Mattapoisett Road Race: Who Runs?

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Who are the people who get up early on the 4th of July to make their way to Mattapoisett so they can run five miles? When most of us are relaxing or gearing up for the annual cookout, approximately 1,000 runners are heading to Shipyard Park. There is no typical runner. An equal number of men and women run. Some have lots of running experience; some not so much. And age is just a number for these runners. Meet some of these long-time runners.

Last year, Joe Fernandez ran his 18th race and was the oldest runner. According to Mr. Fernandez, he finds the Mattapoisett Road Race “well run” (no pun intended) and the route “picturesque.” However, he may not run this year because he will be 85. For those who were wondering about the cut-off age, it just might be 84. In 1972, a new division was added for “aging runners” over 26. Apparently the Race Committee hadn’t met someone like Joe Fernandez.

When Patrick Callahan ran in the 39th Road Race, he was doing something he had first done 28 years earlier at the age of eight. In 2007, 40- year old George Luke won the race by out distancing many younger men. Marge Belisle, at 52, outran the younger women in the same race to win the women’s division.

Last year, the oldest female runner, Cathy Martens, said her favorite race memory was the year she won her division (women over 70) and didn’t know she won until she saw it in the paper the next morning. Although her “weak knees and even weaker constitution” require walking the five miles now, she enjoys every minute of it. She races with a friend and they talk the whole way. According to Mrs. Martens “it is amazing how many problems you can solve, how many laughs you can have, and how fast you can walk as you talk.” She would love to see many more “mature” runners/walkers participate. As she said “it is a great way to spend an hour or two.” For many of us, it would probably be more like three or four hours. But as Mrs. Martens said, “It is a great way to support the community.”

For Peter Martin, who will be running his 36th straight race this year, the race is “synonymous” with summer. Over the years he has had siblings, cousins and his own children run the race. Karen Manning, a 20-year member of the Race Committee, has run the race for 30 years. Mrs. Manning said the most striking quality is the “ever-present enthusiasm” that pervades every aspect of the race. From Race Committee meetings to registration where past races are discussed to the laughter shared with spectators along the route, this sense of joy and “spirit of the 4th shines brightly.” The Mattapoisett Road Race is truly a race for everyone.

MNHM Summer Programs

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Come and enjoy the summer in Marion with the Marion Natural History Museum’s Summer Programs.

Life along the Shore: During this program, we will be visiting the shoreline and exploring the plants and animals that live in our area’s many coastal habitats. With the use of games, journals, introductory science techniques and hands-on activities, this will be a wonderful first look at life in our coastal environment. For students entering grades 1 and 2.

Coastal Explorations I & II: The Coastal Explorations I program will feature explorations of our rocky intertidal shoreline, salt marshes, estuaries as well as freshwater riverbanks, swamps, ponds and bogs. We will look at the birds, amphibians, fish and invertebrates that make these areas so special. For students entering grades 3 and 4.

During our Coastal Explorations II program, we will further enjoy the unique habitats Marion has to offer, including several field trips to expand our knowledge of our Coastal and Freshwater ecosystems. For students entering grades 5-7.

Dates and time for all sessions are:

Session I: July 7 – July 18, 2014

Session II: August 4 – August 15, 2014

Sessions will be held from 9:00 am – noon, Monday – Friday

Cost: $200 with membership and $250 for nonmembers

Registration is limited to 15 students per group, so register early to guarantee your child a spot. To register for these programs, please visit the Marion Natural History Museum website: www.marionmuseum.org, print out a registration form, and submit with payment. Summer will be here before we know it!

Marion Fire Fighters Association

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The Marion Fire Fighters Association is honored to recognize the lifetime commitment and dedication of service to the Marion Fire Department by Deputy Chief Nathan B. Nye, Sr. In collaboration with the Nye Family and F.F. Brian Avila, an engraved dedication monument will be placed at the entrance to Marion Fire Station Two where Deputy Chief Nye served during his 55 years on the Department. An annual scholarship fund has also been set up in his name and will be awarded at this year’s ORRHS Awards Night. The Marion Fire Fighters Association is accepting donations to assist in funding these endeavors. Donations can be sent to: Marion Fire Fighters Association, P. O. Box 114, Marion, MA 02738. Please include “Nate Nye” on the check so that we can ensure the donations go into the proper account.

