Carla S. Gifune

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Carla S. Gifune, 87, died Sunday, February 11, 2018 at Nemasket Health Care Center in Middleboro after a long illness. She was the wife of the late Frank P. Gifune, Jr.

Born in Greenwich, CT, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Clara (Clevenger) Scala. A previous resident of N. Reading, she moved to Marion in 1968 where she lived until the early 1980’s. She also lived in Wareham and Florida.

Mrs. Gifune received her M.Ed. from Lesley University in Cambridge and was a teacher, then principal at Sippican School in Marion.

She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Marion, and the Mass. Teachers’ Association.

Survivors include her children, Kimberley Haskell and her wife Lori, and Greg F. Gifune and his wife Carol all of Wareham; 3 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, the late George Scala.

Funeral services and burial will be private.

Jennifer M. Bourdon

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Jennifer M. Bourdon, 30, of Mattapoisett died February 13, 2018 unexpectedly at home.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of Robert W. Bourdon of Mattapoisett and the late Marie A. (Berardi) Bourdon, she lived in Mattapoisett all of her life.

Jennifer was a graduate of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School.

She enjoyed attending Community Connections in Fairhaven.

Survivors include her father; and her sister, Kathleen Barnes of Mattapoisett.

Her Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, February 22nd at 9 am in St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett. Burial will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Mattapoisett COA Unveils Survey Results

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While many people were enjoying sun and fun last summer, members of the Mattapoisett Council on Aging Board of Directors were busy distributing and tabulating the results of a survey designed to gauge community engagement and the needs of an aging population.

Rachel McGourthy, chairman of the COA Board of Directors, flanked by Jackie Coucci, COA director, and board member Shirley Haley met with the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen to share the survey results.

McGourthy said of Mattapoisett’s 6,570 inhabitants, half were 55 years of age or older and, of that group, some 2,000 were over 60 years of age, making the case that even more seniors would be living in town as the wave of ‘baby boomers’ headed towards senior citizen status.

While the survey asked participants a variety of questions including what types of programs they would like the COA offer, it also captured the types of services seniors are looking for.

Based on the survey results, McGourthy said, “Our greatest concerns are transportation and housing.” She also said the COA is exploring ways to communicate to all seniors in the community including homebound residents. “We need to educate seniors on what services are available and to see what we can do going forward.”

Regarding transportation, Coucci said she was looking into ride share opportunities with surrounding councils, adding that retaining drivers for the senior van was a big challenge.

On the topic of housing, Town Administrator Michael Gagne said that Governor Baker hoped to increase housing units by 125,000 over the next five years through public and private partnerships. Referring to the work of the COA, Gagne said, “If housing gets off the ground, we’ll be positioned for grant applications.”

Haley asked about the availability of Community Preservation funds. Gagne acknowledged there were funds earmarked for public housing.

Beyond the survey, the COA is addressing the needs of the greater community – those not yet at retirement age – with programs on financial planning. Coucci said, “In April, there will be a representative from the Social Security Administration at the COA to talk to those people preparing for retirement.” She also pointed to a monthly CPR class hosted by the COA and open to the public at large.

Of the current structural needs of the senior center, Gagne said that ADA compliance was being addressed. Coucci said that parking was very difficult for seniors accessing Center School where the offices of the COA are located.

Gagne said that as the Capitol Planning Committee begins the next session of long-range spending needs, a combined recreation and senior center could be on the schedule. He explained that, as debt was retired, the committee’s focus would be shifted from the needs of the library and school buildings to other needs such as a building for the Council on Aging.

Coucci said the survey would help in the development of a five-year strategic plan for the COA. “We are all seniors in training,” Coucci chuckled. She also said that she wanted, with the help of the Board of Directors, to make Mattapoisett “an age-friendly community.”

Moving to other agenda items, Gagne updated the selectmen on a recent meeting of the Massachusetts Municipal Association where the issue of opioids and their impact on cities and towns in the Commonwealth was discussed. He said a group of legal firms, working as municipal legal counselors in various locations throughout the state, was exploring options for holding pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors accountable for actions on their part that contributed to the explosion in addiction and related outfall from off-label use.

Gagne said he would be bringing together a group comprised of members of town departments such as schools, police, community nurse, and COA, as well as private and public social service agencies to “address this issue and see if there is something that can be done to help the community with this issue.”

Regarding the Special Town Meeting that had been held the previous evening, at which voters passed two zoning bylaw articles to impose a temporary moratorium on recreational and medical marijuana sale in Mattapoisett, Gagne said, “Now the real work starts.” The town will now petition the Attorney General to grant the moratorium through December 31, 2018.

