Marion COA News Roundup

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Please join the Friends of the Marion Council on Aging at their annual meeting on October 9 at 5:00 pm at the Music Hall. Come hear about their future goals and learn how you can help.

Flu shots: Thursday, October 10, 3:00-6:00 pm, Rochester Senior Center; Tuesday, October 22, 5:00-7:00 pm, Marion Town House; Thursday, October 24, 9:00-11:00 am, Rochester Senior Center; Wednesday, November 20, 4:30-6:00 pm, Marion Town House.

YMCA: Tuesday and Thursday – pick up at 10:00 am and return at 12:30 pm. Scholarships are available.

Step & Stretch: Tuesday and Thursday – 1:00-2:00 pm at the Rochester COA. Transportation provided.

Senior Stretch: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:30-10:30 am at First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall. Sponsored by Friends of Marion.

Low Impact Aerobics: Mondays and Fridays at Atlantis Drive Facility from 9:30-10:30 am. Cardio, strength, flexibility – $4.

Public Health Nurse: Nurse is available for health consultation, blood pressure & glucose monitoring, wound assessment, and routine adult vaccinations on Mondays at Town Hall from 9:30-11:30 am. The nurse is available by appointment Tuesday-Friday.

Meals on Wheels: Delivered daily to homebound elders.

Podiatry Clinic: Next clinic is December 23. Call for appointment.

Social Day Program: Monday-Friday to the Fairhaven Social Day Program. Pick up begins at 7:45 am, and return at 2:30 pm.

Medical Equipment: Walkers, bath seats, commodes, etc. Free loan.

Friendship Table: Free meal at St. Gabriel’s Church in Marion, first Thursday and the third Thursday at the Congregational Church Community Center at 5:00 pm.

SHINE Counselor (Serving Health Information Needs of Elders): Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15-December 7. Medicare plans change every year. This is the time to choose and review your coverage for 2014. Call the COA for appointment.

Newsletter Online: Please send your email address to: sschwager@marionma.gov. Due to the cost of postage and printing, the newsletter will only be mailed to those who request it beginning in January. You may also access the newsletter on line at the Town website. The newsletter is available at the following locations: Eastern Bank, The General Store, Library, Converse Realty, Post Office, and Hillers Fuel.

Transportation: You must call at least 48 hours in advance.

Medical Appointments: Wareham area Monday am and Thursday pm; Dartmouth & New Bedford Monday pm & Thursday am; Plymouth on the fourth Tuesday of the month; Boston on the first and third Tuesday of the month.

Shopping: Every Wednesday, Market Basket – pick up at 12:30 pm. Alternate Fridays to Shaws in Wareham and Fairhaven Marts, pick up 12:30 pm.

Please arrange errands with the above schedule.

Donations are appreciated.

Outreach Worker: Outreach Worker is available to meet in your home or at the COA office at Town Hall to assist with information, referrals, or assistance with applications. Call for appointment. The building is Handicap Accessible via a ramp, which is located at the rear of the building.

Emergency Funds for Marion residents in need of emergency services such as food, fuel, utilities, medications.

Speaker Series: Please note change in time, 12:00 pm. Bring lunch; we’ll provide the beverage. November 6, History of Theatre, December 4, Climate Change.

Book Delivery: The COA is collaborating with the Elizabeth Taber Library to offer free delivery of books to home bound residents. Please call the library at 508-748-1252.

Legal Assistance: The second Thursday of the month. Basic legal advice. Appointments are needed.

LGBT Supper Club: LGBT Supper Club, for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender seniors on the fourth Wednesday of each month, from 5:00-7:00 pm. Suggested donation $3. Call the Fairhaven Senior Center, 229 Huttleston Ave., to sign up at 508-979-4029.

Medical Equipment: We have free loan of medical equipment. Whether it is a walker, commode, crutches, bath seat – we have it! Call the office and we will make arrangements to have it delivered, if need be.

Legal Services: The Seniors Law Project of the Southeastern Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation provides legal assistance with public benefits, housing, health insurance, and document preparation. Please call 508-979-7150 or 1-800-929-9721 for an appointment. Eligibility for services is based on age (60), residence, and Project priorities.

