Rochester Voters Meet Candidates

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Rochester voters have a few choices in front of them for this year’s April 11 Annual Election.

There are two contested races – Board of Selectmen and Planning Board – and on March 27, the people had a chance to hear from the candidates themselves during a candidates’ forum at the Council on Aging.

Current Zoning Board of Appeals Vice Chairman and Finance Committee member David Arancio was first at the podium to speak about his candidacy for Board of Selectmen.

Arancio moved to Rochester eight years ago, with a background in field safety and risk management and management of a small construction subcontracting company.

His intention as selectman is not what he can do as selectman; rather, he wants to be part of the municipal fabric, he said, which includes two other voting members of the board – a board that some have observed hasn’t always worked well together, he said, “And I want to be part of that change.”

“We (three selectmen) need to take the input from the town, we need to digest that, and we need to work together on that,” Arancio said.

Arancio said most of the highlights of his time on the ZBA and FinCom are posted to his Facebook election campaign page where many have posed questions to him about housing, solar, water resource protection, emergency services, and how to balance residential growth with a sluggish commercial growth.

“And it’s really important for me that we really go out there and we explore things … [and] what’s going to make this town more stable in certain areas,” Arancio said.

Paul Ciaburri, director of Emergency Management since 1988, didn’t have a whole lot to say in his introduction, saying he moved to Rochester in 1979 and joined the fire department in 1980. This is his first time running for public office, due to his prior role as a Merchant Marine, which took up much of his time, often for weeks at a time. Now that he is retired, Ciaburri said, “I thought maybe I could do a little extra.”

He grew up in New Bedford, he said, “But I love this town and I’d like to see it stay the way it is, kind of…”

Emcee Greenwood Hartley, selectman and member of the Council on Aging Board of Directors, opened up the forum to the voters for questions.

One resident asked about ways to make moving into Rochester affordable for people other than just seniors, but as Arancio pointed out first, there is no simple answer. There is a bylaw review committee that reports to the Planning Board, Arancio said, “And if there’s something the [Planning Board] wants to take up, they ask them to review those bylaws.”

“Anything we can do as a group, and we get the input of everybody first, is the right process,” said Arancio. What that would look like in the end, he said, “That’s an unknown.” It is up to the Planning Board on whether to support bylaw changes that would accommodate more affordable housing for families and younger people.

Ciaburri agreed with Arancio, saying, “Unfortunately, we can’t just wave a wand and say, ‘Yeah, we’re gonna do this,’ …but the more input and the more information we can get on it, the better the decision can be made.”

One resident asked about the candidates’ opinions on regionalization of services, to which Ciaburri commented, “I’ve never been a fan of regionalization.”

“It’s worked in some things, but in other things … it’s been a gray area. It’s hard when you get different towns together to make a cohesive decision that’s good for all of them,” said Ciaburri. “I think the town loses some of its autonomy when you regionalize because somebody else is making the decisions and you’re stuck with it.…”

For Arancio, with nothing specific before the town under consideration for regionalization, although he mentioned casual talk about regionalization of Tri-Town elementary schools, “Which I am not in favor of,” he said he believes in the need to listen to everything when it comes to … everything.

“But if it’s a decision that’s going to affect this town’s character, affect the townspeople,” he said, then a selectman should listen.

There are four candidates for two seats on the Planning Board, with three candidates able to attend the event. Incumbent John DeMaggio was unable to attend.

Newcomer David Shaw, first to the podium, has lived in Rochester for ten years, he said. A municipal worker of 14 years in Marion and a firefighter for 10, Shaw said it felt like the right time to sit on a board.

Not having much else to add, Shaw said, “I figured I’d try … do a little work … and try to help out, so I figured I’d run for Planning Board.”

Incumbent Bendrix “Ben” Bailey, a Rochester resident since 1985, has served seven years now on the Planning Board.

