Judith E. (Pratt) Briggs

Judith E. (Pratt) Briggs, 71, of Marion, died August 27, 2015 in St. Anne’s Hospital, Fall River. She was the wife of David A. Briggs and the daughter of the late Robert C. Pratt and Elizabeth (Robinson) Bazilian.

She was born in Wareham and lived in Marion for over 50 years.

Mrs. Briggs worked as a C.N.A. at Rowland Thatcher Nursing Home in Wareham for over 20 years before retiring.

She enjoyed crocheting, playing Pac Man and Canasta, Facebook and scratch tickets. Most of all she loved spending time with her family.

Survivors include her husband, David A. Briggs of Marion; 2 sons, Michael Pratt and his wife Amy Sirrico of Wareham and David A. Briggs, Jr. and his wife Amy of Wareham; a daughter, Laurie Shippey and her husband Scott of Wareham; a sister, Jean Pratt of Hyannis; 4 grandchildren, Christopher and Meghan Shippey, Lillian Briggs and Jeremy Collins; and her beloved dog, Casper.

Her graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 31, 2015 in the North Marion Cemetery, Marion.

Visiting hours were held on Sunday at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham.

Marion’s Water and Sewer Rates Increased

Interest in the topic of increases in water and sewer rates was expected to bring out the public to the Marion Board of Selectmen meeting on August 25. Only nine residents showed up. But in spite of the surprisingly low turn out, the subject matter was fully vetted.

Speaking first was Finance Director Judy Mooney who explained that rate increases were proposed at 2.5 percent for Tier I and 3 percent for Tiers II and III water consumers. She then stated that a 10 percent rate increase across the board was proposed for those households tied into the municipal system.

“I hate being the bearer of bad news,” said Mooney. “If this rate doesn’t go through, the state will not approve the enterprise funds…. If this doesn’t go, an even larger increase is in the future.”

Mooney said, in real terms, a household of four would see an increase of $4.19 per year in water bills and $22.70 in sewer expenses. She further cautioned all in attendance that, although the evening was dedicated to looking at just fiscal year 2016 budget needs, FYs 17, 18, and 19 would see even higher rate increases.

“If we don’t have a rate increase in FY16, it impacts things we’ve already put in place,” Mooney said.

Chairman Stephen Cushing asked, “What if we put off a rate increase, we’d be in line for a bigger increase?” Mooney replied, “We’d have to make up four quarter billings in a three quarter cycle.”

A driving point in sewer rate increases is the NPDES permit looming in the imminent future, and the town is anticipating this to equate to higher costs in processing sewage. The town’s current permit requirements are being handled, said Selectman Jonathan Henry, but new, stricter EPA requirements will affect costs – how much is presently not known.

Resident Jay Ryder then came forward to share information he had found from a Tighe & Bond study. Ryder said, “Annual water rates (in Massachusetts) are $112 to $1560. The average is $532, and Marion’s are the second highest. Sewer rates go from $221 to $1,874 with an average of $756. Marion’s are the third highest.” Asking Mooney he inquired, “Can’t we pay for these some other way?”

Mooney came back to the microphone with this response, “You’ve got Tabor Academy, why aren’t we getting a PILOT payment in lieu of taxes?” She continued, “There are 36 properties, at the current rate that comes to $836,000 we could be receiving … I’m throwing it out there … their children are going to Sippican School without paying taxes.”

Henry responded, “PILOT program is an old issue…. A new Board of Trustees at Tabor will deal with local issues which is new … it’s an open issue.”

Henry also pointed to the fact that most cities and towns don’t go it alone when it comes to water and sewer service, but those that do are facing the same issues that Marion is facing – higher costs to provide services.

In the end, Chairman Cushing called for a vote. The increases were unanimously approved.

The next scheduled meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for September 8 at 7:00 pm at the Police Station conference room.

