Greenwood “Sonny” Hartley, Jr.

Greenwood “Sonny” Hartley, Jr., 87, a lifelong resident of Rochester died June 22, 2014 at Sippican Healthcare Center after a brief illness.

Sonny leaves a legacy of love and kindness. He shared 63 years of marriage with Shirley M. (Rhodes) Hartley. Together they raised three children and anchored a family of over 30 individuals.

He was the son of the late Greenwood and Katherine T. (Gifford) Hartley. He was a member of the Rochester Congregational Church.

He held many different types of jobs throughout his life, his favorite and most enjoyed was the 25 years as a salesman at Hiller Dodge in Marion.

He served his country during World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy. He served his Town in many elected and appointed positions, including two terms as a member of the Board of Selectmen.

He was a member and Past Master of the Pythagorean Lodge A.F. & A.M. and a past member of the Aleppo Shriners.

However, it is his natural loving, supporting and good nature that will be most fondly remembered. Whether sitting at a local ice rink or little league park and cheering on his grandchildren or great grandchildren, or sitting at home surrounded by them cheering on the Bruins, Red Sox or Patriots, he was forever the sports fan. During his retirement he spent many hours attending school plays, graduations and award ceremonies. Just weeks ago he attended his youngest granddaughter’s college graduation and his great grandsons’ baseball games.

Survivors include his wife; 3 children, Greenwood “Woody” Hartley, III and his wife Sharon, Marsha Ann Hartley and Walter Rhodes Hartley and his wife Sheldon L., all of Rochester; a brother, Henry A. Hartley and his wife Bonnie of Rochester; 7 grandchildren, Scott Greenwood Hartley, Amy Hartley-Matteson, Sarah Jane Cecil, Morgan Lee Cecil, Walter R. Hartley, Jr., Jon A. Hartley and Katherine A. Hartley; 16 great-grandchildren; 2 nephews, Raymond Hartley and Andrew Hartley and a niece, Heather Hartley-O’Shaughnessy. He is the brother of the late Katherine T. (Hartley) Church and Robert T. Hartley.

His Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 5th at 11 AM at the Rochester First Congregational Church. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Sonny’s name to your favorite charity. For on-line guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Mattapoisett Library Facebook Photo Show

With summer about to begin, both according to the calendar and the ending of the school year, the library staff invites residents and friends to send their summer photos to be considered for the cover photo on the library’s Facebook page.

Each week the library will choose a picture for the cover photo on Facebook, giving credit to the photographer. The photo might include family outings, Mattapoisett scenes, and summer fun. Photos will also be printed and shared on a board in the library for everyone to enjoy during a visit to the library.

“We hope to share some great photos of the summer season in our community”, said Susan Pizzolato, Library Director. “Summer is a wonderful time here in Mattapoisett, and the library would like to share photos of special moments and scenes taken by residents and friends. This is a great chance to show everyone your favorite summer photo!”

All are invited to submit photos via e-mail at mfpl@sailsinc.org, and photos will be posted through Labor Day. And, don’t forget to follow the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Facebook to learn about summer programs and services for all ages.

Down by the Bay

This is the last week you have the opportunity to buy garden tour and lunch tickets for the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club 2014 garden tour, “Down by the Bay.” The tour takes place on Saturday, June 28 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, rain or shine.

Luncheon reservations will close on Sunday, June 22. Stop by one of the following merchants this week to purchase tickets that include lunch at the Post Restaurant at the Bay Club during your visit to our nine featured gardens: Periwinkles in Fairhaven; The Bookstall in Marion; Isabelles, Pen & Pendulum, Town Wharf General Store, and Ying Dynasty Restaurant in Mattapoisett. Advance tickets are $15 for the tour only, and $40 for the tour and luncheon.

Tour day tickets will be sold at the Ying Dynasty parking lot on June 28 for $18 beginning at 9:30 am.

