Marion’s Energy Management Committee

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To the Editor:

Marion’s Energy Management Committee (EMC) is pleased to announce that the Selectmen have approved our proposal to lease three electric cars for use by Marion’s employees. Following in the successful path taken by Dartmouth, who now have six electric vehicles (EVs), we will apply for federal, state, and dealership incentives that will offset most of the costs of the cars plus fast charging stations. The EVs will replace gas-guzzling, hand-me-down police cruisers, which over the 3-year lease period will save the town at least $30,000.

The EVs represent another step in the EMC’s goal to seize opportunities that reduce the town’s energy costs and fossil fuel use. This particular window is opened by a state incentive program funded by fees on each of our electric bills every month. The electricity to charge these cars – and indeed to supply all of Marion’s municipal needs – will soon come from new wind turbines now under construction in Plymouth, a deal initiated by the EMC. Not only will this power be truly green, but it will also be substantially cheaper than our current supplier. Another added benefit is that the EV’s charging stations will be available for public use during business hours when town employees are zipping around quietly on their daily routes. As part of a growing network of charging stations, we hope our sites will encourage more electric vehicles in the region and raise the public’s awareness of our collective obligation to reduce carbon pollution.

Important elements of our new Master Plan, now under development by the Planning Board, pertain to decreasing the town’s vulnerability to a changing climate. This program to bring EVs to Marion is a win-win-win for us all: saving money, reducing fossil fuel use, and moving Marion toward a more sustainable future.

Jennifer Francis, Marion’s 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.

Tinkhamtown Chapel Christmas Carol Sing

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The Tinkhamtown Chapel on Acushnet Road in Mattapoisett will host its annual Christmas Carol Sing on Saturday, December 19 at 5:00 pm. Go back in time as you join your friends and neighbors in singing the old favorites in a 19th century chapel, lit by kerosene lamps and heated with a wood stove. Children are encouraged to volunteer to perform a solo song or recitation, and to join in the children’s chorus singing “Jingle Bells” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” For more information, email bookmama@pobox.com or call 508-758-9559.

Date Change for December Open Table

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December’s date for Open Table is Friday, December 18 at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church and you are invited! As always, something delicious and nutritious is on the menu and we look forward to serving you. There is no charge, although donations are gratefully accepted. Doors open at 4:30 pm, and the meal will be served at 5:00 pm. Everyone is welcome!

Board to Sue Subdivision Developer

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The Ocean Breeze subdivision has lingered incomplete for a decade. Now with the assistance of Town Administrator Michael Gagne, the Planning Board will have legal counsel to compel completion of the long overdue roadway paving.

Attorney Matthew Thomas met with the Planning Board on December 7 for an informal discussion regarding contractual failures on the part of Scott Snow and the now defunct corporation, Coastal Homes.

However, before the discussion got underway, Planning Board member John Mathieu told Chairman Tom Tucker that he thought placing the agenda item into executive session was beyond the scope of what is allowed by state law. He explained that executive session is used for certain types of matters before the board, but that a discussion with Attorney Thomas, at this time, did not rise to that level and might result in the board members being individually fined. The board accepted his suggestion and a general open discussion followed.

Thomas said he had looked at all available documents regarding the subdivision, including performance standards and the covenant. He said Coastal Homes had failed to complete the topcoat paving on the roadway, causing years of hardship to the residents of the subdivision.

Thomas suggested an “out of the box” strategy to file a lawsuit against Snow and Coastal Homes. Although the corporation was dissolved by the state in 2014, that now gave the Town legal wiggle room to sue Snow.

“I suggest a lawsuit back to Coastal Homes and Scott Snow to get the road paved or get damages,” Tucker said. He also said he would petition the lending agency, Community Bank, to get disclosure on what had become of the $150,000 holdback they were suppose to have held as a surety until the road and other improvements were completed.

Mathieu made a motion to proceed with Thomas acting on their behalf. The board unanimously agreed with Chairman Tucker’s lawsuit suggestion, saying to Thomas, “Go get them.”

Continuing on the theme of subdivisions, covenants, and developer performance, the board met again with Joseph Furtado regarding Brandt Point Village. There was some back and forth over whether or not to send a letter to the Building Department in support of Furtado’s request for building permits for Phase 2 when Phase 1 was not complete – in this case, the main roads and a topcoat.

