Allison LaCrosse of Mattapoisett has been named to the Dean’s List at Salve Regina University, Newport, RI for the fall semester. She will graduate in May 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Allison is the daughter of Karen Barrows of Mattapoisett and Matthew LaCrosse of Yarmouth and the granddaughter of Betty Barrows and the late Brad Barrows of Mattapoisett and Pam and Bob LaCrosse of Marion.
This week, the sports teams at Old Rochester Regional High School began their postseason runs as the MIAA tournaments started up. Here is a look at the 11th week of scheduled games for ORR winter athletics.
Boys’ Basketball: The first-seeded Bulldogs had the best week out of anyone, cruising to two early-round wins in the Division 3 South tournament to advance to the semifinals. The boys’ first win of the week came against 16th-seeded Apponequet, where they easily defeated the Lakers 79-57. The Bulldogs took a commanding 20-13 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, largely thanks to junior Evan Santos, who played consistently all game and scored a team-high 17 points on the night. Ryan Beatty also played well, notching 15 points. With the win, the Bulldogs advanced to the South quarterfinals, where they faced off against ninth-seeded Hanover. Though there were many rumors swirling that Hanover might undo the Bulldogs (they easily defeated Bishop Stang, to whom ORR lost twice this season), ORR quickly squandered those rumors with an explosive 78-60 win. With the gym filled to capacity, ORR held a lengthy lead for the majority of the game due to a strong offensive performance by the whole team. Four Bulldogs (Santos, Beatty, Will Santos, and scoring leader Jordan Menard) were in the double digits by the final buzzer, and the Bulldog defense also played fantastically, halting any offensive progress by Hanover. The Bulldogs now face off against league rival Wareham in the South semifinals. It marks the second straight year that the Bulldogs have made it this far in the tournament.
Girls’ Basketball: The ninth-seeded Lady Bulldogs saw their season come to a close this week, as they lost to conference rival and eighth-seeded Wareham in the opening round of the state tournament. Despite a tough first half, the girls fought back in the fourth quarter and substantially shortened the point deficit, but it would not be enough, as Wareham advanced to the quarterfinals with the 36-31 victory. Seniors Kaleigh Goulart and Ashley Pacheco led the girls in scoring, recording 8 and 7 points, respectively. Despite the doubts surrounding the team coming into this season, the girls proved ORR girls’ basketball has a strong future ahead of them. The girls graduate three seniors: Goulart, Pacheco, and Morgan Browning.
Boys’ Track: Only one track athlete competed in a meet this week for ORR, but his results were enough to make waves across the ORR community. Senior Kevin Saccone competed in the New England Track and Field Championships, a prestigious meet that is extremely difficult to qualify for, as it features the best athletes from across the Northeast. Despite the tough competition, Saccone held his own and then some, as he conquered the New England title in the 55-meter hurdles by placing first overall with a lifetime-best time of 7.45 seconds. Saccone crossed the line in a photo-finish with Sebastian Silveira from Andover, and it was later determined upon inspection that Saccone had won by four thousandths of a second. This is Saccone’s second New England championship (his first came last spring, when he won the long jump). Saccone also placed well in the long jump, placing fifth overall with a leap of 21’6”. Next up for the track star is the New Balance Nationals Meet, where Saccone will go up against the best athletes in the country.
Ice Hockey: The boys’ hockey season also came to a close this week, as the sixth-seeded ORR/Fairhaven Bulldogs fell 4-2 to 22nd-seeded Bishop Stang. It was an exciting game; after Stang got out to an early 1-0 lead, Fairhaven’s Jeremy Lawton scored an equalizer to tie the game 1-1. Mike Lygren then scored to give the Bulldogs a slight advantage, which Stang quickly squandered with an equalizer of their own. In the third period, Stang managed to sneak one by the ORR defense, and the Bulldogs were never able to recover. The final goal of the game came when a Stang player scored on an open net, as ORR/Fairhaven tactically pulled their goalie. Despite their season being over, the Bulldogs have nothing to be ashamed of, as they finish the 2014-2015 season with a 16-6 overall record.