By Marilou Newell

MRsel2_082715

Sonja Fellman Stone

Sonja Fellman Stone, 96, beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law, neighbor, friend, and role model, passed away peacefully in her Mattapoisett, MA family home. Sonja was born in Lexington, MA, daughter of William and Hildur Fellman, of Finland and Sweden. She is predeceased by her loving husband of 70 years, George E. Stone and her sisters Linnea Scales, Violet Hanson, Naemi Thomas and brothers Sigward and Adolph Fellman. She is survived by her children Sonja Peterson and husband Frank; Lars Stone and wife Colleen; Suzanne Pike and husband William; Cynthia Stone and her companion, the late, Jeffrey Girard; Sandra Stone; grandchildren Mariel Stone and companion Jesse Duarte; Bonnie Stone and husband Erik Kowalski; Charlotte, Caroline, and Catherine Stone; and Jessica and Erica Pike; four great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Louise Fellman, Alice Coletti, Marguerite Lever and many nieces and nephews.

A patient, loving, forgiving, and religious woman, Sonja always put other’s needs before her own. She supported her husband in all aspects of life, including within the workplace as administrative assistant and bookkeeper for their family-owned independent insurance agency in Arlington, MA for over 30 years. Later in life, Sonja demonstrated her commitment to her family by working part time for 12 years as a Greeter at the Fairhaven Walmart where she was one of their oldest employees retiring at age 85.

Sonja was a member of the Laestadian Lutheran Church and enjoyed attending services. She found peace when singing hymns, enjoying nature, going to yard sales, sewing, and above all, spending time with her family. She had a quiet way about her, and everyone she met was touched by her warm smile and kind spirit.

Relatives and friends are invited to honor Sonja’s life by attending a memorial service Saturday, September 12th at 11 am at Advent Lutheran Church, 62 East Grove Street, Middleboro, MA. In lieu of flowers donations in Sonja’s memory may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Massachusetts, The Schrafft Center, 529 Main Street, Suite 1M17, Boston, MA 02129.

Marion Republican Town Committee

The Marion Republican Town Committee will conduct its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 1 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall, 164 Front Street, Marion. The public and new members are welcome.

2015 Mattapoisett Street List Books

The new 2015 Street List Books are now available at the Mattapoisett Town Clerk’s Office. The cost for a copy of this newly redesigned book is $10. Stop by during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm) and pick up one of these handy reference books. While you are at Town Hall, don’t forget to grab a free copy of the new color street map of Mattapoisett that was published by a company called Mail a Map with the cooperation of the Town Clerk’s Office. A link to the map is also available on the Town of Mattapoisett’s website, www.mattapoisett.net.

From Alaska to the Bayview Hotel

Join the Mattapoisett Historical Society and Seth Mendell on Sunday, September 6 at 5:30 pm at Shipyard Park as he talks about the life of Whaling Master Charles Bryant, who was instrumental in the purchase of Alaska and in later life the proprietor of Mattapoisett’s Bayview Hotel. In case of rain, meet at the Mattapoisett Historical Society Museum at 5 Church Street. Suggested donation: $5. For more information, please call 508-758-2844 or visit www.mattapoisetthistoricalsociety.org.

Historic Painting Finds Home at Music Hall

The Marion Board of Selectmen met for a special meeting on August 21 to sign an agreement with the Sippican Historical Society to allow a cherished painting by a well-known Marion artist to indefinitely grace a wall inside the Marion Music Hall.

The framed oil on canvas titled “The Redhead” by Cecil Clark Davis (1877-1934) portrays an auburn-haired, finely-dressed female, identified in pencil on the back as Miss Adamson, seated in a mission style armchair at the Hotel des Grandes Ecotes in Paris.

The Sippican Historical Society acquired the piece in 2013. It was cleaned and lined and is mounted in a gilded frame.

Davis was born in Chicago but lived in Marion for many years. She was married to Richard Harding Davis, a famous war correspondent. She studied art under famous portrait artist John Singer Sargent.

