ORR Holds First Ever Bulldog Bash!

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Old Rochester Regional’s AmbassadOR Club held their very first, but soon to be annual, Bulldog Bash on Saturday, September 15. Various booths and activities were set up on the athletic field, including a baked goods booth, cornhole, a bouncy house, and more.

            Emily Humphrey, member of the Board of AmbassadORs, said the idea was formed because, “We thought it would be a great idea to bring the community back together, since there’s not a lot to do during the fall here other than Friday night football games.”

            The AmbassadOR Club is responsible for representing the school in the community and during school events. During the school’s annual open house when the parents go around the school meeting their children’s teachers, the ambassadors line the hallway, ready to assist and guide parents throughout the building. Michael Devoll, principal of ORR, is the club’s advisor.

            Members from Showstoppers Performing Arts, Inc. performed multiple songs at the beginning of the day, including a beautiful rendition of “Somebody to Love” with soloist Brianna Lynch, adlibers Sam Guillotte and Emma Whynacht, and an impromptu air guitar solo by Olivia Guillotte. The group is a nonprofit organization from Mattapoisett, and they sing at fairs, festivals, schools, charitable fundraisers, retirement homes, and other civic events.

            One local business set up a booth selling their Tri-Town t-shirts, which are individualized for each town with the town’s animal and coordinates. Also being sold were ORR bulldog shirts and sweatshirts.

            Running another booth was a local Mattapoisett-based restaurant selling wraps, soups, and salads for the hungry individual.

            For the children, games and a bouncy house were scattered around the field. Games included cornhole, volleyball, and a dunk tank. Luckily for the boy in the dunk tank the weather was warm because many of the attendees had amazing aim. Cornhole was monitored by ambassadors Evan Smith and Emma Williamson, who gave the young players the prize of a caramel apple lollipop.

            “We try to target it for little kids, since there’s not a lot to do for little kids in the Tri-Town,“ said Humphrey.

            Many of the booths were run by ORR students and parents, like the ORR Athletic Booster Club, which sold school merchandise like sweatshirts, sweatpants, shirts, scarves, and multiple other items. A bake sale run by ambassadors sold homemade goods and store-bought pastries.

            To the extreme delight of many kids, the cheerleaders ran a face painting booth, and could do a variety of designs from a sparkly pink butterfly to a ferocious dinosaur. Across the way, ambassadors were doing henna tattoos.

            Like most festival-type events, there was an ambassador-run booth that sold cotton candy, popcorn, and snow cones. At the entrance, there was a raffle with a multitude of prizes like gift cards and restaurant coupons.

            The Bulldog Bash was a great start to the school year for the ambassadors, and many more events are soon to follow.

ORR Update

By Grace Mastroianni

ORR Mural Honors Life of Becket Kiernan

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The entire Old Rochester Regional community was there lining the road that February day when USMC PFC Becket Kiernan travelled one last time by the school on his way to his final resting place at the Bourne National Cemetery. The young Marine, just weeks after completing basic training, died tragically on February 5, 2018, after succumbing to necrotizing fasciitis while temporarily stationed in California.

A community mourned for a young man from Rochester they knew first simply as Becket Kiernan, an ORR graduate of the class of 2017.

Now months later, dozens who gathered at a stairway in the history wing at ORR on September 18 did so to remember the kindhearted, likeable young man as one of Becket’s close friends, Amber Jones, unveiled the grand mural she had spent months painting in honor of Becket.

Jones, who graduated this past June, was granted permission and given the support of the school administration to create the mural dedicated in Becket’s memory.

Jones said it took her a while to design the mural because nothing seemed good enough to represent the wonderful person that Becket was.

“I didn’t feel like anything was really worthy for him to be remembered,” said Jones. In time she pieced together a concept for the mural, encompassing various symbols that meant something to her and something that Becket would be proud of.

Within the 5 by 9-foot mural, one can see the front of an old brick building that resembles an Irish pub – Flanders Field, the sign reads, and an Irish flag hangs above the doorway.

“Becket always wanted to see Ireland,” said Jones. “He was very proud that he was Irish. One of his bucket list things was to go to Ireland.”

