Mattapoisett to Build First ‘Habitat’ Home

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            When the people at the Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity (BBAHFH) say, “Habitat homes are built with a community of kindness,” they must know that they are in the right place because a community like Mattapoisett is known for a few things – its history, natural beauty, and friendly hospitality. But those of us who live in this area know that, all over the South Coast, there never seems to be a shortage of those who are willing to step up, accept a challenge, make a positive impact, or give where they are capable.

            Christine Lacourse, executive director of the BBAHFH, is calling out to that “community of kindness” just as the construction of a new home is underway for a local family in need, a first for Mattapoisett. The project begins now with the first of a growing succession of acts of kindness – the donation of land.

            The property on Route 6 near the border with Fairhaven was a donation from David and Jessica Nicolosi, and, according to Lacourse, “because of the wonderful donation, Habitat for Humanity will be able to make the dream of homeownership come true for another local family.”

            During a phone interview on January 28, Lacourse elaborated on what that “community of kindness” is comprised of for a project such as this.

            “Without the community we would not be able to build the homes for local families in the area,” said Lacourse. “It takes the volunteers – the builders, subcontractors, people willing to donate materials – to come together. Whether they donate time, money, or materials, this is makes the home affordable to a family.”

            Lacourse said oftentimes church groups will devote some resources and efforts, while those who cannot physically contribute sometimes pitch in by providing volunteers at the construction site with coffee breaks or lunch.

            “It takes the entire community to come together to create a new home for a local family in need, and that’s why we say it’s a community of kindness,” said Lacourse.

            Slated for the land is an Energy Star rated three to four bedroom, cottage-style house designed in the spirit of the town’s quaint character.

            The project is in the planning phase, but Lacourse said the non-profit hopes to break ground this spring once permits are acquired and volunteers secured. Students at Old Colony are contributing by helping with the contract drawings, Lacourse said, and, depending on the weather, the project hopefully will be completed in six months.

            “The length of time depends on who steps up for helping, as well,” said Lacourse.

            Lacourse said the BBAHFH is looking for professional, skilled builders to donate their time and expertise to the build, and possibly act as a guide for any “handyman willing to learn” volunteer without a whole lot of experience, who are also sought after. The project also needs experienced site leaders to focus on particular aspects of construction who are willing to work with a group of volunteers for one or more days. Subcontractors and materials are also needed for site clearing, excavation, foundation work, insulation, gutters, roofing, windows, siding, plumbing/heating/gas, electrical, drywall, painting, flooring, cabinetry/countertops, and more.

            Lacourse said the group still needs volunteers during the planning process, volunteers to help with the acquisition of materials, and members are needed for the Build Committee.

            “Everyone can help,” Lacourse emphasized, although to perform physical work one must be at least 16 years of age.

            Sometimes a person who has never volunteered for a project like this one might feel apprehensive or unsure in their capacity to help, but Lacourse encourages anyone with an interest in learning more about an opportunity like this to serve in their community to reach out either via email or a call to the BBAHFH office.

            “Some first-time volunteers feel nervous … but there is always a great group of people on site and it’s very welcoming,” Lacourse said. “Most times they want to come back and volunteer again, of course although there’s no obligation to, they usually do so.”

            Money, of course, is also graciously accepted.

            From a press release issued by the Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity:

            “Habitat encourages locals to join in their mission to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope. Habitat homes are built with a community of kindness. To become part of Habitat for Humanity’s vision where everyone has a decent place to live in our community, please consider giving your time, materials, or monetary donations to support the build.”

            All donations to the BBAHFH are tax deductible. To make a donation, you may visit www.BuzzardsBayHabitat.org, or call the office at 508-758-4517. To discuss how you, your company, or your organization can contribute and make a positive impact on a local family in need of affordable housing, you may call the office or send an email to BuzzardsBayAreaHabitat@yahoo.com.

            Homeownership applications will be available soon, so those interested should visit www.buzzardsbayhabitat.org/homeownership. To receive an application when they become available, visitwww.buzzardsbayhabitat.org/volunteer, and fill out the volunteer form and include a note that you are interested in learning more about the home application process.

