Priscilla B. (Senna) Dean

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Priscilla B. (Senna) Dean, 80, of New Bedford, daughter of the late Jose B. and Maria (Marianho) Senna, died August 17, 2014 after a long battle with Asthma, Emphysema, Bronchitis, COPD and Osteoporosis. She was born in New Bedford where she lived most of her life except for nine years when she lived in Mattapoisett with her companion the late Edward L. Dexter. In her younger years, she was employed as a stitcher and a house cleaner. She was a member of the Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. She loved spending time with her family and friends, collecting dolls, doing puzzles, crafts and looked forward to hosting her Friday night prayer meetings.

Survivors include three sons, Brian Dean and his wife Janice, Wayne Dean and his wife Isabel and Michael Dean and his wife Lisa all of New Bedford; four daughters Donna Wagner, Linda Dean and her companion Martin both of New Bedford, Dotty Gidley and her husband David of CT and Lisa Westgate and her husband Gary of Freetown; a brother Arthur B. Senna of New Bedford; twelve grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Joseph, Daniel, Gilbert, Gabriel and Dorothy Senna, Delores Gallery, Clara Alves, Shirley Oliveira, Lillian Santos and Esther Kirk.

Her Funeral will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 8am from the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Fairlawn, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven followed by a Funeral Mass at 9am at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 121 Mt. Pleasant St., New Bedford. Visiting hours Wednesday 4-8pm. Burial in Pine Grove Cemetery.

Rochester’s Newest Walking Trail Announced

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The Town of Rochester, Wildlands Trust and Rochester Land Trust are proud to announce the opening of the Doggetts Brook Trail, which culminates a successful multi-year effort to link existing Town and conservation lands. The trail originates at the Dexter Lane ball fields and meanders by a reservoir, abandoned cranberry bogs, vernal pool, and through open field and woodlands bordering on Doggetts Brook. In late 2011, the Town purchased a 29-acre parcel of land from Deb Arney of Rochester with funding from the Rochester Land Trust and Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program The Arney property had long been a conservation priority for the Town, Wildlands Trust and Rochester Land Trust because it was a key link to an assemblage of conservation properties. The groups worked together over the past two years to improve a loop trail that links over 100 acres of open space for public enjoyment. Thanks to a grant from the Makepeace Neighborhood Fund, the trailhead is marked by a map display case, and a kiosk and signage are installed at strategic points along the trail.

Please join us to celebrate the newest walking trail in Rochester at the grand opening on Saturday, September 13 at 1:00 pm at the Dexter Lane Recreational Area by the trailhead display case on the restroom building. After a short dedication, all are invited to walk the trail led by local naturalists. Refreshments will be available at the end of the walk, which normally takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete. Please bring bug spray, water bottles, hats and walking sticks if needed. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed.

SHS Musical Matinees

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This August, beat the mid-day heat with Sippican Historical Society’s Musical Matinees. On Tuesday, August 19, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Ann Miller and Betty Garrett light up the screen in the 1949 musical, On the Town. In the film, three sailors on a day of shore leave in New York City look for fun and romance before their twenty-four hours are up. Both a commercial and critical success, On the Town won the Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture, was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Cinematography (Color) and Writers’ Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical.

Musical Matinees (which will also include An American in Paris on Thursday, August 28) will be held in the Front Room of the Marion Music Hall, and will begin at 11:00 am. The films are offered free to the public, with no registration required. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch and beverage to enjoy during the film.

Gateway Youth Hockey

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It’s time for some Hockey! For anyone interesting in playing competitive hockey this year, here’s your chance. Gateway Youth Hockey will be conducting an Evaluation/Re-evaluation of all players for the coming season. All new players are invited to attend and hopefully take part in another great year of Gateway Hockey. All evaluations will take place at the Tabor Academy Ice Rink: Mites and Squirts on Wednesday, August 20 and 27 at 6:00 pm; PeeWee and Bantams on Wednesday, August 20 and 27 at 7:00 pm; Middle School on Thursday, August 21 and 28 at 6:00 pm; and Midgets on Thursday, August 21 and 28 at 7:00 pm. For more information on the evaluations or to join Gateway Youth Hockey, please email qdocanto@msn.com.

Last Walking Tour of the Summer

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Join Seth Mendell of the Mattapoisett Historical Society for our last Walking Tour of the summer on Saturday, August 16 at 2:00 pm. Learn more about the Town of Mattapoisett as you explore the waterfront streets, parks and wharves. The tour is free with Museum Admission ($5 for adults, $2 for children 6 and up). Meet at the Mattapoisett Historical Society, 5 Church Street. For more information, please visit www.mattapoisetthistoricalsociety.org or call 508-758-2844.

SLT Summer Yoga Sessions

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The Sippican Lands Trust (SLT) has two remaining sessions of their Brainard Marsh YOGA series during the month of August.

