Board Wary of Solar Developer’s Intentions

on

The Rochester Planning Board almost came down hard on Perry’s Lane solar farm developer Jay Myrto of Clean Energy Collective on May 25 after the board questioned whether Myrto proceeded in bad faith in continuing with the construction of the solar farm after the board told him at the last meeting to fix the screening problem before installing the solar panels.

Myrto argued that the panels were not installed as the board specified – only the posts were.

Back on May 10, the board ordered Myrto to address a number of trees the board deemed ineffective in screening the project from view from Mary’s Pond.

Attorney Richard Serkey explained that the developer’s proposed solution was to install a solid wood cedar fence lifted 6 inches off the ground and extended alongside the Mary’s Pond corner about 350 more feet.

Chairman Arnold Johnson said the change was likely minute enough to simply amend the special permit conditions, but insisted the fence had to be installed immediately.

Johnson said he spotted a pile driver at the site the week before and about “95 percent” of the posts driven in. He said he didn’t understand why Myrto went further with the work before the screening issue was rectified.

“We like to learn from all our projects,” said Johnson. “So what we learned here is, from now on … we’re going to get even tighter and the screening will be in until any construction takes place.”

Myrto argued that, just as the board stated at the prior meeting, “The screening, per the plans, was done.” After all, the trees planted were the size the board approved. It wasn’t until after they were installed that the board saw they were too scrawny to screen the project from the outside.

What ensued was a showdown of sorts between the board and the developer, which almost led to the re-opening of the public hearing and the need to re-advertise the hearing and submit an updated plan – not exactly what any developer wants midway through a project.

Town Counsel Blair Bailey voiced concern that the board initially expressed its intent, which was not aligned with the developer’s subsequent actions.

“I suggest the board vote to re-open the permit, post a new hearing, and amend it,” said Attorney Bailey. “If that’s the relationship, then we can do that.”

This “surprised” Myrto, the developer said. He pointed out that, when the board initially brought the matter to his attention two weeks prior, they met with the board that very day.

“We’ve shown, I think, that we work with the board,” said Myrto, “so the idea that we have to stop work seems absurd. There’s no harm here.” He continued, “There’s no safety concern.”

Planning Board member Ben Bailey told Myrto he had some sympathy for him as a businessman.

“But I think you made a mistake if your intention was to ignore us after the meeting…. I really think you should have at least called the chairman,” board member Bailey said. “I think you’ve offended him by doing one thing and saying another.” Bailey then suggested Myrto apologize to Johnson and the board; either that, or possibly follow Attorney Bailey’s advice, which board member Bailey said he found “very harsh.”

Myrto recounted what the board specifically ordered at the last meeting and said, in his own defense, that the board told him: “I don’t want the panels going in.”

“The panels didn’t go in,” said Myrto. (Just the posts).

Board member Bailey objected to Myrto’s defense.

“I just extended you an olive branch and what we got in return was adversarial,” Bailey said. He then made the motion to re-open the public hearing as Attorney Bailey suggested, and it was immediately seconded. Johnson, however, called for further discussion before a vote.

Serkey suggested a five-minute recess to advise his client.

It was already encroaching on the two-and-a-half hour point into the meeting when Serkey and Myrto returned. Serkey told the board that Myrto would order the fence in the morning and have it installed right away to keep from having the hearing re-opened. Attorney Bailey advised the board to re-open the hearing unless it receives the offer in writing from Serkey in the morning.

Board member Bailey amended his motion to re-open the hearing if the fence was not installed by the next Planning Board meeting. Johnson figured it would take about one day to install once the materials were available. The board unanimously voted in favor of the motion.

“I apologize for anything … and misunderstandings,” said Myrto.

Also during the meeting, the board voted to indefinitely postpone a citizen’s petition article on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant calling for prohibiting the conversion of a single-family house into a two-family within a 1,200-foot buffer between the closest residences.

“This would actually prohibit the conversion,” said Johnson.

“Not really,” said Tobias Paulo, the Bradford Estates resident who filed the petition for the article.

Johnson said, if you draw a circle around a proposed two-family conversion property, it would be half-mile radius.

“This is a prohibition,” said Johnson, especially when factoring in the two-acre parcel minimum. “If it happened to pass at Town Meeting, there’s a strong likelihood that the [attorney general] would turn it down. Even if it didn’t,” Johnson continued, “the ZBA would grant variances on this all day.”

Paulo said he just wanted to “protect” the town from two-family houses devaluing the property values of single-family homes.

