The Rochester Historical Society October 15 meeting will feature a presentation by new Rochester Town Administrator, Mike McCue. He will introduce himself and discuss his interest in history. The meeting is at 7:00 pm at the East Rochester Church/Museum, 355 County Rd. All are welcome.
Old Rochester Regional High School takes pride in its full-inclusion program for special education students, avoiding segregating them from their peers by providing appropriate academic and social supports throughout the day as students attend regular education classes. Placing students with special needs into substantially separate classrooms is simply not the philosophy at ORR, says Heather Kidney, a teacher at ORR.
In Kidney’s learning center as she called it, the phrase ‘full inclusion’ is being redefined to encompass more than just academic support and social integration – meaningful relationships are formed and lives are forever stamped with the lasting imprints of friendship.
Over a dozen ORR students have opted to utilize their directed study time (study hall for us older generations) to volunteer as student-tutors and classroom buddies for special education students who benefit from the added support during times such as gym class along with the added opportunities for socialization with their peers.
Kidney pairs the student-tutors up with her students according to need and mutual interest, and the kids take it from there.
The program has really taken off, said Kidney, merely by word of mouth. Some students chose to volunteer because they have been attending school with Kidney’s learning center students for years – some even from preschool – and the chance to spend more time together is what Kidney says is the driving force behind the success of the program.
“The students are friends and they are important to each other,” said Kidney. “And the program has just flourished.”
Kidney recalled a senior from last year – Haakon Perkins – who participated in the student-tutor program and appreciated the experience so much that he included it in his graduation commencement speech.
“He spoke out about how tutoring in my learning center had an impact on his life,” said Kidney. When Kidney asked senior Brian Noone why he wanted to participate in the tutoring program, he told her it was because one of the students in the learning center was his best friend.
Some of the student-tutors this year have decided to pursue careers relative to special education and specific related therapies.
Student-tutor Angela Weigal said she is inspired to pursue a career as a dance/movement therapist for children with special needs. She and a few other student-tutors described their experiences volunteering in the learning center in writing and submitted them to The Wanderer.
“We laugh. We smile. We learn. Never have I learned so much in a single hour as I have being a tutor with special needs students in the learning center,” said Weigal, who has known two of Kidney’s students since elementary school, and now considers herself a part of her “new family” at the learning center.
“When I first signed up to be a tutor, my main reason was to work with the teens I knew beforehand, along with a boy who will occasionally greet the school beside me in his soft but bright voice saying ‘good morning everybody!’” wrote Weigal. “But the relationships I have created with the other students have created memories and lessons that will follow me until the day I die.”
Weigal said the staff she has met through the program have also inspired her.
“All of their actions are for the benefit of the students, not because they have to, but because they want to,” said Weigal.
Annie Henshaw, now a junior, has been helping in Kidney’s learning center since she was a freshman. She said she loves volunteering as a student-tutor and she has made some amazing friendships with the students she tutors and with the staff as well.
“My favorite thing to see is the students succeed every time they spell something right, say something perfectly that they struggled to say before, write better and even write their own name correctly,” said Henshaw. “I commend all of these kids for making it through what they do every day that to someone else is just natural.”
Tutoring has been the most rewarding experience of Heather Nadeau’s years at Old Rochester Regional High School.
“Connecting with the students while helping them accomplish their goals means a lot to me. Nothing feels better than starting off the day with such joyful and energetic peers,” said Nadeau, who says that in addition to being her favorite part of the day, the experience has her on a path to one day earn a Masters degree in occupational therapy. “Tutoring in Mrs. Kidney’s room gives me an opportunity to get experience in such a field. It also helps reassure me that I am choosing the right path for a career.”
Will Lynch Jr. started helping out at the learning center during his sophomore year when he was asked to be a “gym buddy” to a student who needed support to complete his physical education credits.
“To say that I enjoy my time in Mrs. Kidney’s Learning Center would be an understatement,” said Lynch. “On my first day, I was introduced to the student and quickly became acquainted, and it eventually became one of the classes that I looked forward to and enjoyed the most.”
Kidney said that she did not expect to work with any regular education students who were not on her roster when she first started at ORR about two years ago.
“I think it’s the most important part of my job to see how the students and the tutors fulfill each other’s social and emotional needs,” said Kidney. “It’s an example of how all the students at ORR accept inclusion. It gives me hope for the future.”
