Concert Of Wynter Music From Long Ago

on

On Saturday, December 17 at 3:00 pm, Jay and Abby Michaels – known as The Harper and The Minstrel – will present a very special Wynter Concert at Mattapoisett Congregational Church.

This concert will feature Wynter & Holiday Music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras sung and played on a wide variety of traditional instruments including:

– Cláirseach (Irish Wire-Strung Harp)

– Celtic Folk Harp

– Bowed Psaltery

– Alto, Soprano and Tenor Recorders

– Silver Flute

– Irish Wooden Flute

– Penny Whistles

– Mountain Dulcimer

– Bowed Dulcimer/Viol

– Hammered Dulcimer

– Baritone Ukulele

– Classical Guitar

Freetown, Massachusetts residents Jay and Abby Michaels have been performing together as The Harper and The Minstrel since 2002. They have presented Early Music Concerts in many parts of the country at Renaissance Festivals, Concert Halls, Libraries and other venues.

The duo is currently home for the Holidays and busy with a series of Wynter Holiday Concerts here in New England. The Michaels have been presenting Early Music Holiday Concerts for the past six years at many New England venues. They will appear at Mattapoisett Congregational Church on Saturday, December 17 at 3:00 pm. The Church is located on Church Street, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.

In addition to live performance, the Music of The Harper and The Minstrel has appeared in many network television programs including Secrets and Lies, Nashville, Parks & Recreation, Rosewood, Parenthood, and the Independent Film Baby Baby Baby.

The Harper and The Minstrel are members of Early Music America, The Viola da Gamba Society of America, and The Historical Harp Society.

Some of the Musical selections from the Concert will include:

– The Holly and The Ivy

– Na Leanbhai I Mbeithil (The Children in Bethlehem)

– The Largo from Vivaldi’s Winter (L’inverno)

– Cantiga 100

– The Boars Head Carol

– The Gloucestershire Wassail

– Lo, How A Rose E’re Blooming

– El Decembre Congelat (Cold December’s Winds) and many more

The Christmas Gifts

on

As I opened the door to that little cottage – the one that was a silent witness to hope and fear – its familiar scent snapped me back into awareness.

It was often the case when I drove to my father’s home during his final years; I’d lapse into memories followed by overwhelming anxiety that this would be the day something really difficult would happen. It was always the same, however. He’d be sitting there at the tiny kitchen table looking out the window waiting from someone, anyone to walk down the broken cement path and knock on his door.

I entered, calling to him a cheery hello. He had, of course, seen me coming and he called back, “Come aboard.”

Passing through the nearly empty dining room heading to the kitchen, I spotted on the floor along the wall a collection of brand new items. There was a flashlight, a butterfly net, a kite, a child’s sand pail and shovel. My heart sank as I asked, “Dad, who brought you these things?”

“No one,” he responded with a joyous edge to his voice. “I bought them for the kids for Christmas.”

“What kids?” I asked. Here was a man who had two or three young great-grandchildren, children he rarely saw, so no other children came immediately to mind. I didn’t understand the context of these items on the worn carpet, but I should have.

“My kids and my wife are on their way here now,” he said.

My knees felt as if they would buckle, my heart pounded nearly out of my chest, my mouth went dry. He had purchased Christmas gifts for his imaginary family.

He had been slowly building the loving new family in his mind. For weeks whenever we’d do grocery shopping, he’d mention the need for certain foods because the family was coming over. I shot down those thought bubbles with arrows from my reality quiver. “Your wife is in the nursing home, Dad. Your kids are grown. I’m cooking for you at my house.” He’d look away, barely acknowledging that he heard what he didn’t want to hear – that he was living alone now.

We’d spent so many hours together, especially after my mother needed permanent nursing home care. She was only five miles away. It might as well have been a million.

During those last years, Dad and I became two lost souls bridging the growing distance dementia was putting between us with happy banter and home-cooked meals.

As a child, Dad hadn’t had much to say. Now he talked all the time. When his brain could still process current events, we’d talk about the latest news, or I’d include him in paying the household bills or tell him about my job. He’d ask questions, praise good performance, denounce politicians, and wonder why his wife didn’t make more of an effort to get well and return home. His own survival instincts didn’t allow for any weakness of spirit.

The daily phone calls I’d make to him several times throughout the long daylight hours always required an answer to his most pressing question, “When are you coming over here?”

He didn’t like needing help, but he understood he had to accept it. Surprisingly, and more easily with every passing day, Dad accepted help with grace and humor as his aging brain’s personality crumbled away.

