“What’s the Big Deal?”

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During the March 17 meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals, the hearings were easily handled with nothing complicated or contested – that is, until the final hearing of the night.

David and Deborah Epstein, practicing massage therapists who were seeking a special permit to allow an accessory use within a residence, came before the board.

The Epsteins plan to open a therapeutic massage practice at 26 Fairhaven Road. The 23,522 square-foot parcel four-bedroom home with six parking spaces, Epstein felt, was the perfect location to house both family and business.

Representative for the Epsteins, Richard Charon, detailed for the board members plans to renovate a first floor bedroom for treatment rooms and update a bathroom. He also cited local zoning bylaws that allow homeowners, as a matter of right, to conduct certain businesses within their residence.

Such businesses as dressmaking, babysitting, hairdressing, and professions of medicine are all viewed as acceptable types of businesses conducted from owner-occupied residences.

However, there were concerns aired by two abutters, concerns primarily around increased traffic flow along Route 6.

Cheryl Belknap, 34 Fairhaven Road, was the first to speak up, saying her concerns were the high rate of speed employed by drivers utilizing the highway.

“There are no traffic lights from Fairhaven to Mattapoisett,” said Belknap, which she said was the reason motorists ignored posted speed limits. She suggested the applicant work out a plan with the dental office abutting the property so the Epsteins’ clients could use an already-established curb cut.

Gail Kaloplastos, 32 Fairhaven Road, echoed concerns about rates of speed along the state roadway, and fear that increased traffic would be dangerous to children using bus stops nearby. Kaloplastos questioned the hours of operations for the business and quizzed Charon on the business model submitted by the applicant.

Dr. Janine Crifasi, who is not a Mattapoisett resident, said she had looked into buying property along the Route 6 corridor and then proceeded to pose a number of questions to the applicant, the board, and Charon.

Her questions centered on the proposed business and whether or not it could be permitted based on the business model presented.

After nearly 20 minutes of questioning from Belknap, Kaloplastos, and Crifasi, ZBA board member Kenneth Pacheco said with an edge of frustration, “What’s the big deal?”

Pacheco said there are businesses on Route 6 and countered that, although there had been accidents along the roadway, it wasn’t “overbearing.”

Board member Anthony Tranfaglia said, “Other business areas are worse.”

Chairman Susan Akin said, “They are within their right.”

After establishing what the hours of operation would be, the number of parking spaces, and the appropriate type of signage and associated lighting, the board members unanimously approved the requested special permit.

An earlier hearing for Phil Goyette’s application for a special permit to demolish an existing structure and build a new single family home at 11 Mattapoisett Neck Road was approved.

Norma Klein, 4 Indian Avenue, received a special permit to construct a two-story garage, as did Richard Patten, 21 Marion Road, for the construction of a single-family home and over-sized garage.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals will be held on April 21 at 6:00 pm in the Mattapoisett Town Hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

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Shaun P. Evans

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Shaun P. Evans, 29, of Fall River died March 19, 2016 unexpectedly at Charlton Memorial Hospital.

Born in Hyannis, the son of Patrick Evans of Somerset and the late Kristin (Wisenor) Evans, he was raised in Fairhaven and Rochester before moving to Fall River.

Full of love, Shaun appreciated the simple things in life. A movie, a song, or a smile would make his day. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially on holidays. He was also beloved by his many friends at Lifestream and his roommates at Wilson Road. Thanks to Shaun, his loved ones have an extensive knowledge and appreciation for family movies. Beginning with Disney, ending with Children’s Television Workshop, and encompassing everything in between. Shaun loved his movies. When not enjoying his VHS tapes, Shaun loved the water and bicycling. Many of his summer days growing up were spent swimming from dusk till dawn. His favorite number was “3″ and his favorite letter was, coincidentally “S”. Shaun truly loved and appreciated the small things in life.

He was close to his mother, Kristin, and strong for his family after her death in 2010. He always said she was a star looking down on him in the sky. Now he will join her leaving a timeless impact on all who knew him.

He attended LifeStream Program.

Survivors include his father; his step-mother, Karen Arruda; 2 brothers, Timothy Evans and Nathan Evans, both of Fall River; his step-brothers, Joey and Jim Arruda, both of Somerset; his step-father, Rick Pittman of Connecticut; a step-sister, Anna Pittman of California; his maternal grandmother, Anne Wisenor of California; his extended family at LifeStream; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was the brother of the late Colleen Evans.

His Funeral Service was held on Friday, March 25th in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett. Burial followed in Mosswood Cemetery in Cotuit. Visiting hours were held on Thursday.

