Hartley Wins Selectman Seat, Question Fails

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Greenwood “Woody” Hartley III is Rochester’s winner in the race for Board of Selectmen in this April 12, 2017 Annual Town Election.

Hartley received well over half the votes for Board of Selectmen with 584. Incumbent Richard Nunes received 326, and Bendrix Bailey got 239 votes.

Hartley was present for the closing of the polls along with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Hartley first made a quick call on his cell phone to his mom, Shirley Hartley, 87, before commenting.

“We won,” Hartley told her. “Good, good, good,” was her reply.

Hartley, who lost out to Naida Parker for selectman during the 2015 town election, ran a rigorous campaign this year headed by campaign manager Mika Cambra.

“I ‘m very thankful to the voters, may campaign team, and my family,” said Hartley. “And I’m very excited to start this new adventure.”

The ballot question for a $1 million debt exclusion to repair and resurface High Street and a portion of Hartley Road failed, with 588 votes no, and 323 votes yes.

For the write-in campaign for old Rochester Regional School Committee, Joe Pires won the only seat up for grabs with 206 write-in votes. Rachel Barrett-Habicht received 78 write-ins, Robert Joyce got 72, and Matt Russo had 64 write-in votes.

The following are the results of the remaining non-contested races: Beatrice Renauld, tax collector, 931 votes; Naida Parker, town clerk, 897 votes; William Souza, Board of Health, 920 votes. David Shaw, Cemetery Commission, 921; Debra Lalli, Board of Assessors, 895; Jana Cavanaugh, Board of Assessors, 904; David Sylvia, Park Commission, 902; William Watling, Jr., herring inspector, 942; for Library Trustee, Phoebe Butler with 885 votes, and Rhonda Reints with 816; Arnold Johnson, Planning Board, 873; Rochester School Committee, Meagan Bennett with 678, and Anne Fernandes with 747; Frederick Underhill, Water Commission, 909.

There were a few write-ins for Mickey Mouse, Donald Trump received one vote for town clerk, and Pee-Wee Herman got one vote for Planning Board.

Voter turnout was 1,159, or about a 27 percent of registered Rochester voters.

By Jean Perry

Nasketucket Bird Club

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The Nasketucket Bird Club presents Eagle One: Raising Bald Eagles – A Wildlife Memoir by Dianne Benson Davis on Thursday, April 27 at 7:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library. The library is located on Barstow Street and is handicapped accessible. The program is free and open to the public.

Dianne Benson Davis spent four months living alone as the caretaker for eight baby bald eagles in the remote Quabbin Reservoir area of Massachusetts as part of an ambitious and successful effort to reintroduce the endangered bald eagle to the skies of New England.

Eagle One is the record of her time with the eagles, based on the letters and journals she kept there. It is the story of a woman’s life devoted to the care of wildlife: her nearly 20-year relationship with a red-tailed hawk; her experiences caring for a baby polar bear; tagging loggerhead sea turtles; and working with countless animals at the Tufts University Wildlife Clinic and the EcoTarium. It is also a personal memoir: the story of perseverance and struggle as a single mother, the joys of learning and teaching about wildlife, and of finding happiness and fulfillment in work and family.

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

Solar Farm Screening Unacceptable, Board Says

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A solar farm under development on Snipatuit Road by developer Melink Corporation was under some scrutiny by the Rochester Planning Board on April 11, as abutters described how they could still see the solar energy facility from their property.

Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson said that a section of the site had been clear-cut, although the board was under the impression that vegetation at that section would be left natural to help with screening of the site.

“Obviously, there’s been some changes made to the plan without our approval,” said Johnson. The main issue, he added, is that Melink was supposed to have left natural vegetation near there and not clear cut up to the fence.

Contractor Chris Turner represented Melink that night, saying that the section was always planned to be cut, but the understory growth was supposed to remain intact.

Abutters at 389 Snipatuit Road said that the solar farm is visible at an entire section of their property, and the plantings that were placed there are not enough to screen it. Turner said, though, that he planted the trees according to the town’s peer review engineer’s specifications; however, the cutting of the underbrush left an impact on visibility.

“We do have to do some adjustment out there behind your property,” Johnson said. “We’re gonna work with them on that.” The board will conduct another site visit to ensure the screening is adequate, Johnson told them.

In other matters, a Modification of an Approval Not Required Subdivision Plan Draft Decision for Gary M. Mills of Hartley Road was continued until the next meeting. There was no discussion and a draft decision of approval was prepared, but the board was still waiting on some legal documents that had only just been submitted that day to be reviewed by town counsel.

Johnson also told the board about an upcoming informal discussion for development of the old airport property on Marion Road. The proposed plan is for a farmer’s market and organic farm.

