Calling all Children of Christ

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The First Congregational Church of Marion welcomes all families and children in the area to our Homecoming Sunday Picnic and Sunday School Registration Sunday, September 13, service at 10:00 am at 28 Main Street, Marion. Picnic to follow at 11:15 am at 10 Cottage Street in the rear (Next to 147 Front Street). Attend one or the other or both. All events are free.

Sunday school is for all children ages 5 to 18 years. School meets during services every week. Activities include youth group, confirmation classes, outreach and community service opportunities, field trips, youth band, children’s choir, open house and children’s Sunday, among others. Join our family and have your children nurtured and educated in the love of a caring congregation and in the community of Christ. Please join us!

For more information, please call the church office at 508-748-1058.

MNHM Fall Programs

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It’s time for school and we at the Marion Natural History Museum have our new Fall/Winter 2015 afterschool programs ready to go.

September 16: Netting Program. While the water is still warm, let’s collect some animals to keep in the tank for the winter. We will meet at the Marion Harbormaster’s office to talk about our local fish and marine invertebrates. Then we’ll use the museum’s seining net to explore what we can find in our waters. Please plan to get wet and wear beach shoes.

September 30: Bird Migrations. Justin and Jess Barrett of the Nasketucket Bird Club will come in to discuss the migrations of some of our favorite bird residents. We will look at photos and examine some of the birds in the museum’s collection.

October 7: Bird Island Trip. It’s a half day, so let’s go have some fun with the Marion Harbormaster. We’ll take a trip to Bird Island if the weather cooperates, and if not, then a Harbor cruise. Please register as soon as possible to ensure your child a spot. Space is limited. Time of program is 2:00 pm, and we will meet at the Marion Harbormaster’s office.

October 21: Let’s look at the soil under our feet. Natural Resource Conservation Service scientist Maggie Payne will speak about our local soils. We will use the museum’s soil tunnel and do some experimenting, so please plan to get dirty!

October 28: Changing Colors of Fall with artist/naturalist Tricia Cassady. We will examine the colors of fall in and around Marion and work with watercolors to develop our own pieces of artwork expressing these colors.

Cost for all programs is $6 for members, $8 for nonmembers. All programs start at 3:30 pm unless otherwise noted. To register, please go to www.marionmuseum.org, fill out the registration and submit with payment. See you soon!

Rochester County Fair

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To the Editor:

The photograph on the cover of the August 20th edition of The Wanderer has to be one of the best cover pictures I’ve ever seen. The very colorful and candid photo, in perfect sunlight, captured a moment of fun for all at this year’s Rochester County Fair. The main focus of the picture is a young participant in the “running with scissors race.” Her smile says it all, and that’s why the very hard-working, all-volunteer committee and staff do what we do.

Hope to see all next year!

Buckchuck, Rochester Country Fair Mascot

 

 

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.

Bay Club Sewer Use To Be Reviewed

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The Mattapoisett Water and Sewer Commission met on September 1 with Ted Gowdy of AERIE Homes, one of the newer operating and construction entities building inside the Bay Club cluster subdivision. Gowdy, who has been making the rounds of various town boards and commissions, had previously met with Water and Sewer Superintendent Nick Nicholson to discuss sewer connections on lots that are in the process of being redefined.

Gowdy said that the Bay Club had been allotted 189 sewer connections, but not all of those had been used since some lots were combined. He questioned whether he could have unused connections for AERIE lots that may have duplex units constructed on them.

The commission’s legal counsel, Blair Bailey, asked how the calculations had been made for the original permit, and he wondered if the number of total bedroom units in the original Phase One build out of the Bay Club had been part of the consideration. Commission Chairman Dan Chase remembered that bedrooms had, in fact, been considered, but in the absence of the original permit no one could confirm that point.

Standing in for Nicholson who could not attend the evening’s meeting was Water and Sewer staff member Henri Renauld. Renauld said they needed to review the original agreement before any decisions could be made on how to handle Gowdy’s request.

