Three Special Permits Granted

on

Mattapoisett’s Zoning Board of Appeals on August 23 granted three special permits in rapid succession. Each of the projects brought before Chairman Susan Akin and members Paul Milott, Norman Lyonnais, and Tony Tranfaglia, as well as Director of Inspectional Services Andy Bobola, was represented by Field Engineering.

First up was Mark Robert for property located at 169 Brandt Island Road. The applicant was seeking a special permit to take down the existing residence and build a new single-family home. After assurances from Bob Fields that the height of the new structure will meet current code requirements and that lot coverage will not be increased dramatically, the board approved issuance of the special permit that saw no public comment.

The second hearing was for William and Debra Poutsiaka, 4 Maple Road, with an application for a special permit to construct a 50-square foot addition to the first floor, a 260-square foot addition on the second floor, and expansion of the existing deck by five feet westerly and three feet on the southerly side. Again with no public comment or concerns regarding the request, the application was approved.

Last up was the hearing for construction of two small additions to property located at 14 Ned’s Point Road, owned by Highlander Nominee Trust of Wayland. One addition, located on the north side of the residence, is planned at 273-square feet, and the addition on the southwest corner will be 166-square feet. Calling the plans a “nice looking project,” Bobola agreed with the zoning board members who unanimously agreed to approve the special permit.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for September 25 at 6:00 pm.

By Marilou Newell

MtZBAPic

Marion Art Center Fall Classes

on

Watercolor Painting for Adult Beginners

Wednesdays, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

September 17 – November 5 (8 weeks)

Instructor: Patricia White

Tuition: $175 members / $190 non-members (materials not included)

Note: This course requires a minimum of 5 students to run

This course is designed for people who would like to try watercolor painting, but do not know where to start. Students will explore different techniques, while working on the landscape, still life, figurative, and/or imaginative painting, in a nurturing environment.

About the Instructor: Patricia White is a painter and a Gallery Instructor at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She is past President of the Marion Art Center and the current President of the Bourne-Wareham Art Association. She studied Realist Painting at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts and has shown her work in numerous exhibitions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including the Marion Art Center, The Jonathan Bourne Library, The Wareham Library, Don’s Art Shop of Warren, The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, ArtWorks! of New Bedford, the Annual BWAA Show and Sale, and the Gift Shop of The Cape Cod Museum of Art.

Intermediate/Advanced Watercolor

Thursdays, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

September 18 – November 6 (8 weeks)

Instructor: Jay Ryan

Tuition: $175 members / $190 non-members (materials not included)

Note: This course requires a minimum of 5 students to run

This course is a perfect “next step” for those who would like to explore watercolor painting beyond a basic understanding of color and brush strokes. Using the brilliant nature of light (and dark), we’ll “push” the medium, adding other water media, brushes, and paper surfaces, and experiment with palette color mixing to capture magic and luminosity. In each class, we will start a new painting together using landscape, still life, the figure, abstract or imaginative thought, or narrative ideas as subjects. Each class will also provide a brief and supportive group “critique”. Students will leave with expanded knowledge of technique and traditional and contemporary use of watercolor.

About the Instructor: Jay Ryan is a Fairhaven painter and a Gallery Instructor at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. A former K-12 public school art teacher and administrator, Jay has studied at Massachusetts College of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and Framingham State and Lesley Universities. His work has been locally shown at the Judith Klein Gallery, ArtWorks! and Gallery X in New Bedford, and the Marion Art Center.

Children’s Classes

            Mac Dance Academy

Mondays, September 8 through November 11 (10 weeks)

Instructor: Paige Hiller

Preschool (ages 3-4): 3:00 – 3:30 pm

Beginner (ages 4-5): 3:30 – 4:15 pm

Intermediate (ages 5-6): 4:15 – 5:00 pm

Fall 2014 Session begins Monday, September 8.

