Gateway Youth Hockey

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Pee Wees: Gateway Pee Wees were fit to be tied this weekend when they faced the No. 1 Pembroke Cyclones on Saturday and the No. 2 Walpole Express on Sunday. Both games ended in 3-3 tie leaving Gateway in third place with what should be an exciting and competitive post season right around the corner. All of the players poured their hearts into the weekend games and goalies Jake Smolinsky and Ryker King both stood out with game-saving stops.

Middle School: The Middle School Jr. Vikings had a good vacation week, coming away with two victories. In their first game on Thursday, against second place Franklin, they pulled off a shocker with a 6-5 win. They were down 2-0 after the first period but managed to even the score in the second period, with Robert Maloney putting in a rebound off a Jake Smolinsky shot, and Zach Barris taking a feed from Quirino doCanto and depositing the puck in the back of the net. With the score tied at 2, going into the third period, goals came in a flurry for both teams. Franklin opened the scoring, followed by doCanto less than thirty seconds later. Franklin added two more goals and doCanto matched them, with assists coming from Seth Tomasik, Barris (2), and Tyler Lovendale. The score would remain tied until Tomasik capitalized on a Franklin turnover and beat the goalie with a hard wrist shot, just inside the circles, with 18 seconds on the clock. Alex DeMarco played great in net to earn the victory over a Franklin team that had easily beaten the Jr. Vikings two weeks earlier.

In the second game of the week, against first place Medfield, the Jr. Vikings took home a decisive 4-1 win. Tomasik started the scoring early in the first, with the assist coming from Robert Ramsay. doCanto would add a goal on an assist from Lovendale. Less than two minutes later, Ramsay would add an unassisted goal to put the Jr. Vikings up by three after the first period. The score would remain the same until the third period, until each team added a goal, with Jack Martins scoring the fourth for the Jr. Vikings, assisted by doCanto. DeMarco had a number of great saves in net to get his second win in as many days.

Massachusetts Primary Election

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To the Editor:

The League of Women Voters – Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester – encourages all registered voters to take part in the Massachusetts primary election on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Voting will take place in each town’s normal polling locations from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Those enrolled in a party (Republican, Democrat, Green or United Independent) must vote by using the ballot of their party. Unenrolled voters (No Party) can vote with the ballot of any Massachusetts recognized political party.

All voters eligible to vote in the Super Tuesday primary must have registered by February 10. Absentee ballots are available from Town Clerks until noon on February 29 and must be returned by mail or in person no later than the close of the polls at 8:00 pm on March 1.

As an additional convenience Auto Mark, equipped with headphone and pen, will be available at the polls for the visually impaired.

Nancy Braitmayer, Marion

 

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.

Marion Candidates’ Night

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Every spring, prior to Marion’s town elections, the Tri-Town Area League of Women Voters sponsors a Candidates’ Night where citizens can meet and hear the views of candidates running for town boards and committees. This year, Candidates’ Night will be held on Thursday, April 28 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Music Hall.

Candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and to present their reasons and credentials for running for office. There will be time for questions following the presentations.

Nomination papers are currently available at the Town Clerk’s office for interested candidates. They must be returned by 5:00 pm on Friday, March 25. The Town Elections will be on Friday, May 13 at the VFW Hall on Route 6.

Rochester Women’s Club Events

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The Rochester Women’s Club is holding a Left – Right – Center Fundraiser to benefit our Scholarship Fund. This event will be held at The Ponderosa Sportsman’s Club, 242 Robinson Road, Acushnet on Saturday, April 16 at 7:00 pm. Rochester Women’s Club will provide snacks and there will be a cash bar. Call Dee for more details at 508-763-4748.

The Rochester Women’s Club is again sponsoring a Town-wide clean-up event to celebrate Earth Day. Please come to our clubhouse at 37 Marion Road, Rochester to pick up trash collection bags and gloves on Saturday, April 23 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Coffee and donuts on a first come, first served basis. In conjunction with this event, The Rochester Land Trust will be collecting old electronic items, also at 37 Marion Road from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Among the accepted items will be computers, monitors, appliances, and TVs. If it has an engine, motor, or can be plugged in, it’s electronic trash and can be dropped off. A fee will be charged for certain items. Call Norene at 508-763-3628 for more details on this collection.

