Independence Day a Busy Day for Tri-Town

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There is always so much happening on the Fourth of July in Tri-Town. Residents of Marion and the surrounding towns were delighted with the return of the Marion fireworks display after a year hiatus. Silvershell Beach was a popular spot to gather to watch the fireworks to the sounds of the patriotic music played by the Marion Concert Band.

Marion’s July 4th Parade this year was a hit when it came to the festive float competition. In the end, the Beverly Yacht Club took the prize for best float. There were also antique cars and tractors, and many local veterans received applause throughout the 2.1-mile parade route through Marion village.

The parade is organized each year by the Benjamin D. Cushing VFW Post 2425 and the Town of Marion.

This year’s Mattapoisett Road Race drew hundreds, over a thousand actually, of runners (and spectators) on Saturday morning. Jay McMahon, 19, of Swansea took first place for the men’s category with a time of 26:21. Megan O’Brien, 20, of Chicago was the first woman to cross the finish line at 30:20.

Marine Sergeant William Simpson, 25, finished the race at 60:01 in his fatigues with a 70-pound pack on his back honoring seven Marines killed in March when their helicopter crashed in Florida.

“The race went well and it was nice to see everyone cheering because they actually knew why I was running it this year,” said Simpson. The best part of the race though, he said, was the cold beer waiting for him at the finish line. “My shins feel like they are going to explode,” said Simpson on Tuesday, July 7.

Proceeds from the five mile-long race go towards monetary awards for students of ORR who participated in running sports to attend college.

By Jean Perry

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Mattapoisett Recreation Camp Offerings

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Nature Explorers Camp July 20 to July 24: Explore Mattapoisett’s unique natural areas including Eel Pond, Ned’s Point, Mattapoisett River, and area salt marshes and aquaculture operations. Each day they will enjoy different activities including hands-on exploration, experiments, crafts, and journaling. The program is run in conjunction with Marion Natural History Museum by Director/Lead Educator Elizabeth Leidhold. Perfect for girls and boys ages 8-11. Space is limited, so register today at www.mattapoisett.net, go to Matt Rec then Nature Explorers.

Seahorse Explorers Camp: This program runs for eight weeks starting June 22 and continuing through August 14. Seahorse Explorers is open to girls and boys entering grades K-6. Each week explorers will enjoy fun-filled days of sports, arts & crafts, swimming, tennis, library visits and more! Every week is a different theme with new activities and adventures. Director Kate Oleson is returning as are many of your favorite counselors! Program options include Weekly Full or Half Day and Choose Your Day – $170 Weekly Full Day, $90 Weekly Half Day, $40 Choose Your Full Day. Space is limited, so sign up today. For more information or online registration, visit www.mattapoisett.net or email mattrec@mattpapoisett.net or call Mattapoisett Recreation at 508-758-4100 ext. 227.

12th Annual Taste of the Town

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Set your sails for Taste of the Town to be held at Mattapoisett’s waterfront with its Instagram-worthy sunsets. Meet and mingle with folks from near and far at the 12th Annual Taste of the Town party sponsored by the Mattapoisett Women’s Club on Tuesday, July 14 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Shipyard Park. This highly popular food extravaganza features many diverse dining establishments offering their signature dishes served up by friendly waiters. Enjoy sumptuous lobster rolls, chowder, shrimp cocktail, delicious stone cold soup, magnificent Portuguese style chicken and more.

Mattapoisett’s classic harbor boasts fresh salt air and the lively and entertaining Showstoppers. All proceeds benefit the Mattapoisett Women’s Club Scholarship Fund and other non-profit agencies in the Greater New Bedford Community.

Cost depends on food items selected; twenty tickets for $10. This is a rain or shine event.

New Music Director Appointed

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As it continues the celebration of its 50th year of singing, the Sippican Choral Society is very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tianxu Zhou as its 8th Music Director.

Making the announcement, chorus president Bruce Breamer said, “After a careful search and interviews with several very qualified candidates, our Search Committee was unanimous in recommending Dr. Zhou to the Board of Directors as its choice for our new Music Director. He comes to us with a wealth of experience directing diverse choral groups over many years, and we are extremely excited that he has accepted our offer.”