Tense Moments at ConCom Meeting

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The May 14 agenda of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission could have borne the title of ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ as several items the commission heard during the course of the meeting dealt with too much water in all the wrong places.

The two cases causing the most controversy were drainage issues at Appaloosa Lane and at Brandt Point Village. Developers or their representatives were asked to attend the meeting to address specific ConCom issues.

Brian Grady of GAF Engineering was on hand to answer questions regarding expansion of drainage basins associated with the housing development on Appaloosa Lane. Residents along River Road came out to complain that since the developer has resumed work on engineered drainage basins, water has been flowing into their yards. Also referred to as retention ponds, these water collectors were designed to be ‘dry.’ However, with a high water table and wet weather conditions, they have been full and overflowing. As the construction team attempted to move water from one basin to the other, it was discovered that the soil content is mostly clay, causing Conservation Agent Liz Leidhold to wonder aloud if they would ever be able to sufficiently re-charge water back into the ground. Highway Superintendent Barry Denham shared those concerns from his own observation of the soil.

It was also brought to the commission’s attention that a vast amount of soil material had been dug out and piled high at the site rather than being removed from the area. Denham said, “I didn’t receive any notification that work would be taking place there … they have removed a significant amount of material (but) I don’t know why it wasn’t removed off site … I question if it’s (drainage basins) going to be able to handle storm water … they were supposed to be dry basins.” Nearly at a whisper he commented, “How can they install a septic system when the water is so close to ground level?” Commission member Bob Rogers replied, “Well, that’s not for us to determine.”

Patricia Apperson, a River Road resident, said that pumps and hoses were being used that very day to suck water out of one of the basins. However, the hoses were placed in such a manner that the water purposefully flowed into her yard. She said that every time someone new purchased the land, new and greater water problems were created and yet it seemed that developers were being given increasingly easier permissions. Brian Cook of 11 River Road stated he now had water in his basement for the first time.

Chairman Peter Newton said that the first step had to be to allow the developer to complete the drainage work as engineered and then to see where things stood. This did not appease the neighbors whose frustrations were very evident.

Grady will visit the site and continue to work with the contractor on ways to eliminate some of the drainage problems and report back to the commission.

The Brandt Point Village cluster housing project received equal, if not greater, outrage from residents in that area. Coming before the commission was Curtis Mello, one of the development trust partners. The commission wished to discuss the long-overdue wetlands remediation area. But it was drainage issues on the minds of abutters. A naturally flowing historic brook had been planned to accept storm water re-charged into the surrounding area. Denham again spoke and said that three drainage easements on Gary Lane adjacent to the site ran into the brook already, but that the brook was not part of any easement and, therefore, he couldn’t clean it out to help it flow better. He questioned if the brook would be viable to handle more.

Denham said that when angry residents call him for help with drainage issues, he is faced with housing developments where “developers don’t seem to follow their plans.”

The developers of Brandt Point Village are seeking to amend plans through the Planning Board on May 19 at 7:00 pm at Center School. The commission voted to send a letter to the Planning Board asking them to review ConCom’s mandate for completion of the 3500-square foot wetlands remediation during that hearing.

But vocal opponent to the proposed changes at this site, Paul Osenkowski, felt not enough was being done by the commission to protect this vulnerable area. He asked, “Why can’t we stop it now! They haven’t followed the rules for five years and now we’re supposed to change the rules in the middle of the game?” Rick Coty of Gary Lane said, “The area is a mess.”

Earlier in the evening, a certificate of compliance was issued for 7 Nantucket Drive at this development, with Bob Rogers noting that new homeowners shouldn’t be penalized because the developer has failed to complete wetland remediation.

