Tabor Academy Hosts Pulitzer Prize Winning Author

on

On October 10, Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Ford will spend the day with Tabor Academy students and faculty, sharing his craft as a visiting author. He will present a formal reading of his work for the Tabor Community and the public at 6:30 pm that evening.

The day has been in the works for some time, planned by English faculty member and Wareham resident, Mark Howland. “The opportunity for budding writers to meet someone so accomplished is really formative,” said Howland. “It has been a dream of mine to be able to have someone of this caliber come to campus for some time.” In order to create the most meaningful interaction, Howland has crafted a day that allows students with the most interest in creative writing some uninterrupted and unscripted time with the author over lunch, while the entire school will have a chance to hear about his life and inspiration at their weekly school meeting.

To prepare for the day, the school required summer readings from Ford’s Rock Springs, a collection of his short stories. In order to get a feel for his writing, the younger students in Grades 9 and 10 read the story “Rock Springs” and another story of their choosing, while upperclassmen read “Communist” and a second story of their choosing. Further, Howland is teaching a senior elective called Oates & Ford (Joyce Carol Oates and Richard Ford) that is exploring the writers’ short story styles and themes in depth. This class of seniors, as well as other AP and Honors English classes, will have dedicated time with Mr. Ford in the afternoon to hear a reading and to talk in depth about various styles he uses, how he informs his work, and what his greatest influences have been.

Ford has just completed his first work of non-fiction, a memoir called Between Them, which is about his parents and the life they led before his arrival as their only child. His titles, available to students at Tabor’s Charles Hayden Library, include Let Me Be Frank With You, The Sportswriter, A Multitude of Sins, Canada, The Lay of the Land, Independence Day, and A Piece of My Heart.

The formal reading by Richard Ford will take place at 6:30 pm in Tabor’s Lyndon South Auditorium, Stroud Academic Center, 232 Front Street, Marion. The event is free and open to the public, though the school requires a simple pre-registration in order to plan appropriate seating: taboracademy.org/richardford.

Better Streetlights, Big Savings for Marion

on

Over 40 Massachusetts towns are in the process of converting their streetlights to LEDs (energy-sipping light-emitting diodes), and Marion aims to join the list. Our state offers grants to help towns convert old fixtures, which will save us over $18,000 per year in electricity and maintenance costs. In only about 4.3 years, these savings will pay for the conversion, after which the money will go straight to the plus side of the Town’s budget.

At the October 23 Fall Town Meeting, the Energy Management Committee will ask Marion’s residents to support an article that will provide $105,408 to convert our 330 streetlights to LEDs. This initial investment is required to be eligible for the state rebates. Once the conversion is completed, the state will reimburse us about $34,000, leaving approximately $78,000 to be paid back by the savings. Not only will we save money after the pay-back period, but the new LEDs are more reliable, improve visibility, reduce light pollution, and offer “smart” controls such as dimming and remote control.

The Town of Marion now receives a check for about $7,000 each month from Con Ed Solutions, a refund for obtaining our municipal power from wind turbines in Plymouth. So far, Marion has saved about $78,000 from this arrangement. The EMC proposes that these savings be reinvested by paying the up-front costs of the LED conversion program, which will add handsomely to the Town’s energy savings.

Many of our neighboring towns are already taking advantage of this opportunity to save money and have better street lighting: Westport, Bourne, Falmouth, New Bedford, and Middleborough, to name only a few. It’s time for Marion to join this enlightened list. Please come to Fall Town Meeting on October 23 (6:45 pm at Sippican School) and approve Article S3.

Bill Saltonstall and Jennifer Francis

 

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.

Tabor Academy Fall Service Day

on

Tabor Academy is looking forward to its Fall Service Day on the morning of Friday, September 29, where students and faculty will once again lend a hand to nonprofit groups across the region.