The sewer permit for the Bay Club was crafted based on units and possibly bedrooms, the commissioners believed, and not on flowage since no mechanism is in place to actually measure sewer outflow at this location.

Gowdy said it was his understanding that household units had been capped at 189, but nothing had addressed restrictions on the number of bedrooms for each unit. Bailey wanted to make sure there would not be any confusion in the future, and he asked Gowdy to return to the next meeting of the Water and Sewer Commission with a letter from the Bay Club establishing that the club will relinquish unused sewer connections to AERIE Homes. He also agreed with Renauld, saying a review of the original permit was necessary. Gowdy was asked to return with documentation for commission review and consideration.

In other business, Bailey presented a final copy of the updated Abatement and Leak Policy. He said he edited the text to include language that would allow for fair and consistent abatements, regardless of the size of a leak. The new document will allow the commission to calculate an average three-year bill and the leakage and then divide that number in half to reach the abatement figure.

Another significant language change allows the commission to impose full costs on a consumer if that consumer has been notified of a leak, or declares a leak but fails to make the necessary repairs within 30 days of discovery.

Letters from Alice McGarth, president of the Angelica Point Improvement Association, were read into the minutes. Her letters applauded the fine work recently completed on Cove Street by the water and sewer team and by the Town’s subcontractors. Adding to those acknowledgements, Chase congratulated the Water and Sewer Department employees and Nicholson on a job well done.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Water and Sewer Commission is scheduled for September 15 at 6:00 pm in the Mattapoisett Water Department Offices on County Road.

By Marilou Newell

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Rochester’s Ann Cambra to Receive Award

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Ann Cambra has been selected by AARP, the nonprofit organization for people 50 and older, to receive the 2015 AARP Massachusetts Andrus Award for Community Service – the Association’s most prestigious and visible state volunteer award for community service.

AARP Massachusetts selected Ann Cambra for her remarkable service, which has greatly benefited her community of Rochester, supported AARP’s vision and mission, and inspired other volunteers. Cambra is a volunteer for the AARP Tax-Aide program at the Rochester Council on Aging and also volunteers for Coastline Elderly Services Money Management Program, among other charities and nonprofit organizations.

The award will be formally presented to Cambra at a ceremony on Thursday, September 10 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the Rochester Senior Center, 67 Dexter Lane, Rochester, MA 02770. As part of her award, Cambra will receive a $1500 donation to the charity of her choice, Mission to Liberia.

“This award acts as a symbol to the public that we can all work together for positive social change,” says Mike Festa, AARP Massachusetts State Director. “AARP has long valued the spirit of volunteerism and the important contributions volunteers make to their communities, neighbors, and the programs they serve.”

Recipients across the nation were chosen by each AARP state office for their ability to enhance the lives of AARP members and prospective members, improve the community in or for which the work was performed, and inspire others to volunteer.

MAC Announces New Dance Academy Director

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The Marion Art Center is pleased to announce that Miss Joclyne Nunes will be joining as Director and Instructor of MAC Dance Academy this fall. Joclyne will be the Director of the Academy and the Instructor of all classes. Fall Session classes will start on Wednesday, September 23, and registrations are now being accepted.

Joclyne has a B.A. from the Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance at Dean College, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2014. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Arts Administration from Boston University. She is trained in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, contemporary/lyrical and basic acrobatics. She is the reigning Miss New Bedford, and we are so pleased she is a part of the Marion Art Center faculty!

For more information about MAC Dance Academy, call 508-748-1266 or stop by the Art Center located at 80 Pleasant Street (corner of Main and Pleasant) during gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information about all MAC’s Fall Session Classes, please visit http://www.marionartcenter.org/classes/.

Marion Art Center Fall Classes

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The Marion Art Center is now accepting registrations for its Fall 2015 classes. The Marion Art Center is located at 80 Pleasant Street (main entrance is on Main Street) in Marion. For more information, please call 508-748-1266 or to register for any of the Fall 2015 classes on-line, visit http://www.marionartcenter.org/about/register/.

