Plumb Library is offering a Minecraft Club on Tuesdays, August 16 and 23, 1:30 – 5:00 pm for ages 10 and up. Participants must have access to a laptop computer and have Minecraft skills. Two library computers will be available for use. Space is limited. Please register by calling the library at 508-763-8600 or email lfuller@sailsinc.org.
There might not be a parade this year for the Rochester Country Fair, but that doesn’t mean the fair has shrunk in size because of it.
In fact, discontinuing the tradition of the parade, according to Co-Chairperson of the Rochester Country Fair Board of Directors Julie Koczera, frees up resources that can be diverted towards more family fun, especially for the kiddies.
“We now have a mad science fire and ice show, a magic show,” said Koczera, “so we have added a lot more interactive children’s events.”
There is always something going on at the Rochester Country Fair, said Koczera, including some new stuff this year.
Added to the program for Thursday will be a much-anticipated water balloon and sponge toss, said Koczera.
“I think we’ll get a lot of adults participating in that as well with the heat,” said Koczera.
Speaking of the heat, the Country Fair took a major hit in 2015 with extreme temperatures keeping a lot of would-be guests away from the sun-scorched fairgrounds of last year.
“Last year was so awful,” said Koczera. “If it had just rained a little bit, it wouldn’t have been so bad.”
But rain or shine, cold or heat, the Country Fair must go on.
This year, the night of the big concert will be Friday instead of the traditional Saturday night. And this year’s entertainment, said Koczera, is going to be a great show.
Friday’s concert will feature The Idol Kings, a Journey and Mellencamp tribute band out of Pennsylvania, and as Koczera put it, “This band is really good.”
“They dress up just like Journey,” said Koczera. “They put on a really great show.”
Koczera said that last year, the noise from the modified tractor race on Saturday night competed with the sound of the band on the stage, interfering with the enjoyment of the music.
“And the tractors, they are loud. They drowned out the music,” said Koczera. “With the concert being 7:30 on Friday, it allows us to move the wrestling over to Saturday.”
Wrestling, always one of the favored events of the Country Fair, is bigger, better, and badder than ever this year, said Koczera, with the addition of not one, but two, steel cage fights.
Rochester Memorial School Principal Derek Medeiros will be the guest referee Saturday night, which RMS students are sure to get a kick out of, said Koczera.
Medeiros actually had to attend some formal training in order to referee the event and understand what is required of him, learning the rules and regulations of wrestling.
“I even gave him a couple opportunities to bow out,” said Koczera. “This is something that he can actually say that he did. So I think that’ll be a lot of fun.”
Sunday morning will feature a couple of new events as well.
There will be go-cart, quarter sprint car, and lawn mower racing this year.
“It will be a first for us. It’ll be fun to watch,” Koczera said.
There will still be the traditional faves of previous years, Koczera said, like the kid’s races, the pie eating contest, and the frog derby, for sure.
If only this year, the weather would cooperate.
“We just hope it isn’t too excruciatingly hot,” said Koczera. “But you can’t control the weather, so you just roll with it. We’ll be there, rain or shine.”
You can see the entire schedule for the 17th Annual Rochester Country Fair printed in this week’s edition of The Wanderer.
The Rochester Country Fair runs from Thursday, August 18 through Sunday, August 21 at the fairgrounds on Pine Street.
By Jean Perry
Audrey B. (Brito) Andrews, 78, of Mattapoisett died August 6, 2016 at St. Luke’s Hospital after a long illness.
Born in Wareham, the daughter of the late Miguel L. and Hilda A. (Andrews) Brito, she lived in Mattapoisett most of her life. She was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church.
Mrs. Andrews was formerly employed as a social worker with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where she took great pride in protecting children and families in need. Upon retirement she enjoyed travelling, yoga and gardening. Survivors include 2 sons, Peter Andrews and his wife Lauren of Winchester, MA and David Andrews of Mattapoisett; a daughter, Paula Andrews of South Easton; a brother, Miguel “Buster” Brito and his wife Amy Ziebarth of South Orange, NJ; 2 grandchildren, Isaiah Phoenix and Trey Andrews; 2 nephews, Jonathan and Elliott; and a niece, Ana.
Visiting hours Saturday from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
To the Editor:
The Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path thank everyone who stopped by the Friends’ booth at Harbor Days and everyone who has contributed to our fundraising program recently and over the years.
