Travis Roy Cup

on

The 20th Annual Travis Roy Cup Hockey game will be played between the Tabor Academy Seawolves and the St. Sebastian’s Arrows on Saturday, February 6 at 2:30 pm in the Travis Roy ’95 Rink at Tabor Academy, 256 Front Street, Marion.

While admission is free, donations are heartily appreciated as this annual benefit event raises money for the Travis Roy Foundation. Travis Roy is a Boston legend and graduate of Tabor Academy. After his life changing accident during the first 11 seconds of his first collegiate hockey game, Travis set up the Travis Roy Foundation to help support others with spinal cord injuries. The foundation helps patients and their families by providing adaptive equipment to increase self-reliance and independence. They also fund efforts to find a cure through research; over $6 million has been raised to date.

The Tabor Academy Seawolves won the inaugural game in 1997, though currently the Arrows hold an edge in the series. The fun part is that both teams know the real winner of this contest is always The Travis Roy Foundation. The game has raised over $120,000 for this great cause over the years.

The teams invite you to come and join in the fun and support.

Discarded Boat Dumped a Second Time

on

A boat that was found dumped on the side of Chapel Road in Mattapoisett on Wednesday, January 20, has again turned up – dumped on the side of the road in Freetown near the Freetown State Forest on Sunday, January 24.

The Wareham Harbormaster Department had been informing the public of emerging details on its Facebook page about the suspicious sight of a car headed down Route 6 toward Marion pulling a blue and white boat in a trailer in the middle of winter, an unusual site, said Harbormaster Gary Buckminster, but no cause for alarm – until it was reported as having been illegally dumped in Mattapoisett.

The Wareham Harbormaster Department then put out a call for the public to help identify the person driving the car described as an old Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis.

One Facebook user posted that he had seen the boat on Craigslist advertised as a free boat available.

It wasn’t long before Wareham was congratulating the Mattapoisett Police for tracking down the owner of the boat and calling him down to haul the boat away.

On January 24, Mattapoisett Police Chief Mary Lyons said, “He claimed that he had a trailer problem,” said Lyons, “of course, we know that wasn’t true, since he drove off with the trailer.”

The man who obtained the older model Glastron is Jay Podesky, according to the police report Chief Lyons told The Wanderer on Monday. She said that on Thursday, January 21, Podesky was informed that if he came to retrieve the abandoned boat by 2:00 pm that afternoon, no criminal charges would be filed. Podesky retrieved the boat and left.

Late night on January 24, the Wareham Harbormaster Department posted another curious announcement that the same boat has again been found, dumped on the side of the road in Freetown.

“We cannot believe that we are bringing you this story again,” read the Facebook post. “A blatant disrespect to public property and a repeat offense of illegal dumping which started in Mattapoisett and now made it to Freetown.”

The Wareham harbormaster identified the boat as the same one Podesky abandoned Wednesday night.

The Wareham harbormaster did not respond to a voicemail asking for comment.

A Facebook user said he was driving up Copicut Road and saw an older 1970s or 80s Mercedes towing a boat trailer.

The Massachusetts Environmental Police have been notified of the latest incident and are investigating.

By Jean Perry

boat

No Shadow Means Good News

on

It’s official! Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning, so he’s predicting an early spring. It’s easy to believe that he’s right with the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having, and his recent predictions have been spot on. Now if we can just get him to pick a candidate in the election!

It’s Groundhog Day – Again

on

We did it. We made it to another halfway mark of another winter – February 2, the exact midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox – Groundhog Day. This special day is indeed a day of reckoning, hence. Will we suffer through these six more weeks of winter, or, like this winter up until now, will we enjoy six weeks more of winter?

So, wow! Here we are! Another year, another Groundhog Day cover. It feels like only just weeks ago I was sitting here, melancholy, penning an open apology letter to Punxsutawney Phil for having doubted his disappointingly precise prediction of six more weeks of winter. In the end, I believe it was more like ten more weeks of winter, for 2015 was the winter that kept on wintering.

Anyway, back to the groundhog. What is he going to predict this year? Will he have to flee from his shadow, hang out for a while and announce spring’s arrival, or will he simply go rogue like he did last year, disregard the absence of a shadow, and tell us all what the Groundhog Day elite tell him to say?