Adult Classes

Watercolor Painting for Adult Beginners: Thursdays, 10:00 am to noon for eight weeks from September 24 to November 19 (Note: No class on November 5). Tuition: $180 members / $195 non-members (supplies not included). Instructor: Patricia White. Note: This course requires a minimum of five students to run.

This course is designed for people who would like to try watercolor painting, but do not know where to start. Students will explore different techniques, while working on the landscape, still life, figurative, and/or imaginative painting, in a nurturing environment. Participants should bring to the first class whatever supplies they have on hand. A suggested Beginner’s Supply List will be available at the first class.

Advanced Watercolor Painting: Fridays, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon with instructor Jay Ryan. Tuition: $175 members / $190 non-members (materials not included). This course requires a minimum of five students to run

This course is a perfect “next step” for those who would like to explore watercolor painting beyond a basic understanding of color and brush strokes. Using the brilliant nature of light (and dark), we’ll “push” the medium, adding other water media, brushes, and paper surfaces, and experiment with palette color mixing to capture magic and luminosity. In each class we will start a new painting together using landscape, still life, the figure, abstract or imaginative thought, or narrative ideas as subjects. Each class will also provide a brief and supportive group “critique.” Students will leave with expanded knowledge of technique and traditional and contemporary use of watercolor.

Children’s Classes

MAC’s goal is that young people develop their own unique creative voice, their imagination, and their understanding of drama and its role in society. We look forward to soaring with your young star as they experience new adventures and challenges through our performing arts offerings and take their next step as an actor and a person!

Little People’s Theater (ages 6-9): Tuesdays 4:30 – 5:30 pm; Instructor: Kim Teves; Tuition: Each six-week session is $80 for MAC members and $95 for non-members. Minimum of five students required for this class to run.

The deadline for registration for Fall Session 1 is September 8. In this class, students will use their bodies, voices, and found objects to create another world full of fantastic beings that are wacky and spooky and everything in between. Through storytelling, theatre games and creative play, our youngest actors will experience the joys of stretching their imaginations. Each week, the children will learn basic theater craft through drama games, readers’ theater and experience the fun of the stage while rehearsing for a small production to be performed the last day of each session. Sign up with a friend and have twice the fun!

Fall 2015 Session 1 LPT: September 15, 22, 29; October 6, 13, 20

Fall 2015 Session 2 LPT: November 3, 10, 17, 24; December 1, 8

Winter 2016 Session 1 LPT: January 5, 12, 19, 26; February 2, 9

Winter 2016 Session 2 LPT: February 23; March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Spring 2016 Session LPT: April 5, 12, 26, May 3, 10, 17

Young People’s Theater (Grades 4-8): Thursdays, 4:00 to 5:30 pm; Instructor: Kim Teves; Tuition: Each eight-week session is $160 for MAC members and $175 for non-members; Minimum of five students required for this class to run. The deadline for registration for Fall Session 1 is September 5.

Classes are for boys and girls in grades 4-8. The eight-week Fall Session starts September 10 and runs through October 29. Performance will be on Thursday, October 29. YPT nurtures the intellectual, artistic, and personal development of young people, helping them find their “inner light” of self-confidence, sensitivity, creativity, and leadership. Our young actors will develop acting skills while having fun and learning to interact with one another. Through acting games, improv, and small scenes, these young actors will learn theatre basics. They will learn the rules of the theatre, theatre terminology, how to project an emotion, how to start creating a character, and more. Students will learn the process of putting on a production through selection, rehearsal and production of a small show presented at the end of the session.

Fall 2015 Session YPT: September 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Winter 2016 Session YPT: January 7, 14, 21, 28; February 4, 11, 25; March 3

Spring 2016 Session YPT: March 24, 31; April 7, 14, 21; May 5, 12, 19

MAC Dance Academy: Wednesdays, September 23 to November 11; Preschool (age 3-4) 3:30 – 4:05 pm; Kinderstep (age 4-5) 4:15 – 5:00 pm; Beginner (age 6-7) 5:15 – 6:00 pm; Intermediate (age 8-9) 6:15 – 7:00 pm; Fall 2015 Session begins on Wednesday, September 23; Instructor: Joclyne Nunes.