He highlighted his contributions to the board, such as his help in devising a bylaw to include a decommissioning bond for solar farms and his idea for the bylaw that banned large-scale solar farms from the Limited Industrial District, like the one the developer withdrew from New Bedford Road in the center of town.

Also, he said, he led an investigation into unfinished construction at Connet Woods that he was able to bring to the attention of the board just as Connet Woods requested the release of its final lots.

Bill Milka introduced himself next. A contractor for 34 years specializing in cranberry bog construction and construction site utility work, Milka moved to Rochester in 1996.

“If I was to be elected on the Planning Board, I could be an asset of thirty-four years’ experience of building plans and managing projects,” said Milka. “I’d like to help the people of Rochester by making decisions to help the town stay a farming community, and welcome more farmers into the town. I’m into open space and would like to keep development to a minimum, and I would like to join in the decision making to keep the cost of living down for the people living here.”

He said he wanted to help the board streamline its decision process and then said, “Now I’m gonna go home and have a couple beers,” eliciting laughter.

When it comes to solar, Shaw said he really didn’t have much to say about it, although he did say, “It’s really hard when you got a lot of residential zone and you try to put a solar farm in the middle of it.” He said an area that would affect the least number of residents is best.

For Milka, “I don’t think you’re going to be able to designate certain areas for solar.” The board must “make sure the applicants design these things so that it’s shielded and it doesn’t affect anyone around it.”

“I think they’re the ugliest things coming down the road, but as long as they’re shielded and you don’t know they’re there…” Milka said. “I think it’s better than filling the town with subdivisions.”

Bailey testified to the fact that towns are not allowed to ban solar farms and enjoy a protected status in Massachusetts.

“The state attorney general would disallow that,” said Bailey. “We don’t have a place to put these that’s designated. It bothers me very much because solar is an industrial activity – it’s completely unfair.”

“We don’t have a place that we can designate strictly for solar farms,” added Bailey.

The four candidates are vying for two seats up for grabs on the Planning Board.

The Rochester Annual Election is April 11. Polls open at 8:00 am and close at 8:00 pm at the Rochester Senior Center on Dexter Lane.

By Jean Perry

 

Charles “Charlie” Prefontaine

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Charles “Charlie” Prefontaine of Mattapoisett died on Sunday March 25, 2018 at home. He was born in New Bedford and was the son of the late Louis “Fred” and Natalie (Park) Prefontaine. He resided in Mattapoisett for forty years.

Charlie became a registered pharmacist in 1974 after completing five years at the University of Rhode Island and an internship at Guy’s Pharmacy in Fairhaven. Shortly after graduation, he took a position working for Fairhaven Pharmacies at their newly acquired Mattapoisett location, Seaport Pharmacy. He was a staff pharmacist for one year and then was made manager of the store. After eight years he purchased Seaport Pharmacy with the “Wind Tunnel” soda fountain. He sold the business to Shaw’s Supermarkets in 1996 and became a pharmacist for them at their Fairhaven store. He worked there for five years and then transferred to Hyannis where he worked for nine years.

As a child he spent many enjoyable and exciting summers at Camp Cachalot. He enjoyed swimming in the pond and had a fast time for the mile swim. He started as a camper and later, after the forest fire of 1964, as a helper to his dad, who was a ranger, cleaning up. In addition to doing general repairs, they built a new trading post. He became the trading post manager for two summers when the camp reopened.

He was an avid surfer only missing one year since 1967. He was a member of the U.R.I. surf team.

When he was in his late 20’s he took up running and ran with the Greater New Bedford Track Club for several years. He completed several half marathons and two marathons. When he owned Seaport Pharmacy, he became involved with the Mattapoisett Fourth of July Road Race a five mile race. He was a participant, sponsor and a committee member.

