Marion Complete Streets Program

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Marion’s Transportation and Circulation Task Force (a subcommittee of the Planning Board) and the Board of Selectmen are pleased to announce that the town has achieved Tier 2 status in the Complete Streets Program. This milestone qualifies Marion to apply for grants of up to $400,000 per year for projects that improve town-owned roads, sidewalks, and bikeways and provide better pedestrian conditions. Marion is only one of seven towns on the southeast coast and Cape and Islands to have Tier 2 status.

            Marion began the journey through this infrastructure funding process by passing a Complete Streets Policy document in February 2018. The Town then applied for and received a planning grant to develop a “Prioritization Plan,” which lists a variety of transportation projects that can be proposed to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for funding.

            The Transportation and Circulation Task Force with support from the Board of Selectmen and Marion residents developed a list of 26 projects based on the needs stated in the 2017 Marion Master Plan. Projects were prioritized according to a list of desired criteria, such as safety, improved walkability/bikeability, handicap accessibility, and enhanced circulation. The planning grant provided funding to develop the details and cost estimates for each project.

            Last week, the Prioritization Plan was approved by MassDOT elevating Marion to Tier 2 status. The town is now eligible to apply for construction funds twice a year, in October and May. The Transportation and Circulation Task Force and the Board of Selectmen will request funds for a variety of transportation improvements that will encourage safer driving, walking, and biking.

            Please see the MassDOT Complete Streets website for more information on the program: masscompletestreets.com/. Questions? Contact Marion’s Town Planner, Gil Hilario at ghilario@marionma.gov.

Marion Natural History Museum

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            Marion’s landmark library building of Elizabethan architecture is also the Natural History Museum, both founded there on 8 Spring Street by Elizabeth Taber in the year 1867. For the past 152 years, they have served as Tabor’s upstairs-downstairs community flagship of higher education.

            In 1989, Elizabeth Leidhold, as seen in my illustration, became the current director of the museum. She was just married and came well qualified with a B. S. degree in Forestry and Wildlife from the University of Connecticut, with additional class work in soil science and education. For the next 30 years, under the auspices of the Marion Natural History Society, with the broad scope of her educated tutelage, she dedicated her efforts to provide education of local plants, animals, minerals, and marine biology.

            The facilities of Elizabeth Taber’s endowment are a stellar state of the art collection under glass cases of displays of seashells, fossils, butterflies, insects, bird nests, and bird eggs. The quality and diversity of her endowment reminds me of the renowned collection of glass flowers in Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

            More recent high-tech facilities have also graduated to include visitors’ ability to step into room scale settings, such as the virtual reality experience of standing under water to see a blue whale up close, or on the surface of Mars next to the Curiosity rover.

            Children’s programs also augment the Massachusetts science standards curriculum, such as animal habitat adaption, geology, and weather. For school grades 3 to 6, summer programs explore our coastline, plus two-hour lecture visits from fish and wildlife scientists and entomologists.

            Many beneficial school programs for adults are often funded in association by the local Marion Cultural Council. Children’s courses may include demonstrations of artistic illustration for youngsters to draw from nature. Adult lecture programs include a broad scope about stone walls of New England, right whales, birds of prey, reptiles, vernal pools, astronomy, backyard bird counts, alewives, and winter tree walks.

            The Museum always welcomes new members and volunteers or docents to join in with those from Tabor Academy and Old Rochester Regional High School. There is also a natural history book club that meets once a month.

            Upon occasion, the director responds to invitations, being asked to give visiting lectures to share Marion’s natural history and heritage to audiences of other Southcoast institutions of education and learning. You, the reader, can easily join to be part of Marion’s museum of new members as it reaches out like the beaming beacon of a lighthouse for those seeking enlightenment of our Buzzards Bay ecology.

By George B. Emmons

Residents Challenge ORR to Address Racism

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            Barbara Sullivan and Danielle Lopes have more in common than their darker skin tones. The two spoke before the Old Rochester Regional School Committee on May 22 to talk about young people they love very much who have experienced racial discrimination at a young age in their own community – the Tri-Town community.

            “I grew up in the town and I went through the school system,” said Lopes. “I also was a Spanish teacher here at ORR years ago. I’m very invested in this community and I’m now raising my own children, and in this community we have some uncomfortable issues that we would like to present.”

