Marion Recreation

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Beginning October 7, Marion Recreation will offer an afterschool program for kids K-6. Registration is now open. The program will run Monday through Friday (not including holidays, early release days, vacations or weather cancellations) from 3:00 to 4:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room at Sippican School. Snack time is upon arrival (children provide their own snacks); there is access to gym equipment for active play; there is also a designated “Quiet Corner” for homework and/or reading. Sessions 1-5 are six weeks long and Session 6 is three weeks long.

The fee for Session 1-5 is $325 per child for all days and Session 6 is $165 per child for all days. If you do not need every day of the week, you can choose which days work for you (two-day minimum per week) for only $15 per day. Deadline for registration for Session 1 is September 23. Register early; space is limited. For more information, please contact Marion Recreation at 774-217-8355 or email info@marionrecreation.com.

Marion Recreation Youth Basketball season is open for registration. The Department will host two Registration Nights on September 30 and October 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Sippican School. Please use the Bus Loop, Park Street entrance.

Parents may also mail their completed registration forms and checks made payable to Marion Recreation, 2 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738. The last date to register for the Girls or Boys League is October 2. Learn to Play registration is open until November 8.

The Co-Ed Learn to Play Clinic is now offered for Kindergarten to third grade. The fee is $55 per player and includes Saturday morning practices and a t-shirt. Their season will begin January 2014 and run until April 2014.

The Girls League and Boys League are for children in grades 4-6. The fee is $155 per player and includes practices, preseason games, regular season games and uniform. Placement Nights will be held at the Sippican School Gymnasium for the Girls on October 21 and the Boys on October 22. Practices begin in November; preseason is December; and the regular season is January to April 2014.

Coaches and Assistant Coaches are needed. Registration is open for Marion and Rochester residents. For more information, please visit the website at www.marionrecreation.com, call 774-217-8355 or email info@marionrecreation.com.

Delayed Start Invigorates ORR

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This year, Old Rochester Regional High School is piloting a new schedule in which twice a month, the school day will start an hour later. These two delayed start days are intended for collaborative teacher planning time. Last Thursday, September 5, was ORR’s first delayed start day.

The new schedule seemed to result in all-around positivity. Lindsay Tallman, a teacher in the social studies department, said she found the delayed start “extremely helpful.” Never before given time to work together during the school day, the history teachers used to attempt to collaborate between classes, during the six-minute passing time. With the delayed start, they have sufficient time to “effectively plan” their teaching. Thus Tallman, like other teachers, is not worried about missing class time due to the delayed start. The idea is that more effective planning will only lead to more efficient class time.

During this first planning time, teachers in all departments focused on creating common goals for the year, in order to align with the upcoming new teacher evaluation system. These goals materialized into a common essay rubric, teaching plans or assignments for the students.

Mary Cabral, a teacher in the science department, said that she found it helpful to set “individual goals for student learning and professional practice” during the planning time. This being her 21st year at ORR, Cabral has seen a lot of changes. She said “time will tell” if the new scheduling becomes permanent. This being a pilot program, the School Committee will re-evaluate the progress come January and then decide if the delayed start will continue.

Randy Allain, a teacher in the English department, is hopeful that the planning time will continue. He felt the delayed start provides excellent time for the teachers to “organize themselves.” Allain is looking forward to future planning times so that the teachers can share the strengths and weaknesses of their lesson plans.

Not only was the delayed start popular among the teachers, but among the students as well. Most were simply thrilled just to have an extra hour of sleep, as students are encouraged to arrive at homeroom by 8:30 am instead of the usual 7:30 am. However, some rely on the bus system or cannot accommodate their schedules for the delayed start. These students are permitted to arrive at school at the normal time and report to the library, cafeteria or auditorium for supervision.

Abby Bentz, a junior at ORR, felt this time “could be more productive for students.” For example, Bentz treated her hour in the morning as an extra study. “They could make it more academic, since we’re losing class time,” she suggested. However, she did feel the delayed start was helpful overall.