“It’s nice,” said Johnson. “It’s nice that it’s going to be used for something other than a solar farm or 40-B housing.”

The board informally tossed around some ideas for affordable housing for seniors. One idea was to consider what price range seniors would be able to afford before proceeding further in the consideration process. A group has been meeting informally at the Council on Aging, Johnson said, over the past five months or so to brainstorm ways of tackling affordable housing for seniors. Another idea was to possibly change the bylaws to allow for a trailer park for age 55 and over only.

There were no public hearings on the agenda that evening.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for April 25 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

 

ORR Fields Overhaul Hovers at $5 Million

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Volunteers of T.U.R.F. (Tri-Town Unified Recreational Facilities, Inc.), a non-profit organization formed by residents to fundraise for a complete overhaul of the athletic fields at Old Rochester Regional, are taking their proposal to the towns to present their plans and talk about private and public funding sources to make the ‘field of dreams’ a reality.

T.U.R.F. President Tom Flynn, along with Hal Rood, Sean Walsh, and Athletics Director Bill Tilden, will be taking their presentation on the road to the Tri-Town boards of selectmen and finance committees to garner support for the project and hopefully persuade the towns to support contributing some public funding.

“This requires both private and public funding in order to get this vision to fruition,” said Flynn.

Over the past 15 months, the group has raised upwards of $70,000 to fund the engineering for the estimated $5 million project and to study the current conditions of the fields and why they are in such poor shape.

“The fields … are suffering from overuse and we have actual data,” said Rood. “We know how many hours of use a grass field can take.”

The running track is already 15 years old and at the end of its lifespan, said Rood. “The track has not kept up with the state standards for hosting a state or regional track meet,” said Rood, pointing out that indentations in the track and variations in surface levels are a hazard for injury.

The practice fields are not property irrigated, and the fields are over-used by school and private non-school athletic groups, including youth sports. The grass doesn’t grow anymore, and large patches of bare ground have created unevenly filled surfaces, causing twisted ankles and muscle injuries, not to mention falls and concussions, Rood said.

Field lighting is also an issue, as well as the non-standard ‘H’ goalposts.

The new athletic complex plan calls for a synthetic turf stadium multi-use field, a secondary synthetic turf field, the repair of the baseball diamond, and two new natural grass fields to be used alternately in order to properly maintain the grass. Additional bleachers are slated, as well as a press box for the announcer and another structure at the entrance for restrooms and concessions.

“This is the right project and time,” said Flynn. “But, the most exciting thing about the facility is also the worst thing about this facility,” he added. It’s that all three towns use these fields “constantly,” Flynn said. “It’s really a community hub, and it’s being used every moment that it can be used and that’s the problem.”

Architectural firm Kaestle Boos has designed the athletic complex and assisted with a cost analysis of the proposed synthetic turf project versus a completely natural grass proposal.

Over the total life span of conventional grass fields, the expected cost would be $1.1 million as opposed to synthetic turf at $1.66 million. However, a synthetic turf field allows for more field use hours, an important part of the revenue over time that would account for roughly $3.3 million of the total cost of the project.

It’s all in the mathematics, said Rood.

“There’s so much demand for field space,” said Rood. “We value athletics and getting adults and kids moving out there.” Rood continued, “The plus to this facility is people use it; however, it’s overused.”

The estimated upfront cost per town would be $1.67 million, with revenue projected at around $3 million.

“We realized this is going to be some critical revenue generation for us,” said Rood. The fields could host up to 15 tournaments per day, at $1,000 each. Youth leagues would pay $50 per hour for field use, and some other adult leagues, $100 per hour. Sponsorship and signs could also generate another $1,000 each. In all, about $206,000 could be raised annually.

T.U.R.F. members are also seeking any available grants and other ways to raise revenue.

“We build it and they will come,” said Rood.

“I think it’s worth it,” said Flynn. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think it was worth it.”

T.U.R.F. members hope to present the project to town meeting voters of all three towns next year.

“I’m in this for the long haul,” said Flynn. “I want to see this happen.”

By Jean Perry

 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat

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To the Editor:

I had the opportunity to attend two performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. I had attended the dress rehearsal and enjoyed it so much that I purchased a ticket for the final performance on Sunday afternoon. The production was beyond amazing. Not only was the young man, John Roussell, outstanding, but all of the other students’ performances were exceptional. I could also see how the “puppies” were enjoying themselves. I want to thank Paul Sardinha for his being able to bring out the best of the best of his students and how he was able to give the Tri-Town residents a Broadway worthy production. I would also like to thank Mr. Barnicle for his added touch of improvisation during the cafe number. Bravo ORR Drama Club!