Below are the overall winter team records, followed by the conference records in wins, losses, and ties as of March 1.
Boys’ Basketball: (19-3-0) (16-0-0); Girls’ Basketball: (12-9-0) (10-6-0); Boys’ Track: (8-1-0) (7-1-0); Girls’ Track: (9-0-0) (8-0-0); Boys’ Swimming: (1-5-0) (0-5-0); Girls’ Swimming: (2-4-0) (1-3-0); Ice Hockey: (16-6-1) (9-1-0).
By Michael Kassabian
SRPEDD Transportation Manager Paul Mission and Jacqueline Schmidt, senior transportation planner, met with the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen during the February 24 meeting to discuss the town’s transportation needs.
After Mission outlined the various state and federal agencies with which SRPEDD networks and the role of SRPEDD in developing plans as diverse as environmental projects to bike paths, he got down to the reason for the meeting.
As part of SRPEDD’s community outreach, and in an effort to hear directly from cities and towns about their most pressing transportation issues, Mission asked for the board’s input. The information from this meeting and others conducted throughout the Commonwealth will be used to develop a new four-year plan as required by the federal government for the state to apply for funding.
Town Administrator Michael Gagne took no time in getting down to the issues faced by residents.
For over three years, he has been attempting to get van or bus transportation from the commuter Park and Ride on North Street to the commuter rail service in Lakeville. In spite of numerous efforts, roadblocks and ruts have derailed those calls for assistance.
Gagne presented Mission with a prepared report requesting once again that SRPEDD assist Mattapoisett in applying for MassRide to establish a van service. His report states that a pilot program could help residents, not only with a reliable mode of travel, but also save them as much as $13,500 per year, a figure he pegged when private vehicles are used to commute to work in Boston. Gagne said that he also sits on the SERTA committee.
“The Southcoast rail won’t be coming for some time,” said Mission. With that commuter option off the table for now, he felt a van service was a good option. A van-pool service would cost the commuter only about $1,900 per year.
Gagne asked for help in applying for the funds to build a secure shed structure at the North Street Park and Ride for those residents who wished to use the van service as a mode of transportation. Gagne said he envisioned enlisting the talents of the students at Old Colony to build the structure and that the students have done “fantastic jobs” in the past.
Several issues associated with Route 6 were also brought into the conversation.
“I’ve been talking about Route 6 for 30 years,” in his role as a town administrator, said Gagne, but to no avail. He said that stormwater discharge was a serious problem that affects shellfish beds.
“Mattapoisett has worked hard to provide quality water,” he said, but once the runoff mingles at Tub Mill and other points in town, it fouls the waters, especially at Eel Pond.
Mission acknowledged the stormwater problems, but indicated that larger cities would see repairs before smaller communities.
The two pedestrian crosswalks dissecting Route 6 were also discussed as a severe safety hazard. Gagne said that deaths have occurred. He said the Town has researched various options for lighting the crosswalks and alerting drivers, but in the absence of financial support and interest on the part of the state, improvements have not been made. They discussed the need for a reduction in the speed limit along Route 6, which is no longer the major corridor for travelers to Cape Cod.
Gagne asked Mission if there would be action items in the report. Mission said that meetings are needed to produce results, but the towns often never hear back from SRPEDD after preparing documents and spending the time to discuss matters of need.
Mission said that once a project is identified, it is studied for viability and then prioritized. He said that with two transportation agencies to deal with, things are difficult.
“What do you do?” Selectman Jordan Collyer asked. “The only thing I’ve seen is the bike path. Where are the tangible results? What are you doing for us?”
Chairman Paul Silva said, “We’ve been asking for three years. Please get back to us.”
Gagne said that more federal funds were needed in order to accomplish even a few of the projects that had been noted.
“We are putting more funds to projects than any other town, but we can’t do it all,” Gagne said. He stressed that Mattapoisett needed more assistance.
