Winter Sports Preview

on December 14, 2015

In the first week of Winter Sports action, there were no official games for Bulldog sports teams, but a few teams – namely, both basketball teams and Girls’ Ice Hockey – warmed up with scrimmages that gave us a preview of what’s to come over the course of this season.

Boys’ Basketball: Seniors Will Santos, Evan Santos, and Jared Nye, junior Matt Valles, and sophomore Jason Gamache are among the key contributors returning from last year’s D-3 State Championship squad. The losses of Jordan Menard, Ryan Beatty, and Tabor-transfer Noah Fernandes will hurt, but the boys look primed to make another run at a title. They looked sharp against Westport in an unofficial scrimmage on Saturday. On Tuesday, the boys will take on New Bedford High in a scrimmage at their gym and will stay on the road for a scrimmage against Somerset-Berkeley on Thursday. Their first official game is versus Seekonk on Tuesday, December 15.

Girls’ Basketball: The girls played well in an unofficial scrimmage against Falmouth High on Friday. Juniors Olivia Labbe and Sophie Church are the leaders of a young team that does not feature a single senior. “Our team is young, but we will be contenders in the SCC for sure,” Labbe said. The girls will scrimmage Mansfield High at home on Monday and will open up the season at Durfee on Friday night.

Girls’ Ice Hockey: This is the first time ORR has had a Girls’ Hockey team. To create a bigger team, the program will be a co-op with Bourne, Mashpee, and Fairhaven. It will be interesting to watch the Lady Bulldogs and their counterparts, as we don’t know what to expect out of their first season. After their jamboree at the John Gallo Arena in Bourne on Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs will officially open their season on the road against Pembroke on Friday night.

Boys’ Ice Hockey: The Boys’ team is a co-op program with Fairhaven High, which helps them to be more competitive. They’ve lost some good players in the last few years, so they look to rebuild on the fly and be competitive this season. The Bulldogs’ season starts with back-to-back games at the Hyannis Youth Arena. They will play Sandwich on Friday night and Dennis-Yarmouth on Saturday afternoon.

Girls’ Track: This always-powerful team looks to dominate the SCC yet again. Seniors Nina Bourgeois, Rachel Scheub, Zoe Smith, Elexus Afonso, Haily Saccone, Emily Josephson, Nicole Mattson, and Morgan Middleton represent a great group of leaders for this gigantic team of roughly 75 girls. The Lady Bulldogs start their season against Apponequet and GNB Voc-Tech on Wednesday, December 16 at Voc.

Boys’ Track: There are at least 85 boys out for track this season, meaning that there are plenty of great athletes ready to represent the Bulldogs. Some of the top performers could be junior hurdler Eli Spevack, senior distance runner Hunter Parker, junior sprinter/hurdler Will Hopkins, junior sprinter Mikey Morris, senior distance runner Drew Robert, and senior throwers Jarrett Johnston and James Estudante. The boys’ first meet will be on Wednesday, December 16 against GNB Voc-Tech and Apponequet at Voc.

Boys’ Swimming: The team is dealing with some difficult losses and will be led by a young group this season. They’ll face Pembroke on Friday night at the Kingsbury Club in Kingston.

Girls’ Swimming: Despite some big losses, seniors Teagan Walsh and Molly Richards represent good leaders for this 4th-year program. Their first meet will be Friday night at the Kingsbury Club in Kingston against Pembroke.

Below are the overall fall team records, followed by the conference records in wins, losses, and ties as of December 6.

Boys’ Basketball: (0-0-0)(0-0-0); Girls’ Basketball: (0-0-0)(0-0-0); Girls’ Ice Hockey: (0-0-0)(0-0-0); Girls’ Track: (0-0-0)(0-0-0); Boys’ Track: (0-0-0)(0-0-0); Boys’ Ice Hockey: (0-0-0)(0-0-0); Boys’ Swimming: (0-0-0)(0-0-0); Girls’ Swimming: (0-0-0)(0-0-0).

