Twelve Minute Meeting

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With Town Administrator Mike Gagne unable to attend and a light agenda, the March 10 meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen lasted all of twelve minutes.

Coming before the board were Bruce Rocha and Jodi Bauer, organizers for the Pilgrim Sands Trail Riders Club, to request use of the Town’s landfill for upcoming events.

Rocha said the club is planning two events in Mattapoisett for May 31 and September 27. He said the May event would bring in about 100 entrants from the surrounding area. The September event will be larger, he said. In cooperation with New England Trail Riders Association, a regional group, the September event might bring in as many as 250 riders and supporters.

“We’ll have an ambulance and police detail at the events,” said Rocha.

Rocha and Bauer also asked if the landfill area could be used for overnight camping on the evening of September 26, since some of the participants will be traveling from as far away as upstate New York.

“Some people will be arriving in travel trailers and motor homes that will be self-contained and we will be there to supervise also,” said Bauer. She anticipates about 20 campers and motor homes.

Selectmen Paul Silva asked that the club check in with Mattapoisett Police Chief Mary Lyons and to work closely with her department. Their requests were approved.

The board also approved requests from Ruth Joliffe to use the public parking area at Town Beach on April 16 between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, and again on June 13 between 6:00 pm and 11:00 pm for a garden club event and the annual Rotch-Jones-Duff House benefit dinner.

The selectmen also voted to approve the appointment of Marilou Newell as a member to the Council on Aging to a three-year term.

The selectmen also signed a short-term bond request for the Cove Street sewer project in the amount of $250,000, as approved by Town Meeting vote.

The annual cat and dog rabies clinic will be held on March 29 between 10:00 am and noon at the Mattapoisett Fire Station. The fee is $15 per animal. All animals must be properly restrained, with dogs on leashes and cats in carriers. Dog licensing will also be available for $12 for spayed and neutered pets.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for March 24 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

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Louise D. Shanahan (Phinney)

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Louise D. Shanahan (Phinney), 69, of Vero Beach, Florida (formerly of Marion) died peacefully Sunday, March 1, 2015 at her home after a brief illness.

She was born April 9th, 1945 in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Vincent and Mary Phinney. She had been a resident of Vero Beach for twelve years, coming from Marion, Massachusetts.

Louise was a loving mother and a great friend to many over the course of her life. She was an avid gardener like her own mother and a voracious reader.

She is survived by her son, Michael Shanahan and his wife, Sherry, of Falmouth, MA; her daughter, Kimberly Noonan and her husband, Russell, of Marion, MA; two sisters, Marie Oser of Roslindale, MA and Kathleen Monica Phinney of Milton, MA; her brother, Thomas Phinney and his wife, Rachel of Milton, MA; six grandchildren, Samantha, Meghan, Brooke and Cameron Shanahan; Nicole and Russell Noonan, Jr.; and one great-granddaughter, Layla; and her former husband, Richard Shanahan of Marion, MA. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul Phinney, Sr. of Hyde Park, MA and John Phinney of FLA.

The family is particularly grateful to Louise’s sister, Marie, who provided loving care during her final weeks.

A Funeral Service was held on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 9AM at Holy Name Church, 1689 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA. Memorial contributions may be made to Cops for Kids with Cancer at https://www.crowdrise.com/copsforkidsboston2015/fundraiser/michellewilliams9. Louise’s niece is running in the Boston Marathon for this worthy cause. On-line condolences may be made at www. coxgiffordseawinds.com.

Mattapoisett Free Public Library News

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Around the World with Foreign Coins: Have you ever found a foreign coin and wondered where it came from and how much it might have been worth? Learn about coins and bills from Paula Cobb on Saturday, March 14 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm.

Research, draw, write and be creative: The first session will be for research, and the second session will be coin presentation and party! Work alone or with your friends. For children ages 9 and up. Please register in the Children’s Department or by calling 508-758-4171.

Weekend Whiz Kids: A new preschool Science Storytime is being offered at the Mattapoisett Library for children age 3-5. Learn about Rainbows, Clouds, Rain and Wind on four Saturdays beginning March 14 from 10:30 to 11:15 am. (Story time will not be held on Saturday, April 4.) Celebrate spring with fun facts about weather. The library is located at 7 Barstow Street.

Friends’ Book Sale: The next Used Book Sale and Bake Sale will be held Saturday, March 14 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Mattapoisett Library’s downstairs meeting room. Many new selections for adults and children have been added since the last sale. Used books are also available for sale every day upstairs near the side entrance of the library.