Gagne told the selectmen that he would be working with Planning Board Administrator Mary Crain to scope out the development of two committees to address the two separate zoning bylaws the board will now be tasked with writing. The Planning Board’s next meeting is scheduled for March 5 at 7:00 pm in the town hall conference room, but Gagne said he might bring the board together before that for a “working session.”

In other business, the selectmen met with a representative from Verizon to discuss double telephone poles along Route 6 that the utility needs to vacate. Selectman Paul Silva was especially frustrated with the length of time double poles have remained in place and worried that when they are finally removed the remaining holes, if improperly filled, will become a public safety hazard.

There was considerable discussion regarding which utility was ultimately responsible for removing the approximately 20 double poles located not only along Route 6, but also along River Road and other locations. It was disclosed that Eversource was responsible.

Silva asked Gagne to work with town counsel to review options, including removal dates for older poles when utilities request permits from the town to place new poles as well as the possibility of imposing fines when the abandoned poles are not promptly removed.

Gagne also reported that the Mattapoisett Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan would be uploaded to the town website for public review, comment, and revision. He said that once the document was approved by FEMA, the town could then apply for funding as needed for environmental remediation concerns. He said that of particular concern was the sewer main that crosses Eel Pond. Gagne said he had been working with the sewer department to prepare the necessary data and materials in preparation of grant applications. Of that project, he said, “We’ll need funding from multiple sources.”

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for February 27 at 6:30 pm in the town hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell

 

The ‘Best’ and ‘Mostly Likely To’ of ORR

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The early months of the year bring award show season, which was in full force at Old Rochester Regional High School on February 7!

Last week, the Class of 2018 hosted the annual Senior Superlative Awards Gala. Students and parents gathered in the auditorium for a night of fun as they revealed the winners of the peer awards.

Although the seniors’ special night was one of celebration for their peers, it was also one of a community in mourning. Becket Kiernan, a Marine from the ORRHS Class of 2017, passed away early last week. Last year, he had been the recipient of the “Best Laugh” and “Unsung Class Hero” awards, and the seniors held a moment of remembrance for him.

Seniors Christian Hotte and Michael Sivvianakis hosted the event and introduced each of the 52 awards. One of the highlights of the night was definitely the final award of the night. Ian Craig made his way up to receive the “Best Friend” award to a standing ovation by the entire audience.

The first award of the night, though, for “Best Dressed” went to Mackenzie Good and Italian exchange student Matteo Momigliano with raucous applause. When jokingly asked why he was wearing what he was that night, Momigliano replied, “It was the first thing I saw.”

“Gym Warrior” went to quarterback Harry Smith, who recently committed to play football and track at Southern Connecticut State University.

“Show us the fruit of your labors and show us your guns,” Hotte said, gaining some cheers as Smith flexed for the audience.

Ainslee Bangs took home “Best Hair,” and when asked what her hair treatment secret is, she simply said, “I wash it.”

“Best Facial Expressions” went to Andrew Miller, and Maddie Martin claimed the “Most School Spirit” award. When “Most Likely to be Your Boss” winner Sam Pasquill was asked how he would be the best boss, he replied, “Just give everyone a job and employ them.”

“Best Smile” went to Lindsey Merolla, who gave the audience a grin, and Jake Thompson won “Most Likely to Cheer You Up.” Abby Dyson was quick to say Spain would be her first destination as “Most Likely to Travel the World” winner.

“What gaming console is superior?” Sivvianakis asked Emo Schiappa, winner of “Best Gamer.”

“Oh, that’s easy: tablet,” Schiappa said to rounds of laughter.

“Best Beard” went to Alex Lorenz, Mackenzie Drew was voted “Most Likely to Come Back and Teach at ORR,” and Chris Savino and Elle Gendreau were crowned “Drama King and Queen.”

“Super Fan” Parker Truesdale thought for a long moment when asked what his least favorite sport to watch was. His reply of “tennis” drew controversial “oohs” from the audience and some scattered chuckles.

Destyn Miranda won “Best Sneakers,” Carly Demanche took home “Best Sneeze,” and Harry Smith also won “Most Likely to Win an Olympic Medal.” Cam Buler was named “Most Likely to Be Late at Graduation,” and his absence from the gala only led to laughter over how spot-on the award appeared to be.

“Worst Case of Senioritis” went to Sam Ellis, who said one of the symptoms was: “I do not want to be [at school] any day.” He also won “Most Likely to Tell It Like It Is” alongside Kacey Henriques, deadpanning that the show was “awful” when asked how it was going so far.

“Most Likely to be a Farmer” winner Aidan Thayer joked that he was planning to grow grass as his crop, and “Class Clown” Kat Tracy said “No” when asked to tell a joke, drawing wild applause from her peers.