Half of the Tabor community will host Special Olympics MA on the Tabor campus for School Day Games, a program organized by the student-run Tabor Special Olympics Club, began last spring in concert with Special Olympics MA. This fall’s event will feature Special Olympians from across the SouthCoast, Carver, New Bedford, Dartmouth, and some new teams from Wareham and the ORR School District. Tabor students and visiting athletes will participate in various games together such as bocce ball, relay races, basketball, football, and more. Before the games begin, all the students and athletes will come together for the traditional Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies, including the Athlete’s Oath, while sharing thanks and appreciation for being together.

While all that is happening on Tabor’s campus, the rest of the Tabor community will be hitting the road! Over 300 students and faculty will be loading busses headed out to help cut and maintain walking and biking trails or assist with seasonal clean up at area nonprofits in Marion, Wareham, and Dartmouth. Some will help students at the Schwartz Center School – a school for children with special needs – enjoy their field day, while others will help bring in the harvest for families in need at Share the Harvest Farm in Dartmouth. Still more will help deliver furniture to area families through My Brother’s Keeper, or share in creating the excitement and surprise the Message of Hope Foundation provides through their thoughtful gift bags for children affected by the recent hurricanes.

“While these days certainly help strengthen our own community bond, our main goal is for our students to learn that Tabor’s mission to foster care for others and committed citizenship extends beyond our campus and beyond their years at Tabor. As we step outside the confines of our campus, our students can test their skills while learning from our neighbors and area community organizations that serve myriad needs,” said Amelia Wright, faculty organizer.

Tri-County Symphonic Band 56th Concert Season

on

The Tri-County Symphonic Band, under the direction of Philip Sanborn, will begin its 56th season on October 22, 2017 with a cleverly themed concert in the Fireman Auditorium at Tabor Academy that has nothing to do with football. Instead, “Giants, Cowboys and Patriots” has music that reflects these three images and includes a tribute to King Kong and Godzilla. The soloist is Adam Frey, euphonium virtuoso, who has garnered international fame with his dynamic performances.

Once again, the TCSB will offer its Annual Children’s Christmas Concert, free of charge, at the Sippican School on December 10, 2017 with the help of the Sippican School Concert Choir under the direction of Patricia Richard.

The Tri-County Symphonic Band returns to the acoustically friendly environs of the Dartmouth High School Auditorium on February 11, 2018 with a program of Italian music entitled “All Italia!” From an operatic overture to a sonic retelling of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius to the iconic Pines of Rome, this concert is certain to bring a bit of the Italian culture to the Southcoast for an afternoon of fun and great band music.

The March 18, 2018 program, “March Mania,” will be a concert featuring pieces that have a connection with the month of March. The TCSB is thrilled to have the award-winning Resurgam Saxophone Quartet as guest soloists in the Fireman Auditorium at Tabor Academy and they will be premiering a work written especially for the group by composer Ted King Smith.

The 16th Annual Benefit Pops Concert will be held at Tabor Academy on June 10, 2018 at 2:00 pm in a grand tent, and will include music from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Join the TCSB for a program called “The British Invasion” as all proceeds from this event benefit the John R. Pandolfi Scholarship Fund.

The 2017-2018 concert season, the Tri-County Symphonic Band’s fifty-sixth, is an eclectic offering of some of the finest symphonic band music ever written. The band is excited for all of the people (musicians, audience, friends and family) that will be part of our tradition of bringing the community high quality symphonic band music and outstanding soloists. The band invites everyone to share the “Tri-County experience” that has delighted audiences for over 56 years.

For more detailed information and ticket sales, visit: http://tricountysymphonicband.org.

ZBA OKs Two-Family

on

Francis Jones’ public hearing to convert to a two-family was re-opened on September 14 after a continuation from the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals to allow the building commissioner to conduct a visual inspection of the house to ensure that it is fit for a two-family dwelling.

Building Commissioner Jim Buckles said he visited the property located at 619 County Road and found it compatible for a two-family.

“I’m sat with what’s there, that it meets the criteria of a two-family,” said Buckles, adding that Jones had been cooperative in providing access to the house for Buckles to assess renovation and cosmetic updates and repairs of the building, which is currently occupied on the first floor.

“If [the Special Permit] were granted, I’d feel it’s safe,” said Buckles.