Create and Bind a Nature Journal: Students in Grades 6-8 are invited to The Children’s Art Lab on Sunday, March 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm to learn bookbinding with artist Benares Angeley. The Tri-Town libraries are sponsoring this free workshop as part of the My Own BackYard outdoor nature project, federally funded through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Learn to make a nature journal for writing and drawing, and bind it using artisan-style stitching. Space is limited. Please sign up at one of the Tri-Town libraries (Marion 508-748-1252, Mattapoisett 508-758-4171, or Rochester 508-763-8600). The Children’s Art Lab is located at 92 North Street, next to Uncle Jon’s Coffees.

Sweeney Todd Preview

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Starting on April 9, the ORR Drama Club will be putting on their final production of the year – an adaptation of the classic musical Sweeney Todd, based on the famous urban legend. The play runs through Sunday, April 12, and as always, is directed by Paul Sardinha.

Juniors Kyle Costa and Emily Faulkner play the lead roles of Sweeney Todd and his accomplice, Mrs. Lovett. The play also stars juniors Victor Morrison, Lexi Melloni, and Holly Frink, and seniors Michael Amato and Isaiah Kidney.

For Costa, Sweeney Todd will be a production he will always remember.

“This is one of my favorite plays,” said Costa. “It’s so cool taking on the lead role, and it’s different than anything I’ve ever done in drama.”

The role is truly different, one of the most unique that Drama Club audiences will be treated to this year. Kyle describes his role as “a man charged for a crime he didn’t commit, who escapes prison, and becomes a murderer.”

The best thing about Sweeney Todd, in his opinion, is the play’s genre.

“[The best thing about the play is] the fact that it’s a dark comedy,” said Costa. “Without spoiling anything, there’s moments when you’ll be laughing, and there’s moments when you’ll be gripping your seat.”

Fellow star Emily Faulkner has a special connection to the play.

“This is really special to me, because I’m playing the lead role in my dad and grandmother’s favorite show,” Faulkner said.

When asked if her role as Mrs. Lovett was one of her favorites, she said, “It’s the most fun I’ve had with a character, but also the most trying.”

Mrs. Lovett is the lead character in the play, opposite Sweeney Todd. According to Emily, “She is in love with Mr. Todd, and is willing to do anything for him, including feeding into his psychotic killing spree.”

Like Costa, Faulkner received the part she auditioned for, and it seems that both actors are adjusting well into their demanding roles.

Evan Roznoy is used to being one the Drama Club’s main on-stage talents. The junior has a penchant for acting, but for the production of Sweeney Todd, he’ll be trying his hand at something new.

“I’m working as a follow spot,” Roznoy explained. “I’ll be operating the spotlights and following the actors around onstage.” Roznoy saw the opportunity to be on the crew as a great way to experience a new part of the Drama Club.

“In my decision to be a stagehand, I really just wanted to try something new,” said Roznoy. “Being a lead can sometimes be overwhelming, but I wanted to be involved in Drama Club in any way possible,” he said.

He is excited to see the action unfold on stage, however, as he commended the selection of Sweeney Todd for the Spring Musical.

“It’s got a really dark atmosphere, so we had to get it approved and do a toned-down version,” Roznoy said. “It has lighter elements, but it’s definitely not a feel-good play.”

As far as this school year goes, Roznoy’s best memories were made during the winter production of It’s A Wonderful Life. He played the lead role of Mr. Potter in that production, and he commented that it was “great to see the audience’s reaction to such an empowering character.”

Coming on the heels of the Drama Club’s teaser performance at the Winter Pep Rally, anticipation is building for Sweeney Todd. The cast is really gelling, the crew is working hard, and the play should be another entry in a long line of successes for the Drama Club. Be sure to catch Sweeney Todd in the ORRHS auditorium when it opens on April 9.

By Patrick Briand

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Marion Energy Management Committee

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To the Editor:

After a two-year journey through the potholes and pitfalls of applying for a building permit, the Sippican Community Solar Garden® Cooperative cleared its final hurdle on February 26, 2015. Construction actually began in late December when the permit was originally approved by the Building Inspector, but a cloud shaded the project when the Planning Board appealed the permit, alleging the need for a site plan review. The Zoning Board of Appeals denied this request, and the project is now emerging under clear blue sky.

