Leo A. Surprenant

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Leo A. Surprenant, age 93, of Fairhaven, passed away Saturday, July 22, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was the husband of Theresa (Durand) Surprenant with whom he shared 67 years of marriage.

Born in New Bedford, a son of the late Jean and Irene (Roy) Surprenant, he had resided in California for several years before moving back to Fairhaven.

Mr. Surprenant served in the United States Army during World War II.

He had worked as a shipper for the Campbell Chain Company while in California.

Leo was a member of Damien Council #4190 Knights of Columbus in Mattapoisett and the Bishop Cassidy General Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus.

Surviving in addition to his wife is a brother, Rene Surprenant of New Bedford and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings, Theresa Ponte, Lillian Turner and Raymond Surprenant.

Private services are in the care of Waring-Sullivan at Fairlawn, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven. For online tributes: www.waring-sullivan.com

Carol A. (Burke) Connolly

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Carol A. (Burke) Connolly, 78, of Mattapoisett died July 23, 2017 at Sippican Health Care Center after a long illness.

She was the wife of Paul J. Connolly.

Born in Arlington, MA, the daughter of the late Wallace H. and Helen (McQuiggan) Burke, she was raised in Belmont and lived in Mattapoisett for over 35 years.

She was formerly employed as a physical therapist for many years until retirement.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Sean Connolly of Wareham; a daughter, Robin Connolly and her husband Kevin Kearns of Natick, MA; a sister, Patricia Baker of Scituate, MA; and a niece, Lauren Baker of Scituate.

Private arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Mattapoisett Lions Club Scholarships

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Kim Ray, President of The Mattapoisett Lions Club, one of 45,000 Lions Clubs around the world, has announced the two recipients of 2017 Mattapoisett Lions Club Award of Excellence in the amount of $2,500 each.

This year’s recipients are Maxxon Wolski, of Mattapoisett, a senior at Old Rochester Regional High School and Kathleen Gifford, of Rochester, also a senior at Old Rochester Regional High School. Maxx will be attending the Berklee School of Music in the fall and Kathleen will be attending Wheelock College.

Both are recognized for their outstanding work in community service, their career goals and academic records.

Over the past seven years, the members of the Lions Club have awarded over $25,000 in scholarships.

These awards would not be possible without the strong community and town departments’ support we’ve received over the years.

Funds for these awards were raised through the efforts of the Mattapoisett Lions at our annual Harbor Days Arts and Crafts Festival and other events throughout the year. To find out more information about the Mattapoisett Lions Club and how to join, please visit us at http://www.mattapoisettlionsclub.org and follow us on Facebook.

MAC Summer Members Show

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The Marion Art Center invites all members in good standing to submit two pieces for exhibit and sale in its 2017 Summer Members Show. Artwork must be appropriately matted, framed and ready to hang, with hanging wire on the back affixed securely to the frame with eye hooks. Drop-off for artwork will take place at the MAC on Tuesday, August 1 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. The Summer Members Show will open on Friday, August 4, with a reception honoring participating artists from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Membership to the Marion Art Center is open to all, and the annual membership drive is currently underway. For more information on the Summer Members Show or MAC membership, please call 508-748-1266, visit www.marionartcenter.org, or stop by the MAC during gallery hours: Tuesday – Friday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm; Saturday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Marion Art Center is located at 80 Pleasant Street in Marion (at the corner of Pleasant and Main Streets). Admission to the galleries is free and open to the public.

Friends of Plumb Library Book Sale

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The Friends of Plumb Library are seeking used books and other items for their annual book sale that will take place on September 23. Please bring your clean, used copies of books, DVDs, CDs, or games to the Plumb Library, 17 Constitution Way, Rochester, during library hours. Last date to drop off books will be Thursday, September 21. Please call the library at 508-763-8600 for more information.

