Town Approaches Road to Renovate Town House

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The Town of Marion has started its exploration of the latest version of a Town House renovation project – one that is more piecemeal in nature – that would take a more gradual approach, spreading out the cost, and improvements, over longer periods of time.

Marion Town Administrator Paul Dawson told the Board of Selectmen on September 4 that he reached out to Marion Town House Building Committee members Bob Raymond and Bill Saltonstall, as well as Facilities Director Shawn Cormier and the project engineer, to come up with a plan to “gently attack” the project, Dawson said, by breaking it down into bite-size chunks taxpayers would find more palatable and easier to swallow.

The concentration will begin by focusing on the building’s envelope, Dawson explained, which will seal in the interior from the exterior and insulate and waterproof the 141-year-old structure.

“The architect is going to come back to us with a proposal to see how we can best organize that and get some cost estimates for budgeting purposes,” said Dawson. From there, the funding can be allocated over a number of years. “We have been meeting and talking about it … with some very good discussions.”

One important step, Dawson said, is to have the Town House commercially appraised to get a true sense of the actual value of the property.

“I think we need some more info,” said Dawson. “We’re working away at that and we will have more information as it becomes available.”

In other news, local aquaculture farmer Shea Doonan was granted an aquaculture license for an oyster farm off Mitten’s Flats after the board voted to give the project final approval.

This was the “final go-around,” as Dawson stated it, as the project has undergone a rigorous federal and state permitting process that first began with the board earlier this year, filtered through the Conservation Commission for approval in August, and now with an approval letter from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife in hand and a nod from Harbormaster Isaac Perry, it was back to the selectmen.

“[The state] has completed their work and they are okay with the Board of Selectmen issuing the permit as it has been applied for,” reported Dawson.

Perry told the board that Doonan’s other aquaculture site off Ram Island is in good standing and suggested, “We see no reason to hold him up on this second site at Mitten’s Flats.”

The board asked Doonan if he would like to say a few words, to which Doonan hastily replied, “No, thank you,” a response based on past experiences with the Board of Selectmen when a series of exhaustive debates did not benefit Doonan so much in other proposed project site applications in Marion waters.

With this approval, Doonan has just one more step, which is the permit to start building.

“Congratulations,” Board of Selectmen Chairman Norm Hills told Doonan.

Also during the meeting, at the request of John Rockwell, chairman of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission, the selectmen voted to endorse the bike path project for Point Road as MOSAC prepares to apply for Community Preservation Act funding in the near future.

According to Rockwell, the project involves a paved bike path along 4,000 feet of Point Road beginning at Creek Road and heading south.

Rockwell referred to Point Road as one of the “five deadly roads in town,” of which there is a push to install paved bike paths for safety.

“We’re just looking for a letter to put in the application saying this is a good project and worthy of consideration,” said Rockwell, who has already garnered a letter of support from the Conservation Commission and is expecting one from the Planning Board.

“Thanks, John, for moving things forward,” said Selectman Randy Parker.

“I look forward to biking on it,” said Selectman Jon Waterman.

In other business, the selectmen approved the use of $21,000 from the Marion Music Hall’s restoration account to restore a piano, which will bring the value of the piano to approximately $35,000. The older piano currently at the music hall will be transferred over to the Council on Aging.

The board appointed Casey Gunschel to the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission, and re-appointed George Pina to the Marion Council on Aging.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen will be September 18 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Jean Perry

 

Open Table Is Back, One-Time Only

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Fall has almost arrived; school is in session; Open Table is back for one more meal. The OT crew hopes to see you on Friday,September 14for a delicious meal served in Reynard Hall at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. There is no charge, although donations are gratefully accepted. Doors open at 4:30 pm and supper will be served at 5:00 pm. Invite a friend or neighbor. All are welcome!

Marion Cultural Council Seeks Funding Proposals

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Marion Cultural Council is excited to receive online grant applications for individuals and organizations for STEAM related projects that will help to enrich the Marion community.

