Like The Tiny Mustard Seed

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Little Sophia Crippin of Marion has big ideas. She may not recognize or understand just how big her ideas are, but like the parable of the tiny mustard seed, her idea is growing into something quite big.

Sophia’s aunt Jess Solimini of Marion has been on two mission trips to Haiti with Love in Motion, a nonprofit organization that has helped the Haitian people, and more specifically the Haitian children, as they continue to recover from catastrophic natural disasters.

Solimini’s trips were the topic of many family gatherings as well as subject matter discussed at their church, South Coast Community Church in Fairhaven.

And don’t little children hear everything.

Sophia recently told her mother she “just wanted to help” the children of Haiti, children she had seen in pictures and heard about from her aunt.

Mom K-Leigh Crippin wasn’t sure how to help Sophia put her good thoughts and desire into real action. But that is when they hit upon the notion of using her piggy bank. As Mom tells it, “People are always giving her coins for her piggy bank,” so why not take that change to make change – change that could impact so many children in that far-flung nation.

Sophia was delighted with the idea and, like a tiny mustard seed, a big idea has grown.

In the few weeks that Sophia has been collecting change, the total as of March 19 was $235. Her mother said that she had posted Sophia’s idea on her Facebook page and, with the aid of social media, the word spread coast-to-coast.

“We teach her that helping others is the right thing to do,” said the Crippin parents.

As for Sophia, she said, “I want them to have what I have,” adding, “I want to be kind.”

For more information on how you can help Sophia’s campaign “Change for Change,” visit South Coast Community Church’s Facebook page where you can view a short video of Sophia and her change jar or call Love in Motion at 603-532-8321. Donations via check may also be made to Love in Motion, P.O. Box 70, 257 Dublin Road, Jaffrey, NH 03542 and write ‘Sophia’s Change for Change’ in the memo line or visit http://loveinmotionhaiti.org/donatetoday/ to make an online donation.

By Marilou Newell

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Spring Break Training

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As the snow begins to melt and the weather gets a little warmer, spring shows clear signs of approaching Tabor. The end of winter means the start of one of the prettiest and most exciting times of year at Tabor. Spring, to students, means swimming or sunning by the waterfront, discarding tights and boots in favor of sandals, dining outside and, of course, the start of the spring sports season.

Before this season kick off at Tabor, however, the teams gather all across the country – and the world – to bond as teams and begin practicing together. They learn how to work together, hone their skills, and have a lot of fun together as they practice far away from their usual fields.

Baseball plays in Florida, and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse takes on Disney, practicing and playing against other teams. On their off days, they got the chance to explore the theme park and relive some childhood fun together.

“Having done the Florida trip all four of my years at Tabor, I feel like it helps the team bond,” says Molly Little, a captain. “I remember coming as a freshman. I was really scared going in to lacrosse season, so the Florida trip really helped me calm my nerves and get used to playing with a high school team.”

A real benefit of the trip, she says, are the games that they play in Florida.

“It’s great that the team gets to play together before some tough games in the regular season,” Little said. “So we can all figure out how to play together.”

In Clemson, South Carolina, the boys’ and girls’ crew teams gathered to row together. The teams each rowed twice a day, once in the morning and once in late afternoon.

“The conditions were amazing,” said senior Ellen Park. “It was so warm and so great rowing in the calm water. We all bonded, too. On the last night, we had a cookout for both the girls’ and boys’ program, and the whole trip was really fun.”

Senior Theo Warren agrees, saying that “the cookout was a great way to end the trip.” He loved spending six days with his teammates.

“The best part is spending time with the team and really getting to know the new kids,” said Warren. “The rowing was incredible, too.”

The sailing team spent their spring break across the Atlantic, in Ireland.

“It was an amazing time in an amazing place,” said team captain Nathalie Cavallo. “The top four teams (two from Ireland and two from U.S.A. – including us) were neck and neck for the most part.”

While this was the beginning of Tabor’s sailing season, the Irish and British teams sail all year around and were finishing up their season.