            Lopes and Sullivan have been meeting as a group with others in the community to talk about how they could deal with the “touchy subject” of racism as it has been described by three young women who attend ORR and experience it differently than the majority of their peers. They experience it as minorities.

            The three girls hadn’t been friends before they found themselves together for the Spark Program, and before long they were discussing their shared experiences of racism within the ORR school district, leading them to realize that their experiences were not that isolated.

            “My daughter started coming home from school in tears. She wanted to leave school,” said Lopes. Her daughter described the frequent use of the N-word at school, harassment, and the presence of confederate flags on some students’ belongings. She said recently a substitute teacher made a reference to her daughter that she should be home-schooled … “or in New Bedford Public School where there would be more people like her.”

            “All very upsetting stuff to a 15, 16-year-old,” said Lopes.

            Lopes said that while at Sippican School, her son experienced a severe incident of racism, saying, “My son was smacked in the face and called a dumb … N-word.

            “He went into the bathroom and called me from his phone … and said, “Mommy. I’m scared. Can you please come and get me? … Somebody just hit me and said something bad.”

            She was unhappy with the Sippican School principal’s response, which was to call out the fact that her son had used his phone at school, which was not allowed.

            “My son came away seeing that that was … the problem of this situation,” said Lopes.

            The two have met with ORR Principal Mike Devoll, “Who has been awesome,” Lopes said, “but he can’t do it by himself.”

            “It’s important for you to know what is going on in this school system,” said Sullivan. She then read a statement written by her granddaughter, age 13, from Marion. She wrote wondering what her experience would be like if she were white and, although ORR is a good school, there are racist undertones and racism is a problem at ORR with students and with teachers.

            “Teacher behavior is so blatantly racist in some instances,” said Sullivan, “that one has to wonder why the district hasn’t done more to address the issues.”

            The women were told that teacher training has been provided; however, the training is not comprehensive or in-depth enough, and substitute teachers also need training on how to facilitate multiculturalism and respond to racism. Sullivan said the training provided “didn’t meet the needs of black students and the teachers who interact with them on a daily basis.”

            For Sullivan, ORR needs to train teachers on how to set an example of appropriate behavior when minority students are exposed to “micro and macro aggressions” of racism. She urged the district to take a three pronged approach and to self-examine, self-educate, and self-direct to address racism. She urged the formation of a task force to study the issue and to live by its mission: “To inspire all students to think, to learn, and to care.”

            “We sincerely hope that his committee will really, really look into this,” said Sullivan. “This has gone on for years.” She continued, ”We’ve got to get down to the very, very grass roots of this issue and what’s in people’s hearts.”

            “I don’t feel that the things that are going on in the school are hate crimes,” said Lopes. “I truly think that it’s ignorance and that through education we can all learn from it.”

            Old Rochester Regional School Committee Chairman Carey Humphrey thanked the women for attending and for calling to the committee’s attention the pervasive problem.

            “I very much appreciate you being here tonight,” said Humphrey. “We’re advocates for all the students, and this is very important to us and thank you for being here.”

            Superintendent Doug White told the women, “We look forward to working with the group.”

            Committee member Jim Muse urged the women to help the committee in an ongoing effort to find a mechanism for dealing with racism, “So that we can look at how we can create an action item.”

            Committee member Joe Pires said he can relate to the women’s stories as a Cape Verdean.

            “As I’m sitting here, my stomach is turning,” Pires said. “There should be zero tolerance for what your child and your daughter have experienced.”

            Pires urged diversity training and acknowledged that although the school committee can’t change the world, “… we have a responsibility to influence our children,” he added.

            “This is a good thing that you did today because you put light on it,” Pires said, “and I promise you, whatever I can do … and our committee can follow through and maybe establish a committee to maybe begin to address it.”            The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is scheduled for June 11 at 6:30 pm in the ORR Junior High School media room.

Old Rochester Regional School Committee

By Jean Perry

ORR Girls Lacrosse Claims Fourth Straight SCC Title

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            Old Rochester Regional girls lacrosse completed a South Coast Conference play with a 14-4 win over Apponequet on Monday. The Bulldogs have now gone undefeated in back-to-back season. And also with the win, ORR was crowned SCC champions for the fourth time in as many seasons.