Farmer’s Market Granted Special Permit

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The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals on July 13 granted Craig Canning of Rochester Farms a Special Permit to develop a 60-acre parcel at 0 Marion Road into a farmer’s market and surrounding organic farm.

Two 7,200 square-foot buildings are slated for the site, as well as parking and entrances that will be limited to a 3.9-acre area of the lot.

The Special Permit was required to allow for the use of a commercial retail outlet at the property that lies within an Agricultural-Residential Zone.

Of the 91 abutters notified of the project, only 14 attended the meeting, which the board vocally acknowledged as a sign that most abutters were okay with the project. Some in attendance, however, had a few questions for Canning – as long as the questions stayed within the purview of the ZBA, commented Chairman David Arancio. Aspects of the plan involving parking, traffic flow, and drainage would be handled by the Planning Board, he stated.

The Cutlers, who live directly across the proposed farmer’s market, voiced some concern over the proposed entrance to the parking lot, which Canning had agreed prior to the meeting to shift about 20 feet west from the originally proposed location, which pleased the Cutlers.

ZBA member Kirby Gilmore, however, was unhappy that the board did not have a plan reflecting this change, and made the motion to continue the public hearing until the board received an updated plan. The motion was not seconded and the hearing continued.

Canning stated that construction and development of the land would likely take at least two years or possibly more, so prospective shoppers would have to wait a while before shopping for locally-sourced organic produce and other agriculturally-derived products, products of which the Special Permit limits in the conditions.

One resident likened the proposed market as being like a Cumberland Farms and that property values nearby will drop.

Board members determined that the proposed use of the farmer’s market and surrounding farms would be a good use of the land, keeping in harmony with the agricultural setting of Rochester.

“Aside from conservation [restriction] or hayfield, I think it’s a great use for the property,” said ZBA member Davis Sullivan. “There are other uses that wouldn’t be as harmonious with a farm community. That’s my feeling on it.”

Gilmore suggested limiting goods that could be sold to those of an agricultural nature to avoid selling “ancillary” products.

“I’m absolutely fine with that,” said Canning. “This is not a speedy mart.”

Some specified products the board prohibited were alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and lottery sales.

“These to me are the big ones,” said ZBA member Thomas Flynn.

A second Special Permit allowing signage that exceeds 9 square feet was also granted.

The next meeting of the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for July 26 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals

By Jean Perry

 

Mattapoisett Recreation Pickleball Drop-in

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Pickleball drop-in will now be offered on both Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Thursday is 6:00 pm to sundown and Saturday is 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. We have pickleball racquets and balls available at the court. We now have a permanent pickleball court next to the tennis courts on Hammond Street. This can be used for pickleball or mini tennis for young children. Portable pickleball nets will be set up on the tennis court closest to the pickleball court during drop-in times on Thursdays and Saturdays. The second tennis court will remain available for tennis.

Please note that the tennis courts are reserved for Mattapoisett Recreation programs during the following days: Monday – Friday from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm and Wednesday evenings from 5:00 – 8:00 pm for youth tennis lessons. If you have questions regarding court usage or equipment, please email Mattapoisett Recreation at mattrec@mattapoisett.net.

Annual Marion Town Party

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The Annual Marion Town Party will be held on Saturday, August 26 (rain date is Sunday, August 27) on the grounds of the Marion Town House, 2 Spring Street. Festivities begin at 4:00 pm.

Proceeds will be distributed between the Marion Firefighters Association and Marion Recreation to benefit local community needs.

Free inflatable fun for the kids, a free rock climbing wall, music and dancing, PLUS a huge bonfire! A great night of fun for the entire family! There will be food and beverages for sale.

Once again, organizers are seeking corporate sponsors. We will have different levels of sponsorship. Also, we will be selling advertising space in the Town Party booklet. This is a great opportunity for local businesses to get the word out and advertise their businesses.

Donations from the community are needed to help underwrite the event. Food, services, cash or any other in-kind donation would be greatly appreciated. All contributions are tax deductible.