To the chagrin of Osenkowski and residents of Gary Lane, members of the commission – including Mike King, Bob Rogers and Chairman Newton – all asserted that the best way to make things right at this location were efforts to work with the developer, not to penalize him. King said that the present owner “had inherited a problem he is trying to fix.”

On a lighter note in the agenda, Evan Roznoy, a local Boy Scout, came before the commission with his plan to build handicap ramps at the restrooms located on Ned’s Point. This will be his Eagle Scout project. After explaining to Roznoy why it was necessary for his project to receive ConCom approval, Chairman Newton thanked Roznoy as they voted in the affirmative. Those in attendance echoed their approval via applause.

Mark Julien of 30 Ocean Drive received a negative two approval for replacing an existing gravel driveway with asphalt to install a half-court basketball play area.

Richard Charon, representing Blue Wave LLC, came before the commission with an update on the proposed Crystal Spring commercial solar field. After further research, some minor changes were made to the site plan and he reaffirmed that flooding in the area was caused by poor drainage along the roadway.

Alan Decker of the Buzzards Bay Coalition came before ConCom for them to sign documents pursuant to land that will come under protective purview. With land grant funds in the amount of $300,000 available for only a few more weeks, the commission moved forward as required. The 27-acre site that the town voted to accept during last Fall’s town meeting will now be conveyed into protection.

ConCom members Marylou Kelliher and Mike King volunteered to be part of the Soil Conservation Board. The Board of Selectmen will need to approve their assignment.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for May 28 at 6:30 pm in town hall.

By Marilou Newell

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Staff Embraces New Lockdown Procedure

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Twenty teachers huddled in the back of a classroom. Lights out, door locked, a decision was made. Within seconds, the teachers had every desk in the room pressed up against the door – a barricade was formed. A minute later, the door shook violently, but the barricade held.

Round two. Without a barricade, the door banged open. An officer entered, shouting and throwing red balls like bullets. In an instant, a few teachers reacted, taking her down by the waist. “I still have my gun!” she informed them, perhaps more kindly than a true intruder would have. A staff member stomped on the hand waving the feigned gun. Safe.

Down the hall, another police officer barged into a classroom, firing an airsoft gun at the ankles of a group of teachers armed with scissors. A short time later, a group of staff members were caught by an “intruder” while attempting an escape out a side door.

This was the training Old Rochester Regional High School’s staff went through last Wednesday in preparation for the school’s new lockdown procedure. Police officers from surrounding districts acted as intruders throughout the afternoon exercise as ORR’s staff learned how to react. It was realistic; it was intense.

“They kept using the word ‘empowerment.’ You’re empowering. You can make a choice. You can flee; you can try to get those kids out of the building,” reflected Merrideth Wickman, an English teacher at ORR. “No rules apply, meaning your ultimate goal is survival.”

The program is called ALICE – Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Choices, Evacuate – explained Michael Parker, ORRHS’s assistant principal. Originally created by a concerned police officer in Texas roughly ten years ago, ALICE has since spread across America. The program gives teachers something the old lockdown procedure never did: choices.

“In the traditional lockdown, you shut the door. You lock the door. You pull the curtains. You hide. There are no options,” said Parker, “In the ALICE program, you still do a traditional lockdown, but then you make a decision on what to do based on the situation after that.”

This “enhanced lockdown procedure” allows teachers to decide when it’s necessary to remain in lockdown, barricade the door, counterattack, or evacuate. If an intruder were to enter the building, an average of four to six minutes would pass before the police could arrive and enter using their own swipe cards. A lot can happen during these crucial minutes.

“The key part is you have to assess it personally to decide your course of action based on where the intruder is in the building,” recalled Wickman. As an intruder walks the halls, he or she can be tracked using the school’s camera system. Then Parker, Principal Michael Devoll, Campus Aid Bill Tilden, or any secretary can announce the intruder’s position over the loud speakers. This allows the individuals in lockdown to make educated decisions.