We are pleased to announce that the Howard Stillman Bates Foundation has awarded us funding to help create safer conditions at bike path crossings. Mr. Bates was a life-long bicyclist who loved the fun, freedom and health benefits of bike riding as much as he loved Mattapoisett. These days, for the greater good of all on the road, we all need to be responsible road users, and this gift will help.
We understand that Selectmen will be hearing a report about road and intersection safety at their regularly scheduled meeting on August 16. We hope that residents concerned about road safety in every neighborhood will attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, consider this when driving in your neighborhood: for a one-mile trip, driving 25 miles an hour (mph) costs you less than a minute in time compared to 40 mph. Twenty-five mph also creates measurably safer conditions for bikes and pedestrians. Bikers and walkers: stay aware and when it is safe to do so, please use courtesy and common sense to create safe passing conditions for motorists sharing the road.
Regarding bike path progress: An anonymous donation will fund a cost estimate and concept design for connecting Industrial Drive to the future Marion Pathway. The Friend’s intention is to see if a locally funded paved connection to Marion is possible in 2019 when Marion is scheduled to build their path. Stay tuned on Phase 1B (Neck Road to Depot Street); we are hoping for the smoothest process possible and a 2018 construction start.
Bonne DeSousa,
President, Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path
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.
The Marion Concert Band will present a concert of Latin-American music on Friday, August 12. To add to the festive atmosphere of the evening, the audience is invited to wear tropical or Latin-American attire. The program is as follows:
La Bonita (Spanish March) – J. Tarver
Mexican Overture – M. J. Isaac
Caribbean Rondo – P. La Plante
Brazilian Festival – A. C. Jobim
Piccolo Espagnol – J. Christensen
Elaine Baker-D’Angelo, piccolo
Danzas Cubanas – R. Sheldon
Cantico – A. Grayson
Montego Bay (samba) – S. Nestico
Trombrero – F. Cofield
Malagueña – E. Lecuona
Martinique – R. Washburn
Serenata – L. Anderson
Mas Que Nada – J. Ben
Commandante (Marche Espagnole) – G. Guentzel
Elaine Baker-D’Angelo is a graduate of the Hartt College of Music and holds a master’s degree in education from Lesley College. She was a music teacher in the Stoughton Public Schools for 29 years and presently teaches afterschool programs in Marshfield and Pembroke. She is the principal flutist of the South Shore Concert Band and has performed with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra (principal flute). She has performed the Romberg Flute Concerto with the UMass Boston Chamber Orchestra and the Narragansett Bay Symphony Orchestra. A piano reduction she created from the orchestral score to the Romberg Concerto won an award from the National Flute Association in 1994. She has been a member of the Marion Concert Band since 1985.
The concert, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00 pm at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf off Front Street in Marion. All concerts are free and open to the public. “Like” us on Facebook at “Marion Town Band” for up-to-date announcements and rain cancellation notices.
The Marion Art Center is in final preparations for its summer theatrical production, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, which opens its six-performance run on Thursday, August 11. Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play and described as “hugely entertaining,” the story follows middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia, who share a home in Bucks County, PA, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Things become complicated when their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike, leading old resentments to flare. Adding to the comic complexity of the foursome’s antics are the future-predicting maid, Cassandra, and a lovely young ingénue, Nina.
The cast features an accomplished group of actors, some of whom are quite familiar to local audiences. Portraying Vanya is David Horne, who has performed in many MAC productions, to include Thornton Wilder’s classic, Our Town, and The Seagull by Anton Chekov. David is Choral Director and Chapel Organist at Tabor Academy, where he is also a house parent. David is very active with Tabor’s theater program, having done stage direction and musical direction for more than 30 productions. Suzie Kokkins appears as Masha. Her many MAC credits include: A Bad Year for Tomatoes; Light Up in the Sky; Love, Loss and What I Wore; and The Seagull. Suzie is active with the MAC in a variety of capacities, serving as a volunteer, board member and part of the theater committee. She lives with her family in Marion and is a registered dietitian with Southcoast Hospitals Group. Sonia is played by Cynthia Latham, who first appeared on the MAC stage in The Fourth Wall by A.R. Gurney. Cynthia’s list of MAC theatrical credits include: A Bad Year for Tomatoes; Love, Loss and What I Wore; and The Seagull, to name a few. She also does film and TV work, including Men in Black 3 and The Good Wife. While the role of Spike marks Adam Roderick’s debut with the Marion Art Center, he’s no newcomer to community theater. A native of Cape Cod now living in our area, Adam’s stage appearances include Beyond Therapy (also by Christopher Durang), Biloxi Blues and the classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. Adam is also an accomplished set designer, director and film maker. Adam is joined onstage by his wife, Sam Roderick, who plays aspiring actress Nina. Sam is a native of Cape Cod and has been in performing arts since she was a young girl. She lists among her credits: The Graduate, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Play it Again Sam, and Of Mice and Men. Rounding out the cast in the role of Cassandra is Susan Sullivan, who was seen on the MAC stage last summer in A Bad Year for Tomatoes, by John Patrick. Susan is a New York native now living in Fairhaven. She came to the Southcoast after retiring from her career as a television engineer. Her professional life in broadcasting started in Boulder, CO, where she helped build public radio station, KGNU, including a stint as on-air talent.
