Saturday, December 21, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, join the Coalition and Bristol Community College Professor Stephan Martin for a stargazing walk at the Mattapoisett River Reserve on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Far away from city lights, this 300+ acre preserve offers visitors trails and a dark, expansive sky to view the stars. The event is free and will be at the Cranberry Bogs on Acushnet Road in Mattapoisett.
Captain John Gage Carlson of Marion, Massachusetts, passed away in comfort and peace, in his home, October 28, on his ninety second birthday, with family members in attendance.
Born in Winchester, Massachusetts, on October 28, 1921, he was the son of Francis O.P. Carlson and Lura Alice Elliott.
Captain Carlson was pre-deceased by his wife of 68 years, Dell Gates Carlson and their son, John William Carlson of the Republic of Panama. He is survived by his brother, Francis Elliott Carlson, of Leesburg VA; his sister-in-law, Sally Gates Earle, of Leicester, MA; his daughter, Johanna Elliott Carlson, of North Brookfield NY; and son, Christian Peter Carlson, of New Bedford MA. Other surviving family include daughter-in-law, Jacqueline Evans Carlson of the Republic of Panama, six grandsons, Douglas Frank Ewer of Manhattan Beach, CA; David Dower and his wife Ariel Rose Dower of North Plainfield, NJ; Captain Jon Elliott Carlson of the Republic of Panama; James Patrick Carlson and his wife Katherine Melissa Carlson, of Boynton Beach, FL; Jack Carlson Fanelli and his wife Jennifer Rotundo Fanelli of Utica, NY, and three great-grandsons, Gaige Putnam Barker, Evan Gerard Mastroccio and Aiden John Carlson.
Captain Carlson graduated from the Massachusetts Nautical School, now the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, with the class of 1941, having trained as cadet aboard the barque Nantucket. He was recently honored at the MMA with a reception and viewing of his photographs of the Nantucket, taken during his training years. Captain Carlson was the youngest Master Mariner in the history of the United States, receiving his Master Mariner papers at the age of 23, entitling him to command merchant vessels of any size on any ocean.
Captain Carlson served in the Merchant Marines from 1940-1947. He was Jr. Third Mate aboard the SS Arkansan when she was bombed and damaged by air attack in 1941. The ship was later torpedoed and sunk in 1942. He served as Second and Chief Mate on numerous liberty ships during WWII in the Mediterranean War Theatre. He was granted The Atlantic War Zone Bar, The Merchant Marine Defense Bar and the Mediterranean Middle East War Zone Bar by the War Shipping Administration. He was granted veteran status by the U.S. Defense Department in 1988.
Post WWII, Captain Carlson was Chief Mate and Master of numerous merchant vessels, traveling to ports all over the world; Master of the Towboat, John Duff, in New Bedford, MA, and Second Mate aboard the RV Atlantis, research sailing ship of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.
In 1953, Captain Carlson moved with his wife and three children to the Panama Canal Zone, where he served as Ferry Captain, Ship Pilot and Tugboat Master on the Panama Canal. He was awarded two commendations for meritorious service by the Canal Zone Governor, one for which he and his tugboat crew helped to extinguish a fire aboard a ship in the locks and on another occasion when “his quick thinking and expert command of his tugboat and crew” enabled him to rescue a ship that had lost power in the channel and was drifting dangerously close to the Thatcher Ferry Bridge (now the Bridge of the Americas) and also in danger of running aground, “averting a serious marine tragedy.”
Captain Carlson and his family enjoyed racing their sailboats, the Nordstar and Gemini and exploring the many tropical islands off the Pacific Coast of Panama, as well as exploring the pristine beaches and mountainous jungles of the mainland. Captain and Mrs. Carlson, along with their friends Russ Meisner and Lynn and Joan Stratford, were responsible for making the clubhouse of the Balboa Yacht Club in the 50’s, a favorite social gathering venue for many “Zonians”. Captain Carlson was commodore of the “BYC”, several times and was honored with a lifetime membership. In later years, he and his wife Dell and their beloved dogs, enjoyed many happy days on their Grand Banks, the Moonlight, until his retirement in 1976. Captain Carlson was honored with the gift of the brass bell from his tugboat, the “Arraijan”.
The Carlsons then returned to the states to live in Marion Massachusetts. Captain Carlson was a member of the Sippican Rod and Gun Club in Rochester, MA and the Beverly Yacht Club in Marion. “Captain Jack” was known to row his peapod, the “Bitter End” from Marion to Falmouth, well into his 70’s.