Dr. Zhou takes the baton from Brian Roderick, who retired this past Spring after 12 years of leading the chorus.

Originally from Beijing, Dr. Zhou is a collegiate vocal professor and international performer throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. As a faculty member at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, he conducts the Chamber Choir and the University Chorus. He is an alumnus and former faculty member of the prestigious China Central Conservatory in Beijing and Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia.

Dr. Zhou, who prefers to be called “Tian,” begins his duties this summer and will prepare the chorus for its 50th annual Christmas Concerts this coming December. Rehearsals begin on Monday, September 14.

Coastal Zone Management Counsels Board

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Charged with helping the town find a way to improve its harbor plan, David Janik, South Coast regional coordinator for the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Office (CZM), a branch of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, met with the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board on June 25. The MAB over the years has aided in crafting waterside rules and regulations for boating. Several years ago they developed a harbor management plan, but that document did not protect the town against proposed construction of private docks and piers.

Town Administrator Michael Gagne was directed by the Board of Selectmen to bring some clarity and strength to the existing harbor management plan on the heels of an appeal to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for the construction of a large private pier that extends into the harbor – an area designated for recreation by the MAB via the harbor management plan. The appeal is currently being reviewed by the DEP after lengthy public hearings.

Over the past months, the pier application has navigated through various town boards and subsequently appealed at the state level. The town’s harbor management plan seemed too weak to be of meaningful use in upholding the town’s assertion that the pier location would be a detriment to public access and rights.

“The selectmen are concerned our plan didn’t have the strength or clout we needed,” Gagne told the board members, adding, “…We need a plan with some substance and teeth.”

Janik then described the plan development process.

For a state approved plan, Janik said, “The state has a detailed process that is time consuming and expensive.” He pointed to the harbor management plan created by New Bedford and Fairhaven several years ago, saying that it cost them approximately $200,000, primarily in consultant fees. He said that consultants are generally used to help cities and towns create a document that would be acceptable for state certification. But he questioned if Mattapoisett really needed something that complex.

For a plan to receive state approval, Janik said that first the town needed to identify “the suite of issues you want to address.” He then said that a proposal is sent to the CZM and, if it meets all the requirements, it would receive approval to proceed.

He again asserted that for plans heading towards state certification, consultants who specialize in this area must be used. However, even after expending time and money, some plans may still not achieve certification, Janik warned.

When asked what the advantages and disadvantages are to developing a state certified plan, Janik responded, “The ability to change a significant number of Chapter 91 requirements…. Things can be manipulated and adjusted through the tool of a state certified plan.” Massachusetts General Law Chapter 91 regulates many aspects of water-related activities, including construction of docks and piers.

As for disadvantages, Janik pointed to the time, effort, and costs associated with the process. But again, he questioned if Mattapoisett even needed a certified harbor management plan.

“New Bedford’s Chapter 91 area extends inland,” Janik explained, as Chapter 91 jurisdictional area goes to historic high tide lines. In the case of New Bedford, the harbor line has changed significantly over decades of use and has been filled in to create landmass. He said that Mattapoisett’s coastline has basically not changed or been filled.

Board member Patricia Apperson asked, “So what are the advantages?”

“Probably very little,” Janik replied.

Gagne asked what the town should do to improve the language in the existing document so that it would be viewed as meaningful to the DEP in the future.

Janik said the language in the plan needed to be very specific and not vague, such as simply stating an area should be reserved for “recreational use.” He said piers and docks were not viewed as encumbrances to such activities.

“If you go through a reasonable process to show the DEP where you don’t want docks and piers,” said Janik, “you show your reasoning on it such as the past, present, or future presence of eelgrass, shell fishing beds, endangered species, for these reasons, these sensitive areas … no more docks and piers.” Janik said such language is stronger and therefore has more meaning to the DEP.

According to Janik, public hearings showing public involvement should also be produced to demonstrate resident involvement. Janik told the MAB that a strongly worded letter from the selectmen should accompany the harbor management plan, even if the plan itself is not state certified. The combination of the two documents carried weight with the DEP, he said.

“You must show a process and fairness,” Janik emphasized. He said this process with the letter from local governing bodies is “a tool that very few communities know about or have used.”