Marion Cultural Council has set an October 15deadline for organizations, schools, and individuals to apply for grants that support cultural activities and proposals for community-oriented arts, humanities, and science programs in the community.

According to Marion Cultural Council chairperson Kristen Saint Don-Campbell, these grants can support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Marion– including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies, or performances in schools, workshops, and lectures.

The Marion 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.

For local guidelines and complete information on the Marion Cultural Council, contact Kristen Saint Don-Campbell at 508-254-3605 or marionculturalcouncil@gmail.com

Application forms and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at www.mass-culture.org.

ORR Welcomes New Vice Principal

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This year, Old Rochester Regional High School has made many changes including the position of vice principal. Former Vice Principal Michael Parker, having taken a position at Old Colony, was recently replaced by James Barrasso. Barrasso, previously from Sturgis Charter School in Hyannis, was thrilled to be given the opportunity to fill the position of vice principal, despite not having been one previously.

            Unlike some of the staff at ORR, Barrasso is not a graduate. He has always admired the way the school functions, but moreso, the relationships built between the students and the teachers.

            “Everybody I talked to at Old Rochester said what an outstanding district, how outstanding the kids were,” said Barrasso.

            As vice principal, Barrasso’s responsibilities includestudent discipline, teacher evaluations, and special education within the high school. Also, if a phone is confiscated, you’ll find it at the end of the day in his office.

            “It is a very difficult job that demands a variety of skills, and we felt like he either had great skill or was willing to learn to be successful in all areas,” said Michael Devoll, principal of ORR.

            Immediately, Barrasso took note of a few things: the way the teachers work together in teams, the spectacular care and detail that the special education department puts into their work, and the great group of kids who attend the school.

            But something that really stood out to him upon entering the building was its cleanliness and the care that the maintenance staff puts into the building everyday.

            “I’ve met most of the maintenance staff, and they are outstanding professionals,” said Barrasso. “This building is really a nice place to come to every morning and I think this sends a good message to the kids, that we care enough about you to make sure this building is well-maintained and clean.”

            Similar to his previous school, Barrasso notices the passion and care from the teachers for both the social and emotional well being of the students. Something he is still getting used to, though, is the size difference.

            “I think the entire building could fit into our cafeteria,” joked Barrasso.

            When asked his opinion of the new vice principal, Devoll said, “He is a great listener. He is very thoughtful in his approach to situations. He has an outstanding mindset for a high school and our community.”

            To get to know his new students better, Barrasso has been doing things like saying ‘hi’ to kids in the hallway, chatting during lunch, and working his way through greeting every sports team. Once clubs begin, he also plans on introducing himself to the various clubs. One of his goals for the year is possibly working with the Drama Club and ORCTV on various issues and concerns brought to the administrators by the students.

            Barrasso, who used to be a history teacher, finds himself impressed with the dedication, sincerity, and respect with which the teachers treat their students. He is looking forward to getting to know how the staff functions as a team and the values of the school. Having played hockey in both college and high school, Barrasso is a huge hockey fan and hopes that the coaches may let him occasionally play with the hockey team. And, he is hoping, maybe even the golf team.

            “We are thrilled to add an educator of his caliber to our school,” said Devoll.

ORR Update

By Grace Mastroianni

Marion Energy Management Committee

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To the Editor:

Feel the Green! A Warrant Article for Marion’s Electric Cars.

Have you noticed the electric cars that zip Marion’s employees around town? About two years ago, the Energy Management Committee (EMC) applied for state grants to fund the leases for four electric vehicles — one Nissan Leaf and three BMW i3s (along with four free charging stations). These cars replaced hand-me-down Crown Victorias from the police department, saving the town about $35,000 in gasoline and maintenance costs over the 3-year leases. Before the 2019 fiscal year begins, the leases for these cars will end, so the EMC has submitted an article to Fall Town Meeting to request a maximum of $55,000 to either purchase the vehicles or lease new ones, a decision to be made when the leases end. The choice will depend on market values of the used cars, new lease prices offered by the dealerships, and availability of rebates and/or incentive programs at the time.