I stood there for several long minutes, minutes that meant nothing to him now that time expanded and contracted in magical ways. What to do about the Christmas gifts purchased at the local hardware store for his imaginary family? I finally breathed in deeply and said on the exhalation, “That’s nice, Dad.”

I asked if he still wanted to go out to eat, a favorite pastime that always gave him joy and made me feel good. He said yes, he’d go, but needed to get right back so as not to miss the kids’ arrival.

I made the outing last as long as possible. The December sky turned gray and was swiftly darkening as we slowly walked back to his door.

The gifts emotionally assaulted me once again. I felt guilty for not being one of those kids he was longing to see. I wanted to slip into his world with that new family. I wanted to laugh with delight catching butterflies and fly the kite on the summer breeze, and take an evening stroll holding that brand new flashlight. I wanted what Dad wanted – a happy family to love and be loved by.

As he shuffled past the collection headed for his table and chair, he said, as if to himself, “Oh, they didn’t come yet. Good. I’m home in time.”

I promised to return tomorrow, gave him a kiss, and hustled out the door, sucking in air like a drowning swimmer. I drove to the end of his street, stopped the car, and screamed until nothing was left but the empty longing I knew he must feel.

The end of the story is that I returned those gifts to the hardware store the following week with Dad’s permission. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do for my old man, or maybe, the hardest came later – living with this memory.

By Marilou Newell

 

ORR High Slips to Level 2 School

on

It looks bad, Old Rochester Regional High School Principal Michael Devoll told the ORR School Committee on November 30, but the data he was about to present to the committee was ironically positive data, showing improvement at the school despite the state’s downgrade from a Level 1 school to a Level 2 school.

The culprit, said Devoll, was the extra points the school received last year due to a significant 10% increase in advanced-level student performance on the PARCC and MCAS scores.

“We would’ve had to increase the ‘advanced’ another ten percent,” Devoll said, “which would be near impossible.

The scores reflected a decrease in the number of tenth graders who were ‘not proficient’ in the material, which brings the school up to a 90% proficiency rate.

“We will return to a Level One school next year,” said Devoll. “I’m confident we will.”

Devoll went through the graphs that measure this year’s data against the last three years, showing steady improvement.

“All the data you’re going to see is going to be positive,” he said. “But we dropped to a Level Two school because of our CPI.”

CPI stands for Composite Performance Index, a way the state measures progress towards achieving the goal of narrowing proficiency gaps.

Devoll celebrated the particular gains made by the school’s ‘high needs’ sub-group, which includes disabled students and those with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans).

“While we didn’t meet our target for the whole school, we met it for our high needs sub-group,” Devoll said, “Which is an important thing that not all schools can meet.”

Biology scores, Devoll added, have also increased to an all-time school high, with only one failure out of 180 students who took the test and only 13% needing improvement.

“We’re performing, we’re getting the data, and I believe that we’ll be back up to a Level-One school next year with our work,” said Devoll.

According to Devoll, every school within the same cohort with similar socio-economic and population statistics either dropped down to a Level 2 school or stayed at the Level 2 status, except for one.

On another positive note, Devoll said 100% of tenth graders passed the ELA MCAS.

“I’m just really impressed with the math scores across the board,” said School Committee member Heather Burke. “It’s really amazing how our students are performing so well on these high level math tests.”

The next meeting of the old Rochester Regional School Committee is scheduled for January 11 at 6:30 pm at the ORRJHS media room.

By Jean Perry

 

Robert Clark DuBois

on

Robert Clark DuBois, of Marion, Massachusetts, 89, passed away on December 3, 2016.    He was predeceased by his beloved parents, Colonel Robert Sewall and Mabel Clark DuBois.

He is survived by his wife, Josephine “Joey” Saltonstall DuBois of Marion, MA, and two daughters, Sarah B. DuBois of Ivoryton, CT and Martha S. DuBois and her husband, William Lockhart Wallace III of Fairfield, CT.  He also leaves his two treasured grandchildren, William (IV) and Carolyn Wallace, both of New York, NY; and the mother of his children Constance Bristol DuBois, also of CT; and Joey’s children; Parker, Courtland, Chris, Jon, and Heather.

