99,200: A Farewell to Paul Sardinha

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Paul Sardinha, the man who has been bringing smash hit drama productions for the past two decades to Old Rochester Regional, has resigned from his position as director.

            If you’ve ever been to a show put on by the ORR Drama Club, you would understand why Principal Michael Devoll often refers to the club as the “crown jewel of ORR.”

            In his 26 years working at the school, Sardinha has worked with his students to put together around 60 shows, including alumni performances.

            Originally working as a musical director for the club for four years in 1991, Sardinha has made many memories during his 22 years as the solo director of the club. He can distinctly remember the serendipity of the day he spoke on the phone with then principal, Jim Egan. In hopes of getting hired as the new director for the club, Sardinha was about to call Egan when he received a call from the principal himself, offering the very job.

            Over these past 26 years with Old Rochester, many aspects of the school have changed – especially the size of the student body and the size of the building itself. Sardinha took it upon himself to place name tags above each teacher’s doorway, and signs at the end of every hallway declaring which direction one can find each subject.

            Among his other lasting contributions, Sardinha brought to the school auditorium floor lights and the grand piano.

            Mrs. Helen Blake, who worked with Sardinha for 25 years, has many memories of her time working alongside him. One particular memory that stands out to her is of the day she brought Paul a songbook that contained music from Carousel. He instantly flipped to the back of the book to get a look at the music. Blake then asked Sardinha if he would play her a song.

            “I asked him to play If I Loved You, and he was playing it and I said, ‘Oh no. You have to sing it too,’” said Blake. “I kind of put him on the spot, but it was just such a favorite moment. It was like a special performance just for me, and it was just so beautiful.”

            Magnificent sets have also been a trademark of the Drama Club, and that is thanks to Sardinha’s skill of learning through observation.

            “When I was a little kid my father was a plumber,” said Sardinha, “and I would go with him on plumbing jobs. A lot of times we worked on houses where the walls were being stripped and the house was being constructed. I’m a visual learner and I would look at the way walls were constructed and think, well, that’s the way you build a wall. So, I put a house together [on stage] the way I saw it happen.”

            “Just when you think you’ve seen it all, he creates something else that you think can’t happen, and he makes it happen,” said Blake. “He just amazes me.”

            It was thanks to these same skills that he was able to become so competent in relation to working the lights, sound booth, and supervising the backstage activities. After years of watching others perform the various aspects of running a show, he was able to emulate their actions easily. Although many believe that the actors are all you need for a show, Sardinha is adamant that they always remember that this thought is wholly incorrect.

            “Never, ever, ever disrespect anybody offstage,” said Sardinha. “Without the offstage people, actors have no right being on the stage.”

            As for his ability to direct, that was all from his own talent.

            “I was told years ago that my instincts were pretty natural.” said Sardinha.

            If you were to ask Sardinha what his favorite show was, he probably couldn’t tell you. For him, every single show was special and wonderful in its own way.

            “I have moments from every show that I remember fondly,” he said. “I always loved the show that I was working on at the time.”

            What he will miss most about the Drama Club, without a doubt, will be, “watching the success,” he said.

            “Watching kids coming in who are so unsure of themselves, watching the kids find their security, find themselves, and become more secure with themselves,” said Sardinha.

            To the teachers, he urged, “Stay the course. Keep supporting the kids the way we always have.” To the students, he reminded, “Don’t be afraid to try. Don’t be afraid, and thoroughly enjoy the work you guys do.”

About the drama club members, he said, “The kids will always fall in love with the show that they create. It’s up to the director to make it the best it can be, and the kids will never, ever, ever let the director down. They will never let themselves down because they know how much they put in for the show.”

            And some advice for everybody: “Never, ever, ever forget the names of the custodians and the secretaries,” said Sardinha. “They are people just like everybody else. They have families: they have highs and they have lows: they have bills. They have happy times. Never forget the custodians. They are the unsung heroes of the building. And the secretaries.”