“And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over” Sea Fever by John Masefield
A celebration of the life of Captain Carlson will be held at the Seaman’s Bethel in New Bedford, MA. 11:00 a.m., December 14, 2013.
The Carlson family cordially invites you to a reception immediately following the services at the Inn on Shipyard Park, Mattapoisett, MA.
Arrangements are by Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Mattapoisett, MA
The question is, how do you put a Santa hat on a giant seahorse? If you’ve ever wondered, here’s the scoop. This year, Corey Silva from Brownell Systems was the lucky one who was hoisted up to the top to secure Salty’s holiday hat. The giant hat, which was created using sailcloth and has a white float as a topper, is a traditional icon for the holidays in Mattapoisett. Jenny Mello from the Mattapoisett Land Trust said she wasn’t sure how the hat would best fit as this is the first time placing the hat with the solar panel which was added when the hat was removed last year. The solar panel is used to power the light in Salty’s eye. In the end the hat was placed and the holidays we’re official kicked off at the Dunseith Gardens.
The ORR football team was knocked out of the state tournament by Abington High School two weeks ago. Even though their chances at a state title had been destroyed, the Bulldogs set their sights on the annual Thanksgiving game against Apponequet. The game had extra weight, as the outcome would determine the SCC Championship, a title ORR has not claimed since 2002. The Bulldogs did not disappoint, defeating the Apponequet Lakers 14-6.
It was truly a team effort for the Bulldogs, as several players contributed offensively. Richie Phillips put the first points on the board for the Bulldogs with a one-yard rush in the first quarter. Phillips would go on to rush for 103 yards on 16 carries. Apponequet countered with a touchdown from Matt Michaels, but missed the extra point. At the close of the first half, the Bulldogs walked away with a slight 7-6 lead.
The Bulldogs dominated defensively throughout the game, but particularly in the second half. The defense made several key stops, including a pivotal fourth-down play by Apponequet. The Lakers, who have been averaging over 40 points a game, were held to just 6 points the entire game. Chris Demers provided another strong defensive game, intercepting a pass by Apponequet Quarterback Cam Costa early in the third quarter to halt an Apponequet drive. The strong defense paired with another touchdown by the Bulldogs, this time a 28-yard reception from Haydon Bergeron, catapulted the boys to a 14-6 lead, which they would hold for the remainder of the game.
Though the boys suffered their first loss of the season against Abington, the Thanksgiving win keeps their SCC record at a perfect 7-0. The SCC Championship is a huge victory for the Bulldogs, as the team has struggled in the past few years, and it validates all of the hard work put into the program. The Thanksgiving victory also officially ends the fall sports season at Old Rochester. Athletes will now be looking to winter sports.
Below are the final overall team records, followed by the conference records in wins, losses, and ties for the 2013 fall sports season.
Football: (10-1-0) (7-0-0); Field Hockey: (12-4-2) (11-2-1); Girls’ Soccer: (10-6-5) (8-3-5); Boys’ Soccer: (10-5-4) (9-3-4); Golf: (l0-6-0) (10-6-0); Volleyball: (1-17-0) (1-15-0); Boys’ Cross Country: (4-2-0) (4-2-0); Girls’ Cross Country: (6-0-0) (6-0-0)
By Michael Kassabian
The Elks of Wareham Lodge No. 158 sponsors the Elks Student of the Month and Student of the Year Awards for students enrolled in local area high schools. The criteria used in nominating a student includes a student who excels in scholarship, citizenship, performing arts, fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming.
We congratulate, Junior, Brent Rezendes of Marion for being selected by the Old Rochester Regional High School faculty and staff. Brent goes above and beyond while performing Community Service in the LSC. In the classroom, Brent is willing to engage each student in whatever learning is taking place. Brent accompanies the LSC students to various classes and bake sales and will greet these students in the cafeteria and in the halls. In the general education classes, Brent will go out of his way to make sure the LSC students and staff are aware of any information they have missed in that particular class. Brent is always respectful and patient and will agree to any extra work asked of him.
Instead of looking at an agenda, those who serve on town boards socialized with one another at the annual Town House potluck holiday gathering held at the Marion Music Hall on Tuesday evening.
“We have this event, in the spirit of the season, to thank everyone who volunteers to come out, often in the evening, away from their families at the dinner hour, to serve on committees in our town,” said Mr. Dawson, Town Administrator. “We appreciate their service.”
The venue was decorated in festive holiday decor by Steve Gonsalves, a member of the Marion Planning Board and the owner of a local landscape and garden business.
Truman Terrell, a member of the Marion Music Hall Committee, played the piano and provided an upbeat holiday feeling to the event.
