2nd Annual Jeeps & Peeps for HOPE Cancer Fundraiser

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Relay for Life Team Courageous 8 is hosting our 2ndannual Jeeps & Peeps for Hope Jeep meet fundraiser on Saturday, August 4from 11 am – 3 pm at Ned’s Point Lighthouse in Mattapoisett. This is a fundraising event with all proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, while bringing Jeep people, family, and friends together within the community. If it says “JEEP” come on down!  Bring your family and friends and meet other Jeep enthusiasts. Hang-out for the afternoon, enjoy the beach, fly some kites, or just relax by scenic Mattapoisett/Buzzards Bay harbor. Enjoy some good food and try your luck on some great raffle prizes. $10 donation per Jeep and all Jeep breeds are welcome as well as spectators.

Team Courageous 8 was formed in 2014 by family and friends who have been taking action together each year to raise money to help eliminate cancer as a major health problem and help find a cure for this awful disease. The Relay For Life event and fundraisers in which our team participates is not only a way to join our community to fight back against cancer, but also a way to inspire HOPE by raising funds and awareness. It is a way to help everyone facing the disease. With our annual Jeeps and Peeps for Hope fundraisers, and with your help, we hope to do just that and someday put an end to cancer! We hope to see you on August 4, and be sure to follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with all of our event information at Jeeps & Peeps For Hope. For additional information, email mangotangojeep8@gmail.com. Thank you.

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 9 Cottage Street. Set out during the 1880s, Cottage Street runs eastward from Spring Street to Front Street. The building at 9 Cottage Street is an example of the Queen Anne style of architecture. The house was built in the 1890s for Dr. A.W. Rice, who had his office on the first floor, and lived with his family on the second and third floors. This charming house has all of its interior woodwork preserved. During the 1870s, the lot on which this home was built was part of a large parcel owned by Marion grocer A.J. Hadley. This home was later owned by Viggo Peterson, who sold Peterson’s Ice Cream from the rear of this house.

Judy S. Golten

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Judy S. Golten peacefully passed away on the evening of July 26, 2018 surrounded by loved ones.

Born in 1944 in Burbank, CA, Judy was the daughter of Earl and Rebecca (née Maderia) Scott and sister to Gary and Craig. She put herself through Seton Hall University and graduated with the class of 1968. She was an accomplished accountant with a long career, and after nearly twenty years with the company, recently retired from her role as the Controller of the New Bedford Yacht Club. She was an active industry professional, church community member, and beloved matriarch of her family. Her strength through overcoming three battles with cancer inspired those around her. She was a rock who grounded her family and will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her partner, Per Golten, and their four loving children Britt Zartman, Ian Golten, Sonja Golten, and Borg Golten; Britt’s husband Mike Zartman, Ian’s wife Avnit Golten, and Sonja’s partner Jennifer O’Connell; her grandchildren Abbey and Katie Zartman, and Tara and Sophie Golten; Craig’s wife Evelyn, nieces Laura, Dana, and Brenna Scott; and late brother Gary’s daughter Heather Scott.

Her Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday July 31, 2018 at 11 AM at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, a community that gave her happiness and support for many years. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

ZBA Takes up Open Meeting Law Complaint

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At the top of their agenda on July 19, the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals took up an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by Jean Perry on behalf of The Wandererduring an executive session.

The complaint stemmed from a June 28 public hearing regarding 324 Front Street during which Perry witnessed and called attention to a private and hushed conversation between ZBA Chairman Marc Leblanc and Town Counsel Barbara Huggins Carboni during appellant Peter Douglas’ presentation during open session.

Before calling the meeting to order on July 19, Carboni assembled with Leblanc, Kate Mahoney, and Tad Wollenhaupt, as well as ZBA Administrative Assistant Annita Donovan, and spoke quietly with Leblanc with her back to the audience. Douglas, who was present at the Town House for the meeting, called out loudly to Carboni, suggesting that there was a quorum present and therefore they were deliberating while the public could not hear them.