            As for his time spent with the club, Sardinha stated, “I had a fantastic, brilliant time with the Drama Club. Nobody can take away the twenty-six years that Helen and I worked to get there together doing the Drama Club.”

            Fondly, he said, “I am extremely pleased that ORR trusted me. I am grateful to the school system for trusting me when they did, and I am also so proud of all the productions we have been able to put together.”

            Ninety-nine thousand two hundred – Approximately the number of people who have come to see the productions directed by Paul Sardinha; the number of people who would gladly congratulate him on his 26 years of wonderful work; the number of people who wish him the best.

ORR Update

By Grace Mastroianni

Joshua Slocum: South Coast Global Mariner

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When September breezes spank the spinnakers and unfurl the sails to lean the masts into the windward harness of forward motion, they pass in panoramic review along the shoreline toward the end of summer. They also pass by landmarks of shipyards, town wharves, and nautical landings that are lasting cornerstones of an ages old seafaring history. It all began with the landing of explorer Bartholomew Gosnold, perhaps blown here in 1602, followed by a favorable western trade wind that landed the Mayflower in Plymouth in 1620.

A hundred years later, the South Coast would sail into the future of a whaling industry that was to light up the world and navigate to all seven seas of the globe. When the whaling industry was about to subside another hundred years later, a single individual named Captain Slocum would cast off from here in 1895 to sail alone around the world. His mission was to single-handedly overcome a declining interest in the public eye for the whaling culture with his global adventure. He purchased a derelict 37-foot sloop called the Spray that was deserted in the Oxford Shipyard section of Fairhaven. It symbolically lay abandoned on its side right next to the alleged site of the grave of John Cooke who had come over on the Mayflower.

The cost of rehabilitation was little more than $553 as Slocum himself cut down nearby oak trees to overhaul the keel, hull, frame, and centerboard. His boat building expertise would hold the Spray together for a three-year, 36,000-mile cruise. It was the most remarkable shipyard and seamanship feat in history. His subsequent book, Sailing Around the World, alone earned him the title of a literary sea lion, congratulated in person by President Teddy Roosevelt. However, in 1909, again in the Spray, he set sail toward the Amazon in South America never to be seen or heard from again. As in the mysterious disappearance of Amelia Earhart, family and friends were left without closure to wonder what happened to a loved one and if they were somehow still alive.

I recall this feeling with the sudden loss of my 28-year-old cousin Robert Bockius who disappeared in 1962 in a ship called the Windfall that was in the Bermuda race from coastal Connecticut. He and the crew were last reported in the vicinity of the Bermuda Triangle, infamous for nefarious surging waves from swirling winds, and a shifting compass of varied longitude gravity pull. Every successive day dawns with thoughts of an emotional image of rising and falling tide of hope and grief in the human ocean of thought possibilities.

We are left to honor the endeavor of those that go down to the sea in ships, only to offer this literary tribute to them in a local flagship of Southcoast news, appropriately entitled The Wanderer.

By George B. Emmons

Mattapoisett Cub Scout Pack 53

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Mattapoisett Cub Scout Pack 53 invites families with children in 1st – 5th grade to join us for our Kickoff Party on Thursday, September 20from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm on the field at Center School with food and games.

If you like Pinewood Derby racing, zoo animals, rocket launching, STEM workshops, playing games, and exploring museums after dark, Cub Scouts is for you!!! We meet three times per month throughout the school year to work on skills, play games, and do activities. Once a month, there are other activities such as STEM workshops, museum overnighters, and rocket launches.

We welcome all scout-aged children and any adults with an interest in scouting to help with our organization – you don’t have to have a child in scouting to participate as an adult leader.