The show’s production crew is a distinguished one as well. Director Kate Fishman premiered at the MAC last summer, when she served as stage and production manager for A Bad Year for Tomatoes. Kate has 15 years of experience in community theater as an actor, director and stage manager. Among her favorite productions are Miss Witherspoon, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Blithe Spirit, and Fiction. Lighting and Sound Director Steven McManus has worked on many recent productions at the Art Center, to include: An Evening of One Acts by Christopher Durang; The Seagull; Dixie Swim Club; A Bad Year for Tomatoes; and Crimes of the Heart. Now a Marion resident, Steve moved to the U.S. 16 years ago from Edinburgh, Scotland, where he owned a sound and lighting rental company for musical and theatrical productions. Although he no longer works professionally in “the business,” he continues to occasionally provide his services to worthy causes. Stage and Production Manager Natalie Monroe is new to the MAC. She moved to the area from Tennessee and works as a lash stylist at Allure Lash Studio in Marion. Set crew for the production is a family affair, and includes Fairhaven resident (and husband of Susan) Geoffrey Sullivan and Wareham resident (and fiancé of Natalie) John White.
The production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will run August 11, 12, 13 and 18, 19, 20 at 7:30 pm. The Marion Art Center theater will be arranged with general seating, as well as eight cabaret tables, which are available for reserved parties of four. As seating is limited, reservations are highly recommended. Tickets are $18 for the public and $15 for MAC members. Reservations may be made by calling the Marion Art Center at 508-748-1266 or emailing marionartcenter@verizon.net.
A new school year means a fresh start for kids – a chance to start new routines and habits, build new friendships and discover new possibilities and interests. Back-to-school is a fresh start for youth and the people who care for them. As children transition from summer to fall, YMCA Southcoast is offering programs to school-aged children throughout the Southcoast community to keep youth active, busy and engaged during out-of-school time. Through a holistic approach to youth development, the Y’s program[s] offer[s] activities in a caring and safe environment during the critical hours after school. Whether through sports, mentorship, or academic support, the Y’s afterschool program’s staff nurtures the potential of youth throughout the school year.
At the end of the day when the school bell rings, 11.3 million kids are headed home to be unsupervised from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, according to the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness advocacy organization. With a new school year about to begin, YMCA Southcoast encourages parents/caregivers to make sure that children are involved in safe, educational experiences after school hours.
“Learning enrichment after school is essential to increasing children’s success in school,” said Kathleen Treglia, Executive Director of Education for YMCA Southcoast. “The opportunity to get additional learning and support, as well as participate in meaningful activities can inspire children’s motivations and abilities to succeed.”
The Y is a leading nonprofit committed to nurturing the potential of every child and teen, supporting their social-emotional, cognitive and physical development from birth to career. In the YMCA’s afterschool programs, youth receive homework assistance and can also explore art, music, and have fun in the Y pool, playing organized sports and games in the gym, or on the climbing wall and hiking in our outdoor centers. Financial assistance is available to those in need, to ensure every child and teen has the opportunity to learn and grow at the Y and the Y accepts PACE Vouchers.
The YMCA Southcoast has adopted a set of Healthy Eating and Physical Activity standards in our afterschool programs that build a healthier future for our nation’s children by providing healthy environments rich in opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity.
The Y will open 13 state licensed after school programs in Swansea, Fall River, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Acushnet, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Marion, Wareham and Bourne. For more information about the afterschool program, please contact Kathy Treglia, Executive Director of Education at 508-996-9622 ext. 118 or via email at Ktreglia@ymcasouthcoast.org.
The Rochester Historical Society will be having a cookbook sale on Saturday, August 13. It will be held at the Church/Museum at 355 County Road from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The books are $1 each (all in excellent condition) and a portion of them are five for $1. Please come and shop. Call 508-961-7401 if you have any questions.
