Just in time for the New Year, the Town of Marion’s tenth police chief was sworn in on December 28.

Thirty-one-year veteran of the Marion Police Department, Lieutenant John B. Garcia, replaces Chief Lincoln Miller effective December 31.

Becoming police chief, Garcia said after the swearing-in ceremony, “is the pinnacle of any law enforcement officer’s career.”

Garcia thanked his family, saying, “As any relative of a police officer knows … you’re missing birthdays, holidays, special occasions, getting calls to get up in the middle of the night, and to have the support of your family is everything.”

He also thanked the Board of Selectmen for choosing him and for choosing to hire within the department. Singling out Chairman Jody Dickerson, Garcia told the many assembled – including the police chiefs from neighboring police departments including Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and New Bedford – that Dickerson was the first officer he rode with back in 1986 when he first joined the department.

Dickerson also led the organization of Garcia’s swearing-in ceremony that night. The two are also ‘Revolutionary War’ buddies in the Fairhaven Village Militia encampment group, in which Garcia is the faithful tinsmith.

“How fortunate I am to be working with the people that I do work with,” said Garcia. “We really do have a great group of people. It’s an honor to serve with you and it certainly makes my job better.”

Garcia said he chose the career of a police officer because he knew he wanted to serve his community, “And I knew I wanted to do something that would change the world.”

His first position was a part-time special officer appointed to the old Lincoln Park in Dartmouth on the Dartmouth Police Department.

Departing Chief Miller had these words of wisdom for Garcia:

“Always give one hundred percent to the job, but never take your work home with you. Be sure to pursue your outside interests,” said Miller, because having a life outside the job is the secret to loving your job.

By Jean Perry

The sun was hanging in the sky over Mattapoisett on New Year’s Day 2018 as a hail and hearty group of polar plungers and their supporters gathered at the Mattapoisett Town Beach for the annual charity event Freezin’ For A Reason.

In spite of record-cold temperatures, ocean water recorded at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and a dusting of snow on the beach sand, the plungers were joyful. Where other organizations had called off similar events in the local area, event coordinators the Huggins family decided it was all systems go.

And what a party it was in the hour leading up to testing good intentions against actual grit when the start gun would blast at high noon.

Reggae music boomed across the frozen landscape. Small children layered in winter gear attempted to make sandcastles, as other kids used the tideline ice sheet as a sledding hill minus the sleds.

The Wolf Moon tide cycle had left behind yards of frozen mud flats, causing some of the participants to wonder if it made more sense to leave their gear closer to the water’s edge than up on the drier sandy beach. Such were the considerations being bantered about outside the heated event tent.

Inside the tent, hot drinks and chowder warmed all, but as the moments ticked down, resolve to “just do this” was the heated sentiment.

There were the first-timers, those who had chosen this day to help fill the charity’s war chest against the unseen costs associated with a diagnosis of cancer, and there were those who made participation in the event part of their holiday cheer.

Eric Gebo, 24, of Fairhaven, Jeffrey Lopez, 20, Mattapoisett, Arlene Marini, ‘ageless’, Mattapoisett, Jasmine Burns, 15, of Westport were all first-time plungers. Each expressed their desire to test their mettle against the weather and to raise awareness for the cause.

Lopez, with his one-man support crew of Dad, aka Michael Lopez, may have had another reason. As his father explained, “Jeff has been fixated on doing this since last year when we came down to watch it.”

The younger Lopez and his family understand that challenges come in all varieties as he and his family has been touched by autism. “Jeff is proud of his autism and he is an outspoken advocate for others,” his dad said.

Burns, flanked by friends Erica Cecil and 15-year-old son Elijah Neal, both of Rochester, wore a bit of a worried expression, but more on this young lady later.

Bryan Calusine of Westport, Dennis McIntyre of Mattapoisett, Chris Gray of Mattapoisett, Dave Rickson of Mattapoisett, Trevor Oliveria of Fairhaven, and Brian Claudio from Freetown were all ready to go as returning plungers.

Calusine, whose parents Bill and Marsha live in Mattapoisett, said this was his fourth year and beamed that he was glad to do it for a good cause. McIntyre said, “We love this town and this cause…. We’ve lost family to cancer.”

Claudio said, “My son was diagnosed with a brain tumor,” as he prepared for the fourth year in a row to jump into the ice cold water confirming his intention to help those in need.

And then it was time to purge one’s demons of doubt and dive – well, walk quickly – into the sea.

That low cyclical tide made even getting wet difficult as the would-be swimmers slogged out into the harbor trying to find water deep enough to actually plunge into. Hooting and hollering from supporters on the shoreline mixed with ramped up music created a merry cacophony easily heard in Falmouth.

Most plungers scurried in and out as fast as possible. But others wanted to really prove they were made of stronger stuff, diving headfirst into deeper water, splashing one another and generally having a blast until they couldn’t take the pain any longer.

Poised on the beach were EMTs from Mattapoisett’s police and fire departments just in case anyone had a problem. They were unaware of the added challenge – a $100 gift certificate would be awarded to the person who could stay in the water the longest.

As just about everyone headed back to shore and into the waiting warmth of dry towels and that heated tent, two swimmers remained in thigh-high water.