Stephanie Mitchell, Mattapoisett

 

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will 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 Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.

ORRHS Steering Committee for NEASC Accreditation

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Principal Michael Devoll of Old Rochester Regional High School today announced the names of the steering committee members who will direct the school’s efforts during its self-study and the Accreditation by the Commission on Public Schools of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The steering committee will be co-chaired by Ms. Megan Hall who is an English Teacher and Dr. Erich Carroll who is a Social Studies Teacher and Department Coordinator.

The other members of the Committee are Geoff White, Sheryl Briggs, Karen Browning and Heidi Graser.

NEASC membership requires that a school undergo a self-study and formal evaluation at least once every ten years. The steering committee’s responsibilities will include coordinating a schedule of events for the school’s self-study, collecting reports from various subcommittees, and making necessary preparations for the evaluation committee’s visit.

According to Principal Devoll, “The self-study will include the completion of the comprehensive assessment of teaching and learning and the support of teaching and learning. The focus of the Accreditation visit will be to determine the extent to which our programs and services carry out the school’s core values and beliefs about student learning and align with the Committee on Public Secondary Schools Standards for Accreditation.”

ORRHS was last accredited in 2006 and has maintained continued Accreditation since it was awarded NEASC membership. The next Accreditation by a Committee on Public Secondary Schools visiting team will be conducted in September and October, 2018.

The Music of John Williams

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On Saturday, April 29, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra closes its 101st season with a celebration of the music of John Williams, conducted by Ken-David Masur. Masur, who continues his post Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony and conducts in France, Germany, Korea, and Russia in the 2016/17 season, will lead the NBSO in an exuberant performance of many of Williams’ movie scores. The program includes music from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, E.T., Jaws, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and more. In a personal note to NBSO concertgoers, Williams sent “greetings from Los Angeles to the members of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, along with my warmest thanks to them and to Maestro Ken-David Masur for performing so much of my music … along with my best wishes for a joyous evening of music.”

The concert will take place on April 29 at 7:30 pm at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in downtown New Bedford. A limited number of tickets at $25 – $60 are still available through the Z box office: 508-994-2900 or www.nbsymphony.org ($10 student tickets available in person or by phone, not online). Free and convenient concert parking is available in the Z garage. Concert sponsors are Robert B. Feingold & Associates, P.C., and Wendy Cullum & MaryAnn Hayes/Coldwell Banker.

You deserve a symphony in your life – the New Bedford Symphony! The NBSO is a professional orchestra that annually presents a concert series of classical and pops music with prize-winning guest artists from around the world, as well as a chamber music series. In addition, the NBSO’s innovative and nationally recognized educational programs reach 30,000 students each year. The NBSO is dedicated to building a community of music in the South Coast. Visit www.nbsymphony.org for more information.

Gateway Youth Hockey Gladiators

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Gateway Youth Hockey Gladiators – the most reasonably-priced youth hockey league in southeastern Massachusetts – is looking to fill a few roster holes for the upcoming season, from the younger divisions like Mite (7-8), Squirt (9-10) and Pee Wee (11-12) to Bantam (13-14) and Middle School. If you are interested in joining a winning team – both the Squirts and the Pee Wee Gladiators won the championships this year – please reach out to Quirino doCanto at qdocanto@msn.com.

The Testament of Freedom

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The Sippican Choral Society and The Tri-County Symphonic Band present “The Testament of Freedom” by Randall Thompson, based on the writings of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). This concert will be presented on Sunday, April 23 at 3:00 pm at the Fireman Performing Art Center, Tabor Academy in Marion.

Concertgoers will enjoy a stirring patriotic program featuring “The Testament of Freedom,” as well as selections such as “The God Who Gave Us Life,” “Shenandoah,” “Every Time I Feel The Spirit,” “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor,” “America The Beautiful,” and more.

Tickets for the April 23 concert are $15 for general public, $5 for students, and children six years and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the concert or at any of the following locations: No Kidding in Mattapoisett; The Bookstall in Mattapoisett; Symphony Music Shop in Dartmouth; Music Of The Bay in Wareham; and Euro in Fairhaven.

For further information, you may contact Nancy Sparklin at 508-763-2327 and leave a message or visit our website at www.sippicanchoralsociety.org.

Academic Achievements

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The following students have achieved placement on the Head of School list for Falmouth Academy’s Winter Term:

From Marion: Paige Feeney’21; Kari Marvel ’21; Max Richins ’22; Alissya Silva’18

From Mattapoisett: Eleanor Beams ’21; Max Richardson ’22; Grace Russell ’19; Oliver Russell ’17; Eliza Van Voorhis ’17

From Rochester: Emma Keeler ’19