Stay tuned for more information on our third annual yard sale to be held at our clubhouse on Saturday, June 18. We are beginning to accept donations of items to sell. If you are doing any spring cleaning and have some items to donate to our sale, please call Yvonne at 508-763-4979.

FinCom Wades Through Wastewater Woe

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Marion Finance Committee members were curious about the future of the town’s wastewater treatment plant while discussing the operations budget for the Department of Public Works on February 17 and asked DPW Superintendent Rob Zora to update them. Zora had nothing positive to say about it.

The average sewer user in Marion could see their bill double in the foreseeable future. Triple, even, according to Zora, should the worst-case scenario arise.

“I don’t know what that is just yet,” said Zora, “but there will be an increase, no question about that.”

The Water and Sewer Commissioners, along with the three selectmen, will likely place an article on the Annual Town Meeting, Zora said, asking for $1.5 million to start the planning and design process for lining the three wastewater lagoons at the plant – something that must be done whether or not the EPA grants the town its new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which is less stringent than the original draft calling for the elimination of the three lagoons.

“It’s gonna be very expensive for this town, and I don’t know how we are gonna afford it,” said Zora.

We are talking millions of dollars, Zora emphasized. And every time they run the numbers, he said, it looks bleaker by the tens of millions.

“Regardless of what is in that permit, we are gonna line those lagoons – unless we challenge it,” said Zora.

In addition to the planning and design, Zora said it will cost another roughly $3 million for the membrane lining of the 20 acres of lagoon. And that does not take into account the disposal of the existing sludge at the bottom of the lagoons – at least another $3 million, he added.

“We are being held hostage and it’s not good for the town,” said Zora. All of these unfunded mandates, he said, “I don’t know how we’re gonna fight it. I don’t know how people are going to afford to live in Marion…. I don’t see any answers.”

Finance Committee Chairman Alan Minard offered up a few wastewater-related puns to keep the conversation from sinking into despair.

The group also discussed the sewer’s 450 or so low-pressure grinder pumps that propel the wastewater from residents’ houses toward the main gravity lines leading to the plant.

“This is steadily becoming a problem,” Zora said. With frequent breakdowns, Zora said the department has spent $40,000 in the last six months making repairs.

The pumps, according to Zora, generally have a 15- to 20-year lifespan. The pumps, though, are only about 9 to 10 years old.

“I think it’s time we turn it around on the residents and say, ‘Hey. We carried it for ten years. Now it’s up to you to take it for the next ten,’” said Zora, after one of the FinCom members wondered why residents already do not hold responsibility for their operation.

Minard asked Zora if there were any areas of any of his budgets from which they could cut to help make up for a half a million-dollar shortfall in the town’s overall budget.

Finding very little, Minard said he wanted to explore chopping back the utilities budget a bit, given the difference in gasoline prices and the new electricity aggregate program which has dropped electricity rates by a few percentage points.

“Is this the area where we could roll the dice on a little bit?” Minard asked Zora. Zora agreed, and Minard assured him that, if utilities costs were to rise, the budget would be restored.

The next meeting of the Marion Finance Committee is scheduled for February 24 at 7:00 pm at 13 Atlantis Drive.

By Jean Perry

 

Academic Achievements

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Virginia Military Institute cadet Nicholas M. Nadeau, a senior from Mattapoisett majoring in International Studies, was among the 735 cadets who were recently named to the Dean’s List for the first semester of academic year 2015-16. 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.

Mattapoisett Council on Aging

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To the Editor:

On behalf of many senior citizens in Mattapoisett, I would like to personally thank the Mattapoisett Council on Aging for providing transportation for us to go on Sunday, February 14 to the Dartmouth High School to attend the concert “Love is in the Winds” performed by the Tri-Town Symphonic Band. The second half of the concert presented Jesse Holstein, who is concertmaster of the New Bedford Symphony. He is an excellent violinist. He performed Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in the concert. What a wonderful way to spend a very cold Valentine’s Day. Again, all of us who attended thoroughly enjoyed the concert and thank everyone for putting it together and performing.

Ilona G. Langhoff, 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.

