Sippican Historical Society

on

In 1998, the Sippican Historical Society commissioned an architectural survey of Marion’s historic homes and buildings. The survey was funded one-half by the Sippican Historical Society and one-half by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Because of the limits of funding, not all of the historic buildings were surveyed, but over 100 were catalogued and photographed. The results of the survey are in digital form on the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s website and in four binders in the Sippican Historical Society’s office (and at the Marion Town Clerk’s office). Marion (Old Rochester) is one of the oldest towns in the United States, and the Sippican Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of documentation on its historic buildings. The Sippican Historical Society will preview one building a week so that the residents of Marion can understand more about its unique historical architecture. This installment features 9 Clark Street.

The dwelling at 9 Clark Street is a U-shaped Queen Anne house built between 1855 and 1875. By 1879, it was owned by Joseph H. Clark, a carpenter and boat builder. He lived here from the 1870s until c. 1910.

Mary Curtis Betts

on

Mary Curtis Betts, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully at her home in Palm Beach, Florida on March 30, 2018. A Mattapoisett resident for many years, she was 89.

Mary was born on June 9, 1928 in Caribou, Maine, the eldest daughter of Theodore S. Curtis, Sr., and Augusta Tolman Curtis. She grew up in Orono, Maine, and graduated from Orono High School in 1945. She attended the University of Maine, where she met fellow student Bill Betts, and married him in 1950, the year after she graduated. They were together for 56 years, until his death in 2007.

The couple moved to New York soon after marriage and there had four sons and a daughter: William, Jr., Donald, Robert, Curtis and Dorothea. In 1966, the family moved to Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, where Mary enjoyed living close to the beach and the community there. At Mattapoisett, the doors of her home were always open to friends and family. If you went in, chances were good you would be greeted by one of her golden retrievers and then happily roped into a game of Rummikub, a walk to the beach or a family singalong.

All her life, Mary loved music, and played piano and accordion. She sang in a clear voice and seemed to know a songbook’s worth of music by heart. Some of the songs she loved dated back to her days as a Girl Scout camper in the 1940s, and she delighted in teaching them to younger generations.

Mary was active in the Mattapoisett Congregational Church and the Mattapoisett Women’s Club, and was an active and vigorous member of local bowling leagues. Mary played tennis, taught piano, and always enjoyed visiting museums and learning more about history. In Mattapoisett, she enjoyed going to the Oxford Creamery for ice cream and also walking down to the beach at night with family members. When the sky was darkest and the landscape seemed at its most magical, they would look for shooting stars. The memory of these walks links Mary with the vast, infinite universe, as does the memory of her voice lifting above the sparks thrown by a campfire on a summer night on Bowman’s Isle in Maine.

As her children grew and married, Mary truly welcomed their spouses into the family. She adored spending time with her grandchildren, teaching them games, and was the kind of grandmother who would happily swim in the ocean at night when the moon was full. Mary was a strong woman with a fearless sense of adventure. She loved going on road trips and especially enjoyed spending time in the canyons of Sedona, Arizona, where, as a lifelong seeker of spiritual knowledge and growth and member of the Inner Peace Movement, she explored both the physical and the spiritual landscapes.

Mary lived her long life well, and cherished her family, friends and many special places.  She will be missed by sons William Jr, and his wife Sharon, of Kinnelon, N.J.; Donald, and his wife Martha Antaya, of Warren, R.I.; Robert,  and Ellen Brady, of Mashpee, MA; Curtis, and Sally Johnson of Riverside, R.I. and daughter Dorothea and Robert Daniel, of Las Vegas, NV. She also is survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends, as well as her sisters, Edith Curtis of Moscow, Idaho and Peggy MacDonald of Augusta, Maine. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents and her younger brother, Ted Curtis, Jr., of Orono, Maine.

Her memorial service will be held June 9, at 10:00 am, at Ned’s Point Light, Mattapoisett.

Richard G. Cutcliffe

on

Richard G. Cutcliffe, 62, of Rochester, died Sunday, May 20, 2018 at Tobey Hospital in Wareham after sustaining injuries in a house fire.

Born in Needham, he was the son of Jeanne A. (Verdi) Cutcliffe of Rochester, and the late Richard V. Cutcliffe.

Rick previously lived in Hanson before his moved to Old Port, Maine where he owned and operated a body piercing studio, Pinnacle Piercing. He moved to Rochester 22 years ago. Rick was a Harley Davison motorcycle enthusiast and was a member of Phoenix Motorcycle Club.

