Placement of Rocks Discussed in Marion

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A Notice of Intent by Christopher Kmiec to relocate a pile of large rocks at 14 Aucoot Avenue was discussed at the Marion Conservation Commission’s meeting on Wednesday evening.  The request noted that the rocks will be placed in a row a minimum of 15 feet from the bordering vegetated wetland line and landward of an existing stone and masonry wall running the bordering vegetative wetland line.

Susan Nilson, of CLE Engineering represented the applicant, who also attended the meeting and addressed the board.  The property is located in a flood zone.

“What is the purpose?” asked board member Joel Hartley, “it doesn’t appear to be a sea wall.”

“We are not creating a sea wall or intend to create a dissipation of wave energy, said Neilson.  The applicant proposed placing the rocks one foot apart in a row.  Board members discussed the request and determined that the rocks should have a minimum separation of at least one foot and be no higher than 3 feet and that no more rocks should be brought onto the site.  Members also asked for a new site plan showing what the rock placement will look like.  The board closed the hearing.

In other business, a Request for Determination of Applicability to confirm that the stream running through the property at 468 and 470 Point Road, in a northerly-southerly direction meets the definition of an intermittent stream.  The applicant, Blankenship Trust, LLC is not proposing that any work be done on the site.

The neighbor of the above applicant, N. George Host and Laurie A. Host of 456 Point Road also filed a Request for Determination to ask if the same stream running through their property meets the definition of an intermittent stream.  Again, no work is being proposed on the property.  The board agreed to look into the new state regulations regarding how long the area could be dry before declaring it an intermittent stream.  The board agreed to look into the two requests and closed the hearing.

The board discussed a request for a Certificate of Compliance for razing the dwelling, constructing a new dwelling, driveway and sewage disposal system and filling and grading at 814 Mill Street on behalf of owners Carl and Karen Correia.  The board approved the certificate with the condition that the area beyond the hay bale area should not be walked on.

The board also approved a Certificate of Compliance for the Sardinha Family Trust at 454 Wareham Street,  (Always in Bloom) for expanding a gravel parking area, installing a landscape berm and constructing a storm water management system.

Lastly, the board spoke with Cynthia Callow Trinidad who applied to be an associate member of the Conservation Commission.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

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Ralph C. Zompa

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Ralph C. Zompa, 85, of Mattapoisett died December 12, 2013. He was the husband of Laura M. (Mott) Zompa.

His private services are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. Mattapoisett.

Holiday in the Park and Tree Lighting

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‘Holiday in the Park’ at Mattapoisett’s Shipyard Park takes place on December 14 at 4:00 pm with Santa’s arrival, food and beverage tent, craft activities and face painting for the little ones. There is also a tree lighting and carol sing-along. Concurrent with this event, Mattapoisett’s Lions Club will collect toys and food. Bring a new unwrapped toy or canned foods for distribution to local families in need.

ORR Teams Up with Toys for Tots

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The holiday season has arrived in full-swing, and Old Rochester Regional is getting into the giving spirit. Toys for Tots is holding a collection at ORR High School for their second year, and they are asking for new, unwrapped toys for kids aged 0 to 12 years.

Heidi Graser, a science teacher at ORR, is the school’s liaison to the Toys for Tots program. “My father runs the South Shore division of it,” she said, adding, “It’s been in my family for seven years … Last year they moved their warehouse to Wareham and it just made sense, when looking at fundraisers, to think ‘Why haven’t we done this at the school, if I’m a direct contact and it’s so easy to get kids involved?’”

It’s true that the students of ORR have jumped at this opportunity. “We’re decorating the lobby; we’ve made signs,” said Graser, “Students are getting involved here.”

Students also have the opportunity to volunteer at the warehouse, located in the storefront next to Bath and Body Works at Wareham Crossing. On Black Friday, a handful of students helped organize early donations. Since then, other groups of students have gone on the weekends to help out. “If students are willing to volunteer, I will gladly open up the place,” said Graser.

Student volunteers mostly help with organization. “We get shipments of toys, and then we have to divide them up by gender and age so it’s easier for us to grab the toys when we need them,” Graser explained, “Sometimes big organizations come to us … they might say ‘we need toys for ten 5-year-old girls,’ and they’ll give us a list.”

Graser said that it’s nice to have student volunteers pick out the toys for donation because “teenagers know what kids want better than we do.”

The last batch of toys will most likely be sent out on December 21, but Toys for Tots always accepts donations. Having toys at the end of the season “gives us a base point to start with for the organizations that want the toys early,” says Graser. The collection box in ORR’s lobby will be accessible until December 18, while additional donations can be given at the storefront warehouse in Wareham Crossing.

Each year, the number of donations for the older kids is much lower than what is needed. Toys for Tots remembers that every child deserves a gift on Christmas day, but they can only give what they receive. Graser said some ideas for donations for the older kids include makeup kits, art supplies, board games, sport supplies, books, or movies.

“We get a lot of Candyland,” said Graser, noting that this is one of the challenges Toys for Tots faces. While it’s great to receive these donations, they don’t want to be unknowingly sending Candyland to the same child each year.