Upcoming Programs at the ETL

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Story Time for Children: Story time will be held at 10:30 am on Mondays, now through the end of March. Children of any age and their families are welcome to join us at the Elizabeth Taber Library for a story and craft. Please call the library at 508-748-1252 or email Libby O’Neill at eoneill@sailsinc.org to register.

Puzzle Saturdays: Join us through the month of February on Saturdays at 11:00 am to do a puzzle at the Elizabeth Taber Library.

Henna Program: Middle school- and high school-age youth are invited to join us at the Elizabeth Taber Library for an exciting, free henna program on Tuesday, March 1 at 3:30 pm. After a basic overview in the art of henna, Heather Caunt-Nulton will give each participant a henna tattoo. Henna is a plant-based dye that safely stains the skin for 1-3 weeks. Space is limited. Please call the library at 508-748-1252 to register. For ages 12-18.

Mystery Book Club: Please join us for our monthly mystery book discussion on Wednesday, March 2 at 11:00am. We will be discussing Nobody Dies in Hollywood by John Wilder. Please stop into the Elizabeth Taber Library today to register and reserve a copy of the monthly book.

Afternoon Book Club: Please join us for our monthly afternoon fiction book discussion on Tuesday, March 15 at 2:00 pm. We will be discussing Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards. Please stop into the Elizabeth Taber Library today to register and reserve a copy of the monthly book.

St. Patrick’s Day Senior Luncheon

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The Friends of the Council on Aging will host the St. Patrick’s Day Senior Luncheon on March 17 at 12:00 noon in the Knights of Columbus Hall. This event is for all Mattapoisett seniors and members of the Friends of the COA by calling the COA at 508-758-4110 to sign up for Matt’s Corned Beef Luncheon and some lively Irish music brought to you by Rick LeBlanc. Tickets will be reserved for you, which you will receive when you arrive at the KofC.

Rochester Signs Compact with State

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Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito was in Rochester on Thursday, February 19 to join Selectmen Chairman Richard Nunes in signing a Community Compact, a voluntary agreement between the Baker-Polito Administration and the Town of Rochester to implement one out of a list of seven best practices.

This Community Compact Cabinet, the first executive order from Governor Charlie Baker, aims at elevating the administration’s partnerships with municipalities throughout the state and allows the governor’s office to work more closely with city and town leaders. Governor Baker said when he signed the executive order that the Community Compact Cabinet “gives cities and towns a real seat at the table” in the Baker-Polito Administration.

“We wanted to signal right out of the box that we are an administration that values the work that is being done at the local level. You’re on the frontlines,” Polito said, motioning to the employees seated before her. “We wanted to signal to you that we wanted to be your partner and that we support you in the work that you do each and every day. It’s about community partnership.”

From the practice areas of education, energy and environment, financial management, housing and economic development, information and technology, regionalization/shared services, and transportation and citizen safety, Rochester chose to build on its recent adoption of its “Right to Farm” bylaw under economic development.

“You basically can’t spin around [in Rochester] without seeing a cranberry bog,” said Town Administrator Michael McCue before the Town Hall meeting room packed with town employees, officials, and residents. “We’re so invested in this community and agriculture…. The cranberry business is really the lifeblood of the Town of Rochester and many of its residents.”

Nunes said the town chose to enter into the agreement with the state because, “The Town of Rochester is always trying to be more efficient and improve our service and government.”

Polito congratulated the Town on its choice to enter into the compact, commenting that she understood that the last thing any town needs is another unfunded mandate. The town decides on which best practice to implement, and the town in return is eligible for certain state-funded grants, as well as “bonus points” towards grants that could benefit the town at the regional level.

“You have a very unique community. I could see quite clearly in my times passing through what a beautiful community it really is,” said Polito. “To choose a best practice around the Right to Farm bylaw is very appropriate for you … We want to reward communities that are working hard to do things right.”

Rochester is the 150th municipality in Massachusetts out of 351 that has signed the Community Compact within a year’s time.

“Which tells you that there was a need to have this kind of positive compact and program come into place,” said Polito.

Today is a good day, Polito said before she and Nunes took their pens to sign the document.

“We appreciate what you do each and every day, and [we want] to assure you that you have a strong, reliable partner in our administration, and this compact is just one more way we can mark a milestone of success for you,” said Polito. “But success is never final. There’s always more to do, so I look forward to being able to do that with all of you.”

By Jean Perry

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