The next teen dance is on Friday, December 11 for $8 at The Knights, 57 Fairhaven Road in Mattapoisett. Teen dances provide a safe place for 6th, 7th & 8th graders to have a good time socializing, dancing and listening to their favorite music on a Friday night. Knights of Columbus chaperones and a uniformed police officer are on site at all of our dances.
Members of the Rochester Historical Society will be at the Plumb Library Open House on Saturday, December 5 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. All things Rochester – including books, cards, hats, tee shirts, sweatshirts – will be available.
To the Editor:
Written the day after Thanksgiving 2015:
Yesterday, Thanksgiving, many people celebrated the holiday grateful for life’s blessings, surrounded by family and friends. Then, there are others – maybe fewer, maybe more – who are grateful for life, but are unable and refuse to appreciate or understand the seclusiveness of that testimonial. Millions of people were suffering from diseases while many were enjoying their feasts.
My life-partner Judi was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, now under hospice care for 15 days. Yesterday Thanksgiving, Judi was unable to enjoy the company of my daughter, her boyfriend and our Granddog Ellie.
For many years, my life-partner advocated for the right to die. Children with terminal cancer, people whose bodies and minds are failing: she voiced their right to die with dignity, without suffering.
Currently in Massachusetts, the law states we have no choice. The alternative – voluntary starvation – is nearly as excruciatingly painful. The right to die ought to be a birth-right as it is in the Netherlands and Switzerland. In Oregon, Washington, Vermont and California, there is no minimum length-of-residency requirement to take advantage of the right to die.
Americans are free to choose how they live – and when the time comes, how they die. End-of-life choices should be left to the individual, her family and doctor. The choices should be guided by medical standards, not the whims of politicians.
Support for end-of-life choice is consistently strong and has held steady for two decades. Support compassionandchoices.org in Massachusetts. Contact 800-247-7421.
Peace, Love & Happiness,
Doreen Adams – Judi’s life-partner, Mattapoisett
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.
Marion Town House Building Committee members and the Board of Selectmen regrettably agreed on December 1 that in order for the Town to reach an affordable option for the town house renovation project, the senior center and library expansion aspects must be removed from the equation entirely.
The general initial reaction from the public, said Building Committee Chairman Robert Raymond, was great concern over the cost of both options the committee presented: the $12.5 million Option A to renovate and expand the town house, and the $28 million Option B to renovate the town house, expand the library and build a senior center, joining all three together in one building.
“We’re kind of at a crossroads now,” said Raymond. Ensuing discussion with selectmen and Town Administrator Paul Dawson distilled down to only one viable solution – abandoning the senior center and library ideas and having the engineer explore a scope reduction in the town house renovation only. The other two ideas must now follow their own paths separate from the town house renovation, possibly with state or private funding.
“I think, ultimately, [the town house] is the focus and if we can get the other stuff (senior center and library) then great, but if we can’t….” said Selectmen Chairman Stephen Cushing. And as for private funding for municipal projects, he said, perhaps there is some out there….
“But I don’t see any of it in this room beating the door down trying to give it to us,” Cushing said.
Dawson said that hopefully the other two projects have come along far enough to branch off as independent projects, considering the development of current programming and the assessment of the need in the community. Otherwise, none of the projects will get approval by Town Meeting.
“I don’t think we have another ten years to wait before this building starts literally caving in,” Cushing said.
Building Committee member Bill Saltonstall shared his uneasiness with the cost estimates, especially in light of the looming concern over the future of the town’s wastewater treatment facility and whether or not the town will be forced to make costly multi-million dollar improvements mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“I can’t believe that the voters of the town right now would opt [for] the most expensive of the two solutions,” said Saltonstall. And even if the committee went to Town Meeting to propose reducing costs by scaling down the two options, “It might result in a painful process to reduce costs by ten percent or fifteen percent … but not a whole lot.” He said he was uncomfortable even proposing it.
So where do we go from here, wondered Raymond. Do we form two more committees, one for a senior center and one for an expanded library?
“I think we should just go forward with the Option A right now,” said Selectman Jody Dickerson, opting to move ahead and not “hold up” a town house renovation.
Dawson praised the committee for its work, saying he felt the committee fulfilled its task and studied the matter from all possible angles. Raymond said the committee needed another week or two to find the next step towards the new direction it is heading and decide.