For further information or to make a donation, please contact Chris Berg at 508-776-1615 or Donna Hemphill at 508-748-3515, email to townparty@marionrecreation.com, or you may send a check (made out to Marion Recreation) to the Marion Town House, c/o Marion Town Party, 2 Spring Street, Marion, Massachusetts, 02738.

Historical Lecture Series

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Mattapoisett Historical Society and Mattapoisett Free Public Library will be presenting a Lecture Series by Seth Mendell, president emeritus of the Mattapoisett Historical Society. The subject of the series is the Inter-war Years (1918-1939): Witness the Rise of Communism, Fascism, Nazism and Militaristic Japan.

Labeled by some as “the war to end all wars,” the First World War failed in all respects and in many ways sowed the seeds for another World War in only 20 short years. During these years, Lenin and Stalin built the Soviet Communist State. The Italians, humiliated by their losses to Germany during the war, eagerly followed Benito Mussolini in building a Fascist State based on exaggerated nationalism. The German people, broken by defeat in the war and further punished by the allied Powers with heavy reparation payments, were ready to follow a charismatic Adolf Hitler who talked of a master race and a thousand year Reich. In the Orient, the Japanese military faction gained control of the government and in 1936 Japanese forces began invading the Chinese mainland. The League of Nations during the inter-war years was merely a sounding board with no means to enforce its declarations. The League was also minus the United States, which had played such an important role in the defeat of Germany.

This series of six lectures will attempt to analyze the events of the period and the reactions of England, France, and the United States as the structure set up by the Paris Peace Conference and Treaty of Versailles crumbled, sending Europe and the world into another war. The lectures will be held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, beginning on August 15 and ending September 19. Questions: info@mattapoisetthistoricalsociety.org; 508-758-2844; www.mattapoisetthistoricalsociety.org.

August 15: Seth Mendell’s The Inter-war Years (1918-1939) Lecture Series: The Paris Peace Conference, the Treaty of Versailles and the Weimar Republic.

August 22: Seth Mendell’s The Inter-war Years (1918-1939) Lecture Series: The Formation of the Nations of Eastern Europe and the Development of the Soviet Union.

August 29: Seth Mendell’s The Inter-war Years (1918-1939) Lecture Series: England and the Commonwealth, France and Security and The Italian Fascist State.

September 5: Seth Mendell’s The Inter-war Years (1918-1939) Lecture Series: The United States – Isolation and Depression; The Rise of Nazi Germany.

September 12: Seth Mendell’s The Inter-war Years (1918-1939) Lecture Series: The Conflicts of the 1930s: Japan’s Aggression in China; The Italo– Ethiopian War; the Spanish Civil War.

September 19: Seth Mendell’s The Inter-war Years (1918-1939) Lecture Series: The Approach of War – Nazi Aggression in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland.

ORRHS Stars Continue to Shine

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The following Excellence Awards were given to students with the highest grade averages in each class. These students are examples of hard work and perseverance amongst their peers.

Beginning with the life sciences, high achievement awards were presented to Julia Winsper (Marine Biology), Haleydawn Amato (Forensic Science), Lindsey Merolla (Advanced Placement Biology), Alexandra Moniz and Mackenzie Riley (Biology), Tyler Rose (Health 10), Alexandra Old (Health 9), Courtney Vance (Honors Anatomy and Physiology), and Mikayla Mooney (Anatomy and Physiology).

In the physical sciences, excellence awards were earned by Hanil Kang and Jahn Pothier (Advanced Placement Chemistry), Lily Govoni (Chemistry), Evan Costa (Engineering), Abigail Dyson (Advanced Placement Environmental Science), and Caroline Regis (Environmental Science).

For the arts, achievement awards were given to Sofia Sudofsky (Photography), Kaitlin Kelley and Geneva Smith (Painting), Sadie Weedall (Ceramics), Zoe Bilodeau (Drawing), Katie Gillis (Art 1), Claire Noble-Shriver (Art Major), and Alexander LeGassick (Honors Art Major 2).