The name of the establishment is a reference to the 1915 John McCrae poem In Flanders Field, and McCrae’s poppies referenced in the poem cascade down from a window box above the doorway in Jones’ painting. Along the stone walkway below is a quote of something Becket once said, advice to his fellow graduates he gave in an article Jones wrote for the school:

“Do something that, when you look back on life, you will feel fulfilled. Don’t chase money, do something that makes you happy, and don’t stop working until you get there.”

“That was what I wanted him to be remembered for,” Jones said. “Becket never said much, but when he spoke, it was always something kind or thoughtful.”

Jones said she wished none of them had to be present on that staircase that day, and that she never had to paint Becket a mural in his memory. But this mural and the message of wisdom that he left with the world will serve as a reminder to those who pass by it, not just of the love and friendship many had for Becket, but also of the essence of who he was and what he stood for.

“I don’t want people to walk by it and feel sad and think that the mural just represents someone who died,” said Jones. “He was so, so happy, and that’s what I want him to be remembered by.”

Becket’s mother Linda Kiernan and sister Mallory Kiernan both attended the unveiling, with Mrs. Kiernan helping Jones to remove the curtain revealing the mural for the first time. Jones and Mrs. Kiernan embraced and stood together in front of the mural as she thanked Jones for the beautiful gift to Becket and to the school community.

“I’m very proud of it,” said Jones. “I know that Becket would be, too.”

By Jean Perry

 

Showstoppers Performance Troupe Seeking Local Talent

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Showstoppers Musical Entertainment is seeking talented youth for its seventeenth season. Auditions will be held on Saturday, September 29, by appointment at the Showstoppers studio at 34 Barstow Street in Mattapoisett.

Talented boys and girls in grades 2 to 12 are encouraged to audition to perform with the community-service singing troupe. Candidates are asked to prepare two song selections, a ballad and an upbeat tune, and bring their own prerecorded accompaniment music containing no lead vocals.

Successful candidates will be offered an opportunity to make an impact on their community by providing musical entertainment to the elderly at nursing homes, senior centers, and assisted living facilities throughout the Southcoast. Averaging 50 performances per year, the troupe will also perform for the community-at-large through a variety of private and public venues, including fairs, festivals, schools, malls, charitable fundraisers, and other civic events.

Showstoppers Musical Entertainment is a subsidiary of Showstoppers Performing Arts, Inc., an all-volunteer non-profit organization. Follow them on Facebook to keep updated on their activities: www.facebook.com/showstopppers.us.

For inquiries about the program or to book an audition slot, please contact Kelly Zucco at 508-758-4525 or email kzucco@comcast.net.

ORRHS to Host Accreditation Visit

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Sixteen educators will conduct an on-site Accreditation of Old Rochester Regional High School starting on Sunday, September 30 through Wednesday, October 3. The Accreditation visit will be conducted under the direction of the Committee on Public Secondary Schools of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The visiting team will be chaired by Mr. Paul Daigle of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Daigle has extensive experience in the Association’s Accreditation process.

Principal Michael Devoll said, “The purpose of this Accreditation visit is to review and determine from an outside professional viewpoint the extent to which the school is aligning with the Standards for Accreditation. As part of the evaluation, the visiting team will meet with all school constituents, review the school’s self-study, visit a number of classes, and examine examples of student work submitted by the school. During the comprehensive self-study, the faculty attempted to identify the school’s strengths and determined those areas in which changes would be beneficial.”

Daigle, said, “Our purpose in visiting Old Rochester Regional High School is to assist the faculty in its pursuit of quality education for its students.”

Devoll pointed out, “The members of the visiting team are contributing their services to the school. This spirit of professional cooperation is one of the noted features of the New England Association. The goal of an Accreditation visit is to stimulate a continuing drive for improvement in the school.”

The members of the visiting team are teachers and administrators from a variety of schools in the Massachusetts area.

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges is a voluntary membership organization of more than 2,000 public schools, colleges and universities, independent schools, and vocational, technical, and career institutions. Of these, over 630 secondary schools have been accredited through the Association’s Commission on Public Schools. The Committee works with individual public schools to improve the quality of education through a continuous process of Accreditation and evaluation.

For more information, contact: Michael Devoll, Principal, Old Rochester Regional High School, Mattapoisett, 508-758-3745.