“It was a super exciting start to the season and a great way to test our skill,” said Cavallo. “They’re at their peaks, so we definitely had a lot of competition.”

Every team had a rewarding trip during which they created a strong team dynamic while playing the sport they love. As spring break winds to a close, the athletes are incredibly excited to head back to campus, ready to put into practice the new skills they learned. Equally important, they’re returning as teams, ready to tackle the season together.

By Madeleine Gregory

 

Thoughts on: Endings and Beginnings

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To the Editor:

Thoughts on: Endings and Beginnings.

The first year of the 60s would be a year of change in Mattapoisett. Of course, you could still get your shirts cleaned for 20 cents at Bush Cleaners and they would clean your American flag for free. A gallon of milk was 49 cents at Sylvia’s Market. A haircut at Al’s Barber Shop was only $1.25. If you fished, Dick Cobb’s bait shop on the wharf would hook you up with the best worms in town. The Grange Hall’s activities dominated the Presto Press’s weekly coverage. The library was open three days a week from 2:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm. And, you could still buy (or steal) penny candy at E. A. Walsh’s General Store across the street from Center School.

But it was the beginning of the end for that venerable old school’s junior high. A new … as yet un-named … junior-senior regional school was under construction. The Class of 1961 would be the last 9th Grade to graduate. The final 56 to call Center School their alma mater.

There would be no more field days or science fairs. Mrs. Root’s History Fair with students dressing up as famous inventors, presidents and explorers would be no more. No more Mrs. Delano’s lunches. The legendary shooting range in the basement where the boys would hone their marksmanship and learn how to safely use a 22 caliber rifle would disappear, and the girls would no longer learn to sew in the room next door.

Lou Corey’s Manual Training class, where everything a boy would ever need to learn would exist only in old men’s memories. Like the time all the boys came to school dressed in red pants (perhaps a foreshadowing of the future when the new school’s colors would be red) only to be sent home by the principal with orders to change into something more appropriate.

That would not be the last time the boys sartorial style would cause changes. In a noble gesture, the 9th grade male contingent decided that to honor the school and show respect for its history they would wear ties for the remainder of the year, a gesture the administration would notice and later pass on to their cohorts at the new school who would institute a dress code that made tie wearing mandatory.

The basketball team would play their last game. The Marion team with Bill Garcia and Roger Quelette high scorers and Tony Mello and Ronnie Barrows leading the defense defeated the Bill Gerry-led Mattapoisett team 48 to 45. Soon they would all be teammates and fast friends. Football would disappear, too. Though not an official school team, we did wear old leather helmets and shoulder pads from the 1930s found in the storage room next to the clock tower of the school … and generously donated by the Center School administration. The team got trounced by Dartmouth Junior High and disbanded when the coach suddenly left town.

In June 1961, we would gather at the front stairs of the school, boys in our suits and girls in their white dresses, to have our picture taken as 62 classes had before us. The final class of Center School would gather on the tiny stage of the auditorium for the last time. Ann Figueredo would be named class valedictorian, and Sue Perry would cry a flood of tears into my loaned handkerchief.

In September, we would be off to a new school, now called Old Rochester Regional, which was a wonder. It was big and bright and clean with separate stairways, ones to go up and ones just to go down. It had a cafeteria that didn’t double as a gymnasium and a library so big that half the shelves were empty. And lockers to store your coats and books. There were seven sports teams, not just one. Of course, the dress code with its mandatory ties was enforced and even the lengths of the girls’ skirts were measured to be sure they were below the knee. Everyone rode to school on brand new busses, and you had to ask for something called a hall pass just to go to the bathroom.

By the time we graduated in 1964, there would be more unexpected changes to come to the students, the school and to the three towns that supported Old Rochester Regional School. Walsh’s General Store would be torn down and Cobb’s Bait Shop would be replaced by Suzan’s Fish Market. A gallon of milk cost 95 cents and Sylvia’s Market would eventually become a house. Center School would one day be rebuilt to hold only Grades 1 to 3 and new beginnings for yet another generation.