The Marion Art Center is now accepting registrations for its Fall Dance Academy. Classes are held on Mondays and run for 10 weeks. Fall session is grounded in classical dance, whereas the Spring session focuses heavily on choreography and recital performance.

Preschool Dance: Preschool instruction is for children between the ages of 3-4. Class is 30 minutes and involves ballet warm-up, jazz stretches, basic mat tumbling and basic tap steps. The fee for the 10-week session is $145 for Marion Art Center members and $160 for non-members. (Child must be 3 years of age at the start of the Session.)

Beginner Dance: Beginner instruction is for children between the ages of 4-5. Class is 45 minutes and involves ballet warm-up and barre, jazz stretches, beginner mat tumbling. The fee for the 10-week session is $155 for Marion Art Center members and $170 for non-members.

Intermediate Dance: Intermediate instruction is for children aged 5-6. Class is 45 minutes and involves advanced ballet warm-up, barre and adagio, tumbling, jazz stretches and combinations and tap combinations. The fee for the 10-week session is $155 for Marion Art Center members and $170 for non-members.

Little People’s Theatre (ages 6-9)

Tuesdays, 4:30 – 5:30 pm

Instructor: Kim Teves

Tuition: Each six-week session is $80 for MAC members and $95 for non-members

Deadline for registration for Fall Session 1 is September 9.

Fall Session 1 LPT: September 9, 16, 23, 30; October 7, 14.

Fall Session 2 LPT: October 28; November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9.

Winter Session 1 LPT: January 6, 13, 20, 27; February 3, 10.

Winter Session 2 LPT: February 24; March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31.

Spring Session LPT: April 30; May 5, 12, 19, 26; June 2.

Each week the children will learn basic theater craft through drama games, readers’ theater and experience the fun of the stage while rehearsing for a small production to be performed the last week of each session.

Young People’s Theatre (ages 10-14)

Thursdays, 4:00 – 5:30 pm

Instructor: Kimberly Teves

Tuition: $170 for MAC members and $185 for non-members.

Deadline for registration for Fall Session YPT is September 11.

Fall Session YPT: September 11, 18, 25; October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; November 6, 13.

Winter/Spring Session YPT: January 8, 15, 22, 29; February 5, 12, 26; March 5, 12, 19.

New! Spring 1/2 Session YPT: April 30; May 7, 14, 21, 28.

The class will meet on Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. Classes are for boys and girls in grades 4 – 8. The 10-week Fall Session program starts September 11 and runs through November 13. Performance will be on Thursday, November 13. Students will learn basic theater craft through improvisation exercises, theater games, and the process of putting on a production through selection, rehearsal and production of a small show presented at the end of the session.

Call 508-748-1266 for more information.

Preschool Piano (age 3-5 yrs)

Fall 2014 Session: September 12 – November 14 (10 weeks)

Friday mornings at the Marion Art Center

Recital: November 14

25-minute private lessons for children ages 3-5 yrs.

$20 per lesson (includes cost of music/materials/recital)

Little Mozart’s Preschool Piano is an early music enrichment program for children ages 3 to 5. Lessons are designed to introduce children to the piano and teach basic foundation skills that will inspire an early appreciation for music. Individual lessons place an emphasis on rhythm, finger position, music vocabulary, music notation, note reading, and encourage overall fine motor development. It is offered three times per year at the Marion Art Center for 10-week sessions during the fall (Sept-Dec), winter/spring (Jan-April), and summer (July-August). Each session concludes with a short recital. Children may repeat sessions through age 5 to enhance their knowledge and performance skills.

To reserve a lesson time, contact Jamie Wiksten at jwiksten@verizon.net or 508-295-0379.

            Saturday Morning Piano Lessons

Piano lessons for beginners and intermediates are offered on Saturday mornings, by appointment only, with instructor Donald Richard.

Fall 2014 Session begins September 27 and runs until December 13. Winter Session begins January 10, 2015 and runs until the end of the school year. To reserve a lesson time, please call Donald Richard at 781-582-6273 or email him at don@javajiveband.com.

