MEFA College Admissions Seminar

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Parents of sophomores and juniors are invited to attend a free seminar on college admissions, which will be held on Thursday, March 9 at 6:00 pm in the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School Media Room. This seminar is offered through MEFA, the Commonwealth’s authority on planning, saving, and paying for college. An experienced MEFA representative will provide an overview of college admissions, including building the college list, the college application process, and trends in college admissions (www.mefa.org).

Scholarships Available for Tri-Town Seniors

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Graduating high school seniors from the Tri-Town area are urged to apply for a several scholarships now available through the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts (CFSEMA).

The following scholarships can be applied for online by clicking the “Apply for a Scholarship” link on the CFSEMA website, www.cfsema.org, beginning on February 1. Both parts of the application are due on April 1.

The George Earl and Katherine Hartley Church Scholarship Fund provides several scholarships of at least $1,000 annually for tuition assistance to students pursuing an LPN, RN or BSN Nursing Degree while attending a two- or four-year accredited college or university. Applicants must be residents of Acushnet, Rochester, Marion and Mattapoisett who are graduating from either Fairhaven, New Bedford, Bishop Stang, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical or Old Rochester Regional high schools or a graduating senior from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. The criterion for selection will be weighted 75% on financial need and 25% on academics.

The Charles J. Lewin Interfaith Scholarship Fund was established to provide scholarships to returning students and graduating high school seniors of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes and Plymouth counties. The Fund provides several scholarships ranging from $700 to $2,000. Scholarships are granted for one year only, although recipients may reapply annually. The criterion for selection will be weighted 50% on financial need, 30% on academics and 20% on personal circumstances. Students with Expected Family Contributions (EFC) above $16,000 are very unlikely to be selected for this scholarship.

The Thomas S. Hathaway Scholarship is awarded to one or two students residing in Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford, Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester, Wareham, or Westport, who have been accepted or are currently enrolled at Harvard University. Scholarships are based on financial need and academic excellence.

The Ladies’ Branch of the New Bedford Port Society Scholarship provides scholarships for high school seniors and current undergraduates who have one or more of the following: documented family ties to the sea, have received an acceptance letter from a Maritime Academy, or will major in maritime science. First consideration is given to families of descendants of seamen. Applicants must be residents of the Greater New Bedford area, defined as of New Bedford, Dartmouth, Westport, Fairhaven, Acushnet, Mattapoisett, Marion or Rochester. The criterion for selection will be weighted 75% on financial need and 25% on academics.

About the Community Foundation. Since 1995, area residents have been turning to the Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. CFSEMA is a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern: improving the quality of life in Southeastern Massachusetts.

While the Foundation’s primary grantmaking focus is on the SouthCoast communities of Greater New Bedford, Greater Fall River, and Southern Plymouth County, CFSEMA is a regional foundation serving 41 cities and towns. To date, the Community Foundation has distributed more than $25 million in grants and program support from 250 funds to humanitarian, educational and cultural organizations in the region. To learn more about the Foundation, visit www.cfsema.org.

Ceramics Exhibit at Tabor

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An exhibition of the current ceramic work of four graduate students from the renowned Program in Artisanry at the University of Massachusetts will be on view in the gallery in the Braitmayer Art Center through February 24. This exhibition reveals the interesting range of conceptual and technical approaches contemporary artists take when using the ceramic process. Vessels, sculpture, and installation work come together in this interesting exhibition, providing a view into the expanding world of contemporary ceramic art.

The artists – Renata Cassiano, Lauren Shepherd, Emily Franicola and Christina Baril – will each present 20-minute visual presentations connecting their ceramic work with the concepts and sources of inspiration that motivate them as artists. This talk will be held in the ceramic studio in Tabor Academy’s Braitmayer Art Center from 6:30 – 7:30 pm on Monday evening, February 20. All are welcome. Park at 71 Spring Street and walk behind the library and to the right to find the Braitmayer Art Center.

If you have question, you can contact Kevin Arnfield at karnfield@taboracademy.org.

Yard Boss Settles Defamation Suit With Town

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Mattapoisett-based landscaping company Yard Boss has settled a Superior Court defamation lawsuit against two Mattapoisett town officials, Conservation Commission Chairman Bob Rogers and Conservation Agent Elizabeth Leidhold, according to a statement released by Yard Boss’ attorney Michael Franco of Beauregard, Burke, & Franco on February 14.

The lawsuit stems from accusations made by Rogers and Leidhold that Yard Boss had been illegally and/or unethically withdrawing water from the Mattapoisett River at the town landing for business use.

During 2015, Rogers and Leidhold made a number of comments in public about Yard Boss, especially owner Todd Rodrigues, accusing him of wrongdoing. The town later learned that there were no existing bylaws that would restrict Yard Boss from withdrawing water from the river, until Town Meeting in 2016 adopted such a bylaw.