Carboni turned to the audience and stated that she was not deliberating and would respond to any questions momentarily. Wollenhaupt asserted that he wasn’t listening to the conversation, and Mahoney stated that she was reading on her iPad.

When Carboni sat at the table and addressed Douglas, he repeated his concern that, presumably with a quorum present, she should not be speaking quietly with the board, and told her to “Look it up!” Carboni was visibly taken aback by Douglas’ statement, and Douglass repeated, more politely, “You may look it up.”

The board spent approximately 10 minutes in executive session this evening, during which time the banter among the audience members centered on the board’s recent performance. Douglas was visibly frustrated with the drawn-out manner in which the board discusses the issues pertaining to his case back on July 12.

While still waiting for open session to reconvene, one resident in attendance asked aloud what it costs the Town to have the town counsel at the ZBA meetings, to which Douglas added, “How much will it cost [the Town] when I bring litigation [appealing the ZBA’s decision] … – totally unnecessary!”

The board returned to open session without comment on their executive session, at which time Carboni presented the board with a draft decision for Douglas’ appeal of the building commissioner’s denial of zoning enforcement at 324 Front Street, which in a 3-2 vote on July 12 upheld the building commissioner’s denial. After a short discussion and some edits, the board unanimously approved the written decision and authorized town counsel to finalize it and file it with the town clerk.

Leblanc then began the discussion for case #750 brought by Constance Dolan who is seeking a variance, by stating, “I don’t see hardship.”

Wollenhaupt, after looking up on his phone the three criteria for determining the merits of a variance, methodically reviewed the list with his fellow board members. The board did not feel Dolan met all the criteria and voted unanimously to deny the variance.

“Variances are extremely hard [to get],” said LeBlanc. “I don’t think we’ve granted one since I’ve been here.”

The board then deliberated case #751 brought by Teeracai Srisirikul of 362 Front Street, seeking a Special Permit to convert existing commercial use to residential use in an area zoned for mixed use. At a previous hearing, the board continued the issue seeking bylaw clarification from town counsel. This evening, Carboni stated, “I don’t know if you can convert the use … where [the by-laws] allow you to change the use from General Business to Residential.”

The issue was tabled to give town counsel time to look into it, and the board reviewed case #753 in the meantime.

This case, brought by Tim Harding for Evelyn Crocker at 47 Main Street, was for a Special Permit to add a one-story addition to a house. Wollenhaupt described the 6-foot by 10-foot 2-inch structure as “squaring up the house.” The board approved it.

The board also approved the permit request by the Kristina Tomlinson Revocable Trust at 12 Main Street for an existing accessory use.

The board returned to the Srisirikul case, with Carboni suggesting that there was a request to change zoning, saying, “I don’t see a bylaw to change from General Business to Residential.” She wanted to seek input from Building Commissioner Scott Shippey as the zoning enforcement officer.

A resident in attendance requested to speak, but the board told them the case was closed to public comment and directed them to speak with Shippey. There was clear frustration from residents in attendance regarding this decision, with one saying, “This is an area of mixed-use zoning. We are not changing zoning, just changing use!” The case was continued.

            The next meeting of the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for July 26 at 7:30 pm in the Marion Town House.

Marion Zoning Board of Appeals

By Sarah French Storer

 

Local Author Takes Readers on a Deep Dive

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Michelle Cusolito is much more then an author of children’s stories; she is a piped piper, a master of ceremony, an educator, and storyteller with an ability to transport her readers.

On July 23, Cusolito did all of that and more as she read aloud from her recently published book Flying Deep, the story of what it’s like aboard Alvin, the Navy’s deep diving research submersible.

Packed into the Lilliputian children’s department of Rochester’s Plumb Library, some dozen or so children along with another dozen adults were held in rapt attention as Cusolito read her story about Alvin in nearly virtual splendor. The story’s colors, sounds, and excitement so cleverly depicted and scored took the audience on that journey, a journey few have been privileged to experience.

Cusolito, a Rochester resident, has deep roots in children’s education, having been a classroom teacher, an educator at Lesley College, and a consultant to New Bedford Public Schools. Her grasp of the scientific world is vast. But as she tells it, unconsciously she always wanted to write for children.

