Author Talk with Jana Milbocker

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Do you enjoy visiting beautiful gardens? Enjoy a virtual tour of the best public gardens and specialty nurseries in the Northeast with The Garden Tourist! Join us at the Elizabeth Taber Library on Thursday, April 12at 4:00 pm to learn about each garden’s highlights, history and amenities, followed by a book signing by Jana Milbocker, author of The Garden Tourist.

Jana Milbocker is an avid gardener, plant collector, garden designer and writer. She lectures on a variety of gardening topics and has presented at the Boston and Connecticut Flower Shows, Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and at many garden clubs and organizations. Jana is a garden designer and owner of Enchanted Gardens, a landscape design and installation firm.

This program is co-sponsored with the Marion Garden Group.

Mother’s Day Sign Making Family Event & Fundraiser

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On Sunday, April 29 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 74 High Street, Wareham, there will be a kid-friendly gift making event. Hit a home run this Mother’s Day and give mom a beautiful sign. Completely customizable, easy and fun. A 4-by-12 sign costs $25 and a 4-by-24 sign is $35. We will have a guide providing expert tips and ideas. You can pre-order specific sayings by going to the event page, three weeks in advance: bit.ly/sign4mom. This event is a fundraiser for the church’s many outreach programs and its community services and ministries.

Clouds Clear for Two Solar Projects

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The Rochester Planning Board on March 27 gave the final nod to Borrego Solar System’s large-scale solar farm slated for Rounseville Road at the corner of Mendell Road, and it also cleared the way for Clean Energy Collective to return to construction activities while it awaits the board’s final approval in two weeks.

Evan Watson for Clean Energy Collective for its 248 Mattapoisett Road solar farm went over some of the final details left open from the last meeting before delving deeper into screening matters that at times reflected contention between the board and the solar developer, especially over an area of trees the board wanted to remain permanently to provide screening. However, land owner Mike Forand wanted permission to cut down three oak trees and leave the remaining softwood trees, bringing the conversation into the direction of property owner rights.

Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson said when he spoke with Ken Motta, the board’s peer review engineer, Motta advised that all the vegetation in the aforementioned area, located nearer towards the road, needed to stay put. “…I kind of agree with him,” Johnson said.

The issue of how much control would the property owner maintain over lots abutting the solar farm was thoroughly discussed, with concerns mainly about future ownership and the fact that the board does not allow trees and vegetation on abutting properties to be relied upon for permanent screening, since the owners of those properties control the fate of their own vegetation.

After some time, Johnson said the conversation was getting too far into the hypothetical future and brought the talk back to the main point; that is, screening the panels is priority and that screening is going to have to be right where the panels are.

A representative from Clean Energy Collective mentioned Forand appealing the board’s condition to the Zoning Board of Appeals in order to maintain his right to control the fate of his trees, but that didn’t sit well with Johnson.

“You’re gonna end up sitting right where you are now, doing nothing,” warned Johnson. After that, Planning Board member Ben Bailey objected to the developer’s use of the word “compromise” when referring to the board’s final written decision.

“We don’t compromise on the regulations,” Bailey said. “And we’ve always said that abutting property cannot be presumed by a solar field … to be the screening process for that, and the Planning Board is not disposed to create conditions where we have to then chase landowners and enforce them…” He continued, “You’re really gonna run up against opposition unless what you propose is self-contained within the [property].”

It was Clean Energy Collective’s attorney, John Serkey, who came up with an idea the board could rally behind – a condition that would grant Forand permission to cut down only those three oak trees the board would approve, and if Forand wanted to chop down any more he would first have to return to the board.

That condition would work for future property owners, too, commented board member John DeMaggio.

The board considered granting conditioned approval on the project under the condition that the developer furnish the town planner with final revised plans the next day, but instead opted for Plan B, to allow Clean Energy Collective to return to work during the two weeks leading up to the next meeting, during which time the developer may work on the access drive and berm.