ZBA member Kirby Gilmore commented that any unresolved matters from the prior public hearing were now settled, saying, “I don’t see any outstanding issues with granting Mr. Jones his appeal.”

Chairman Richard Cutler stipulated that a special condition would be added to ensure no parking would be allowed on the right of way on the property, limited only to the four spaces provided in the driveway. “To make sure there are no future issues with the neighbors,” Cutler said.

“We have no grudge with any of the neighbors,” said Jones.

“And we want to keep it that way,” said Cutler.

The next meeting of the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for October 12 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals

By Jean Perry

 

Sippican Woman’s Club

on

Jim Stevens, Founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization GiftsToGive, will speak about its volunteers, its receiving and distribution center housed in a former Titleist golf ball factory in Acushnet, its effect on those who volunteer, and its donors and recipients. Children and adults work tirelessly as volunteers to sort donated items (clothes, toys, books, games and other items) that are then recycled, repurposed and distributed by 150 social service agencies to children in need throughout the South Coast. As many as 1,000 children a month and up to 4,000 adult volunteers per year give their gifts of time and treasure. Children and adults from all walks of life work together and earn the satisfaction gained from providing service to others in need, at the same time they help build a caring community.

The GiftsToGive program will be held at The Sippican Woman’s Clubhouse, “Handy’s Tavern,” 152 Front Street, Marion on October 13. A lite luncheon will be served at 12:30 pm, followed by a short business meeting at 1:00 pm, followed by the program at 1:30 pm. Guests are welcome; however, we do ask that you call first as sometimes our meeting space is limited. Parking is available at the lot by the bandstand located across from The Music Hall. Please do not park in the General Store Parking Lot as it is reserved for customers of the General Store, Kate’s Eats and members of the Congregational Church. For Sippican Woman’s Club membership information, contact Jeanne Lake at 508-748-0619 or visit our website: www.sippicanwomansclub.org.

The Nemasket Group Capital Campaign

on

The Nemasket Group announced at the annual Louis Nisenbaum Memorial Golf Tournament held on August 28 at the Bay Club in Mattapoisett that it is now in the final phase of its Capital Campaign.

The Nemasket Group moved from Fairhaven to The Pines in Mattapoisett in 2016 and embarked on a $300,000 Capital Campaign to purchase and renovate the property. As of August 28, we reached $200,000 and are in the home stretch of the Campaign.

The Nemasket Group was started in 1984 by George and Joan Graves of Fairhaven. They were searching for a program to address their son David’s needs, as well as the needs of other individuals that they knew. Unable to find the services they envisioned, they partnered with Louis Nisenbaum, the founding Executive Director, and started The Nemasket Group at the Job C. Tripp School in Fairhaven. The Job Paths program helped 20 individuals to develop job and life skills so that they could work and live independently in the community. Today, 33 years later, we are true to the founding mission of the organization “to offer personalized, flexible support to families and individuals with disabilities to live work and develop relationships within our communities. We recognize that people are the experts on their own lives and that our role is to listen and walk together on the journey toward the realization of power, community membership and self-determination.” The Nemasket Group currently provides supports to over 400 individuals and families in the Greater New Bedford area and beyond, and this number is growing almost daily.

You can help The Nemasket Group continue to be a leader in the field by supporting our Capital Campaign. Learn how you can make a difference! Contact Patricia Janiak, Development Director, at PatriciaJaniak@NemasketGroup.org or 508-999-4436 ext. 101.

New Storage Units Coming To Mattapoisett

on

In spite of the rising philosophy on the importance of de-cluttering one’s life in an effort to feel less stressed and more focused on what’s really important, the demand for self-storage units to warehouse personal possessions has never been greater, according to at least two businesses in Mattapoisett.

For the second time, the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals heard that customers are seeking safe, secure storage units in Mattapoisett. However, with both self-storage facilities currently at maximum capacity, storage space is lacking. Coupled with what local businesses as well as potential businesses believe is a serious lack of commercially zoned space in Mattapoisett, how to satisfy demand is a real problem.