Resident Bonne DeSousa came before the board to ask their cooperation in completing the necessary state forms for Phase 2 of the bike path.
“If you are not in the plan, you don’t get anything,” said DeSousa, referring to the process necessary for bike paths to receive state funding. The board voted to complete the paperwork for MassDOT.
Also during the meeting, Highway Surveyor Barry Denham gave a report on snow removal.
With a snow and ice removal budget of $69,000, Denham said his department is presently $44,000 over budget. He said that during the past few weeks his team has removed 184 truckloads of snow, a whopping 66 inches through the month of February.
Gagne said it was important to try and keep the narrow public roadways open for emergency equipment. Also, FEMA was extending the timeframe for applying for emergency financial relief from Winter Storm Juno until February 22. He anticipates receiving $26,000 in funding. The board voted to approve snow and ice deficit spending.
Denham also thanked his crew saying, “If it wasn’t for the commitment of those guys, we couldn’t do the job.”
In closing out his comments, Denham said that during a recent meeting he attended with MassDOT he was told that there isn’t any money to make repairs to Route 6.
Gagne then reminded the board and the public of the MassDEP public hearing for the proposed Goodspeed Island private pier by Daniel DaRosa.
The hearing will be held at Old Hammondtown School on March 5 at 7:00 pm. Gagne urged the public to prepare written comments as companion pieces to their verbal comments during the hearing. The DEP had denied the Town’s request to postpone the hearing until April.
Gagne then read into the record a letter received from the DaRosas’ attorney urging the selectmen not to approve use of town counsel by the Conservation Commission in their appeal of the superseding decision. Selectmen received the letter too late to be considered at the last public meeting of the board. At that time, Selectman Paul Silva supported ConCom’s request.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen will be March 10 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.
By Marilou Newell
Epic freezing temperatures didn’t impede the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals from being front and center in attendance at their February 19 meeting to hear one single item on the agenda.
James and Debra Jones of 18 Upland Way sought a special permit to construct a new two-bedroom home at 3 Cove Street. Jones purchased a small adjourning parcel, Engineer Richard Charon representing the Joneses explained, which increased the available buildable space from 40- by 60-square feet to 60- by 127-square feet.
Charon said that when the original structure was damaged during Hurricane Bob, building restrictions did not allow the home to have an expanded footprint.
In order to re-build at that time and expand the one-bedroom home for more comfortable living space, a rather unappealing overhang was constructed. Now, with the acquisition of more land creating a larger space, Jones hoped to receive approval to take down that home and build a new two-bedroom structure.
Another important hurdle they needed to vault was wastewater. Charon said that with the extension of public sewer service to Cove Street, Jones would not be restricted by a private septic system. More land and sewer service are the factors cited by Charon for approving the Joneses’ application.
The new home will have a wrap around deck, meet all FEMA requirements, and will continue to allow public access to the beach, which is historic in this shoreline neighborhood.
Charon reported to the ZBA members that the project had already cleared the conservation commission process.
“…It makes sense with the sewer coming in…” ZBA member Colby Rottler said.
The vote to approve the special permit was unanimous.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals will be posted for March 19 at 6:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Town Hall if there are any applications for hearings.
By Marilou Newell
The Rochester Council on Aging has been awarded a grant to launch the national (NCOA) model 12-week program, “Aging Mastery Program (AMP),” by the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging & Senior Centers (MCOA).
Rochester Council on Aging is one of fifteen in Massachusetts to win the competitive grant process to launch this innovative program. The program will meet once a week for twelve weeks, for an hour or so each week, on Thursdays from 2:15 – 4:00 pm beginning on March 12 and running for 12 consecutive weeks.
The program has space for 30 older adult participants who can be from any town in our local area. It is a free program, but advance registration is required. Each participant will need to commit to attending the full 12 weeks. Twelve educational topics will be covered by guest presenters, each focusing on a different aspect of wellness. The program will offer incentives and points for participants. No prior educational experience is necessary to participate. Anyone is welcome!