“But this isn’t protecting them; this is taking away their rights,” said Planning Board member John DeMaggio.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for June 14 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

 

MATTREC Summer Clinics & Programs

on

Mattapoisett Recreation is offering the following summer clinics. These programs are open to all Tri-Town residents and family members.

Summer Conditioning Clinic: Grades 4-6; 4:00 – 5:30 pm; Tuesdays & Thursdays, July 12-August 4 at Old Hammondtown School. This clinic is geared towards children interested in increasing their conditioning levels in a fun and safe environment. The clinics will focus on youth conditioning through speed, agility, strength and power drills along with fun game play. Chad Cabeceiras (Mr. C) will direct the clinics. Cost is $130. Registration deadline is July 5. Space is limited to 15 participants.

Bay Club Golf: Ages 5-8 from 5:00 – 6:00 pm, Ages 9-12 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm; Wednesdays, July 6-27 at The Bay Club. MATTREC is excited to partner with The Bay Club and their PGA professionals again for summer golf clinics. Each session will offer instruction on the fundamental skills of golf and how those skills are then used to have fun playing the game of golf. Ages 5-8 will do the SNAG golf program and equipment will be provided. Ages 9-12 will take their game to the next level utilizing the practice facility, short game area and course play. Players will need to bring their own clubs. Space is limited so sign up early! Cost is $80. Registration deadline is June 30.

Summer Tennis Clinic: Ages 5-8 from 5:00 – 6:00 pm, Ages 9 & up from 6:00 – 7:00 pm; Wednesdays, July 6-August 10 at Hammond Street Courts. MATTREC is offering summer tennis lessons at the Hammond Street Tennis Courts. Stevie Lake, Assistant Pro at the Casino tennis club, will teach the 6-week tennis program. Classes will consist of instruction and game play. This program is designed for girls and boys ages 5 & up. Cost is $80. Registration deadline is June 27.

Outdoor Summer Yoga: Ages 5-10; 4:00 – 5:00 pm; Tuesdays, July 5-August 16 (no class July 26) at Center School (near Council on Aging entrance) Join MATTREC and certified children’s yoga instructor Lynda Jacobvitz for an outdoor Summer Yoga class. Explore age-appropriate yoga poses and creative movement through music, games, and storytelling. Cost is $60. Registration deadline is July 1.

Swimming Lessons: Ages 3-12; Mondays & Wednesdays or Tuesdays & Thursdays, July 11-28 at Mattapoisett Town Beach. Intermediate level 9:30 – 10:15 am, Beginner Youth 10:30 – 11:00 am, Pre-school (age 3-5) 11:00 – 11:30 am. Cost is $45. Registration deadline is July 1. Space is limited to 6-8 participants per class.

Competitive Basketball Training Clinic will be held July 11-15 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at ORR High School Gymnasium. This clinic is geared towards competitive travel/AAU level basketball players in Grades 4-8. The clinic will be run by Brian Rudolph, a former Division 1 basketball player at Loyola University & former Cabo Verde International Team point guard and current New Bedford High School JV coach. The clinic will focus on ball handling, footwork, shooting, finishing moves, defensive techniques, conditioning and basketball IQ. Cost is $150. Sign up deadline is July 5. Space is limited to 26 players.

Shooting Stars Girls Instructional Basketball Clinic will be held July 18-22 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Old Hammondtown School gym. This clinic is geared towards instructional level players in Grades 3-5. The clinic will focus on ball handling, passing, shooting, man-to-man defensive techniques, footwork and gameplay. Director Julie Letourneau is a former Division 2 basketball player who played professionally in Luxembourg and currently coaches with the MATTREC basketball program. Cost is $150. Sign up deadline is July 12.

Nature Explorers Program will be held July 25-29 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (with possible additional week August 1-5). Join MATTREC and the Marion Natural History Museum to explore some of Mattapoisett’s unique natural areas including Ned’s Point Lighthouse, Aucoot Cove, the Mattapoisett River, along with various salt marshes, bogs, forests and Land Trust properties. Participants will visit with local aquaculture operators, the Harbormaster, Shellfish Officer, and other local authorities. Your child will enjoy exploring nature with Elizabeth Leidhold, Director/Lead Educator at the Marion Natural History Museum and Mattapoisett’s Conservation Agent. Cost is $125. Sign up deadline is July 6.

Space is limited, so make sure to register on-line today at www.mattrec.net.

Like our Mattapoisett Recreation Facebook page. Late registration forms will only be accepted if space is available. If you have questions on any programs, please email mattrec@mattapoisett.net or call 508-758-4548.

Academic Achievements

on

Jeremy Aanensen of Marion will graduate from Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School on June 5. Aanensen majored in Engineering.

