Students vs. Teachers, President Takes on Fish

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Students and teachers did about as much playing around as they did playing basketball during the students versus teachers co-ed basketball game at Old Rochester Regional High the evening of March 7.

The teams were neck and neck throughout the evening – students in white and teachers in black – and neither team seemed to have an advantage over the other at any point during the game.

Students got a kick out of watching Senior Class President Zach Bowen have to kiss a dead monkfish, the end result of a school-wide fundraiser in which students put money into bowls marked with name of the person they would most like to see pucker up to a dead fish. Bowen was a trooper and did not put up a fight. It looked as though like he might have even enjoyed it.

It was an event not to be missed, and the crowd certainly got their money’s worth of fun and physical comedy – and perhaps, a lesson or two on how to commit a penalty and how to travel with the ball across the court. Who do you think won the game?

By Jean Perry

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Peter B. Perkins

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Peter B. Perkins, 79, of Mattapoisett died March 8, 2014 peacefully at Our Lady’s Haven.

He was the husband of the late Sandra W. (Kuechler) Perkins.

Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Edwin L. and Clara (Tinkham) Perkins, he was a lifelong resident of Mattapoisett.

He was a lifetime member of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church.

Mr. Perkins was the proprietor of Edwin L. Perkins Plumbing and Heating. He was also the gas inspector for the Town of Mattapoisett and the gas and plumbing inspector for the Town of Marion. Marion honored him with a tree planted at town hall at his retirement for his many years of service.

Mr. Perkins served as a volunteer fireman with the Mattapoisett Fire Department. He was a member of the Pythagorean Lodge A.F. & A.M. and the Machacam Club, and a member and board member of Mattapoisett Historical Society.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Mr. Perkins was a proud Mattapoisett native who enjoyed Mattapoisett Harbor, lobstering, scalloping and boating. He enjoyed sharing his love of the harbor with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his son, David Perkins and his wife Bodil of Mattapoisett; a daughter, Heidi Zenie and her partner Charles Demorest of Killingworth, CT; a sister, Ann Briggs of Mattapoisett; 5 grandchildren, Peter, Haakon and Adam Perkins, Katelyn and Matthew Zenie.

He was the brother of the late Ruth Heath.

His Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday at 10 AM in the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Burial will follow in Cushing Cemetery. Visiting hours are omitted. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Mattapoisett Historical Society, P.O. Box 535, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. For on-line guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

FORM Instrumental Concert Outstanding

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With nearly 1,000 people under one roof, ORR’s FORM Instrumental Concert ‘rocked’ the house. Middle-school students from Rochester, Marion and Mattapoisett along with junior and senior high school students from ORR showed their audience just why music in public schools is important. Their performances were greeted with standing ovations not because the audience was populated by family and friends but more so because of the students magnificent execution. This was no school concert, it was a musical experience preformed by school children.

FORM, Friends of Old Rochester Music, is an organization whose goal is to raise funds in support of music education in the tri-town area, primarily in the junior and senior high schools. The group provides supporting funds for the purchase of instruments, regional musical competitions, and the associated transportation fees. And then there are the scholarships. FORM works diligently to be able to give graduating seniors cash scholarships to help further their musical educational. They have published that the group raised $16,186 for activities and scholarships since 2012. In 2013 they awarded $3500 in scholarships. And the work goes on. Their 2014 scholarship fund stands at approximately $9100.

The instrumental concert on March 6 featured: Sippican School Band, lead by Mrs. Hannah Moore; Rochester Memorial School Band, lead by Mrs. Chris Williamson; Old Hammondtown Concert Band, lead by Ms. Emily Lafluer; ORR Junior High, lead by Mr. James Farmer; and ORR High School Band, lead by Mr. Michael Barnicle.

The finale was performed by a stunning 541 tri-town students whose rendition of ‘Kokomo’ and ‘Grand Old Flag’ brought the crowd to their feet.

The vocal FORM concert is scheduled for March 13, 2014 at ORR High School.

By Marilou Newell

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St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

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A corned beef and cabbage dinner for Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fund will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Route 6 in Mattapoisett on Saturday, March 15. Dinner will be served from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Tickets for adults are $12, children ages five to 10 are $8, and children under five are free. For tickets, please call Jim at 508-863-3496 or Rick at 508-758-4933. Information can be found at kofcdamiencouncil@gmail.com.