The hour of planning time was productive for at least one group of students – those of the National Honor Society. NHS took advantage of the delayed start to hold their meeting at a time that would not have any other scheduling conflictions. At the meeting, students discussed a possible future freshman/senior buddy meeting, community service activities for the year and an afterschool tutoring program.

The tutoring program, which started September 10, is for all students needing help in any subject. The tutors are members of NHS. Leah Thomas, a senior at ORR and President of NHS, hopes the tutoring will help both the students and the student tutors. The students will be learning academically, while the tutors will be learning values such as patience and community service.

Other clubs are also kicking off at ORR. AFS club, debate team, student council and math team have all began their weekly meetings. Drama club held their auditions for this fall’s production of “A Christmas Carol” last week and have begun rehearsal. Between teachers planning and all these extra-curricular activities, life is bustling at ORR.

By Renae Reints

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(l-r): Sarabeth Morrell (adviser), Callie Gomes (secretary), Amanda Carreiro (community service coordinator), Jessica Belliveau (vice president), Leah Thomas (president) serve as leadership in ORR’s National Honor Society, one student organization taking advantage of the high school’s delayed-start pilot program by starting a tutoring group. Not pictured: Robby Magee (community service coordinator). Photo by Renae Reints.

Rochester Abduction Attempt Cleared Up

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Rochester Police have cleared up a reported abduction attempt after a day long investigation. Police received a phone tip from a resident who had done business with a man in a white van matching the description of the person suspected in the abduction attempt.

The investigation revealed that a man from Cohasset came to Rochester to buy hay and became lost trying to find his way home. The tipster told police that when the man left his business, he was wearing a mask due to an allergy to the hay. The lost driver, hoping to get directions, stopped when he saw the children but they became scared and fled. The victims identified the man from photos provided by police. He has no criminal record and it all appears to have been misunderstanding.

Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee praised the children for trusting their instincts and fleeing the area when the man stopped and also the parents for quickly reporting the incident to police. “It appears to be a case where the man showed poor judgment by stopping to ask young children for directions. In this day and age, people should know better than to do that.”

Rochester Police Department Press Release

Marion Man Arrested for Threats

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On Saturday September 14, 2013 the Marion Police Department department received information from a resident that her son was making viable threats to kill his family members, neighbors and specific members of the Marion Police Department. The suspect had been arrested earlier in the day by this department for a domestic related issue and had been released on bail.

A short while later the suspect was observed on security cameras in his residence on Cross Neck Road. The Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEM-LEC) SWAT team as well as members of the SEM-LEC Hostage Negotiation Team responded. The exterior of the house and neighborhood were secured.  Several attempts were made to make contact with the suspect. The Massachusetts State Police also responded with a remote controlled robot equipped with a camera. The suspect was located inside the home. Entry was made and the suspect was placed into custody without incident.

A search was conducted. Two firearms including a loaded 357 Magnum and a sawed-off shotgun, as well as various ammunition were recovered. The suspect was identified as Jeffrey E Tosca, age 30 of Marion.

Tosca  is being charged with: 2 counts of Threats to commit a crime, 1 count of Trespassing, 1 count of Malicious Destruction Of Property over $250, 2 counts of Larceny, 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm and 1 count of Possession of Ammunition. He was held without bail and transported to the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department.  He will be arraigned at Wareham District Court on Monday.

Marion Police Department Press Release

Rochester Historical Society

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At the monthly meeting of the Rochester Historical Society on September 18 at 7:00 pm, the guest speaker will be local historical fashion and textile expert, Kate Tarleton, showing us how to preserve those treasured clothing items stored our the attics. Also, Laurene Gerrior will present a sketch of the Hall family who donated numerous items to the collection. Background information on the other local families represented in the collection will be shared.

