The first wharf dance of the summer will be June 27. Dances will be held between the hours of 7:30 and 10:30 pm. Admission is limited to students entering the junior and senior high schools in the fall and are residents of the Tri-Town. Summer residents and summer visitors are also welcome. No one will be admitted after 9:00 pm. Admission fee will be $6.
Oh, summer, now you have melted away winter’s frozen memory, including three frigid days without electricity, numerous windstorms, icy roads and gray darkness. You’ve illuminated our lives once again. Bring on the yard sales, band concerts, church fairs and all of those festivals. Bring on the warm water for swimming and the extended daylight for walking, biking, running or just hanging out in the backyard. Bring on the fireflies, humming birds and flower gardens in bloom. Antique cars on parade and boat motors purring, sails unfurled in the harbor, bobbing dinghies tied to the floating docks, watermelon.
Yes, summer, bring it on!
When I was considering writing a piece on the theme of summer fun, I thought it would be a contrast between the generations: what older people versus younger people looked forward to during the warm season. But as I began to ask questions, it turned out there wasn’t much of a difference. Heck, swimming is for all ages – right?
So, instead, this story is about what came to people’s minds regardless of their age when they heard the word summer.
When I asked anyone over the age of 40 to share a memory of summer fun, they all seemed to become relaxed, as their eyes would take on that faraway look one gets when watching a memory play out on their internal movie screen. They inevitably would express the warmth they were feeling with an audible “Aaaah … .” Yes, summer, even the memory of it, is a balm for the soul. Asking younger folks the same question elicited a very animated excited expression, an urgency, high energy, an “Oh, yeah!” type of response.
For many who offered their thoughts, responses ran the gamut: “the ice-cream man and his ringing bell”; “salt water taffy and hot dogs with a little beach sand”; “riding my bike from morning to supper time”; “the return of summer friends to their cottages”; “digging clams and selling them from my wagon”; “ girls in bathing suits, of course”; “swimming to the raft”; “my row boat”; “playing 45s on my portable record player outside on the steps”; “visiting family”; “eating anything grilled outside.”
One retired gentleman shared, “We spent our summers at Ellis Haven in Plymouth. My father worked his shifts in New Bedford driving back and forth or staying at our house, but my mother and us kids stayed at the campsite all summer. We didn’t go back home until Labor Day. We swam, fished, rode our bikes, skinny-dipped and had campfires every night … heaven.”
For others, summer meant a time to earn some much-needed cash. One woman shared, “I worked at the Five & Dime and the Copper Kettle. I looked forward to that. I bought my own school clothes.”
Another said, “I worked at the Greek bakery and got to take home donuts and pastries at the end of my shift.” She also commented, “I loved those little nylon waitress uniforms, those tiny cocktail aprons and the beaded hair nets – I thought I looked beautiful.”
Another woman laughed remembering how her mother tried to protect her from drowning: “I remember high tide, but being told not to go out past my waist, as if I couldn’t drown under that rule.” This same person also shared, “We weren’t allowed to go swimming for an hour after we ate lunch or else we would get a cramp and drown.”
What a fun time I had talking to a group of 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds eliciting the following examples of kids saying the darnedest things: “I like going in the boat, we have two, we go to Cuddyhunk [sic], I get to drive it all the way,” one child said.
“I’m going to Sweden to visit my grandmother,” another said. When I asked her what she’d do for fun once she was there, she said, “look at my grandmother.”
Another youngster said, “I like to see the monkeys in the jungle.” I inquired, “Jungle? You go to the jungle?” He replied, “The zoo jungle.” I asked him if he fed the monkeys anything and he said bananas, but his buddy piped in to ask, “Hey, don’t the monkeys like pears?!”
One gentleman said he always looked forward to his week at Boy Scout Camp, all of the water activities and shooting guns. He also confessed to accidently burning his leg at a campfire but not telling anyone because he didn’t want his mother to forbid the following year’s trip. It was a secret he kept until he was in his 20s, when his mother saw his hairless shin during a backyard barbecue and asked what happened. Yup, Boy Scout Camp was worth one small breach of the oath.