The agreement the selectmen ratified Friday morning was contingent upon some changes Town Administrator Paul Dawson had made to the contract, which he called “minor edits.” Dawson said Town Counsel Jon Witten had reviewed the agreement, suggested the changes, and the amendments were forwarded to a representative of the society.

“It really was minor edits,” Dawson said. “I’m certain that the Sippican Historical Society will have no problem with it.” The society could come back in disagreement, said Dawson, but he doubted it.

“The Music Hall Committee is eager to have a piece of artwork that was done by Cecil Clark Davis,” said Dawson. He said the loaning of the artwork is for a long-term, potentially permanent basis.

The painting is slated for a wall in the front conference room of the Marion Music Hall.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for September 8 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Police Station conference room.

By Jean Perry

 

For the Love of Books…

When 5-year old Kennedy Zussy of Marion overheard her parents talking about how some New Bedford schools don’t have a school library for students, Kennedy found it unacceptable. No books? How can kids be smart if they don’t have books, the little girl wondered.

“All year, they had, like, six books on the shelf in the ‘library,’” said Kennedy, reflecting upon the urgency she felt to take action; for little Kennedy is an avid reader who loves books, loves reading with her parents, and loves learning to read. Her favorite book is Disney’s Tarzan, and any Disney book for that matter.

Kennedy’s mother, Shannon Zussy, admitted that she was not as enthusiastic as Kennedy in the beginning. With a toddler and her job, she wasn’t quite feeling up to the task of driving home the need to the community and calling on people for books. She wasn’t quite up to driving to pick books up, either, and lugging boxes of books to whatever schools needed them.

But Kennedy begged her mother to help her reach a goal of collecting 100 new and used books to donate to the New Bedford Public Schools. She begged, and begged, and continued to beg until her mom gave in, created a Facebook page, and started sending the word out to family and friends.

That was back in February.

Within the first two weeks, Kennedy had totally surpassed her modest goal of 100 books; instead, she collected 915 books, including some she bought with her own allowance. By June, Kennedy ended up with a whopping total of 1,342 books.

Kennedy presented the books to the New Bedford School Department in June and was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the New Bedford Public Schools Department. New Bedford City Counselor Steve Martins was impressed by Kennedy’s dedication to her fellow young readers, and he invited Kennedy and her family to the City Council Chambers to present her with a citation for her good work.

Kennedy didn’t stop there, though. She started collecting even more books over the summer, and as of Monday, August 24, Kennedy had already collected another 487 books – just about halfway to her second goal of reaching another 1,000 books.

However, she better move fast, because, as is the case with most 5-year-old philanthropists, her attention span already has her thinking ahead to the next cause Kennedy wants to take on.

“When I’m bored with collecting books, I’m going to do animal shelters,” a confidant Kennedy said, brushing her long light brown hair away from her face and off her shoulders. “I’m going to collect stuff like blankets, pillows, food … because most animals don’t have any shelter.”

Establishing school libraries for kids without books: check. Poor shelter animals without blankets or pillows, do not despair. Kennedy Zussy will soon be there.

If you would like to donate any used or new books before Kennedy moves onto the poor shelter animals, Kennedy is collecting books for preschool up to high school age level. You can contact Shannon Zussy via email at szussy82@gmail.com, or you can go to Kennedy’s project’s Facebook event page, “Kennedys Love for Reading 2.”

“We are very proud of her,” said Shannon. “She’s always had a big heart.”

Books make kids smarter, Kennedy firmly believes. She imagines how much smarter and happier other kids will be with 2,000 books. Now, about those animal shelter supplies….

By Jean Perry

BookDonate

George Bruce West II

With family at his side, George Bruce West II died peacefully in the morning of August 20, 2015 in Plymouth, Mass. Bruce, as he was known, was born in Washington, DC, the son of Charles Krug West and Margaret Braitmayer West, on December 14, 1927.