Mattapoisett Free Public Library News

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Sunday Afternoon Library Hours: Beginning in March, the Mattapoisett Library will be open on Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Patrons are welcome to come in for library service, programs, or simply a leisurely read of the Sunday papers and a cup of tea or coffee. Sunday hours will extend until the Memorial Day weekend.

Author Michael Ponsor to Read: Judge Michael Ponsor, who has just published his first novel, will read from The Hanging Judge on Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Library. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Michael Ponsor graduated from Harvard College and Yale Law School. In 1994, President Clinton appointed him as a life-tenured U.S. district judge. From 2000-2001, he presided over a five-month death penalty trial, the first in Massachusetts in over 50 years. Judge Ponsor continues to serve as a senior U.S. district judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Western Division. Everyone is welcome to attend this free program. Refreshments will be served.

New Knitting Group: Wish you knew how to knit? Would you enjoying knitting and sharing patterns with fellow knitters? A new group is forming and will meet for the first time on Thursday, March 6 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm in the library Reading Room. Some yarn and needles will be available for those who are brand new to this enjoyable craft. All ages welcome. Call 508-758-4171to sign up.

Dr. Who Night! Join with other aficionados for a fun time watching episodes of Dr. Who on Friday, March 14 from 4:00 to 6:30 pm. Lots of discussion and fun snacks. Bring your friends! Everyone is welcome.

Saturdays with Sadie: Come meet Sadie, the listening ears dog, and her handlers on Saturday, March 15 from 11:00 – 11:45 am. She loves to listen to children read. This month, Sadie will listen to And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano. Children who are 5 years old or older may register. The group is limited to 10 children. Please call to sign up 508-758-4171.

Blind Date with a Book: There are still great “dates” to enjoy! Stop by the Reading Room and check out your blind date. Books in various genres are waiting to be asked out. Rate your date by March 17 and be eligible for an iTunes gift card, movie passes, or a gift certificate to Nick’s Pizza. Titles are suitable for adults and teens.

Art Exhibit: During the month of March, the work of Greta Anderson and Jo Barrett will be displayed in the Reading Room. Both artists are art teachers in the Old Rochester Regional school system.

Friends’ Used Book Sale: The next Used Book Sale will be held on Saturday, March 8 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the library. At the same time, the Junior Friends group is holding a baked goods sale. From 10:00 to 11:00 am, redeemable bottles and cans will be collected to benefit the work of the Junior Friends.

Spring Story Time Series: Registration for toddler and preschool story times will begin the week of Tuesday, March 18. Please call the library to register your child and learn more about the story time schedule.

Chess: Chess lessons are offered on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:15 pm. This class is for beginners. Additional chess coaches are always welcome. The Chess Club meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Open to all children who have learned the basics and would like to practice and learn strategy.

Confusion Waxes, then Wanes during ConCom

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Chairman Lawrence Dorman admitted that the commission was probably responsible for the confusion, albeit unintentional, over who is required to inspect and report on the progress of a wetlands restoration project at 114 Allens Point Road.

Homeowner Matthew Baltz requested clarification from the Conservation Committee on the Order of Conditions which states that Baltz is required to submit a report confirming that the restored wetlands are firmly established after two growing seasons before the commission grants Baltz a Certificate of Compliance.

The issue was whether the inspection could be performed by a civil engineer rather than a botanist or wetlands specialist.

“Nobody wants to spend more money than they have to,” said ConCom Member Stephen Gonsalves, “but this is just part of the process to bring it to completion.”

ConCom was not certain if a certifiable specialist had to send in the report, but Dorman commented that the commission rarely makes decisions based solely on what the applicant reports to the commission.

Baltz stated that the confusion began when Engineer David Davignon of Schneider& Associates suggested Baltz needed an expert botanist to certify the wetlands.

“I was told [by ConCom] that we didn’t need a certified botanist to inspect the wetlands at that time,” said Baltz, referring back to an informal field visit attended by members of ConCom. Baltz added that Davignon said he did not feel he was qualified to determine whether the species growing inside the restoration area were in fact wetlands plant species.