A local fellow told me that when he was a kid, there was a tower in the middle of the raft at the town beach. It had stairs you climbed to a platform that could hold three or four kids. From there, you’d step out onto an overhanging ledge and plunge into the water. How much fun he had hurling himself from the tower and cannonballing all the swimmers. He said he felt like superman when he’d do a handstand from the platform and then back-flip into the ocean. As he told me this, the years melted away from his face. When asked about doing that at low tide, he said you just had to be a little careful. Doing cannonballs was such fun the tide and threat of a broken neck couldn’t deter him and his pals. One lady told me that she lost a front tooth at the age of 16 when her face hit something underwater after jumping from the tower. Nearly 60 years later, she laughs about the carelessness of youth while remembering the joy at the same time.
The Wharf Dances were noted as a high point to the season, when the kids really danced and didn’t just hang around. One lady who grew up in New Bedford said summer represented staying out late and playing in the streets because “everyone played in the street, there weren’t many cars back then, and the yards were very tiny.” She continued: “We roller-skated, rode bikes without fear or boundaries.”
Another shared that after her girlfriend’s dad cut the grass, he’d turn on the water sprinkler, and how much fun it was screaming and running through the cold water. The smell of fresh-cut grass is her favorite fragrance to this day.
Still another gal who grew up in Rochester said she was a biker chick, so summer meant hours on her motorcycle with friends, riding trails through the woods and going to the beach to tan. Bikes and tanning were her only thoughts when summer rolled around.
Nearly everyone mentioned road trips. One gentleman said he’d go to Moosehead Lake, Maine with his grandfather in an old Winnebago. Once there, the old gent would cook their frozen TV dinners in the tiny oven and how good those tasted. The next day they would turn around and go home. A true case of the getting there was the fun versus the destination.
One of the richest memories shared with me came from a former New Yorker now longtime Mattapoisett resident (he asked me not to disclose his name, but don’t worry: I know he isn’t in the witness protection program … well, I’m pretty sure anyway). His memories took him back to the sidewalks of New York: “During my youth, when our world was naïve, safe and a great place to be, twice a month Mom would drop two friends and me off at the Queens County subway. We’d then ride into Manhattan, switch to a northbound train, and arrive an hour later just in time to catch the beginning of batting practice at the Polo Grounds, home of the NY baseball Giants, our heroes.
“Our lives and dreams evolved around baseball then, either on our own field or the real deal. And, what better way to live the dream than showing up at 11:00 am, paying 75 cents for a left field grandstand seat, baseball gloves and sandwich bags in tow. At that time, 75 cents was 75 percent of two week’s allowance. The ultimate thrill was in catching a home run batting practice ball, then throwing it down to one of the fly-shagging players for an autograph and then throwing it back up to us. Willie Mays and a few others were always willing to oblige. Nothing lasts forever, but I still have the memories of climbing the stadium steps and seeing that big beautiful green field below me.”
Thank you to those who shared their thoughts about summer. Did you recognize your contribution? Whatever your plans are, may summer bring you memories to wax poetically over in your later years. And if you are already there – your later years, that is – may your walk down memory lane be filled to overflowing with the carefree feeling of youth and summer joy.
By Marilou Newell
Town Administrator Michael Gagne held a public information and feedback meeting tonight to discuss road improvements for Beacon Street, Main Street, Marion Road, and Water Street. This meeting is the first in a proposed series to gather public input on the types of improvements needed on these roads, along with understanding the special needs associated with them. With roadway improvements high on the town’s list of necessary investments, Highway Supervisor Barry Denham along with Gagne are working toward creative ways to secure funding for parts of a larger master plan.
The town has engaged CHA professional engineers to help Mattapoisett scope out the project, collect feedback, and then begin the technical work needed to submit the project to the state for financial support. John Morgan of CHA gave a presentation, which outlined the processes necessary for such complex public roadwork complete with the types of state oversight that can be anticipated, engineering disciplines, cost estimates, and timeframe. Morgan noted three basic areas that are driving the need for this work: current pavement conditions, need for pedestrian and bicycle safety, and storm water management.
Those in attendance agreed that storm water and water drainage are a real problem. It became clear during the question and answer period that all areas upland of the village are impacting the lower village streets with water. Several residents pointed to aging drains and catch basins, misguided earlier attempts, the incorrect placement of storm drains, and other irregularities causing some Water Street properties to become de facto wetlands and storm water pools.