Cupcakes, Candles, Cars, and Costumes

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The seniors of Old Rochester Regional High School held a bake sale last Wednesday, raising $430 for their class. Senior students volunteered to bring in baked goods and sold them to their peers throughout the early-dismissal school day.

“It went really well. We had an amazing turnout,” said Amanda Carreiro, the senior class treasurer. “We had three tables filled with baked goods, which is awesome.”

The money raised from the bake sale will go toward the senior prom and the end-of-year senior gift. “As a class, we take some of the money out of our account and we leave a gift for the school,” said Carreiro, thinking ahead. “We want to give a really good gift this year.”

Along with the bake sale, the senior class also raised money through their Yankee Candle sales, which closed last Monday. The senior students sold Yankee Candle products to their friends and family through a catalog, which was also available online.

Excluding online sales, the seniors collected upward of $6,600 from the Yankee Candle fundraising. Although only 30 to 40 percent of the funds will go toward the class, this is still a profit of at least $1,980.

These are great successes, but there is more fundraising to come. “We are going to be splitting some of the fundraisers with the juniors, like the talent show and Mr. ORR,” Carreiro said. These events will be organized later in the school year.

As well as the various class governments, clubs at ORR have been busy with their own fundraising. AFS club held their car wash last Saturday at the Mattapoisett Fire Department. There was a successful turnout, with plenty of energetic student volunteers and cars to clean. The AFS car wash raised over $500.

Among all of this fundraising, CSL (Community Service Learning) club is holding a non-profit collection. In lieu of the Halloween spirit, CSL has placed Halloween costume donation boxes at all the schools in the Old Rochester district.

CSL is collecting costumes from October 7-17. All appropriate costumes for infants to age 12 will be accepted. With the help of school counselors, the costumes will be distributed to students of our own school district who are in need. All extra costumes will go to the New Bedford charity organization Gifts to Give.

With all these fundraising events and charity collections, the students off ORR are busy supporting the causes close to their hearts.

By Renae Reints

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Roy R. Andrews

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Roy R. Andrews, 94, of Mattapoisett died October 3, 2013 peacefully surrounded by his loving family.

He was the husband of the late Catherine V. (Cabral) Andrews with whom he shared 62 years of marriage.

Born in Pawtucket, RI, on May 16, 1919, the son of the late Joseph R. and Beatrice (Monteiro-Faria) Andrews, he lived in Mattapoisett all of his life.

Mr. Andrews was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett.

He was the founder and proprietor of Roy’s Glass Service in Mattapoisett for 50 years.

Mr. Andrews served in the the U.S. Army in China, Burma and India during World War II. He was the recipient of the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign ribbon and the World War II Victory medal. Mr. Andrews was most recently recognized at the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s “Cape Verdean Courage, Heroes of World War II’ event for his service to his country.

He was a member of the Florence Eastman American Legion and the Knights of Columbus in Mattapoisett. Mr. Andrews was a former board member of the Mattapoisett Housing Authority.

He enjoyed NASCAR racing, dancing, listening to music, especially tunes and sounds of the Big Band era.

Roy was a true gentleman who enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and he will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his 4 beloved children, Beverly M. Rideaux of Mattapoisett, Ronald R. Andrews and his wife Christina M. of Punta Gorda, FL, Karen J. Santos and her husband John L. of Marion and Carl A. Andrews and his wife Beth J. of Mattapoisett; his brother, Joseph Andrews and his wife Edith of Dartmouth; 8 grandchildren, Alyssa M. Wesolowski, Andrea M. Rideaux, Carlene L. Pedroso, Catherine B. Perry, Tara N. Santos, Elise J. Santos, Daniel H. Andrews and Alec R. Andrews; 8 great-grandchildren, Isabella, Luke, Adrianna, Thomas, Madelyn, Sophie, Nathaniel and Micah; several nieces, nephews and godchildren.

He was the brother of the late Marjorie Payne, Mildred Barros, David Andrews, Pauline Collins and Blanche Perry.

Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett Monday, October 7th at 9 AM. Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church, Mattapoisett at 10 AM. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday, October 6th from 3-8 PM. Flowers are acceptable or remembrances may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.

ORCTV Wants Your Scary Stories

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Have you ever had an experience with the paranormal? Maybe you know an old ghost story or campfire tale that has been handed down to you from generation to generation. Old Rochester Community TV would like to give Tri-Town residents the opportunity to share your scariest ghost tales over our airwaves during the Halloween season. ORCTV invites you to schedule a time to come down to our studios, located at 345 Front St., Marion, from Tuesday, October 15, through Thursday, October 18, between the hours of 10:00 am and 5:30 pm. We will give participants a half-hour time slot to record a ghost story of up to 10 minutes in length (in much the same way we have recorded holiday greetings during Christmas season in the past). Once all of the stories have been gathered, ORCTV will broadcast the collection as a Halloween special to be run in the weeks just before and after the holiday. To schedule your time, please call the station at 508-748-1600. We look forward to being scared and spooked, Tri-Town! If you are not able to record a story during the hours listed, we will try to arrange an appointment at a time that is more convenient where possible.

Mattapoisett Library Scarecrow Contest

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Brush the cobwebs off of your creativity and create a seasonal sensation for the Scarecrow Contest on Saturday, October 26, at 1:00 pm on the lawn at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library. Rain date is Sunday, October 27. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Best Classic Scarecrow, Funniest Scarecrow, Best Dressed Scarecrow, Scariest Scarecrow, and Most Original Scarecrow. Everyone is encouraged to enter. Contest entry forms along with instructions on how to build a scarecrow can be found at the Mattapoisett Library, and you can register by telephone at 508-758-4171. Be sure that all scarecrows are constructed at home and brought to the registration table upon arrival for placement. All children can participate in the many craft activities that will be available during judging. Delicious cupcakes, cookies, candied apples, popcorn, cider, and hot cocoa will be for sale. Questions can be directed to Jessica Noblet at 508-758-4819 or jessicanoblet@gmail.com.

Marion Man Checks Item Off of ‘Bucket List’

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Peter Hunsdorfer wanted to sell his 2004 BMW RT 1150 Touring motorcycle. After thinking about it, he decided that it would sell more quickly on the west coast due to the motorcycle culture of the area. That thought, along with the idea of visiting his son and daughter-in-law in Washington state evolved into taking a trip he’d always dreamed about; riding across the United States on a motorcycle.

“It’s something I’d always wanted to do, and I had the time off from work,” Hunsdorfer said. “My wife, Sally, could fly out and meet me, and we could visit Todd and Cathy. It just evolved into a exciting plan.” He completed the trip in 10 days in July.

Hunsdorfer took the northern route making his way to New York state, through Ohio, Pennsylvania, into Illinois, over to Wisconsin, up to Minnesota across South Dakota to Wyoming, onto Montana, through Idaho and into Washington. He camped the entire time at state parks, local campgrounds, and RV Campgrounds.

“With a motorcycle, you can almost always find a place at a campground because you don’t take up much space,” explained Hunsdorfer. The bike, along with three storage bags with supplies and clothing, weighed 600 pounds. He also used the passenger seat for storage.

“It’s a big country and a big world and you have to put yourself out there and take risks,” said Hunsdorfer, who is currently looking for a smaller motorcycle. According to Hunsdorfer, the bike he rode to Washington is too big for our local area and was meant for lots of long-distance touring. “I want to go with something smaller now,” he said.

“I work with older people and I see that sometimes there are regrets, so do what you want to do while you can,” he said. Hunsdorfer was a paramedic for the town of Marion for more than 10 years and is now a licensed practical nurse employed at a local sub acute care nursing facility.

The weather cooperated, with only one day of rain on the day he departed. He stopped along the way to see Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, the Badlands, and explored local towns. He rode from 300 to 500 miles each day. “I got approximately 50 miles to the gallon and had a six gallon tank,” he said.