On September 21, the Mattapoisett ZBA heard from Peter Noyer, Coves LLC, 94 Marion Road, who was seeking to increase the number of storage units he currently offers by six, a total of an additional 1,200 square feet feet of new commercial space.

The issue at hand for the ZBA was whether or not to approve both a Special Permit for setbacks and a Variance for zoning category that would allow Noyer to construct the units.

Represented by N. Douglas Schneider of N. Douglas Schneider & Associates, Inc., the ZBA members heard Noyer’s application.

Schneider explained that currently on the parcel are four commercial storage units, a sign shop, and residential rental units. He said that where Noyer plans to situate the new units is an area of the parcel currently zoned Residential, thus requiring a Variance. The parcel also has areas that are zoned General Business.

Schneider noted that during a recent hearing on behalf of Tom Brownell, the board had granted a Variance allowing Brownell to add new storage units to his storage facility that would encroach on a side setback. Brownell had also cited lack of commercial space in Mattapoisett and demand for storage units as rationale for his application. The hardship for both businessmen was a lack of commercial space in town.

After describing the project and responding to several questions from board members, Schneider wrapped up his presentation stating that the new units would not be seen from Route 6.

Norman Lyonnais, ZBA member, said, “It won’t be a deterrent to the town, and it’s a needed service.” ZBA member Ken Pacheco added, “They run a great business over there…. This makes sense … it’s needed.”

Noyer’s application was unanimously approved.

Also receiving the thumbs up from the ZBA was an application for a Special Permit submitted by William Cantor for property located at 33 Main Street. Cantor, who is in the process of building a new single-family dwelling on the site, sought approval for the construction of a portable fabric-tensioned structure that would be used to store and maintain his boats.

Cantor said the location of the storage structure would be over the former site of the long-defunct Mendell Electrical Works, once an active manufacturing business that made switchgear. He said some foundation walls and a split concrete pad from the original factory were ideal for placing the framed fabric structure.

A scheduled hearing for an application submitted by Michael Sudofsky for property located at 33 and 35 County Road was continued when it was determined there had been a miscommunication with the applicant. Sudofsky is seeking to re-position lot lines on his commercial property to clear up inconsistencies on the parcel.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for October 19 at 6:00 pm in the town hall conference room is there are hearings planned.

Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals

By Marilou Newell

Matthew B. Mello

on

Matthew B. Mello, 50, of Mattapoisett passed away with his family at his side Thursday, September 28, 2017 in McCarthy Care Center after a brief illness.

Born in New Bedford, the son of Patricia Barrow of Fairhaven and Russell Mello he was a lifelong area resident.

Matt graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School in 1985. He later went on to graduate from Fitchburg State College in 1989 and later earned his Master of Taxation from Bentley University. Matt worked in Fall River as a Certified Public Accountant.

In his spare time, he enjoyed the outdoors. Some of his favorite activities included bird watching, fishing, hiking, skiing, NASCAR, and local motocross. He also enjoyed cooking.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by a sister, Christine Mello of Haiku, HI and many good and longtime friends. He was the beloved grandson of the late Agnes Mello.

His visitation will be Tuesday, October 3, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Fairlawn, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven. All other services will be private.

Seed Saving

on

Join us at the Elizabeth Taber Library on Thursday, October 5 at 4:00 pm as Master Gardener Gretel Anspach talks about the reasons for saving your own seeds and teaches us some of the basic techniques for ensuring genetic purity. Discussions will also include the home garden plants from which seeds can be easily saved and stored for future use.

Gretel Anspach is a Trustee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, a Lifetime Master Gardener with the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association, and a recently retired systems engineer for Raytheon. She has volunteered sporadically for the New England Wildflower Society as an adult’s and children’s guide. She considers her horticultural interests to be eclectic. Gretel helped to establish and maintain two food production gardens that have provided fresh produce to the Marlboro Food Pantry for the last eight years. This program is in partnership with the Marion Garden Group. To register, please call the Elizabeth Taber Library at 508-748-1252 or email Libby at eoneill@sailsinc.org.