The board still needed some detailed structural analyses on the feasibility of the proposed stockade fence and whether it would withstand Category 3 hurricane force winds without falling, but it expects to vote on approval at its next meeting.

With just minimal discussion on final details of the decision, the board approved Borrego Solar Systems’ solar farm with a unanimous vote.

In other matters, while the board may have allowed the sun in on the solar projects, they threw some serious shade onto Zero Waste Solutions for its change of course from solid waste briquettes to an ethanol biorefinery without any communication with the Planning Board, the approving body that gave initial approval for the briquette operation.

Johnson said he heard about Zero Waste Solutions CEO Mike Camara’s presentation to the Board of Selectmen last week through the grapevine, and he criticized Camara’s poor communication with the board and its inability to keep to the construction timeline the board imposed on the original briquette project.

Johnson said the existing business is still incomplete in its construction – stormwater management drainage, no completed access road – “And most important, we don’t have any communication, which we brought up multiple times,” said Johnson.

Johnson said he spoke with town counsel about it and the two agreed the best approach would be to send Camara a certified letter enforcing the June (or July, Johnson wasn’t sure) construction deadline for the project the board approved, “Or there will be a cease and desist order … no exceptions.”

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for April 10 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Planning Board

By Jean Perry

Marion Town House

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Dear Editor:

I have received numerous phone calls from Marion residents about keeping and restoring the present Town House and not building a new one at the Council on Aging property, where heavy and fast-moving traffic on Route 6 causes dangerous distractions and creates major safety concerns for pedestrians, bike riders and drivers. Anyone who has ever attempted to enter the narrow COA driveway from Route 6 knows the unsettling feeling of sitting on that roadway and having motor vehicles whizzing by so fast, it makes your car shudder.

The present Town House location, long a symbol of local government, anchors Marion’s Town Center with distinctive architecture and possible historical significance; it serves as an attractive cultural icon symbolizing historic seafaring Marion.

Many callers talked of plans to freshen Taber Library’s exterior, and the well thought out plans for a refurbished Town House next door, as well as the placement of a bronze statue of Elizabeth Taber linking the two buildings, create a charming campus and civic space where people can pause, read and converse in a quiet pocket park setting away from deafening marauding truck and motorcycle traffic that frequent the proposed Route 6 site stealing one’s sense of peace and tranquility.

A lot can be said for relaxing in a civic space created between two historic buildings enshrined with majestic trees, glorious flowers, benches and stylish shrubs – an extension of the community – a stage for our public lives. The site already functions in a true civic role where celebrations are held, where social and economic exchanges take place, where friends run into each other, and where cultures mix.

Many believe the Town House and Taber Library are our collective “front porches” where we interact with each other and with our local government. When towns and neighborhoods have thriving civic spaces, residents have a strong sense of community and feel a strong connection to each other.

Sincerely,

Eileen J. Marum, 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.

Spring Agricultural Day at Acushnet Grange

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Join us for our Agriculture Day on Saturday, April 7 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Acushnet Grange, 1121 Main Street, Acushnet. There is a full day planned with activities, agriculture products for sale, food demonstrations and displays by agriculture organizations. We will have a coloring contest and seed planting for children. There will be a draft horse demonstration in the afternoon. Wampanoag Dog Club will be holding an open house and obedience demonstrations. Free and open to the public. Please follow the signs for parking. There will be some handicap parking at the hall. For more information, call Caroline at 508-763-2795.

Annual Election Heats Up in Marion

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The deadline for candidates to return their nomination papers for the May 18 Marion election passed on Monday, March 26, and the race is on for Board of Selectmen with two seats up for grabs – one three-year seat to replace outgoing Selectman Jody Dickerson and another one-year seat left vacant by Steve Gonsalves when he resigned in February.

While only Community Preservation Committee Chairman and Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission member Randy Parker filed papers for the three-year seat, four will appear on the ballot to fill the one-year seat.