            The Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity (BBAHFH) affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International was formed in December 1996, encompassing the towns of Acushnet, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Wareham, New Bedford, Dartmouth, and Westport. These projects rely on donations of money, materials, and land, as well as volunteer labor.

            BBAHFH, a not-for-profit organization, builds homes for local families in need and sold to qualified families at an affordable price under a no-profit, low-interest loan. Those loan payments are reinvested into the affiliate which enables the building of additional Habitat homes and “Brush with Kindness projects,” which are smaller-scale projects such as exterior painting, access ramps, and other structural work for families fallen on hard times who cannot afford essential repairs to the homes they own.

By Jean Perry

Blanche B. Perry Scholarship

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The Mattapoisett Land Trust is seeking applicants for their one thousand dollar ‘”Blanche B. Perry Scholarship”. This award is available to a Mattapoisett resident interested in the field of Environmental Studies, Sciences, Technology or a related field, and is a graduating senior from a secondary school by June 2018. The scholarship is made available through the Edith Glick Shoolman fund, a bequest left to provide support for children in the community. Offering this scholarship is consistent with the mission “of preserving land in order to enrich the quality of life for present and future generations of Mattapoisett residents and visitors”.

Along with the application, the following additional information is required:

  1. A Personal Statement about career goals as they relate to the mission of the MLT, past and present.
  2. A signed Community Service Form documenting a minimum of 20 hours of community service.
  3. Professional letter of reference (teacher or guidance counselor)
  4. A Character letter of reference from an employer, scout or community leader, and/or neighbor is required.
  5. Official school transcript including credits and class rank.

Applicants will be assessed according to academic achievement, personal statement, professional and personal references, community service, and financial need. Preference will be given to individuals who are members of the Mattapoisett Land Trust (MLT) or whose parents or grandparents are members of the MLT.

Participating School are:

  1. ORRHS – Marion Road, Mattapoisett 02739.
  2. Bishop Stang High School – 500 Slocum Rd, N Dartmouth 02747.
  3. OCRVT High School – 476 North Avenue, Rochester MA 02770.
  4. Tabor Academy – Front St Marion, MA 02738.

The deadline for submitting the forms will be April 26, 2019.

The recipient will be selected by May 20, 2019 and will be notified by mail. The recipient will be recognized at his or her school’s awards ceremony. The award will be disbursed after the student submits an official college transcript documenting a successful completion of his or her first semester in college to the President of the Mattapoisett Land Trust.

The application forms will be found in the guidance offices at the local public and private schools and at the Mattapoisett Land Trust website: mattlandtrust.org/education/grants-and-scholarships/

Mattapoisett Land Trust, ATTN: Education Committee, P.O. Box 31, Mattapoisett, MA 02739

ORR to Offer Bicycle Education in Spring

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Planning is underway at Old Rochester Regional (ORR) School District for bicycle safety education to occur in April. Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos announced that the program, which focuses on safe and legal bike riding, will be launched early this April with a kick off at the JRHS where students will experience co-taught training with Physical Education teacher Karen Horan and a state trainer Samantha Gold. A combination of classroom and on-bike classes will be offered. This pilot program will occur in both 7th and 8th grade and at the High School level, reaching as many as 300 students. The goal is to help students understand the rules of the road, the importance of helmets, and to practice skills for safe riding in the back lot of the secondary campus. A pre- and post- assessment will measure learning.

The program is a partnership between the Old Rochester Regional School District, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School, MassBike (a state-wide bike safety advocacy organization), and Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path. Approximately 300 students, grades 7-10, will receive the trailing. If the pilot program is successful, courses will be offered as an integral part of ORR’s PE curriculum next year. ORR PE instructors Nancy Cowan, Christopher Cabe, and Karen Horan will work with instructors from MassBike and Safe Routes to School to develop a multi-part curriculum. Friends of the Bike Path secured a grant from G.H. Dunn Insurance Agency, Inc. to underwrite costs of 30 bike helmets and instructional services that are not provided by the Safe Routes to School.