About the Instructor: Donald Richard earned his Bachelor of Music from University of Lowell and has been teaching private lessons on piano and trumpet since 1980. He has substituted in the Old Rochester Regional School District since 1999 and since 2003 has assisted with the Sippican Elementary School Annual Band Blast and other events.

Registration and payment for all classes except piano can be made on line at www.marionartcenter.org.

The Marion Art Center is located at 80 Pleasant Street (main entrance is on Main Street) in Marion, MA 02738. For more information, please call 508-748-1266 or visit www.marionartcenter.org.

 

Salute to John Williams and the Boston Pops

on

On Friday, August 29, the Marion Concert Band will close its 2014 season with a concert featuring the music of film composer John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra. The program, which includes several pieces frequently performed by the Pops, is as follows:

“Bombasto” by O. R. Farrar

“Poet & Peasant Overture” by F. von Suppé

“Strike Up the Band” by G. Gershwin

“John Williams: Evening at Pops” arranged by John Higgins

“Bugler’s Holiday” by L. Anderson

“Belle of the Ball” by L. Anderson

“Star Wars Medley” by J. Williams

“Clarinet Escapade” by R. Ward

“The Waltzing Cat” by L. Anderson

“Mancini!” by H. Mancini

“Theme from E.T.” by J. Williams

“The Stars and Stripes Forever” by J. P. Sousa

The concert, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00 pm at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf off Front Street in Marion. The concert is free and open to the public.

Mattapoisett Free Public Library

on

To the Editor:

The staff of the Mattapoisett Free Public Library would like to thank the many sponsors and volunteers who made the 2014 Summer Reading Program, “Fizz Boom Read!” such a huge success. Over 200 children and families participated in the wide range of programs, reading activities, and story times that were part of our weekly schedule. In addition, many patrons and guests visited the library to enjoy an afternoon out of the sun, reading and playing on the new educational computer stations.

Our volunteers, both youth and adult, are too numerous to mention by name here, but they have been heartily thanked by the staff. In particular, though, we would like to thank Jen and Nathan Zieske who provided the prizes awarded to the children who complete the reading aspect of our summer program. Each year the Zieskes go above and beyond in a way that inspires the children to participate.

Others who made Mattapoisett’s Summer Reading Program very special this year include: Diane Newell of the Yankee Candle Store in Dartmouth; The Eastern States Exposition; Yankee Candle Village in South Deerfield; Friendly’s Ice Cream; Mattapoisett’s own No Kidding Toy Store and its wonderful staff; the Mattapoisett Cultural Council; and for programs: Kay Hanley Alden and Matt Richards; The Wareham Gatemen and Cindy Dawicki; Rob Magee and Chief Magee; Deidre Smith; Elizabeth Hutchison; and terrific helpers Jeanne Smith, Emily Newell, Greg Schneider, Sienna Wurl, Alex Wurl, and Griffin Dunn.

The Junior Friends of the Library and their advisor, Kathleen Kvilhaug, offered their enthusiasm and assistance with lawn games and fun for the community’s children. They give generously of their time and talents all year long.

The Mattapoisett Library’s regular volunteers continued to shelve the hundreds of children’s books each week so that good reading was always available to our young patrons.

The library’s Summer Reading Program is one of the highlights of the year for staff and families alike. We appreciate the support of the community that makes our program unique and something children eagerly say yes to when they have so many choices of things to do. Reading still thrives! Please visit our Facebook page to view some photographs of this summer’s events.

With appreciation,

Linda Burke

Jeanne McCullough

Lynn Haugen

Miyuki Dawson

The Mattapoisett Free Public Library Children’s Department Staff

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.