Progress had been rapid until Mother Nature stepped in, blanketing the north-Marion construction site in many inches of snow. As more hospitable conditions arrive, the installation should be completed in short order. Fortunately, this project faces no obstacles in connecting to the power grid, as the substation that serves it has available capacity, unlike the solar garden being planned for Marion’s capped landfill. Shares in the solar-generated electricity from the Sippican project – called SunRights™ – are already available for purchase by residents and businesses throughout the local area served by Eversource (new name for NSTAR). Each SunRight™ costs $5,000, which entitles the owner to receive discounted electricity worth at least $7,200 over 10 years. The discount is applied directly to one’s regular electric bill. If Eversource’s price of electricity continues to rise, so will the return on each Sunright™. Nearly three-quarters of the shares have already been spoken for, though, so if you’re interested in purchasing one or more, don’t dawdle. More information about the program and obtaining shares can be found on the project website: http://www.sippicancommunitysolargarden.com. An informative article about community solar farms blossoming around the country is available here: http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2015/03/07/new-concept-in-solar-energy-poised-to-catch-on-across-us/.

Norm Hills and Jennifer Francis

Marion Energy Management Committee

 

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.

Gateway Youth Hockey Tryouts

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Gateway Youth Hockey Tryouts will begin on March 30 at Hetland Arena in New Bedford with the Squirts (birth years 2005- 2006) at 6:30 pm and Middle School (Grades 6-8, 2015 school year) at 7:30 pm. On Wednesday, April 1, Bantams (birth years 2001-2002) will go on at 6:00 pm and Pee Wees (birth years 2003-2004) at 7:00 pm. On Friday, April 3, Midgets (birth years 1998-2001) will go on at 7:00pm. There is a $100 tryout fee due at registration. All players must register before trying out for a team. Registration can be done online or on the day of tryouts. Please bring tryout fee on tryout date. For more information, email qdocanto@msn.com.

Elks Student of the Month

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The Elks of Wareham Lodge No. 1548 sponsors the Elks Student of the Month and Student of the Year Awards for students enrolled in local area high schools. The criteria used in nominating a student includes a student who excels in scholarship, citizenship, performing arts, fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school and community service, industry and farming.

We congratulate Senior Brittney Santos of Rochester for being selected by the Old Rochester Regional High School faculty and staff. Brittney is a motivated student who has self-advocated to be placed in higher-level classes and has been very successful. She has worked 20 plus hours a week for the past two years to help finance her upcoming college education. Brittney has shown true grit with her determination in reaching her personal goals.

Airlines in America

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The Sippican Historical Society’s 2015 lecture series continues on March 26 with the topic, Airlines in America: Past, Present & Future – A Pilot’s Perspective. This interactive lecture by pilot Ric Teves will explore the exciting evolution of the airline industry in America. Just over a century ago, on January 1, 1914, the world’s first scheduled commercial airline flight took place in St. Petersburg, Florida. One commercial passenger flew on one commercial flight, across Tampa Bay. By contrast, on January 1, 2014, an estimated eight million people flew on nearly 100,000 flights. The annual global view is staggering. IATA (International Air Transport Association) statistics indicate that more than three billion people flew in 2014, representing roughly 44 percent of the world’s population. The international aviation industry now supports more than 57 million jobs and generates $2.2 trillion in economic activity, including the transport of more than 50 million tons of cargo each year. What does America’s piece in this puzzle look like, how did this evolution take place in our country, and what does it portend for the future?

The presentation, to be held at the Marion Music Hall (164 Front Street) at 7:00 pm on March 26, is offered free to the public, with no reservations required. Ample parking is available across the street at Island Wharf. A certified flight instructor since 2003, Mr. Teves has worked in general and corporate aviation and, most recently, as a First Officer for a regional carrier. His presentation represents more than 10 years of research on the domestic airline industry. For more information, contact the Sippican Historical Society at 508-748-1116.

County Road Concerns Top Talks

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Jacqueline Schmidt and Lilia Cabral of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) met with the Rochester Board of Selectmen on March 9 to discuss any needs the board felt Rochester had related to transportation including bike paths, road changes, public transportation, and more.

“We’re here tonight to get your take on what you’d like your transportation system to look like,” said Schmidt.

The board asked the representatives if they had any knowledge regarding County Road in Rochester. According to Town Administrator Michael McCue, several years ago there was an effort to extend Route 58 past Interstate 195 onto County Road.

“That road is in a constant state of disrepair,” McCue said. “My understanding is Wareham was in favor of it, the Town of Rochester was in favor of it, but there may have been some hesitation on the part of Marion. I don’t want to speak out of turn, but that’s my understanding.”