The Marion Art Center is now accepting registrations for its Fall 2015 Dance Academy. Classes are held on Wednesdays and run for eight weeks. Fall session is grounded in classical dance, whereas the Spring session focuses heavily on choreography and recital performance.

– Preschool Dance: Preschool instruction is for children between the ages of 3-4. Class is 35 minutes and involves ballet warm-up, jazz stretches, basic mat tumbling and basic tap steps. The fee for the eight-week session is $145 for Marion Art Center members and $160 for non-members. (Child MUST be 3 years of age at the start of the Session.)

– Kinderstep (ages 4-5) and Beginner (ages 6-7): Kinderstep and Beginner instruction are for children between the ages of 4-5 and 6-7. Class is 45 minutes and involves ballet warm-up and barre, jazz stretches, beginner mat tumbling. The fee for the eight-week session is $155 for Marion Art Center members and $170 for non-members.

– Intermediate: Intermediate instruction is for children aged 8-9. Class is 45 minutes and involves advanced ballet warm-up, barre and adagio, tumbling, jazz stretches and combinations and tap combinations. The fee for the eight-week session is $155 for Marion Art Center members and $170 for non-members.

Preschool Piano: Friday mornings at the Marion Art Center; Instructor: Jamie Wiksten; 25-minute private lessons for children ages 3-5 years; $20 per lesson (includes cost of music/materials/recital).

Little Mozart’s Preschool Piano is an early music enrichment program for children ages 3 to 5. Lessons are designed to introduce children to the piano and teach basic foundation skills that will inspire an early appreciation for music. Individual lessons place an emphasis on rhythm, finger position, music vocabulary, music notation, note reading, and encourage overall fine motor development. It is offered three times per year at the Marion Art Center for 10-week sessions during the fall (Sept-Dec), winter/spring (Jan-April), and summer (July-August). Each session concludes with a short recital. Children may repeat sessions through age 5 to enhance their knowledge and performance skills. To reserve a lesson time, contact Jamie Wiksten at jwiksten@verizon.net or 508-295-0379.

Saturday Morning Piano Instruction: Piano lessons for beginners and intermediates are offered on Saturday mornings, by appointment only; Instructor: Donald Richard. To reserve a lesson time, please call Donald Richard at 781-582-6273 or email him at don@javajiveband.com.

BBAHFH Home Build Underway

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Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity’s (BBAHFH) Marion home build is underway! Our first volunteer group came out this past weekend. We were thankful to have the support of the community and feel fortunate to have the opportunity to build our first Habitat home in Marion.

The 1,156 square foot Energy Star rated cottage-style home is attractive, keeping with the town’s character, while helping maintain affordability. The home will be built on a lot that is less than half an acre.

Habitat has previously demolished an existing structure on the town’s parcel of land where the property will be preserved as open space with access to walking trails for recreational use by the community. The land will be permanently preserved, protecting the wildlife habitat and nature preserves on the land. Once construction of the home is complete, the house will be counted toward the town’s affordable housing.

Our affiliate is grateful to the local subcontractors that have donated their time and expertise over the years. We have already received an outpour of support from those willing to join with us in our mission to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope.

We are overwhelmed by the abundance of generosity from these local companies that have donated their services for our Marion home. Without their contributions, Habitat would not be able to build homes at an affordable price for local families in need.

If you would like to volunteer, please let us know which date(s) you would prefer from the weekends of September 5 through November 8. We build on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm and on Sundays from 12:00 to 5:00 pm, and we need professional and skilled leaders as well as “handymans-willing-to-learn” for each weekend.