Two years ago, a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that was also initiated and negotiated by the EMC went into effect, a deal that provided all municipal electricity from wind turbines in Plymouth at a 20% discount from the rate previously paid. To date, the town has saved over $173,000 through this agreement. The EMC proposes that a portion of these funds be used to purchase or replace the EVs, thereby investing some of the savings from the PPA in further energy efficiency, lower transportation costs, and reducing Marion’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Please attend the Fall Town Meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, October 22nd in the Sippican School auditorium. Vote to keep Marion on a path to a greener future and save money along the way.

Jennifer Francis

Marion’s Energy Management Committee

 

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.

Stretch Energy Building Code

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Marion’s Energy Management Committee invites you to a public information session regarding the Town’s proposed adoption of the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Building Code at Fall Town Meeting. Come learn and ask questions at 7:00 pm on September 24in the Music Hall.

The Stretch Code requires a slightly higher standard of energy efficiency over that of the Base Building Code. Importantly, it would apply only to construction of new residential homes and commercial buildings over 100,000 square feet. Renovations and additions would not be affected. Additional energy efficiency measures would add about $2,000 to the cost of an average new home (about 0.5%), which would then be recouped in only a few years through savings in energy costs. The homeowner would save money every year after that.

By adopting the Stretch Code, Marion would meet one of the five criteria necessary to become a designated Green Community. The Town has already met two of the criteria, and progress toward the other two is well underway. Becoming a Green Community will open the door to about $20 million/year in state grant funds to pay for energy-efficient upgrades to municipal buildings: think new windows, insulation, heating/cooling systems, and smart thermostats for the Town House! Funding for this program comes not from taxes, but from a fee on all of our electric bills. Some of our neighboring Green Communities have already received substantial funding from this program – Acushnet about $500,000; Dartmouth $220,000; Lakeville $550,000; and New Bedford over $600,000. To date 241 of the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts (69%) have adopted the Stretch Code, and 210 have become Green Communities. It’s time for Marion to join the program and take advantage of these resources.

Bring your questions to the information session on September 24at 7:00 pm in the Music Hall, and please attend the Fall Town Meeting at 6:30 pm on October 22at Sippican School. For more information on the Stretch Code and Green Communities Program, go to https://www.mass.gov/guides/becoming-a-designated-green-community

Toast of the Coast Food & Wine Tasting

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The Gleason Family YMCA in Wareham will host its Food & Wine Tasting, Toast of the Coast, on Friday, September 28from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. This popular fundraising event is held at the historic Marion Music Hall on Front Street in Marion and will feature a silent auction of a variety of items, a live auction of goods by guest auctioneer Rep. Susan Williams Gifford, wine and beer offerings from Sullivan Wine & Spirits of Wareham, a wine pull raffle, and a selection of food items from local restaurants and caterers with oyster from Snug Harbor Fish Co. Duxbury along with B&B Shellfish Co. Wareham & Bryant Brothers Shellfish Co. Marion. The popular “Y Mystery Bags” are back where for $20 you can choose a random bag and receive an item valued at least at $25.00. Items include restaurant gift certificates, movie passes, gifts cards, and more. This is a great opportunity to show your support for an organization that helps people reach their potential and brings the community together.

Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at the Welcome Center Desk, online at ymcasouthcoast.org, or at the door the night of the event. Proceeds from this night benefit the Gleason Family YMCA Annual Campaign, which provides financial assistance to those who otherwise cannot afford the YMCA experience on their own.

Rochester Signs Water Agreement With Marion

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On a simmering September 4 evening when thoughts of tall cool drinks – water that is – were on the minds of many, the Rochester Board of Selectmen signed a comprehensive 20-year municipal water agreement with the Town of Marion.