After some struggle amongst the members and between the members and Furtado as to what Furtado had or had not promised to complete before winter, it was the residents who supported Furtado this time.

Residents said, thus far, Furtado had done a number of repairs that met with their satisfaction and that they didn’t want him to rush before hard winter weather to get the road paved, preferring to wait until spring and trust that his word was good.

“I have no problem releasing the lot so he can get the money to get this topcoat,” Mathieu said.

Tucker agreed that Furtado seemed to be acting in good faith and following through on his commitments.

In the end, the board agreed to release the lot for sale and to advise the building inspector that, in their purview, building permits could be issued at this time.

The Appaloosa Lane subdivision residents weren’t as lucky on this night. Coming before the board at the board’s request was the developer, Michael Solimando.

Over many months of engineering work by G.A.F. Engineering, engineer Brian Grady told the board that the costs to upgrade the drainage system were ”higher than expected.” Grady said Solimando hoped to return in the spring with finances in place so he could complete the elaborate stormwater system along River Road.

“I’m embarrassed,” said Solimando. “It’s a quagmire; we didn’t expect it to cost so much. I’ve got to complete this in order to recoup anything.”

Tucker responded, “We expect you here in the spring.”

Solimando reiterated, “I’m embarrassed. Nobody likes to do a job and lose money.”

And then it was on to covenants.

Two covenant changes the Planning Board agreed to for public trash collection at the Villages of Mattapoisett and Brandt Point Village were about to be signed, but first there was more to talk about.

Mathieu wanted the other board members to understand the written legal opinion they had received from town counsel. He explained that legal counsel was saying the board could modify covenant language, but could not mandate trash collection in private communities because “we can’t spend money.” He clarified further that the covenant modification the board did make simply allows the subdivisions to request collection from the Board of Health.

“All we’ve done is given the applicants the ability to request the Board of Health,” said Mathieu. “They have to go to the Board of Health to make the decision.”

The board concurred.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for December 21 at 7:00 pm in the Mattapoisett Town Hall conference room. There is only one Planning Board meeting scheduled in January; that date is January 4.

By Marilou Newell

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Academic Achievements

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UMass Dartmouth students are named to the Chancellor’s List in recognition of earning a Spring semester grade point average of 3.8 or higher of a possible 4.0. The following students have been named to the UMass Dartmouth 2015 Spring Chancellor’s List:

Jerelle Jesse of Marion

Amber LaBelle of Mattapoisett

Margaret LeBrun of Mattapoisett

Megan Merlo of Mattapoisett

Izak Thuestad of Mattapoisett

Kevin Newell of Rochester

UMass Dartmouth students named to the 2015 Spring Dean’s List in recognition of earning a semester grade point average of 3.2 or higher of a possible 4.0 include:

Hunter Black of Marion

Natasha Dumortier of Marion

Colby Garstang of Marion

Derek Marshall of Marion

Evan Martinez of Marion

Samuel McDonald of Marion

Jillian Reichert of Marion

Michael Rezendes of Marion

Kristofer Sadeck of Marion

Mya Akins of Mattapoisett

Connor Bailey of Mattapoisett

Jessica Breton of Mattapoisett

Alex Calise of Mattapoisett

Mikayla Florio of Mattapoisett

Crystal Gleason of Mattapoisett

Callie Gomes of Mattapoisett

Jacob Jaskolka of Mattapoisett

Mark Lowney of Mattapoisett

Morgan Matthews of Mattapoisett

Myles McQuade of Mattapoisett

Amanda Munroe of Mattapoisett

Jennifer O’Neil of Mattapoisett

Sarah Ribeiro of Mattapoisett

Sarah Rocha of Mattapoisett

Blake Rusinoski of Mattapoisett

Matthew Vicino of Mattapoisett

Jillian Zucco of Mattapoisett

Amanda Frey of Rochester

Stephanie Glidden of Rochester

Aimee Gonsalves of Rochester

Nathan Murphy of Rochester

Amanda Pacheco of Rochester

Tyler Paquin of Rochester

Nicholas Pavao of Rochester

Carly Pelissier of Rochester

Maggie Pelletier of Rochester

Tri-County Symphonic Band

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The Tri-County Symphonic Band celebrates the festive holiday season with its annual Children’s Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 13 at 1:30 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room of Sippican School, 16 Spring Street, Marion MA. The concert is a wonderful family experience designed for all ages and is free of charge.