According to the released statement, the Town of Mattapoisett agreed to a statement in connection with the settlement, which was signed by Town Administrator Michael Gagne on January 10 and approved and authorized by the Board of Selectmen. The statement reads:

“The Superior Court lawsuit brought by Yard Boss Landscape Design, LLC against Robert Rogers and Elizabeth Leidhold has been resolved in a negotiated settlement with no admission of liability or wrongdoing by any party. The Town of Mattapoisett acknowledges that Yard Boss did not engage in any illegality or wrongdoing in connection with its past withdrawal of water from Mattapoisett riverways for purposes of its hydro-seeding activities. The Town of Mattapoisett regrets the difficulties that this situation may have created for Yard Boss.”

The Town will have to pay $9,800 for attorneys fees and fees incurred in connection with the lawsuit.

In a statement, Mr. Rodrigues said, “I enjoy being in Mattapoisett. It’s a great Town. I have no desire to hurt the Town financially, so I am pleased that we have worked out a settlement that clears the reputation of Yard Boss and hopefully sends a loud message to the Conservation Commission officials involved.”

Attorney Franco stated in an email that Rodrigues would have no further comment on the lawsuit.

The Wanderer was unable to reach Gagne for a statement Tuesday evening before deadline.

By Jean Perry

 

Tabor to Perform Hit Musical Grease

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Grease is the word at Tabor Academy this week as the cast and crew of the annual winter musical are set to perform Grease from Thursday, February 16 through Saturday, February 18.

All performances begin at 7:30 pm and are free and open to the public in Tabor’s Fireman Center for Performing Arts in Hoyt Hall.

Grease is the story of a group of ten teenagers who call themselves the “Burger Palace Boys” and the “Pink Ladies” at the fictional Rydell High School who navigate the difficulties of friendship, romance, peer-pressure, and other teenage issues.

First performed in Chicago’s Kingston Mines nightclub in 1971, Grease has since been reworked and performed thousands of times on Broadway and at theaters big and small across the country and the world. Grease has also been a successful film and a live TV musical.

Over 50 students make up the Grease cast and crew, with a mix of talent from the local area and across the country.

The lead role of Sandy Dumbroski, the new girl in town, is played by Marion resident Lucy Saltonstall, a senior at Tabor. The leader of the “Burger Palace Boys” Danny Zuko is played by Connor Cook, a sophomore from Colorado.

For the rest of the “Pink Ladies,” the outspoken and tough Betty Rizzo is played by senior Aurelia Reynolds of Sandwich, and aspiring beautician and dreamer Frenchy is played by New York native and senior Kate Marshall.

Marty, the “beauty” of the Pink Ladies, is played by junior Zoe Boardman of Falmouth and senior Katie Bresnahan of Beverly plays the funny, compulsive eater Jan.

Sonny LaTierri, the funny, self-described lady-killer is played by senior Nick Stasinos of California; the tough and surly Kenickie is played by sophomore Harding Daniel of Chatham. The boyish and guitar-wielding Doody is played by Mattapoisett’s Matt Carvalho; the mischievous and comedic Roger is played by sophomore Brian Lee of South Korea.

The performance has been a work in progress since auditions began in mid-November. Since then, the cast of approximately 40 students has been rehearsing six days a week after school. Under the leadership of Director John Heavey, Musical Director David Horne, and choreographer Danielle LaTullippe, each day of practice was spent learning and refining the many pieces of the performance that have been coming together over the last few weeks.

Behind the scenes, an able group of crew has been working tirelessly to plan, create, and execute the lighting, props, sets, and costumes for Grease. A diverse set of costumes and a clean, colorful lighting plot complement a simple yet striking set that is enhanced by the orchestra’s unconventional presence upstage and a few unique set pieces.

For several of the senior cast members, Grease marks the fourth and final show in their Tabor career. Senior Aurelia Reynolds, who plays Rizzo, has mixed feeling about the upcoming performance.

“It’s my fourth show and I have really bittersweet feelings about the fact that it’s ending. It has been a great four years, and I’m going to miss the Tabor Academy productions,” said Reynolds.

In 2014, Tabor showcased the musical Legally Blond; in 2015, the show was Hairspray; and last year, Tabor performed Thoroughly Modern Millie. This year’s show Grease is no doubt the best known of them all, being one of the most performed musicals ever.

Tabor senior and four-show veteran Katie Bresnahan, who plays Jan, encourages everyone to come out and watch the performance:

“I’m super excited for everyone to come see Grease. It’s going to be a great show,” she said.

Tabor’s three performances of Grease will begin at 7:30 pm in the Fireman Center for Performing Arts in Hoyt Hall at 235 Front Street in Marion. All shows are free and open to the public with no advanced ticketing required.

By Jack Gordon

There’s Lots to Celebrate at Open Table

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It’s not too late to celebrate the Pats’ Super Bowl LI victory! And it’s definitely not too late to celebrate Valentine’s Day! So bring your sweetheart or your best buddy or your football fanatic friend to Open Table on Friday, February 17 at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church! The menu is usually a surprise, but it’s bound to be something delicious. There is no charge, although donations are gratefully accepted. At Open Table, it’s all about the food, fun and fellowship. Doors open at 4:30 pm and the meal will be served at 5:00 pm. This is a community-wide event and everyone is welcome!