Flying Deepengages the reader with illustrations by Nicole Wong and text that doesn’t shy away from using technical terminology. As she knows from her years teaching, “Children like to know the scientific names of things – they like to teach their parents.”

The text in Flying Deep, while expressly crafted to appeal to a younger reader, doesn’t avoid the use of complex terminology such as “luminosity”, “pressure readings”, “sonar soundings”, or “organisms”. Technical and scientific words and phases required no further explanation, for the sentence structure and the accompanying artwork provided the definition. And while younger children perhaps need a bit more help in fully comprehending the meaning of some words, Cusolito said she framed the story to be read aloud to younger children, granting them the opportunity to discuss words that might need further explanation.

The rich and precise illustrations show Alvin entering the ocean and then slowly, painstakingly descending 14,000 feet below the surface. They are truly breathtaking images. From launch to research conducted at the ocean-floor, from collecting marine samples via exterior manipulators to eating a sandwich while inside Alvin, Cusolito holds nothing back. And so when she discussed why drinking liquids during the nine-hour journey is limited, it was explained in terms that children understood, absent what might have been an embarrassing moment. After all, children at an early age understand the functioning of the human body very well and with candor.

Cusolito’s research not only included interviewing the current pilot of Alvin, but also experiencing a descent firsthand. She said that the interior of the submersible is only seven feet in diameter, just big enough to hold three people. She explained that music was an important part of the overall process that gave the scientists emotional equilibrium.

Flying Deepnot only tells the story of how Alvin is deployed into the ocean and returned to its transport ship, it tells the story of the magnificence of our planet’s interior space.  Throughout her reading, Cusolito displayed and passed around models of sea worms and giant clams that furthered the children’s appreciation of the richness of marine life. She also described and displayed the very materials Alvin is constructed of and the methodology employed in its construction. The audience was fascinated by it all.

“We know more about the surface of the moon than the surface of the ocean,” Cusolito said. But after her presentation, no doubt she has inspired at least one or two youngsters to pursue a future in oceanography.

To learn more about Cusolito and Flying Deep, visit michellecusolito.com.

By Marilou Newell

 

Morris Wolff to Speak at Mattapoisett Library

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Attorney Morris Wolff, author of Whatever Happened to Raoul Wallenberg, will speak at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Tuesday, August 7, at 6:30 pm.

Attorney Wolff’s book, subtitled “The True Story of Holocaust Hero Raoul Wallenberg and the author’s efforts to rescue him from Soviet Union imprisonment” was published in 2012. It is the story of his 27 years of pro bono legal work begun in 1983 to free Mr. Wallenberg imprisoned for 39 years in Moscow.

Morris Wolff is a distinguished trial lawyer and public prosecutor. In addition to his law practice, he taught at Kings College in London and at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he practiced law for 35 years. He is a graduate of Yale Law School.

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the lecture. The library is located at 7 Barstow Street in Mattapoisett.

What If…? BOH Discusses Disaster Prep

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Did you know that if you signed up as a volunteer to assist the Town of Marion during a catastrophic disaster such as bioterrorism, a deadly viral outbreak, or perhaps, let’s say, even a zombie apocalypse, in return for your commitment your family would be medically treated before the general population?

According to Marion’s Public Health Nurse Kathleen Downey, that is in fact the deal. Volunteers’ family members would receive priority medical treatment so that volunteers could focus their attention on the task before them. Yet still, Marion falls short when it comes to volunteers who have signed up for its Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) team and needs more.

Meeting discussions took a turn towards the terrifying during the Marion Board of Health meeting on July 24 as Downey brought up multiple scenarios of catastrophes that could occur, for which no one ever knows whether they are truly prepared.

After a brief talk about a regionalization of Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester into one Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS) where the state would deliver vaccines and antidotes to the one location at ORR instead of to each town, Downey’s voice took a rather somber tone.

“In terms of the EDS, I spoke to people in Rochester and I spoke to people in Mattapoisett,” said Downey. “There’s a recognition that decisions have to be made as a tri-town if we’re going to do it as a tri-town, but each town also needs to be prepare to do the EDS by themselves.”