“We want to say thank you, from the Town of Marion, to all of you for your commitment and service to the town,” said Chairman Steve Cushing. “We’ve had a successful year this year and hopefully next year as well.”
Jody Dickerson, Selectman, told the crowd that he was pleased at the turn out for the event and that he has enjoyed his time as Selectman and Recreation Director.
Ted North, a member of the Planning Board commented that it was a time for all to gather together, regardless of their differences of opinion on issues. “I’m pleased to see so many gathered together enjoying the evening, regardless of the differences we may have.”
Over sixty people attended the event, including board members from the Council on Aging, Conservation Commission, Cultural Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Selectmen, Board of Health, Marion School Committee, Marion Energy, Recreation Board, Pathways Committee, Cemetery Commission, Elizabeth Taber Library Board members and many others.
Each year, an invitation is sent to the committee chair of each town committee, who then invites the board members who served on the committee during the prior year. Former members of committees are also invited, along with spouses.
“It’s fun to gather in a non-working environment to socialize,” said Susan Schwager, Director of the Council on Aging. “Usually we only see each other at board meetings where we work together to tackle the business issues of the COA.”
According to Deb Paiva, organizer of the annual event, planning starts in November with the date selected for the potluck supper.
“It’s been a great evening for us all,” said Ms. Paiva.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry
Michelle Bissionette and Steve Gonsalves enjoy some fun at the Marion Selectman’s Appreciation holiday supper on Tuesday evening.
Dick Giberti and Deb Gonsalves enjoy a hug and good times at the Marion Selectman’s Appreciation supper on Tuesday evening at the Marion Music Hall.
This week, Old Rochester Regional High School’s drama club will proudly present “A Christmas Carol,” based on the writings of Charles Dickens. Friends, family, and community members are invited to enjoy the play on opening night this Thursday, December 5, at 7:30 pm. The play will also be performed at the same time Friday and Saturday night, while the Sunday show will be a matinée at 2:00 pm. Tickets may be purchased at the door or at local shops including the Marion General Store, Plumb Corner Market, and Pen & Pendulum. General admission is $12 and tickets for students and senior citizens are $10.
While this story has always been a classic for the holiday season, the play has come to be a tradition in the Tri-Town community as well. Director Paul Sardinha and costume designer, Helen Blake, organize “A Christmas Carol” once every three years, each time with a new, fantastic cast of students.
This year’s cast stars Ian MacLellan as Ebenezer Scrooge, Sam Resendes as Jacob Marley, Troy Rood as Bob Cratchet, Anne Roseman as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Patrick McGraw as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Lucy Milde as the Ghost of Christmas Future, and many more talented students. As opening night approaches, the actors and techies are working hard to deliver excellence.
“We still have yet to perfect the set changes,” said Rood earlier this week. “That’s the only wrinkle we’ve had.”
“We’re getting it all worked out,” Roseman commented. “We have finished blocking the play, now we’re just polishing things up.”
As for opening night nerves, it seems excitement is outweighing anxiety … mostly.
“I think we can do a great job,” said MacLellan confidently, “but that doesn’t mean I’m any less nervous,” he added with a laugh. As Ebenezer Scrooge, MacLellan has a huge part in the play. He admitted his most difficult challenge was posed by a scene in which Scrooge cries out in anguish. “I couldn’t scream right,” he confessed. Yet with four ORR drama club productions already under his belt, no one doubts that MacLellan will perform brilliantly. After all, practice makes perfect, and the drama club students have been rehearsing diligently.
Rood advises the audience to “look for some new things that we’ve done to update the show.” In order to keep the show interesting for returning ORR drama club fans, a few set changes have been improved and some lines have been changed. It’s these little differences, along with a new cast, that will keep this year’s show fresh and fun.
MacLellan says everyone should “definitely look forward to all the musical numbers.” You’re sure to be humming these entertaining and catchy tunes long after the curtains close. ORR drama club’s opening night performance of “A Christmas Carol” should be one to remember.
For more information, please call 508-758-6762.
By Renae Reints
When former Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School Superintendent David Ferreira was offered his first job teaching at Diman Tech in Fall River, he had little knowledge of the school, and in fact, he hadn’t even inquired about a position there.
“I said, ‘I never applied there. Why would I get called for a job?’” Ferreira said recently before a large crowd gathered at Old Colony in his honor.
Ferreira, who had just recently gone on military leave, learned that Diman had heard about him from Case, where he had recently applied. At Diman, a teacher was being deployed, and they wanted someone coming off of deployment to replace him.