The following Tri-Town residents were among 1,292 students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) named to the university’s Dean’s List for academic excellence for the spring 2016 semester.

– Oliver Lizotte of Mattapoisett is a member of the class of 2016 majoring in chemical engineering.

– Chad Underhill of Rochester is a member of the class of 2019 majoring in computer science.

Samuel Horstmann of Marion graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from Lehigh University in spring 2016. During commencement ceremonies on May 23, Lehigh conferred 1,159 bachelor’s, 519 master’s, and 80 doctoral degrees to nearly 1,700 graduates.

Assumption College has announced that Roslyn Flaherty of Rochester, a member of the Class of 2016, is one of 561 students named to the college’s undergraduate Dean’s List for the spring 2016 semester.

Regain Drug Addiction Support Group

on

The Regain Drug Addiction Support Group is a faith-based group that focuses on sharing, understanding, education, love and compassion to assist individuals and families seeking to regain what has been lost through a loved ones drug addiction. Beginning on Tuesday, June 7, the group will meet every first and third Tuesday of the month from 6:00 – 7:30 pm in the “Social Room” at the Council on Aging, 17 Barstow Street, Mattapoisett. Residents from Mattapoisett, Marion and Rochester are welcome to attend. Participation in the group is free of charge and registration is not required. For more information, please call the Public Health Nursing Office at 508-758-4118.

Mattapoisett Remembers – Memorial Day 2016

on

The tropical rains washed away the traditional Memorial Day Parade in Mattapoisett on May 30, but not the ceremony remembering the veterans. That part of the day’s events was moved inside to Center School’s gymnasium where speakers gave voice to what lay on people’s hearts: honoring veterans.

Although the theme of this year’s celebration was World War II, veterans from the Civil War to present day conflicts were not left out.

Florence Eastman Post 280 American Legion hosts the annual celebration. Legion Commander Michael Lamoureux was the master of ceremony. He began the program with a prayer from legion chaplain and guest speaker Richard Langhoff. Langhoff read a prayer written by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “Let our hearts be stout.”

In the prayer penned by FDR and read over the radio on D-Day, June 1944, he asked God to, “Lead them straight and true … men’s souls will be shaken … they fight to let justice rise … for us at home … in this hour of great sacrifice…”

This moving recitation was followed by Old Hammondtown School’s rendition of “America the Beautiful” and a few words from Representative William Straus.

“The challenge of Memorial Day is to recall what our country has done for us and what we can do for our country” said Straus. He told the crowd of more than 100 that Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., a Civil War veteran and summer resident of Mattapoisett, first spoke those famous words. Straus said Memorial Day was important to the cause of never forgetting “what was done to protect the country.” He ended his comments by saying, “Memorial Day is a time to remember and what we can do moving forward.”

Mattapoisett’s three selectmen were in attendance – Paul Silva, Jordan Collyer, and Tyler Macallister. Chairman Macallister spoke about the capability of the military to orchestrate massive troop movements with precision using only the most rudimentary communication tools. He talked about the scope of D-Day with 130,000 troops being deployed to Omaha Beach with support of 23,000 paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines, 10,000 aircraft overhead, and 7,000 ships at sea.

“Today we have satellites,” said Macallister. “They had Morse Code and radios.”

Barry Denham, Tri-Town Veterans’ Agent and member of the American Legion, rose to ask other veterans to come out in support of the legion.

“We need young veterans to come forward,” said Denham. “We are having a tough time maintaining the legion. The legion has given 100 years of service to Mattapoisett. We don’t want to see it close.”

The Old Hammondtown School Band then played a rousing rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and they were followed by ORRJHS student Luke Couto reciting to perfection the Gettysburg Address.

Langhoff rose again to give his remarks.

He reminded the audience that Memorial Day began after the Civil War. He then waxed poetic, saying of those who had given the ultimate sacrifice: “Because of them our lives are free. When they heard the call of our country they answered. No weariness of march, or watch, or horror in the battlefield could stop them…” He said those who had perished would not want our pity but our pride and asked all to “pledge ourselves anew to our patriotic duty.” He then read the names of four Gold Star residents who had died in WWII – Romeo Farley, Robert Atsatt, Allen Bowman, and Robert Dexter.

Around the room, young and old alike spoke of the importance of Memorial Day.

“Today is special to me because eight years ago I lost my father and last year my mother,” said Selectman Silva. He said his father was a recipient of the Purple Heart, as well as the Silver and the Bronze Star.

Macallister shared, “My two grandfathers were in World War II…. A lot of people did difficult things so I could be here today.”