Selectmen Chairman Greenwood “Woody” Hartley stated that legal counsel for both towns had thoroughly vetted the agreement.

After numerous meetings, the agreement grants the Town of Marion the right to search for water sources and water supplies within the Town of Rochester, among many other rights granted by the document.

Historically, Marion has depended on freshwater sources within Rochester’s boundaries, while Marion has also provided a number of Rochester households with water from systems it installed and maintains.

The agreement also mandates that, should Rochester elect to develop water sources, the cooperation of both towns is necessary to obtain regulatory approvals.

Rochester Water Commissioner Fred Underhill said, “It’s good to have this done for another twenty years. We fixed some of the glitches in the original agreement.”

Hartley thanked Underhill for his tireless efforts.

Also coming before the selectmen was Rochester Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon to discuss the Municipal Vulnerability Plan and Hazard Mitigation Program. She said that grant monies had been received for the Town to move into brainstorming and planning sessions with the help of Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD). She explained that the program would include two four-hour workshops facilitated by a contractor that would include participants from the Fire and Police Departments, Council On Aging, Board of Health, and other town agencies, along with business owners and large landowners. Farinon said that at the end a report would be produced to assist the Town in moving forward with hazard management planning.

The selectmen asked Farinon to return in March at which time they would determine timing for the workshops.

Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar reported that the Town had finally received reimbursement from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency for storms dating back to 2013. The $56,000 received would go into the General Fund, Szyndlar said.

Szyndler also reported that Acting Police Chief Robert Small was selected for the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Committee’s executive board.

Regarding the annual meeting recently attended with SEMASS, Szyndlar said that the topic of recyclables was broached. She said the solid waste disposal company would be assisting the Town in re-educating its citizens on the proper use of recycle bins. With costs for trash and recycling collection rising, she said it was critical to teach people the importance of clean recyclables. To that end, literature would be distributed to households as well as educational video productions.

On the theme of recycling, Szyndlar said that a textile recycling company, Waste Zero, provides curbside pick up of clothing and similar items which could supplement solid waste removal, she explained. One of the upsides of the service, she said, was a payment to the Town of $20 per ton of acceptable materials. She said the company was interested in giving a presentation to the selectmen. This news was favorably received.

In other matters, Hartley announced that the Council on Aging is seeking three community members to assist the Board of Directors in selecting a new director. Interested parties may call Sharon Lally at the Council on Aging at 508-763-8723 no later then September 10.

Earlier in the evening, the selectmen appointed Kimberly Burke to the Plumb Library Board of Trustees and acknowledged retiring Rochester Chief of Police Paul Magee with a citation for his years of service to the Town. Magee served Rochester from January 2003 until September 2018.

The selectmen also granted use of the Pine Street fairgrounds to the Rochester Lions Club for a Touch-a-Truck event scheduled for October 13.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for September 17 at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall meeting room.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell

 

ORR Ready for New Era of Football

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For a few years, Old Rochester football coach Justin Kogler had the luxury of not worrying about the ground game entering each season. With Harry Smithset as his lead back, the Bulldogs offense had a playmaker who helped set the tone. But now Smith is gone, currently serving as a linebacker for Southern Connecticut State University.

But the Bulldogs aren’t concerned with filling that void.

“The good news is we have three fullbacks that are all really good players: Desmond Dias, Dylan DeWolfeand Cam Brizinski,” Kogler said. “And then we have Will Garciaback, who rushed for 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns. We got our quarterback (Cole McIntyre) back, he’s throwing the ball much better than he did last year and we have some pretty good receivers this year.

“Obviously, it hurts to lose Harry,” said Kogler, “but it’s not like we don’t have anyone else.”