Informative Oyster Farming Experience

The Sippican Lands Trust and Tabor Academy have partnered on the waterfront and will offer an informative oyster farming experience for the whole family. The event, entitled “The Inner Workings of the Tabor Oyster Farm,” will be held on Thursday, June 26 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm, rain or shine. Please gather in front of Tabor’s Fireman Performing Arts Center located off of Front Street in Marion. There you will be greeted by Captain Dave Bill from Tabor, who will lead you through the experience.

The Tabor Academy Oyster Farm was started in June 2013 to support and complement the Town of Marion propagation efforts. Tabor has utilized the farm for many interdisciplinary programs including Marine Science, the Arts, Admissions, Freshman curriculum, Alumni, Grandparents, Community Service. Captain Dave Bill will discuss the conception of the farm, the physical set up of the farm, and the benefits and outcomes that have evolved. You will see the oysters up front and personal, and you will learn about the oysters themselves!

Please do not hesitate to contact SLT Executive Director Robin Shields at 508-748-3080 or online at robinshields@sippicanlandstrust.org if you have any questions. We hope to see you there!

Inductees Enter ORR Athletic Hall of Fame

The Old Rochester Regional Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed a number of new inductees on June 21 during an induction ceremony, and many of the ORR alumni athletes inducted this year said they were surprised and felt honored to be chosen.

“I didn’t believe it,” said former trainer Andrew Mendes, honored for his significant contribution to ORR sports. “I thought it was amazing.” Mendes said he used to be a disciplinarian at ORR, in charge of detention and suspension. The mean guy, basically – the respected guy.

“I thought, ‘you got the wrong guy,’” said Mendes laughing, recalling when he received the letter informing him of the honor.

ORR football star Peter Borsari, who was also voted “biggest mouth” according to the photograph slideshow during the buffet-style dinner, said being inducted was “the ultimate individual accomplishment in a completely team game.”

“Obviously, it’s a great honor to be recognized after so many years,” said Borsari. “And for playing a sport that I loved.”

Charles Jefferson, a graduate of the school’s first graduating class of 1962, was an all-star football player and captain of ORR’s first football team. He also played baseball, basketball, and track.

During his acceptance speech, Jefferson disclosed a bit of ORR history when he told everyone in attendance how the team came to be known as the ORR Bulldogs.

After a football game against Dighton-Rehoboth when the ORR “Red Wings” won 14-6, the coach told Jefferson that he played with the intensity of a bulldog, and instructed Jefferson to announce to the student body that the Red Wings would from then on be known as the Bulldogs. Apparently, no one at the induction ceremony had ever heard that story before.

Gretchen Hamer McDonald, who played volleyball, basketball, and track, said the personal nomination letter written to her from an underclassman that went to school with McDonald touched her the most about the whole Hall of Fame induction.

“It made me proud,” said McDonald, who said she really did not remember who the student was that wrote the letter, but it was clear that she remembered McDonald. “It made me realize that I had a positive effect on someone. That letter really made me feel good when she said that I made her feel good.”

McDonald’s young foster daughter Alyssa Silva never knew her foster mom was such a gifted athlete, and McDonald has been introducing Alyssa to a number of different sports. Alyssa shyly confessed that her favorite sport now is basketball.

Also inducted was Steven Heath who was an “offensive powerhouse” on the baseball team, played basketball, and threw the shot put in track. He was named Most Valuable Player in the spring of his senior year in 1969.

Tom DeCosta earned 11 varsity letters before graduating in 1970, playing basketball, baseball, and football, and later becoming the football coach at ORR.

Cornelia Dougall was one of ORR’s first female sports stars in track and field, field hockey, volleyball, tennis, and basketball, in which she was MVP three years in a row.

Coach Jim Hubbard was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, and he was also Athletics Director at ORR from 1975 to 1980, overseeing ten boys and girls sports teams.

The 1962 Cross Country Track Team was also inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Each inductee was introduced by the person of their choice and given a plaque to place on the display table, signifying their entrance into the ORR Athletic Hall of Fame.

Before a full house of guests, Athletics Director Bill Tilden told the alumni and their families and friends that athletics at ORR are “going in the right direction,” highlighting this year’s major accomplishments.