The goal since 2014, Downey said, has been to establish a Tri-Town EDS, “But obviously there’re some steps in terms of who’s going to be in charge that didn’t get addressed – who was supporting whom – there were some question marks there.”

Marion’s EDS center and emergency shelter is still Sippican School, and Marion’s public health officials continue to develop its EDS and MRC plan and provide training for the multitude of nightmarish scenarios that could befall the town and the region; but steps need to be taken should the EDS become regionalized, and if an eventual regionalized emergency shelter were to be established at ORR, a protocol for how the three towns would organize themselves.

There are some concerns in Rochester about that town’s residents’ travel time to ORR, but on the flip side of that, Downey said, “We don’t have enough people for each town to run their own, so there’s some strength in numbers … with that kind of a crisis – 24 hours a day.”

But until that day, it’s each town for itself. And in Marion, according to Downey, “We don’t have enough volunteers by a long shot.”

Downey wasn’t talking about your average snowstorm emergency shelter, either. “We’re talking about a dire situation,” said Downey, “not normal circumstances.” People would need vaccines, antidotes, triage and treatment, and quite possibly, care that MRC workers wouldn’t be able to provide.

And a system such as this requires lots of volunteers, and not just volunteers trained in medicine. In addition to doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, the MRC needs anyone willing to manage different stations and control the flow of people. They would need security, people to check-in victims, keep paperwork, provide mental health services, Downey said, “All sorts of things.” Especially, she said, assistance with communications.

“How can we get the message out, given that we have so many different generations that are receiving their information in very different ways?” Downey wondered aloud. “With twenty different ways? What is the uniform way? Forty years ago it was the fire-beep system, the horns… Maybe they need to be that basic.”

There are some things that one can’t possibly anticipate in such an emergency, stressed Downey, but having a plan and enough volunteers to assist is vital.

“We all recognize that this would be a particular scenario that would be different than another emergency,” said Downey. “I can’t stress enough that, no matter what plan we’ve got, no matter how crazy it is, that’s the plan we’re going with.”

For example, Downey said, “What happens if we have an influx of bodies? How do we handle that?”

“It sounds like [we] need to be working at least locally, making sure we have a plan in place and trying to get support with volunteers,” said Board of Health Chairman Jason Reynolds.

“It feels like we’ve got so far to go and we’re just taking baby steps,” said Downey.

And as Board of Health member John Howard put it, “With a small town with limited resources, it’s really a battle.”

Having a bigger pool of volunteers would help, though, so if you would like to save your family first in the event of a catastrophe, consider being a volunteer for the MRC. Contact the Marion Board of Health Administrative Assistant Maureen Murphy by calling 508-748-3530.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for August 14 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Board of Health

By Jean Perry

 

MOSAC Makes Great Swamp Greater

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Almost half the land in Marion is protected land, and in and around that protected land are miles of trails that traverse some of the prettiest and most peaceful corners of the town.

The Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission sent two of its own over to the Great Swamp loop trail, also known as Mecke Woods, to clean up leftover storm debris and trim back the overgrowth from the roughly 1.2-mile loop and spur trail that meanders about the 75.57 acres of MOSAC-owned and managed land.

Usually only the sounds of squirrels scurrying beneath blueberry bushes and birds singing are heard echoing throughout the canopy of trees, but on the morning of Saturday, July 21, the noise of landscaping machinery interrupted the tranquility for a short spell as MOSAC Chairman John Rockwell and MOSAC member Alan Harris donated their sweat (and a few drops of blood to the mosquitos) and a few hours of their time to widen the way of the public land situated off Joanne Drive.

Acquired by the Town in the 1990s, MOSAC acquired some Community Preservation Act and state funds to spruce it up for folks, Rockwell said, “And we did some work to open it up and make it more accessible.”

The paths were overgrown, and a few trees had fallen across the way from the storms earlier this year, Harris explained, while giving his lawnmower a short break. “We want to make sure people can walk without collecting too many ticks,” said Harris.