William “Dale” Jones, Michelle Oullette Smith, John Waterman, and Joseph Zora, Jr. all opted for the one-year selectman’s seat, making this Board of Selectmen race the most contested on the ballot.

Jones has run several times for Board of Selectmen, including last year against four other opponents, but he never came in first. He was recently appointed as a member of the Conservation Commission and was also once the Emergency Management director.

Smith is a member of the Marion and Old Rochester Regional School Committees and is also a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. She ran against Jones last year for Board of Selectmen, vying for former Selectman Steve Cushing’s open seat, but came in fourth place. Smith is also the only one running for the Marion School Committee to maintain her seat for another term.

Waterman has spoken publically against the current Board of Selectmen’s decision to jettison the new town house construction option article from the Town Meeting warrant.

Zora can often be heard speaking his mind as a concerned citizen on the Town Meeting floor. His father, Joseph Zora, Sr., was a Board of Selectmen member for 27 years, serving nine consecutive terms.

The three-year Assessor position – the only other contested race this year – is now between newcomer George TJ Walker, a former Planning Board member, and incumbent Ray Pickles, whose name has come up in recent local news after he was abruptly dismissed from his position as executive director of the Carver, Marion, Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District. Pickles is also the current town clerk and a former town administrator.

The remaining uncontested races are as follows: Town Moderator, one year, incumbent Brad Gordon; Board of Health, three years, incumbent John Howard; Planning Board, two seats each three years, current appointed Planning Board member Andrew Daniel and Kristen St. Don-April Rios; Open Space Acquisition Commission, three years, incumbent Alan Harris.

Voting for the Friday, May 18, Annual Election is at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center located at 465 Mill Road. Polls open at 8:00 am and close at 8:00 pm.

By Jean Perry

 

Obstacles Trip-up Walkout Efforts

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The March ‘Four’easters’ stole four and a half days from the ORRHS schedule, including March 14, which had been designated as National School Walkout Day. The memorial and protest was then rescheduled to occur last Wednesday on March 21 at the same time of 10:00 am. However, this meant students would have missed the last 12 minutes of second period, and thus the administration was said to have nixed the idea. In the end, the event was ultimately cancelled due to impending weather and incorrect information that spread throughout the student body.

“First we had been told we would only be allowed to go out at 10:17 am instead, which would have been during Bulldog Block,” said senior Madeline Scheub, the main organizer of the event. “We were warned that students would not be protected from any punishment if they went through with it. We did not want to go through with this, as we believed any discipline taken would overshadow the walkout itself and take attention away from the message we were trying to spread.”

Principal Mike Devoll gave this statement on the matter: “The students indicated to me that the weather was a factor in cancelling. I received an email from a student stating it was cancelled. We never spoke of any disciplinary action. I prefered 10:17 am to 10:00 am for a start time, and conversations were cordial and collaborative.”

Many of the students and parents who heard it had been cancelled said they thought it was cancelled because students now faced disciplinary action. Regardless, the fact that the walkout did not take place was disheartening to many.

“It’s stupid that it was cancelled,” senior Bella Rodrigues argued. “It’s a protest, and the administration had no power over it in the first place. Shootings are going to keep happening. This is about us and our safety so we have to make a change.”

“I think the student body shouldn’t be scared by the administration telling them not to take part in a national protest,” added senior Ethan Mort. “Them telling us not to participate in the walkout reschedule is similar to a factory owner telling his rioting workers to not go on strike.”

Freshman Spencer Perez-Dormitzer said he was sad it was cancelled, “Because I had been looking forward to it. My brother took part in the junior high walkout and made a speech.”

In contrast to the high school, the ORR Junior High School student body held a successful walkout.

Around two-thirds of all seventh and eighth grade students participated in the memorial, including several who made speeches to their peers.

“I thought our students handled the walkout in a mature and respectful manner,” junior high Principal Kevin Brogioli stated. “They used it as an opportunity to speak about each of the seventeen victims in Parkland, Florida before having a moment of silence in their honor.”