Lois Peckham Burden

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Lois Peckham Burden passed away on March 16, 2016 a few weeks after a fall at her home in Taunton. She recently celebrated her 98th birthday.

She is survived by her four children, Marsha (David) Kelley, Linda (Gerald) Monchik, Brenda (Daniel) Paull and Debra Lezama. She has 14 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. She was the widow of Dr. C. Nason Burden to whom she was married for 72 years and supported throughout his busy orthopedic practice. She also is survived by her brother, Malcolm Peckham and sister, Jean Peckham Smith.

Mrs. Burden was brought up in Westville and spent her married life at 3 Prospect Street, Taunton. A graduate of Taunton High School and Smith College, she proudly displayed her diploma above her kitchen stove. Lois lived a life devoted to her husband, children, and community. She took an active and leadership role in many organizations, including serving on the board of the Morton Hospital Auxiliary and chairing its annual Heart Ball. She also volunteered many hours to the Summer Street School PTA. She and her husband were founding members of Edgewood Club in Raynham.

Lois belonged to the Taunton Garden and Women’s Clubs, and had a Bridge Club whose members shared dear lifetime friendships. At the First Parish Church, she served on the Prudential Committee, president of the Couples’ Club and Women’s Alliance and for many years, co-chaired its annual Antique Show. For many years, she also taught Sunday School there. She was an accomplished club tennis player, (starting when she was in her forties and playing into her eighties!) and organized matches at the Sippican Tennis Club, Marion. In Crescent Beach, Mattapoisett, she organized Whist Parties and Coffee Hours, insuring that community connections stayed vibrant. She loved sitting on the front porch of her summer cottage with iced tea and a “goodie” sharing the summers’ magic with her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

In addition, the family is most appreciative of the many health care workers who cared for her in her home and most recently, at Adams’ House in Fall River.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Visitation which will be held in the Crapo-Hathaway Funeral Home, 350 Somerset Ave., (Route 138 South), Taunton, on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, from 4-6PM.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063 or to the Crescent Beach Improvement Association (CBIA), Box 552, Mattapoisett, MA 02739.

Brothers to Run Marathon for Mom

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Deborah Bullerjahn of Marion loved to run. If there was a marathon, she would run it. Her running shoes hit the ground and kicked up the dust on all seven continents, including Antarctica for a marathon that just didn’t feel like the full 26.21875 miles, so she returned again to run it another year. Nothing could stop her, not even cancer, at least for a little while.

Bullerjahn’s sons Lucas, 32, and Kyle, 29, remember the corner in Wellesley near their childhood home where they would stand as kids waiting for their mom to run by racing towards the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

“We’d always watch from the same corner,” said Kyle on the phone in San Francisco where he now lives. His brother Lucas, in New York City, was also on the three-way call.

No one knew that, years later, the brothers would visit home from college to stand on the same corner to surprise Bullerjahn as she again ran the Boston Marathon in 2007, one year after her rare form of appediceal cancer went into remission. She would raise $65,000 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that race.

Bullerjahn was diagnosed in 2003 and underwent months of cancer treatment.

“It was a shock to everyone in our family,” said Kyle. “She was by far the most healthy in the family. A big part of my mom felt betrayed by running.”

Bullerjahn started running after all three of her children were born. She picked it up casually as a way to get back into shape until at one point it turned into a passion. Eventually, she became one of the first women to ever successfully run a marathon on every continent. Bullerjahn literally ran around the world.

“My mom was an amazing woman,” said Kyle. “She was just an amazing mother.” She loved them dearly and she pushed them hard to accomplish what they set out to do. Now they push themselves to achieve their goals, something Kyle said the two brothers really take to heart. “And now we encourage each other.”

It was Kyle’s idea to run the Boston Marathon this year in honor of their mother, and the two are running the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge to raise money for a cure. They will be in Marion that weekend with their sister Mackenzie, 33, and their father, who still resides there.

“Marion was an extremely important place for our family,” said Lucas. “Some of my first memories are tied to Marion. We would spend every summer there. My dad was an avid sailor.”

Lucas remembers spending summer days riding his bike to the General Store, taking sailing lessons, and going to the beach.

“It was always a dream for them to eventually move to Marion,” said Lucas. “It was a beautiful thing that they were able to do that. It gave me some comfort in knowing that she was able to live the final days of her life living where she loved.”

Bullerjahn’s cancer returned more aggressively in 2008, and on September 20, 2010, she lost her second battle with the disease.

“Although you may never meet my mom,” said Kyle, “you are able to know her through me.” Her smile, her positivity he said, “It’s something I carry with me to this day.” Running the Boston Marathon, the brothers agreed, was the perfect way to honor, remember, and feel closer to their mother.