Macallister’s grandfathers were both in the Air Force and both served in the Pacific theater.

Denham was silenced by emotion when asked what the day meant to him, instead displaying a program from a ceremony in Fairhaven, part of which honored his young cousin, Lance Corporal Matthew Rodriguez, USMC, age 19, killed in Afghanistan in December 2013.

Legion member Ray Andrews said, “I get goose bumps … the opportunity for people to remember those who gave the ultimate, not just from Mattapoisett but throughout the country.”

ORRHS juniors Zecharia Mooney and Davis Mathieu, part of the Boy Scouts contingent who were on hand to assist the Legion members, also understood the relevance of never forgetting. Mooney said the day meant “giving respect to all the veterans for what they did.” Mathieu said, “It’s a day to remember, to honor those who fought and died, gave the sacrifice … they stood up for those who couldn’t.”

Mattapoisett’s WWII veterans numbered 250, of which six were women.

Outside as the rain subsided, two small children frolicked in a puddle running back and forth with joy only tiny tots can achieve – a further reminder of why Memorial Day continues to have significance 148 years after its inception.

By Marilou Newell

 

MCC Scholarship Winners

on

Sunday, May 22 was ‘Scholarship Sunday’ at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Four exceptional young women were introduced during the worship service: Abigail Field, Alexus Garcia, Keegan Lant and Charlotte Van Voorhis. Abby, an ORR senior, received a scholarship from the church’s Women’s Community Guild. She will be attending the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, to major in history. Alexus and Keegan, also seniors at ORR, were recipients of the Memorials Scholarship. Alexus will study early childhood education with an emphasis on special education at Southern New Hampshire University. Keegan will attend Plymouth State University as a psychology major. Charlotte, a senior at Falmouth Academy, was awarded the Dagmar Coquillette Memorial Scholarship. She will attend Yale University with a major in English literature and composition.

Mattapoisett Congregational Church scholarships are awarded on the basis of scholastic achievement, community service and financial need. Recipients must be residents of Mattapoisett, Marion or Rochester OR a member of the church. Students graduating from ORR, Old Colony, Bishop Stang, Tabor Academy or another area secondary school are eligible to apply.

Dear Rochester Parent Teacher Organization and Families

on

Dear Rochester Parent Teacher Organization and Families:

The Rochester Memorial Teachers’ Association would like to express their gratitude for the wonderful daily luncheons provided to staff during Teacher Appreciation Week from May 23 to May 27. The sandwiches, seafood chowder, salads, lasagna, Stromboli, Chicken Parmagian, breakfast foods, pizza, desserts, and other assorted delights were delectable!

Thank you for your consideration, planning, and cooking! The RMS staff truly appreciated your efforts. We were certainly well fed last week!

Sincerely,

Anne Fernandes, Secretary, Rochester Memorial Teachers’ Association

 

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.

Free Child Speech and Language Development Workshop

on

Are you wondering about a child’s delayed speech? Concerned that others can’t understand your child? Does your child have poor play or social skills? These and other questions will be explored at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Wednesday, June 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm by speech and language professionals Lisa Yauch-Caden and Christine Botelho of Buzzards Bay Speech Therapy.

The free workshop for parents and grandparents will review typical developmental milestones for children ages 0-5. It will also provide tips and techniques to promote healthy speech and language development for children of any age. Participants are encouraged to bring their questions and concerns.

Registration is required by June 21. Call the library at 508-758-4171 or email Children’s Librarian Linda Burke at lburke@sailsinc.org to register or inquire about childcare. The library is located at 7 Barstow Street in Mattapoisett village.

Work Dogs Strut Their Stuff in Rochester

on

Sitz! Fuss! Fass! When members of the SouthCoast Working Dog Club tell their dogs to sit, heel, and attack, they don’t have to tell them twice.

The club, based out of Rochester, holds a number of Schutzhund Trial and Conformation Shows at the Rochester Country Fairgrounds every year, and the Spring Trial and competition took place this past weekend on May 27-29.

Schutzhund means “protection dog” in German, a language all the different breeds of dogs belonging to Schutzhund training enthusiasts understand.

Schutzhund training is a sport that focuses on the development and evaluation of the traits in dogs that make them true working dogs, whether it is in tracking, obedience, or protection.

The sport was developed in Germany in the early 1900s as a suitability test originally for German Shepherds and was used to determine if the dog had what it takes in terms of traits and characteristics to make it a good working dog. Today, a number of different types of so-called working dog breeds– German Shepherds, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Belgian Malinois, American Bulldogs, and even mixes of the many various breeds – can participate.