Prior to leaving, Hunsdorfer bought a National Parks Pass, which costs $10 for those 62 years and older. He used it multiple times, once carefully avoiding buffalo in the road in Yellowstone. “I’d use Google maps on my smart phone to plan the next day and locate a campground. There are many more campsites after you pass Chicago, they seem to have a more outdoorsy attitude and camping and being outside is more of a lifestyle out there than it is here in New England.”

In time, he and his wife plan to sell their home and travel. “There is so much to see, do, and experience, and it would be fun to go into an area and see more of the national parks and explore the country,” he said. For now, he is back at work, and he and Sally are reviewing their bucket lists for future adventures.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

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Shutdown Could Impact Food Service

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The big news out of the Rochester School Committee Thursday is that funding for school lunches could be limited due to the recent federal government shutdown.

“Our funding may be affected,” said Food Service Coordinator Caitlyn Meagher, noting that the USDA is responsible for reimbursing the district for school lunches. “We should expect limited funding for October.”

She added that the district had already received reimbursement funding for September.

Meagher also discussed lunches charged to the school by students who either forgot their lunch or lunch money at home. She said she had recently sent out about 230 emails for reimbursement, and had received a favorable response, but there are still numerous debts to be collected.

The Committee discussed this issue, and agreed to have a memo sent home to students who are approaching five meals charged to the school, as well as to remind those students that they are approaching the five-meal limit set by the school. They noted that no student would go hungry, but that once they get to five meals charged, they need to collect for them.

In other news, the Committee honored Rochester Memorial School librarian Lucille Morris for 28 years of service at the school.

“We thank you for all of your hard work,” said Committee Chairperson Michelle Cusolito.

“It’s been a wonderful town to work for,” Morris said. “I’ll miss it so much.”

Superintendent Doug White also personally thanked Morris for her years of service.

White also noted a recent change to the anti-bullying policy at the school. The past policy did not include adults in its language, and the changes were made to include them into the policy.

White also noted that all schools in the district would be taking place in PARCC assessments in March, which are part of the Common Core Curriculum being implemented in 19 states that is aimed at creating a more nationalized curriculum for schools.

“This is strictly for them to collect data as they start to transition to into the PARCC assessments [instead of MCAS].”

White said that MCAS results for RMS for 2013 would be presented at the Committee’s next meeting.

Facilities Director Gene Jones was also on hand, and announced that new sensors had been installed at RMS that would limit electricity used for lights that were previously on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“You can see significant savings from that,” Jones said.

The Committee also announced that progress reports would be sent home on October 14.

By Nick Walecka

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MCAS Improvements, Implications

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Several topics were discussed at the Marion School Committee meeting Tuesday evening, including MCAS results, assessments for college preparation, and the retirement of longtime Sippican School teacher Corinne Villa.

As for MCAS, Committee Chairman Joe Scott said that Sippican School did very well, and showed improvements from past years’ results.

“Sippican School did a really nice job this past year on really improving our scores and our growth potential,” Scott said. “[I’d like to] congratulate students, teachers, and administrators on results in the MCAS.”

Sippican Principal Lyn Rivet agreed.

“2013 was a very good MCAS year,” said Rivet, adding that officials would take a look at what areas could use improvement and adapt accordingly. “We returned to a level-one MCAS school. We are looking at what needs to be done so that we get the children where they need to be … so we know exactly what skills we want to home in on.”

Superintendent Doug White also congratulated staff and students on their efforts, and said that they’d be presenting more results from the MCAS next month.

Scott also discussed the Partnership for Assessment and Readiness for College Careers, which is a pilot program that all of Marion’s schools have been invited to take part in.

“All of our schools were lucky enough to be selected,” said Scott, adding that grade 6 would undergo a math online performance assessment in March.

Scott also said that officials were getting closer to requiring criminal background checks with fingerprinting, and that the state had identified some fingerprinting companies that they could work with in the future.

The Committee also commended former kindergarten teacher Villa for her years of service at the school.

“We wish her the very best as she starts the next journey in her life,” White said.