“AMP is an approach to living that embraces this gift of longer lives. The program combines knowledge sharing with goal-setting and feed-back routines, daily practices, and peer support to help you make meaningful and enduring life changes in your life. Central to the AMP philosophy is the belief that modest lifestyle changes can produce big results, and that all of us can learn to make the most of our longer lives.”
Call the Rochester Senior Center at 508-763-8723 if you have questions and/or to register for the Program. Ask to speak with Marie Vitale, Program Coordinator, or Sharon Lally, Director.
The grant will also provide funding for a second 12-week series in the fall, for different participants. More information on the fall program of AMP will be forthcoming at a later date.
On Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 pm at the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library, 17 Constitution Way, Rochester, William J. Goldsmith, CRP, CLU, LIA, and the president of LifeTime Financial Strategies, LLC, will present a seminar called “Solving the Social Security Puzzle.” This seminar will address your important questions about Social Security such as:
– Will Social Security be there when I’m ready to claim?
– How are my benefits calculated?
– How much will I get?
– How can I get more?
Bill is a Certified Financial Planner professional who works with individuals, families, and owners of closely-held and family-owned companies to help them address their key areas of concern and questions pertaining to their personal and business financial planning. With more than 22 years of experience in financial services, Bill specializes in simplifying complex ideas and presenting them in a clear and concise manner.
Pre-registration is required. Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to register or reserve a seat, call the library at 508-763-8600 or register on the Plumb Library Events Calendar at http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=PLUMB#449394.
The next meeting of The Rochester Women’s Club will be on Thursday, March 5 at Matt’s Blackboard. Cocktails begin at 6:45 pm, and our meeting will follow at 7:00 pm. In celebration of our upcoming series “Empowering Women and Our Young Girls,” our members are asked to do a little research on their favorite Woman in History. Be it an author, politician, poet, inventor, artist, writer, actress, mom, business owner or any woman who may have inspired or just caught your eye. Bring along a paragraph or two about this individual, and we will share our stories.
The Rochester Women’s Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:45 pm. Our Club House is located at 37 Marion Road in Rochester.
Women from all towns are welcome to join our club. Our club is a non-profit organization of local women dedicated to promoting civic, educational, intellectual and social interest among our members and in our community. We have been the Rochester Women’s Club and owned our building since 1928.
To have your questions answered, email us at rwomensclub@aol.com.
Here is a look at the eleventh week of scheduled games for ORR winter athletics.
Boys’ Basketball: The boys finished their regular season this week playing two of the toughest teams in the area. The Bulldogs started off their week with a tough 76-64 loss to non-conference Bishop Stang, to whom they previously lost earlier this season. Though the Bulldogs managed to make a strong comeback in the fourth quarter, they were simply unable to match the accuracy of the Spartans, whose shots could not seem to miss. On a brighter note, however, the Bulldogs finished off their regular season with an exciting 66-62 victory over Wareham, which kept them undefeated in the conference and gave them the No. 1 seed in the state tournament. The game was a close one, as it was tied 59-59 with 1:07 left to play, until senior captain Jordan Menard hit a clutch three-pointer to all but secure the win for the Bulldogs. Freshman Noah Fernandes played very well, recording a team-high 23 points. With the win, the Bulldogs finish their season with a 17-3 record. Their first state tournament game will be held on Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 pm at ORR against the winner of the Apponequet/Mashpee game.
Girls’ Basketball: The Lady Bulldogs closed out their regular season in a less than desirable fashion, losing tough games to both Bishop Stang and Wareham. The girls suffered a 59-34 loss to non-conference Bishop Stang, and then proceeded to lose to Wareham in a 39-38 nail-biter. With just seconds left in the game, Wareham was ahead by four points, but sophomore Sophie Church hit a clutch three-pointer to cut the lead down to one. However, it would not prove enough, as the Lady Vikings managed to inbound the ball and run down the clock to defeat the Lady Bulldogs. Though their regular season did not end on a high note, the ORR girls have the opportunity to make a run in the state tournament, where they received the No. 9 seed, where coincidentally they will face off against No. 8 seeded Wareham in the opening round Wednesday night.