The Tri-County Symphonic Band, under the direction of Philip Sanborn, will perform seasonal favorites including “Holiday Emblem,” “Ding Dong! Merrily on High,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and “March of the Toys.”

A special part of this year’s concert will feature the Sippican School Concert Choir, under the direction of Patricia Richard, performing a lovely setting of “We are Santa’s Elves,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” and a colorful arrangement of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

Also, the youngsters in the audience will enter a drawing with the winners playing the sleigh bells with the Tri-County Symphonic Band in its rendition of Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.”

The concert will conclude with a “Christmas Sing-a-Long” featuring the Sippican School Concert Choir and special guests, followed by a volunteer community band called the “Cottage Street Jam Band,” under the direction of Patricia Richard, leading a march from the Sippican School to Island Wharf to greet Santa as he arrives via “water sleigh.”

Police Brotherhood JRI Christmas Present Drive

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During the holiday season, the Marion Police Brotherhood provides an opportunity for children of the community to meet face to face with Santa. The Marion Police Brotherhood provides this free of charge to all families alike. The event, which ran from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on December 5 at the Marion Music Hall, provided free slices of cheese pizza to over 125 guests, allowing families to meet and greet the big man from the “North Pole.”

The Marion Police Brotherhood and its members recognize the need to support local charities and organizations and provide children and their families with support in the Holiday Season. During the Pizza with Santa event, the Marion Police Brotherhood collected new and unwrapped toys for the Justice Resource Institute, a local nonprofit organization that provides intensive foster care and adoption programs for children and adolescents in our community. In years past, the Marion Police Brotherhood has donated the collected toys to these local charities and organizations. 2015 was the biggest so far!

During the Pizza with Santa event, The Marion Police Brotherhood was able to “Stuff a Cruiser” with toys donated from the generous support of many members of the community, in addition to an extremely generous donation from a local resident. The Marion Police Brotherhood was able to provide the Justice Resource Institute with a substantial donation! During the course of the year, the Marion Police Brotherhood receives monetary donations, which allows the Marion Police Brotherhood to provide these free events and donations to the community.

The Marion Police Brotherhood will hand off all of the collected new and unwrapped toys to the Justice Resource Institute on Wednesday, December 9 at approximately 3:45 pm, and we invite residents of the community, local media and television stations to be present. Many members of the Marion Police Brotherhood will be on-hand to support the Justice Resource Institute.

The Marion Police Brotherhood would like to thank Chief Lincoln Miller and Lieutenant John Garcia for their continued support. They would also like to thank Marion Recreation Department Director Jodi Dickerson and its staff, Marion Town Administrator Paul Dawson, all of the Marion town hall employees, Todd and Erin Zell of the BrewFish restaurant, Tami Daniels of the Marion Music Hall, Gary Grainger, and to all who donated not only at this great event, but throughout the year.

Clifford C. Dartt

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Clifford C. Dartt, 95, died peacefully on December 3, 2015 at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, MA. Clifford was a decorated Veteran and an Eagle Scout. He worked for the phone company helping to set up the Early Distance warning line in Alaska and later in Iran and Saudi Arabia. Clifford was a very special character. Always ready with a friendly “Howdy”, a wry sense of humor, and good natured banter. Even in his later years, he was never at a loss for words.

Clifford was born on November 6, 1920 in Derby, CT to Clifford F. Dartt and Rebecca (Parker) Dartt and raised in Oneonta, NY. Clifford was the middle son of three. His brothers Charles and Edward both died prior to Clifford.

In 1937, Eleanor Roosevelt awarded Clifford his Eagle Scout ranking in Washington, DC. After graduating from Oneonta High School, Clifford attended the University of Iowa. He did not complete his studies until after the Second World War, however, when he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps.

During World War II, Clifford served as a B-17 Co-Pilot with 384th Bombardment Group/544th, flying out of Grafton Underwood, England. He was shot down over Belfonds, France on July 4, 1943, on his third mission. He was returning from bombing a Nazi engine factory in Lemans, France. He was taken prisoner by the Nazis and was a POW in Stalag Luft 3 and later Stalag Luft 7a prison camps until April 1945 when his camp was liberated by General Patton’s forces. The Stalag Luft 3 Camp was the site of the events inspiring the film, “The Great Escape.” Clifford assisted in the construction of one of the famous tunnels by helping dispense with dirt in the prison yard.