During the August 2 meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator Paul Dawson and Energy Management Committee members Jennifer Francis and Bill Saltonstall met with the selectmen to discuss how to handle cash payments from Eversource.
The utility’s 20-year contract with the town for energy produced from wind turbines includes a clause that allows them to pay the town cash instead of giving energy credits or net metering credits as originally planned. Now the town is faced with how to best handle receiving these cash payments.
Selectman Steve Cushing said, “The plan was to reduce energy costs.” Without direct deductions on municipal electricity bills, the EMC offered other ideas.
Francis said that the committee thought that possibly half of the Eversource payments could go into a new fund that could be used for such things as purchasing electric cars, replacing boilers in municipal buildings, or planning a municipal solar farm.
Dawson thought that part of the new cash flow should go towards the growing OPEB liability the town is facing and said, “…that will go a long way with bond raters.”
The selectmen were in agreement that to simply put the payments into the general fund might mean that the cash could get “lost” in the budget. They concurred that if funds were segregated, they should also be earmarked for specific items.
Selectman Jody Dickerson suggested that instead of looking at the entire lifecycle of the Eversource contract when brainstorming how to use the cash, perhaps just trying any plan ultimately agreed upon for five or ten years was better so that, “…we don’t tie the hands of future boards.”
The selectmen agreed that the EMC should continue to pursue ideas and to return to them with more fully developed plans.
In other news, Dawson said that a grant in the amount of $10,924 applied for by the Open Space Committee had been awarded. He said that these funds could now be used to complete the Grassi Bog repairs.
Dawson said that abutters to the town-held property had been “very patient” in dealing with stormwater runoff issues from a failure in an earlier water management plan designed by National Resources Conservation Service, a federal agency. Armed with a new plan from the NRCS that had been vetted by the town’s peer review consultants CDM Smith, Dawson believed “The new plan should fix the problems.”
Repairs to the historic Elizabeth Taber Library were also discussed. Board of Trustees President Jay Pateakos and architect Bob Raymond said that repairs to the front steps, door and improved handicap access were paramount to improving the structure. Raymond presented conceptual designs that had been part of the original campus concepts for the town house project to help the selectmen visualize what the front entrance changes would look like.
Funding for the repairs will be paid by donor funding, Pateakos said, and although it would not cost the town anything, public input was important. The selectmen were pleased with the plans and approved further exploration.
Continuing on the theme of repairs, Dawson said that the manufacturer of the siding used on the police station had declared the product defective and will repair and replace the siding under the warranty.
Funds for the Marion Scholarship fund were also discussed when Debra Watson met with the selectmen saying, “Since 1994, we have given ninety-one scholarships to Marion residents.” However, she noted that the fund was now empty. To fill the void, Watson said a raffle was held. The prize was three Red Sox tickets donated by Laura Sharpe and Jim Fogerty. The drawing was held and the winner announced: David Ellis. The raffle raised $550.
Fall special town meeting date was set for October 24 at 6:45 pm in the Sippican School multi-purpose room.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for August 16 at 7:00 pm in the police station community meeting room.
By Marilou Newell
Timothy S. McGrath, 33, of Tiverton, RI, formerly of Mattapoisett, passed away unexpectedly August 5, 2016.
Born in Wareham, the son of Kelly M. Johnson and her husband James of Mattapoisett and Russell Marot of Coral Springs, FL, he lived in Mattapoisett most of his life.
Tim was an accomplished and award winning chef employed at several RI area restaurants, most recently at Stone Acre Pantry in Newport.
He was a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School, class of 2001, where he played hockey and baseball. Tim also attended Johnson & Whales University and studied Culinary Arts. Tim was also an avid New England area sports fan, noteably the Red Sox, Patriots, and Bruins.
Survivors include his parents; his daughter, Rylee Shea McGrath and son Colin T. McGrath and their mother Jaime Peninne, all of North Providence; his close friend, Monica Lozano of Rocky Hill, CT; a brother, Ryan McGrath of Mattapoisett; a sister, Jillian McGrath of Mattapoisett; 3 aunts, Tracy McGrath of Tiverton, Laurie Buler and her husband George of Rochester and Karen Kilroy of Portsmouth, RI; his uncle, John McGrath of Rochester; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was the grandson of the late Colin “Terry” McGrath with whom he shared a life long passion for fishing. Tim was most passionate about his children, extended family and friends, fishing and cooking. Tim will be surely missed by all who where blessed to know him.
Visiting hours are Wednesday from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett. A reception will follow at an undetermined location following the visiting hours. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.