By Patrick Briand

Physician-assisted Suicide

on December 14, 2015

To the Editor:

This letter is in response to Doreen Adams’ letter urging support for physician-assisted suicide. I am writing in opposition to this proposal and why physician-assisted suicide should not be legalized. In 2012, voters rejected this proposal because it was and is a faulty law. It did not require a psychological test, and people with mental health issues could get a pass to kill themselves with doctor approval. Some of you may also remember the pharmaceutical ad where a pharmacist explained that people would have to swallow 50 pills in a very short time in order to die. If they didn’t, it would leave them permanently disabled. It would basically turn the person into a vegetable. Assisted suicide is anything but death with dignity. First of all, doctors are called to protect a patient’s life by any means and physician-assisted suicide exempts a doctor from doing that. In today’s technological world, we are making strides to better protect patient’s health. Hospice and palliative care in the U.S. is the best in the world, and we can make a person’s transition to death much smoother without killing them. Secondly, the right to life is the most basic human right that is protected by our Constitution and Declaration of Independence. If we take this right away, there is no limit as to what other rights that we enjoy as American citizens may be taken away. All human life is created with dignity by a God who loves us. All are called to unite their sufferings and pains with the sacrifice of Christ. He is the one who has planned our entire life and ultimately, it is He who decides the beginning and end of a person’s life. No one wants to see a loved one suffer, but is hastening their death really the answer? Last year, in an address to Catholic doctors, Pope Francis stated, “It is not lawful to take a human life to solve a problem,” and that physician-assisted suicide is the result of “a culture of waste.” We are called to help the sick and provide for them in their sufferings. May we all have a greater respect for human life from conception to natural death.

Tom Daener, 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.

Old Rochester Takes On The Big Apple

on December 14, 2015

As the high-pitched screeches of alarm clocks pierce the eardrums of the students of Old Rochester, it’s time to reluctantly roll out of bed and drag tired bodies to school. On Friday, December 4, those alarm clocks went off early for the members of the American Field Service (AFS) club. Despite being at the school by 5:15 am, there was a sense of excitement as students loaded onto the buses, ready for the four-hour drive to New York City.

The AFS club is a club based on spreading knowledge about other cultures. AFS is what allows Old Rochester to accept foreign exchange students; they also do an array of other activities, including, but most certainly not limited to, a Halloween pumpkin carving contest, as well as attending fairs that showcase different cultures.

The NYC trip is an annual outing for the members of AFS, and one that is looked forward to for months in advance. Foreign exchange students from the surrounding area schools were invited to join the AFS club on their trip, and many did. On top of AFS members, students who are not a part of the club but who go to Old Rochester were invited to join the AFS (until the buses were filled up).

The morning bus ride was full of whispers and naps, until the bus stopped for a quick break at a highway-side rest stop. After the breakfast break, the group finished off the final two hours into the city. The first stop was Bryant Park for about 20 minutes, where students walked around, looked at the small shops around it, and reveled in the fact that they were finally in New York City.

Then began the journey to Times Square. The group arrived around noon and was allowed two hours to explore all the shops Times Square had to offer. At 2:00, everyone regrouped and sat together for a picture on the red bleachers, smack dab in the middle of Times Square.

After a quick head count, the group was off again, this time to Radio City Music Hall to see the Christmas Spectacular at 4:00 pm. Groups were spread across the three mezzanines of the Hall, and the lights went down, the curtain came up, and the show began. The Rockettes were the stars of the show, with their precise choreography wowing the audience. After the show, the group gathered in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral near Rockefeller Center, where the students were then allowed time to roam Rockefeller Center and marvel at the enormous Christmas tree and all the lights.

After a little more than an hour, the group gathered for a final time, this time with the souvenirs they purchased from the array of stores in the Big Apple, and waited for the buses to come. The bus ride home was a quiet one; the excitement for the city was replaced with exhaustion as the buses rolled out of the city and made their way back to the quiet serenity of the Tri-Town.

The trip was a fun experience for everyone involved, including those who had visited the city before.

“The atmosphere in the city is really nice,” said Emma Cadieux, “and it’s really nice, as someone who’s been before, to be able to take people who have never been before and show them some really cool things in the city.”

As for those who hadn’t been to the city before, most were blown away by the sheer size and grandeur of the Big Apple. Dillon McCarthy summed up his emotions upon seeing Times Square for the first time in one tiny word: “Whoa.”

All in all, the trip was a smashing success, and everyone who went was able to experience the city that never sleeps with friends from home and from all over the globe.

By Sienna Wurl

Rochester Tree Lighting Delights Revelers

on December 14, 2015

Instead of his traditional sleigh, Santa Claus’ preferred mode of transportation on Monday night was the Town of Rochester’s new bright and shiny yellow fire tower truck, complete with lights blazing and siren sounding.

At the annual Rochester tree lighting ceremony, hundreds gathered on the green to witness the seasonal spectacle of the lighting of the tree in front of Town Hall. The Rochester Memorial School Band and Chorus were on-hand spreading Christmas cheer with songs like Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls as the kids played tag and climbed trees waiting for the arrival of the guest of honor, Saint Nick.

