Mattapoisett Cub Scout Pack 53

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Mattapoisett Cub Scout Pack 53 is ready for a fun-filled year and we are looking for scouts and leaders to join us! If you like Pinewood Derby racing, zoo animals, rocket launching, STEM workshops, playing games, and exploring museums after dark, Cub Scouts is for you!!!

Cub Scouts are 1st-5th graders and we meet three times per month to work on skills, play games, and do activities. Once a month, there are other activities such as STEM workshops, museum overnighters, rocket launches, and camping.

We welcome anyone 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!

ORR High School Drama Club

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To the Editor:

I’m writing on behalf of the students of the ORR High School Drama Club and the Friends of Old Rochester Drama, to state how disappointed we are in the administration of the high school and superintendent in the handling of the replacement of the Drama Club director.  This position became vacant at the end of the school year, June 2018. The administration has waited until 2 weeks before the start of the new school year to post the position internally (per the contract they have to post internally first for a period of two weeks) before going outside the school system to hire a new director.  This should have been taken care of immediately, once it was known that a new director would be needed for the 2018-2019 school year.  They should have known how long it takes to produce the amazing shows that the ORR Drama Club puts on twice a year.  Auditions for the Fall show are held the 2nd week of school in September, with rehearsals beginning immediately thereafter.  That is for a show that will be staged either the weekend before Thanksgiving or the weekend after (approximately 10 weeks of rehearsal time, not to mention the hours of weekend time it takes to build a set and the days, nights, and weekends spent creating the beautiful costumes that adorn the students and bring them into the worlds that they are portraying).  And let’s not forget about the lessons in lighting, sound, stage managing, and all of the other “techie” jobs that are so important to these shows in making them the best in high school theatre in the Southcoast. Due to the lack of thought and total disregard of the ORR Drama Club from the Administration, the ORR Drama Club will NOT be producing the highly anticipated “White Christmas”, which was to have been staged Nov 30 – Dec 2 of this year.  There is simply not enough time to produce this show, given the fact that school is about to start this week, and there is no Drama Club Director in place.  If someone should be hired in the next few weeks, now that the position has been posted externally, perhaps there’s a chance for a simple play, with not much of a cast, set or costumes, and with any luck, the students will still be able to have their Spring Musical of “Anything Goes”.  Let’s hope the administration finds someone as capable as the former director, so to keep up the reputation of the greatest in high school theatre.

Sincerely,

Lisa Cardoza

President, Friends of Old Rochester Drama

 

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.

 

Lorraine (Vasconcelles) Rodrigues

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Lorraine (Vasconcelles) Rodrigues, 85, of Mattapoisett died August 29, 2018 at St. Luke’s Hospital after a brief illness.

She was the wife of the late Charles Rodrigues.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Antone and Clara (Sousa) Vasconcelles, she lived in New Bedford before moving to Mattapoisett in 1969.

Mrs. Rodrigues was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church where she was a former CCD teacher and a member of the Ladies Guild.

Lorraine loved living in Mattapoisett and volunteered with many local organizations including the Mattapoisett Council on Aging and at the Casa da Saudade Library in New Bedford. She was a former member of the Mattapoisett Women’s Club and the Mattapoisett Garden Club.

Survivors include her 2 daughters, Judith Robertson of Dartmouth and Ann Bowen and her husband Timothy of Medfield; 3 grandchildren, Connor Bowen, Madeline Bowen and William Bowen; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; her extended family, the Bowen family; and many friends.

She was the sister of the late Evelyn Bowers, Antonio Vasconcelles, Mary Vasconcelles and Louis Vasconcelles.

The family would like to thank the Ball family for their many acts of kindness.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:30 am in St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Visiting hours are omitted. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Francis “Frank” Charles Beatriz & Betsey Winslow (Perkins) Beatriz

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It is with great sadness and broken hearts, that the Beatriz and Perkins’ families suddenly lost their treasured Francis “Frank” Charles Beatriz, 56, of Mattapoisett, on Monday, August 27, 2018. His beloved wife of 24 years, Betsey Winslow (Perkins) Beatriz, 55, passed unexpectedly later that day.

Frank was born and raised in New Bedford, the son of the late Francis L. and Barbara A. (Mello) Beatriz, of New Bedford.

Betsey was born in Wareham, the daughter of Calvin F. Perkins, Jr. and Donnetta J. (Young) Perkins, of Mattapoisett.

Frank was employed as head chef at Whaler’s Cove Assisted Living and had worked and made close friends in many local restaurants and nursing homes.