Still, with the help of local generosity, Toys for Tots manages to be an amazingly successful program. In this South Shore region, they collect 5,000 – 6,000 toys. These mostly go to families in Plymouth County, including children in the Tri-Town. The South Shore is a part of the Cape Cod division, which in total collects around 60,000 toys each year. This goes towards helping around 20,000 children have a happy holiday season.

For more information, contact the South Shore coordinator, Bob Graser. He may be reached at 774-454-4309 or rgraser43@verizon.net.

By Renae Reints

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Beatrice Anne Weygand

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Beatrice Anne Weygand, age 89, died peacefully on December 10, 2013 at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. She was the wife of Dr. George A. Weygand for 57 years. Born in Cumberland, RI on November 5, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Howard L. Mallowes and Elizabeth (Ward) Mallowes. She was the sister of Dorothy Beauchemin of Wareham, MA and the late Howard L. Mallowes, Jr. of Marion, MA.

She is survived by her daughters Joanne L. Fallon of Scituate, MA, Sandra E. Hiller of Rochester, MA, and her husband Robert B. Hiller III, and six grandchildren: Atticus Fallon, Hannah Hartigan and her husband Brian Hartigan, Brooke Fallon, Tess Hedblom and her husband Erik Hedblom, Jacob Hiller and Paige Hiller and her great grandchild Grace Hartigan and several nieces and nephews.

Beatrice resided in Marion, MA and lived there for many years. She was educated in Marion and Wareham schools and graduated from Wareham High School and from Bryant College where she was a member of Sigma Lambda Theta Sorority. She later moved to Bridgewater, MA where she was a resident for more than 50 years. She was an active member of the Bridgewater State College Community where she was a charter member and past President of the Faculty Wives Club. She worked closely with her husband, a Physics Professor at Bridgewater State College, in writing manuscripts, books and preparing grants. She was an active member of the Central Square Congregational Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Women’s Guild, the Memorials Committee, the Couple’s Club, and twice served as a Co-Chair of the All-Church Annual Fair. She was active in girl scouting, serving as a Brownie Troop Leader. Mrs. Weygand was a member of the Alcyone Chapter of the Eastern Star where she served as a Past Worthy Matron. She was a benefactor and supporter of many public civic organizations.

She was a Director and Treasurer of the H.L. Mallowes Company and was Co-owner and President of the Wells Service Station. She loved her family, especially her six grandchildren and great- granddaughter, for whom she was proud.

A Funeral Service will be held in the Central Square Congregational Church Bridgewater Saturday, December 14, 3013 at 10:00 AM.

Visiting hours will be held in the Prophett Chapman Cole & Gleason Funeral Home 98 Bedford Street Bridgewater Friday, December 13th from 5-7 pm.

Theresa N. (Daignault) Miller

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Theresa N. (Daignault) Miller, 86, of Fairhaven, passed away Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at St. Luke’s Hospital, in New Bedford after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late William P. Miller.

Born and raised in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Ellen (Noon) Daignault, she lived in Mattapoisett before settling in Fairhaven in 1967. Theresa was a homemaker and communicant of St. Joseph’s Church, in Fairhaven.

She is survived by her son, Kevin Miller of Fairhaven; a sister in law, Dorothy Stanton; and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Miller was the sister of the late Charles, William and Joseph Daignault, Cecelia Tardiff and Irene Martin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 13, 2013, at 10:00am, in St. Joseph’s Church, Fairhaven, followed by interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Bedford. Calling hours are omitted. Arrangements are by the Fairhaven Funeral Home, 117 Main Street, Fairhaven.

A Ceremony of Carols

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The Sippican Choral Society with the SouthCoast Children’s Chorus presented its 2013 Christmas concert, last weekend which included “A Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten celebrating the 100th anniversary of Britten’s birth. Photo courtesy Bernadette Kelly

 

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North Rochester Congregational Christmas

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The North Rochester Congregational Church located at 247 North Avenue invites you to join organist Paul Sardinha and Charlie Chace for their annual Christmas program, ‘Lessons and Carols with live Nativity’. The service is December 22 at 7:00 pm with fellowship and refreshments to follow. There will be no morning service that day.

Thank you from the Veterans Office

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To the Editor,

Thank you from the Veterans Office!

The Veterans Office for the towns of Mattapoisett and Rochester would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the generous donations made to fill our care packages for the troops. It is such a wonderful way to show these men and women they aren’t forgotten, and that we appreciate their selfless service to our country. The response was overwhelming.

Barry Denham, Veterans Agent

Paula Butterfield, Secretary

Thank You

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To the Editor,

            The holiday season always seems appropriate to give thanks to those who we appreciate and admire. That being said, we as parents of two ORRHS graduates and one as a junior soon to become another graduate in 2015, would like to say thank you to the wonderful coaches and the athletic department for helping shape our children – for their devotion to their sports and to their consideration of each and every athlete that comes through their program. You truly have made a difference in each of our children’s lives, and we appreciate it tremendously. May you all have a wonderful holiday season.

John and Betsey Oldham