Hannah Powers was voted “Most Likely to Write the Next Harry Potter,” and “Best Whip” went to Tanner Figuriedo and his car, ‘Bertha.’ “Teacher’s Pet” was won by Maddie Martin, who gave a shout out to all her teachers “…For giving me good participation grades!”

After a quick intermission, Matteo Momigliano was awarded “Best Accent” as the senior class had unanimously voted him winner of the award. “Most Likely to Have Their Artwork Sell for Millions” went to Lindsey Merolla, and Cam DeMarco won “Most Likely to ‘Murica,’” a playful name for being patriotic.

Mike Fisher won “Best Candidate for the CIA,” but he wasn’t there to pick up his award … or was he?

“I’m sure he’s undercover,” Hotte joked.

Chris Savino was “Most Likely to Burst into Song at Lunch,” and Hannah Ciccatelli won “Most Likely to Trip at Graduation,” commenting that she “…Didn’t wear heels to the gala for a reason.”

Evan Tilley was voted “Most Likely to Invent the Next iPhone,” and when asked what he would improve about it, he replied, “Get an Android!”

Bennett Fox and Madison Carvalho were both named “Biggest Flirt,” while “Cutest Couple that Never Was” went to Ainslee Bangs and Jahn Pothier, who shared a hug before going offstage. This year’s “Best Laugh” award went to Celia Deverix, and Emily Marraffa won “Most Likely to Have an iTunes Hit.”

Arissa Francis and Sam Ellis both were awarded “Best Eyes,” and “Most Likely to Get the Teacher Off Topic” winner Zach Kelley said that the estimate of the cumulative amount of time he’s wasted in classes was “not enough.” Jack Roussell said as “Most Likely to be on a Reality TV Show” that he’d be best suited for the show Naked and Afraid.

“Best Bromance” was awarded to Zach Kelley and Kyle Gillis, while “Best Comebacks” went to Bryce Miedzionoski. Trevor Stopka was voted “Most Likely to Get in a Fender Bender in the Parking Lot,” and Evan Tilley won “Most Likely to Change the World.” Evan Costa is “Most Likely to Become President” out of the class, while Haleydawn Amato is “Most Likely to Become a YouTube Star,” and Harry Smith is “Most Likely to have an Autograph That is Worth Money Someday.” Meanwhile, Jenna Aruri won “Most Likely to Win the Lottery and Lose the Ticket.”

In the realm of Hollywood, Caroline Regis won “Best Celebrity Lookalike” with Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler on the Netflix show Stranger Things. Jahn Pothier was also awarded “Most Likely to be on Jeopardy,” and Jack Roussell took his second award for “Most Likely to Get a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

What movie will he get his start in? “The Emoji Movie 2, in theaters July 2019!” he said triumphantly, drawing laughs and cheers from his classmates.

Finally, Evan Tilley was voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” which was pointed out to be true with his success in winning multiple awards that night.

ORR Update

By Jo Caynon

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. Because of 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 34 Hermitage Road.

The house at 34 Hermitage Road is situated where the main Sippican Native Americans resided under the leadership of Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag tribe. Nearby, at Minister’s Rock, was the first settlement in Marion (then called Sippican), established when 29 families of Pilgrims left Plymouth in 1678. This Cape Cod cottage dates from the mid-late 18th century and may be that of Walter Turner, who is shown on the 1855 Marion map. By the late 19th century, George Delano owned this house. By 1903, it was owned by C.L. Delano. George Delano named this property ‘The Hermitage.’ During the first visit of President and Mrs. Cleveland to Marion in 1887, George Delano offered the First Family the use of his beach because of its privacy and splendid views of Sippican Harbor.

Local Grants Awarded For Mattapoisett

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State Representative William M. Straus and Kathleen Damaskos, chair of the Mattapoisett Cultural Council, have announced the award of 13 grants totaling $5,600, for cultural programs in and around Mattapoisett.

Grant recipients include Mattapoisett Free Public Library, Friends of Old Rochester Drama, and Old Hammondtown School Robotics Club. A complete list of recipients and grant amounts can be found below.

The Mattapoisett Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.

Decisions about which activities to support are made at the community level by a board of municipally-appointed volunteers. The members of the Mattapoisett Cultural Council are Benares Angeley, Anne Bedser, Gary Brown, Carole Clifford, Kathleen Damaskos, Carol Dildine, Annemarie Fredericks, and Marilou Newell.

“Our community is greatly enriched by the LCC program and especially by the artistic and educational contributions made by these grantees, and I want to thank all of the volunteers who serve on the Council for their efforts over the past year,” said Representative Straus.

Statewide, more than $3 million will be distributed by local cultural councils in 2018. Grants will support an enormous range of grass-roots activities: school field trips, afterschool programs, concerts, festivals, lectures, theater, dance, music, and film. LCC projects take place in schools, community centers, libraries, elder care facilities, town halls, parks, and wherever communities come together.