By Jean Perry
At the request of the Marion Pathway Committee, the Marion Board of Selectmen October 7 authorized the submission of the project initiative form to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation – the first step in the process to solicit federal and state funding for Phase I of the Marion Pathway.
Marion Pathway Committee Chairman Jeff Oakes told selectmen that the form was a standard DOT form, and walked acting Chairman Jody Dickerson and Selectman Stephen Cushing though each part and attachment of the form.
Phase I of the proposed bike path will run 3.84 miles from the Mattapoisett border to the Interstate 195 overpass on Front Street. Oakes explained that the Town would need to acquire the funding for engineering services – estimated at $300,000 – in order to receive any further federal or state funding.
Oakes requested that the selectmen authorize the form, which needs to be submitted on official Town letterhead to both the Mass DOT and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development Division (SRPEDD) by October 16 in order to make the SRPEDD Project Review Committee meeting on November 6. According to Oakes, that committee only meets two or three times a year, so if the form is not submitted by October 16, they will have to wait until April of 2015.
“So that gets us on the radar,” said Oakes, “and gets us in the queue for funding.”
Town Administrator Paul Dawson said all the form needed was some minor changes to the language that pertains to an easement near the intersection of Spring Street and Front Street, and he would seek advisement from town counsel.
Oakes said the Marion Pathway was one of the Mass DOT’s Priority 100 Projects that would create a vital link between the bike paths of Mattapoisett and Wareham.
“We’ve been working on this for, what, 20 years?” asked Cushing. “I think by now we finally got our act together.”
Also during the meeting, Dawson addressed an enforcement order that the Marion Conservation Commission issued the Town of Marion for an unpermitted rock wall placed above the high tide mark at a section located between Sprague’s Cove and near Silvershell Beach.
The Army Corps of Engineers issued a letter to the Town ordering it to either remove the 100-foot by 150-foot placement of rocks, or file for an after-the-fact Notice of Intent with the Conservation Commission. The board chose the latter option.
“It’s not even a wall,” said Dawson. He described it as a placement of rocks intended to control erosion at the site, specifying that there was no malintent in placing the rocks. “I guess we got a little too close [to the high tide line].”
Dawson said there has been “talk around town” that the intent was malicious, but dispelled the rumors.
“It just wasn’t that,” said Dawson. “It was just the DPW trying to shore up a little erosion.”
Dawson said it was possible that with the way the rocks were placed and the angle at which the rocks were laid, the rocks could have caused further erosion to the shoreline rather than inhibiting the erosion.
“And we will fix it,” said Dawson, adding that the Town would be soliciting the assistance of JC Engineering of East Wareham.
Cushing and Dickerson briefly debated the term “rock wall,” saying they did not consider the rocks a wall, per se.
In a follow-up interview, Dickerson denied having any prior knowledge of the placement of the rock wall near Silvershell Beach, and denied authorizing Marion Department of Public Works Superintendent Rob Zora to build the rock wall.
Dickerson is also the Director of the Recreation Department, which oversees operations at Silvershell Beach.
In other matters, the Town is considering regionalizing its Veteran’s Services Department in light of the retirement of current Veteran’s Agent Bill Titcomb.
Mattapoisett and Rochester regionalized their Vet’s Services Departments, and Marion may join the two other towns as an alternative to filling the position.
“It’s a system that works really well for them,” said Dawson, “and I think this is a perfect opportunity for us to tap into a well-established resource.”
Also during the meeting, the board authorized Dawson to execute the fiscal year 2015 On-Call Consulting Agreement with the engineering firm CDM Smith, not to exceed $30,000. Dawson called this a retainer of sorts, and no money will be expended just by authorizing the execution. As services are required, the Town will expend from the $30,000.
The board also authorized Dawson to execute the Phase I contract with CDM Smith for the DPW Garage Master Plan, as authorized by a Town Meeting vote back in May. The contract estimated at $46,500 is for feasibility studies of the Benson Brook Road location.
The board authorized Top of the Hill Package Store to sell alcohol starting at 10:00 am on Sundays after a new state law passed, allowing liquor stores to sell alcohol earlier on Sundays beginning October 23.
Selectmen accepted the Town Meeting approved gift of Lot 44 at Indian Cove.
A contract to purchase a surplus boat motor was given to Extreme Marine, the highest bidder at $2,800.