He asked if there was any way to increase movement on this plan with the help of SRPEDD. He said that this was one of the biggest transportation concerns the board had at the moment. Reclassifying the road as part of Route 58 would secure state funding for the road’s upkeep.

“It’s a major feeder road, and it’s not designated as a major feeder road,” Chairman Bradford Morse said. “It’s a back country road that gets a lot of traffic.”

Cabral recommended the board send an official request to SRPEDD on that subject.

Selectmen also requested information on general transportation trends in the area.

“There’s been a lot of bicycle planning that’s been going on, especially with the South Coast Bikeway,” said Schmidt. “There’s been talk in the past of Rochester tying into that.”

The South Coast Bikeway is a planned bike path that would connect Providence, RI to Provincetown through 13 communities. According to Schmidt, some projects in Mattapoisett, Fall River, New Bedford and Dartmouth have already been completed.

“It’s gaining a lot of momentum,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt and Cabral also presented a transportation survey, which can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/regtransplan. The survey will help them develop their regional transport plan.

In other matters, McCue updated the board on the fiscal year 2016 budget, saying that there has been a great deal of effort put into the budget, but progress is slow.

“I wanted to say we continued work on the budget,” McCue said. “The meetings are, if not daily, then they’re every other day. We’re making very, very slow progress towards our goal.”

McCue said it is still “extremely difficult,” despite some minor adjustments in the right direction … “However, it’s taking an awful lot of work,” he added.

Also during the meeting, McCue said that the Planning Board has made some changes to the draft for Annual Town Meeting warrant and asked for comments on it. He said that it was open to amendments until March 23.

McCue also told the board he would like to see Rochester become a Tree City USA.

“I would like the Board of Selectmen to consider an official proclamation for Arbor Day,” McCue said. “The reason for such is I’d like to see the Town of Rochester receive recognition as a Tree City USA.”

One of the requirements is that the Board of Selectmen gives an official proclamation. McCue plans to present a plan to the board at a later date with the help of Eversource. There would be no cost, as the labor involved would come from volunteers.

McCue reminded the board and the general public that the seats for appointed boards and committees are due to expire on April 31, and anyone interested in applying for a board or committee position should put in a request to selectmen prior to that date.

Under correspondences received by the board: The Town will conduct a rabies clinic on April 7 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at the Rochester Grange.

The annual Tri-Town herring meeting will take place on March 24 as part of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen meeting.

Selectmen also voted to approve the extended Sunday hours of Adrian’s Package Store located at 711 Mary’s Pond Road in Rochester to 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for March 16 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Andrew Roiter

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Welcoming Spring with Walkabout Wednesdays

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You know you are itching to get outdoors to catch a whiff of springtime air, so maybe you would like to meet up with a group of the fellow spring-starved and explore the outdoors together while learning a bit about the local habitats and history.

The Buzzards Bay Coalition is offering a new program for the month of March called “Walkabout Wednesdays,” which are guided tours through local conservation lands to promote exercise for the body and mind and share knowledge of history and the ecology of the Southcoast region.

Tanya Creamer, one of the coalition’s Commonwealth Corps environmental educators, is hoping you would enjoy a quiet fresh-air morning walk through the woods with her starting on Wednesdays from 9:00 to 10:00 am.

“Our target audience is an older audience who enjoy long, leisurely walks,” said Creamer, although all ages are welcome. She chose properties with terrain that is even with wide trails, “just kind of a nice, quiet walk to do every Wednesday.”

On March 18, the group will meet at West Island State Reservation in Fairhaven, and on March 25 the group will explore Wildlands Trust’s Rounseville II Preserve on Mary’s Pond Road in Rochester.

“Walking outdoors is great exercise for your body and mind, and on this walk you’ll also learn about history and ecology along the way,” said the BBC.

These walks are free to the public throughout the rest of the month, and dogs are welcome to come along, too! Registration is required, so RSVP with Alicia Pimental by calling 508-999-6363 ext. 226 or via email at pimental@savebuzzardsbay.org.

“The snow is melting, so definitely bring waterproof shoes or boots,” said Creamer. “People can bring cameras and binoculars because this is a really good chance to see wildlife and landscapes.”

The Wildlands Trust’s Rounseville II Preserve is 48.3 acres off Mary’s Pond Road. The trailhead is located at the ball fields, behind the back corner field, straight ahead from the entrance.