We will be watching, Phil.

In the meantime, enjoy this year’s winning cover of The Wanderer Groundhog Day Cover Contest! There were a number of fantastic submissions this year; nonetheless, Neva Matos, 7, of Rochester, won a $250 cash prize after receiving by far the most online votes on our website for her colorful depiction of the good old groundhog peeking up from his winter hideaway. Congratulations Neva!

Thank you to all who submitted a wonderful work of art. Happy Groundhog Day, everyone!

By Jean Perry

Groundhog2016_08

Occasion Singers at the MAC

on

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. And it’s Leap Year, too! So invite a friend or two and come to the Cabaret at The Marion Art Center on Friday, February 12 and/or Saturday, February 13 at 7:30 pm. They’re hosting two “Unforgettable” Special Evenings of classic love songs performed by the Occasion Singers. “Let’s Duet” is the title of the show and will feature the intricate harmonies and spectacular voices of the singers under the direction of Sandy Morgan. “It had to be You” – whether you’re a duet, a quartet or more, reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited. Tables are available for parties of four. Tickets are $12.50 for MAC members and $15 general admission. Please call 508-748-1266 or reserve online at www.marionartcenter.org.

Girls’ Track Runs to Undefeated Season

on

Cindy and Bill Tilden’s Girls’ Track team captured their sixth straight SCC Championship as they knocked off Dighton-Rehoboth and Fairhaven on Wednesday night to finish their regular season 9-0. Boys’ Track lost to D-R but wound up 8-1 for the year, second in the SCC to the Falcons. Meanwhile, Boys’ Basketball stayed undefeated at 11-0 with a huge victory over the Bourne Canalmen, and Girls’ Swimming and Boys’ Ice Hockey captured meaningful wins in an eventful week.

Boys’ Basketball: Home for both games this week, the Bulldogs first took on Fairhaven on Tuesday. Seniors Evan Santos (10 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) and Will Santos (15 points, 5 rebounds) led the way in a 54-41 victory. The game was close at the half as the ‘Dogs were just leading 29-27, but they played great defense in the second half, limiting Fairhaven to just 14 points. On Friday, they played the Bourne Canalmen, the second-ranked team in the SCC. Junior center Matt Valles stepped up with a big game, scoring 17, while fellow junior Jacob Cafarella broke into the spotlight with 14 points. Cafarella added great defense and two more juniors, Grant Reuter and Russell Noonan, combined for 25 points in breakthrough performances. Next week, the Bulldogs will have two games on the road: one against Case on Tuesday and the other against Apponequet on Friday.

            Girls’ Basketball: The girls started off the week away against Fairhaven on Tuesday. Despite holding a 31-24 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Lady Bulldogs ultimately fell to the Lady Blue Devils 44-40 in overtime. Junior Emma Collings led the team with 12 points, while fellow juniors Sophie Church and Olivia Labbe each added 9 in the tough loss. On Friday, the Lady Bulldogs’ game against Bourne’s Lady Canalmen resulted in a 52-41 loss. The team will be home for both of its contests this week, as they look to play Case on Tuesday and Apponequet on Friday.

            Boys’ Track: On Wednesday, the boys returned to action to run against D-R and Fairhaven at the Walter Janiak Field House at GNB Voc-Tech in their final meet of the regular season. The Bulldogs made short work of Fairhaven, winning that meet 83-3, but were handed their first loss of the season by D-R (51-38). Juniors Danny Renwick and Eli Spevack were among the stars of the evening, as Renwick won the High Jump (5-10) and 300m (40.5) in both meets. Spevack was the double winner in the 55m hurdles (8.2). The Bulldogs got wins against Fairhaven in the 55m (Sophomore Harry Smith, 7.0), and the shot put (Senior James Estudante, 41.375). Distance runners Ryson Smith (Jr.), Adam Sylvia (Fr.), and Evan Tilley (Soph.) won the 600m, 1000m, and 2 mile against Fairhaven, respectively. Renwick jumped 6 feet on Sunday, competing at the MSTCA Coaches’ Elite Meet at the Reggie Lewis Center. This week, various athletes will compete at a Freshman-Sophomore meet at GNB Voc-Tech on Saturday and a ‘Last Chance to Qualify’ meet at the Reggie Lewis Center on Sunday.