Neither has ever run a full marathon, but throughout the months as they train on their own, they reflect while running, their feet falling on the footsteps laid out for them by their mother who did more than walk the walk when it came to serving others and giving back to those who are in need.

“That’s a big part of how my mom lived her life,” said Lucas. “It was her mantra – give back to the people that needed it.” He remembers times she would take the children to Rosie’s Place in Boston to serve food in the soup kitchen. She taught them to live healthy, push yourself as far as you can possibly go, and be the best person you can be.

“I couldn’t have thought of a better way to tie all these things together that my mom instilled in me,” said Lucas. “To run this marathon, to push myself, and be the best person that I can be.”

Kyle and Lucas have a goal to raise $25,000. You can help them reach it by visiting the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge fundraising page set up in Kyle’s name at www.runDFMC.org/2016/bullerjahn.

On April 18, Lucas and Kyle will pass that same corner in Wellesley where they would stand, waiting and watching for those precious seconds when their mom would run by them, smiling at them as she always did.

“I’ll never forget how big of a smile my mom would have running towards us,” said Kyle. “I always enjoyed that moment. One of those moments in my mind when I felt how proud I was that she was our mom.”

By Jean Perry

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Rochester Resident Arrested for Animal Cruelty

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Rochester Resident Arrested for Animal Cruelty

Rochester Police Department

Press Release

As the result of a state required animal and barn inspection conducted Tuesday afternoon, March 22, Rochester Animal Control Officer Anne Estabrook uncovered a farm with deplorable conditions and sick and dead animals.

Estabrook reported her discovery to the Rochester Police who in turn opened a criminal investigation for animal cruelty.

Rochester Police Detective Donald Kemmett applied for and was granted a search warrant for the property located at 953 Walnut Plain Road in Rochester. Detective Kemmett, Sgt. Robert Small, and Officer Robert Nordahl executed the search warrant at 5:42 pm; they were also assisted by the Animal Rescue League of Boston, Rochester Animal Control, and a Portuguese-speaking officer from the Middleboro Police.

Investigators found 23 animals, which included dogs, pigs, cows, goats, and rabbits living in deplorable conditions. The animals lacked adequate food and shelter, were housed in pens filled with mud, garbage, and feces; all appeared to be malnourished, many were sick and one baby cow was found dead on the property.

The pigs were being fed co-mingled garbage, which did not appear to have been cooked first as required by law. Two unlicensed dogs were also located on the property.

A veterinarian had to be called to the scene to care for and feed the animals. The vet determined that the animals were all suffering from neglect and were in various degrees of suffering. She felt that some of the animals were near death and that one baby cow would likely die overnight.

While on the scene, officers observed numerous violations of health and building codes so the town building inspector and Board of Health agent were called to the scene.

The Rochester conservation agent also responded to the scene to investigate potential wetland violations.

During the execution of the search warrant, the property owner arrived on scene. With help from the Portuguese-speaking officer from Middleboro Police, investigators confirmed the animals belonged to him.

After brief questioning, police arrested a 41-year-old male on 21 counts of animal cruelty, which is a felony. Each count carries a sentence of up to seven years in state prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. After his arrest, Pacheco agreed to surrender all of his animals.

Lt. Alan Borgal from the Animal Rescue League of Boston took a dead baby cow from the scene. The cow will be taken to Boston for an animal autopsy called a “necropsy” to determine when it died and how.

Animal Control Officers took the dogs and rabbits to an area shelter.

All remaining animals except for the pigs were removed with the assistance of a local livestock dealer who will attempt to nurse the animals back to health. The pigs were quarantined for health law reasons and will not be able to be removed from the property until they have a blood test done later today by state officials.

If the pigs are found to be healthy, a livestock dealer will remove them. If they are found to be diseased, they will be put down in accordance with law.

The offender was transported from the scene to the Rochester Police Station where he was booked on the charges. He was later released on personal recognizance and is scheduled to appear in Wareham District Court this morning, March 23, for arraignment. He will also be facing action by the Town for various health and building code violations discovered during the investigation.

Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee praised the work of his officers and detective, moving so quickly on this case and putting an end to the neglect and suffering by the animals.

“I could not believe the conditions I saw at this location, it was horrendous.” Magee also praised the team efforts of the state and town officials in this case. “When you put a team like this together, the best possible outcome is achieved. All these disciplines working together put an immediate end to the abuse these animals were suffering from.”

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ORR High School Jazz Band

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The ORR High School Jazz Band is having a great 2016! On Saturday, February 6, they attended the Berklee High School Jazz Festival in Boston, where they were awarded Third Place in their division, missing second by only one point. Senior Shane Fitzgerald and Junior Maxx Wolski were given two of the three Outstanding Musician Awards for the division.