Please contact Wendy Copps at pack53cubscout@gmail.com to learn more

RHS Features Rochester Businesses, Past and Present

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The September 19meeting of the Historical Society will feature a talk by Connie Eshbach on Rochester Businesses, Past and Present to introduce this year’s museum exhibit. The talk will focus on business in Rochester from colonial times to the present, highlighting how certain types of businesses have continued or changed to meet the needs of Rochester residents over the last 200 or so years. Also included will be some unique and lessor known businesses. The talk will answer a variety of questions, such as: Was there ever a 60ft, dinosaur in Rochester? Where do people from Rhode Island to Falmouth go for fried clams? Are there any mills still operating in town? How many boarding houses were in Rochester in the early 1900s? On which side of the street would you find a meeting place for Whigs or for Tories? Come and learn about these and many other interesting facts.

The meeting is at 7 pm at the East Rochester Church Museum, 355 County Road. All are welcome.

Marion’s Green Community Status

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To the Editor:

            Marion’s qualifying as a designated State Green Community may not be such a good Idea. The Energy Management Committee (EMC) is asking the October Town Meeting (TM) voters to adopt a stretch building code and authorize $55,000 to buy out the two BMW and Nissan electric car leases.

            A YES vote for the proposed stretch building code means ratification for the Town to become a Green Community. A NO vote means the Town does not becomes a Green Community. The current state building code would remain and proposed $55,000 electric car lease buy out option will no longer be necessary.

            The stretch building code will have an impact on taxpayer’s homeowner’s replacement value insurance coverage. Dig out your homeowner’s insurance policy and have it reviewed to see if you have adequate replacement coverage. Depending on the policy terms and conditions and to avoid coverage gaps, homeowners may need a green gap coverage endorsement and pay any increase in primum required for the stretch code replacement cost coverage.

            Community construction needs very. Not all construction needs to be, or should be required to meet stretch code requirements.

            Stretch building code PowerPoint slides presented by Seth Pickering, the state’s Green Energy coordinator, at the last EMC meeting show there is not much grant money available. The state has budgeted up to $20 million for statewide GC grants, which means the state-wide average grant for the 241 designated communities is $83,000.

            If Marion qualifies, its initial $140,000 grant (the qualifying sign up bonus – an amount determined by a demographic formula) would be use for qualifying energy-related projects. Thereafter, Marion would compete with all the 241 qualifying communities in the grant beauty contest for additional grant money. There are winners and losers as grants will range from $0, nothing, to the $250,000 max cap. After the $140,000 bonus grant, there are no assurances that Marion will receive any additional grant money. This notwithstanding Marion’s spending and investing in meeting the GC requirements including an estimated $280,000 in capital spending for upgrading to more fuel-efficient vehicles targeted by the EMC in 2015 at the time the electric cars were leased using state grants.

            Grant money is used for municipal energy-related projects. Marion, a small community, will not have many qualifying grant projects. Grant potential, therefore, will be limited.

            The Town cannot be in a position of spending and investing more money for GC compliance criteria than it receives in grant money. The EMC needs to provide an estimated breakeven point for its GC project. Taxpayers have a right to know this impact before being asked to vote on the issue. The finance and capital committees have not vetted any of this and the ten-year capital forecast has no EMC projects including proposed electric car purchases. The vetting and prioritizing of EMC projects should be no different than other municipal projects.

Ted North, Marion

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

 

Jane R. Martin

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On June 6, 2018, Jane R. Martin our loving matriarch, daughter, wife, grandmother, great grandmother and friend passed away at the age of 77. Jane was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Marion Rothwell, her son Michael R. Martin, and her grandson Joey Martin. Jane is survived by her husband of 57 years Ronald G. Martin, her children: Kimberly-husband Robert, Patrick-wife Kris, Ronald-wife Mary, and Lauretta-husband Dean, her grandchildren: Ashley-husband Adam, Cory, Elle, Danielle, Brody, McKenzie, Michael and great granddaughter Joey. She was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts and grew up in Fairhaven and the surrounding areas. Once married she and her husband started their family in Mattapoisett. Even though Jane and Ron ultimately moved their family to Arizona and then later to El Paso, Texas-Santa Teresa, New Mexico where she remained until her death, she was forever deeply loyal and proud of where she was born and grew up. This was very apparent in her choice of sports teams: The New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics. She believed in giving back to those in need and did so during her lifetime without reserve. Her family can think of no better way to honor her memory than to continue on with her giving spirit by making a donation in lieu of flowers. Her personal charitable donations were made to the ASPCA, The Wounded Warrior Project and her local Humane Society, among others: The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, The Red Sox Foundation, and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundations are community based programs that directly benefit children in need. Jane was a vivacious spirit, loved to travel, and cherished time with her family and friends. Her infectious laughter will live on for eternity. Although she will be greatly missed she is now athome and in peace in her final resting place at St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Mattapoisett,Massachusetts with her son Michael.