He is survived by his mother, Jeanne A. Cutcliffe, and his sister, Susan Cutcliffe of Rochester. He was predeceased by his sister, the late Janet Cutcliffe.

His funeral service will be Wed., May 30, 2018 at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28), Wareham at 10 am. Interment in Oak Grove Cemetery, Falmouth. Visiting hours will be Tues., from 4 – 7 pm at the funeral home.

Cannabis Regs Exclude Home Grow Permit

on

Marion has its own set of marijuana establishment regulations now that the Marion Board of Health has approved its proposed recreational cannabis regulations, but that final draft excluded controversial language that called for a local permit to grow cannabis plants at home.

On May 22, Board of Health Chairman Jason Reynolds said town counsel reconsidered the language and now recommends removing the section that would require residents to acquire a permit in order to home grow the six cannabis plants per adult, 12 plants per household, that Massachusetts already allows.

“I did have a few people come up to me who asked if it was legal,” said Reynolds. “They did not feel the Town should put up any barrier.”

Reynolds continued, “Personally, I also started to worry about enforcement – that would not be very easy. I would not propose going door to door doing inspections.”

“I think that is wise, too,” commented Health Agent Karen Walega.

Planning Board Chairman Eileen Marum said she found the regulation to be well written.

“And I agree. I don’t know how you could go and monitor that and count how many plants people are growing,” said Marum, who observed the meeting. “The other thing, that’s state law. State law supersedes local law.”

For the most part, Marion’s Regulation to Ensure the Sanitary and Safe Operations of Marijuana Establishments and the Sale of Marijuana mimics the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s regulations, restricting its retail sale to 21 years of age, prohibiting the conveyance of marijuana to anyone under 21, and the requirement of a local permit (in addition to a state permit) to establish and operate a cannabis retail or cultivation establishment.

Enforcement of cannabis establishments will fall under the purview of the Police Department as well as the Board of Health and its agents.

The regulation does not specify a permit fee for retail establishments, but language states that the Board of Health will determine that fee on an annual basis.

The state regulations allow for a “reasonable” fee to cover the Town’s administrative and enforcement costs, not to exceed 3% of total cannabis sales.

Also during the meeting, the board decided against pursuing an all-out ban on menthol cigarettes and will instead focus on banning other flavored tobacco and nicotine products.

Reynolds said he preferred to put flavored tobacco and nicotine regulations back on the agenda this summer after a brief hiatus.

“We need to consider whether or not we are going to include or exclude menthol from the regulations,” said Reynolds. “The likelihood of a lawsuit goes down when we exclude menthol,” by adding an exemption for menthol flavor like many other towns have done, Reynolds said.

“But we don’t want to,” commented Board of Health member Betsy Dunn.

Reynolds continued, “Personally, I’ve started to feel like, in the spirit of trying to move forward some flavored tobacco regulation, I’d be open to the menthol exclusion right now if it would reduce the likelihood of legal ramifications.”

Reynolds also said it would reduce the impact on some of the small businesses in town, referring to the various Marion establishments that sell liquor and other products where menthol cigarettes are roughly 20 to 30% of their cigarette sales. Store owners said a ban on menthol cigarettes would hurt their businesses since many often end up buying more than just cigarettes, and would simply go “next door” to buy their cigarettes – and milk, bread, and beer.

“I agree with that,” said Board of Health member John Howland.

“I was surprised to get that,” said Dunn, “…the information we did from small businesses. That really was an issue. I never ever perceived it to be.”

Reynolds said, however, that menthol-flavored cigarettes and nicotine-containing ‘vape’ products existed “for a reason,” making it more palatable and harder to quit, he said.

“But I think, if you’re looking at it from a town perspective, us getting rid of menthol is not really going to make that much of an impact if it’s still available next door.”

The focus now will be getting those flavors – peach, bubble gum, mango – “that really target youth,” said Reynolds, off of Marion shelves.

If successful in banning menthol cigarettes, Marion would have been the first municipality in the country to do so; however, tobacco companies did contact the Board of Health early in its exploration of a menthol cigarette ban, cautioning the Town against it and implying the certainty of legal action.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is June 26at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House. The board will then adopt a summer schedule and meet again monthly on July 24 and August 28.