On Wednesday, March 2, the Jazz Band attended the MAJE (Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education) Cape Cod Coastal Festival, where they were awarded a Gold Medal. As Gold Medalists, they will now go to the State Finals this Saturday, March 19. Their performance will be at 10:30 am at Coakley Middle School in Norwood.

The Jazz Band will perform again, along with the High School Chorus, High School Jazz Combo, and the Junior High School Jazz Band at the annual Night of Jazz in the High School Auditorium on Thursday, April 14.

Marion Republican Town Committee

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The Marion Republican Town Committee will conduct its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 5 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall, 164 Front Street. At this meeting, the committee will conduct officer elections and reorganize. The public and new members are welcome.

Habitat for Humanity House Becomes a Home

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On the warm, but breezy day of March 19, the Liggerio family stood on the porch of their new house, watching in amazement as a throng of people filed in and out.

Josh, Christina, daughter Hailey, 9, and son Keagan, 6, celebrated the completion of their Wareham Road home with a flock of well-wishers and volunteers from the Buzzard’s Bay chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Buzzard’s Bay Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Christine Lacourse explained that the Buzzard’s Bay division, which is based in Mattapoisett and has been in operation since 1996, has built nine homes – but this was the first home built in Marion.

Buzzard’s Bay Habitat for Humanity board members Jack and Sandy Beck were honored at the ceremony for their hard work. The two are founding members of the local Habitat for Humanity chapter, and Lacourse stated that they were instrumental in the division’s success. Lacourse announced that the house would be named “The Beck Home” in the couple’s honor.

Representative Bill Straus was also present for the unveiling, and he recalled this time last year when the property was “just a New England bramble thicket.” He spoke of the importance of Habitat for Humanity.

“This provides benefits to those in need – shelter, a roof over their heads – but it also provides secret benefits to the wider community,” Straus said. “It provides a way for everyone to contribute and help.”

Local businesses agreed with him. Local architect Will Saltonstall designed the house, which is a 1,000 square-foot, three-bedroom design.

“There’s a reason this house looks so snazzy,” Beck explained with a laugh. Students of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School drafted the plans. Inside the airy, light-filled house, all of the furniture was donated by a regional furniture store.

Marion painter George Keegan painted the house.

“It’s one thing painting, but another thing to paint a house with a bunch of volunteers!” Beck joked. “But he told me he had a good time.”

Thank-yous to over three-dozen local businesses and several local volunteers were posted throughout the house.

The chosen recipients of a Habitat for Humanity house are required to donate 300 hours of “sweat equity” to the building project, and Josh and Christina were enthusiastic about the entire process.

“I loved working with everyone and meeting everyone new. I just loved the experience,” Christina said.

Keagan and Hailey put time in as well. Christina explained that they would play a game where they received a penny for each nail they picked up.

“I probably still owe them about a hundred pennies,” she laughed.

The entire family has big plans for their new house.

“I’m going to jump on my bed every day,” crowed Keagan cheerfully from his perch on the balcony railing. His father replied, “Actually, they’ve already jumped on the beds.”

But Christina had something a little different in mind. As the cameras clicked, she said, “I’m used to being on the other side of the camera!” An avid shutterbug, she said with a smile, “I’ve been waiting a very long time to hang my photos.”

By Andrea Ray

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Fred C. Danforth

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Fred C. Danforth, 65, Pioneer in the Field of Conservation Finance

Fred C. Danforth, who co-founded the largest private equity firm in the United States devoted to land and stream restoration, died at his home in Mattapoisett, MA, on Thursday, March 17. The cause was gall bladder cancer.

Born in Brewer, ME, Fred graduated from Yale University in 1973. He began his career in finance with Citibank in New York City. He left there to become president of a regional bank in Tulsa, OK. In 1986, he co-founded Capital Resource Partners, a private equity investment firm located in Boston. It was after retiring from CRP in 2002 and purchasing a Montana ranch with a degraded trout stream that Fred found what he often said he was “meant to do,” combining his passion for the environment with his talent in finance.

After two years of stream restoration efforts, the trout, which had been absent for decades, began to return. The robust response of nature to restoration gave Danforth the vision to create the first wetland and stream mitigation bank in Montana. He then co-founded a firm based on his vision that private capital could be marshaled to do large-scale restoration and conservation, work that had been previously reserved primarily for government and philanthropy.