Boys’ Track: This week, a select few athletes from the ORR track teams competed in the All-State Meet, where the best athletes from all divisions compete for the title of state champion. The boys had one lone representative in senior Kevin Saccone, who had an incredible day at the Reggie Lewis Center. Saccone won the long jump with a leap of 22’1.25”, claiming his first indoor state championship and subsequently qualifying for the New England Championship Meet. Saccone also placed second in the 55-meter hurdles, narrowly missing the gold by just .05 seconds. On the day, Saccone earned 18 points, which was enough for the ORR team, comprised of only Saccone, to place 7th overall among teams with incredible talent and depth.
Girls’ Track: The girls’ track team also had several talented athletes compete in the All-State Meet. Junior Zoe Smith had a great day, placing tenth overall in the high-jump (5’2”) and twelfth in the competitive hurdles field (9.03 seconds). Teammates Elexus Afonso and Morgan Middleton both competed in the long jump, with Middleton placing 17th overall (16’2”) and Afonso placing 19th (15’11.75”). The girls’ 4×800-meter relay, comprised of Shannon O’Malley, Haily Saccone, Nina Bourgeois, and Sam Ball, placed 30th overall.
Ice Hockey: The ORR/Fairhaven Bulldogs started their week out strong with an 8-4 blowout over Somerset Berkley. The 1-2 combo of Jeremy Lawton and Sam Henrie provided most of the offensive manpower for the Bulldogs, with Lawton scoring four goals and Henrie recording a hat trick. The Bulldogs then unfortunately suffered two tough losses to Plymouth South on both Wednesday and Friday to break a 10-game winning streak and close out their regular season. Luckily, the losses don’t count towards the Bulldogs’ conference record, which remains at 8-1, good enough to secure the SCC title.
Below are the overall winter team records, followed by the conference records in wins, losses, and ties as of February 22.
Boys’ Basketball: (17-3-0) (16-0-0); Girls’ Basketball: (12-8-0) (10-6-0); Boys’ Track: (8-1-0) (7-1-0); Girls’ Track: (9-0-0) (8-0-0); Boys’ Swimming: (1-5-0) (0-5-0); Girls’ Swimming: (2-4-0) (1-3-0); Ice Hockey: (15-5-1) (8-1-0).
By Michael Kassabian
New Bedford Harbor may be icy and covered with snow right now, but the warmth of summer will be here before we know it! If you love to swim and want to make a difference for our local environment, then sign up for the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s 22nd annual Buzzards Bay Swim on Saturday, June 20. Swimmers who sign up through April 1 at savebuzzardsbay.org/swim will enjoy free registration.
The Buzzards Bay Swim is a fun community event that supports a great cause: clean water in Buzzards Bay. Swimmers complete a 1.2-mile open water course across outer New Bedford Harbor, beginning in the South End of New Bedford and ending at Fort Phoenix Beach State Reservation in Fairhaven.
Now in its 22nd year, the Buzzards Bay Swim is a signature outdoor event for the SouthCoast. The Swim draws participants of every age, ability and fitness level. Some swimmers form teams with their friends, families and fellow swim team members. Over 300 swimmers are expected to participate in this year’s Swim, hailing from communities across southeastern New England and around the United States.
All funds raised from the Buzzards Bay Swim support the Coalition’s work to protect clean water in communities across the Buzzards Bay region, from Westport to Woods Hole.
To register and learn more about the Swim, visit savebuzzardsbay.org/swim.
The Buzzards Bay Swim is a Waterkeeper Alliance SPLASH Series Event, presented nationally by Toyota. The SPLASH Series engages local citizens in recreational use of our waterways to celebrate access to clean water with activities that the whole community can enjoy as they raise critical funds to support their local Waterkeeper organization. For more information, please visit splashseries.org.
The Marion Republican Town Committee will conduct its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall, 164 Front Street, Marion. The public and new members are welcome.