“For how many years now have we kicked this can down the road?” said Cushing. “We’ve kicked this can so much there’s almost no can left to kick.”
Also during the meeting, selectmen gave the Energy Management Committee the green light to move forward in the grant process that could result in the town’s acquisition of three fully-electric leased vehicles in the near future.
Chairman for the committee Jennifer Francis gave selectmen a three-year cost-saving analysis they asked for, calling it a conservative assessment using the current low gasoline prices which Francis said would certainly rise again.
Francis said the town would save a minimum of $30,000, including revenue by selling three older town vehicles and taking on the electric BMW i3 vehicles. She reiterated that no capital investment on behalf of the town was required for this project.
Selectmen asked a few benign questions and voted in favor of allowing the grant application process to move forward in Selectman Jonathan Henry’s absence.
“We gave him his chance to speak,” said Cushing jokingly, acknowledging how the selectmen held off on a vote last meeting so Henry could be included in the conversation.
In other matters, Indian Cove resident Ruth Nicolaci gave selectmen grief over their subsequent post-Town Meeting action to move forward with an application to fund a feasibility study about connecting Indian and Aucoot Cove residents and some Mattapoisett residents to an expanded Marion sewer system.
Town Meeting tabled selectmen’s request to provide $50,000 to match a $200,000 grant that would allow the town to explore the feasibility of such a project – a motion Dawson said could possibly cast a positive light on the town in front of the EPA as it decides on the conditions of the town’s new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
Nicolaci said she viewed the selectmen’s actions in moving forward with the grant anyway as ignoring the Town Meeting vote.
“If it wasn’t illegal, it was certainly disgusting,” Nicolaci said.
Dawson explained that the town was no longer seeking the funding approval from Town Meeting because conditions of the grant allow the town to contribute in-kind services regarding the grant proposal in lieu of a cash contribution. Town Meeting may have tabled the request to appropriate money to secure the grant, but the matter as a whole, he said, was never voted down.
“Any actions we can take at this point … to find ways to reduce nitrogen loading … only helps us in terms of how the EPA approaches the permits,” said Dawson. “It’s simply a feasibility study to see if this makes sense.”
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for December 15 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall.
The annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair at the Mattapoisett Museum will be held on Saturday, December 5 from 9:00 am until 12:00 noon. The Fair has some delightful gifts for all ages and interests. We have books, totes, cosmetics, art, bookmarks, sea glass, photography as well as a few surprises – items that are just great for stocking stuffers or that special present under the tree.
So come by to see us and then go over to St. Anthony’s Fair for other gifts and for lunch. It will be a great day for shopping in Mattapoisett.
Old Rochester Regional Junior High School Principal Kevin Brogioli and ORRHS Principal Michael Devoll gave a status update on their school improvement plans to the Old Rochester Regional School Committee on November 18, saying they are pleased overall with progress so far this school year.
Brogioli said the new student advisory program, although still a work in progress in some regards, is on track for success.
Beginning this school year, junior high students on Tuesdays and Thursdays in their homerooms “check-in” with their homeroom teacher advisors and work together towards what Brogioli said was the ultimate goal of the program: “To build teacher-to-student relationships and student-to-student relationships.”
Twice a week, students are greeted by their advisor and engaged in discussion over “the news of the day,” which Brogioli said could be a provocative statement of some sort or current event news in the community or beyond. On Thursdays, the students and their advisors engage in an activity that works within the framework of “getting to know you,” the current theme of the advisory program.
The period lasts 24 minutes, which gives the advisor time to spend two minutes with each student – the amount of time Brogioli said research has shown to be effective in building the teacher-student relationship.
“We realize it’s a work in progress and, depending on who you talk to, some students love it. Some students hate it … so we are working on getting the kinks out of it,” said Brogioli, later adding, “Some groups are coalescing very well right now, other groups because of the makeup of the kids or the comfort level of the staff member, they’re not there yet. It’s a work in progress.”
The advisory program addresses one of the school’s strategic goals, that of social/emotional development and support.
“We think it’s something that’s good for kids,” said Brogioli.
Principal Devoll said the high school’s strategies for meeting the needs of its students have been implemented, specifically, core values have been established, the two homework-free nights have been implemented, and a Gay/Straight Alliance club is now offered and has been expanded to include transgender students.