The Tri-Town Celebrates the Beatles

on

Local Beatles historian and collector Jim Cushman, along with Old Rochester Community Television, would like to invite you to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles first appearance in New England by joining us for a memorabilia show that will benefit a local food pantry. Come see rare Beatles collectibles including Beatle-worn clothing, band autographs and other rare memorabilia. There will also be showings of rare Beatles film footage and photo opportunities; cameras are welcomed and encouraged. This event will be held on Saturday, September 13 from noon until 5:00 pm at the ORCTV studios at 345 Front St. in Marion, nearly 50 years to the date of the Beatles legendary performance at the old Boston Garden on September 12, 1964. Admission for this event is one nonperishable food item per person to be donated to a local food pantry for the upcoming holiday season. For more information, please call ORCTV at 508-748-1600. We look forward to seeing you!

Free Movie: Last Tuesday of the Month

on

Nebraska (PG-13, 1 hr. 55 min.) is playing at the Mattapoisett Senior Center, Center School, Barstow St., on Tuesday, August 26 at 12:00 noon. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mattapoisett Council on Aging (formally known as the Friends of the Elderly), the movie is free.

You get two pizza slices for only $2 prepaid. Pay for your pizza at the Senior Center by Monday, August 25. Also, reserve your seat – so we’ll know how many chairs are needed.

Nebraska is a black and white road trip drama starring Bruce Dern as a tempestuous Missouri father who’s convinced he’s won a million dollar magazine sweepstakes. Will Forte plays the son who grudgingly agrees to drive him to Nebraska to claim his winnings.

MPOA Charity Golf Tournament

on

The Mattapoisett Police Officer’s Association Charity Golf Tournament will be held at the Allendale Country Club, 1047 Allen St. Dartmouth, on October 6 at 8:30 am.

Entry Price is $125 per person, $500 Foursome and the entry deadline is September 29.

Registration fee includes: 18 holes of traditional scramble golf format, golf cart fee, awards lunch, gift bag, and T-shirt. Prizes awarded for winning team, longest drive, and closest to the pin, in addition to raffle prizes and a chance to win a 2014 GMC automobile for Hole-In-One Contest. All proceeds benefit local charities and community-sponsored events.

For further sponsorship opportunities and donations, contact Turner Ryan at mpoainc@gmail.com or 508-525-2531. For registration forms and online registration, visit: www.mpoagolf.com.

Local Woman Fighting for a Cause

on

Mattapoisett’s Shannon Leary is literally fighting for a cause. Leary has accepted a challenge to “knockout cancer” and is putting up her dukes during a months-long fundraising effort to raise funds for Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund.

This year at the 2014 Belles of the Brawl, Leary will represent Mattapoisett in the ring as she throws punches on behalf of those battling cancer, hoping to raise a minimum of $4,000 to make the endeavor a success. So far, she has raised $3,100 and she is hoping her hometown of Mattapoisett will help her kick butt to surpass her fundraising goal.

The fundraiser is organized by Haymakers for Hope, which gives everyday people the chance to train and compete in an amateur charity boxing match on October 2 at Club Royale in Boston. The participants have no prior boxing experience and are assigned a local gym to train intensively for the event during the weeks leading up to the big day.

“I’ve always been an athlete,” said Leary. She regularly participates in local events such as the Mattapoisett Road Race and Triathlon. “I always like to try something new, athletically.”

Leary said she recently lost a dear friend to cancer, so this fundraiser is particularly close to her heart. “It’s really an experience for me,” said Leary about learning to box and raising awareness of the fight against cancer. “It’s like a roller-coaster and I’ve only just started last week.”

Boxing – this is quite out of her realm, said Leary, embarking on this four-month long life-changing journey.

“What I have learned the past few months boxing is that you have to really, really, really commit to boxing. You can’t just do it when the mood strikes you,” said Leary. “Boxing is not like skiing or tennis; it is not something you can do once a year, on vacation, or on a weekend off.” Boxing, Leary said, even at this amateur level, requires “dedication, discipline and guts.”