Sophie Martins was one of the students who led the organization of the junior high walkout.

“We actually learned about it during class, and as soon as I heard I was super excited,” Martins said. “Word travels fast around the school, and we also used social media to tell people about the walkout. We did negotiate and we flipped one of our class blocks with ‘flex’ so we wouldn’t be missing class. There were seventeen speeches made by students, and each was assigned one of the victims to talk about for our memorial.”

Martins also said, “We tried to make it clear that it was a protest in calling for gun control, but that it was also about remembering the victims and making sure for their sake it doesn’t happen again.”

As young people, Martins said, “Standing up and raising our voices is important because we are citizens of this society and we should have a voice in it.”

Back at the high school, the prior week was a busy one for the majority of students, on top of any walkout attempt. The entire 12th grade finished up and handed in the annual senior project articles, and the drama production took up much of the week for any cast members. As a result, a good number of students were not aware about the cancellation or about the change in dates at all.

“I didn’t know it was cancelled, but I also hadn’t heard about the change in dates at all,” sophomore Alexa McLeod commented. “I was waiting to hear someone talk about it.”

“There’s not much we could do about the weather, but the setbacks were really frustrating,” said senior Lauren Gonsalves. “Especially since it’s so difficult to accurately spread information through the school and many people were struggling to keep track of everything.”

The walkout wasn’t the only thing that students missed due to the original snow day cancellation of the event. The League of Women Voters had been scheduled to help students ages 16 years old and older pre-register online to vote during Bulldog Block.

“I think the most important thing that the walkout would’ve had to offer was pre-voter registration,” senior Alice Bednarczyk said. “The ability to let young people vote and understanding voting is very important and it’s something that adults should try and take the initiative to teach students about.”

ORR Update

By Jo Caynon

 

More Seniors Means More COA Funding

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The trend has been substantiated by SRPEDD, borne out in census reports, and become a reality for councils on aging throughout the Tri-Town area – the population is aging. And with that follows the need for greater resources and more services geared to supporting senior citizens as they attempt to age in place.

On March 22, the members of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee met with Jackie Coucci, director of the Mattapoisett Council on Aging, to discuss the department’s fiscal year 2019 budget and to take a closer look at the needs of an aging population.

Coucci discussed a survey that was conducted between July and August 2017 – a time when the highest number of seasonal homeowners would have returned to Mattapoisett – that asked seniors a variety of questions in an effort to determine how the COA could help as senior citizens strive to “maintain a happy, healthy lifestyle.”

While the survey asked basic questions such as age, gender, employment status, and living arrangement, it also delved into functional habits of living, such as overall health and mobility, transportation needs, finances, housing issues, and enrichment programing.

Of the 227 surveys completed, Coucci found the greatest concerns were lack of transportation options, ability to remain at home, and lack of affordable housing.

Citing statistics from the Town Clerk’s office, Coucci said that the 2017 data showed a total population of 6,570 with nearly half – 2,955 or 45% – aged 55 or older, and 35% of that group aged 60 or older.

“The survey was not just for the COA,” Coucci told the FinCom members, “it is for the town, the Planning Board, the Finance Committee…. It’s the pulse of the community.”

Coucci said, however, that she was concerned about reaching those seniors who are homebound. “How do we reach those at home to find out what their needs are?”

While the COA assists both year round and seasonal seniors, its services also have the affect of helping entire family units as younger folks seek programs and expertise for their older family members.

“People ask us about handymen and other types of hands-on services,” Coucci said, adding that the COA does have a list that has been crosschecked with the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List, but ultimately it is the responsibility of the individual to make good decisions.

FinCom Chairman Pat Donoghue said, “I worry about people making good judgment about who they hire … I get concerned that we need to have resources to protect our seniors … That’s the kind of service I’d like to see.”

Town Administrator Michael Gagne added that, during a meeting of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, a discussion on aging populations identified Mattapoisett as ranking No. 1 in the entire Southcoast for percentage of seniors versus all other age groups.