Janik also said aesthetics – a desire by the town to keep certain coastlines clear of private docks and piers – can be part of a harbor management plan.

Gagne said, “So we don’t have a problem down the road if we need to perfect this.”

Janik offered his assistance moving forward. The MAB will review the harbor plans from Harwich, Chatham, Marion, and the state certified plan from New Bedford/Fairhaven as they work towards improving the language in Mattapoisett’s harbor plan.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for July 30 at 7:00 pm in the Mattapoisett Town Hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

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Jennifer A. Hall

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Jennifer A. Hall, 36, of Boston died July 5, 2015 unexpectedly in Boston.

Born in Weymouth, the daughter of Jean D. (Tetley) Hall of Mattapoisett and the late Roger W. Hall, she was raised in Whitman and lived in Plympton, Mattapoisett and Boston.

Survivors include her mother; her son, Nathan Hall of Mattapoisett; a sister, Jeanine Hall of Marshfield; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Her Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 10th at11 AM in the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Burial will follow in Cushing Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the charity of ones choice. For directions and guestbook, please www.saundersdwyer.com.

Academic Achievements

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American International College (AIC) in Springfield, MA has named 461 students to the Spring 2015 Dean’s List. Dean’s List students are full-time students with a grade point average between 3.3 and 4.0. Included on that list are:

– William Coucci of Mattapoisett, majoring in Occupational Science, has been named to the Spring 2015 Dean’s List at AIC.

– Maxwell Risch of Marion, majoring in Nursing, has been named to the Spring 2015 Dean’s List at AIC.

Dylan Jones of Rochester, Massachusetts, recently attended Aviation Challenge at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, home of Space Camp and NASA’s official Visitor Information Center for Marshall Spaceflight Center. The week-long educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students and adults with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and decision-making.

Dylan was part of the Aviation Challenge MACH III Program, a program specifically designed for students who have an interest in military aviation and the mechanics of flight. Trainees spent the week training with a team that flew a simulated F/A-18 fighter jet. The crew learned critical land and water survival skills and mastered Top Gun flying maneuvers. Dylan and crew returned to land in time to hear retired Space Shuttle astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger speak at their graduation.

Greg Sethares, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bristol Community College, has announced the Dean’s List for Spring 2015. Tri-Town students named are:

– From Marion: Mihaela Battaglia, Linell R. Dean, Julie L. Geller, Dylan G. Glavin, Evaline Macfarlane, and Chelsea J. Seiders

– From Mattapoisett: Grady M. Branagan, Amina Cherifi, Hayleigh A. Dumas, Kylie L. Faison, Diana M. Paine, Jeffrey Paquette, and Collin R. Stellato

– From Rochester: Michael Baldwin, Patrick J. Bessey, Evan M. Costa, Joshua M. Cunha, Jessica L. DePrato, Caroline T. Reusch, Ryan J. Stopka , and Amber Viera

Laura Morse of Mattapoisett has been named to the Spring 2015 Dean’s List at Merrimack College. To achieve Dean’s List status, a student must earn a 3.25 GPA or higher based on a 4.0 grading scale.

Jonathan L. Morton of Mattapoisett has been named to the Dean’s List at Western New England for the spring semester of 2015. Morton is working towards a degree in Accounting. Students are named to the Dean’s List for achieving a semester grade point average of 3.30 or higher.

The following students have been named to the Dean’s List at the University of New Hampshire for the spring semester of the 2014-2015 academic year:

– Jessica Lowe of Marion has earned Highest Honors

– Ross Lacasse of Mattapoisett has earned Highest Honors

At the University of Rhode Island’s 129th Commencement on Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, about 3,200 undergraduate and 660 graduate students became the University’s newest alumni.

The following Tri-Town students were awarded undergraduate degrees from the University of Rhode Island:

– Christine Jane O’Donoghue of Rochester received a Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders Cum Laude

– Lilli V Paknis of Marion received a Bachelor of Arts in French, Journalism Summa Cum Laude

The following Virginia Military Institute cadet was among the 756 cadets who were recently named to the Dean’s List for the second semester of academic year 2014-15. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a cadet must have a term grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and no grade below C. Nicholas M. Nadeau a junior from Mattapoisett is majoring in International Studies. Cadet Nadeau’s parent is Ms. Leanne M Nadeau.