“I think this is a much better situation. I would much rather do this than be sitting ducks,” said English teacher Kate Ribeiro. Her only criticism of the new system was that she felt all teachers should have the code to the loud speakers, allowing everyone to share information in case of an emergency.

Before the ALICE training simulations last Wednesday, the staff first went through a general presentation explaining the program. The presentation included studies on how ALICE would have benefitted schools of past tragedies, such as Columbine and Virginia Tech, if the enhanced lockdown procedure had been utilized.

“They showed awful graphs about how many people could’ve been saved,” said Ribeiro, recounting how there was an exit in the library of Columbine High School, where many students were killed. Instead of running to safety, the students simply hid.

That’s not to say the traditional lockdown procedure is completely useless – it’s just better suited for keeping threats outside school walls. Once the threat is inside the building, ALICE becomes the most logical program to utilize.

“There are pros to the regular lockdown,” admitted Parker. “It does keep everybody secure and safe in one place. The pro to the enhanced lockdown system is that you can get people to get out of harm’s way.”

Once briefed, ORR’s staff was split into groups of 15 to 20 people in order to simulate ALICE procedures. They were given the option to opt-out and simply watch the procedure, but as Wickman laughed, “We didn’t know what was coming, so we didn’t know if we wanted to opt-out.”

They caught on soon enough. When it came to barricades, the staff learned that it takes only seconds for twenty people to push all the desks in a room to one corner. The door could also be secured with something as simple as a wooden wedge, if you had enough, or with a strap tied between the door handle and something stationary.

When the police officers began acting as intruders, the staff learned the last resort tactic: counterattack. “You’ll never look at your classroom the same again, because you start looking for weapons,” said Wickman, quoting an officer from her group. “You don’t know what you have right in your own means that you could use as a weapon.”

Anything from a textbook to a pair a scissors could be used in self-defense. “Hopefully we never have to do this, but it makes more sense than just sitting in a dark room in a corner,” admitted Ribeiro.

It was in this phase of the training that each staff member’s fight or flight instincts showed. Wickman noted how some of her colleagues always ran toward the danger, while others were more likely to hold back.

Ribeiro said some of her colleagues are also in the military, so they’ve been trained to go against their natural reactions. “Your natural instinct, first, is to run away, or cower. When you’re in the military, your natural instinct is to run towards that danger,” they told her.

These types of personality differences have an impact on what a teacher decides to do in a crisis. Some may have a clear mind during an emergency, while others may freeze. If the latter situation were to occur, teachers were told that it’s okay to accept a student’s advice. In a moment of fear, a student may see an option that the teacher does not.

On the other hand, if a student were to freeze and entirely refuse to follow instructions, the teacher may not sacrifice the class for the sake of one. It’s the student’s choice to stay behind if the class is evacuating. This is one of the most difficult situations the staff was forced to consider. “A teacher’s instinct is to stay and protect that child, I think,” said Wickman, noting the difficulty of that type of situation.

As a teacher, the fear of making the wrong decision is terrifying. They were instructed to just follow their instincts to decide what would be best for the class. The ultimate goal is to stay alive.

Despite the intensity of Wednesday’s training, the ALICE program primarily had a positive response. The staff recognized the empowerment behind having options in case of an emergency. Only a few felt uncomfortable with the dramatics of the training.

“Someone is always going to be insulted that they’re bringing this into our school,” Ribeiro said, “but I’d rather insult a handful of people and feel like I’ve been empowered with the knowledge on how to protect my kids.”

With these positive responses from the staff, Parker feels Wednesday’s training went very well. “The nice thing about it is that we have time between now and next year for teachers to have questions, voice their concerns,” he said. “We’re going to train the students after the seniors leave, and have it ready to roll as a full-blown new system in the fall.”

Spring training for the underclassmen will be primarily informational, with enhanced lockdown drills beginning next fall.