Later in the night, guests enjoyed cookies, cocoa, and cider, all donated from various area businesses.

Selectman Naida Parker thanked not only those responsible for the successful event, such as the Highway Department and the Police and Fire Departments, but also Town Administrator Michael McCue who made some emergency cider-seeking trips earlier that day due to an apparent shortage of cider in the area.

McCue thanked Administrative Assistant Amanda Baptiste for her decorating of Town Hall in preparation for the event.

Lighting the tree this year was RMS fifth-grade student Arianna Vinagre who won the annual Christmas poster contest at Town Hall. The lights didn’t turn on at the expected instant, eliciting a collective disappointed “Aaaw…” but a second later the white LED lights lit up the night eliciting one giant “Yay!”

This was the first time the Town switched to using energy-efficient LED lights for the event.

By Jean Perry

Turtle Hurdle for Rochester Solar Farm

on December 14, 2015

The large-scale solar farm project slated for Rochester center continues to inch forward after another session with the Rochester Planning Board on December 8, but an endangered turtle habitat finding from the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program has kick started a 60-day process of evaluation of the site, which will lead to a mitigation plan of sorts.

Amelia Tracey of Renewable Energy, LLC said “a take” by Natural Heritage, a term used when it is determined that the site is one of concern, will result in the solar energy company paying a per-acre fee, which will go towards funding research and development on the unspecified turtle species, since other onsite habitat mitigation methods offered were not viable for this particular site.

Tracey said Natural Heritage considered the site located between New Bedford Road and Dexter Lane a low-impact site with an isolated, undisturbed area considered to be turtle habitat. This find will not stop the project from moving forward, although several abutters and townspeople present that night wished it would.

The board granted a partial waiver over the tagging of all trees of a 12-inch caliber or greater at the site, which did not please some people in attendance. Chairman Arnold Johnson maintained that the tagging of trees outside the 20-foot buffer, which were already tagged, would be a pointless measure since all the trees in the interior would be cleared for the solar arrays anyway. And as for stopping the developer from chopping certain trees, Johnson again pointed out that the town’s bylaw failed to offer that option.

“The language as it was brought up to us after the first meeting…. We don’t have the power to make the 20-foot boundary a no-cut zone,” said Johnson. “Even if we don’t like it, we can’t stop them from cutting it.”

Planning Board member Ben Bailey supported granting the waiver, saying, in all fairness, a study to flag interior trees was futile and pointless. Having said that, though, Bailey had some hostile words for Tracey and engineer Stephen O’ Connell of Andrews Survey & Engineering.

“Whether anybody in this town likes this project or not … you should just go home,” Bailey said, eliciting clapping from the residents in the audience. He went on about government subsidies for renewable energy and said the site would be a “junk yard” in 20 years. “If you had a lick of a sense of decency, you would just go home.”

A decommissioning agreement was briefly discussed, but Tracey had to propose a second draft of an agreement since Johnson told her the board rejected and threw the first one away. That night she proposed a $60,000 decommissioning amount to be held in escrow for the duration of the project to be paid up front; the board will consider that proposal.

Laurene Gerrior, resident and also member of the Conservation Commission, suggested the developer should have to perform an archeological survey of the site before construction, but Johnson determined that it was not within the board’s purview to demand one. He also said he wanted to avoid the appearance of unfairness by having this project require an archeological survey when other town projects were not required to perform one in the past.

“So we’re setting up a double standard here,” Johnson said, “and I don’t follow double standards.”

Everyone should grab their old artifacts and go bury them at the site, joked Bailey. Grab a turtle or two while you’re at it, someone else suggested.

The hearing was continued until January 12.

In other matters, the board granted an Order of Conditions for Bell Atlantic Mobile to add four co-location wireless communications antennas on an existing monopole cellular tower off Cranberry Highway.

The public hearing for Melink Corporation to construct a solar farm off Snipatuit Road was continued until January 12.

The next scheduled meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is January 12 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Senior Center.

By Jean Perry

Board Tackles Parking Woes

on December 13, 2015

The December 7 meeting of the Marion Planning Board kicked off with a discussion about an alleged continual problem.

“The parking spots in front of 41 Mill Street are supposed to be 30 minute parking,” pointed out Planning Board member Eileen Marum, “but I always see cars parked there for three to four hours, and sometimes overnight. It’s a safety issue for people coming to pick up family members when they can’t find any parking.”

The address 41 Mill Street is Marconi Village, a subsidized senior housing complex.

“I’m confused,” said Planning Board Chairman Robert Lane. “Who’s parking cars here?”

Marum stated that the offenders were residents of Marconi Village.