Friends of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail

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The bike path project team is anticipating hitting another milestone next month: review of our proposed boardwalks should be complete leading almost directly to 75% construction and the beginning of permitting phase. The project is on schedule for construction to begin in 2016, and all construction funding is in place. Please come to our Harbor Days booth on July 17 and 18 to learn more.

In related news, The Summer Bike Challenge is in full swing. All you have to do is register on the website with your zip code and all your miles add to your Town’s team. Towns all along the South Coast Bikeway route are competing against each other for bragging rights. Individuals are competing for an array of prizes. Marc Anderson is the leader for May and June across the state. There are winners every month, so you aren’t too late to compete for honors in July and August. Go to southcoastbikeway.com to learn more or nationalbikechallenge.org to register.

Chaperones ‘Survive’ Year After Year

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The annual Survival camping trip is one of the most notable features of the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School experience. Each year since 1973, a large group of seventh grade students has traveled up to the hills and forests of Northfield, MA for a week of hiking, climbing, exploring, and learning about the great outdoors. This year’s trip departed on Sunday, June 14, and returned on Saturday, June 20.

As a byproduct of the Survival experience, many former participants continue to take the trip as chaperones. Noah Tavares, a rising junior at ORRHS, Jared Wheeler, a rising senior, and Evan Tilley, a rising sophomore, are among the students that travel up to Northfield each year to aid the seventh graders. Jillian Higgins was one of the many students who participated in this year’s trip. She, Wheeler, Tilley, and Tavares shared their experiences post-Survival.

This was Noah Tavares’ third year as a chaperone. For him, it’s all about seeing the seventh graders live up to Survival’s motto.

“I enjoy seeing the seventh graders succeed, and helping them achieve the many goals that the trip sets for them,” said Tavares. “[One of the best benefits of Survival] is watching the seventh graders unite and empower their fellow classmates to overcome challenges.”

Speaking on his best Survival memories, Tavares mentioned the great mountain views in Northfield that “we don’t get down here near the ocean.”

Wheeler has now been a Survival chaperone for four consecutive years. He had an interesting take on Survival’s effects on junior high culture.

“For one week, all the cliques dissolved and became friends,” he said, reflecting on his initial voyage as a camper in 2011.

Wheeler’s best memory – so far – is lying under stars with a group of fellow chaperones this past year. He called the experience “surreal.”

Survival has had a big impact on Wheeler.

“The friends I have made will last a lifetime, and the gratitude of the kids and their families makes it all worthwhile,” said Wheeler.

Tilley enjoyed being a chaperone for the first time in 2014, so he returned this year.

“I think it’s a good experience that creates lots of memorable moments and makes you appreciate your daily lifestyle,” said Tilley.

Tilley acknowledges that Survival has had a profound impact on him as a person.

“I’ve learned how to become more supportive, helpful, and optimistic,” he said.

All three of these chaperones plan to continue with the program in the future.

As any past Survival participant knows, climbing the Notch Mountain is one of the most physically challenging parts of the trip. Seventh grader Jill Higgins noted that this was the one thing she was nervous about before heading up to Northfield this year. However, when asked what her favorite part of the experience was, she said it was “the feeling of accomplishment and the great views at the top of the Notch.”

Like many before her, Higgins wasn’t sure what to expect on the trip.

“The hardest part was preparing, because you didn’t know what was coming,” said Higgins.

In Higgins’ experience, the most important lesson Survival taught was “learning to encourage and support the people around me.”

The mission statement of the Survival program is “A shared road to a stronger self.” Each and every year, Survival instills great values into the students who participate, allowing them to achieve this goal. For this group of chaperones, the lessons taught by Survival have left a lasting impact, causing them to come back each year. Higgins’ experiences resonate with the mission statement, and as 40+ years of Survival participants can tell you, the program does make a person stronger: mentally, physically, and emotionally.

By Patrick Briand

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Munro Preserve Cleanup

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Members of the Mattapoisett Land Trust invited the public to help remove weeds on Saturday morning from the Munro Preserve at the town wharves. A new bench was donated to the site by Alice McGarth in memory of her husband. Photos by Marilou Newell

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