Bonne DeSousa stated she is very pleased that bike ed will be offered in the schools. “This program is not possible without a fleet of bikes available to instructors. We’re making that possible.” She continued, “As more and more people take to our roads for fun, commuting, and exercise, it is important that bicyclists clearly understand the basics of bike handling and the rules of the road.” Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos, a Marion resident, believes bike education, both from the riders’ perspective and the motorists’ view is an essential life skill. As a leader in the Healthy Tri-Town Coalition, Frangos believes “these bike skills help make kids college and career ready, can save lives and provide students with lifelong, enjoyable fitness.” The Department of Transportation supports bicycling as a sustainable transportation option that has economic and health benefits.

Sippican Woman’s Club

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On Friday, February 8, the Sippican Woman’s Club will have Catherine McLaughlin, author of the recently published novel Blue Collars. She will read excerpts from her book, which is set in the South End of New Bedford, Massachusetts during a transformational time in American History, the late 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. Blue Collars is a timeless story of a family’s enduring love triumphing over poverty, abuse, and heartache.

Author and artist Catherine McLaughlin grew up in New Bedford and was a professor of English and writing at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Framingham State University for over 40 years. Now in retirement, she lives in Dartmouth with her two cats.

There will be a finger lunch at 12:30 pm, followed by a brief business meeting before Ms. McLaughlin’s presentation. The program will take place at Handy’s Tavern, 152 Front Street, Marion, Massachusetts. New Members and guests are always welcome. If interested, please call Jeanne Lake at 508-748-0619.

Janice E. (Gallant) Silveira

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Janice E. (Gallant) Silveira, 81 of Mattapoisett died February 3, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital after a long illness. 

            She was the wife of the late Clifford S. Silveira. 

            Born in Edgartown, MA, daughter of the late Archie and Florida (Goguen) Gallant, she was raised in Fairhaven and lived in Mattapoisett most of her life. 

            Mrs. Silveira was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church. 

            She enjoyed furniture refinishing and stenciling. 

            Survivors include her son, Robert Silveira of Mattapoisett; a daughter, Rebecca Nye of Marion; 2 brothers, Donald Gallant and Eddie Gallant; 3 sisters, Ann Bowman, Geneva Viveiros and Gertrude Milone; 5 grandchildren, Nichole, Jennifer, Christopher, Jr., Randall and Glen. 

            She was the mother of the late John Silveira and the sister of the late Joseph Gallant, Robert Gallant, Ray Gallant, Jeannette Genereux and Leo Gallant. 

            Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett on Wednesday, February 6th at 9 AM. Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church at 10 AM. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Visiting hours Tuesday, February 5th from 5-8 PM. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

FinCom Wants Revival of Personnel Committee

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The Marion Finance Committee made a few tweaks to a letter addressed to the Board of Selectmen on January 29 and is preparing it to inform the selectmen that the committee is interested in reconstituting a Town personnel committee.

“There are some personnel decisions we should be involved in,” said Finance Committee Chairman Peter Winters.

A more formal Personnel Board supported with bylaws was dissolved back in 2000, according to Selectman John Waterman, and replaced by a more informal personnel committee composed of the selectmen and the Finance Committee members, which has been inactive for some time now.

Adding to the conversation, Finance Committee member Alan Minard had hoped to be chosen as a member of the committee to select a new town administrator but was not appointed.

The Finance Committee members discussed its availability to attend the next Board of Selectmen meeting on February 5 to talk about their personnel board idea, as well as the Reserve Fund transfer request to fund Town Administrator Paul Dawson’s 5.4 percent pay raise that the Finance Committee declined to approve during its last meeting.

Committee members on January 15 approved a Reserve Fund transfer request to fund the fire chief’s 8.8 percent pay raise, but declined to approve Dawson’s because, as Minard put it, “It ties the money up. … It’s not going to be necessary.”

The selectmen had asked Winters to attend its last meeting on January 22, but Winters was not able to attend, and neither was Minard in Winter’s place.

In other matters, the board discussed budget updates, specifically those of the Department of Public Works and a capital list of significant length. Trash is an issue with a fate that is still undecided as the town’s trash district approaches the end of its solid waste disposal contract with SEMASS and Marion’s trash collector trucks often breaking down.