The board signed the warrant for the State General Election on November 4, and Comcast announced in a letter to the board that it would be closing its 149 Wareham Road location.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for October 21 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry
The Maconchu Club of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church will open the new season with a potluck dinner on October 18 at 6:00 pm at the church. The program for the evening will be a talk by local author, Derek DeCosta. Derek was born Yoon Sang Kyun in Korea and has a moving story to tell of his life after coming to America.
All are welcome to join the club members at 6:00 pm on the October 18.
Mites: The Gateway Mites lost their first game of the season 6-1 to the Lower Cape Coyotes. The Coyotes got on the board in the first two minutes and never looked back. Jared Frates scored the lone goal for the Mites. Despite it being the first game, the Mites kept digging and never gave up till the buzzer. Charlie Carroll played a solid game making 30 saves. Brie Killion, Brayden Cannon and Patrick Tripp played very strong for the Mites. Even in losing, the whole team held their heads high and enjoyed their first game and look forward to improving for their next game versus DY next Saturday.
Squirts: The Gateway Squirts took home another win this week against WHK Hawks by the score of 8-0. Ryker King held the net while teammates Matthew Paling and Matthew Quinlan each scored hat tricks. Braden MacDonald and Thomas Leger each added a point to the board. Jacob Hebbel, Lucas DeMoranville and Trendyn Medeiros played strong defense. The whole team worked together showing great passing and teamwork.
Bantams: A thinly-rostered Gateway Bantam team got some help from Tyler Lovendale, as he skated up for the first time this season. The younger Lovendale debuted with a goal and an assist, as the Bantams defeated Weymouth, 3-1. Zachary Lovendale and Noah DeMoranville also scored goals. Jared Westgate, Robert Ramsay, and Josh Smolinsky each had assists. Goalies Zachary Pateakos and Steven Strachan faced a limited number of scoring chances from the physical Weymouth team, while strong Gateway back checking assisted the staunch defensive efforts of Beth Davis, Matt Youlden, and Coleby Paling.
Middle School: The Middle School 1 Jr. Vikings matched up against a tenacious Spitfires team Friday night, standing tall to a 1-1 tie. The game was controlled by the Jr. Vikings getting most of the shots and possessing the puck for most of the game. They just couldn’t get a break to go their way. The Spitfires took the lead in the second period after goaltender Alex DeMarco made the initial save, but the rebound popped out front to an uncovered Spitfire player, who quickly stuffed it home. The Jr. Vikings came back quickly with a backhand feed from Quirino doCanto to a streaking Tyler Lovendale who beat the Spitfire goalie topshelf. The score remained tied for the rest of the game, with the Jr. Vikings getting a lot of opportunities, but no goals.
The Marion Fire Department Open House on October 5 made fire prevention and fire safety fire truckloads of fun with Sparky the Fire Dog, bucket rides in the ladder truck, and family-oriented activities. Fire Prevention Week this year is from October 5-11. Photos by Felix Perez
This year’s Open House at the Marion Fire Department on October 5 was inextinguishable fun for dozens of Tri-Town children and their families. Who doesn’t love a chance to high-five Sparky the Fire Dog, practice putting out a real fire with a fire extinguisher, or a ride in the bucket of the ladder truck lifting you 95 feet into the air?
“The turn out was fabulous,” said Firefighter/EMT Jodi Auld, event coordinator of the Open House. “It was a beautiful day.”
It is all about educating people on fire prevention and safety, says Auld, who was gearing up to visit Sippican School on October 7 for an all-school meeting focused on the importance of fire prevention and safety.
“This is the first time I’ve ever done this,” said Auld. “I think it’s really important for all the kids to have some fire prevention education.”
President Woodrow Wilson was the first president in 1920 to issue the very first Fire Prevention Day proclamation to commemorate the tragic Great Chicago Fire that killed 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed over 17,000 buildings, and scorched over 2,000 acres from October 8 to October 9 in 1871.
The observation of Fire Prevention Week the Sunday through Saturday in which October 9 falls has been a tradition since 1922, and it is still going strong 92 years later.
Marion Fire Chief Thomas Joyce stressed that checking your fire alarms regularly to be sure they are functioning is at the top of the list when it comes to fire safety.
Two weeks ago, said Joyce, the Fire Department was called to a Marion woman’s home for a house fire where the resident was lucky to have gotten out alive. The fire alarm did not go off when a fire ignited a piece of furniture downstairs from where the woman was sleeping. Joyce said, luckily, the fire caused the furniture to split, and the thump of a falling object awakened the woman who went downstairs to investigate the sound.