On September 21, the Rochester Historical Society requests the pleasure of your company at a Period Wedding Fashion Display and Open House at the East Rochester Church from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. After enjoying the display of formal wedding wear, music and photographs of many local wedding couples from the early 1900s, guests are invited to tea and refreshments. The clothing includes items given or loaned to the Museum by the Hall, Benner, Corse, Johnson, Fearing and many other Rochester families. The Church/Museum will also be open on Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 3:00 pm from September 22 until October 27.

Mattapoisett Road Race Scholarships

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The Mattapoisett Road Race Committee chaired by Bill Tilden recently met to evaluate the 2013 4th of July race and to begin planning for next year! The highlights of this year’s event included lightweight t-shirts for runners and the Harpoon Harmonizers starting the day with the “Star Spangled Banner.” More than 20 states were represented that had 1,150 registered runners. Our oldest runner was 84 years old and the youngest 7 years old!

This year, the Committee was able to give 11 awards of $1,500 to graduating seniors at ORR who are engaged in running. Recipients are Hannah Welsh of Rochester, Alexandra Saccone, Luke Mattar, Megan Bell and Nick Pacheco of Marion and Abigail Hiller, Fredric Murolo, Alex Milde, Janice Weldon and Brian Tranfaglia of Mattapoisett.

Every year, spectators have been a huge component of the Race with their cheering, decorations, playing of music and displaying of road race t-shirts. The honor of the “most spirited site” this year belongs to the Mark and Terry Dall of 16 North Street!

A true community effort is always in full force 4th July and we thank you! We all look forward to another successful race in 2014! Like us on Facebook: Mattapoisett Road Race.

All About Birds in Mattapoisett

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Mike McCarthy first picked up a carving tool at a Boy Scout meeting when he was 12 years old. Next year, he’ll celebrate 20 years of self-employment as a woodcarver, specializing in shore birds.

“I started whittling neckerchief slides and walking sticks,” McCarthy said. “The ‘aha’ moment happened when my family and I were camping in Maine and I went looking for a book to read. At a used book store, I picked up a book on antique shore bird decoys and saw the work done by Elmer Crowel and knew right away that that was what I wanted to do.”

A. Elmer Crowel, from East Harwich, is considered the master duck decoy carver in the woodworking field. He lived from 1862 to 1952. His work can be viewed locally at Plimoth Plantation. In 2011, one of his preening pintail drakes sold at auction for $1.13 million.

“In 1994, I quit my job, because I was making more money carving than at my job,” McCarthy said. He describes his carving style as “old American folk.” His creations, primarily shore birds, come in three sizes: small, medium and large. The small birds include little sandpipers, spotted sandpipers, solitary sandpipers, sanderlings, least sandpipers and red knots. Medium birds include dowitchers, yellowlegs, willets, plovers, piping plovers, blackbellied plovers and golden plovers. Larger birds include the snowy egrets, little green herons, great blue herons, great white egrets, yellow crowned herons and black crowned herons.

McCarthy travels most of the year on weekends selling his creations at craft fairs and festivals including Harbor Days in Mattapoisett and Arts in the Park in Marion. He brings his tools and sets up a workbench, which draws people over to ask questions about his work and birds.

“I’m usually the only person in a booth that is working while at the event,” he said.

After talking to hundreds of people each weekend, he retreats back to his workshop and enjoys a peaceful and quiet week. His tidy workshop has a woodstove and a small bed for his dog, who sits or sleeps while he carves. Shelves and shelves of birds and a pile of driftwood line one side of the shop.

In mid-December, McCarthy stops traveling and begins a new year by thinking about new creations, focusing on habitat, or where the bird is standing, sleeping, eating or hunting.

A look around his workshop shows beautiful finished birds that look lifelike and other birds in various stages of work. A pretty puffin stands out among the muted colors of the birds. One of his herons has a lifelike fish in its beak. Others stand on driftwood in various positions. In another piece, one bird sleeps while the other keeps watch.

McCarthy sticks to craft shows that are close to the shoreline.

“You get 15 or 20 miles from the coast and people ask for cardinals and bluebirds,” he said. “If you don’t live near the water, you probably wouldn’t recognize a shore bird.”