After a stint with motorcycles (six years at Laconia), he decided sailing would be a lot safer and bought a boat. He earned his Master 100 Ton License from the U.S. Coast Guard and ran Helios Yacht Charters for many years. Being an avid racer, he and his loyal crew participated in many area races, most notably the Mattapoisett Yacht Club Wednesday night series for twenty five years, and winning the Whalen Trophy for being the top boat in Class A six times. Starting in 1988 Helios and crew started a streak of thirty years participating in the annual Figawi race weekend. The race is held on Memorial Day weekend racing from Hyannis to Nantucket. Helios and crew placed first in class fourteen times, placed in class every year but one and was first overall in the cruising fleet (135 boats) twice. In 2017 he won his class and received the Howard K. Penn Spirit of Figawi award.

Charlie and his wife Nancy enjoyed cruising around New England relaxing and having adventures on Helios. Their favorite spots were Hadley’s Harbor and Cuttyhunk.

He is survived by his wife and first mate Nancy (Victorino) Prefontaine, a brother Dennis and his wife Kathy of Holliston, his former wife Linda of New Hampshire and their four children Douglas of Gilford, New Hampshire, Timothy and his wife Almy of Fort Worth, Texas, Christopher of Mattapoisett and Nicole O’Leary and her husband Pat of Mattapoisett, ten grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

His visitation will be held on Sunday April 8, 2018 from 2-6 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute and/or Figawi Charities. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Rex Tracy McGraw, Jr.

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Rex Tracy McGraw, Jr., 87, of Wareham passed away on March 23, 2018, at Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

Born in Hornell, NY in 1930, he was the son of the late Rex T. and Marie A. (Berg) McGraw.

Rex was raised in Arkport, NY and graduated from Arkport Central High School. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War.

Following his service in the Army, Rex attended Bowling Green State University, in Bowling Green, Ohio. He received his Bachelor and Masters Degrees at Bowling Green State University. He earned his Doctorate in Theatre Arts at the University of Indiana. He taught at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. While there he established an “MFA in Directing Degree.” He later taught at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he was Head of Acting and Directing in the graduate school. He held this position until his retirement.

Upon retirement, Rex moved to Wareham, MA, to be near his family. He was a member of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Zeiterion Theater, and the Marion Art Center. At the Marion Art Center he enjoyed directing plays, especially the works of Chekhov.

Rex is survived by his brother, Jack (Jaquie) McGraw of Mattapoisett, MA; his nephews, J. William (Jean) McGraw of Fort Mill, SC, their children, Stephanie (Arnas) Bendoriatas, and Christopher McGraw, Mark (Paula) McGraw of Mattapoisett, and their children, Michael, Patrick, Kate and Andrew, Matthew (Sharon) McGraw of Fairhaven, and their children, Luke and Roy; his niece, Marie-Elizabeth McGraw Lemire and her children, Jack and Claire.

Rex’s visiting hours will be held on Saturday, April 7th from 3-4:30 pm followed by a Celebration of his Life from 4:30-5 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Beryl M. (DeCosta) Sullivan

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Beryl M. (DeCosta) Sullivan, 89, of Mattapoisett died March 26, 2018 at Tobey Hospital.

She was the wife of the late Joseph J. Sullivan.

Born in Mattapoisett, daughter of the late Anthony and Grace (Napier) DeCosta, she lived in Mattapoisett all of her life.

She was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett where she was a former president of the Women’s Guild and sang in the choir.

Mrs. Sullivan was a loving mother and grandmother who cherished her time with her family.

She enjoyed reading and was involved in Scouting.

Survivors include her 3 sons, Timothy J. Sullivan and his wife Kelle, of Fort Meade, FL, Daniel A. Sullivan and his wife Maryann of Rochester, and Joseph J. Sullivan, Jr., of New Bedford; a daughter, Mary Ellen Stanley of Peterboro, NH; 2 sisters, Barbara Smith of Louisville, KY and Virginia Burrell of Leland, NC; a sister-in-law, Geraldine DeCosta of Mattapoisett; 12 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was the sister of the late John N. “Jackie” DeCosta, Joseph DeCosta, Anthony DeCosta, II and Jean Ellis.