The final adult yoga session with instructor Angela Curry will be held on Saturday August 16 at 9:00 am. The final children’s yoga session with instructor Lynda Jacobvitz will be held on Saturday August 23 at 10:00 am. Both events will be held at our Brainard Marsh property located off of Delano Road in Marion. These events are free and open to the public, so we hope to see you there!

Grab your yoga mat and some water, bring bug spray and sunscreen, and get ready to get healthy surrounded by a spectacular view! Parking is available at the site. Please do not hesitate to contact Executive Director Robin Shields at 508-748-3080 or online at robinshields@sippicanlandstrust.org.

Southcoast Children’s Chorus Auditions

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The SCC encourages children who love to sing to join us for our exciting fifth season. Young people entering grades 3 – 12 may audition for the Concert Chorus (grades 3 – 6) or the Touring Chorus (grades 6 – 12). Children in grades K-2 may register for the Prep Chorus without an audition. September 7 is the kick-off for the new season – activities for the singers, a meeting for the parents, a drawing for a year’s free tuition, and ice cream for everyone! The mission of the Chorus is to provide a joyful, educational choral experience for young singers, helping them to develop confidence, responsibility, musicianship, and a passion for excellence in all they do. Believing that children are capable of achieving musical artistry at the highest possible level, we are creating a tradition of excellent children’s choral music in the South Coast region by offering outstanding training in musicianship and choral ensemble skills. Please contact Artistic Director Leslie Piper at LesliePiper@msn.com for information or to schedule an audition.

 

Conditions Drafted for Leisure Shores Marina

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Members of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission reviewed a draft of conditions that they have been working on with Conservation Agent Elizabeth Leidhold. Since the Conservation Commission’s primary area of responsibility is protection of wetland and waterways, these conditions are solely focused on those areas of this property versus uplands areas.

Harbormaster Jill Simmons read from an email she received from a concerned neighbor who, after reading The Wanderer’s coverage of the previous ConCom meeting, posed a list of questions. The writer wanted to know if business activities taking place on the landside of the property would continue to be allowed. Bob Rogers, acting Chairman, said that Leisure Shores will still need to have permits for activities such as boat maintenance. On this evening, the matter before them was conditions for the waterside of the property.

They reviewed a long list of conditions drafted by Leidhold, added others, and discussed the necessity of completing this responsibility before August 17. That date represents the end of the 21-day period of time given to the commission to complete the conditions document after the close of the public hearing.

A copy of the draft that was several pages in length was not made available to the public. However, ConCom was particularly concerned with the ongoing clean-up of degrading Styrofoam floats, placing a boom around them in the winter months, or removing the remaining Styrofoam floats during winter months until they are permanently replaced. Leidhold said that Town Counsel had weighed in on the document.

A critical piece that was missing was an updated plan-of-record from Leisure Shores that ConCom had expected prior to the meeting. Since the conditions document deals primary with waterside activities, they decided to move forward without it.

In other business, a negative three finding was given for a request for determination of applicability filed by David Park for the construction of an in-ground pool at 48 Holly Woods Road.

Also receiving a negative three finding was Christian Thorell’s request for determination of applicability for 23 Brandt Beach Avenue for the construction of a 12-foot by 15-foot two-story addition.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for August 25 at 6:30 pm.

By Marilou Newell

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Academic Achievements

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The following students from the Tri-Town were named to the University of Rhode Island Spring 2014 Dean’s List: Tyler Scott Ayan of Marion, Katherine Jean Delaney of Marion, and Christine Jane O’Donoghue of Rochester.

To be included on the Dean’s List, students must have completed 12 or more credits during a semester for letter grades with at least a 3.30 quality point average. Part-time students qualify with the accumulation of 12 credits with a 3.30 quality point average.

EEE Confirmed in Mosquitoes from Marion and Rochester

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that EEE virus has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Marion and Rochester  Massachusetts.  More specifically a bird biting mosquito culiseta melanoma was found in samples taken from the Northwest quadrant in Marion, and the North quadrant in Rochester.
EEE is a rare but serious illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. While EEE can infect people of all ages, people under15 years of age or over 50 years of age are at greatest risk for serious illness.  
By taking a few, common-sense precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their loved ones:
~Avoid Mosquito Bites
Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours – The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellant.
Clothing Can Help~reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Apply Insect Repellent~when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.  Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.~
Mosquito-Proof Your Home
Drain Standing Water~– Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.~
Install or Repair Screens~- Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.
While Marion Rochester Regional Health District continues to work closely with the MDPH and other agencies, locally Plymouth County Mosquito Control has been spraying in those areas where the mosquitoes were found.
Plymouth County Mosquito control will be doing a town wide spraying on Wednesday August 20, 2014. Residents are asked to keep their windows closed during the evening.
Information about EEE and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at HYPERLINK “http://www.mass.gov/dph/wnv”http://www.mass.gov/dph/wnv.
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