Our volunteers will be hungry and thirsty! We need volunteers, groups or restaurants interested in supplying coffee/donut break, lunch/drinks, snacks and water/ice for our hard workers. If you are interested in supplying refreshments for our workers, please call the office at 508-758-4517.

The project address is 185 Wareham Road in Marion. Volunteers may park in the lot behind the Seahorse Seafood plaza which is two properties to the left of the plaza.

Our homes are built with a community of kindness. We are thankful for the support from the Marion Community Preservation Committee, Cove Charitable Trust, Travelers, and local church groups that have made this build possible, and to all the volunteers who donate their time to work alongside a family while they are achieving their dream of homeownership.

For additional photos and to follow the Habitat build, please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BuzzardsBayHabitat.

If you would like to become part of our vision where everyone has a decent place to live in the communities we serve, materials and monetary donations are still needed to support the build. BBAHFH’s Land Acquisition team is actively seeking property for our next home build as well. All land, material, and monetary donations to Habitat are tax-deductible. To make a donation, please visit www.BuzzardsBayHabitat.org or call the office at 508-758-4517.

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Fairhaven is Standby ACO, Drops Charges

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The Rochester Board of Selectmen on August 31 approved an agreement with the Town of Fairhaven Animal Control Office to serve as a secondary animal shelter to the Town of Rochester.

Rochester Town Administrator Michael McCue said that, going along with the Town’s general policy and his own personal policy, Fairhaven was chosen because of its position as a “no kill” animal shelter.

“It is a back-up situation with Fairhaven,” said McCue. “We have no problems with the Lakeville Office,” the animal shelter that currently serves the Town of Rochester.

McCue added that one of Rochester’s Animal Control Department workers has been out on leave with medical issues, but he was happy to announce that the employee would be back to work within a week or so.

In other matters, the board briefly discussed the dropping of the criminal charges the Town filed against Liberal and Melinda Teixeira, owners of a North Avenue dog kennel that has been a matter of contention among the Teixeiras’ neighbors and selectmen.

Criminal charges were dismissed, said McCue, based on information provided by the police chief and town counsel. Neighbor complaints have ceased, and the Teixeiras did pay fines totaling $100. In addition, they may no longer hold a license to operate a kennel under the current circumstances.

“The dogs are gone, except one nursing beagle,” McCue stated. The beagle nursing six puppies, McCue said, will be registered with the Town as a family pet under Liberal Teixeira’s name, and a golden retriever at the location will be registered and licensed as a family pet under Melinda’s name.

McCue said the six puppies under the age of six months do not fall under the kennel licensing laws, and therefore may legally remain at the site until six months of age.

“[Neighbors] seem to be satisfied with the results,” said McCue. “And the Court is now well aware of the situation,” added McCue, so any future proceedings relative to dog complaints at the property might be expedited.

In other news, selectmen talked briefly about making changes to the personnel compensation plan, such as the removal of the compensation schedule, in hopes of saving the Town money by spreading out the time period in between new employees advancing employment “steps.”

Selectmen and McCue agree that something has to be done to control annual pay increases, which average at about 3 percent per step advance, in addition to annual cost of living increases. McCue said employees are not only getting their step increases, but also anywhere from an additional 1 to 3 percent COLA increase.

“It would remove the concept of … ’double-dipping,’” said McCue, although he stated that he was not totally comfortable with calling it that. “In all honesty, the whole plan needs to be rewritten.”

“Absolutely,” said Selectman Bradford Morse.

Selectmen said it would be a “fine-tuning” of the personnel plan, rather than a complete overhaul or total elimination of the plan, for that matter.

“We don’t exactly know what’s going to come out of it,” said McCue.

Also during the August 31 meeting, McCue said he has not yet heard back from the Attorney General’s Office regarding special legislation to allow the Annual Town Meeting to stand, despite the lack of a quorum.

Selectman Naida Parker, also the town clerk, said the AG Office had 90 days to respond to the Town, with a deadline date of October 5. Selectmen and McCue assume that, without any immediate response from the office expressing concern, selectmen expect the AG to allow the special legislation to proceed.