“I feel confident that we’ve done everything on this list,” Devoll said. “Done, doing, or on its way…”
As for the community relationship goal: “I cannot say the same here,” Devoll stated.
Some activities such as promoting homecoming week in the elementary schools were rather ambitious and fell by the wayside this year while focus was fixed on other priorities.
“But I think it’s a good idea,” said Devoll. He said he still hopes to start an art exhibit of elementary student work at the high school and to coordinate an inter-district K-12 science fair.
Devoll also said implementation of a new student tech help desk is imminent, with eight students already signed up to assist other students with technical problems and questions about their personal devices.
Also during the meeting, Director of Student Services Michael Nelson alerted the committee to an anticipated revision of the school district’s physical restraint policy, saying, “In a nutshell, they’re prohibiting certain types of restraints, revising and adding training requirements, and acknowledging increased reporting opportunities for the district.”
Superintendent Doug White announced the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s final vote to adopt a hybrid exam incorporating elements of the MCAS and the new PARCC high stakes tests in an 8-3 vote on November 17.
High school will continue to take the MCAS through 2019, and seventh and eighth grades will take the hybrid test, which will consist of MCAS-like questions chosen by the state in a PARCC testing format – via computer, and with less test-taking time. Students will take one exam only in ELA and Math, in one session.
The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is tentatively scheduled for December 9 at 6:00 pm in the ORR junior high media room.
By Jean Perry
The Beebe grill has long been a popular hangout spot for Tabor Academy students. With a pool table, couches, and food for sale, students often gather around booths, eating food, working, or just spending time with friends. There has long been talk of renovating the space, adding new features and making the Beebe even more enjoyable.
To start, the pool table, which used to cost a small fee per game, will soon be free of charge. In addition, a Foosball table will be added to the room. Six new couches and coffee tables will be added, expanding the number of people the space can accommodate. Right now, the couches overlook the ice rink, so students can watch the games from the comfort of the warm Beebe. The addition of more couches will allow more people to come enjoy games or hang out together.
The major renovation, however, comes in the form of Uncle Jon’s. The local coffee shop is just slightly too far to walk to during the day without permission, as you have to cross Route 6 to get there. So, to ensure that Tabor students can satisfy their cravings for their food and drinks, Uncle Jon’s is coming to Tabor. Starting when students return from Thanksgiving break, café products will be available to purchase in the Beebe, in addition to its usual offerings.
Tabor students are ecstatic at the prospect of a quick and delicious way to get their coffee fix.
“I can’t wait to have Uncle Jon’s on campus,” says senior Lily Blouin. “I’m looking forward to Uncle Jon’s coming to campus…”
Claire Brito, Blouin’s roommate, agrees, saying, “I believe that an iced chai … can fix any bad day.”
Looking towards the future, Tabor plans to expand the Beebe even more. Starting with longer hours, the Beebe will be open from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm every day. Plans are already in the works to add a café bar with stools as well as enhance the patio, covering it with a Tabor Red awning. Chairs and games could be added outside as well. The new and improved Beebe, with extra room and activities, will give Tabor students a much-needed space to relax and spend time with friends.
By Madeleine Gregory
Elizabeth (Redington) Saunders, beloved wife of the late John “Jack” Saunders, Sr, formerly of Walpole, MA, passed away peacefully in her 100th year on November 23, 2015 surrounded by the comfort of her family at the Maristhill Nursing Home in Waltham, MA. Elizabeth was the daughter of the late Patrick and Mary (Corliss) Redington, originally from Galway, Ireland. She was very proud of her Irish heritage.
Elizabeth was born in East Boston on January 9, 1916 and met her late husband of 57 years, while she was working in Onset, MA during WWII when Jack was in the Army stationed at Camp Edwards. She was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. She enjoyed baking, sewing and knitting. Jack and Elizabeth traveled extensively around the United States and the Caribbean. Elizabeth loved her home and maintained many beautiful gardens. She also worked for 10 years in the cafeteria at Walpole High School during the late sixties and early seventies. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant at Blessed Sacrament in Walpole for 55 years.