In other news, both the senior and junior class held some fun events last week. The senior class had their annual senior breakfast at the VFW last Tuesday, where they enjoyed a catered breakfast in celebration of their last week of school. On Friday, the junior class held their junior semi dance and overnight party at the high school.

By Renae Reints

Weweantic Boat Fire Difficult to Reach

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The Marion and Wareham Fire Department’s responded to reports of a boat fire in the Weweantic River at just after 3pm Friday. They found a large catamaran fully involved and about 1000 feet off the Weweantic River highway overpass. Accessing the craft was difficult due to the proximity to roadways. The Wareham Fire Department reported that all passengers had been removed from the boat.

Free Movie: Last Tuesday of the Month

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The Monuments Men (PG-13, 1 hr. 52 min.) is playing at the Mattapoisett Senior Center, Center School, Barstow St., on Tuesday, May 27 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, May 26. Also, reserve your seat – so we’ll know how many chairs are needed.

The Monuments Men is an action drama about a WW II platoon tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from the Nazis. The art is trapped behind enemy lines, and the German army is under orders to destroy everything as the Reich falls. The Monuments Men, as they were called, would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind’s greatest achievements. This movie stars George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville, and Cate Blanchett.

Four Teams Clinch Share of SCC Title

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Here is a look at the seventh week of scheduled games for ORR spring athletics.

Baseball: Though the ORR baseball team has yet to clinch their share in an SCC title, they certainly seem poised to do so, evident in their fairly successful week. The boys won an important game over Dighton-Rehoboth, 9-3, ending an eight-game win streak for the Falcons who were in top contention for the conference title. Ryan Plunkett did well from the pitcher’s mound, striking out five and only allowing five hits, while classmate Andrew Ryan went 2-for-4 from the plate, scoring two runs and recording three RBIs. The Bulldogs did suffer a blow towards the end of the week, however, suffering a 1-0 loss to Seekonk. Though it is a minor setback, it only marked the Bulldogs’ third conference loss, keeping them in a great position to win the SCC.

Softball: The Lady Bulldogs continued to face some troubles this week, as they lost two of their three games. The girls suffered tough losses to Dighton-Rehoboth, 7-5, in an eight-inning thriller, and to Apponequet, 6-0. Against DR, the girls had a close game, with Kaleigh Goulart once again leading the team offensively and defensively. Goulart got support from several players including sisters Hannah Guard and Michaela Guard, who each had two hits, and Madison Cristaldi, who notched her first varsity hit. Unfortunately, it would not be enough to secure the win for ORR, as the girls lost in extra innings. The one bright spot for the girls was a 9-2 win over Seekonk, marking their fifth win of the season.

Boys’ Track: The boys clinched a share in the SCC title this week, defeating Seekonk 78-58 and suffering a 78-58 loss to GNB Voc-Tech to end their season with a 7-1 record. Going into the meet, the Bulldogs needed a victory over GNB Voc-Tech to secure the outright SCC championship, but despite great performances by multiple-event winners Mike Wyman (mile, two-mile), Kevin Saccone (400-hurdles, 110-hurdles, triple jump), and Jack Smith (100-meter, 200-meter), the Bulldogs came up short, forcing a three-way tie between themselves, Voc-Tech, and Dighton-Rehoboth. The meet marked the end of the regular season for the boys, who now look to secure the SCC Championship Meet title and a Division 4 state championship.

Girls’ Track: The Lady Bulldogs also clinched the SCC title in a dual meet against Seekonk and GNB Voc-Tech, but unlike the boys, they clinched it outright, marking their fifth consecutive undefeated championship season. The girls defeated Seekonk 94-41 and GNB Voc-Tech 115-23. The girls won several events, including all of the throwing events, with Jill Sethares taking the shot-put, Morgan Browning winning the discus, and Nicole Gifford winning the javelin. The girls also swept the distance events thanks to Sam Barrett (two-mile), Shannon O’Malley (800-meter) and Rachel Scheub (one-mile). Like the boys, the girls now look to the conference meet and divisional meet to continue their dominant season.