Her Funeral will be held on Tuesday, April 3rd at 9 am from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett, followed by her Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church at 10 am. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Monday, April 2nd from 4-7 pm. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Marion Art Center Brings ArtWeek to Town

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Sit in on an authentic New-Orleans-style jam session, learn how to take better photos with your smartphone, create your own hand-dyed silk scarf, polish your acting skills, go on a musical journey with a trio of creative musicians, or see an original play about Marion’s Golden Age: that’s ArtWeek at the Marion Art Center (MAC), April 27 through May 6. ArtWeek is an award-winning, innovative 10-day festival featuring unique and creative experiences that are hands-on, interactive, or offer behind-the-scenes access to arts, culture, and the creative process. Now an annual statewide celebration of the arts, ArtWeek was born in Boston in 2013 and recently expanded its footprint across the Commonwealth.

The MAC community is thrilled to bring ArtWeek to Marion, sponsoring 18 fun and exciting events focused on music, theater, visual arts and crafts, and arts experiences for children and families. Many of the performers, artists, and workshop instructors are from Marion, and nearly all are from the SouthCoast, showcasing the creative richness of our region. “Marion is on FIRE. So exciting and creative – a true ArtWeek inspiration on all fronts from programming, community engagement, and marketing,” says Sue Dahling Sullivan, Chief Strategic Officer for ArtWeek at the Boch Center, ArtWeek’s producer.

The spark for the ArtWeek fire in Marion is Anthi Frangiadis, Marion architect, artist, and shop owner, who had hosted ArtWeek events in the past and put together a group in Marion to talk about expanding ArtWeek in the Tri-Town area. MAC board member Jennifer Wolfe Webb attended that meeting and saw ArtWeek as a great opportunity for the MAC to shine. Webb’s MAC committee, with the help of generous donors, has created a rich program of events as “a gift to Marion,” in Webb’s words. In keeping with the ArtWeek mission, all the events are offered at low cost to the public, and half are free.

MAC Meet the Found Objects Artists

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The Marion Art Center has announced that it will host a Meet the Artists night for its Found Objects Show on Friday, March 30 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Shelly Richins, Marion Art Center’s President of the Board, commented, “Since the original opening for this exhibit was on the night of the first nor’easter, and we lost power within thirty minutes, we still wanted to make sure that our artists had the opportunity to meet the members and guests who so looked forward to that reception.” She added, “Five out of the seven exhibiting artists are expected to be in attendance, and we are sure they will provide some great insight and commentary about their work. All are welcome to this event.”

The show – which features art made from recycled and repurposed materials – opened on Friday, March 30 and runs through Saturday, April 14. The galleries, located at 80 Pleasant Street in Marion, MA (at the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets), are free and open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, and on Saturday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Marion Town House

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Dear Editor:

As a resident of 42 Main Street, I walk past the Town House frequently, admire it as a fine piece of Victorian architecture, and appreciate the way it functions as a nerve center for town life. Therefore, I would recommend that it be restored and that the town turn down the proposal to build a new town house on Route 6. The difference in cost is not enough, in my opinion, to be a decisive factor. More important is the way the Town House serves the community, drawing citizens together at the heart of Marion. To preserve the outer shell of the building while transforming its inside into condos would be to destroy a vital part of the community. Marion’s historic character is constantly threatened by tearing down old houses or gutting them. By preserving the inner atmosphere as well as the outer beauty of the Town House, we would maintain Marion’s heritage and perform a service for future generations.

Yours sincerely,

Robert Darnton, Marion

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will 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 Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.

Winter Woes Top ZBA’s Short Agenda

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As they gathered on March 15 to hear what should have been two cases but turned out to be only one, the members of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals shared storm stories and the need for warm sunshine. Yes, on the heels of what turned out to be a very difficult two weeks of high winds, rain, and snow, the ZBA members echoed sentiments most people were feeling – “Enough, Mother Nature…”

While one panel member boasted, “I’m going to the Dominican for seven days and put my toes in the sand,” another joked, “I’d like to be a dealer for generators…” They also expressed jealousy as they mentioned an absent member who was in Florida. “She said it’s seventy [degrees] down there,” one said with a yearning sigh.