In the music department, certificates were presented to Elise Parker, Victoria Kvilhaug, and Rebecca Pacheco (Concert Band), Nicholas Claudio, Kelly Bruce, and Lilah Gendreau (Mixed Chorus), and Grace Stephens, Mia Quinlan, and Patrick Igoe (Jazz Band).

For the creative elective courses, excellence awards were given to Brielle Correia (Child Development), Mackenzie Drew (Early Childhood Education 1), and Rachel Demmer (Sports Nutrition). In addition, the following students received a Recognition Award for Community Service in the Preschool Program Michaela Braz, Sara Campopiano, Gabriel Choquette, Isabelle Choquette, Brielle Correia, Elle Gendreau, Victoria Quinlan, and Madeline Scheub.

Outstanding achievement awards in the World Languages went to Gates Tenerowicz (Latin 1), Mackenzie Riley (Latin 2), Harrison Riley (Latin 3), Evan Tilley (Latin 4), Alexander Wurl (Spanish 1), Rosemary Loer (Spanish 2), Michaela Mattson (Spanish 3), Ashleigh Wilson (Spanish 4), Julia Cabral (French 3), and Ayana Hartley (French 4).

As English is a required class for all four years at ORR, the ELA category had the most certificates given out. The recipients of these excellence awards were Mary Butler, Emma Gabriel, and Mackenzie Riley (Honors English 9), Lilah Gendreau, Alexa McLeod, and Gabrielle Bold (English 9A), Alexandra Fluegel (English 10 A), Claire Noble-Shriver and Lily Pearl Poirier (Honors English 10), Maxine Kellum (Honors English 11), Felicia Araujo and Evan Costa (English 11A), and Evan Tilley, Jahn Pothier, and Lindsey Merolla (AP Language and Composition).

For English-related electives, awardees were Emily Wilson (Journalism), Hannah Farias (Theater), Sara Campopiano (Creative Writing), Celia Deverix (Genealogy), and Thomas Goodfellow (Creative, Inspiration, and Innovation).

In mathematics, accolades went to Andrew Miller (Advanced Algebra), Mackenzie Riley (Honors Geometry), Gabrielle Bold (Algebra 1), Michaela Mattson (Honors Algebra 2), Jahn Pothier (Honors Pre-Calculus), and Sam Pasquill (Advanced Placement Statistics).

For World History (grade 9), the highest grade averages belonged to Emma Gabriel, Mackenzie Riley, Elise Mello, Jendell Teixeira, Ben Ritchie, Lilah Gendreau, and Grace Greany. In US History 1 (grade 10), the award went to Rosemary Loer, Tyler Kulak, Lily Youngberg, Danya Bischel, Isabella Wierzbicki, Lauren Ziino, Elsie Buckley, Carly O’Connell, Kevin Ovian, Nolan LaRochelle, and Sydney Green. Finally, for US History 2 (grade 11), the recipients were Evan Costa, Erin Stoeckle, Hannah Farias, and Evan Tilley.

The Principal’s Recognition awards go each year to students who go above and beyond in their activities both in and out of school. This can range anywhere from overcoming a large obstacle to performing outstanding community service. This year’s honorees were Gabriel Jacobsen, Michael Bienz, Michael Sivvianakis, and Mackenzie Drew.

As a part of the New England School Development Council, ORR has the opportunity to award deserving rising seniors the National School Development Council Award. These individuals are both positive role models to their peers and demonstrate academic effort throughout their work. This year, Dr. Douglas White presented this award to Lindsey Merolla and Sam Pasquill.

The Lighthouse Book Awards are given annually to students at each ORR school by the Board of the Old Rochester Tri-Town Education Foundation. The students awarded are selected by their teachers and principals for their academic, cultural, and civic accomplishments. The recipients this year were Alice Bednarczyk and Hanil Kang.

By Jo Caynon