“We need to address senior services,” he said.

As the meeting shifted to discussion of the FY19 budget projections, Donoghue pointed out that school enrollment continued to decline.

“We have a big change in demographics,” she said. “This is an opportunity to say we move allocation from the schools to the senior center.”

Regarding capital improvements, Coucci pointed to wheelchair access to the senior center located in the annex of Center School, an awning over the entranceway, and other renovations that would bring the center up to the 20th century. She also said relocating the public health nurse to available space on the first floor near the Recreation Department offices would free up space in the annex area for COA use. Coucci said presently there isn’t a space to have private conversations with those seeking assistance.

Staffing changes were also discussed as Coucci asked to increase the part-time administrative coordinator position to full-time status and a salary increase of $6,073 for her position. The current salary for the director’s position is $55,927. In support of this request, Coucci distributed a study she had conducted on the average salaries of COA directors in other towns including Marion and Rochester. Marion came in at $51,123, whereas Rochester was $84,000. Coucci said Rochester’s personnel set-up was different in that the director reported directly to the Board of Directors versus the selectmen or a town manager.

Gagne said Coucci currently is not employed via negotiated contract.

“Her job should be a contract negotiation,” Gagne said.

Mattapoisett’s COA overall budget proposal from FY19 stands at $169,192.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee is scheduled for March 29 at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Finance Committee

By Marilou Newell

 

Sarah Adeline (Johnson) Gulecas

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Sarah Adeline (Johnson) Gulecas of Marion, our sweetest mother, grandmother and friend, passed away on Thursday March 29, 2018 after a brief illness at the age of 87. She was the wife of the late Lazarus H. Gulecas.

Born in Viola, Kansas, the daughter of the late Robert O. Johnson and Adeline Katherine (Kraus) Johnson Werner, she lived in Marion for most of her life.

Mrs. Gulecas was formerly employed by Christy’s Market in Marion for many years until her retirement.

She was an avid line dancer and enjoyed walking and attending exercise classes with her friends.

She is survived by three children, James F. Gulecas and his wife Grace of New Port Richey, FL, Timothy J. Gulecas and Anne D. Urquhart and her husband Greg, all of Marion; and two grandchildren, Colin M. Urquhart and Mason A. Urquhart, both of Marion.

She was predeceased by her stepfather, Frederick Werner and her siblings, Bernard Johnson, Bonnie Johnson, and Charles Johnson.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday April 7, 2018 at 10 AM at Evergreen Cemetery in Marion. Visiting hours will be on Friday April 6th from 5-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Charles T. Kelly

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Charles T. Kelly, 72, of Mattapoisett passed away Saturday, March 31, 2018 at home surrounded by his family after a four year battle with brain cancer. He was the husband of Maureen E. (Craig) Kelly.

Born in Boston, son of the late Charles J. and Elizabeth (Cefelo) Kelly, he lived in Easton and Mattapoisett for most of his life.

He was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett.

Mr. Kelly attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree.

He was the owner of R.A.C. Services for over 30 years until his retirement.

Mr. Kelly enjoyed boating, skiing, family vacations and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife; four children, Kimberly A. DeLeo, Maureen K. Mullen, Michael C. Kelly and his wife Jessica, and Kevin C. Kelly and his wife Heather; ten grandchildren, Talia and Gianna DeLeo, Luke, Emma, and Caillaigh Mullen, Isabelle, Tyler, and Hazel Kelly, and Tanner and Declan Kelly; four siblings, Joseph Kelly and his wife Stephanie, William Kelly, Robert Kelly and his wife Patricia, and Jean Canty and her husband Thomas; and many nieces and nephews.

His memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, April 5th from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. His Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, April 6th at 9 AM at St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made toward Kim and Maureen’s ride in the Pan Mass Challenge, with checks being made out to P.M.C. and mailed to The Kelly Family, One Brant Beach Avenue, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.