Marion Board of Health

By Jean Perry

 

OC’s Team Rocket Turns On Technology

on

“In a galaxy far, far away….” No wait, it was at Plumb Library in Rochester on May 17 where a group of very enthusiastic fourth- through sixth-grade students got a chance to try out robots designed and built by the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School’s Team Rocket.

In the three years since the program began, about 14 students from every shop in the school have joined in the opportunity to learn how to build a robot from hundreds of bits and pieces. They’ve learned that creative problem solving and technical applications of engineering and math can come together by involving all the minds in a team, and the tangible manifestation of that learning experience is something nearly every kid on the planet loves – robots.

Educator Dan Brush has been the lead instructor for Team Rocket these last three years.

“The program has ramped up over the years,” said Brush. “We get kids from every shop, not just electrical or mechanical.”

Brush said the students use materials sourced from Vex, a company started by two American engineers who saw a need to enhance STEM education through building robots with school-age children. Now the internationally recognized organization of students, including those from Old Colony, have been competing in robot games that allow the students to demonstrate their skills and maybe even return with a trophy. And although the program is still developing, Brush said the students have competed well and earned some rewards.

“Give everyone a chance to drive,” Brush calls out over the chorus of young voices rising from the library floor as the high school students show the younger kids how to operate the robots. There’s even one that looks like and rather sounds like a guitar, and another that swiftly solves the Rubik’s Cube.

Brush is working towards getting varsity letters for the students who participate in the program for all four years, “…Just like a sport,” Brush said.

The program does require financial backing, and to secure some of those funds Brush seeks out grants and the students do fundraising, said Mattapoisett resident Ryan Pickwick.

Pickwick is set to become the most experienced student on the team when the seniors graduate. He is currently a sophomore.

Jasper Tan of Lakeville has been with the program since it began. He’ll graduate this June and is heading to UMass Dartmouth in the fall to begin his education in mechanical engineering.

“There is a lot of process in making a robot,” said Tan. “It really is a team effort. We all learn the same things but everyone doesn’t think the same. With experience we can solve things with everyone’s fullest effort.”

According to Tan, it takes many hundreds of hours to craft a robot, from writing specifications to actually screwing pieces together and the associated computer programing.     Brush pointed out that the computer programming in one of the Lego robots zipping across the floor had “more brains than the Apollo spaceship.”

Of the younger students on hand, on this night most were planning to start their high school years at Old Colony and wanted to find out about this program now.

Siblings Joshua and Ellie Lima of Freetown are both planning on entering Old Colony’s electrical shop in the next couple of years. Pat Flaherty showed them how a robot picks up a target and carries it forward saying, “This year (in competition) we shot balls and flipped discs.”

Brush also handed out a quote from the I-Robot series penned by the late engineer and sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov. Asimov, Brush said, is also credited with being the inspiration behind some of the Star Warsrobots.

So, what was Asimov’s vision for robots? Simply put, a robot should never injure a human, must obey orders as long as those orders don’t hurt humans, and must protect its own existence as long as it doesn’t hurt a human or disobey orders that hurt humans.

Hmmm … I wonder how the robots feel about that.

To learn more about the Vex programs and how your child may engage in a greater STEM experience, visit www.vexrobotics.com or contact Dan Brush at Old Colony, 508-763-8011. He says he’s “there all the time.”

By Marilou Newell

 

“Frogs at The Bogs” with the BBC

on

Explore the wetlands and vernal pools at The Bogs (138 Acushnet Road, Mattapoisett) to find frogs on a fun, family-friendly evening walk with the Buzzards Bay Coalition on Friday, May 25at 6:00 pm.

During the walk, we’ll listen for the melodic sounds of frogs and use nets and buckets to safely catch a few amphibian friends to see up-close. Participants will also learn fun facts about frogs and other special species that live in the Mattapoisett River valley.

This walk is free and open to all. Pre-registration is required. To RSVP or to get more information, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org/events/frogs-at-the-bogs-may-25-2018/ 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. Discover Buzzards Bay is sponsored by Southcoast Health.

Academic Achievements

on

Allegra Horstmann of Marion graduated from Gettysburg Collegeon May 20, 2018. Horstmann received a Bachelor of Arts.

Jessica Baum, granddaughter of Howard and Nancy Tinkham of Mattapoisett, attained her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in education and math from Lake Forest College. She is the daughter of David and Cheryl Tinkham Baum.