Board Vouches for Missing Info

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Had Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals members not recalled some pertinent details they witnessed during a recent site visit at 3 Bernards Way, Duarte Raposa might not have walked away with his two variances for a shed on September 13. But luckily for Raposa, no continuation of his public hearing was needed, despite his plans omitting some important information – contour.

Raposa sought two variances, one to place a shed in the front yard of his property and another to place it within 40 feet of the side property line.

In order for the board to issue a variance, the applicant must satisfy the three requirements – evidence of hardship, unique land topography or features, and zero detriment to the neighborhood, and, for the board, he easily demonstrated two of those requirements – the hardship being the location of an underground gas line, and no detriment to the neighborhood. That third one, however, Raposa said was because one section of the property features a steep drop-off; however, his plans did not reflect this feature.

“The engineer didn’t do you any favors by not showing any contour lines,” said ZBA Chairman Richard Cutler.

Still, other members who attended the on-site visit recalled that steep drop-off and said they could vouch for Raposa.

“I’m familiar with that area … and the challenges in that area,” said ZBA member David Arancio.

The board pointed out, for Raposa and for the good of all Rochester residents, that a feature such as contour should be marked on a construction plan when coming before a town board for a permit or variance.

“If you go for a variance, you really need to have some topography,” stated ZBA member Kirby Gilmore.

“They should’ve shown the gas line going through there, too,” said Cutler.

Raposa’s was the only item on the agenda for that night.

The next meeting of the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for September 27 at 7:15 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals

By Jean Perry

Mattapoisett Historical Society Participates in Museum Day

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The Mattapoisett Historical Society will open its doors free of charge to all Museum Day ticketholders on Saturday, September 22from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm as part of Smithsonian magazine’s 14th annual Museum Day, a national celebration of boundless curiosity in which participating museums emulate the free admission policy at the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington DC-based museums.

Museum Day represents a nationwide commitment to access, equity, and inclusion. Over 250,000 people downloaded tickets for last year’s event, and Museum Day 2018 is expected to attract more museumgoers than ever before.

The Mattapoisett Historical Society’s current exhibit, Mattapoisett’s Movers and Shakers: A Selection of Creative, Innovative, and Influential People, highlights some of Mattapoisett’s creative and talented people and the impact they made.

Museum Day tickets are available for download at Smithsonian.com/MuseumDay. Visitors who present a Museum Day ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues on September 22. One ticket is permitted per email address. A list of participating museums, which will be continually updated as more museums continue to register, can be found at Smithsonian.com/MuseumDay/Search.

For more information, please visit Smithsonian.com/MuseumDay.

Selectmen Allow Last-Minute Article

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One last-minute zoning bylaw article made it onto the Fall Special Town Meeting warrant in the nick of time, just as the Marion Board of Selectmen was about to close the warrant on September 18.

Resident Sherman Briggs, in his efforts to construct a new housing development on his Spring Street property, hit a snag the prior evening during the Planning Board meeting when he was told he would need to seek setback relief from the Zoning Board of Appeals if he wanted to proceed with his plan for 27 units placed within 10-15 feet of the property setbacks. Instead, Briggs decided to submit a bylaw amendment article to reduce the side and rear setbacks for District Residence E from 20 to 10 feet.

As the selectmen pondered the article, Town Administrator Paul Dawson was unsure the last minute add could be done.

“I don’t know: I’ve never seen that,” Dawson said.

Selectman Jon Waterman commented that the only way the article could make it onto the warrant is if the board allows it. This article, in Waterman’s own words, would avoid a similar situation experienced by another business owner in Marion, Dan Crete, whose road on which he travelled with the Planning Board was long and winding.

“I think we owe it to Mr. Briggs to find an expeditious way of moving this ahead,” said Waterman; otherwise, it couldn’t be addressed until the Annual Town Meeting next spring.

Selectmen Chairman Norm Hills said he might have an alternative solution to Briggs’ problem; however, he hadn’t had much time to consider it or talk it through.

“You certainly can add it to the warrant,” Dawson said. He just isn’t confident in the logistics. Of course the Planning Board would have to advertise for two weeks before holding a public hearing, Dawson said, “And, frankly, I don’t know if there’s enough time to complete [it].”

But it could be possible, Dawson stated.

“It’ll be tight, but I think it can be done,” said Hills.

And, if for some reason the Planning Board is unable to meet the deadline, Dawson added, “It would just have to be passed over at Town Meeting.”

