Rochester Memorial Day Boat and Kayak Race

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The Rochester Fire Department will again sponsor the Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race.

            The Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race on the Mattapoisett River will take place on Monday, May 26, starting at 8:30 am at Grandma Hartley’s Reservoir, Snipatuit Road, in Rochester and finishing at the Mattapoisett Herring Weir at River Road and Route 6.

            A Kayak Division will again be included in the race this year. Basic guidelines for the division are: minimum age 18, single person kayak that the contestant can sit inside of the cockpit, contestant must wear an approved USCG personal flotation device for the entire race, and there will be a $10 entry fee. See the rules document for all information pertaining to the kayak division.

            For the Mattapoisett River Racer (MRR) boats, the minimum age for contestants is seven years old on Memorial Day. There will be two people to a boat. The boat must be a homemade river racer design of any material you choose. There are no limitations or restrictions on types of paddles.

            Divisions include the kayak division and the MRR open/men’s, women’s, junior boys, junior girls, co-ed and parent/child divisions. Junior division teams are both contestants under 14 years old. Parent/child is for a parent with his/her child (child under 14 years old) or an adult (25 or older) with a child (child under 14 years old). Trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third-place finishers in each division.

            A boat building seminar will not be held this year, but free plans are available for the asking. Contact Art, (artbenner@comcast.net) or Bill (watlingw@gmail.com). We can put you in touch with experienced MRR boat builders that can answer your questions and offer tips, tricks and considerations for building the boat.

            Pre-Registration Is Required. Only one registration session will be held at the Rochester Council on Aging (RCOA) Senior Center, 67 Dexter Lane, on Friday, May 16, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Starting positions will be assigned or drawn after the registration closes. A signed registration form must be submitted by each contestant for a team to be eligible for a starting position. Registration forms and rules may be obtained at Lloyd’s Market, at Art’s house, 319 Cushman Road, or at the registration session. Or email Art (artbenner@comcast.net) and request the rules and registration form.

            You may deliver the completed forms to 319 Cushman Road or you may return the forms by email, but you must bring the original, signed forms to the registration session. Or you may return them by regular mail (USPS). If returned by email or USPS mail, you’ll get acknowledgment that they were received. If you don’t get a reply from Art, assume the forms were not received and hand deliver a set. Registration forms must be in the Committee’s hands by Friday, May 16, at 8:00 pm in order for last year’s teams to be assigned a starting position based on last year’s finish position or for new teams to draw a starting position for this year. Kayak division contestants will draw starting positions after the MRR’s.

            The traditional Ham and Bean Supper will take place at the RCOA, Senior Center at, 67 Dexter Lane, Saturday, May 24, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Supper tickets may be purchased at the door. There will be raffles for each of two carbon fiber racing paddles made by Bill Watling III. And also, a raffle for a handmade afghan or quilt, made by Cecelia Hall. Tickets will be sold at the registration session and at the Ham and Bean supper. The winners will be drawn at the supper.

            For further information, contact Boat Race Chairman Arthur F. Benner at 508-763-2024 or email: artbenner@comcast.net. Visit Facebook, “Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race” for any changes or updates.

MS4 Vote Pushed to 2026

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The Marion Planning Board met on Monday and immediately jumped into a Pre-Submission Conference. The conference/presentation was for Sippican Holdings, LLC on 13 Barnabas Road. Work is now proposed for the Richard Arthur Building or “Building 3.”

            Justin Downey appeared as representative and explained that, instead of the originally proposed 49,000 square-foot area of work, a smaller footprint of 40,000 square feet is proposed.

            There will be no exterior alterations to the property, with just the interior of the Richard Arthur Building altered. The project will remain in its current blueprint and footprint, with nine parking spaces being planned for the site. There are no changes in drainage or runoff with the building continuing to use existing utilities and connections. Emergency and fire services will also not be affected. “I don’t foresee any additional demands on services,” Downey said.