Boys’ Tennis: The boys had a fantastic week this week, securing a share of the SCC title and winning both of their matches. The Bulldogs easily defeated Wareham 5-0, with the Vikings forfeiting their last two matches after the Bulldogs had secured the victory. Later in the week, ORR extended their winning streak to nine games, defeating Case 5-0. The win also guarantees the Bulldogs a share in the SCC crown, which they could claim outright with a win over Dighton-Rehoboth later in the season.

Girls’ Tennis: The girls also had a good week this week, winning two of their three matches. The Lady Bulldogs defeated Case 5-0 and Wareham 3-2, but lost a match early in the week to Dartmouth, who defeated ORR 4-1. The loss marked the girls’ fifth loss of the season, and though by no means is that a bad thing, it most likely puts them out of conference contention.

Boys’ Lacrosse: The boys’ lacrosse team had a good week, winning both of their games, securing a share of the SCC crown, and clinching a playoff berth. The Bulldogs defeated GNB Voc-Tech, 15-5, and out-of-conference Upper Cape, 14-3, to clinch their ninth and tenth wins of the season. Against Upper Cape, freshman Landon Goguen scored four goals, with junior Ethan Lizotte and sophomore Chris Nadeau adding three apiece. The boys’ win against GNB Voc-Tech was also important, as it allowed them to gain a share of the SCC title with Apponequet.

Girls’ Lacrosse: Thanks to strong offensive performances, the Lady Bulldogs managed to win all three of their games this week against Abington, GNB Voc-Tech, and Coyle-Cassidy. The girls blew out Abington 17-3, with Tori Saltmarsh, Maggie Wiggin, and Mikayla Demanche all scoring three goals apiece to lead the Bulldogs offensively. Demanche and fellow classmate Bailey Truesdale would each score two to lead the girls to a 10-3 victory over GNB Voc-Tech later in the week. Finally, Truesdale had a whopping six goals in an 18-8 victory over out-of-conference Coyle-Cassidy. The six goals were also important as they put Truesdale’s career goals at 98, just two shy of the century mark, a milestone that ought to be reached, as the girls have two regular season games and a playoff run remaining.

Below are the overall spring team records, followed by the conference records in wins, losses, and ties as of May 18.

Baseball: (12-4-0) (11-3-0); Softball: (5-10-0) (5-10-0); Boys’ Track (7-1-0) (7-1-0); Girls’ Track (8-0-0) (8-0-0); Boys’ Tennis: (13-3-0) (13-1-0); Girls’ Tennis: (10-6-0) (9-4-0); Boys’ Lacrosse: (10-5-0) (8-1-0); Girls’ Lacrosse: (14-4-0) (4-4-0).

By Michael Kassabian

Clearing Wetlands of Phragmites

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On Tuesday, May 20 the Rochester Conservation Commission began its meeting by addressing a request for determination of applicability filed by John Scheub.

Scheub was present to discuss a shed on his property that he would like to expand from its current 12- by 8- foot size to a 12- by 24-foot size. The committee agreed that a fence around the structure would be a good idea so there wouldn’t be any more encroachment. It was determined that 30 inches around the perimeter of the shed would suffice for maintenance. Scheub stated that “that would work great.”

This particular property rests within 25 feet of Snipatuit Pond, which concerns the committee since Snipatuit Pond is considered a “no-touch zone.”

With the stipulation that Scheub remove any debris from beyond a rock-wall barrier at the edge of his yard and comply with the fence around the perimeter of the shed, the committee agreed that a notice of intent would not be required.

The next item on the agenda was a notice of intent filed by Don Stimer regarding the removal of non-native and invasive plants, known as phragmites australis. These common reeds are overtaking the wetland near Stimer’s property at 14 Bishop Rd. in Rochester.

Chris Polatin of Polatin Ecological Services, LLC joined Stimer in presenting a plan of action to the board members. Polatin explained the stages involved in the removal of the phragmites with the help of a poster-board with pictures.