Other residents pointed to the need to be cognizant of trees that provide the area with its unique village quality, such as the singular linden tree on Water Street, the last such tree on town property. Ray Andrews, whose family has property adjacent to the tree said that his family would rather consider moving their antique stone wall than lose the tree during road improvements. Sandy Hering of the Tree Committee wanted to visit the possibility of having utilities moved to underground conduits thereby solving the issues that arise when mature trees fight for air space with utility wiring. Bonnie DaSouza wanted the project committee to be aware of historic sidewalk curbing along Water Street and hoped any work in that location wouldn’t negatively impact the old stone curbs.
Other considerations will include environmental impact, parking accommodations, easements, and right-of-ways. From Morgan’s presentation, the project will address: road conditions, storm water management, environmental protection enhancements, and safety. It must comply with: right-of-way, environmental compliance, and design criteria. And it must satisfy: abutters, the community at large, the Highway Department, the Conservation Commission, Mass DOT, DEP, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
The current estimate to repair and improve the 1.5 miles of streets in this project is $3.6 million. If the project is accepted by the state, it would be have oversight from SRPEDD and would take approximately two years to complete.
By Marilou Newell
The St. Rose of Lima Parish in Rochester will hold their 50th Chicken Barbecue on June 23 at 12:00 pm. Plan on a day of family fun beginning with St. Rose of Lima’s tasty and ever-popular chicken dinner prepared on their open barbecue. The menu includes half a chicken with cranberry sauce, corn, potato, roll, watermelon and a beverage. Meals will be available from 12:00 to 3:00 pm, or while supplies last. Tickets may be purchased after weekend masses or on the day of the event, $8/adults, $4/children 12 and under.
Come and enjoy concession stands, bakery tables, games of skill and luck, rock climbing, hayrides, face painting, a car cruise, raffles, auction and DJ.
St. Rose of Lima is located just off of Route 105 on Vaughan Hill Road.
The Mattapoisett Track Club will begin its new season on June 24 at Old Rochester Regional High School and continue every Monday and Wednesday night until August 7 between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 pm. Registration will be at 5:00 pm on any night of the track season. Membership fee is $45 per member. The Mattapoisett Track Club is open to children age 3 and older, regardless of town of residence. Summer residents are welcome.
The Mattapoisett Recreation Department and the Mattapoisett Free Public Library join forces this weekend for the first annual Town Beach Party on June 22 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm.
“It was put together to bring people back to the beach in positive way,” said MATTREC’s Cecile Callahan. “We wanted to offer this opportunity to the public as a community kick-off to summer.”
The party will include a Sandcastle Contest (1:00 to 3:00 pm), Callahan said, for which family teams, groups and individuals can register at www.mattapoisett.net or the library. In addition, there will be a Tiki Bar and a Hot Dog Cookout sponsored by the Lions Club.
“We have a lot of groups involved,” Callahan said. “Part of the fun is bringing all of these people together.”
Attendees will also be able to check out restorations to the beach, including two new lifeguard stands constructed by Eagle Scout aspirant Owen Lee.
Callahan added that MATTREC will offer registrations for other summer events, while the library will provide information on all of its seasonal programming. Fitness enthusiasts of all ages can meet Adult Boot Camp and Youth Conditioning guru Beth Smith, who will host beach races for children.
By Shawn Badgley
Selectmen from Rochester, Marion, and Mattapoisett met Wednesday at Old Rochester Regional High School, and the main issue discussed was the proposed ORR District budget for fiscal year 2014.
According to Superintendent Doug White, the district is awaiting the decision of state officials to see how much the district will receive before they implement their proposed budget, passed during Town Meetings last month.
“The whole process puts us behind the 8-ball,” White said. “We’re concerned about the amount of money coming in. It’s very important to us that we build our budget.”
Currently, the district estimated funding from the state would be $2,739,000, while the Governor’s budget is $3,333,082, the House budget proposal is $2,868,513, and the Senate budget Proposal is $3,017,802. There could be a gap in expected aid and actual aid.
The schools proposed spending budget currently is $16,854,574, and that includes the School Choice program, which was a topic of conversation among the members present. White was adamant that the program, which allows a certain number of students from other districts to attend schools within this region, is pivotal in keeping the current curriculum in place.
“We’ve been looking at this budget and looking at what is necessary to provide high-quality education in this region,” White said. “We still have an ability to change our number if need be.”
White said that depending on what the state decides on, the district might have to borrow money from the district’s Excess and Deficiencies Account, which is basically a savings account for the district’s schools. He said that the amount would like fall between 3 and 3.5 percent of the total in the account, which currently has about $839,000 in it.