“I think you’re going to see a lot of capital,” said Finance Director Judy Mooney. “It’s a big capital list.”

The Marion School District draft budget appears to be up only around 1.7 percent at this time, but the FinCom expects the Planning Board budget to be of some concern with its request to hire temporary part-time Town Planner Gil Hilario as a permanent full-time town planner.

The next regular meeting of the Marion Finance Committee is scheduled for February 6 at 6:00 pm at the Atlantis Drive facility, followed by another meeting on February 12 at 6:00 pm at the same venue.

Marion Finance Committee

By Jean Perry




Tri-County Symphonic Band

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The Tri-County Symphonic Band will have a concert entitled “Going Green” featuring Leslie Stroud, flute soloist. The concert is Sunday, February 10at 3:00 pm in the Dartmouth High School Auditorium, 555 Bakerville Road, South Dartmouth.




Machacam Club Meeting

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The February meeting of the Machacam Club is scheduled for Wednesday, February 6. We meet at the American Legion Hall on Depot Street. Social time begins at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6:00 pm. Efforts are underway to secure a speaker for our dinner meeting. Chef Colby has planned an Italian-style dinner that we know will satisfy your appetite! Callers please transmit your counts for dinner to 508-758-1326 or email to cwmccullough@comcast.net.




Academic Achievements

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Jake Yeomans of Marion was named to the University of Connecticut2018 Fall Dean’s List.

The following Tri-Town residents were among 1,595 students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute(WPI) named to the university’s dean’s list for academic excellence for the fall 2018 semester:

-Alex Tavares of Marion is a member of the class of 2020 majoring in computer science.

-Nicole Mattson of Marion is a member of the class of 2020 majoring in biomedical engineering.

-Drew Robert of Mattapoisett is a member of the class of 2020 majoring in robotics engineering and mechanical engineering.

The criteria for the WPI Dean’s List differs from most other universities as WPI does not compute a grade point average (GPA). Instead, WPI defines the dean’s list by the amount of work completed at the A level in courses and projects.

Emily Faulkner of Rochester & Casey Allaire of Mattapoisett have been named to the Plymouth State UniversityPresident’s List for the Fall 2018 semester. To be named to the President’s List, a student must achieve a grade point average of 3.7 or better for the Fall 2018 semester and must have attempted at least 12 credit hours during the semester.

The following students have been named to the dean’s list at the University of New Hampshirefor the fall 2018 semester;

-Olivia Ucci of Marion with High Honors

-Amanda D’Amico of Marion with High Honors

-Megan Iverson of Marion with High Honors

-Abigail Stark of Mattapoisett with High Honors

-Alexandra Nicolosi of Mattapoisett with Highest Honors

-Amanda Colwell of Rochester with High Honors

-Emily Ziino of Rochester with Highest Honors




Guided Mindfulness Walk

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Enjoy the peace and beauty of nature with Jessica Webb and the Buzzards Bay Coalition during a mindfulness walk at the White Eagle parcel of Aucoot Woods (Parlowtown Road, Marion) on Saturday, March 16at 11:00 am. Through guided mindfulness meditation, participants will experience the outdoors with their senses wide open.

            White Eagle is one of two publicly accessible parcels of Aucoot Woods, a stretch of more than 1,000 acres of protected land in Marion, known for its deep forests, running streams, freshwater wetlands, and acres of cranberry bogs.

            All fitness levels are welcome on this free, one-hour walk. The walk will be conducted at a deliberately slow and mindful pace in social silence without digital devices. Please wear appropriate footwear for wet conditions to ensure you are dry and comfortable during the walk.

            Pre-registration is required. To RSVP, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org/events/mindfulness-walk-white-eagle-mar-16-2019/ or contact the Buzzards Bay Coalition at 508-999-6363 ext. 219 or bayadventures@savebuzzardsbay.org.

            This event is part of Discover Buzzards Bay, an initiative to help people across the Buzzards Bay region find unique and exciting ways to explore the outdoors, get some exercise, and connect with nature. Local residents can use Discover Buzzards Bay to get outside and discover woods, wetlands, and waterways from Fall River to Falmouth. To learn more, visit savebuzzardsbay.org/discover.