“It worked out perfectly, and I got to teach what I loved—science and physics,” said Ferreira.
After a career that spanned over 40 years as both a science teacher and Superintendent of Old Colony, where he served from 1992 until 2007, it was only fitting that Old Colony dedicated the new “David J. Ferreira Science Center” at the school to him in a ceremony Monday afternoon at the school.
Ferreira, who currently serves as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Technical Administrators, was instrumental in the process of acquiring the accreditation that eventually led to funding for the recently completed $2.5 million capital improvement project through the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which funded 54.6 percent of it.
That project included the construction of a new roof on the school, as well as a renovation for the new science lab, which was the original lab from the school’s initial construction in 1975.
Not only did those in attendance thank Ferreira for his work in this particular instance, but they also commended him for his hard work and high aspirations for the school’s students and faculty in particular.
“David is probably one of the most hardworking people that I’ve ever met,” said current Superintendent Gary Brown, who noted that Ferriera is still a mentor to this day, spending time with aspiring teachers and administrators. “David was always coming up with new ideas. He was an innovator and an educator.”
Ferreira said that he was honored to have the newly remodeled room – which is equipped with a new chemical storage closet and new gas and plumbing fixtures, among many other changes – named for him.
“I’m certainly humbled to have the new Science Center named after me,” said Ferreira. “It’s also an honor to be recognized by the Administration, in particular Gary Brown, the School Committee, the rest of the Administrative team, my friends in the faculty…all of you have created the special place that we call Old Colony.”
By Nick Walecka
The Marion Board of Selectmen held a brief but important meeting at the Marion Music Hall prior to the town holiday party which is held annually to thank volunteers on town boards and committees.
After approving the minutes of the November 19, 2013 meeting, the board launched into an action item naming and approving Ruth Olson as a new member of the Marion Affordable Housing Trust.
Next up was the reading of a letter from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary requesting the use of 13 Atlantis Drive for conducting their Safe Boating courses.
“We welcome the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. 2014 will be their 75th Anniversary, and they are the oldest flotilla in the United States,” said Selectman Jody Dickerson.
Also approved was the appointment of Cynthia Callow Trinidad to the Conservation Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
An e-mail from the Buzzards Bay Coalition was read in which they requested that the Town of Marion submit comments to the U. S. Coast Guard regarding oil spill rules in Buzzards Bay. The board took the e-mail under advisement and will discuss it at their next scheduled meeting.
With the population of some grassland bird species on the decline in some areas of Rochester, the Rochester Conservation Commission approved minor maintenance on East Over Reservation that should help birds and other species continue to thrive and flourish there.
Diane Lang, a representative of the Trustees of Reservations, came before the Commission on Tuesday evening to present their plan for the Platt Road site, which will include mowing of some areas of overgrown grass and cutting and maintenance of selected shrubs, with no excavation necessary.
The Commission unanimously approved the work, which will fall within the 100-foot Buffer Zone of bordering vegetated wetlands, and issued a negative Determination of Applicability, which allows the Trustees to proceed with the work without issuing a more detailed engineering plan. The only stipulation included in the approval was that they not work within 25-feet of the wetlands.
The Trustees of Reservations, who according to their website helps to “preserve, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts,” will do the work with funds from a grant that allows them to maintain the property as a habitat for bobolinks, which are declining in numbers due to loss of habitats.
“They’ve disappeared from our [personal] fields, as have the meadowlarks,” said John Teal of the Commission. “They’re a desirable species. [It’s a] bird that is rare and only exists in grasslands.”
Lang said that the project was simply to maintain areas that had become overgrown and therefore threatening to the different species that live there.
“We’re not clear-cutting,” she said, noting that there will be no excavation or disturbances underneath the earth’s surface or any rooting. “There are areas within that that we want to cut back the shrubs and maintain it.”
Lang said they expect to complete the project before the end of the year.
The Commission also approved limited vista pruning for the Rochester Land Trust for their property located on Mary’s Pond Road, which is intended to improve the view of Leonard’s Pond.
As with the aforementioned project, there will be no disturbance to the land itself, and the Commission issued a negative Determination of Applicability, allowing the Land Trust to go forward with the project.
The Commission also discussed the possibility of the installation of a guardrail on the town’s Leonard’s Pond parcel that has just recently been cleared for a small parking area. The issue arose after it was reported that an unidentified well-drilling company’s truck had pumped water from the pond at the site.
“That’s not allowed,” said Chair Rosemary Smith. “You have to come in and request it.”
Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon said that she discussed the issue with the town Highway Surveyor, Jeffrey Eldridge.
By Nick Waleka