Elizabeth, as a loving mother, was predeceased by Diane Saunders, and is survived by Robert Saunders of Mattapoisett and his wife Kathleen, Jacquelyn Savignano and Paul Follett of North Attleboro, Judy Saunders and Peter Cameron of West Newton, and John Saunders, Jr. and his wife Mary Beth of Merrimack, NH. Elizabeth is also survived by her grandchildren Robert Saunders and his wife Alison, Keri O’Brien and her husband Timothy, Andrew Saunders, Megan Saunders, Jessica Savignano, Suzanne Savignano, and three great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth was predeceased by three brothers, Joseph, John (Buddy), Francis and two sisters, Mary and Josephine. As Auntie Lea, she is survived by many nieces and nephews that she dearly loved to visit with at family gatherings.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend calling hours from 9am to 11am, on Saturday, November 28 at Saunders-Dwyer Funeral Home, 50 County Road, Mattapoisett, MA. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at St. Rita’s Church, 113 Front Street, Marion, MA at noon. Private interment will be held on November 30 at the National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elizabeth’s memory to Maristhill, 66 Newton Street, Waltham, MA 02453 or Good Shepherd Community Hospice, 90 Wells Avenue, Newton, MA 02459. For directions and online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
The bell at the First Congregational Church has been silent for many years now. A newer electric bell installed about 15 years ago was much easier to ring than the 1,600-pound bell that had lived atop the church in the center of Rochester since 1892. But on November 20, the historic bell rang out its resounding D-note toll one final time from the top of the church steeple before it was lowered via crane to the ground, the final stage in the structural renovations of the church.
“There’s a lot of history in that bell,” as Bruce Rocha of Fisher & Rocha, Inc., contractor for the church renovations, put it. The bell was cast in 1892 by the Blake Bell Company of Boston owned by William Blake, an apprentice of Paul Revere III, grandson to our famous bell maker Paul Revere. Revere started the company Revere and Sons in 1801, which was passed down to his sons Joseph Warren Revere and Paul Revere Jr. The company evolved into the Blake Bell Co. in 1890.
It took a crane crew about an hour to extract the bell from its very tight living quarters towering above Rochester Center. Rocha said they were just lucky that the crane head was able to squeeze in to retrieve the bell.
The weight of the bell on the church tower’s structural support was simply too much to justify keeping in a bell that was no longer used.
The bell remains part of the history of the old church, and after it is stored for a period of time and refurbished, the bell will be returned to the grounds of the First Congregational Church of Rochester and put on display.
By Jean Perry
Even more so than last week, the fall sports season at Old Rochester Regional High School is officially winding down. As football had a bye week to prepare for their Thanksgiving Day showdown with Apponequet, the only team still left competing was Girls’ Cross Country, which raced in the Division 2 All-State Meet at Stanley Park in Westfield where they took fifth place.
Girls’ Cross Country: The Lady Bulldogs returned to Stanley Park in Westfield for the All-State Meet this week, coming off their incredible victory at last week’s D-5 State Meet in Wrentham. They had run this course back in October for the Bay State Invitational, where they fared quite well. In Saturday’s race, three of the team’s seven runners – senior captain Nina Bourgeois, sophomore Madisen Martin, and sophomore Madeline Scheub – ran career bests as coach Cindy Tilden’s team came in fifth overall. The team was led by Bourgeois (19:39), Martin (19:50), senior Madeline Meyer (20:00), Scheub (20:09), and junior Riley Shaughnessy (20:29). They were followed by junior Avery Nugent (21:08), and senior Emily Josephson (22:23). The girls’ season will continue as they head to the Nike Northeast Regional Cross Country Meet on Saturday, November 28. Participation in that meet will be a first for the ORR Girls’ Cross Country program, which represents how far they’ve come and just how much they’ve achieved in this incredible season. They will be joined by standout freshman Adam Sylvia of the boys’ team, who will be competing as an individual at the Thanksgiving weekend meet.
Below are the overall fall team records, followed by the conference records in wins, losses, and ties as of November 22.
Boys’ Cross Country: (6-1-0)(6-1-0); Girls’ Cross Country: (7-0-0)(7-0-0); Golf: (17-1-0)(16-0-0); Football: (4-6-0)(4-4-0); Volleyball: (13-11-0)(8-9-0); Field Hockey: (9-7-4)(8-2-4); Boys’ Soccer: (9-11-2)(8-8-2); Girls’ Soccer: (10-9-2)(9-6-1).
By Patrick Briand