Leary used to be a math teacher “many lifetimes ago,” teaching students how to tell time and, now, even a 30-second period of time messes with her mind while she is training for when she steps into the ring.

“Try punching with all-out speed and power on a bag for 30 seconds and you’ll know what I am talking about,” said Leary. She will have to contend with that, along with someone trying to punch her in the face while punching back, or course.

Leary said she finds the fundraiser both worthwhile and intriguing to her.

“Additionally, I wanted to show my seven and eight year-old sons that their mom is their mom, and is also an athlete,” said Leary. “As with those battling cancer, I want my boys to understand part of life is striving to set and work toward achieving goals and in both cases the process requires hard work.”

Love, determination, persistence, and belief are the characteristics of a person who is battling cancer in their life, said Leary – and this is her way of honoring those who are “fighting the biggest fight of their lives.”

“I would like you to join me and become a part of something bigger than any of us and hopefully ‘knockout’ cancer!

If you would like to support Shannon Leary fight for those battling cancer, you can visit her fundraising website at https://www.crowdrise.com/ShannonLearyh4hbelles2014.

You can purchase tickets to the event and the proceeds of the tickets go directly into Leary’s fundraising account.

The Belles of the Brawl II is October 2 at 7:30 pm at Club Royale, located at 279 Tremont Street in Boston.

By Jean Perry

Haymakers

Josephine A. (Donovan) Wojtkonski

on

Josephine A. (Donovan) Wojtkonski, age 91, of Fairhaven died August 21, 2014. She was wife of the late Walter Wojtkonski.

Born in New Bedford, a daughter of the late Thomas and Helen (Reagan) Donovan, she lived in Rochester for several years and Fairhaven for most of her life.

A homemaker, she played the organ and taught CCD at St. Rose of Lima in Rochester for several years. She loved knitting, bingo and traveling – especially to Ireland, Bahamas and Florida.

Surviving: four daughters: Patricia Comeau of Fairhaven, Joanne Whitehead and her husband James of Acushnet, Karen Poulin and her husband Jan Marc of New Bedford, Suzanne Bodick of Florida, two sisters: Theresa Clarkin and husband John of Falmouth and Patricia Clarkin and her husband Phillip of CT, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. She was sister of the late Thomas and Andrew Donovan, Margaret Jorge and Eileen Provost.

Her Funeral will be held Monday, August 25, 2014 at 10:30am in Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford. Family to receive friends from 9:30am to 10:30am prior to her funeral. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Rte. 6, New Bedford. Directions or tributes: www.rock-funeralhome.com.

Sippican Choral Society

on

The Sippican Choral Society begins the 2014 – 2015 season with its first regular rehearsal on Monday, September 8 at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church in Reynard Hall. New members are welcome to join the chorus simply by coming to the one of the first three rehearsals, September 8, 15, and 22.

Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:30 pm every Monday evening, but singers are asked to arrive by 7:15 pm for their first rehearsal in order to register and receive music. All voices are welcome (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), and no auditions are required. As always, everyone who has sung with the chorus in past years will be welcomed back.

The chorus will be rehearsing for its 49th annual Christmas Concerts, which will be on Friday, December 5 at Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford, and at Tabor Academy’s Wickenden Chapel in Marion on Sunday, December 7.

The theme for this year’s Christmas concerts is “Tidings of Comfort and Joy,” and the repertoire includes motets by Andreas Hammerschmidt and Johann Michael Haydn, as well as arrangements of traditional and newly-composed seasonal music.

Now beginning its 49th season, the 90-member Sippican Choral Society is under the direction of Brian Roderick, with Michelle Gordon as accompanist. The group performs at least two concerts every year, singing the works of the world’s great composers, as well as popular music.

For further information about singing with the Sippican Choral Society this year, please call Peter McDonald 508-748-0286. If you plan to sing this season, but cannot make the first rehearsal, please let Peter know that when you call.