors include his sister Barbara Medeiros and her husband Thomas of Rochester, a nephew Thomas Medeiros, Jr of Rochester, a niece Barbara Lee Medeiros of Wareham, two great nieces and a great nephew.

Private funeral services are in the care of the Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford. For tributes: www.rock-funeralhome.com

ZBA Changes its Meeting Process

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During a recent meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals, the members discussed and ultimately voted to change the hearing process in an effort to move meetings along more expediently, giving those cases that needed it extra time while still adhering to the required time period.

For years, cases coming before the ZBA were given specific public hearing dates and times on the agenda. Hearings were scheduled every 15 minutes as a standard, oftentimes requiring that the disposition of a case be decided after hearing all the cases on the agenda. That process meant that cases heard early in the meeting might find applicants and interested others waiting long into the evening before learning the fate of their application. It also meant that public hearings exceeding 15 minutes, sometimes over an hour, inconvenienced other cases waiting to be heard.

On July 19 as the board members gave an applicant time to appear, Mattapoisett Building Department Administrative Assistant Robin Shufelt explained: “The new format will work better for all concerned – we tell everyone to arrive at 6:00 pm.” She said cases are scheduled on a first come first served basis and that she’ll try to schedule cases expected to require extra time placed farther down on the agenda.

Regarding applicants who are no-shows, Shufelt said, as a courtesy to the applicant missing their scheduled appearance before the ZBA, “…We [could] allow them to come to the next scheduled meeting, but we don’t have to.”

She suggested that applicants failing to appear may lose their right to have their public hearing, and a new filing required after two years.

On this night, missing his scheduled hearing was Bill Bachant, Stingray City Realty Corp, for a Special Permit to develop and construct three multi-family units on Marion Road. The board elected to allow the applicant to attend the next scheduled meeting before rescinding the application.

Also coming before the board was Carlton Veeder for property located at 39 River Road. The applicant received a Special Permit to construct a family-related apartment behind a new attached garage. Many members of the Veeder family and abutters were present to support the applicant. Veeder said this plan would allow his parents to age in place with other family members residing in the main house.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for August 16 at 6:00 pm in the town hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals

By Marilou Newell

Mattapoisett Congregational Church Yard Sale

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The Mattapoisett Congregational Church Yard Sale is scheduled for August 4from 8:30 am to noon. There will be something for everyone – furniture, household items, Christmas decorations, toys, tools, sporting equipment, and tons more! You won’t want to miss it! There will also be a Good Will Offering table at 11:30 am. The sale will be held rain or shine with many items inside Reynard Hall. Hope to see you there.

Edwin Warner Allard

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Edwin Warner Allard, 86, of Mattapoisett died July 27, 2018 peacefully at Brookdale Dartmouth Village.

He was the husband of the late Patricia L. (Govoni) Allard.

Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Edwin B. and Artimesa (Mauzerall) Allard, he was raised in Fairhaven and lived in Mattapoisett most of his life.

Mr. Allard was formerly employed by the Standard-Times for many years until his retirement.

He enjoyed to travel.

Mr. Allard served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11:30 am in St. Joseph’s Church in Fairhaven. Burial will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. His family will receive guests on Tuesday morning from 10 – 11 am at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. Visiting hours are omitted. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Paul J. Connolly

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Paul J. Connolly, 79, of Mattapoisett died July 26, 2018 at Tobey Hospital after a long illness.

He was the husband of the late Carol A. (Burke) Connolly.

Born and raised in Waltham, the son of the late Joseph J. and Marie E. (Belliveau) Connolly, he lived in Mattapoisett for over 35 years. He wintered in Venice, FL.

Mr. Connolly was formerly employed as a chemical engineer at Poloraid for many years until retirement.

He was an artist. He enjoyed oil painting and golf.

Mr. Connolly played football for Boston College.

He served in the U.S. Army.

Survivors include his son, Sean Connolly of Wareham; and a daughter, Robin Connolly and her husband Kevin Kearns of Natick, MA; and several nieces and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Walter Connolly, Joseph Connolly, Jr. and Marie Connolly and the grandson of the late Adam Chase Connolly.

Private arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

A Harder Harbor Days

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It’s the paradox of Harbor Days: the same exact thing every year, which is just the way we like it.

I know where that aluminum can airplane artist will be, at the far end on the harbor side of Shipyard Park, and right opposite that will be the stuffed animal marionettes. In the corner by the ice cream stand will be the plant sale, and up front by Water Street will be the clinking wind chimes made of glass bottles opposite the nautical rope doormats.

Everything this year would be in its place as usual as I walk by, browsing at wares I never ever buy but admire and frame in my camera lens as I look for a brand new angle on the annual event I’ve now covered five times for The Wanderer.

The scent of the sea, the sunglasses reflecting a mountain range of tent tops all around, the Showstoppers in front of the gazebo performing a pop tune that usually annoys me on the radio but somehow delights me when a child sings it; this is the sensory swirl inside the brief moments when Harbor Days is among us. Everything will be there as it should be, except for one thing: Veronika. This year, she would not be there.