The SouthCoast Working Dog Club meets year-round, said the club’s Training Director Mario Gomes.

“We get together and train our dogs,” he said on Friday, May 27. “It’s a hobby. It’s more than a hobby. It’s an addiction.”

The club, which began in Rochester two years ago, currently has 18 members and a total of about 20 dogs involved in the local program. Before being allowed to enter, the dogs are tested to see if they would be suitable for a specific area, and one year later they are considered for approval during one of the trials, like the one held that weekend.

During the trial, the dogs must pass through three levels, starting with the basic level: temperament.

“Not too aggressive, not too shy,” said Gomes.

Schutzhund is an international sport. Even one of the judges present that day was from Austria.

“A few dogs are trying to get to Nationals and to get to Nationals you need 270 points out of 300,” said Gomes. “I got second place in the Nationals,” he said, which took place this year in Illinois.

Gomes’ German Shepherd “Caribou” will now represent the United States at the World Championship in Slovenia this coming September.

To learn more, or to find out if perhaps Fido might make a good Schutzhund dog, email Mario Gomes at maringaland@gmail.com, or visit the SouthCoast Working Dog Club at www.southcoastwdc.com.

By Jean Perry

 

Therese Carroll Gannon

on

Therese Carroll Gannon died on May 17th, 2016 at age 82 in St. Simon’s Island, GA, of pneumonia. Known as Terry, she was born in Worcester, MA, on October 5th, 1933 to Elizabeth and David Carroll.

Terry is survived by her brothers Shaun Carroll and Kevin Carroll; their spouses Sandee and Lucy; her sister-in-law Sue Gannon; her two children John Gannon and Julie Ritchie; their spouses Mary Gannon and Jay Ritchie; and her grandchildren John Gannon, Nicholas Gannon, Lela Gannon, and Griffin Ritchie.

Terry was predeceased by her husband John “Jack” Gannon and her brother David Carroll.

Terry lived her early life in Laconia, NH, where she loved summer camp and winter sports. Terry was an avid skier who raced on many New Hampshire slopes including Tuckerman Ravine. Later in life, Terry was known for her gracefully carved turns.

Early in her career, Terry moved to New York City and met Jack on a summer weekend at a beach house. They were soon married and off on a honeymoon to Europe. Terry loved to tell stories about that trip; she and Jack really got to know each other as he drove them along the cliffs of Majorca.

Terry also met her lifelong friend Elizabeth Griffin in New York. “Aunt Elizabeth” was a regular presence at many Gannon holidays and family events.
“Soon after marriage Jack and Terry headed to upstate New York where John was born. A couple of years later they moved to Mattapoisett, MA, just before Julie’s birth.”

In 1976, frustrated by her inability to find quality toys for her children, Terry founded The Toy Box. Not many women were starting businesses in 1976, but Terry believed that the children of Southeastern Massachusetts needed better toys; she was determined to provide them.

Terry worked in the toy industry from 1976 until shortly before her death. In 2013, Terry received a lifetime achievement award from the American Specialty Retail Association for her work at the Toy Box and The Good Toy Group, an organization she helped found and led for many years with her business partner Idanna Smith.

Terry was an energetic traveler and devoted grandmother who loved to attend family events. She never hesitated to visit her grandchildren for holidays, performances, games, and graduations. Right up to her last weeks, she was planning family trips to Massachusetts, Texas, and Alaska. After 32 years in Mattapoisett, Terry and Jack moved to South Dartmouth, MA, and then St. Simon’s Island, GA. Terry loved living on St. Simon’s and had many friends on the island. Well into her 70s, Terry picked up golf and played frequently with “The Nine-Holers”. She also enjoyed playing bridge with Sue and attending weekly New England Patriots parties each Fall.

Terry’s final move was to Marsh’s Edge on St. Simon’s, where she found many new friends and activities. In typical Terry fashion, she decided herself to make the move, negotiated the purchase, sold her house, and moved across the island to her new home. Terry loved Marsh’s Edge – we are all saddened that she did not get to live there for long.

Terry lived with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and underwent experimental treatments that extended her life for 7 fully-active years. She elected to be a part of a clinical drug trial that has already positively impacted others’ lives.

The family asks in lieu of flowers to please consider a donation to Hospice of the Golden Isles, 1692 Glynco Pkwy, Brunswick, GA 31525. This organization is extremely important to our family and there are not enough words to express our gratitude to Hospice of the Golden Isles.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 8th, 2016 at 10 AM at St. Anthony’s Church, Mattapoisett. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Visiting hours are omitted. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.