Dick Morgado, 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.

A School Day Like Any Other

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Spring has begun to peek its head out from behind the cold, dark days of winter storm clouds. The temperature is rising, and small flower buds are poking their way out of the soil to greet the warming sun with their small green shoots.

Nature isn’t the only thing adding a little color to the environment to cheer up the cold winter landscape. Across the Tri-Town, decorations of bunnies and flowers and vibrantly-colored eggs are popping up everywhere. Easter is around the corner.

As Easter gets closer, one is reminiscent of the time when Old Rochester decided to hold school on Good Friday. This was a very controversial topic in the Tri-Town for quite a while, but now that some time has passed, the question arises, how do the students at ORR feel about attending school on Good Friday?

First, however, it must be explained why school will be in session on a day that students would traditionally have off. It started two years ago, when the joint school committee [a school committee that consists of member from each school, from the elementary schools all the way up] decided last year to hold school on the Friday before Easter. Principal Michael Devoll explained how it happened.

“I think that the school committee wanted to show equity because we don’t take any other religious holidays off,” said Devoll. “So there are Jewish holidays that we are in school for, so the feeling was that to be equitable, we would be in school for the Catholic holidays as well.”

Many students and community members believe that the switch was made for the sole reason of allowing students the day before Thanksgiving off, but this is not necessarily the case, as Devoll explained it.

“What the school committee tried to do was create a school calendar that maximized student attendance,” Devoll said. “For example, that used to be a half day, but it was a poorly attended half day, so they decided to make it a day off in exchange for a full day later in the year.”

That full day ended up being Good Friday.

But the school ran into a few hiccups last year regarding student attendance. When reporting to the superintendent last year’s attendance, the high school could boast the highest teacher attendance of the Tri-Town’s public schools. But the students of ORR were not as cooperative about coming into school.

The high school also held the lowest student attendance of the Tri-Town schools, with about 20 percent absent. Devoll explained why he believed the attendance was so low.

“I think one of the things that happened last year was that there was a perception out there that it was an optional day of school,” said Devoll, “and kids ran with that and told their parents it was optional, but it’s a day of school, so we fully expect everyone to be in school, and we will follow our normal attendance procedure.”

This year, students were reminded that attendance for this Friday is not optional. But that doesn’t mean the school is forbidding students from being absent. They may be excused as long as they follow Old Rochester’s excused absence guidelines.

Devoll explained the attendance policy for Good Friday: “Absences can be excused, so students have to refer to the handbook as to what constitutes an excused absence. Just staying home is not an excuse because it’s Good Friday. Going to a religious service would be excused.”

But how do students feel about having school on a day that had always been a day off? When questioned, the majority of the students at Old Rochester held the same opinion – most students didn’t seem to mind at all.

It seemed to be fair, as Erin Costa explained.

“I don’t have an issue about school being held on a religious holiday because we already go to school on religious holidays,” said Costa. “We go to school on Jewish ones, so it’s reasonable to me to go to school on Christian ones.”

Mary Roussell felt similarly.

“If there is going to be no school on a particular religious holiday, there should be no school for other religious holidays,” Roussell said. “Since that is pretty unrealistic, I think it’s fair to have school on Good Friday.”

Many students appeared not to have observed the day before the change, so the switch didn’t have much of an effect on them, as Emma Cadieux explained.

“I’m not religious at all, so to me it just feels like an extra day off. I don’t feel that having the day off or not having the day off is really not important to me.”

The switch may even be helpful for students, as Costa explained.

“Now we get the day before Thanksgiving off which is nice because that has always been a wasteful school day,” said Costa. “Since school used to be shortened the day before Thanksgiving, I don’t remember doing anything in any of my classes.”

And although attendance has been a problem in the past, prospects look bright for better attendance this year, as some people who didn’t attend school previously are planning on attending this year.

Senior Eli Kovacevich said, “Last year, I decided to bring in a note to get out of school, because traditionally, regardless of religion, everyone got to stay home from school. I changed my mind this year to preserve the authenticity of Good Friday for people who religiously celebrate it.”