“That’s the sticking point, I guess,” said Baltz. He said he asked other civil engineers about the issue, and they all told him they never hire any wetlands expert to do the report. “It was very surprising to me…that [Davignon] decided to draw a line in the sand,” said Baltz.

“There’s something else going on here,” said Dorman. “There is confusion.”

“It’s not us,” said Gonsalves. “It’s Schneider and Associates who have thrown in the monkey wrench.”

The commission determined that a botanist, per se, does not have to complete the report, and drafted a formal letter to send to Baltz to make it official.

In other matters, in response to a request for comment from the Zoning Board of Appeals, the commission voted to issue no specific comments regarding the conversion of an accessory building into a guest house at 16 Pitcher Street owned by Hawley Bigelow. ConCom members agreed, however, to send Member Joel Hartley to inspect the property to see if there are any other wetlands, in addition to the stream that abuts the property, outside of the 100-foot buffer zone.

“The concern is, we know there’s a wetland back there someplace,” stated Vice Chairman Norman Hills.

“I don’t really want to make a determination based on paper,” said Hartley. “There could be other wetlands there…”

The commission also voted to forward a letter to the town administrator recommending that the Town purchase a conservation restriction for a portion of Lot 23 Ridgewood Lane.

The conservation restriction will appear on the Town Meeting Warrant for Town Meeting approval.

Hills described the property as low-lying, marshy wetlands.

The next Conservation Commission meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm on March 12 at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry

Gateway Youth Hockey

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Mite Bobcats: The Mite Bobcats lost a close game, 6-4, to the SC Panthers. The Panthers came out flying, scoring the first four goals of the game in the first two periods, but the Bobcats roared back in the third to score four goals. The Panthers scored on a power play to get ahead and kept the lead despite numerous chances by the Bobcats. Derek Gauvin, Juni Suarez, Thomas Leger and Christian Fiore had the goals for the Bobcats. Charlie Carroll played solid in net with several break away saves.

Squirt Grizzlies: The Gateway Squirt Grizzlies traveled to Pembroke Sunday for their final regular season game in the Yankee conference. The Grizzlies beat the Hawks of WHK, 6-4, to finish in first place. Chris Gauvin led the offense with four goals and two assists. Bailey Tieu and Matt Quinlan had the other goals. Austin Fleming had two assists, and Ben Martins and Jack Satterley each had one assist. Ryker King had 20 saves in net for the win.

Pee Wee Warriors: The Gateway Warriors finished their regular season with a 6-0 shutout over the Lower Cape Coyotes. The defensive efforts of Jackson St. Don, Noah DeMoranville, and Jameson Woodward allowed merely a handful of shots, which were easily handled by goalies Steven Strachan and Zachary Pateakos, who combined for the Warriors’ 18th win. Outstanding back-checking from centermen Robert Ramsay and Jake Demoranville further supported the understaffed defense. Offensively, each forward contributed to the Warrior victory. Ben Demoranville had two goals, while brother, Jake, notched a pair of assists. Ramsay, RJ Vickery, Zachary Barris, and Danny Flynn each found the back of the Coyote net. Barris also had two assists, finishing the season as the team’s leading playmaker, while line-mates Ramsay and Flynn also added helpers. The Warriors enter this month’s Yankee Conference top-tier playoffs as the No. 2 seed, and will likely face a formidable foe in either the Cyclones or North Devils; each split their regular season match ups against the Gateway team with a win and a loss.

Middle School 1 Vikings: The Vikings won a hard-fought game Friday night against Taunton. The Tigers found the net first, scoring on Vikings’ goalie Steven Strachan midway through the first period. The Vikings soon tied it up, with a goal by Matt Maloney, assisted by Zack Lovendale. Vyper LaTulippe scored to start the second, with assists by Lovendale and Quirino DoCanto. The Tigers scored again, this time on relief goalie Teaghin Andre. Cameron DeMarco scored to lead off the third period, with the help of DoCanto and Seth Tomasik. Play was very aggressive between the two teams, and with the referees barely making any calls, the game quickly got out of hand. Taunton had a giant of a player that bulldozed his away across the ice, but the Vikings’ players were undaunted. DoCanto and Kaitlin Kelley especially pestered him, keeping close at his heels despite getting tossed around the ice. Their efforts, combined with the always excellent Vikings’ defense, kept the net safe for the rest of the third period, earning the Vikings a 3-2 win. The Vikings’ goalies had identical stats, making 13 saves apiece.