“There’s parking in the back, and it becomes a hazard when people are trying to pick up and drop off family members,” she said. “I’ve contacted police about it, but they said it was an issue for Marconi Village to deal with.”

“Well, if it’s residents of Marconi Village, then yes the issue belongs to Marconi Village itself,” Lane said. “Have you contacted them yet?”

“Yes. They told me that it was a police issue,” Marum replied.

“Well, that’s a convenient answer. I don’t know what we could do to move the police … we could try the selectmen,” Lane said. “We could let them know that the Planning Board is in favor of resolving this issue.”

“Maybe we should post a sign clarifying ‘For Pick-Up and Drop Off Only,’” board member Michael Popitz suggested.

“Or we could just get rid of the 30 minute parking sign altogether,” interjected board member Steve Gonsalves.

Not having a solid idea of where to go, and resolving to contact Marconi Village, the Planning Board moved on with the meeting.

Two proposed building renovations had been submitted to the Planning Board by the Zoning Board of Appeals looking for recommendations. The first, at 60 South Street, was looking to build an addition to the back part of the house.

“I can’t see that the addition is very big or affecting anything,” board member Norm Hills said as he looked at the plans. The Planning Board recommended that the ZBA proceed with approving the addition.

The second submission, at 20 Old Indian Trail, caused more concern. The submitted plans stated the demolition of a small one-story home to be replaced by a small two-story home. “I find this somewhat conflicting,” said Ferrari. “In the plans, it is noted that the new home will be built within the footprint of the original house, but the plans themselves show the new house built forwards, out of the original footprint.”

Lane agreed. “We have conflicting information here. We need – and the ZBA needs – clarification on the wording of ‘original footprint’ and where this house is actually going to be built.”

The board sent the submission back to the ZBA without a recommendation, stating that they didn’t have sufficient information to make one.

Board member Jennifer Francis closed the meeting with an update on Marion’s Master Plan. She noted that the Master Plan workshop had been moved from its original date of December 1 and will now take place on Monday, January 4, at 7:00 pm in the Marion Music Hall. She encouraged residents to come.

“It will be a good summary of everything we’ve done, if you’ve missed anything,” she said. “SRPEDD [Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District] will be explaining the Master Plan, and they will have tables set up which will be devoted to each aspect of the plan. That way if you have any thoughts, questions, or concerns about a specific aspect of the plan, you can go to that table and speak with SRPEDD representatives.”

“Show up and ask questions,” said Ferrari.

“Yes,” said Lane. “From the Planning Board, I’d like to encourage everyone to join us.”

The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for December 21 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Andrea Ray

UCCRTS Honor Roll

on December 13, 2015

The following students were named to the First Quarter Honor Roll at Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School:

Delaney Gosse of Marion, Grade 9 High Honors

Christopher Rogers of Marion, Grade 9 High Honors

Cheyenne Bunch of Marion, Grade 9 Honors

Jackson St. Don of Marion, Grade 9 Honors

Christopher Parisi of Marion, Grade 10 Honors

Nicole Steeves of Marion, Grade 11 Honors

Electric Cars in Marion

on December 13, 2015

To the Editor:

Will Marion Selectmen and Town Employee’s Be Driving BMW’s?

If the Marion Energy Management Committee (EMC) gets its way, Marion Town employees and Selectmen may well be driving BMW i3’s with an MSRP of $43,895. This is based on handout materials distributed to Selectmen at the December 1, 2015 meeting. The three target cars would be assigned to DPW, Health, and Recreation. The new cars would replace the old police car ”hand me downs” that have been paid for long ago, retired and recycled to utility vehicle use for these Town departments. The only cost for the Town to continue operating these cars is gas and auto store and Town bone yard parts for repairs by talented Town employees who know how to keep aging vehicles on the road.

If the EMC’s proposed program for replacing fully deprecated but usable cars were adopted, Marion would be acquiring the use of three brand new cars with an asset book value of $131,685. This is a foolish and wasteful use of scarce taxpayer resources.

At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting, the EMC represented the cars would save the Town $30,000. I guess I must live in OZ and not in Marion to believe the nonsensical statements from a group devoid of economic reality with respect to stringent small town municipal budgets. With the Town exercising the option of buying the cars at the end of the lease, the total cash expenditure (lease costs paid and option excise) would be approximately $35,700 per car or $106,500 for the three new utility cars. This is the net cost of federal and state incentives. This comparative cost data is available on the web.

Next, the EMC will claim how fuel efficient the new cars will be saving the Town a lot of money. This is not factually correct. The Town needs to purchase and install charging stations which can run from $10,000 to $50,000 for a high-end, quick-charge station.