Other students are planning on attending school in order to stay caught up on their work, said Costa.

“I do plan on going to school because the masses to celebrate Good Friday aren’t until after school ends,” she said. “Also, because of the snow day on Monday, my hard day is now on Good Friday so I really can’t miss school.”

For the students of ORR, school on Good Friday appears to have become relatively normalized, and most students have accepted their required attendance on that day. As for the school committee, they will be anxiously waiting for the attendance rate results in order to determine if having school on Good Friday will raise student attendance in the grand scheme of things.

By Sienna Wurl

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Bogs in Mattapoisett Sunday Stroll

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Take a Sunday stroll at The Bogs in Mattapoisett with the Buzzards Bay Coalition on April 3. Enjoy the beauty of nature in spring on a free guided walk with the Buzzards Bay Coalition at The Bogs in Mattapoisett on Sunday, April 3 at 1:00 pm.

On this walk, you’ll learn about the history and ecology of The Bogs, part of the Mattapoisett River Reserve. A Buzzards Bay Coalition property, this special place hosts diverse wildlife and habitats, including retired cranberry bogs.

The walk is free and will run about an hour. Participants should meet at the parking area at 138 Acushnet Road in Mattapoisett.

“Sunday Strolls” take place on the first Sunday of each month at a different conservation area in the region. These walks are part of the Coalition’s Bay Adventures series that are programs designed for explorers of all ages to get outside and discover Buzzards Bay. To learn more about all our upcoming Bay Adventures, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org/events.

Registration is required for all Bay Adventures. To RSVP online, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org/events or contact the Buzzards Bay Coalition at 508-999-6363 ext. 219.

Making Mattapoisett Beautiful Inside and Out

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When it comes to making a town beautiful as well as functional, it takes a consortium of talents, resources, and, well, imagination. That is just what is taking place in Mattapoisett.

Town Administrator Michael Gagne, at the behest of Selectman Paul Silva, has begun exploring the idea of a ‘community garden’ for Mattapoisett.

Gagne said the Town of Dartmouth had established a community garden where residents could grow their own vegetables or flowers for their personal use. On March 22, he received permission from the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen to invite the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust to discuss with the Mattapoisett Land Trust and the town’s Agricultural Commission the finer points of developing this type of community program.

On the topic of infrastructure, Gagne said the Massachusetts Department of Transportation joint transportation planning group may have funds available through what he called a “fifth year” of funding roadway and similar projects.

Gagne said Mattapoisett was one of four towns invited to present their project to the JTP, and the group moved to list the Mattapoisett village roadway project for possible funding. The group will be voting on the list of projects in April.

He said that the town will have to pony-up $300,000 for the mandatory 25 percent of engineering costs the DOT will require for the roadway project.

“It’s not a cheap endeavor,” Gagne said. He also said that Chapter 90 monies and debt exclusions will work together to help fund the $4.5 million needed to complete the project.

Highway Surveyor Barry Denham was on hand to present the current state of roadway and infrastructure improvements. He anticipates that Barstow, Cannon and Pearl Streets will be completed by the summer of 2017. The work will include water, stormwater management systems, sidewalks and paving.

On the subject of sidewalks, Denham said existing pink granite curbstones would be conserved and reused wherever possible in the village. Where such stones are not available, matching curbs will be sourced.

“So it stays more in character than the modern ones,” he said. ”These fixes are 50 plus year fixes,” Denham assured the selectmen.

Continuing on the theme of town improvements, Gagne said the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District, known as SRPEDD, will assist the town in developing a municipal projects list.

Gagne felt their efforts would best be applied to the section of Route 6 between Main and North Streets. He said the service doesn’t cost the town anything, and he foresees a planning strategy that includes private business owners and leaders along with the town to discuss and develop plans for the future of this business sector.