White also mentioned the possibility of a potential six layoffs within the district should they have to make up for money they initially expected from the state but that now is not likely to come through.
“There are many districts across the state with the same problem,” said White, while fielding questions from many members of the Boards.
Rochester Town Administrator Richard LaCamera expressed concerns that the individual towns would struggle to come up with the extra money should Patrick’s proposal change from the initial Governor’s Budget Proposal.
“I’m just raising a red flag,” LaCamera said. “It’s going to be a serious problem next year.”
White added that the Patrick administration is expected to take action by the end of June.
By Nick Walecka
In a Wednesday night doubleheader last week, the Old Rochester Regional District School Committee and Joint School Committee met to tie up loose ends and, in the case of the latter, administer its evaluation of Superintendent Doug White and his staff.
“We must continue to come together as one voice,” said outgoing Chairman Joe Scott, setting the tone for the evening’s meetings. “We need to trust our administrators, and they need to trust us.”
In determining White’s overall performance range as “proficient-exemplary,” officials lauded White’s instructional leadership, management and overseeing of operations, family and community engagement, and fostering of professional culture. In fact, members expressed more concerns with the evaluation process itself, which they called occasionally cumbersome and confusing.
Still, the tone of the proceedings was positive.
“It’s a team effort,” said White, noting contributions from a staff that includes Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos, whose ambitious plans for curriculum and professional development are taking shape and earning praise. “From my fellow administrators to teachers to other personnel to students and parents and the community: Without everyone’s involvement, the district wouldn’t be where it is.”
White added that he will continue to “reflect on how I’m doing, and how I can better lead the district.”
On the ORR District School Committee’s final agenda of the school year, officials recognized the contributions of outgoing employees Nancy Moura, Anne McLaughlin and Bill Garcia. In addition, they approved changes to the ORRJHS and ORRHS handbooks, meeting dates for the 2013-14 school year, the special education transportation contract, the athletic trainer’s contract, and the implementation of a common planning time at the high school next year, which Principal Mike Devoll said will create a period from 7:20 to 8:20 am daily.
“Some students will stay home,” said Devoll of the optional period. “But the kids who are here, our doors will be open with a warm environment for them.”
Devoll explained that the pilot program will incorporate supervision, study time, learning opportunities, guest speakers, club meetings and more. Administrators, faculty, librarians, campus aides, and paraprofessionals will be available for the hour-long block.
“Our staff will be working hard,” he said. “We want to make the best use of this time.”
On a related note, Devoll announced that the New England Association of Schools and Colleges will visit ORR in 2016 for continued accreditation purposes.
The Committee elected James O’Brien as its new Chairman and Paul Goulet as Vice Chairman in reorganization.
By Shawn Badgley
The revival of the property at the old Frigate Restaurant on Route 6 in Marion was discussed at the Marion Planning Board’s meeting on Monday evening.
The property was acquired by Arnold Johnson of Johnson Family Investments of 806 Mill Street c/o Mill Street c/o GAF Engineering/Anthi Frangiadis Associates.
Johnson addressed the Board and said the project would include a produce market and an ice cream window, with picnic tables to the rear of the property for consumers.
Abutters attended and weighed in with opinions regarding the ice cream window, which is part of the proposed project. The property abuts the rear of Old Sheepfield Road, part of the Old Knoll development. Abutters include those from the Old Knoll area and those abutting on Route 6.
At issue was a conflict of interest between the Marion town engineering firm, Field Engineering, and the fact that Johnson is the Chairman of the Rochester Planning Board. Field Engineering also represents the town of Rochester.
“To avoid any sense of impropriety, and to make sure that everything is as it should be,” Marion Planning Board Chairman Pat McArdle said, “we will look to town counsel to provide an opinion on all the issues involved in the project.”
The Board agreed to hire another firm, but have them look at the report by Field Engineering to reduce the overall cost of determining storm water runoff, water drainage, traffic flow and parking at the site. Using common sense, McArdle said that most of the report could be used, unbiased, due to the actuarial nature of the existing report.
Board member Ted North brought up a number of questions regarding the bylaw and asked to have town counsel respond to the questions. At issue was whether the Zoning Board of Appeals contemplated the fact that food would be consumed outside the building at picnic tables behind the establishment.