Sunday’s game was not as successful against Canton. The referees had better control of this game, but it was still chippy, with penalties called on both teams. Defense had a heck of a game, doing their part to protect the net. Jackson St. Don continued to display the fire he’s had of late, making several key plays to keep the puck out of the net. Makayla Wood, playing injured, also made a huge defensive contribution on the ice. Goalie Teaghin Andre had a shutout for his half, making 14 saves. Relief goalie Steven Strachan also did a great job, protecting the net with 15 saves, though two goals slipped by. Despite several attempts on net, Vikings’ offense could not make the rebounds work for them, and the game ended in a 2-0 loss.

Four Arrested Stealing From Former Mill Site

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On Thursday March 6 at 1:54pm the Rochester Police were called to the site of a former mill at Hartley’s Pond near Lloyds Market for a group of people stealing metal from the property. Officer Sean Crook arrived on scene and found two males and two females in the cargo area of a U-Haul truck loading large steel parts from the former mill operation.

Despite a clear posting that trespassing was prohibited, the group drove onto the property and loaded up steel pulleys, shafts, and wheels weighing thousands of pounds. Sergeant Robert Small arrived on scene and assisted placing all four of the New Bedford residents under arrest.

Rochester Police charged 34 year old Raymond F Montalvo of Pleasant Street, 24 year old Lorraine Felicano of North Front Street, 33 year old Angel Roriguez-Cruz of North Front Street, and 37 year old Mirdaly Robles of Cove street with trespassing, larceny over $250, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy.

Additional charges were filed against Montalvo for trespassing with a motor vehicle, Rodriguez-Cruz for possession of heroin, and Mirdaly for giving a false name during booking. She was booked under an alias of Maria Vellone but police later learned from a finger print hit that the she had given false information and was wanted by another agency on drug trafficking charges.

Booking the suspects was complicated by the fact that they mostly spoke Spanish. Rochester Police enlisted assistance from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department for a Spanish speaking officer. All four were released on personal recognizance later Thursday night.

Police were informed that all four subjects had failed to appear in Wareham Court Friday morning and warrants were issued for their arrest. Rochester Police are asking anyone who may have information on their whereabouts to contact the station at 508-763-5112.

Rochester Police Department Press Release

Talking about Trees

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If trees could talk, what stories they might tell about the many events that have occurred under their branches! The Mattapoisett Tree Committee is eager to hear your stories of events that occurred with your favorite trees or learn about your favorite trees that are currently in town or those that used to be in our town. Come to the Mattapoisett Council on Aging on Tuesday, March 11 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm to meet with representatives of the Tree Committee or send your stories or photos to the Tree Committee, Town Hall, P.O. Box 89, Mattapoisett, MA 02739.

Hockey Unlimited Honors 3 Players

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During the final week of the season at Tabor Academy, Hockey Unlimited bestowed awards upon three of its young players. Mason Taft of Marion received the Most Improved Player award. Tim Dyer, Managing Director and Head Coach of Hockey Unlimited, said “Mason’s hard work and dedication have certainly paid handsome dividends” while presenting the award. Dyer went on to say “For several years, Mason was always intent on shooting – and he was good at it. But, this season he became one of our best passers … and it really elevated his game.”

The Hutchinson Family Sportsmanship Award was presented to two players. This award is named after the long-time southeastern Massachusetts hockey family for “outstanding contributions to the program relative to sportsmanship and preserving the true spirit and ‘love of the game’ of hockey.” These awards were presented to Brenna Delaney of Plymouth and Jake DeMoranville of Rochester. Coach Jim Hutchinson stated, “I am very pleased to see both Brenna and Jake recognized by Hockey Unlimited in this way. The sportsmanship and friendly spirit each brings to our organization clearly contributes to the culture we strive for with our young people – on and off the ice.”

Hockey Unlimited is committed to teaching the fundamentals of ice hockey to local youths ranging in age from nine to 14 years. The organization is preparing for its 50th season this fall. All sessions are held at the Travis Roy Rink, inside Tabor Academy’s Fish Center for Health and Athletics.