“I’m absolutely sure that woman would’ve died in her sleep, said Joyce, if not for the bump in the night that brought the woman out of her sleep and down the stairs.
“You have to check them,” emphasized Joyce. “The first thing I did when I got home that morning was check my own fire alarms to make sure they’re working.”
Another important thing to remember, urged Joyce, is to never be afraid to call 911.
“The minute you have a problem in your home, or you suspect that you do, get on the phone and call for help,” said Joyce, adding that there is no penalty for dispatching the Fire Department to your home for a situation that does not escalate out of control. “We never get mad at people.”
By Jean Perry
Concerned residents are working on a new bylaw that would augment, enhance and otherwise fill in what they believe are blanks in state and local Conservation Commission regulations governing docks and piers in Mattapoisett.
Peter Trow and Michael Huguenin presented the Mattapoisett Planning Board with a draft of what is presently titled ‘Dock and Pier Overlay District,’ a new bylaw that Trow and Huguenin, along with 100 or more voters, believe is necessary to protect Mattapoisett’s delicate inner harbor.
Trow told the board they have done some preliminary research into bylaws that are currently in place in other towns and have written a draft geared to the unique qualities and needs of the Mattapoisett Harbor. They came seeking advice and guidance so that the proposed bylaw may be included in the spring town meeting for voter consideration.
Although the draft, as written, focuses on the inner harbor, the pair acknowledged that there are other shorelines the town may wish to include. Clearly detailed in the draft is: “Prohibition. Within the Dock and Pier Overlay District the construction and/or installation of docks and piers are prohibited.” The prohibition would “maintain public access along the shore and to shellfish and shellfish beds, whether existing or potential…maintain safe, open water for recreational pursuits, including swimming, power boating, rowing, rowing instruction, sailing, sailing, instruction, sailboat racing, and kayaking…(to) retain the natural open character and scenic vistas of the seacoast and water…”
Huguenin said that today there are three agencies that oversee the building of docks and piers. The first is the Army Corps of Engineers, which he said was “slam dunk” and easy to receive permits from. The second is the Conservation Commission whose reach is basically limited to the wetlands protection act, although they could ‘condition’ a dock or pier project. And the third is Massachusetts General Law Chapter 91 Waterways.
Calling the latter the “best tool” of the three, Huguenin also said that public participation was difficult in the state process. While the law allows public comment, there is no public hearing process making it extremely difficult to keep track of a construction project. He said it is nearly impossible without the assistance of an attorney. “Local bylaws would bring the process back before the local residents and neighbors,” he said. Trow and Huguenin asserted that a local hearing process might be better for the town.
Chairman Tom Tucker told them to work with the Marine Advisory Board, Board of Selectmen and the Conservation Commission on a document that would then be drawn up from a consensus. They were urged to iron out everything possible before coming back to the Planning Board.
Tucker also told them that the Planning Board is their venue for a public hearing prior to town meeting when they are ready for that step. However, Tucker told them, the Planning Board itself does not have jurisdiction over bylaws.
Earlier in the evening, the Planning Board approved the re-configuration of lots lines between 9 and 11 Prince Snow Circle, properties owned by Suzanne MacArthur and Carol Critchell, respectively. The new lot lines would memorialize minor land use misjudgments where MacArthur’s stonewall is slightly inside Critchell’s property line and Critchell’s flowerbeds inside MacArthur’s property.
The Mattapoisett Planning Board meets again on November 3 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.
By Marilou Newell
Kevin T. Brogioli, Principal of Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, announces the following Students of the Month for September, 2014:
Green Team: Tayler Lee and Tyler Kulak
Orange Team: Mary Tori Brulport and Jackson St. Don
Blue Team: Connor Hayes and Kate Beaulieu
Red Team: Georgia Toland and Jack Martins
Special Areas: Kelly Bruce and Anthony Childs
At 6:20am on Wednesday morning the Rochester Fire Department was called to 46 Jason’s Lane for a house that was struck by lightning resulting in a possible fire in the basement.
The first police officer on scene reported that everyone was safely out of the house and there was a heavy smoke condition. Initial interior fire crews found that the fire had extended up through the attic and roof.
Command officers on scene called for assistance from Acushnet for a water tanker, Mattapoisett for an engine to respond to the scene and Marion to cover Rochester’s Station One.
The house sustained extensive fire and smoke damage. Clean up crews were on hand through the morning assessing the damage.