Most of the trail is wide, open, and unobstructed by roots and rocks, making it perfect for runners, pets, families with children, and generally clumsy people to enjoy.

Those who turned out to help were treated to refreshments, including homemade gazpacho and Harris’ homemade sugarcoated donuts, which were worth every single calorie.

Parking for the trail is alongside Joanne Drive, located off Point Road. A trail map can be found by visiting www.marionma.gov/open-space-acquisition-commission and then by clicking on “Trail/Road Maps” on the menu to the left.

 

By Jean Perry

Rochester Council on Aging

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For the complete newsletter please visit us at 67 Dexter lane Rochester Ma, or visit us on our website at www.rochestermaseniorcenter.com. Also please don’t forget to follow us on Facebook by liking our page “Rochester Council on Aging” for weekly updates!

Friday’s Movie for August 3: “Where is Kira? – 2018; Rated R; Drama; Starring Michelle Pfeiffer & Keifer Sutherland.

For August we have a lot of upcoming trips so please sign up in advance for any of the trips to secure a spot on the van! A $5 donation is asked to ensure your spot on the van.

On Friday, August 3there will be a day trip to the Block Island Ferry, Point Judith, RI. Ferry cost is $22.75. Lunch will be on the island. The bus will leave at 8:00 am for 10:30 ferry. The bus will return around 5:30 pm

On Sunday, August 5there will be a day trip to the Charlestown, RI Seafood Festival with car show. The cost is $7. The bus will leave at 8:30 am and will return around 4:30 pm.

On Thursday, August 9the day trip is to Lights & Sights Cruises (14 Lighthouses and other sites) in New London, CT. The cost is $30. The cruise start at 12:30 pm and is a 2-hour cruise. The bus will leave at 8:30 am and will return around 5 pm.

We will be holding our annual Senior Picnic here at the senior center on Monday, August 1311:30 am to 2 pm. Lunch will be a buffet of BBQ items, salads, beans, and corn on the cob! Anyone is welcome, but you must sign up in advance so we can prepare enough for everyone.

Come try your luck on a Wednesday afternoons 12:30 pm – 3:00pm, or on Mondays 6 pm – 8:30 pm at the senior center with BINGO! Cards are 50 cents each; 25 cents per game. Prizes will be given out!

There is ZUMBA available on Wednesdays at 7 pm to 8 pm. Cost is $5 per person, payable directly to the instructor.

Calling all Scrabble players! Scrabble enthusiasts are playing every Tuesday morning at 9 am the senior center. Everyone is welcome to join!

SLT Summer Yoga Series at Brainard Marsh

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Sippican Lands Trust’s Summer Yoga returns to Brainard Marsh on Saturday, July 28starting at 10 am for three consecutive Saturdays. The event is free for members of the Sippican Lands Trust (SLT) and $10 for non-members. Please visit www.sippicanlandstrust.org to become an SLT member.

Marcia Hathaway will instruct the first yoga session at Brainard Marsh on Saturday, July 28and the last yoga session on Saturday, August 11. Marcia is a Level-1 Certified Reiki Practitioner, a certified Zumba instructor, and certified in Chi Running and Chi Walking. Marcia has been educating for over 36 years in everything from children’s fitness to Pilates to aqua aerobics.

Deb Fraine will lead the yoga session at Brainard Marsh on Saturday, August 4. Deb has been practicing yoga for 20 years and is a registered member of Yoga Alliance having completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Donna Pagliarani.

Brainard Marsh is a 7-acre parcel of land located along Buzzards Bay in Marion and was donated to SLT by the Brainard Family. Brainard Marsh features a lovely meadow, pond, and small beachfront. Parking for Brainard Marsh is located near the corner of Bass Point Road and Delano Road (look for the Sippican Lands Trust’s Brainard Marsh sign). Parking is limited and please be careful while parking vehicle – better yet, ride your bike to Brainard Marsh and leave your car at home.

Bring your yoga mat, water, bug spray, sunscreen, and a friend, and enjoy some yoga on the beach this summer. If the event is canceled, 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.