Clark graduated from Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C. in 1944, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1948.   As a Mechanical Engineer, his career included positions with Brown Instrument Company, Manning, Maxwell & Moore, Pitney Bowes, Product Development Services, and Gradco Dendoki.  Later in his career he did private contract engineering work.  He brought innovative solutions to many product lines including instrumentation, postage equipment, and office copiers. A career design highlight includes the design of high-speed paper handling mechanisms, including the document feeder and sorter for the copier industry.  Clark held over 100 original patents, he frequently spoke at industry conferences both domestically and internationally, and was an expert in his field.  He loved developing innovative ideas with his creative mind.

Clark enthusiastically pursued many hobbies; tennis, flying gliders, sailing and travel explorations.  He especially enjoyed designing, building and sailing fast boats. During his years in Connecticut, he had many sailing adventures, including family cruising and racing aboard “Peridot”, a 24’ sloop he finished as a prototype for O’Day’s Dolphin.  He enjoyed competitive frost-bite sailing with his friends at Pequot Yacht Club.  He founded The Community Sailing program in Southport Harbor.  Clark loved life, exploring, inventing, building and doing, and sharing his many talents and enthusiasms with friends and family.

A memorial event will be planned in summer time.

Memorial gifts in Clark’s memory may be made to the Sippican Philosophical Society Math and Science Scholarship Fund by emailing Ted Brainard  (ecbrainard@verizon.net) for detailed instructions.

obit_dubois

Mattapoisett Library Lights Up for the Holiday Stroll

on

Everyone is welcome to the library on Saturday, December 10 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm to celebrate the season with a variety of holiday activities.

For children, there will be a special gingerbread story time at 1:00 pm with Mrs. Burke, followed by a craft.

Adults and teens will be decorating ornaments with baubles and gems. Supplies will be provided. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served. Everyone can dip into a grab bag of books and take one home.

The Holiday Stroll activities begin in Shipyard Park at 3:00 pm, so why not begin your celebration at the library?

This year once again, the library is collecting new children’s books and pajamas in all sizes to donate to local shelters. Collection boxes are located in both the children’s and adult departments.

The library is located at 7 Barstow Street. Call 508-758-4171 for more information or to sign up for the adult craft.

Rochester Road Race Donation

on

The Rochester Road Race would like to thank the 152 registered runners and walkers who participated in the 10th Annual Rochester Road Race for helping to ensure that fewer local families go hungry this holiday season. These participants, along with race sponsor Cape Cod 5, enabled more families to put food on their table this holiday season.

Just before Thanksgiving, the Road Race Board presented a check for over $1,700 to Father Thomas McElroy, President of the Food Pantry. The Road Race donation was made possible through runner and walker entry fees and Cape Cod 5 Bank’s race sponsorship. Race day volunteers also contributed time and energy to make the race a success. In addition to the monetary donation, on the day of the race participants brought 400 pounds of food that were also donated to the Pantry.

The Family Pantry – Damien’s Place helps provide food for hungry families in Wareham and the Tri-Town area. Operating since 1992, they provide food free of charge to those in need including families, the disabled and elderly. A non-denominational nonprofit operated by volunteers, the Pantry serves over 500 households each month from their facility at 3065 Cranberry Highway in Wareham. The pantry is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:00 am to noon. Volunteers and donations are welcome. The Pantry can be reached at 508-295-3486.

Rochester Road Race, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization formed in 2006 with the objectives of providing a fun event for all ages and raising funds to benefit the community.

Annual Holiday Party

on

Once again, the Friends of the Mattapoisett Council on Aging (FMCoA) hosts its Annual Holiday Party on Thursday, December 15 from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm or so. The party takes place at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 57 Fairhaven Road, Mattapoisett, MA.

This is an opportunity for seniors to meet and make new friends while getting into the holiday spirit. Holiday music and songs are again provided by Rick LeBlanc and Billy Couto.

The FMCoA invites the Mattapoisett seniors and FMCoA members to sign up ASAP to join in the fun. Need a ride? The Mattapoisett CoA can provide transportation for Mattapoisett seniors. RSVP today to both sign up and book a ride: 508-758-4110 – Mattapoisett Senior Center.

A Christmas Carol a Christmas Hit

on

The ORRHS Drama Club ushered in the beginning of the holiday season this past week with four spectacular performances of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

The show opened last Thursday to an auditorium packed with an audience of friends, family, and other community members eager to see the result of weeks of practice, and none were disappointed. Between a lively cast, colorful set, and wonderful piano accompaniment by director Paul Sardinha, everyone found themselves enchanted by the musical rendition of the classic tale.

One cast member the audience became quite familiar with by the play’s end was freshman Paul Kippenberger, who guided the story along as the ghost of Jacob Marley.