            Girls’ Track: The girls ran against Dighton-Rehoboth and Fairhaven at GNB Voc-Tech on Wednesday in their final regular season meet. The Lady Bulldogs earned commanding wins against both Fairhaven (83-3) and Dighton-Rehoboth (69.3-16.6). Senior Zoe Smith won the High Jump (5-0) and the 55m hurdles (8.8) to solidify the Bulldogs’ victory. Sophomore Maggie Adams took victories in the shot put (28.125) and the 55m dash (7.5) to complete an impressive showing. Other wins came from senior Madeline Meyer in the 2 mile (12:13.3); senior Nicole Mattson in the 600m (1:47.5), sophomore Samantha Ball in the 1000m (3:27.7), and senior Morgan Middleton in the 300m (46.5). The 4×400 team of Middleton, Mattson, senior Nina Bourgeois and sophomore Madisen Martin also emerged victorious. On Saturday, Middleton finished in second place at the MSTCA Coaches’ Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Center, jumping 4-11. Meets scheduled for this week include the Freshman-Sophomore meet at GNB Voc-Tech on Saturday and the ‘Last Chance’ meet at the Reggie Lewis Center on Sunday.

Boys’ Swimming: Swimming’s only meet this week was home at the NBHS pool against Dighton-Rehoboth on Tuesday. Freshman Tyler Kulak won the 200m medley in 2:25, and junior Adam Perkins was victorious in the 50m freestyle (26.8). The Bulldogs also got a win from reliable senior Nate Wentworth in the 100m breaststroke (1:24.7), but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Falcons, as they lost the meet 87-44. Next week, the Bulldogs are away at Apponequet on Tuesday as they continue to search for their first win.

            Girls’ Swimming: The Lady Bulldogs’ lone event this week was another home meet at New Bedford High against D-R on Tuesday. It was a tight meet, but the girls came out with a close win, 91-90, that allowed them to elevate their position in the SCC. Freshman Claire Noble-Shriver won the 200m medley in 2:37.5 and was aided by sophomore Megan Field, who had a big night winning the 200m freestyle (2:19.3) and 500m freestyle (6:19.8). Sophomore Madison Carvalho was the top-ranked diver on the night, which was key to the team’s win. The girls are away against Apponequet this Tuesday.

            Boys’ Ice Hockey: On Monday, the Bulldogs/Blue Devils squared off against the Dartmouth Indians at Hetland Rink in New Bedford. They wound up losing 4-0 against a tough Dartmouth team despite strong play from junior Chase Cunningham in the net. On Wednesday, the Bulldogs & Co. faced off against the Apponequet Lakers at home. They responded with a 7-2 victory spearheaded by a pair of goals from both ORR’s Kam Silvia (Sr.) and Fairhaven’s Ryan Raphael (Soph.). ORR’s Chase Lapworth (Fr.), Landon Gougen (Jr.), and Tayber LaBonte (Fr.) all scored a goal in the triumphant win. On Saturday, the boys were back at home at the Travis Roy Rink at Tabor Academy to take on non-conference Pope John Paul II. They won a close 3-2 battle to improve to 7-3-4 overall. The Bulldogs/Blue Devils will stay at home to play conference rival Bourne on Monday.

            Girls’ Ice Hockey: The BMWORR team began the week against Nauset Regional at home at the John Gallo Ice Arena in Bourne on Wednesday. They took a 6-4 loss. Bourne sophomore Tannah O’Brien, ORR freshman Elsie Buckley, and Bourne senior Natalia Gordon all scored, and Bourne junior Jess Ballard had two assists. On Saturday, the girls were scheduled to be at Armstrong Skating Arena in Plymouth to face off against Plymouth North; however, the game was postponed due to inclement weather and will be played at a later date. Their only game this week is another home match against Pembroke, on Saturday, although they could also make up their matchup against Plymouth North.

Below are the overall winter team records, followed by the conference records in wins, losses, and ties as of January 25.

            Boys’ Basketball: (11-0-0)(11-0-0); Girls’ Basketball: (3-9-0)(3-8-0); Boys’ Track: (8-1-0)(8-1-0); Girls’ Track: (9-0-0)(9-0-0); Boys’ Swimming: (0-6-0)(0-5-0); Girls’ Swimming: (2-4-0)(1-4-0); Boys’ Ice Hockey: (7-3-4)(4-0-1); Girls’ Ice Hockey: (2-8-0)(2-7-0).