            ORR coach Scott Tavares and his senior class have won a share of the league title every year they’ve been in the program, sharing the honor with Apponequet in 2016 and then again with Apponequet, as well as Fairhaven in 2017 before winning it outright in 2018 and again this season.

            “This class that I have of seniors, I have nine, they’re all A-plus kids,” Tavares said. “The attitude and the mentality that they bring helps us gel as a team. I never sense any chippiness or anything. It’s really been a great group from the top down.”

            Among those who stood out in the championship-clinching win were seniors Megan Shay, who led ORR with five points and four goals, and goalie Gates Tenerowicz(11 saves). The senior goalie’s performance stood out, in particular.

            The second-place Lakers had 15 shots on net in total, each being a quality attempt. Along with some pressure from the ORR defense, Tenerowicz maintained the level of play she’s put forth all season long.

            “Arguably, one of the nicest things I’ve had as a coach is not having to worry about a goalie,” Tavares said. “Because it takes a special person to get between the pipes to have somebody fire a little hard ball at you. She started as a freshman; she was in a competition for the position her freshman year; she beat out a junior, and she hasn’t looked back.

            “She actually loves it, works at it and she wants to be a goalie,” continued Tavares. “It’s just such a rare thing that I haven’t had to worry about for four years. It’s been a luxury that a lot of coaches in the area don’t get the ability to have, so that’s been great.”

            After Wednesday’s trip to Sandwich, the Bulldogs start their preparation for the postseason as they await the announcement for state tournament seeding on Friday. Between the conclusion of Wednesday’s game and the first state tournament game, the Bulldogs have an idea of what they need to work on.

            “We’re always trying to clean up our mental mistakes and just play clean,” Tavares said. “Like today – yes the score was 14-4 – but the girls will tell you that wasn’t our best effort. We’re capable of a lot better than that. Just little in-game things. Like when we’re transitioning the ball upfield, we’re throwing 40-yard passes. If we hit on it, it’s awesome; it’s like the best thing ever. But when we drop it and the other team scoops it, really good teams in the tournament will scoop that ball and score. It’s being mindful and making good decisions with the ball and just playing a cleaner game. We didn’t really play a clean game; it was kind of sloppy today.”

            Meg Hughesrepresented ORR at the Eastern Massachusetts Division 4 meet well on Sunday. The senior won the 400 in 56.82 seconds and the 400 hurdles in 62.19. Hughes also won the 4×400 in 4:10.25 with Lea Bourgeois, Michaela Mattson, andEmma Carroll. Hughes qualified for nationals with her effort in the 400 hurdles, setting a meet record and a school record in the process.

Old Colony

            After 15 games, Matt Bumpus, Hunter Soares, and Ryan McGuigganlead Old Colony baseball with 22 hits apiece. McGuiggan is hitting a blistering .423 on the year; yet, he’s third on the team in average. Soares is second at .449 and Bumpus stands above the rest with a .512 average. Bumpus also has eight doubles, as do McGuiggan and Jacob Worden(.354 average). Bumpus also has four triples, the most of any Cougar. Bumpus has been solid on the mound, too. He has a 2.10 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings. Worden has a 1.51 ERA and leads the Cougars with 37 K’s on the mound, while Nick Hedlundhas a team-best 1.37 ERA.

High School Sports Update

By Nick Friar

Cushing Cemetery Trustees

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Cushing Cemetery is holding a meeting at the Mattapoisett library onJune 11at 6:30 pm in the evening. Anybody who would like to join the board of trustees or who like to get involved with how the cemetery is run, please come by. We welcome new people and new ideas.

Bishop Stang High School Graduation

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Bishop Stang High School celebrated the graduation of 143 seniors who have successfully completed their course of studies on Wednesday, May 29. The following Tri-Town Students are among the graduates;

            From Marion; John Francis Egger, Henry James Ucci*, and Marion         Julia Rose Winters, From Mattapoisett; Maya Catherine Dube*, Dalton Jake Pinto, Andrew Joseph Rayner, and Camdyn Madeleine Roy; and from Rochester; Caroline Sue Downes

* denotes National Honor Society

Open Table

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The next Open Table will be on June 14. This will be the last one until September 13. Please join us in Reynard Hall at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church for Flag Day. Wear red, white, and blue to celebrate. There is no charge for the meal, although donations are gratefully accepted. Doors open at 4:30 pm and supper is served at 5:00 pm. This is a community event and everyone is welcome.