Curry Collegeis pleased to announce that Julie Blezard of Mattapoisett received a Bachelor of Science degree and Meghan Desrochers of Rochester received a Bachelor of Science degree on Sunday, May 20, 2018.

Kathleen Gifford, a Rochester resident, was recently recognized for excellent academic performance this past fall 2017 semester at Wheelock Collegein Boston and placed on the Dean’s List. Gifford is studying child life.

Bethany Spangler of Mattapoisett has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s winter 2018 President’s List. Eligibility for the President’s List requires that a student accumulate an academic grade point average (GPA) of 3.7-4.0 and earn 12 credits for the semester.

Cristiana Maria Elena Pineda, ORR Class of 2008, Holy Cross Class of 2012, was awarded her PhD in Molecular Genetics from Yale Universityon May 21, 2018. Pineda was a biochemistry major at Holy Cross followed by two years of research at Massachusetts General Hospital in Molecular Biology. She was accepted into the PhD program at Yale in the department of Biomedical Sciences genetics division and published three research papers in major scientific journals. She will begin medical school at Georgetown University in August.

Waterman, Walker are Election Winners

on

Marion voters chose John Waterman to fill the one-year seat on the Board of Selectmen on Friday, May 18, in a decisive vote garnering over half the total votes in a four-way race.

Waterman will resume the remaining one year term of former selectman Steve Gonsalves, who resigned on February 22 from the board after a brief period of open contention with the other two selectmen.

When asked why he thought he won the election, Waterman said, “Because I did my homework and I took a clean position on what I wanted to do.”

“But the hard work starts now,” said Waterman. “It’s a lot easier to talk about it than to get the work done.”

Waterman received 551 votes, Michelle Ouellette Smith 221, Joseph Zora 113, and Dale Jones 106.

Randy Parker, with 807 votes, won the uncontested three-year term left vacant by Jody Dickerson who chose not to run for reelection this year.

George “T.J.” Walker beat incumbent Ray Pickles for Assessor in another decisive vote, 658-268.

“I’m very pleased with the results,” said Walker, “and I look forward to working with my fellow assessors in an open and transparent fashion representing the entire town.”

For the other uncontested races: Moderator, Brad Gordon, 814 votes; Board of Health, John Howard, 784 votes; Planning Board (two seats), 597 votes for Andrew Daniel, 550 votes for Kristen Saint Don-Campbell; Marion School Committee (two seats), 585 for Michelle Ouellette Smith, 549 for April Rios; Open Space Acquisition Commission, Alan Harris, 774 votes.

Voter turnout was 25.5% with 1,023 of the 4,016 registered Marion voters casting ballots.

By Jean Perry

 

Tri-County Music Association Raffle

on

Raffle tickets (with a Grand Prize of $1,000) are now on sale for the Tri-County Symphonic Band’s 16th Annual Benefit Pops Concert “British Invasion.” This raffle raises funds annually for the Tri-County Music Association’s Scholarship Fund. Raffle tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at The Bookstall in Marion and The Symphony Music Shop in Dartmouth. The drawing will be held at the end of the Pops Concert on Sunday, June 10 at 2:00 pm. Ticket holders need not be present to win. GRAND PRIZE: $1000; 2nd Prize: “Out and About” Quilt, 70 x 87, ($750 value); 3rd Prize: Four (4) Premium Boston Red Sox Tickets for June 26 vs. LA Angels ($528 value); 4th Prize: Two (2) Season Tickets to the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra ($440 value); 5th Prize: Trustee Wine Selection ($150 value); 6th Prize: Two (2) Tickets to a Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra Concert ($94 value). Please visit http://tricountysymphonicband.org for more detailed information.

Nasketucket Bird Club

on

There will be a Nasketucket Bird Club meeting on Thursday, May 24at 7:00 pm

Kathleen Shepherd, a Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences student, will give a program on the piping plover. The presentation will start with an introduction to piping plover identification, behaviors, and habitat. She will then explore why they are a species of concern, and what has led them to be listed as an endangered species both federally and statewide. Kathleen will also talk about methods of management and conservation, including what we can do as private citizens to increase their chances of survival.

The meetings, open to the public and handicapped accessible, are held at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, located at the south door entrance on Barstow Street in Mattapoisett.

Check our website at http://massbird.org/Nasketucket/ or email our President Justin Barrett at jmbarrett426@gmail.com.