By Patrick Briand

Committees Advised to Prepare for Calendar Vote

on

Old Rochester Regional School Committee Chairman Patrick LeClair told members of ‘The Joint’ School Committees on January 21 that they should return to their individual school districts and discuss an eventual draft of the 2016/2017 school year calendar ahead of the next joint meeting. The Joint meets again in March when Superintendent of Schools Doug White hopes they will take a vote.

LeClair said he hoped for a more “quick process” this year “…So we’re not sitting here arguing about it…”as opposed to last year when school calendar discussions lasted some time until a vote was finally taken at the end of May 2015.

The date of most contention is Good Friday, which lands on March 25 this year. Two years ago, the joint school committees approved making Good Friday a regular school day and replacing that day off with the day before Thanksgiving. Members of the community and a number of school committee members opposed the notion; however, it was approved again for a second year to allow for another chance to analyze school attendance data.

LeClair said he hoped the joint committees would listen more to the school administrators and their recommendation on whether schools should remain open or return to a day off for students and staff.

“At the end of the day, it’s still 180 days that they have to be there,” LeClair stated.

White said administration was still working on a draft calendar, which none of the school committees have yet been shown.

“It would be nice to have a calendar by June,” said Marion School Committee Chairman Christine Marcolini.

White said a calendar draft would be available for school committees to discuss during their February meetings.

A vote during the March 24 joint school committees meeting would mean school committee members would not be able to review Good Friday school attendance data ahead of a vote, which a number of school committee members last year said would be vital.

During the pilot of the Good Friday school day on April 3, 2015, student and staff attendance was significantly down from average daily attendance, ranging from a 10-21 percent absentee rate up from an average of 4-6 percent. A higher number of students at the high school were also dismissed during the school day, to the tune of 42 students.

The next meeting of The Joint School Committee members is scheduled for March 24 at 6:30 pm in the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School media room.

By Jean Perry

JtSchol_012816

Colleen V. Strout

on

Colleen V. Strout, 86, of Marion formerly of Hanover and Milton, passed away on Monday January 25, at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. Mrs. Strout was the wife of the late Walter T. Strout. She was born in Wareham the daughter of the late Frederick W. and Virginia E. (Eldridge) Moore.

She attended Milton Public Schools and Boston College. She worked for many years as an Investment Advisor for State Street Bank in Boston. She was an avid reader and she enjoyed traveling, boating and playing cards.

Mrs. Strout is survived by: her sister Patricia Locke of FL, a brother William McKinnon of FL and many loving relatives and friends. She was the sister of the late Robert McKinnon and Abbie May Gibbs.

A private graveside service was held on Friday, January 29, in North Marion Cemetery, Marion.

Marion Tightens Tobacco Sale Regulations

on

Effective March 1, the minimum age to purchase tobacco and nicotine products in Marion will be 21.

On January 26, the Marion Board of Health voted to raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco and nicotine delivery products, including electronic cigarettes and other devices that create a nicotine-containing vapor for inhalation. This process is also known as “vaping.”

The goal is to reduce underage smoking and vaping, which is seemingly marketed towards and appealing to kids because of its fruity flavors.

“Kids are coming out of middle school and trying to decide what they’re going to be, what makes them cool,” said Robert Collett, director of the Cape Cod Regional Tobacco Program. The board hopes that raising the minimum age, along with the high price of cigarettes that is now over $10 a pack, will lower youth access and prevent nicotine addiction.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control reports that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students tripled from 2013 to 2014.

The board also voted to abolish the sale of Blunt wraps, which are often flavored and used for rolling marijuana cigarettes. The sale of single cigars will no longer be allowed; however, the town will allow the sale of a minimum packaging of four cigars, priced at no less than $5.

The sale of roll-your-own cigarette rolling machines is also prohibited under the regulation.

Statistics show that 80% of adult smokers started before their 18th birthday. Roughly 15% of students nationwide who currently smoke cigarettes started before the age of 18, and 14% usually obtained them by buying them in a store.

The penalty for selling to an underage person starts at $100 for a first violation, and increases to $200 for a second and $300 for a third or subsequent violation within two years of the second violation.