Villa was on hand to accept a gift from the board, and will help train a permanent substitute that will be hired in the near future.

“It’s a great school, and it’s a great town,” Villa said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have the support of this town.”

By Nick Walecka

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Rochester Seniors Nabs National Accreditation

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The Rochester Senior Center has achieved full national senior center accreditation status through the National Council on Aging’s National Institute of Senior Centers National Senior Center Accreditation process!

The Rochester Council on Aging, with the assistance of 73 community individuals, has been working for the past year or more on the self-assessment part of the application toward full accreditation. The 73 individuals served on nine different committees, representative of the nine operational senior center standards: Purpose & Planning, Community Connections, Governance, Administration & Human Resources, Fiscal & Asset Responsibility, Records & Reports, Evaluation, Program Planning & Implementation, and Facility & Operations. Each committee met numerous times throughout the year and worked on various components that were required as part of their “standard” for the accreditation process. A five-inch portfolio/notebook was created, which contained various documents and examples required to be submitted to be considered for senior center accreditation. The completed notebook was submitted to the National Accreditation Office in Washington, D.C., at the end of August.

Once the notebook had been reviewed by the office and two assigned peer reviewers to ensure that all of the components were included, an on-site peer review was scheduled.

The on-site peer review occurred on September 24. Each reviewer has been trained and certified in the process, and is a director of a senior center which has also achieved successful full accreditation status.

During the on-site visit on September 24, the reviewer met with several of those who worked on the self-assessment process, as well as staff members, program participants, volunteers, and town officials. She observed various programs in action, toured the senior center and looked through documents and other records, also looking for required posted certificates, licenses, and general overall cleanliness, accessibility, order, and usability. The reviewer also enjoyed a brief tour of the town in order to capture the essence of Rochester.

At the end of the day, the on-site reviewer wrote a detailed report, which encapsulated all details of her visit and those details were put into a standard format reflecting the nine standards, used by all peer reviewers. The 10-page report was then submitted to the National Senior Center Accreditation Board (comprised of nine individuals from across the country), which met last Friday, September 27, via conference call. The Accreditation Board voted unanimously to award full senior center accreditation status to the Rochester Senior Center! This accreditation status is good for five years, at which time the process will begin anew!

National Senior Center Accreditation is voluntary, and can be likened to the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.” The process ensures that the Senior Center is meeting the needs and interests of the older adults in the community it serves, and is operating at the highest level of operation possible, also ensuring the well-being and safety of its participants. A celebration is currently being planned in light of this crowning achievement!

For questions or more information on the accreditation process, please contact Director Sharon Lally at 508-763-8723.

Plumb Library Update

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If you are a member of the Friends of Plumb Library, watch for your annual renewal notice in the mail. Fill it out, add a check, and either mail it back to us, or drop it by the library. Your membership pays for the programs (story times, book groups, Summer Reading Program, etc.) and some museum memberships at the library. Forms are available at the desk, and on the website. Call us at 508-763-8600 if you have any questions.

Just the Facts, the nonfiction book discussion group, will be reading Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed. At 22, Cheryl Strayed thought she’d lost everything. Her beloved mother died. Her marriage was destroyed. Her family had gone their separate ways. With nothing to lose, she decided to go on an 1,100 mile hike from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State. Strayed faces down rattlesnakes, intense heat, record snowfalls, and her own ignorance as she pieces her life back together. We will be discussing this book on Thursday, October 17, at 6:30 p.m. Copies are available at the desk, or can be downloaded from Overdrive.

Café Parlez’ selection for October is Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin. In the late 1970s, Larry Ott took his girlfriend to the movies. She was never seen again, and Ott was the primary suspect. His friendship with Silas Jones, only child of a single African-American mother, was broken, and he became a recluse. More than 20 years later, another girl is missing, and Larry is again the main suspect. Silas as the police chief is called to investigate. The two men who once called each other friends are forced to confront a past they’ve buried. We will be discussing this book on Thursday, October 31, at 6:30 p.m. Books are available at the desk, or bring your own copy. Café Parlez is sponsored by the Friends of Plumb Library.