Selectman Randy Parker agreed to add Briggs’ article to the warrant, saying to Hills that, should he come up with a viable alternative, the article could simply be passed over.

The October 22 Fall Special Town Meeting warrant features 12 other original articles as follows: Article 1 is to appropriate $500,000 for a “borrowing authorization” for water pollution facility projects – repair, replace, upgrade failed septic systems (The town would lend the money to qualifying residents, which would be paid back to the Town).

Article 2 is for $65,000 for the Water Department to buy a new 4-by-4 pickup truck with plow (This article was passed over at the Annual Town Meeting due to a misprint in the sum).

Article 3 appropriates $55,000 to purchase the electric vehicles currently leased by the Town.

Article 4 allows the Department of Public Works to buy a new $160,000 10-wheel dump truck with plow and sander.

Article 5 is for $50,000 for the DPW to buy a used six-wheel dump truck with plow and sander.

Article 6 would adopt the Marion “Stretch Energy Code” regulating the design and construction of buildings for energy efficiency. This bylaw adoption is a requirement for the Town’s “Green Community” status.

Article 7 would insert new Adult Use Marijuana Establishment regulations into the general bylaw.

Article 8 inserts Adult Use Marijuana Establishments into the zoning bylaw table of uses.

Article 9 would amend the Code of the Town of Marion to insert a section for the Adult Use of Marijuana.

Article 10 amends the dog kennel bylaw by changing the definition of “hobby” kennel to five to 10 dogs that are housed, groomed, bred, boarded, trained or sold, and also change the definition of a “household” kennel to a collection of up to four dogs that are maintained as household pets, not for breeding purposes, as well as several other amendments.

Article 11 would add “commercial kennel” and “hobby kennel” to the Code of the Town of Marion table of uses.

Article 12 adds “commercial and hobby kennel” to the uses authorized by a special permit in the Code of the Town of Marion.

In other matters, the board denied Catherine Brodeur’s request for an aquaculture license for a site at Mitton’s Flats.

Brodeur requested a half an acre to cultivate oysters just north of the recently approved site for Shea Doonan’s Mitton’s Flats aquaculture farm, a location that Harbormaster Isaac Perry said is a suitable site for an aquaculture farm. Having said that, though, Perry could not recommend granting the license because, in his opinion, the project would be a detriment to those who fish for shellfish as a recreation in Marion – a major concern, Perry said.

“Since we have just permitted [Doonan’s site] 70 feet south, if [Brodeur’s project] moves forward, it would eliminate the majority of the area that is available for recreational shellfishing,” said Perry. ”We just feel that … if this one were to move forward it would be obviously in the favor of the applicant, but a little bit to the detriment of the people who purchase shellfishing licenses.”

Brodeur expressed frustration over Perry’s comments, asking him why he would tell her that the site was ideal for an aquaculture farm, and then that night recommend that the selectmen not approve it. Adding to her frustration is the fact that this half-acre site is the last viable spot for an aquaculture farm left in Marion waters.

The board asked Perry what he would do if the decision were his, and he replied, “If it were up to me – it’s just too much in the favor of the applicant. It would effectively squeeze out what little recreational shellfishing we have in the area.”

Brodeur argued that there was very little shellfish in that area available for recreational shellfishing, saying that the last time she went out there to dig for shellfish she came up with “just a large handful of quahogs.”

The selectmen considered allowing a public hearing nonetheless just to hear from neighbors and residents, but ultimately decided against it.

“I don’t want to drag someone through a public hearing if the harbormaster isn’t in favor of it,” said Parker.

Also during the meeting, the board approved David Davignon’s request for one of two subdivided lots off Beach Street to connect to municipal sewer.

The board also approved acting Department of Public Works Superintendent Jon Henry and Fire Chief Brian Jackvony’s proposal to add one additional fire hydrant to the aforementioned Beach Street subdivision’s plan.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for October 2 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Jean Perry

 

Rochester Welcomes Next Police Chief

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He’s not usually an emotional guy, said retiring Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee on Friday, September 14, but those who’ve worked alongside all these years can attest to his sincerity.

As Rochester gave a fond farewell to its chief of 15 years, it also welcomed its new chief, Sergeant Robert Small, Jr., a veteran of the Rochester Police Department for 21 years.