The town itself will enforce the new minimum age since the legal age to purchase tobacco or nicotine products in Massachusetts remains at 18.

Six businesses in Marion will be affected by the sanitary code changes. Health Agent Karen Walega said these stores will be notified of the changes via registered mail.

The Board of Health also added e-cigarettes and vaping devices to the regulation prohibiting smoking in public places and workplaces. The penalties for violating the no smoking in public law are the same as selling to an underage buyer.

During the public hearing for the smoking and tobacco regulation changes, no residents were in attendance to either support or oppose the new measures.

According to Collett, Marion is joining 90 other Massachusetts municipalities – about 43% of the state – in changing the regulations. Wareham, he said, just passed their new smoking and tobacco regulations last week, effective April 1.

“I want to talk to Rochester about it,” said Walega, who is also the health agent for Rochester. “But I want to add the flavored tobacco ban to it. I think that is the key to the whole thing.”

During previous meetings, some Board of Health members in Marion opposed regulating the merchandise sale of flavored tobacco, preferring to stick only with the age minimum increase and public smoking prohibition.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for February 9 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry

MRboh_012816

Academic Achievements

on

American International College in Springfield, MA congratulates the 474 students named to the Fall 2015 Dean’s List. Dean’s List students are full-time students with a grade point average between 3.3 and 4.0. Students from the Tri-Town named to the Dean’s List include:

– Mikayla Demanche of Rochester

– Hunter Cooney of Rochester

Springfield College has named Ashley Pacheco of Rochester to the Dean’s List for academic excellence for the fall 2015 term. Pacheco is studying Health Science/Pre-Physician Assistant.

Western New England University congratulates 749 students who were named to the Fall 2015 Dean’s List. The following students are named to the Dean’s List for achieving a semester grade point average of 3.30 or higher:

– Casey F. Magee of Mattapoisett, MA majoring in Forensic Biology

– Jonathan L. Morton of Mattapoisett, MA majoring in Accounting

Morrisville State College recently announced that Danielle Cammarano of Marion was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2015 semester. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must achieve an average of 3.0 to 3.99 for the semester and complete 12 credit hours.

The following Tri-Town students were named to the Dean’s List at Saint Michael’s College for the fall 2015 semester:

– Katherine Martin, a first-year Political Science major who is the daughter of Beth and Louis Martin of Mattapoisett and a graduate of Bishop Stang High School.

– Gabrielle R. Kondracki, a Senior English major who is the daughter of MaryAnne and Michael Kondracki of Mattapoisett and a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School.

Hannah Sullivan from Rochester has been named to the University of Delaware’s Dean’s List for the 2015 fall semester. To meet eligibility requirements for the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled full-time and earn a GPA of 3.33 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for the semester.

Trevor Oldham of Mattapoisett was placed on the Dean’s List for Framingham State University for the fall 2015 semester. To be selected for the Dean’s List, a student must earn a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 3.25 or higher.

Douglas Gifford of Rochester has been named to Dean’s List for the fall 2015 semester at Lyndon State College. To qualify for Dean’s List, a student must achieve a semester grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 while enrolled in 12 or more credits per semester.

Roslyn Flaherty of Rochester, a member of the class of 2016, is one of 509 students named to Assumption College’s undergraduate Dean’s List for the fall 2015 semester. To earn a spot on the Dean’s List, students must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 for a five-class, 15-credit semester.

The University of Rhode Island is pleased to announce that 4,986 undergraduates have qualified for the Fall 2015 Dean’s List. The students represent nearly all of Rhode Island’s cities and towns, all six New England states, New York and New Jersey, other states and 18 countries.

The following students from the Tri-town were named to the Dean’s List:

– Katherine Jean Delaney of Marion

– Janelle M Mercer of Marion

– Marisa Diane Paknis of Marion

– Jessica Spindell of Mattapoisett

– Christina Ann Sebastiao of Mattapoisett

– Juliana Nicolosi of Mattapoisett

– Ryann Cierra Monteiro of Rochester

To be included on the Dean’s List, students must have completed 12 or more credits during a semester for letter grades with at least a 3.30 quality point average. Part-time students qualify with the accumulation of 12 credits with a 3.30 quality point average.