            “I think it makes a lot of sense,” Planning Board Chair Andrew Daniel said. The board was pleased with the revised blueprints and raised no serious concerns or protests to the plans. Town Planner Doug Guey-Lee said the applicant has conducted a traffic study and was pleased with the work that has gone into forging the plans. This is one of a few different plan iterations presented in the past. The plans were approved and signed unanimously with no comment or alteration.

            Two public hearings were continued to future meetings without discussion. The hearing for 61 and 63 Oakdale Avenue for a Special Permit for Derek A. Maksy and Denise Allard was continued to April 22 per request from applicants. They had received some pointers and requests from the harbormaster. The hearing for FSJ Marion Realty, LLC at 207-215 Wareham Street was continued to May 19 per request from the applicant.

            The board then approval of minutes for their March 17 meeting.

            Finally, a discussion on the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Bylaw began. The bylaw was proposed for Town Meeting this year and was put forth by the Department of Public Works. However, the bylaw was pulled out.

            Daniel said the administrator of DPW “kicked it back to us” to work on and talk it through. There will be a discussion at Town Meeting with the Planning Board now hoping for a vote on it next year. The bylaw will primarily function to meet state MS4 requirements. Daniel also said there will have to be a few public hearings to work out a plan by the next Town Meeting. Resident John Rockwell said, “it might be helpful if you have someone come in – who’s job is to explain to the community MS4.” The Planning Board said they will continue the discussion on this proposed bylaw in a few weeks.

            The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, at 7:00 pm at the Marion Police Department Conference Room.

Marion Planning Board

By Sam Bishop

Local Artist John Magnan

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John Magnan, who specializes in woodworking and sculptures, has recently completed some home-based pieces now displayed around the fireplace of a new home. Magnan crafted his pieces using the South Coast’s biodiversity as inspiration. The selection, Magnan says, is to “visually and symbolically bridge the inside of the home to the outside world.”

            Magnan, upon being contacted regarding the installation, shared some of his history and how exactly he arrived in Mattapoisett and in his craft:

            “I moved to New Bedford to earn my MFA in sculpture at UMD after early retirement from a senior executive position at the National Security Agency in Maryland. My wife Annie Jonas and I always enjoyed spending time in Mattapoisett, so ten years ago we moved here.

            “My artistic passion is working with a client to help them realize their personal vision through art. I draw my inspiration from them. It’s very satisfying getting to know what a family or organization is trying to express and then creating sculptures that present those thoughts in a tangible, permanent and beautiful form. I just finished three sculptures for the fireplace wall of a newly constructed home on the water. The couple’s love for the land and waterways, their place of inspiration and oneness with nature, led me to create a dramatic life size trio of a blue heron, loggerhead turtle, and red fox, all gazing through the windows to the great outdoors. Most of the time I work from my home woodshop studio, but for large-scale commissions I rent a separate space.

            “As opportunities arise, Annie and I collaborate, as we did for a two-year national project for Eli Lilly to raise awareness of the importance of clinical trials; a multifaceted, multimedia permanent installation for the UMass Law lobby; and two exhibits that traveled around the country addressing social and environmental issues.

            “I’ve been asked to create permanent installations for other clients, including Buzzards Bay Coalition, Southcoast Health Cancer Center, corporations, and private homes.”

            For the Buzzards Bay Coalition, John created a school of wooden fish in the organization’s headquarters in New Bedford. Currently at UMass Law, Magnan has a few different installations on display. Pictures of all can be seen on his website.

            “When I have the time, I enjoy exploring a wide variety of individual sculptural forms and ideas based on my observations of the world around me. Much of that work has been exhibited at Marion Art Center shows, and selected pieces are included in the collections of the Museum for Art in Wood in Philadelphia, the University of Connecticut Library, and the University of Wisconsin Kohler Art Library.”

            Recently in 2020, Magnan’s art was showcased at the MAC in the exhibit “Thor’s Hammer” where he used Marvel Comics iconography to express social commentary on environmental/climate concerns, gender, the opiate crisis, law enforcement, and other tackled issues.