He was a member of the Machacum Club and the Mattapoisett Lions Club. Frank loved his Boston sports teams, especially the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots. He spent many valuable days, drinking craft beers with his father in law watching the games, enjoying every minute, even when they lost. He loved to spend quality time kayaking and fishing with his son, Andrew. He was the most reliable first mate to his father in law, often embarking on adventurous catboat sails together. At night, Frank would hang out in his man cave, listening to his vast collection of classic vinyl records.

Betsey was formerly employed as a C.N.A. at St. Luke’s Hospital, Sippican Nursing Home, and as a P.C.A. lovingly caring for multiple elderly women in their homes. Most recently, she worked as a receptionist at the Women’s Center in New Bedford helping women in need. She was a board member for the Mattapoisett Council on Aging. Betsey enjoyed spending time with her husband, son, and large family. She was extremely devoted to her two dogs; her pug Buster, and her lab Molly. Betsey loved all animals with her whole heart, especially pugs. She was so passionate about helping pugs that she would foster animals that no one else would take on. Betsey also loved going to the casino and dancing at Zumba class.

Both Betsey and Frank were volunteers for the Fairhaven Community Nurse’s Hospice, and were also volunteers for F.I.S.H. of Mattapoisett. They loved going on vacations together, especially cruises and trips to her mother’s native country of South Africa.

Frank is survived by his son, Andrew Perkins of Mattapoisett; his brother, Daniel Beatriz and his wife Joanne of New Bedford; his sister, Donna Curcio and her husband Michael of Fort Myers, FL; his uncle Carl Mello of Dartmouth, MA.

Frank was predeceased by his cherished niece, Susanne McGowan.

Betsey is survived by her parents; her son, Andrew Perkins and his partner Miguel Moreno; her 4 sisters, Sarah Couto-Lagasse and her husband Robert of Warwick, RI; Jennifer Klein and her husband Gilbert of Casco, ME; Hope Perkins and her companion Paul Neves of Mattapoisett; Amy Henry and her husband Jonathan of Marion. They have an extensive extended family in the United States and South Africa.

Betsey and Frank were the beloved aunt and uncle to Michael, Jeffrey and Jessica Beatriz, Elizabeth and Keith Goudreau, Kyle, Hannah and Grace Henry, Zebediah Perkins, Peyton, Justis and Averey Klein; and the great-aunt and great-uncle to Ajax Goudreau. They also have many uncles, aunts, and cousins who will miss them dearly.

Their visiting hours will be held on Friday, September 7th, from 4-8 pm at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. Their Funeral Service and burial will be private. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

In honor of his parents, Andrew requests that the funeral parlor be filled with beautiful flowers.

Dancing in the Street at the Marion Town Party

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August 25 dawned with clear blue skies and temperatures pleasingly in the mid-70’s, weather that was picture perfect for a Marion tradition – the annual Town Party.

No one knows exactly when the first town party was held. When asked, the most common response was, “Gosh I don’t know, it was around when I was a kid,” regardless of the current age of the respondent.

Steve Gonsalves, one of the party organizers, said it started at least as far back as the turn of the last century and may have been started by President Grover Cleveland’s wife. He said that somewhere along the way, the VFW Benjamin D. Cushing Post 2425 organized the party until that organization could no longer handle the massive function. Now a partnership of private citizens, municipal employees, and local businesses join together to keep the event going.

Old documents on display at the party included the 1914 Town Party booklet stating the party was held in honor of the Marion Visiting Nurse Association whose motto was, “An unchanging purpose in a changing world.” Prophetic words in today’s changing world.

A booklet from 1982 honored the veterans and the VFW post.

This year’s event carries on traditions such as food and music while adding modern twists like inflatable games for the children.

“There are lots of free activities for the kids and free popcorn and cotton candy,” said Donna Hemphill, a well-known municipal employee and one of the organizers hard at work on the day of the party, doing everything from decorating tables to sourcing Band-Aids.

The list of party people who helped to pull together this year party included Chairman Chris Berg; Debbie, Toby, and Hunter Gonsalves; Joe Napoli; Ronnie Auld; Brooks Wilson; Terri Santos; Kristen Saint Don Campbell; Allan Rowbotham; Albin and June Johnson; and Abigail Shroer.

Sponsoring the event were some 40 local businesses and private donations whose support was listed in the town party booklet.

As tiny tots lined up to play on the inflatable games, older children enjoyed crawling up the rock wall set-up in the middle of Spring Street.

A DJ played music sure to please all ages and several not-so-shy ladies were grooving in front of the Town House appearing not to have a care in the world, just the lovely summer breezes and good music. Later in the evening a trio provided life entertainment.