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club

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The first Fall meeting of the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club (MWC) will be on Thursday, September 20at 11:00 am in Reynard’s Hall of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, located at 27 Church Street. The Club meets regularly on the third Thursday of each month (weather permitting). The MWC is an organization, established in 1941, that is not only social, but also philanthropic and involved in town improvements and activities.

This month is a potluck luncheon and an opportunity for members to catch up with one an another and talk about our summer activities, our Nature’s Treasures Garden Tour, the Taste of the Town, and other projects, and sign up for various upcoming events and interest groups.

Guests and anyone who would like to get to know us are welcome. Come join us and learn more about our organization and the Club’s activities. We have a website, www.mattapoisettwomansclub.org where you may learn more about us.

SLT Hosting Walk Tour of White Eagle Cranberry Bog

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Sippican Lands Trust (SLT) invites you to come on a walking tour of our White Eagle Cranberry Bog on Saturday, September 15at 10 am. Mike Wainio, SLT’s White Eagle Cranberry Bog farmer, will be at the site to provide information on the working history of this bog.

SLT’s White Eagle Cranberry Bog has been in continuous cultivation for over 100 years and makes up a portion of the 248-acre White Eagle property that is part of the Aucoot Cove watershed. The White Eagle property supports a rich diversity of habitats including upland pine, mixed hardwood forests, shrub and wooded swamp, freshwater marsh and cranberry bogs. The White Eagle property and surrounding land make up a 482-acre contiguous parcel of land that is home to several rare and threatened species including the Eastern Box Turtle, the Spotted Turtle and the Water-willow Stem Borer.

Sippican Lands Trust’s White Eagle property is located off of Route 6 in Marion. Take Parlowtown Road across from the town cemetery and follow road until you reach the cul-de-sac. Bear left onto the dirt road and follow past the abandoned cranberry bog on your right. Parking is available directly past the bog. The kiosk is a short walk beyond.

The walk is free and will start at the White Eagle kiosk and run approximately 90 minutes. Please bring water and dress appropriately for the day’s weather as only the worst weather will cancel an SLT walk. If the walk is canceled, then information will be posted to SLT’s website and Facebook page. For additional information visit sippicanlandstrust.org or call Sippican Lands Trust at 508-748-3080.

Applicant Sent Back to the Drawing Board

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It was evident on September 5 that Joseph Longo was a bit surprised by the Rochester Conservation Commission’s reaction to his placement of a proposed single-family home off Mendell Road. As he explained, “We did consider other designs, but felt this one reduced the impact of the project.”

The project’s full scope calls for a new residence within the 100-foot buffer zone of a bordering vegetated wetland and a portion of the construction within the 200-foot outer riparian zone of Sherman Brook.

Longo said that the Planning Board had permitted the subdivision of the 11-acre parcel. And while he could have turned it into five lots, he opted to make the lots larger and design the area for a three-lot subdivision.

The application before the commission was for Lot 2, which had received approval from the Board of Health for a septic system and drinking water well with the placement of the home on the southern most corner of the lot some 200 feet off the roadway. The proposed home would include four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a four-car garage, Longo said.

Everything seemed satisfactory until Vice Chairman Daniel Gagne asked if Longo had considered other designs such as placing the structure sideways on the lot with the front door facing the adjacent lot. Longo said they had, but that homeowners didn’t want that type of placement.