ORR Class of ‘74 Reunion

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The Old Rochester Regional Class of ‘74 will hold their 45th reunion on Saturday, July 20from 6:00 pm to midnight at the Reservation Golf Club in Mattapoisett. Please contact Betsy Horrocks-DiVeglia at diveglia@gmail.com if you have not received an invitation or you have had an address change.

Taber Library Reopens its Front Doors

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            The new front entrance to the Elizabeth Taber Library is finally complete.

            The doors were opened on Monday, May 27, when town officials, volunteers, library staff, patrons, townspeople, and family of the project’s benefactor, Peggy Repass, converged upon the handcrafted stonework for a special ribbon cutting celebration.

            “Is this not the most unbelievable entrance to a library that you’ve ever seen?” asked President of the Board of Trustees Jay Pateakos. “Classic and classy” is how he described it. “It’s ‘Marion’ and it’s exactly what we wanted.”

            It was no easy task, though, said Pateakos. But “volunteer extraordinaire” Bob Raymond was an essential builder in the project, Pateakos said, who was there at the library every single stone step of the way.

            “The curveballs came fast and furious,” said Raymond, but they were handled by the team with patience and grace. “This is a very special construction,” he said, and the design and all that it entailed was something quite new, even for the architects and builders. The “reading circle” and the encircling stone benches was a suggestion from Repass herself who saw something similar at a library she passed in Maine.

            “This all started with an automatic door opener,” said Raymond, “and it grew and grew.” He thanks Repass, all the volunteers who contributed time and efforts, the Repass family who worked closely on the project with the library, and those “angels and heroes” who preferred anonymity. “This (design) is very unique. You won’t see this almost anywhere else – not like this,” said Raymond.

            Repass’ family reports that she is in good health at 99 years old and still as voracious a reader as always. Repass worked as the librarian in Marion for five years in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s and during the past few years found it increasingly difficult to ascend the stairs and open the old heavy door to get inside. She decided she would do something about it and approached the Town three years ago, offering her generous donation.

            Repass was unable to join the selectmen and the community at the base of those beautiful brand-new steps Monday morning, “But I know she is here in spirit,” said Sally Christine. “This was her vision.”

            Repass selected the titles of the granite ‘books’ that encircle the grand entrance “to remind everyone of the favorite wonderful books of their childhood,” said Christine.

            Inside the new entrance, the library had on display some relics of Elizabeth Taber’s life, including one of her dresses. Guests stayed to enjoy the summery morning, admiring the stonework while munching on cookies and other refreshments.

By Jean Perry

Academic Achievements

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            Julianne Mariner, Class of 2019, has been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2019 semester at the University of Vermont. Mariner from Marion, is majoring in Medical Laboratory Sciences in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

            Kiernan McCauley Reynolds, son of Dr. and Mrs. Jason Reynolds of Marion, graduated cum laude from New England Law Bostonon May 17, 2019. He will be pursuing an LLM in Taxation at Boston University School of Law in the fall.

            Curry Collegegraduated a total of 754 undergraduate and graduate students at the 2019 Commencement on May 19 at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. During the event Matthew Burnett of Marion received a BA, Victoria Caton of Mattapoisett received a BS, and Christine Ryan of Rochester received a BS.

            Christopher Williams of Rochester graduated from the University of New Hampshirein May 2019. He/she earned a PHD degree in Psychology.

            Dana Tripp of Mattapoisett, has been named to the dean’s list at Paul Smith’s Collegefor the spring 2019 semester. Tripp earned a semester average of 3.3 or higher to receive this distinction.

            Northeastern Universityis pleased to recognize those students who distinguish themselves academically during the course of the school year. Mattapoisett residents Isatu B. Malekani, majoring in biology, and Matthew J. Dunham, majoring in political science/economics were recently named to the University’s dean’s list for the spring semester, which ended in April 2019.

            Alexander H. Cannell of Mattapoisett was one of the nearly 615 students who were awarded bachelor degrees from St. Lawrence Universityduring Commencement ceremonies held on May 19 in Canton, New York.

            Darby Nolet of Marion graduated with a B.S. in exercise science from Colby-Sawyer College on Saturday, May, 11.