McCarthy plans to set up shop in Wellfleet during the oyster festival the third weekend in October. You can see his work there or by appointment at his shop in Mattapoisett.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

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Strategic Plan Process Update

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Stakeholders, citizens and staff members from all of our communities are cordially invited to be a part of the Old Rochester Regional & Massachusetts Superintendency #55 School Districts Strategic Plan development which will take place in mid-September. Your input is very important as the collective perspectives of our school communities will set the course for the direction and vision of our schools for the next five years. We have hired John Kennedy to help guide our process. Kennedy is from the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) whose organizational purpose is to help school districts plan, research and allocate resources strategically to meet student needs.

Community members can elect to be a part of the Strategic planning process by emailing Diana Russo at drusso@orr.mec.edu.

The process that the districts will follow in developing the plan is to first gather information about the schools from September 19 focus groups with student leaders and from senior citizens at each of our Councils for Aging, as well as from multiple data sources. A Strategic Planning Workshop will convene Thursday evening September 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the ORR cafeteria. At this workshop, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee will meet and our NESDEC consultant will present a profile of the present state of the districts. Lastly, those electing to be part of this process will have the opportunity to take part in a participant-chosen focus group on September 21. Steering Committee members will be a part of focus groups. The focus group times are as follows:

Focus Group Sessions: 8:30-9:30 am, Focus Group Session #1 and Focus Group Session #2; 9:45-10:45 am, Focus Group Session #3 and Focus Group Session #4; 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Focus Group Session #5 and Focus Group Session #6.

A NESDEC Team consultant will facilitate each of the Focus Group Sessions. During each Session, stakeholders will be asked to respond to the following prompts:

1. As the Old Rochester Regional & Massachusetts Superintendency #55 School Districts move forward over the next five years, what do you feel are the key elements/components that will need to be in place in order for the districts to continue to provide a high quality educational program?

2. What are the major challenges that you believe the districts will face as it strives to attain these goals?

On Saturday afternoon after the focus groups have been completed, the results of these groups as well as the input from senior citizens and students will be recorded and utilized by the Steering Committee when developing four to five district strategic planning goals.

The School Administrative team will complete the detail work of developing the strategies to implement the 4 to 5 goals, outline who is responsible for implementation, as well as the implementation timeline and fiscal impact of each goal.

If you have questions about this process, please call Dr. Elise Frangos, Assistant Superintendent, at 508-758-2772, ext. 1963.

Every Doll Needs a Mailbox!

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If you are wondering what your elementary age student will be doing after school on the early release day scheduled for September 25, problem solved. Library volunteer Jeanne McCullough is offering a free doll craft workshop at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library at 1:00 pm. Participants (grade 2 and up) will be making doll mailboxes and can even make doll mail to send and share. All the supplies will be provided. (If younger children wish to participate, an adult needs to stay to assist them with the project.) The workshop size is limited to 15 participants, so sign up early by stopping in the children’s room or emailing Children’s Librarian Linda Burke at lburke@sailsinc.org. Be sure to include the participant’s name, age, and the name and email or telephone number for the adult contact. The library is located at 7 Barstow Street.

Officials Consider Variances

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Marion’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, held on Thursday, involved two appeals. The first, from Robert and Phyllis Partridge of 60 Converse Rd., involved extending an existing non-conforming structure, which would be even larger than town bylaws permit. The committee agreed to take the request under advisement.

Next up was a request by Kerry and Ashling Gowell, of 80 Front St., for a special permit to allow the reconstruction, extension, alteration, or change to a non-conforming single family structure.

The owners plan to extend and renovate an existing 1,100-square-foot building, with a shed. All four sides of the setbacks are non-conforming. The couple plans to add a second floor to the shed, add a front porch to the home. The shed, proposed to become a home office. The height will be more than 24 feet. The applicant plans to add plumbing to the shed. The board closed the hearing and has 90 days to make a decision.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

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