The firm, Ecosystem Investment Partners, based in Baltimore, pioneered a new “ecological asset class” by providing companies and government agencies a more efficient way to comply with Clean Water Act regulations. For Danforth, being a pioneer in this space demanded an unwavering belief in his vision and a fierce tenacity. Today, EIP has over $500 million under management, making it one of the largest sources of private capital for ecological restoration projects in the world.

The same passion and determination that underpinned the foundation of EIP was present in other areas of Fred’s life. The time he spent on several Native American reservations illuminated the struggle young Native Americans face in seeking educational opportunities. A scholarship student at Yale, Fred endowed a scholarship fund to bring Native American students, particularly those from reservations, to the University. He also supported the creation of the Native American Cultural Center, which is now the hub of Native student activity at Yale.

A talented multi-sport athlete, Fred sustained a severe injury to his right eye in a high school basketball game that left him temporarily blind in one eye. Although he had to give up basketball and baseball, he went on to play four years of varsity football at Yale. After three surgeries over seven years by famed Boston eye surgeon Trygve Gunderson, his sight was restored while at Yale. Fred’s son, Trygg, is named after his surgeon.

An enthusiastic fly-fisherman and a determined golfer, Danforth was also passionate about having fun. He maintained that one of his strongest skills was his ability to “shoot a beer” in less than 2.5 seconds. The number of basketball and baseball games he missed played by his sons could be counted on one hand.

In a speech he gave in November to Yale and Harvard athletic alumni, Mr. Danforth talked about legacy, saying, “By this I mean not just the legacy of accomplishment, but the legacy of influence and impact—of how I live my life, how I engage my passions, and the signals I send to my two sons.” As one of the investors in EIP said recently, “Fred’s legacy will live on. Because of his vision, tenacity and enormous heart, we will all benefit from his work. The many thousands of acres he helped to restore, the many miles of streams that are beautiful once again, will be a wonderful testimony to him. We were indeed lucky to have him with us, and to be able to share his passion.”

Fred Danforth is survived by his wife, Carlene Larsson, and two sons, Trygg Larsson Danforth and Pierce Danforth Larsson.

A memorial service will take place April 9, at 5 p.m. at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Fred C. Danforth ’73 Scholarship Fund at Yale University or The Blackfoot Challenge, a non-profit focused on conserving and enhancing the natural resources in Montana’s Blackfoot Valley. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

100 Days Dinner: Seniors’ Last Months

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Every year as graduation slowly inches closer, there are benchmarks to signify that the end of the year is drawing near. For seniors, the whole year is a series of lasts: the last first day of Tabor, last Holderness Day, last Christmas Breakfast. The first event to truly chronicle the depleting time, however, is the annual 100 Days Dinner.

Though actually only 84 days from graduation – including weekends and breaks – the 100 Days Dinner remains a symbol of the end of the year and the need to take advantage of every second Tabor has left. The dinner is exclusive to seniors, and it is a tradition that students look forward to as they move through the grades.

“It made me realize that graduation is getting scary close,” says one senior, Thomas Kelly. “But I’m definitely grateful to have these last days with such good friends. I’m definitely not going to let them go to waste.”

Besides being a reminder of limited time, the dinner also serves as a fun evening for the seniors.

This year’s theme was Jungle Safari. The lobby of Hoyt Auditorium was completely decked out in jungle decorations. There were huge plants, giant posters of jungle scenes covering the walls, zebra balloons, and stand-ups of Tarzan and Jane and various jungle animals with their heads cut out for students to take pictures in.

Seniors made sure to keep with the festive spirit as well. They came in tiger and lion costumes, or donned khakis, vests, hats and binoculars and showed up as explorers.

Students posed in front of posters and next to decorations, capturing memories of the first big Tabor event catered specifically for them.

The options for food, too, were incredible. Parents made and brought the whole feast, and there was a table exclusively for dessert. Pies, cakes, brownies, and more were laid out for students. There was a raffle, too, in which students won gift cards to places from Amazon to local cafes.

“The 100 Days Dinner was really fun,” says senior Karen Morahan. “I loved the theme, and everyone was really into it. I think almost everyone dressed up.”

Despite the fun, everyone definitely felt the urgency that their Tabor careers are coming to a close.

“I’m definitely excited for college,” says Morahan. “But I can’t imagine leaving Tabor. It’s been my home for four years. I have so little time left with my best friends.”

Soon, other markers of moving on – prom, baccalaureate, and graduation – will all get closer. This dinner was, for many, the “beginning of the end.”

Its major purpose was to alert seniors to take advantage of the time they have because it’ll too soon be over.

Some seniors have been at Tabor for four years, and others for one. Regardless, Tabor is something of a second home, one that seniors will soon have to leave. Everyone agrees, though, that 100 days just doesn’t seem like enough.

By Madeleine Gregory