This year’s Mattapoisett Cultural Council grants include:

Friends of Old Rochester Drama: $400

Steve Henderson: $300

Mattapoisett Free Public Library: $560

Mattapoisett Historical Society: $700

Mattapoisett PTA (2): $740

New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center: $150

New Bedford Symphony Orchestra: $500

Old Colony RVTHS Drama Club: $300

Old Hammondtown School Robotics Club: $600

South Coast Children’s Chorus: $650

Tri-County Symphonic Band: $200

Kirk Whipple & Marilyn Morales: $500

The Mattapoisett Cultural Council will seek applications again in the fall. Information and forms will be available online at www.masscultural council.org. Applications will be due in mid-October.

The Vocal Coyote

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The Eastern coyote that we often see darting across both country and suburban roads in the nocturnal headlights of our car has come to be as large as a German Shepherd dog. We have become aware that they are not the same at all as the small 25-pound western, wily, animated humorous character in Walt Disney cartoons for children. When and how did that happen? Today, scientists are in considerable disagreement on how the process of hybridization was greatly accelerated by human modification to habitat that in turn paved the way for geographical adjustment to all of New England.

The original Southwest species was perhaps best characterized in Navaho folklore as a trickster involved in the mythology of life’s first creation on Earth, claiming mystical superiority in the scheme of how it all came about. Now, he has miraculously transformed himself in the mind of civilization from being first a coyote, then into a ‘coydog,’ and now about to be reclassified as a ‘coywolf.’ The taxonomy of this new species often labeled back yard big game is currently estimated as approximately 60 percent coyote, 30 percent wolf, and as much as 10 percent domestic dog, even though interbreeding with them is rare.

There is some possibility that they will continue to evolve into a new species, Canis oriens, because of success highlighted by genetic findings of ability to interbreed with other canines as well as readily adapt to the too-close-for-comfort inter-city habitat. They can run 40 miles per hour, travel long distances daily up to 15 miles, with a lifetime range of 11 square miles, frequently relocating to other areas to their liking. They adapt quickly to a wide variety of food including rabbits, woodchucks, rodents, wild turkeys and other birds, feral cats, stray small pets, and dogs. At the last den I personally have found was a wide variety of bits of fir and feather, including traces of white tail deer fawns.

Mainly nocturnal, they can be out of most people’s sight and mind, but audibly they communicate with each other with short barks for location of others. They are very social and family-preoccupied, as I recently observed in a recently mowed farm field with a mother standing on her hind feet showing her pups how to find and ferret out a rodent. They are better known for howling more often at a rising full moon as in my illustration. It starts out with a flat tone, followed by a wavering blood curdling howl conveyed to others in the distance.

Perhaps alarming to the peace and quiet of mortal ears, it is also a message of environmental awareness to human beings in this day and age of modern times around Buzzards Bay.

By George B. Emmons

Marion Recreation Department CPR Training

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The Marion Recreation Department will be offering two CPR Training Courses to the public on Saturday, March 24 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and on Saturday, April 21 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The cost of the course is $75. Space is limited. Registration ends Monday, March 19 for the March course and Monday, April 16 for the April course. To register, please contact the Marion Recreation Department at JDickerson@marionma.gov.

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club

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The February luncheon meeting of the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is on February 15 at 11:00 am at Reynard Hall in the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Our guest speaker is Elizabeth Leidhold, Director of Marion Natural History Museum. She will talk on vernal pools and both salt and fresh water wetlands, so important to our environment. The Marion Natural History Society has provided natural history programs for the area since the Museum was first opened in 1872 and continues to do so to this day. The museum acts as a field trip resource for schools, hosting after-school nature programs and evening programs for adults and families.

We are pleased to welcome people who are interested in this month’s program or would like to become a member of our friendly group of members. For more information, please see our new website, www.mattapoisettwomansclub.org, or contact Christine Voss.

Academic Achievements

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Abigail Adams of Mattapoisett was named to the Merrimack College Dean’s List for fall 2017.

Shannon Lynch of Mattapoisett has been named to the Chancellor’s List at UMass Dartmouth in recognition of earning a fall 2017 semester grade point average of 3.8 or higher of a possible 4.0.

Riley C. Johnson has been named to the President’s List for the 2017 fall semester at Elon University. The President’s List is composed of students with no grade below an A-minus in a minimum of 12 semester hours. Johnson is the son of Mr. Peter C. Johnson and Mrs. Kristin M. Johnson of Marion

The University of Maine recognized 2,229 students for achieving Dean’s List honors in the fall 2017 semester. Abigail Nadeau of Mattapoisett and Benjamin DeMello of Rochester received Dean’s List honors for fall 2017, completing 12 or more credit hours in the semester and earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.