Academic Achievements

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Riley Johnson of Marion has qualified for the Fall 2016 Dean’s List at Seton Hall University. To make Dean’s List, students must have at least a 3.4 GPA and can get no grade lower than a C.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy has recently named Cadet Mariah Allen of Rochester to the Dean’s List during the fall 2016 semester. Students must maintain a grade point average of between 3.3 and 3.5 during the last semester to achieve this high academic honor.

Greg Sethares, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bristol Community College, has announced the Dean’s List for fall 2016. Tri-Town students named are:

– From Marion: Linell R. Dean, Samantha P. Dean, Christopher Dix, Tiffany Faria, Holly A. Fern, Brett M. Rudolph, and Megan N. Youlden.

– From Mattapoisett: Robin A. Bevilacqua, Jeffrey E. Carreiro, Annie Henshaw, Jonathan R. Medeiros, Kimberley A. Remick, Alexandra C. Salois, Stephen R. Schroeder, Dion Selha, Matthew E. Silvers, and Collin R. Stellato.

– From Rochester: Abigail Clark, Evan M. Costa, Patrick J. Cronin, Joellie L. Dextradeur, Ralph S. Gifford, Jennifer A. Hughes, Eli L. Kovacevich, Ryan J. Stopka, Bryan J. Sylvia, Mia C. Vercellone, Kristen P. White, and Cassie A. Wilcox.

William Taylor of Marion was named to the Dean’s List at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for the fall 2016 semester.

The Francis Family

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Dear Community:

We, the family of Tucker Francis, thank you deeply for the astounding outpouring of your love and support during these difficult days since his tragic death. We have received a steady torrent of hugs, notes, calls, chocolate, dinners, flowers, fruit, tears, stories, images, videos, and memories of our wonderful Tucker. You have made us laugh and cry, and through our healing, we feel even closer to this incredibly loving and caring community. We especially thank the students, faculty, staff, alums, and parents of the Tabor Academy family who have wrapped us in warmth, even as they also grieve. How fortunate we are to be woven into this strong fabric of friends that can weather even the worst storms.

While the sadness of losing our dear Tucker will never disappear, the horizon grows a little brighter each day, thanks to all of you.

Sincerely,

The Francis Family

The Statuesque Great Blue Heron

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The shoreline view from my new residence in Fairhaven on the west side of Sconticut Neck looking across to Mattapoisett Neck encompasses a 180-degree panorama for bird watching, including waterfowl such as swans, egrets, and especially the eye-catching sentinel of a great blue heron stealthily wading in shallow water. Its 3-feet long torso of long leg and neck compressed into an S-shaped coil spring are ready to unleash the sudden dagger of a bill to spear an underwater quarry.

A member of the wading family, the great blue heron is classified in the heron family Ardeidae along with local bitterns and egrets.

At the turn of the century, their numbers decreased from use of pesticides, industrial chemicals in the food chain, wetland draining, nesting tree cutting, and housing developments.

Today, they have rebounded to be abundant here year round and across New England in fresh water ponds, lakes, and streams.

Their stealthy predation acumen includes taking frogs, snakes, salamanders, turtles, and small birds, all fed to their young by regurgitation.

They usually nest in trees with large platforms of sticks used several years in a row. They breed in colonies with ceremonial mating displays by ruffling feathers and stretching necks upward with beak pointing to the sky after flying in circles around each other while snapping their bills to get attention.

Feeding a family is a two-partner effort, and at the Berkshire Hatchery where I volunteered before moving to Buzzards Bay, great blue herons were frequent daily visitors to find a hand out of fresh trout, a vital tasty source of iron and protein for growing offspring.

One morning, our manager was feeding our avian friends when members of the Micmac Indian tribe appeared. When they saw the herons they felt rewarded, as herons were sacred symbols of most inland tribes known together as Algonquin native culture. The great blue heron earned the title of ‘spirit of the waters.’

Looking out at dawn from the picture window of my new living room, the sight of this familiar, stately and statuesque figurine brings back memories and inspires me to share the creative inspiration with you in the first light of day at my new location.

By George B. Emmons

Marion Oyster Farms

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To the Editor:

There are various efforts underway to enable development of oyster farms in Sippican Harbor. There are, of course, differing points of view, and the Board of Selectmen is tasked with determining the most appropriate course forward. Homeowners don’t want their property affected, sailors don’t want their waterways impinged upon, and fisherman want access to the harbor as part of their livelihood. But this really is a bigger issue than having a couple of town hearings to decide who has precedence. The harbor is the most valuable asset of the town, period, and whatever is done with it needs to be considered with great care and deliberation. There’s a petition calling for a moratorium on “transfer or renewal of aquaculture licenses in the Town of Marion until such time as a review by the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board of the strategic use of all waterways under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Marion can be undertaken and completed to determine the best harbor use, development and protection consistent with community consensus.” As a taxpaying (5 months per year) resident, and one who was drawn to buy in Marion by the special attraction of the town and harbor, I want to add my support to encourage a decision that supports the interests of the entire community.

Scott Fishman, Marion

 

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.