For some years now, she was there at Harbor Days selling her handmade silk scarves, the expression of creativity she loved to do, that she used to do in the studio space I let her have in my basement for a few years. Nothing could keep her from spending hours down there, mixing paints, marbling colors, and experimenting with new techniques to make her Suminagashi scarves more unique than anyone else’s, and nothing could keep her from setting up that booth at Harbor Days to put them on display, even if just to show the world what she was capable of creating. Not even cancer would stop her from Harbor Days. Back then it didn’t, anyway.

Cancer never kept her from coming over to my house either, whether as a babysitter, keeper of cleanliness, downstairs to make scarves, or to drop off some rolls of paper towels because she went to the megastore and knew I needed some and wouldn’t have time to go buy any on deadline day for the newspaper.

Cancer didn’t keep her from coming over just to sit in my company and laugh the laugh that was exclusively her laugh, laughing along with me like that time we did four years ago, only instead of laughing I started crying – something, for whatever unhealthy reason, I would rarely do in front of another person.

But that particular way she looked at me that day as I said what I said, what I dread – my lip turned tense and my jaw clamped shut while I panicked and paused to determine if I could continue on to the next word without cracking or if I needed to shut up to keep from blubbering my face off – just looking at her face I knew there was no point in holding it in. A heavy dark cloud of emotion was about to burst, a downpour, and it was all hands on deck. I was taking on water just as she opened up her arms and took me in as if I was a tossed-about boat and she was a safe harbor.

During that moment I couldn’t remember the last time someone had held out their arms to hold me in to cry. But knowing she wouldn’t judge me, knowing that the storm would settle inside there, I let go and she held that space for me.

After that day we would hold our own ‘harbor days’ every now and then, each of us, friends – even closer, like family – there for each other to sail into when seas got rough and the sky drenched our world with rain. Like that time her employer let her go when that second battle with cancer came ‘round and she wasn’t able to perform certain functions of the job; let go right there, without notice, as if the world had no further use for her. She looked to me with an expression of pending tears and I steered her back in with one of those hugs. She would always say she needed a “Jean hug,” and the best thing about giving her a Jean hug was that I would get a Veronika hug.

I was there with her when she got the news that her battle with cancer would be ending soon and there was no ammunition left for the fight. And as she faded, I wanted to sail alongside her through the fog and stay with her as she drifted on home.

Last year was her last Harbor Days at Shipyard Park. She was so tired, so beat, so cancer-sick that she could barely lift a silk scarf and hold it steady in the breeze. She sat behind her display, a small bucket next to her in case she felt nauseated, boldly bald with a scarf around her neck, not on her head.

I remember my last ‘harbor day’ with her two days before she died. We knew it was goodbye, that she was moving aside to let us sail her vessel for her as she waited for her passage home. I asked her if she would mind if I cried one last time in her arms, and she said yes, barely able to make that sacred space with her arms, exhausted at her helm. But still, she took hold of my helm for a moment and sailed me into her and let me float there a while as I, aware it was our last harbor day, wailed and reckoned with the certain emptiness of that horizon without her.

After, we agreed on her symbol, the one she would use to send me signs that she was still ‘there,’ settling on the dragonfly.

This year there was another vendor in the spot where her scarves used to move in the wind and send swirls of silky color about her like spray from waves inside a dream. This year it was a couple doing henna tattoos, and as I watched I saw on the table the henna tattoo design book open to a page with the picture of a dragonfly, and I knew that it was Veronika telling me that she was there. Veronika was still there.

Happy Harbor Days, Veronika Ross. 6/6/1965 – 9/16/2017

This Imperfect Life

By Jean Perry

Silvershell Encampment

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The 2018 Silvershell Encampment in Marion will take place on August 11 and 12, brought to you by the Marion Cultural Council, Fairhaven Village Militia, and the Marion Recreation Department. Demonstrations happen at the Dancing Cat Tavern, and military drills take place in the Parade Grounds Area throughout the day. During the encampment we encourage everyone to talk to the reenactors. They love to share their craft and their knowledge with others.

Saturday, August 11:

10 am – Opening Ceremony – Site opens to public; 11 pm – Butter churning demo (Fairhaven Village Militia); 12 pm – Nooning; 1 pm – Rip shirt demo (13thContinental Regiment); 2 pm – Candle making (Wareham Minutemen & Militia); 5 pm – Site closes to the public.

Sunday, August 12: 10 am – Site opens to public; 11 am – Learn colonial games (Yarmouth Minutemen & Militia); 12 pm – Nooning; 1 pm – Race to Win – Take what you learned at the colonial games demo and compete to win a t-shirt; 3 pm – Encampment ends.

Academic Achievements

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MCPHS Universityis pleased to announce that Elexus Afonso of Rochester has been named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2018 semester. Afonso is pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy. Elexus will graduate in 2022 from the Boston, Massachusetts campus. The Dean’s List recognizes those students with a full-time course load who have achieved outstanding scholarship with a 3.5 GPA or higher for the academic term.

TheWilliston Northampton Schoolannounces that Jacob Durocher of Rochester, a Grade 12 student, achieved Honors on the Honor Roll for the third trimester of the 2017-18 academic year. Students earning High Honors are required to earn a GPA of 92. Students earning Honors are required to earn a GPA of 87.