The seated ZBA members on this night were Chairman Susan Akin, flanked by Norman Lyonnais, Colby Rottler, Kenneth Pacheco and acting clerk, Anthony Tranfaglia.

As the pre-meeting banter died down, it became apparent that the applicant for the first hearing of the evening was absent.

Andrew Perkins, regarding property located a 10 Union Avenue, had filed a request seeking a Special Permit for the construction of a cantilevered deck on a home in the Pine Island beach neighborhood.

ZBA secretary Robin Shufelt called the applicant who had apparently forgotten about the hearing and asked for a continuance, which was granted.

Coming before the ZBA a few minutes later were Jennifer and Daniel Schlitzer, 53 Water Street, seeking a Special Permit to construct a 12-foot by 22-foot porch addition to an existing single-family home built in 1955.

Robert Field of Field Engineering, representing the applicants, said the porch would not affect the rear yard setback that would remain 14.5 feet.

Also coming forward in support of the project were neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Edward Walsh of 4 Linhares Avenue. Mr. Walsh said, “I’ve lived in the area since 1950 and hope the board will accept their project.

The Special Permit was unanimously approved.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for April 19 at 6:00 pm in the town hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals

By Marilou Newell

 

Saving Money in the New England Garden

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Please join the Elizabeth Taber Library on Tuesday evening, April 3, at 6:00 pm as Ian Penman, a seasoned botanist, leads a talk on how to make one of the most expensive hobbies a little more affordable and how to avoid making costly mistakes in New England’s unforgiving climate. Mr. Penman is a passionate Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist with a Botany degree from UMaine Orono, seeking to empower homeowners, ‘green-up’ our cities, and inspire a green thumb in future generations. For more information, please contact the Elizabeth Taber Library at 508-748-1252.

“Are There Really Two Americas?”

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On Wednesday, April 4, at 6:30 pm in the Commons at 1088 Tucker Road, North Dartmouth, Friends Academy will hold their annual Speaker Series, hosting Kip Bordelon whose presentation is entitled “Are There Really Two Americas?” It is free and open to the public.

This “real-talk” presentation directly addresses how and why we often see national matters differently based on race. It is a very thought-provoking and eye-opening presentation that is certain to leave the audience with a new perspective and better understanding of the African-American experience. For many, being Black and being American are at times conflicting realities. Perspectives about the United States and prevailing national issues can be vastly different depending on one’s race.

“Are There Really Two Americas?” takes a critical look at events that have separated us. Until we better understand the source of our differences, this social variance will persist, making acceptance and ultimately advancement much more difficult. The presentation explores these social realities and challenges our society’s behavior on these matters.

For more than a decade, Bordelon has worked at the United States General Services Administration where he has awarded and managed contracts worth millions of dollars and written, implemented and enforced federal acquisition policy. Bordelon’s interest in policy affairs began at an early age. Although he is a life-long Chicagoan, he attended Lawrence Academy, a New England independent/boarding school, where he discovered his passion for American history, the law, and the importance of diversity.

Bordelon graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He then earned a master’s degree in Public Policy from the same university, where he also won the prestigious Martin Luther King Jr. Award for leadership. While matriculating at UIC, he founded the student group Diversity in Demand. In 2012, Bordelon established The ASSI Group, now The Picardy Group, where he has provided recruiting and consulting services to federal agencies, New England independent schools, Chicago Public Schools, and local private schools and has been a guest participant on panels at conferences and similar events.

In response to community requests, the doors at Friends Academy will open at 5:45 pm to provide tours of the school. For directions to Friends Academy and more information, go to www.friendsacademy1810.org.