Marion’s retired fire truck from the 1950s was used to give folks a leisurely drive about the village streets, clanging its bell along the way.

Speaking of fire apparatuses, new this year was retired New Bedford Fire Chief Roger Nadeau’s Engine 266 that was on full display. Nadeau said that he acquired the fire truck for the purpose of converting it into a traveling memorial honoring fallen veterans and firefighters, as well as a hearse.

Nadeau demonstrated two pullout display units built into the sides of the truck, one is a memorial to Father Mychal Judge, a causality of the 9-11 attack in New York City. Judge was the fire department chaplain for one of the responding units that day. The other display honors Vietnam veterans with a diorama depicting a battlefield. But the over-arching reason Nadeau undertook the challenge of building a traveling memorial was to make it available as a hearse to carry fallen firefighters to their final resting place.

Back over at the food pavilion, throughout the day, a revolving group of grill masters pleased the hungry party-goers with hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken kabobs.

But as the sun went down and the sherbet colored moon rose over Sippican Harbor, anticipation ramped up for the closing ceremony – the lighting of the bonfire. Memories made, good times were had, children played, all were glad. And if you are the type that likes to plan ahead, way ahead, the 2019 Marion Town Party is planned for August 24.

By Marilou Newell

Board Groans Over Green Communities

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Not everyone on the Rochester Planning Board is ready to jump onto the Green Communities bandwagon, especially not board member Ben Bailey. On the other side of the table you have board member John DeMaggio concerned about the townspeople’s perception of the board seemingly “pushing solar” when a vocal group of residents clearly opposes more solar. But what it comes down to, according to Chairman Arnie Johnson, is that the Planning Board has a job to do – whether or not the members agree that Rochester should be designated a Green Community – and that job is to draft legislation for Town Meeting voters to decide on.

Bailey, the board member most vocally opposed to green energy incentive programs, fidgeted and chewed on his glasses as the board considered which road to take as it drafts legislation to fulfill the Town’s requirements for Green Community status. The two roads diverged in the ‘green’ wood lead to either designating one acre atop the capped landfill for by-right solar, or to creating a solar overlay district, banishing solar array manufacturers or solar energy research facilities to the industrial zone with the medical marijuana and adult-only entertainment.

Town Planner Steve Starrett said a one-acre, 1 megawatt solar array field would fit nicely atop the landfill while qualifying as a legitimate by-right solar district. And as Johnson later pointed out, the Board of Selectmen is interested in fulfilling that scenario, “So that’ll probably happen sometime in the future whether or not we designate that. … It’s not like solar probably won’t end up on there.”

“Maybe we could even get some leverage to power the town barn,” said board member Gary Florindo.

For DeMaggio, he’s not even certain if the Town Meeting is going to go for Rochester becoming a Green Community, so why move forward, … “even though we’re not 100 percent sure that the town is going to go for it?” DeMaggio asked Johnson if he had heard any “rumblings” from the townspeople.

“I haven’t heard anything negative,” said Johnson. “But – well, I have, but I haven’t been out and about in the town. These forums, we’ll see.”

“The whole thing is an abomination,” said Bailey. “I have no support for that, you know that.”

“I do know that,” Johnson said, but the board has to follow the selectmen’s lead, as it is the Board of Selectmen that is driving the Green Communities bus.

DeMaggio said he personally prefers the overlay district in the industrial zone, saying he feels “like a hypocrite pushing for a solar site” while so many residents oppose more solar developments in town.

Florindo suggested the board draft up the two options and present them both to Town Meeting, saying, “You have to have solutions that you can discuss. … If you don’t have anything to discuss, you sit there … trying to figure out what to do with the situation.

“I say look at both of them, myself,” Florindo continued. “You should come up with some information for both sides because, either or, you’re gonna be stuck wondering which way should we go. What harm is it if we touched on both sites?”

“We could do multiple things,” Johnson said. “I see both points, really, I’m with John and with Gary. I do know that the selectmen are interested in pursuing solar up there on the dump site … so if we can check that box off.”

Starrett wasn’t so sure there was enough time to present two options since the board must have a consensus within a fortnight in order to make the public hearing requirements before the Special Town Meeting in November, but Johnson said it could be done.

“One is cut-and-paste out of our solar bylaw, and one is cut-and-paste out of our site plan review bylaw,” said Johnson,

Still DeMaggio was concerned about the townspeople’s perception of the board.

“[The perception] is that we’re pushing this in the other direction and it’s not that way at all,” said DeMaggio. “In this case it’s the selectmen that’s pushing it. Now it may look like were pushing it.”