An issue raised by an attendee was that the size of the building, if it didn’t succeed as a produce market, was perfect for a convenience store, such as Tedeschi’s, to move right in and occupy the site. Many abutters attended the meeting and spoke against the ice cream window portion of the site plan.
In other news, the Board agreed to the send the map for the solar overlay project which was approved at Town Meeting last month. The Board approved to have the project given to GAF Engineering c/o Bill Madden. No estimate has been received as yet. The Board voted to give GAF the project to estimate the cost.
A public hearing was held for a Special Permit for Will Saltonstall, Allens Point LLC at 380 Wareham Street c/o Saltonstall Architects to allow construction of an addition to an existing structure. The setback, according to town bylaws, is 50 feet and the requested setback is 32.6 feet. The applicant cited various abutters, whose setbacks have been approved by the Board at much less than what was requested. The Board closed the hearing and took it under advisement.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry
Editors note: This story has been serialized into six parts which will appear weekly in The Wanderer and at wanderer.com
•Click Here to Read Part Three
By Rudd Wyman
Part IV
With a failing family business in 1961, the year Margie and I were married, Dad sold our summer home to Bob and Debbie Warren.
Nearly forty years later, on July 7, 2000, Bob and Debbie Warren have been married for 50 years, and this is a special evening to celebrate. My family has been invited to Point Connett – an opportunity to revisit friends and to renew summer memories. Also, ecology scientists will be interested to re-evaluate the blowfish population. We pass Dunn’s Field, where Marshall tripped on a plum thorn bush chasing Jack McGonagle’s game winning homerun. The old tennis court along Angelica Road, where Dave Barker won the Connett Cup, is covered with grass. There are two new courts behind Art Hill’s house.
I point to where Polly Anderson, my old girlfriend, lived, and next door to the Newman house, where Itchy and Bubba put a smoke bomb in Andy’s garage. “Would they be here?” I wondered. My wife, kids, and myself are excited to be invited to this special occasion, and we arrive from our New Hampshire log cabin with fishing rods secure in roof rack. A large circus tent covers the Warren land, where Pecks Luau happened nearly 60 years ago. There is a threat of rain and lightning streaks off of Angelica.
The Warren family welcomes us and Debbie proudly shows interior improvements and there are additional boulders to Dad’s seawall. The home rings of nautical beauty with a Hobycat on the front lawn. I think of many nights I would fall asleep to the soothing echo of waves lapping rocks, a magical sound that most city kids will never hear.
Camaraderie under the big tent begins when I spot Bud and Mary Franklin. I recall an early summer day when Bud and I rowed and dropped a 300-pound mushroom anchor into 15 feet of clear water. Lifting and pushing the anchor over the skiff’s side, chain wrapped around Bud’s leg pulling him overboard. As my friend spiraled to certain death, the chain unwound. With his leg free, Bud surfaced with a badly bruised leg, and we paddled to the stone pier in a skiff nearly full of water. A silent prayer of thanks, then and now.
Kay Hill, in her 90s, with two of her four lovely daughters, greets us. Stan Allen informs me that his California cousin claims that the Angels are a definite threat to our Red Sox. Itchy Newman seems glad to see me, but looks very old, and not a lot wiser than when he built smoke bombs and thrust a barbecue skewer through Andy Anderson’s Old Town canoe. When I ask about Bubba, sadly he relates how his brother drove an Arctic Cat under barbed wire, and lost his head.
Bubba Newman and Art McLean had a long-lasting feud. Art, a loyal Yankee fan, reacted violently when Bubba implied that Ted Williams was a better hitter than Joe DiMaggio.
While Andy sought jail time for both lads, Art put live eels in Mrs. Newman’s private wading pool. When she contacted Oman, he vowed to keep peace; however, Bubba did retaliate and borrowed one of Chuck’s dead sharks to put in her bathtub. Oman instructed both parties to shake hands, apologize to the ladies and to paint his house.
Bubba will be missed tonight, but it is enlightening to discover that a few of my friends are alive. Barb Hill and Barb Tatro, young widows of Margie’s and my generation, are planning a winter cruise. Is it possible that Charlie Peck will celebrate a 60th birthday tomorrow? Charlie was a baby at his Dad’s luau, about the time Mom’s Pontiac skidded off Redman’s Pier.
Contiued Next Week
•Click Here to Read Part Three