The stages include an “initial herbicide application” followed by “phragmites reduction-mowing,” then “removal” and lastly a “follow-up herbicide application.” This would be kept-up by ongoing “stewardship and maintenance.”

The wetland property being considered is only between a quarter and a half-acre of land.

Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon asked about the potential impact on the water with this plan saying, “it’s in the Mattapoisett Valley Watershed.”

Polatin replied that “we will have to get some additional info.”

ConCom member Rosemary Smith asked Stimer, “Do your neighbors have issues?”

Stimer responded that the phragmites are moving in their direction.

ConCom member John Teal suggested that as little fertilizer as possible be used on the property and Farinon asked to “please forward the chemicals you’re going to use” as well. Stimer agreed.

Polatin, when asked by the committee what plans he had for the property once the phragmites were reduced, replied that “I don’t think that we should have too much of a vision for this natural system.”

Teal stated, “I agree with you. Let nature do the job.” Only in the event of nature failing should there be any interference. Teal said that especially at the start he would “absolutely suggest no planting.”

Polatin explained that “we’re probably going to want to get more expertise on the water quality issues.” A continuance for this proposed wetland enhancement was granted by the committee.

The minutes from the previous meeting were accepted and a few positive remarks were made about a portable sawmill demonstration that was held on May 9 and which a few committee members attended. Farinon said that it was “an excellent event” and Smith said that she “learned a lot about communication in advance of anything.”

The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for June 3 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall.

By Sarah Taylor

A Reconstituted Board

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At 7:00 pm, the Marion Planning Board meeting was called to order by former Vice Chairman Stephen Kokkins. The first order of business was to re-organize the board and welcome in three new members, Eileen J. Marum, Robert H. Lane and Michael Popitz, M.D.

Kokkins added that he would also like to “recognize the extremely good services of those that have served” and that “the door is always open in the future.”

With the new members situated into the seven member board, it was time to elect a new chairman, vice chairman, and clerk. Steve Gonsalves nominated Kokkins saying, “seeing how you performed as vice-chair, I’d like to see you as chair.”

The motion was seconded, and the board unanimously agreed. Kokkins replied, “I thankfully accept your offer for a year.”

For vice chairman, new member Marum said, “I’d like to nominate Norm Hills.” The board then nominated him into this position, which he accepted.

For the position of clerk, which Kokkins joked that at one point or another nearly all the members had been clerk and that he “dimly remembers being clerk,” Lane was nominated. The board voted him into the position.

Kokkins announced, “our board is reconstituted. As your chairman, we can now get down to business.”

The newest members briefly shared a little bit about themselves. Lane stated that he’s been a resident of Marion since 1980. He has worked in real estate development and construction management and is now semi-retired.

Popitz has been a citizen of this town for 17 years. He and his wife are both anesthesiologists. “I am looking forward to serving this town and being on this planning board.”

Marum has lived in Marion for three years. She is a retired registered nurse and a certified public housing manager. She has a “great interest in housing and environmental issues.”

Jay Hiller and Rich Riccio of Field Engineering then approached the board about a request for a modification of a site plan at 635 Mill St. The proposal was for a “relatively minor land change” and would basically involve updating a plan that was brought before the board in 2006.

Due to the lapse in time since the plan was initially proposed, a question of expiration was asked by the board and Kokkins stated that it “sounds like changes are minor. However, there is a need to verify that the site plan is still in effect.”

It was determined that the plan could be re-submitted for site-plan approval. Kokkins stated, “We might expect to see you at the next meeting.”

Next was the appointment of a SRPEDD representative from the board. The representative would be responsible for attending meetings and reporting back to the planning board. Marum stated “I would be interested.” She was voted by the board into the position.

A CPC representative was also needed. Kokkins asked if Popitz would be willing. He said that he would. Popitz was then voted into the position.

The minutes from the previous meeting were then approved by the board, and the meeting adjourned at approximately 8:20pm.

By Sarah Taylor

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