It was a standoff. Who could manage to stay in the longest? One female and one male stood several yards apart, arms folded, staring at the shoreline as the moments went by. Who would be the first to give in? It seemed an eternity but was more like five minutes as the DJ announced that those brave souls would both receive the prize calling the standoff a tie. But the swimmers couldn’t hear the DJ as he called for them to “come in,” the test was over.

The female eventually started for the shore – it was first-time participant Jasmine Burns. The male who also won was nowhere to be found for a comment afterwards.

Burns hustled into the tent where she attempted to warm up, saying that really the only part of her body that hurt was her toes.

McIntyre had said the same thing as he recovered. “It feels like my toes have been smashed with cinder blocks!”

But everyone said they would do it again next year and everyone was still smiling.

Michelle Huggins said that clearly the extreme cold temperatures had kept some people away, but overall the event was a success and the monies raised will go directly to families whose reality is now one of trying to survive something much more difficult then freezing ocean waters in January.

By Marilou Newell

One of the highlights of each year for me is standing before the bookshelf in my study and beholding the completed collection of the entire year’s issues of The Wanderer – 51 to be exact, with one online-only edition, which this year happens to be the one you are now reading. It’s a moment of reckoning of my life’s work over the past year, the accumulation of all that I have produced meant to inform, expose, enlighten, and ultimately pay the bills.

It’s more than that, though. This stack before me literally represents a year that I … that we … have lived. I feel sentimental about it when I look through them for the most notable news to highlight – the main issues that each community experienced and the people endured in this little corner of the void we call Tri-Town.

Having said that, I bring you your Tri-Town: A Year in Review…

Rochester is changing. And much like in 2016, 2017 in Rochester was mostly about the conversion of open spaces into fenced-in solar farms.

Rochester is now home to multiple large-scale solar energy facilities, with the last one slated for Rounseville Road at the corner of Mendell Road already permitted and ready for construction in 2018.

This latest project, like other solar projects that came before, was vehemently opposed by abutters. Abutters of the solar farm established on Route 105 sought to amend the Town’s solar bylaw to prohibit future large-scale solar projects from designated scenic byways, like Route 105.

Under the jurisdiction of the Planning Board, the article was vetted during a public hearing in September during which Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson said that perhaps residents behind the citizens’ petition should consider an all-out ban of solar farms on designated scenic byways unless the topographical features of the land naturally screen the project from view.

That notion had the initial support of Town Counsel Blair Bailey, who agreed the Attorney General’s Office might consider the article acceptable; however, the night of the October 23 Special Town Meeting, Johnson said Bailey had reconsidered and could no longer recommend moving forward with the bylaw amendment as Johnson had suggested before. Also, that night the resident representing the article was not present when it was called; therefore, no change in the bylaw resulted.

As for Rounseville Road, Borrego Solar Systems will be developing 13 of the 81 acres of the land that corners Mendell Road, now that the Site Plan Review process with the Planning Board has closed and the Special Permit issued.

There could be further solar farms in Rochester in 2018, particularly (and speculatively) on Marion Road (Route 105), now that Craig Canning, developer of a proposed farmer’s market/agricultural operation, has withdrawn his applications with the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board, despite having received prior approval from both boards.

Many of Canning’s abutters supported the agriculturally-based project, except for Kenneth and Maryann Cutler of 223 Marion Road, who sued Canning and the Town Of Rochester to stop the project.

Back in July, Canning submitted a request to withdraw his application for the project, but scores of supportive abutters and townspeople came out to support Canning, who said he was overwhelmed by the public’s support, and Canning subsequently changed his mind.

Still, Canning faced the Cutlers’ mounting opposition.

“I do not want it across the street,” said Mrs. Cutler on August 23. “I don’t want a commercial building in that field.”

For months the public hearings continued, and Canning received his Special Permit in November. Yet on December 13, Canning sent a letter to the ZBA and the Planning Board to again withdraw his applications.

“Unfortunately, projected litigation costs make the project economically unfeasible at this time given the two lawsuits filed…” wrote Canning.

Canning had commented before that, if this farmer’s market project were not to come to fruition, he would have to explore alternative means to maximize the property’s financial outcome, including solar.

Wellspring Farm, the experiential and therapeutic horseback riding mental health facility at 42 Hiller Road, took the entire year to achieve Planning Board approval. However, it still faces opposition from abutter Cathy Mendoza who says owners Holly and James Vogel are still in violation of Planning Board conditions and, now, also State noise level regulations.

The ZBA on December 21 deferred to the Planning Board before it continued the matter until its next meeting on December 28, when again the appeal was continued until January 4.

Also in 2017, Rochester received and planted a special sapling from an ancient ginkgo biloba tree from Hiroshima that survived the hydrogen bombing of WWII. The sapling was donated to the town by former Town Administrator Michael McCue and dedicated on August 6. The tree’s new home is at the rear of the ball field on Dexter Lane.

Not to leave him out, but 2017 was to be the final full year of service for Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee who announced in September that he would retire on September 24, 2018. Magee served the Town of Rochester for 14 years as chief, for a total of 30 years as an officer.