Gagne countered that such considerations might further limit the impact on the riparian zone, saying, “We can approve [a project] in the riparian zone, but we don’t have to.” Gagne said that the commission saw a lot of “creep” into resource areas by homeowners and thus wished to control that happening on this project by limiting impact in the beginning.

Chairman Mike Conway asked whose name was on the deed.

In his application, Longo is listed as the property owner of record, a partner of CorGo Enterprises of Rochester, and the applicant’s representative as a partner of JL3 Consulting, Inc., of Centerville. Conway questioned the corporation’s registration with the state saying when he investigated CorGo he couldn’t find them in the registry.

There was a pause before Longo said he would drop off the appropriate documents to the office the following day.

Conway continued that, if CorGo wasn’t a legal entity, the commission couldn’t hear the application.

Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon said that although the commission had reviewed a number of projects along the riverfront area, the majority had been for work on already disturbed lots. This project was for a newly created lot, which would have to meet a number of new regulations for construction in a riverfront area. She passed out new documents from the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions for the commissioners’ reference.

Farinon said that while she was sure Longo had taken great care in the design and sensitivity towards the resources areas, it needed to be documented in the filing versus simply through verbal acknowledgement that other designs had been considered. She also said that studies from a wetlands scientist were needed to ensure the project would meet performance standards.

Before the application was continued until October 2, giving Longo and his partner Ryan Correia time to provide alternative design options, Correia accessed the Massachusetts Secretary of State website on his phone pointing out the CorGo listing therein. Conway thanked him for that and asked for the hardcopies to be provided as well.

Two other hearings scheduled for this night were continued until September 18. Those hearings were a Notice of Intent filing by REpurpose Properties for land located on Rounseville Road for the construction of a 22-duplex residence, and an abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation filed by Steve Long, Borrego Solar Systems, for property located at 75 Vaughan Hill Road.

Deborah Carr came before the commission with a Notice of Intention to Sell, Right of First Refusal notification for property her family owns off Leonard Pond. She said that the former Boy Scout Camp, lands that her family had allowed the organization to utilize for decades, needed to be sold and, as governed by regulations, was giving the Town the right of first refusal. She said that currently the family holds a purchase and sale agreement valued at $956,000 and wanted to move forward as quickly as possible given that the municipal process had been slow going.

Farinon said that the 24-acre site was “gorgeous,” but thought that the Town would not be willing to buy the property.

“We are not in a position right now to buy this property,” Farinon said.

“I have a responsibility to my family,” Carr said. “If the town can’t buy it, I’ve got to sell it.”

Conway made a motion to advise the selectmen not to exercise the right of first refusal.

However, both Gagne and commissioner Chris Gerrior felt that the price tag shouldn’t hinder the commission from asking the voters to consider the purchase. Gagne said, “We can recommend; the selectmen can decline.” Gagne believed the commission should be the voice for conserving land.

Carr said, “Don’t hold me up: do what you have to do.”

Conway’s motion failed, and a new motion passed asking the selectmen to move forward with an article on the Town Meeting warrant to purchase the land.

In other business, Farinon announced that on Thursday, September 27, at the Rochester Council on Aging, a public forum will be held to discuss the Green Communities State Initiative. There will be two sessions that same day, one held at 3:00 pm and another at 7:00 pm, she said.

Farinon explained that Rochester is considering the program that includes objectives associated with energy conservation and alternative energy sources. She said the town would benefit from substantial cost savings and grant money that would be used by the town for energy reduction programs and projects.

Gagne asked if the initiative would lead Rochester towards having even more solar projects, saying, “I’m concerned this will push more large-scale solar.” Farinon said she didn’t believe that would be the case but might inspire looking at solar projects over capped landfill areas.

On the subject of candidates for an empty seat on the commission, Conway asked if Farinon had received any applicants. She said that one promising candidate had withdrawn his interest. The commission is seeking to fill a seat and an alternate vacancy as well.