He graduated from St. Albans School in 1945 and from Washington and Lee University in 1949. He served briefly in the Pacific during World War II and as a staff sergeant during the Korean War. He began his professional career at Pan American Airways and then spent two years as an account executive with Bell Advertising in Washington, DC.

Bruce married Joyce Marie Corbett on January 29, 1955. While living in Washington, DC, he and Joyce spent twenty years raising their five children. In 1958, Mr. West and Jerry Brady founded West and Brady Advertising. Advertising allowed him to express his creativity by marrying his passions for visual art, the printed word, and music. Bruce served on the boards of The Potomac School, St. Albans School and Children’s Hospital, among other organizations. In 1974, he and his family moved to Marion, MA, to start a new chapter at Clearwater Farm.

Bruce West lived passionately, filled with a deep and abiding love for the people around him. He was an old- school gentleman – quite literally, a gentle man. Bruce spoke thoughtfully across the wide range of favorite topics always on his eclectic palette. He was a natural educator who loved learning as much as teaching. This gift served him well during his ten-year career as an English teacher at Tabor Academy where he was also the faculty advisor to the school’s newspaper and yearbook. He immersed himself in the community of Marion, building life-long friendships and actively engaging in civil discourse. The pace in Marion was slower, which enabled him to spend time on the things he truly valued: his art, the land, the community, his family, and his many friendships. He loved the sky, the wind, the water, painting, dreaming, writing, and talking. He loved gardening, travel, Ireland, music, fine wine, the Snow White, his Nikon, the Redskins, the Celtics, the Patriots and the Red Sox. Bruce loved playing tennis, swimming in salt water, and sharing his musings, preferably while sailing. This was a man who loved being alive. An ideal summer Sunday for Bruce began with a morning of men’s doubles at the Sippican Tennis Club followed by a sail to Bird Island and a picnic with his family. Once the Gnome was back on her mooring in the harbor, he would swim to Meadow or Ram Island and back to the beach on Cedar Point. The day would not be complete without a family dinner of fresh cherry stones, corn on the cob, a salad, and a cheeseburger or steak, followed by a raucous game of charades.

He was a poet, an artist, and a composer — a Renaissance Man who loved to share what he created. He was a tinkerer, and the counter in his pantry was filled with gifts of his making: a dream catcher, a copy of his latest cd, a piece of weathered driftwood fashioned into an award for finding the most beautiful shell. He lovingly created each gift because, for Bruce, the act of giving was the true purpose of living.

Mr. West is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joyce Corbett West, his sister, Margaret Braitmayer Root, and his brother, David Wallace West. He leaves behind his daughter, Margaret Wendy West and her wife, Rebecca Leeman, of Portland, ME, and his sons, Charles Krug West and his wife, Liz, of Rochester, MA; Jonathan Braitmayer West and his wife, Cassy, of Mattapoisett, MA; Mark Corbett West and his wife, Cyndy, of Nottingham, NH; and George Bruce West III and his wife, Jeanie, of Peterborough, NH. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren, Ian Derrick West, Taylor Graham West, Robert Braitmayer West, Reilly Evans West, Madeleine Jarvis West, Connor Martin West, and Georgia Catherine West.

The West family invite you to join in a celebration of Bruce’s life on Saturday September 12th at 1:00 at St. Gabriel’s Church, 124 Front Street, Marion, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers please feel free to make donations to The Buzzards Bay Coalition, 114 Front Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, 02740 or to The Marion Art Center, P.O. Box 602, Marion, Massachusetts, 02738. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett.  For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

ORR School Grounds

To the Editor:

I want to voice my concerns about the condition of the grounds at Old Rochester Regional High School. It is deplorable! Everything is overgrown, the four ponds are not being taken care of, and bushes, trees and plants need to be replaced. This is not a good representation of Mattapoisett when people visit or attend activities and events.

Looks like more manpower is needed to care for the grounds; it is more than one person can handle.

Let’s get it back to what it should be and used to be!

James Dexter, Jr., 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.