Garcia is certainly the biggest reason the Bulldogs will continue to succeed. His numbers (1,400 yards and 21 TDs) would make him the top running back on almost any other high school team. Now it’s finally his time to be the feature back, and his head coach thinks Garcia is ready.

“He was ready for it last year,” Kogler said. “But because of Harry, he was forced to take a back seat a little bit. This year hopefully he can stay healthy and have a good season.”

But Garcia is a different style back than Smith was. If nothing else, there’s a major difference in size, which could lead Old Rochester to change its offensive scheme for the season. That will not be the case. Kogler believes he has the personnel to keep the offensive scheme close to what it’s been of recent.

“The plays won’t change,” Kogler said. “The kids we have [at] fullback all can do the plays that Harry did. … We’re going to have to be more balanced [with] the ball offensively, throw the ball a little bit better and spread the ball around a little bit more.”

With all the attention being on the offense, Old Rochester’s defense has quietly maintained itself since the 2017 season. In fact, Kogler thinks the 2018 defense will have a bigger impact on the Bulldogs’ success than it did in 2017.

“Defensively I think we can potentially be better than we were last year on defense,” Kogler said. “We lost four players, but we had Dylan DeWolfecome in, who’s a starting caliber player. So the way I look at it, we lost three players, and the people that are replacing them are doing a great job. And I think we’ll be more solid at linebacker and in the secondary this year than we were last year. I think we have a chance to be decent on defense.”

And for golf, following an undefeated 16-0 regular season run, the Bulldogs golf team graduated its top players: Colin Fitzpatrick, Jacob Yeomans, and Jason Gamache. Old Rochester also lost freshmen turned sophomores Alex Wrightand Cat Yeomansto Tabor Academy.

That leaves Old Rochester head coach Chris Cabe with seniors Alex Henrie, Owen Powers, and Sam Wigginas the main returners. All three will serve as captains for the Bulldogs as well.

Repeated as South Coast Conference Large Division champions will be a tall task for Old Rochester in 2018. Dighton-Rehoboth is expected to maintain it’s impressive play. Somerset-Berkley did not graduate a single player after the 2017 season, and Cabe expects Apponequet to be a strong team once again.

It may be a more challenging task than in previous year, but opposing coaches won’t let their players sleep on Old Rochester, given their continued rate of success under Cabe and beyond.

High School Sports

By Jean Perry

 

September Programs at Plumb Library

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Relive a colorful account of one man’s quest in the pursuit of striped bass along the rocky banks of the Cape Cod Canal. Author “East End” Eddie Doherty, a recently retired District Court Clerk-Magistrate, will be speaking and signing his book “Seven Miles After Sundown: Surfcasting for Striped Bass Along the World-Famous Cape Cod Canal” on Monday, September 17at 6:30 pm here at Plumb Library, 17 Constitution Way, Rochester. Register for this program on the Events Calendar found on the library’s website.

Have you used your library card so much that it’s falling apart? Or did you lose it? Do you need a new one? Have you ever had one? September is the month for you! We are replacing broken, ruined, or lost cards for free all month (regular fee for this is $2.00). Anyone getting a new card gets a little treat.

The COA Book Group will discuss “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles on Tuesday, September 18at 10:15 am at the Rochester COA on Dexter Lane. Deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal in 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin, where he endures life in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history unfold.

“Just the Facts” Nonfiction Book Group will discuss “Furiously Happy” by Jenny Lawson on Thursday, September 20at 6:30 pm. A #1 New York Times best-selling author presents a memoir about the most compelling theme in her work: living with severe depression and mental illness —and taxidermied roadkill raccoons.

“Cafe Parlez” will discuss “The Kitchen Daughter” by Jael McHenry on Thursday, September 27at 6:30 pm. Seeking comfort in traditional family culinary practices after the early deaths of her parents, 26-year-old Asperger’s patient Ginny struggles with her domineering sister’s decision to sell the house, troubling secrets, and the ghost of a dead ancestor, in a story complemented by recipes.