Earlier in the evening, the selectmen met with Freeman Bauer to discuss his Eagle Scout project. Bauer outlined a community event, a dog walk-a-thon, to raise about $1,000. The monies he said would be used to help make structural improvement at a Fairhaven animal shelter. Bauer said the event will take place rain or shine on August 27 between 8:00 am and noon. After reviewing the walking routes, the plan was approved.

The selectmen also met with Bill Haley, president of the Mattapoisett Lions Club. Haley requested permission to use Shipyard Park on June 11 for a “Spring Field Day” to promote awareness of childhood diabetes, healthy eating habits, and exercise. He said support materials would be made available to attendees. The selectmen voted to approve the request.

Fire Chief Andrew Murray met with the selectmen to discuss updating fees for services rendered by the department. A list of fees will be reviewed with Gagne. The selectmen voted to approve the suggested increases and changes, such as eliminating the $10 open burning permit and a $75 fee for radio box connections.

The selectmen also held the annual meeting of the Tri-Town Herring Committee. Art Benner reported that it appears the moratorium will “stay in place until the state comes up with a management plan.” He asked permission to send a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries to request permission to replace the fish counter at the ladder. That request was approved. Benner said that they have manually counted 3,841 herring since the run began.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for April 12 at 7:00 pm in the town hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

Night Train From Wickford

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You took the night train from Wickford. I knew you would. We had discussed it without saying anything out loud. I knew you were going when your eyes moved under closed lids as I told you I was there and everything was okay, you could go if you wanted to. We had done everything you asked of us. There was really nothing left to do.

They were saying that sometimes people in your situation waited for permission to leave, others waited for loved ones to arrive, or loved ones to leave, or just for everyone to shut the hell up so you could get on with it. I think you wanted us to shut the hell up because it was time and your train was arriving soon.

You were always so ready for the next best thing coming down the pike. That is, after you shrugged off the small town girl aura and went with “I am woman, hear me roar,” and all those other mantras that a changing social scene allowed us. It was the 1970s and we would be heard.

You were that ingénue, that woman of her time, changing times and you’d be the best you could be. And if you failed, so what? There was the next thing and the next thing and the next until something stuck for sure. I mean, after all, there was time on your side.

You were so beautiful. Maybe you knew you were beautiful, but you never flaunted it. You always took the time to tell others they were “looking good.” You could have been a model, pilot, interior designer, photographer, chef, or fashion maven of haute couture. What you were was a very good friend.

You liked people and conversation, art in any form, boots and heels, silk and cotton.

In the ‘70s, you wore the mini-dress and pixie hair cut. In the ‘80s, there were the perm and shoulder pads. In the early ‘90s, trousers with pleats and tailored camp shirts and then in the 2000s, knit separates in monochrome colors with chucky accessories and scarves screaming with color. You were always in style.

For decades, you loved in a non-committable way. You weren’t sure about marriage and all that meant in terms of one’s investment, body and soul. And if you couldn’t give it, you wouldn’t expect it either. You were honest nearly to a fault. You’d take care of yourself. You’d be all right.

You bought the house of your dreams. You knew you’d live there happily ever after. When the bottom fell out and you were in a freefall, you did so without casting dispersion on others. When you landed, a hard landing, you began immediately to build a ladder back to the top. You were so brave.

We talked about everything and planned for when things would look up again, and if they didn’t, well then, you’d still be okay. You hid the pain, most of the time. You wanted to talk of current events, the latest fashion trends, the book you were reading, the recipe you tried, and what was new in my life. No one epitomized ‘grace under fire’ more than you did.

Then the cancer came. As if you hadn’t already proven your mettle.

You wouldn’t be defined by it. You were absolutely devastated, but you would not let the same thing that had torn your beloved sister from you tell you now who you would be.

They gave you a year, maybe. You didn’t hear that. Instead, you elected to be deaf to the drumbeat that was already counting down the days.

A few weeks ago, you told me you thought you’d be able to beat it. I never understood the depths of your denial, the unadulterated innocence. You were that “it” girl with the world before you, not behind. I never loved you more than I did in that moment.

I visited you with your brother the day you decided to leave once and for all, ticket in hand. True to yourself to the end, you left when we weren’t looking.