            One of the joys of the Tri-Town is the interesting people and crafts to come across. Even in an area with relatively low population, the Tri-Town is still gifted by passionate and devoted artists bringing character and excitement to the region. John Magnan’s art highlights the importance of inspiration, as living in a place as naturally interesting and diverse as southern New England offers much of. It also highlights the importance of collaboration and teamwork, as he demonstrates with his wife Annie.

By Sam Bishop

Rochester Democratic Town Committee Caucus

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The Rochester Democratic Town Committee will be hosting its 2025 Caucus on Monday, May 5, at 6:30 pm. The caucus will take place at the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library, 17 Constitution Way, in the community conference room. Registered Democrats will elect three delegates and three alternates to attend and participate in the Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention for the purpose of discussing and adopting a party platform. The convention will occur on September 13 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The final convention schedule will be announced in the Final “Call to Convention,” which will be published in August 2025. Delegates and alternates apportioned to each town must be gender balanced. Committee chairs shall be ex-officio delegates who shall not be included in the total number of delegates allocated for the caucus. Only registered and pre-registered Democrats from Rochester shall be allowed to vote at the local caucus. Pre-registered Democrats must be 16 years old by June 15, 2025, and must be pre-registered by the time of the caucus.

Dogs and Kids Do Mix

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On Sunday, April 13, at 2:00 pm in the Mattapoisett Free Public Library Community Room, the Mattapoisett Land Trust is helping folks enjoy our canine companions, whether at home or on the trail. Did you know that April is National Dog Bite Prevention Month? Do you and your kids know the best way to meet a new dog or show other people how to approach your dog? Join us for a Dog and Kids Safety Seminar. Participants will learn basic Dog body language cues, how to safely interact and approach a dog, and what to do if you have an unexpected dog encounter. This event is free and open to all.

            MLT will follow this seminar with a chance to practice your new skills IRL. You are invited to bring your own dog or meet new ones on an Adventure Hike the following week. On Friday, April 25, during School Vacation week, at 10:00 am join us at the Grace Pond parking lot for a walk through Old Aucoot District. Don’t have a dog to bring? No problem – there will be plenty of dogs to share. The walk will follow Old Slough Road and loop back through the woods for a fun, approximately two-hour walk. You don’t need to attend one to attend the other event. Both events are free and will happen rain or shine. Questions? Email manager@mattlandtrust.org.

Town Meeting Warrant Closed

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            The Marion Select Board’s last meeting was held on April 1, when the members went down a long list of appointments, permit requests, monetary commitments, further Town Meeting discussions with the public, and other action items.

            For appointments, the board approved Peter O’Brien for assistant harbormaster. O’Brien had been a part-time employee at the Harbormaster office, as well as previously serving as a member of the US Marine Corps for 27 years as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. Carl MacDermott III, not in attendance at the meeting, was approved as Special Police Officer. Edward Johnson, also not in attendance, was approved as Police Officer. Re-appointment of Alternate Building Inspector Edward Johnson was then approved. Finally, the appointment of the Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Jody Dickerson as Marion’s representative to the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission and the Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee was also approved.

            An annual request for a Mobil Home & Trailer Permit for 507 Delano Road was approved without comment. Following that, a request for sewer connection for 24 West Drive, already approved by DPW, was also approved by the board.

            There was a short discussion on the purchasing of land in Little Neck by the Buzzards Bay Coalition. The organization is awaiting confirmation on a Municipal Vulnerability Program (MVP) grant before moving forward with discussions.

            For water/sewer monetary commitments, there was a large number of approvals. Two quarterly bills, one for $1,119,443.38 and one for $1,624.58, were both approved. A $10,000 commitment for new sewer service was approved, as well as a separate $10,970 commitment for new water and sewer service. A new water service commitment for $1,505 was approved. Finally, a commitment of $1,198.63 to FRMA-Cummings Wagner Co. for low pressure repairs was approved.