Massachusetts electricity costs are among the highest in the nation. Gasoline prices have decreased dramatically. Marion gas costs are under $1.50 per gallon since Marion does not pay the state and federal gas excise tax. Given the MPG of the recycled cars, the fuel differential is approximately $18 to $20 per 1,000 miles driven.

Look for Selectman and Recreation Director Dickerson commuting between the Town’s ball fields in his new Town $43,855 MSRP BMW i3 or equivalent. Looks like this has the potential of becoming a Selectman’s perquisite he votes for.

Hanson and Carver have bylaws to precluded town employee from serving as selectmen. A town bylaw policy “You can be one or the other but not both” contains a lot of wisdom.

Ted North, Marion

Holiday in the Park 2015

on December 13, 2015

One needed only a light jacket the evening of December 13 for the annual Mattapoisett Christmas in the Park, with temperatures reaching 60 degrees in Mattapoisett this Saturday. Santa and Mrs. Claus almost looked a little overdressed as they greeted the kiddies before the tree lighting at Shipyard Park. Photos by Colin Veitch

Second Grader Wants to Make a Difference

on December 13, 2015

He jumped out of the family SUV like any energetic 7-year-old boy, but he quickly composed himself, walking with the assured stride of a determined soul, a tiny true soul. He shook hands with a shy confidence, looked up and said, “My name is Trent.”

Trent Arancio is on a mission to help kids. With the guidance of his family and his school, Rochester Memorial School, Trent is striving to make a difference in the lives of children whose material possessions are few.

This second grader was inspired to action while accompanying his grandmother as she dropped off items to the local charity Gifts to Give.

During that trip to Gifts to Give, located at 1 Titleist Drive, Acushnet, Trent observed many empty bins. Seeing the emptiness and discussing what that meant with his grandmother, he learned that some children might not have socks or undergarments, shoes, or coats because those bins held only air.

He was so moved that he told his family he wanted to collect clothes for the children.

“I just want to help kids,” said Arancio. “Make them happy so they won’t be lonely.”

Martha K. works at Gifts to Give, and she asked that her last name not be used because, “…its about the children not me…” Martha said Gifts to Give accepts gently-used clothing, primarily seeking children’s items.

She explained that they also accept adult clothing and household goods. Those items are sold in their thrift shop. The money from the shop is used to purchase new children’s clothing, as well as a variety of educational materials for the schools with which they have partnered. Martha said that used children’s items are screened for viability and then sent along to one of their many distribution centers, which serve communities from Brockton to Wareham.

At the present time, Gifts to Give desperately needs boys items – specifically, boys clothing from undergarments to outerwear in sizes 12 through 16. Those bins remain critically low.

As a volunteer of many years, Martha has seen it all when it comes to what people will pass along to a charity. She said people don’t understand that when they “dump off” bags of unwanted materials, those materials may be useless to Gifts to Give. “We are a completely volunteer organization. It is very disheartening when we open a box or a bag and it contains nothing we can use.” She said it becomes a wasted effort by those contributing their time and can even cost the nonprofit precious dollars because they end up having to dispose of unusable items. “We end up having to pay to haul trash away,” Martha shared.

She told me with pride that Gifts to Give brings youth together and teaches the importance of philanthropy and volunteerism while providing much needed basic items like warm winter coats to children living on the edge. The Gifts to Give website explains that goal as “…connecting youth to something bigger than themselves…”

Rochester Memorial School principal Derek Medeiros described Trent’s impact on the school’s partnership with Gives to Gift. “Originally one of our sixth grade teachers, Mrs. Forns, planned with the fifth and sixth grade student council to collect clothing.” Then Medeiros received an email from Trent’s father inquiring how Trent could move forward with his idea of helping to collect clothing for Gifts to Give. Medeiros said that Trent’s idea has now expanded the school’s program to involve all grades. The school will be a drop-off location until December 18 and students from all grades will assist.

But Trent has grander plans. He hopes to find a way to collect clothing for children year round. “I want to make the kids happy,” he says. Trent wants to become a police officer when he grows up. In the meantime, his desire to help seems on track with his professional aspirations, “I want the kids to have a good life.”

If you have clothing, toys, books, quality materials in good condition that can benefit Gifts to Give, you can drop them off at Rochester Memorial School, Rochester Police Department, Mattapoisett Police Department, or Old Rochester Regional Junior and Senior High Schools (books only). You may also visit Gifts to Give at www.giftstogive.org for more information. Trent thanks you.

By Marilou Newell