Magee hailed Small for “stepping up to the plate” when Magee announced two years ago that he would retire on this day, and for investing his time and energy into learning the ropes of the chief of police.

“I tell you folks, the countless hours and the dedication Bob put in from that point forward for the department – hundreds and hundreds of hours of his own hours to learn the job, to learn budgeting and all the things that we did, meetings, classes,” said Magee.

Turning to Small, Magee said, “You’re gonna be a great chief and I could not be more proud, and I could not be more confident to step away and leave the department to you, so I wish you the best.”

Magee had some advice for Small as he officially takes on the role of Rochester police chief.

“And I tell you, please remember where you came from,” Magee said. “Don’t ever forget what it was to be a patrolman, and when you make your decisions make them for the right reasons and stick to them.”

Then Town Clerk Naida Parker administered the oath of office to Small, followed by the pinning performed by Small’s three daughters and girlfriend.

After wishing Magee a happy birthday, Small thanked him for his help in preparing Small to take over as chief and for offering him his years of knowledge and experience.

“He’s gone way out of his way also to do that,” said Small. “I couldn’t sum it up in a brief period of time other than to just say thank you, Chief.”

After 21 years on the job, Small said he still loves being a police officer.

“I get up for work every day with a purpose,” Small said. “I know that what we do matters and that we have an impact on the community and I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue that.”

The promotional process has been both exciting and humbling, Small admitted, and he thanks the Town, his family, the officers from the surrounding towns who turned out to the Council on Aging that day to watch him take his oath, and especially his fellow Rochester officers, all of whom took up the first two rows to watch their “acting” chief become official chief.

“[Thank you] for what you guys do every day,” said Small. “A lot of people may not necessarily see it, but we have a lot of officers that go above and beyond what’s required of them … and it makes me proud to be a part of this department and this profession.”

“The Board of Selectmen is very excited about our new chief and very happy for our retired chief,” said Selectmen Chairman Greenwood “Woody” Hartley.

And as for Magee, who has relocated to North Carolina with his wife to enjoy his retirement: “I’m living the dream.”

By Jean Perry

Rochester Green Communities Public Forum

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Rochester is considering designation as a Green Community. Green Communities is a State Initiative with an objective of energy conservation with the benefit of both substantial cost savings and grant money for use by the Town for energy reduction projects.

There will be a public forum on Thursday, September 27at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm at the Rochester Council on Aging. Come learn about the Green Communities Initiative and the five criteria the Town must satisfy to become certified. Get your questions answered by guest speaker Seth Pickering, the Green Communities Regional Coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Encompass Community at Friends Academy

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On Wednesday, November 28from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, The Encompass Community at Friends Academy, 1088 Tucker Road in North Dartmouth, will host guest speaker, Peter Gray, for a presentation and discussion about Self-Directed Learning and the importance of play throughout childhood.

Peter Gray is a research professor of psychology at Boston College who has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. He is author of an internationally acclaimed introductory psychology textbook (Psychology, Worth Publishers, now in its 8th edition), which views all of psychology from an evolutionary perspective. His recent research focuses on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves, through play and exploration, when they are free to do so.

Gray has expanded on these ideas in his book, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life (Basic Books). He also authors a regular blog called Freedom to Learn for Psychology Today magazine.

Gray is a founding member and president of the nonprofit Alliance for Self-Directed Education (ASDE), which is aimed at creating a world in which children’s natural ways of learning are facilitated rather than suppressed. He is also a founding member and a director of the nonprofit Let Grow, the mission of which is to renew children’s freedom to play and explore outdoors, independently of adults. He earned his undergraduate degree at Columbia College and Ph.D. in biological sciences at the Rockefeller University many years ago. His own current play includes kayaking, long distance bicycling, backwoods skiing, and vegetable gardening.

This event is free, but donations are graciously accepted. Childcare for ages 4+ will be provided. Family-friendly art activities for children will be available in the adjoining room.

Please register for this event at: encompasscommunityforindependentlearning.campbrainregistration.com/

For more information, contact egouveia@friendsacademy1810.org.

The Encompass Community is a grant-funded initiative of the Center For Education Innovation. They are located on 65 acres of wilderness at Friends Academy in Dartmouth, Ma. They offer enrichment and resources to homeschool families and life-long learners of all ages.