            For the Town Meeting Warrant, Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman explained all changes from the board’s last meeting are grammatical and language based. The board again went through the warrant, approving or “recommending” article by article. For Article 17, regarding accessibility, fire suppression systems, building code and ADA compliance, and HVAC, Select Board Vice-Chair Carleton Burr, Jr. said, “I would pull it. I would say, just as the town is having tremendous difficulty balancing our budget and the school’s having tremendous difficulties balancing their budget, many of our townspeople are having trouble balancing their budgets. This is not the time to ask them for a Proposition Two and A Half override.” Burr voted “nay,” though the other members voted to keep it in the warrant.

            Some members of the public used time to speak out against the bylaw regarding the proposed Marion Village Historic District.

            Some important dates were also discussed. There will be a Candidates Forum hosted by the League of Women Voters SouthCoast on Tuesday, April 29, at 7:00 pm in the Sippican School Multipurpose Room, as well as a review of the Town Meeting Warrant held on Wednesday, April 30, at 6:00 pm in the Marion Music Hall.

            Town Meeting will take place on Monday, May 12, and the full Town Meeting Warrant is posted on the town website at: www.marionma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2339/Annual-Town-Meeting-Warrant-for-May-12-2025-PDF.

            The next meeting of the Marion Select Board will be held on Tuesday, April 15, at 6:00 pm in the Marion Town House Conference Room.

Marion Select Board

By Sam Bishop

Rochester Republican Town Committee

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The Rochester Republican Town Committee will hold its next meeting on Monday, April 14, at the Ponderosa Sportsman Club, in Acushnet. The guest speaker will be State Representative Steven Xiarhos from the 5th Barnstable District. Representative Xiarhos is a retired law enforcement officer and a Gold Star father. All are welcome to attend this 6:30 pm meeting and bring a friend.

Welcome Back Bird Walk

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Join the Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Nasketucket Bird Club in welcoming back our avian Spring migrants with an all-level bird walk on Saturday, April 12, at 8:00 am. This walk will be led by Mike Labossiere, a member of the Nasketucket Bird Club. It will be a delightful morning in nature and a wonderful opportunity to learn about local wildlife. Mike will lead us through the woods and out to the salt marsh, identifying birds by sight and sound along the way. We will welcome our migratory avian friends and celebrate our resident birds who call Mattapoisett home all year round.

            The walk will take place on MLT’s Brandt Island Cove District North. Meet just before 8:00 am at the trailhead at the intersection of Tara Road and Anchorage Way. Bring your binoculars and dress appropriately for the outdoors, including sturdy footwear. This is a free event open to all, no matter what your birding ability – rain or shine. Hope to see you there.

Sean J. Brice

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Sean J. Brice, born on July 4th, 1969, passed away unexpectedly on April 7th, 2025. Sean grew up in Marion, MA, attending Old Rochester Regional High School, where he played four years of varsity hockey. Sean graduated in the Class of 1987, as a member of the National Honors Society.

            After high school, he attended the University of Lowell, now known as UMass Lowell. He always made a point to clarify that he graduated the last year before the University’s name change in 1991. There he obtained his undergraduate degree in Engineering.

            After working in the engineering industry for twelve years, he returned to Marion to follow in his step-father’s footsteps by purchasing Thompson Consultants Inc. at the age of thirty-five. This was only possible because of his exceptional engineering skills and his remarkable drive to succeed. He often spoke of the immense responsibility to his fifty employees and their families, as well as the countless clients that put their trust in him and his firm. He spent the next twenty years reshaping and growing the company by focusing on the engineering product, and the personal relationships forged with so many clients.

            In his free time, Sean was an avid skier and boating enthusiast. He felt most comfortable on the open water or conquering uncharted ski terrain.

            Sean is survived and missed by his wife Sarah M. (Snyder) Brice; and his two children, Caitlin, and Abigail. Born in Quincy, he was the son of Ellen M (Collins) Johnston of Marion, MA and Michael V. Brice of CA, and the step-son of the late William D. Johnston. His extended family includes several cousins: W. James Mahoney, Joseph Mahoney, Kathleen Capron, Michelle LaFrance, Daniel LaFrance, and Jacqueline LaFrance; four step-siblings, Laurence Johnston, Charles Johnston, Heath Johnston, and Susan Johnston.