The board approved a new CORI check policy for new employee hires and town board and committee members and volunteers. Those requiring CORI checks will go through the Town Administrator’s Office, which will work closely with the Police Department throughout the process.

The board also appointed Mattapoisett Selectman Paul Silva as the representative of the Tri-Town Selectmen during teacher negotiations with the ORR School Committee.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for September 14 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

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Mattapoisett Woman Lives Her Dream

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As a little girl, Katie asked her parents for horseback riding lessons. Being good parents and wishing to make their child happy, the girl was enrolled in a horseback riding camp in Tiverton, Rhode Island. Her parents never thought for a moment back then that this love of horses was anything more than a passing fancy. That was 21 years ago. That little girl is now a woman, a professional trainer and coach who made a career out of her passion for horses.

Katherine Bobola is a 2005 ORRHS graduate and Mattapoisett resident who, by the age of 18, had become a professional equestrian and coach with a client base of her own.

“I fell in love with riding at that summer camp … I begged my mother to drop me off at the barn!” The excitement she feels about the profession that she has chosen, or seemingly the fates chose for her, electrifies her speech.

Katie knew at an early age that all she wanted in life was to be around horses and to help others. Between the ages of 10 and 13, she honed her training skills as a junior counselor helping new riders at the summer camp program.

Roseland Acres in Tiverton was her first home away from home where riding coach Debbie Hoyt Banfield conducted those camps. That experience so galvanized Katie’s love for riding and all aspects of equine sciences that when Banfield moved to another stable, Katie followed.

“She was my mentor,” Katie recalled.

When she was 13, Katie had been working for Banfield getting horses ready for competitions and making sure that their clients, the humans, had everything they needed for the shows.

After graduating from high school, Katie enrolled in Johnson & Wales University and selected a very specific course of study – equestrian business management and equine studies – her passions in academic form.

“I thought it was important to learn the technical science aspects and the business end as well,” she said, adding, “It’s a high stakes, high rewards business. You can go broke quickly.”

“As the years went by, I became more affirmed that this was what I wanted to do as a career,” Katie shared. She said she enjoyed coaching others, helping them achieve their personal best in the saddle. It all came very naturally to her, but it was also hard work.

Throughout her young riding career, Katie said that she did not own her own horse; instead, she rode just about any horse that was available regardless of the horse’s temperament or capabilities. She credits those horses with helping her grow in her understanding and ability to handle any horse, while growing in her wisdom of horses and how to develop the animals’ skills.

“You are dealing with a living, thinking, breathing being with individual talents and needs,” she said of the horses.

Several years ago, Katie met another coach, Dani White of Holliston, who invited Katie to join her in partnership at her stables and riding school. This was the pivotal opportunity that has allowed Katie to become an independent businesswoman in the equestrian world.

Often times getting up as early as 3:00 am to drive to Holliston and prepare for a day of competition, Katie thinks nothing of that, and even on days when everything might go wrong she believes, “I am so blessed to wake up and do what I love everyday and be able to make a living!”

Katie’s clients, again, the human ones, range in age from 8 to 60 and are primarily female.

“In the U.S., the majority of people involved in riding are women. It is completely the other way round internationally.” Although she has seen an increase in the number of males joining the ranks, it is still predominately girls and women.

And the work isn’t easy and isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires a full commitment, said Katie, of body and soul. For Katie, her hard work has earned her the esteemed position of being the coach for the Brandeis Equestrian Team. The team consists of 15 to 20 students in any given year. Into that mix, add her private clients and you have what, for Katie, is the culmination of all her efforts.

“My focus is ensuring that the horses and my clients are successful in the ring,” she said, adding, “It can be emotional when a client wins.”

Yet, for Katie, she knows it’s the small victories that also matter.

“Whether my clients show or not, helping them achieve their best with their horse is what’s important.” Katie knows she is in the right place doing the work she was meant to do.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

By Marilou Newell

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