And finally, the firing of Rochester bus driver Ralph Stinson caused a calamity amongst parents who vowed to the Rochester School Committee that their fight to support Stinson was not over.

In Marion, there were plenty of significant news stories to read about.

First, the best news of the year was likely the completion of the renovations to the old VFW building on Mill Road and the opening of the Town’s very own Benjamin D. Cushing Senior/Community Center. The center held an open house on August 12, unveiling the newest town-owned facility to the public and announcing that the center was officially open for business.

Speaking of the VFW building, which added a new facet to the Town House renovation debate, could it possibly house a new town administration building complex in the coming future?

The Marion Town House Building Committee stood by its years of work and maintained that its $7.9 million Option 3A – to renovate the Town House but exclude a previously proposed 996 square-foot addition – was the best option for the town.

Former Selectman Stephen Cushing on February 7 commented rather pessimistically that most of us present that evening would be dead before we ever saw the results of the years of Town House renovation discussions, but the board went ahead with a ‘why not’ vote to allow a VFW site option exploration, which led to the formation of a building subcommittee proposed by former Planning Board member Rob Lane and Finance Committee Chairman Alan Minard.

The results of the feasibility study, which received approval for $35,000 by voters at the October Special Town Meeting, will be reported in 2018.

And after years of efforts, voters approved the town’s new Master Plan, a project three years in the making.

And the Board of Health, although no actual steps have been taken to move the town closer to a new regulation, reignited its debate on banning flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol cigarettes.

The Board of Health attracted the attention of “Big Cig,” the tobacco industry, who cautioned the Town that any move toward banning menthol cigarettes would result in lawsuits – a threat that was countered by the Public Health Advocacy Institute of Northeastern University who pledged free legal support for the Town should the Town be sued.

The matter also attracted attention across the state, with many arguing against the motion, whether it be for personal rights of adults, protection for local retailers who rely on cigarette sales for business, or for minority rights – especially since the majority of menthol cigarette smokers are of the black community.

The board held its final meeting of 2017 on December 12 without making any further decisions.

Before 2017 ended, town officials began voicing their support of a re-zoning effort for the Briggs property located off Spring Street. Although Town Meeting voters have numerous times struck down an article to rezone the lots from Industrial/General Business into residential E, the town this time is hoping to assist Briggs in this business venture while adding a few affordable housing units – something Briggs adamantly opposes. The year 2018 will either see re-zoning approval with a residential condo complex sans affordable housing, or perhaps another 40B, which Briggs has threatened the town with if it did not help Briggs avoid including affordable housing units that he says would make his investment financially unfeasible.

Marion dodged a wastewater-related bullet when the Environmental Protection Agency allowed the Town to explore alternative measures in its NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems) permit to try to reduce nitrogen pollution, celebrating for only a short while before the Buzzards Bay Coalition issued its intent to sue the Town of Marion for violating the Clean Water Act. We’ll see in 2018 if this floats or not…

And of course, Police Chief Lincoln Miller has retired effective December 31, and Lieutenant John Garcia has taken his place as the town’s new police chief.

Over in Mattapoisett, the home of the reigning 2017 Miss Massachusetts Jillian Zucco, the meetings with the highest turnout of residents would be the “Swamp Subdivision” and the Brandt Island subdivision that Planning Board Chairman Tom Tucker once said was so bad it looked like Afghanistan.

The Brandt Point Village subdivision saga has been ongoing for years as the subdivision has changed developers a number of times, and it appears as if the saga will continue well into the New Year.

As for the aforementioned Swamp Subdivision at the end of Snowfield Road, some abutters have requested that Conservation Commission Chairman Mike King recuse himself from discussion and voting, calling it a conflict of interest – an allegation King denied.

Abutters also accused King of not honoring his pledge to uphold the Wetlands Protection Act by him showing some support for the project.

King commented that it was his job to understand both sides of the application process, and that he supported property owners’ rights to develop their properties. He refused to recuse.

Also notable in Mattapoisett’s 2017 was the planning for Phase 1B of the Bike Path reaching 100 percent, and construction of the bike path will begin later in the New Year.

Phase 1B was started back in 2009.

The Town secured TIP (Transportation Improvement Plan) funding from MassDOT to help fund the project, which is estimated to cost a total of roughly $4 million.

And looking ahead for Mattapoisett, 2018 will see the Town enter into a Community Compact Agreement with the Charlie Baker Administration, which will enable the town to receive grant money earmarked specifically for Community Compact municipalities. Mattapoisett will join Rochester and Marion as Community Compact towns.

Overall, remember that partial solar eclipse we witnessed back on August 21? Just wait until April 8, 2024 at 3:29 pm when the moon eclipses the sun again, this time at 92.6 percent!

There is surely much to come in 2018 – including recreational marijuana sales. How far will you have to go to legally buy your weed? Since Rochester already has a moratorium in place until the state releases its own guidelines, and with Mattapoisett poised to take similar action possibly during an upcoming Special Town Meeting, could it be Marion?

Stay up to date with The Wanderer in 2018 to find out.…

Happy New Year, Tri-Town!

By Jean Perry