Starrett asked DeMaggio if he thought the townspeople would prefer to see solar on the dump rather than somewhere else in town, to which DeMaggio replied, “I think people aren’t gonna care. … The people who can’t see aren’t gonna care either way.

“I know I sound very negative here,” continued DeMaggio. “I’m just trying to understand. … I don’t want this to end up costing us.”

Johnson and the board discussed the benefits of the Green Communities Act, including grant money to invest in cost-saving green energy alternatives, plus possible energy cost reductions from a solar array field on the landfill that maybe could generate electricity for Town facilities. And Johnson said he’s relieved that the by-right solar requirement could be easily fulfilled with the just one single acre.

“So that’s not a big deal, especially when you’ve got the dump site up there,” said Johnson.

“Do we have to accept the Green Communities Act?” Florindo asked.

“Nope,” said Johnson. “No, we don’t. That’s an individual vote at Town Meeting, but we have to get ready for it.

“I still don’t know how I’m gonna vote on this,” Johnson said, “but we have some legislation that we’ve been asked to create because that’s one of the parameters of the program.”

There will be two Green Community info sessions on September 27 at the Council on Aging, one at 3:00 pm and one at 7:00 pm.

The Special Town Meeting is scheduled for November 19.

In other matters, Johnson reported that the solar array field at 248 Mattapoisett Road is generating some “trouble,” starting with several piles of stump grinding materials that remained on the site for too long in violation of the board’s conditions. And although those have been removed, Johnson said he still needs a timeline from Clean Energy Collective, the project’s solar developer, on when plantings, seeding, and the access road will be completed.

“And they can’t generate power until then,” said Johnson. “I don’t understand the problem. I mean, we shut them down for three months. … You’d think they’d kind of understand … that we mean it.”

Also during the meeting, the board continued the public hearing for a Special Permit for a Back Lot application for Nancy Fuller, trustee of the Fuller Real Estate Trust, of 356 Neck Road. The board will devise a draft decision in the meantime and take a vote at the next meeting.

The public hearing for the 22-duplex age-restricted housing development proposed for Rounseville Road beside Plumb Corner was again continued until September 11. The applicant for the special permit, REpurpose Properties, requested the continuance.

The board will wait until its next meeting to take a vote on whether or not to recommend that the Board of Selectmen exercise its right of first refusal for 20+ plus acres of Chapter 61B land at 00 Mary’s Pond Road.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board will be September 11 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Planning Board

By Jean Perry

 

Former NBSYO Rebrands as SMYO

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The New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestras is changing its name to the Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras, reflecting its mission to serve student musicians in all the communities of southeastern Massachusetts. SMYO remains a program of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.

More than 100 student musicians are part of the SMYO program, performing in six ensemble levels ranging from beginning players to college musicians. Rehearsals take place at UMass Dartmouth, and concerts are held several times a year, including the opportunity for Symphony players to perform alongside professional musicians at the New Bedford Symphony’s Holiday Pops Concerts.

Auditions for new students (and returning students wishing to move up to the next ensemble) will be held on September 5 & 6 from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the College of Visual and Performing Arts at UMass Dartmouth. To request an audition time, please email youth@nbsymphony.org. Audition requirements can be found at www.nbsyo.org/auditions-and-program-info.

The NBSO is a professional orchestra that annually presents a concert series of classical and pops music with internationally acclaimed guest artists, as well as an outstanding chamber music series. In addition, the NBSO’s innovative and nationally recognized educational programs reach 25,000 students each year. The NBSO is dedicated to building a community of music in the South Coast. Visit www.nbsymphony.org today.

Property Tax Relief Grants Available

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Applications are now available to help qualified Marion residents with their 2018-2019 property taxes through the Marion Community Fund of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts.

All applications must be received in the Community Foundation’s offices by 5 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, and decisions will be made by December 15. Applications are available at the Town Hall in Marion, the Council on Aging, and the Community Foundation located at 128 Union St., Suite 403, New Bedford, MA  02740. They can also be downloaded at www.cfsema.org/grants/current-requests-for-proposals-other-opportunities

The Marion Community Fund was established in 1999 by a private donor to provide qualified Marion homeowners with property tax relief. The Fund’s goal is to preserve the town’s diversity and character by providing property tax relief for Marion homeowners who are a key part of the town’s makeup and who might be forced to leave Marion due to higher taxes. There are no age restrictions on this grant.

The Marion Community Fund hopes people of all ages who qualify will apply. If you are a Marion homeowner, have owned your home for at least one year, have earned income of less than $57,000 (single), $72,000 (Head of Household), or $86,000 (married), you may be eligible for tax relief. All payments will be made to the Town of Marion and credited toward the grant recipient’s tax bill.