In fact, the curtain closing for intermission signaled one of the only times Kippenberger was offstage, as his narrator role had him always hovering towards the edge of a scene.

“The living room scene,” he confirmed to be his favorite segment, referencing his character’s first full appearance to Scrooge in which he shouts and causes half a dozen books on chains to fall from the ceiling.

“It was really epic,” Kippenberger said the day after his first performance with the high school drama club. “There was a lot more going on than I thought there would be,” speaking of both on and offstage.

Similar responses could be heard from those working behind the scenes.

“It’s really high energy,” one freshman crew member said.

A fellow member, junior Lindsey Marolla, agreed. “Definitely hectic,” she laughed. “But it was really fun; everyone was helping each other out.”

“A lot of people sing backstage,” both junior Maggie Farrell and freshman cast member Andrew Steel commented.

Junior Alice Bednarczyk, who played the ghost of Christmas Present, elaborated on this idea.

“Even when you get so prepared for something … you don’t really know how it’ll turn out until opening night. It’s like a puzzle,” said Bednarczyk. “You keep adding pieces and it’s not until you finish it that you see the whole picture and realize you did something.”

With the final performance now behind them, many drama club members find themselves looking forward to the beginning of practice for their spring show, which is yet to be announced.

“I’m ready for it,” Kippenberger affirmed.

“It’s worth it,” Steel summarized of the entire drama experience.

By Jo Caynon

 

Brandt Point Village Déjà Vu

on

The Mattapoisett Town Hall conference room was once again filled with people whose vested interests in the successful completion of Brandt Point Village seemed the key point.

On December 5 by invitation, the Planning Board met yet again with developer Armand Cotellesso, Marc Marcus of Omega Financial, Attorney John McGreen, Mattapoisett Highway Surveyor Barry Denham, Mattapoisett’s designated oversight engineer Ken Motta of Field Engineering, and Al Loomis of McKenzie Engineering, who has worked on the project for several years through several owners. Several residents from Phase 1 of the project were also seated.

Town Counsel Jonathan Silverstein was present to help navigate this latest attempt on the part of the Planning Board to achieve firm timelines from the developers for completion of specific aspects of Phase 1.

The objective was clear: get things done on Phase 1 or establish firm deadlines on previously promised line items, and in exchange, receive building permits for speculative build-outs in Phase 2.

Along with Chairman Tom Tucker, the full Planning Board was in attendance that included Karen Field, Nathan Ketchel, Janice Robbins, and Gail Carlson, who is also a resident of the sub-division and an outspoken advocate for the residents of Phase 1.

Before the discussion got underway, Tucker reminded Carlson that she could not vote on any matter regarding the sub-division but was welcome to speak as a private citizen.

Silverstein detailed specific incomplete items on Phase 1 as: 1) septic testing; 2) roadway repairs; 3) guardrails; 4) positioning and installation of mail kiosk; 5) installation of lights; 6) storm water catch basin covers; and 7) landscaping of common areas.

Cotellesso said, “Every time we fix something, we find other problems,” indicating why previous promises to complete some items had not been done during the summer months.

Asked by Tucker when things would get done, McGreen testily replied, “We set the timeframe in the tri-party agreement. We are here as a courtesy to you.”

McGreen pointed out the financial assurances Cotellesso and Marcus put in place.

“You had no teeth,” said McGreen. “We put up $1.5 million. We put our money where our mouth is. We have a timeframe of August 2018!”

Tucker was looking for more immediate results.

For an hour, the parties hammered out when the punch-list of to-dos would be completed. Most items received a June 1 deadline.

Tucker agreed that if the developer completes all items by the deadlines, then the Planning Board would advise the building department so that occupancy permits could be issued on any homes sold in Phase 2.

In the meantime, Tucker said a letter would be drafted to the building department so that building permits for structures in Phase 2 could be issued.

Later in the evening, Robbins asked about the tri-party agreement, saying it is normally an arrangement between the lender, a bank, and the developer; however, in this case it appeared that the developer and the lender were one and the same.

“This company could go out of business tomorrow,” said Robbins.

She asked Tucker, “You don’t require a bank?” Tucker said no and deferred to the fact that town counsel had reviewed the contract.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for December 19 at 7:00 pm in the town hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

 

Academic Achievement

on

The following local students graduated from Roger Williams University in spring 2016:

– Ryan McArdle of Marion earned a B.S. degree in Finance

– Scott McDavid of Marion earned a B.A. degree in International Relations