The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for September 18 at 7:00 pm in the town hall meeting room.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

 

OR Football Cruises into Season-Opening Win

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Old Rochester football sent a swift message across the entire South Coast Conference in the first week of play, blowing past Wareham football 42-0 in the Cranberry Bowl.

The Bulldogs scored five of their six touchdowns on the ground. Of those five scores, four were courtesy of lead running back Will Garcia. He also accounted for over 50 percent of Old Rochester’s 284 yards on the ground, rushing for 154 yards, despite only logging eight carries.

But Garcia was not the only Bulldog to perform well in the big win.

“The offensive line played well,” Old Rochester coach Justin Kogler said. “The offensive line had good pass protection [and] good run blocking. Our quarterback (Cole McIntyre) threw a lot of nice balls. He should’ve had a touchdown pass that was dropped. He threw a couple really good balls.”

Kogler continued, “I thought the receivers ran good routes. I thought offensively we were all pretty crisp, but we have to get better because we have a tough one this week.”

With Old Rochester jumping out to a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, McIntyre didn’t have a ton of passing opportunities. Though he did take advantage of the few he had, going 2 for 4 for 49 yards and a touchdown to Anthony Childs.

Old Rochester’s kicking game was on point, as well. Jonathan Borsariwent 3 for 3 in point after tries, as did Ryon Thomas.

The little things, like the PATs, are what will separate the Bulldogs from the other tough opponents as the season progresses. Those aren’t something that should be affected on a game-to-game basis, whether it’s in an airtight contest or a blowout win.

“I just think looking at things like the intensity we’re playing at, making sure we’re not making mental mistakes, making sure that we’re focused – that we’re not having to burn timeouts because kids aren’t on the field or that we’re not missing assignments on the offensive line,” Kogler said. “You’re just looking to see if your team is mentality into it. Once the game got kind of out of hand a little bit, at that point you start to look to the guys on your bench to get some playing experience, some guys who don’t normally get into the game.”

The Bulldogs take on Apponequet on Friday in a game that should have a much different feel from the season opener.

“They’re very quick,” Kogler said. “They’ve got good linebackers and their running backs are solid. Their quarterback is only a sophomore, but he started for them at the end of the year and is also a very good player. Also, I believe this group of seniors, when they were freshman, went undefeated. So they’re certainly much better than they were last year.”

Old Rochester volleyball grinded out a 3-1 win over Somerset Berkley to remain undefeated in South Coast Conference Large Division play to start the season. The Bulldogs won the first set 26-24, the second 25-12, and fourth 25-13. The only set they lost was the third, 26-24.

Natalia Wierzbickihad 21 service points, 13 kills, and 12 digs for Old Rochester. Sally Butlerhad nine kills and eight blocks for Old Rochester. Delaney Soucylogged 19 digs and 10 service points. Jenny Durocherhad 17 assists, and Lea Bourgeoislogged nine kills for the Bulldogs.

Old Rochester (2-1, 2-0 SCC) hosts GNB Voc-Tech on Wednesday.

 

Old Colony

Old Colony football won the first contest of the season 16-6 over Cathedral. After Cathedral jumped out to a 6-0 in the first quarter, Mitchell Wilsonpunched in a one-yard score in the second quarter, followed by a Matt Bumpus’two-point conversion to give the Cougars an 8-6 lead. Kyle Scholzthen scored what would be the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter on at 47-yard run, which was followed by another successful Bumpus two-point conversion. Bumpus also finished with 51 yards on the ground on 10 carries. Old Colony (1-0) hosts Keefe Tech on Saturday at 1:00 pm.

Old Colony golf (1-1) earned its first win of the season on Monday, edging out Southeastern 5-4. Preston Forcier, Drew Weaver, and Joel Corteswon their individual matches for the Cougars. Forcier and Anthony Wrighttied for best ball in the first pairing to secure half a point. Lucas Correiatied his match for half a point and won best ball in the second pairing with Weaver for an additional point.

High School Sports Update

By Nick Friar