“And all they’re doing is trying to keep up with you guys,” said Tilden.

 

By Jean Perry

Photos by Felix Perez

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SLT Brainard Marsh Summer Yoga Series

Back by popular demand, the Sippican Lands Trust (SLT) is proud to offer a summer yoga series that will be held at our Brainard Marsh property located off of Delano Road in Marion. We will be offering both adult and children’s classes this year. These events are free and open to the public, so we hope to see you there!

Angela Curry will be returning this year as our guest adult instructor. She will lead classes on Saturday, June 21 at 9:00 am, Saturday, July 5 at 9:00 am and Saturday, August 16 at 9:00 am.

Lynda Jacobvitz will be teaching the kids yoga sessions. She will lead classes on Saturday, June 28 at 10:00 am, Saturday, July 26 at 10:00 am and Saturday, August 23 at 10:00 am. Parents are free to participate with the kids or simply enjoy the beauty of the site during the session. We just request no drop offs.

Grab your yoga mat and some water 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.

Gardens by the Sea

A tour of beautiful Marion Gardens, sponsored by St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church will be held on Friday, July 11 from 10.30 am to 4:30 pm, rain or shine. Admission is $20. Tickets may be purchased at The Bookstall in Marion, The Marion General Store, and at the church office on South Street in Marion. The tour will start at the Capt. Hadley house, located at the corner of Rt. 6 and Front Street in Marion. Additional tickets will certainly be available at that time. A luncheon is not included this year, but refreshment will be served at a spectacular sight. Call 508-748-1507 with any questions.

Academic Achievements

Kelsey Frink of Marion was named to the President’s List for the spring 2014 semester at Ouachita Baptist University. To be named to the President’s List, a student must compile a 4.0 grade point average and be classified as a full-time student, with a minimum of 12 academic hours.

Snipatuit Pond Projects on Agenda

Rochester’s Conservation Commission members arrived just in time for the start of their 7:00 pm meeting, after completing a site visit to 566 Snipatuit Road. This location and one other on Snipatuit Pond were the public hearings on the night’s agenda.

Kei Lau of 566 Snipatuit Road and Rick Charon of Charon Associates came before the commission with plans to make improvements to an existing seaplane hangar and to remove trees in a bordering vegetated area as well as in uplands locations. Charon and Lau explained that they wished to receive approval to remove a number of pine trees in a timely manner to ensure their worth as viable lumber versus being ground up for mulch. It was explained that pine trees, after a certain point in the summer season, lose their marketability as lumber due to “blue staining” caused by beetles and fungus. After careful consideration and any implications that the work might be counter to jurisdiction held by the Natural Heritage, Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon was authorized by the commission to meet with Lau at the site to review the exact trees to be removed outside the wetlands area and to be present during their removal. All other matters associated with their filing were tabled until the July 7 meeting to give Natural Heritage time to respond to Lau’s work within the protected wetland area.

A notice of intent filed by Don Stimer, 14 Bishop Road, concerning the removal of phragmites encroaching Snipatuit Pond was also heard. Brad Holmes of Environmental Consulting and Restoration accompanied Stimer to explain in detail the process proposed for the invasive plant eradication. A first cutting of the reeds with a handheld motorized blade will be followed by an herbicide treatment and lastly a final cutting during the winter months. There was considerable discussion about the steps in the process and the environmental safety of the herbicide to be applied in a nearly stem-by-stem methodology. After thorough review of all points of concern and a letter from Natural Heritage on file, the commission moved in favor of Stimer’s request.

A negative determination was moved for work to be done by the Rochester Highway Department on Alley Road and Walnut Plain Road. The road work will include the pavement being ground in place, graded and repaved. Standard conditions will be in place for work near wetlands bordering the roadways.

The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is July 7 at 7:00 pm in the town hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

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Silvershell Beach Officially Opens

The reopening of Town Beach signifies the first day of summer in Marion. Dozens of beach-goers in bathing suits scattered along the beach made for a summery scene by the sea on June 21. Marion Recreation was on hand with hotdogs and chips for lunch.

By Jean Perry

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