The good citizens of Belfonds, France have erected a monument to the crew of Clifford’s B-17 and hold an annual commemoration ceremony to honor and never forget the American airmen. On July 22, 2015 two Belfonds citizens, Sally and Dany Sorel, traveled from France to meet Clifford at his Autumn Glen residence. This was a stirring and emotional reconnection between Clifford and the village of Belfonds 72 years after Clifford’s B-17 crashed there.

In 1946, after the end of the war, Clifford married Lillian Bacheller. They had three children: Darlene, Joanne and Steve.

Clifford worked for Bell Telephone and Western Electric Company for almost 40 years. He was stationed in, among other locations, Utica, NY, Charlotte, NC, Alaska, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

After the war, Clifford continued his military aviation career by flying helicopters in the New York National Guard. In total, Clifford served our country for 38 years. For 67 years Clifford was a member of the Oneonta, NY Masonic Lodge No. 466, A.F. & A.M.

Clifford retired from his distinguished military and civilian working careers and moved to Salida, Colorado just East of Monarch Pass where he lived for about 20 years enjoying time and attending the Salida United Methodist Church with his close companion Nancy Zielinski. He enjoyed square and round dancing with the Monarch Mavericks, golfing, exploring the high peaks around Salida and doing projects around his house well into his late 80s. He loved taking long driving trips, never in a hurry, mostly in the Western states but in the East too, for many reasons including visiting family, attending dancing events and the annual Super Bowl party at his Parker cousins in Olympia, WA.

Clifford left Colorado in 2010 to live at Autumn Glen assisted living in Dartmouth, MA to be closer to his children. Throughout his life, Clifford made his best effort to attend Sunday church services. While living in Dartmouth, he regularly attended St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in New Bedford where everyone was so welcoming to him. He loved to sing, especially the traditional hymns.

Clifford is survived by his former wife Lillian of Mattapoisett, MA, his three children Darlene Dartt and her husband Howard Tarko of Newton, MA and their children Rachel Tarko Hudson and her husband Sam Hudson of San Francisco, CA, Laura Tarko of Waltham, MA and Kathryn Tarko of Chicago, IL, Joanne (Dartt) and Mark Olson of Mattapoisett, MA and Steve and Judy Dartt of Peabody, MA and their two children Richard Brunet of San Antonio, TX and Kristen Brunet of Seattle, WA.

Clifford’s family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the respective staffs of Autumn Glen and Charlton Memorial Hospital for their superb care and sensitivity to Clifford during his stays at these facilities.

There will be a memorial service for family and close friends at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 884 Kempton St., New Bedford, MA on Sunday December 20, 2015 at 2 PM. There will be no calling hours. Clifford’s cremains will be interred with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Clifford’s name to the 384th Bombardment Group www.384thbombgroup.com, Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org, or the USO www.uso.org/donate. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Route 6, Mattapoisett.  For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Marion to Prohibit E-Cig Use in Public

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The Marion Board of Health has drafted new regulations that would ban the use of electronic nicotine delivery devices, or e-cigarettes, in public areas including municipal-owned parks, beaches, and all outdoor areas of restaurants, bars, and anywhere food and drink is served.

The smoking of cigarettes and cigars is already prohibited from these areas in Marion.

The board voted to accept the draft regulations presented by Marion Health Director Karen Walega on December 8. The new regulations would prohibit the use of e-cigarettes and ‘vaping’ with a nicotine delivery device that creates a vapor by electronically heating a liquid that contains nicotine. Vaping has not yet been approved by the FDA for safe use, although some users consider the device to be a safer alternative to cigarettes.

Massachusetts allows individual towns to adopt stronger regulations if the local board of health so chooses. The Town’s ban on cigarette and e-cigarette use exceeds the Commonwealth’s minimum of banning smoking and vaping in workplaces.

The Board of Health will hold a public hearing on the proposed smoking regulation changes on January 26 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House; the details of the public hearing will be publically posted as mandated by law. Residents will have the chance to speak on the proposed smoking regulation changes before the board votes to adopt them.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for January 12 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry

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Thank You

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To the Editor:

Our special thanks to everyone who supported our family during this difficult time. All of your prayers, love, prepared meals and acts of kindness were greatly appreciated. Thank you to all area fire departments, police departments, D.C.R. and firefighters who participated in Steven’s services.

Cindy, Laura & the Faustian family

Rochester

 

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.