For assistance with the application, contact the Marion Council on Aging at 508-748-3570.

A Boston Pops Season Finale

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On Friday, August 31, the Marion Concert Band will conclude its 2018 season with a concert in the style of the Boston Pops Orchestra. The program, which includes pieces by former Pops arranger Leroy Anderson and former Pops conductor John Williams, is as follows:

Montmartre March – H. Wood

Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna – F. von Suppé

Strike Up the Band – G. Gershwin

Belle of the Ball – L. Anderson

A Trumpeter’s Lullaby – L. Anderson; Mary St. Laurent-Sheehan, trumpet

John Williams: Evening at Pops – arr. J. Higgins

The Waltzing Cat – L. Anderson

American Salute – M. Gould

Clarinet Escapade – R. Ward

Mancini! – H. Mancini

Young Person’s Guide to John Williams – arr. J. Bocook

The Stars and Stripes Forever – J. P. Sousa

Mary St. Laurent-Sheehan, trumpet, currently performs with the Narragansett Bay Symphony, the Tri-County Symphonic Band, the Marion Concert Band, and the Band of America’s Few. She is an alumnus of the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra (1992) and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where she performed with the Parris Island Marine Band. With the Band of American’s Few, a band comprised of former Marine bandsmen who have either retired or have been honorably discharged, she has performed at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia, and at the Royal International Nova Scotia Tattoo in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The concert, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00 pm at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf off Front Street in Marion. The concert is free and open to the public. “Like” us on Facebook at “Marion Town Band” for up-to-date announcements and rain cancellation notices.

Elizabeth Taber Library

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Bike Lending Program at the Elizabeth Taber Library: The Elizabeth Taber Library is continuing our bike lending program for adults through the Fall!  Library patrons (18 and over) can check out a bicycle and helmet for three days with your Marion library card.  Patrons will need to provide their library card and license, as well as sign a waiver form before taking the bike out for a spin around Marion.  For more information, please stop in or call us at 508-748-1252.

Museum Passes: Looking for something fun to do with friends and family this Fall? Then come to the Elizabeth Taber Library to check out any of our museum passes with your SAILS library card!  We currently have discounted passes to the Heritage Museums and Gardens, Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, Mystic Aquarium, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Plimoth Plantation, Roger Williams Zoo, and the Mass State Parks Pass.  To reserve a pass or for more information, please call the library at 508-748-1252 or visit our website: www.elizabethtaberlibrary.org.

Home Delivery Library Services: The Elizabeth Taber Library, in partnership with the Council on Aging, is pleased to offer a home delivery option for those Marion residents that need this service.  To be eligible for this program, you must be a Marion resident with a library card in good standing.  To arrange to have library books or audio books delivered to your home, please call the Elizabeth Taber Library at 508-748-1252.

Drop in Technology Help: Do you have questions about Facebook, Twitter, Skype, or need technology assistance with an electronic device you recently bought or acquired?  Then stop into the Elizabeth Taber Library any Wednesday starting September 19 between 2:00-3:00 pm, and one of our friendly staff members will walk you through it!  No registration is required for this free drop in program.  First come; first served.  *Please note, if you cannot make Wednesday afternoons but need assistance, call the Elizabeth Taber Library to make an appointment for another time.

Join us on Thursday evening, September 13, as Eddie Doherty discusses his book Seven Miles After Sundown. Copies of this book will be available for purchase (cash or check only, please). A book signing with follow.

About the Author: Eddie Doherty fished the East End of the Cape Cod Canal so often that other fishermen started calling him East End Eddie. Thus, a nick name and pen name were born together. Doherty is a graduate of Dominican Academy, Attleboro High School, and the University of South Florida. He worked for almost 37 years in the Massachusetts Court system where he became the youngest Assistant Clerk-Magistrate in the state at age 25 for the Attleboro District Court before being appointed 18 years later to the lifetime position of Clerk-Magistrate of the Wrentham District Court by His Excellency, A. Paul Cellucci, Governor of the Commonwealth. He heard evidence on everything from speeding to murder, but now in retirement is hearing the sounds of his grandchildren’s giggle and of striped bass breaking the surface of the ocean.

Doherty has been published in Cape Cod Magazine, On The Water, The Fisherman Magazine, Cape Cod Times, The Boston Globe, The Sun Chronicle, Coastal Angler Magazine, and the Congressional Record. He fishes in the Stan Gibbs Cape Cod Canal Fisherman’s Classic every year and his striped bass entry won the shore division in his first Buzzards Bay Anglers Club Fall Derby. He lives close to the Cape Cod Canal in Mattapoisett with his wife Joanne.