Today, I heard a train in the distance. I knew you were leaving another station, somewhere on the planet or elsewhere. From now on, every time I hear a train I’ll think of you and hear that Beatles song “She’s got a ticket to ride…” I’ll wave in acknowledgement and accept the gift you left for me at the train station.

By Marilou Newell

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Gateway Youth Hockey

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Squirts: Gateway Gladiator Squirts faced Norwood on Saturday for the last of the three-game series of the Yankee Conference playoffs. In the first period, Ty David Ribeiro put the points on the board with two goals, one unassisted and the other assisted by Brayden Hathon and Thomas Clavell.

In the second, Ribeiro added three more goals for Gateway with assists by Brady Kidney, Jacob Hebbel, Benjamin Hebbel, Matthew Paling, and Clavell. Norwood was able to squeeze one by Goalie Thomas Leger who was making key saves this game.

In the third, Lucy Murphy and Lucas DeMoranville put the pressure on Norwood and Ribeiro came through to score one more assisted by Hathon and Kidney giving Gateway the win 6-1. Next stop, the Championship Game!

Pee Wees: The Gladiator Pee Wees knew that Sunday’s game was a must-win, and they came out strong against Walpole Express Black who they had not been able to beat during the regular season. Winning this game would put them in the Championship, so the Gladiators played this game as though it was the championship. Stephen Old put Gateway on the board first with a defensive rush. Walpole evened it up at one each in the second, but Gateway’s Ben Demoranville scored two more to put Gateway up by two. Walpole hit back with two more of their own to tie the game at three. Gateway took back the lead in the third with a goal by RJ Vickery and fought through the final minutes when Walpole pulled their goalie for the extra skater. The final buzzer sounded to cheers, and the Gladiators move forward to the Championship Game after the 4-3 win.

Middle School: The Middle School Jr. Vikings had a tough weekend after some time off, losing two games to Taunton. In the first game, Taunton took it to the Jr. Vikings and just outplayed them on every aspect. The Jr. Vikings went down early in the first period and just couldn’t get any momentum going. They did manage to tie the game up early in the second period when Quirino doCanto put home a goal assisted by Tyler Lovendale and Bethany Davis. That would be the closest they would get as Taunton peppered goaltender Alex DeMarco with shots, beating him twice again in the second. Robert Ramsay added a goal early in the third, assisted by Lovendale and doCanto, but Taunton added two more, making the final score 6-2. DeMarco played great in net, keeping the Jr. Vikings in the game as well as he could.

In the second game against Taunton, the Jr. Vikings played a little better but still came away with a tough luck, 3-2 loss. The Jr. Vikings actually jumped out to an early lead when Robert Ramsay stuffed home an unassisted goal. Taunton would tie it one minute later and the first period ended that way. Taunton struck first in the second period, but with a little over a minute left in the second period, the dynamic duo of Tyler Lovendale and Quirino doCanto struck again with some great passing, and Lovendale put home the goal. The game-winning goal came down to a penalty shot due to a Jr. Vikings player covering the puck in their own crease. Alex DeMarco made a valiant effort on the shot, but couldn’t quite make the save, not taking away from his brilliant day in net though. Jake DeMoranville also had a great day in net, saving all but two shots on him.

Mattapoisett Lions Club Triathlon

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Registration for the Mattapoisett Lions Club Triathlon to be held at 8:00 am on July 10 is now OPEN, and for the first time in 30 years, it will be USAT sanctioned! Proceeds benefit local families and charities. Register today! http://www.lightboxreg.com/mattapoisett-lions-triathlon.

Mattapoisett Town Scholarship

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The Town of Mattapoisett will be offering a scholarship to a resident high school senior who is planning to attend an accredited college in the fall.

The following information will be required:

  1. Clinical transcript including class rank
  2. Professional letter of reference (teacher or counselor)
  3. Extra curricular activities
  4. Financial need
  5. Community service

Applications are available in the guidance offices of all local high schools and must be returned to the Town Hall by May 6.