            His Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025, at St. Anthony’s Church, 26 Hammond St. Mattapoisett, MA. Visitation begins at 10:00 am at church. Following the service, family, friends and colleagues are invited to celebrate Sean’s life at the Rosebrook Event Center, located at 50 Rosebrook Place, Wareham, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sean J. Brice Memorial Young Engineer’s Scholarship Fund.   You may also mail a check to the scholarship c/o Thompson Consultants, Inc. 525 Mill St., Marion, MA 02738.  Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

ORR Sends Wake-up Call with “The Drowsy Chaperone”

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            The Tony Award winning screwball musical comedy “The Drowsy Chaperone” is the story of a 1920s style stage musical set in the imagination of a lonely musical theater fan. Its pace is frenetic and makes its cast work very hard, but the Old Rochester Regional High School Drama Club will be meeting the challenge of performing the lively production at the ORR Auditorium April 10-13.

            The director, Brayden Fanti, is a teacher at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School, director of that school’s Theater Company and a busy local professional actor with recent performances for the Little Theater of Fall River, the Wakefield Repertory Company and Newport Playhouse on his resume. He said he’s performed in “The Drowsy Chaperone” twice in his lifetime. “It’s one of my favorites because it’s just a great time. And I knew my high school students would have a great time with it.”

            It’s the tone itself that makes it a fun theatrical experience, he said. “It’s super, super cartoony and over the tip the way most plays they do are not supposed to be. That’s what I love about it. It allows you to be as goofy as possible.”

            Tessa Ripley, 16 (Class of ’27), plays the Woman in the Chair (in the original play the Man in the Chair), the theater fan who sits alone in her apartment, playing a vinyl recording of her favorite 1920s musical. That record, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” is a fictional production that magically comes to life in her living room, transporting her and the audience into an uplifting, dazzling, over-the-top Broadway spectacle.

            Ripley has more than one reason for enjoying the experience. “I’ve been interested on the theater my whole life,” she said, “since I was little. I just love being here.” Last year, she said, she was in two ORR productions: “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Noises Off.”

            She describes what’s both hard and enjoyable about being in this production. “It’s a lot to memorize, “she said. “It took a lot of time to memorize. And there are a lot of characters to organize around. But I still had a lot of fun. I’ve learned that a community helps you out. This club is a community. The environment is safe and fun. And we have a really great time.”

            Fanti elaborated that, because of the nature of the storyline, the characters have to be over the top. This is one time where he had to tell his young thespians to dial it up, not down. The best part for him and them, he said, was that they, themselves, created their path to these characters and did that well.

            The Director of Publicity, Erin Bednarczyk, a local artist, said what she had liked about being involved in this production is that the young talents around her are so organized and such team players. “They all get along so nicely,” she said.

            Following on that theme, Fanti noted the production, with the efforts of 17 ORR freshmen and seniors, is a collaborative effort all by local volunteers. That includes direction, sound, lighting and sets as well.

            Of special note is that ORR student Calder Eaton, who plays Robert Martin, is the son of Assistant Director Sarah Whinnem. Other principal roles include ORR student Amanda Tomasso (Class of ’26) as the Drowsy Chaperone and ORR student Sienna Roveda (Class of ’25) as Janet Van De Graaf. “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a Canadian musical with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. Music and Lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. Book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. Director: Brayden Fanti. Musical Director: Jenna Kendall. Assistant Director: Sarah Whinnem. Sound Director: John Farrell.

            “The Drowsy Chaperone” will be performed Thursday through Saturday, April 10-12, at 7:00 pm and Sunday, April 13, at 2:00 pm at the ORR Auditorium, 135 Marion Road, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. Seniors and students $12. General admission: $15.

By Michael J. DeCicco