Trailside Variance Denied

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The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals denied an application for a variance from Coastal Realty and Development LLC that would have allowed them to change an age restriction on its Trailside Estates condominium project.

The applicant claimed that two cease and desist orders from the Planning Board during construction and a bad economy were “hardships” that should allow them to have the 55-and-older age restriction on the Snipatuit Road development lifted, but the Board unanimously disagreed.

“Issues with the town and the cease and desist orders delayed us for over a year,” said Michael Kelley, the attorney for the applicant. “These two units have been for sale for over five years, and we have not been able to sell them. We’ve invested money in two buildings that we can’t sell, so we believe that’s a significant hardship.”

Benjamin Gilmore of the Board said that the variance could only be granted if it met a condition stating that the hardships were related to the topography, shape of land, soil, etc., of the property.

“It does not meet that condition for a variance,” Gilmore said.

Officials noted that by changing the age restriction, it could potentially put a tax burden on the town because it could incur the cost of more school-age children in the school system.

“I believe the desired change could have a negative impact on [the community],” Gilmore said.

“It appears to me to be a self-inflicted hardship, to some extent,” Chair Richard Cutler said. “I hope you guys can make this work, but I think our hands are tied.”

By Nick Walecka

 

 

Barbara E. (Thompson) Savaria

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Barbara E. (Thompson) Savaria, 81, died Thursday, August 1, 2013 at Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion. She was the wife of the late Charles H. Savaria, III.

Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Grace E. (Pittsley) and Arthur C. Thompson, Sr.

A longtime resident of Marion, Mrs. Savaria worked in the mailroom for Berkshire-Hathaway, Inc., as a secretary for Thomas-Young Associates in Marion and as scale house operator for SEMASS in Rochester. Mrs. Savaria was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star in New Bedford.

The Savaria family would like to give special thanks to Buster, Elijah and Jodi and all the staff at Sippican Healthcare Center, Mayfair Unit.

She is survived by two daughters, Lynne Richards of Marion and Sandra Schroth of Wareham; two sisters, Arlene Briggs and Natalie Tripp both of Acushnet; three grandchildren, Jodi Richards-Auld of Marion, Erin Schroth of Providence, RI and Hannah Schroth of Bartlett, NH and three great grandchildren, Dillon, Skylynne and Elijah Richards-Auld. She was predeceased by her son, the late Charles Savaria, IV and her brothers, Garvis, Terrence, George, Arthur and Robert Thompson.

Her funeral service will be Monday, August 5, 2013 at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28), Wareham at 10:00 AM.  Interment will be in North Marion Cemetery, Marion. Visiting hours will be Sunday from 4 – 7 PM.

Donations in her memory may be made to Sippican Healthcare Center (Activities Fund), 15 Mill St., Marion, MA 02738. For directions and on-line guestbook visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com

Looking for Project Applicants

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A brief but effective public meeting of the Marion Community Preservation Committee was held on Wednesday evening at the Town House. A handout of the Community Preservation Act was passed out, and the committee was available to answer questions. “To date, we haven’t had any applicants,” Chair Norm Hills said, “and we want to get the word out.”

The Community Preservation Act is a state law that allows participating cities and towns to adopt a real estate tax surcharge of up to 3% in order to fund four community preservation purposes: open space, historic preservation, community housing, and recreation. Marion adopted the CPA in May 2005 and charges a 2% surcharge.

Since CPA’s enactment in 2000, the state had matched the city and town surcharge every year, but then the match decreased over time. In 2013, the expected match by the state will be approximately 26%.

The committee has a $700,000 budget. Past approved projects include replacing the windows at the Marion Women’s Clubhouse and the replacement of the bell tower at the Marion Art Center.

“We will work with applicants and help them understand that the applications contain a narrative section and a financial section,” Hills said. “The more complete it is, the easier it is for us to determine if it fits the guidelines of the act.”

Applications can be picked up at the Marion Town House. The deadline for applications for consideration is Aug. 23. This will allow the committee to review applications and make recommendations on the funding at the Fall Town Meeting in October.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

 

 

 

Art on Center’s Members’ Mingle

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Join us for an intriguing exhibition of over 100 original artworks in a variety of media, all by local artists. Come to Art on Center, 15 Center Street in Fairhaven on Saturday, August 10. Check out the beautiful gallery and “classroom” spaces at Art on Center, make new art connections, and perhaps even take home an original piece of art! Included in the exhibit are oil paintings, stained glass, handcrafted jewelry, fiber arts, pastel paintings, turned wood, leathercraft, watercolors and more. Doors open at 11:00 am. Meet the artists in a fun, easygoing environment at the “Members’ Mingle” from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. You don’t have to be a member to attend, but you will want to be before you leave. Light refreshments will be provided.

Art on Center is a federally approved 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information, call 774-206-1709 or email info@artoncenter.org. The website is www.artoncenter.org.

ORR Swimming Summer Soiree

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It is that time of year again! The Second Annual Summer Soiree at the Inn at Shipyard Park in Mattapoisett brought to you by the Friends of Old Rochester Swimming. The event will be held on August 2, from 5:00 to 8:00pm at the Inn at Shipyard Park. There will be plenty of appetizers as well as a silent auction. Items for the silent auction include Patriots tickets, 4 RT tickets on the Cuttyhunk Ferry, a 9hp outboard motor, and many other great items. Tickets are $25 each. Please email orrbulldogswimming@gmail.com for tickets or more information. Monies raised by this event go directly to support the ORR Varsity Swim Team, which will begin its second season this November.

National Night Out Highlights Prevention

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The Tri-Town will host its inaugural National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 6, 5:00 pm at Old Rochester Regional High School.

Though National Night Out focuses on crime and drug prevention, it does so with an emphasis on community policing, presenting an opportunity for residents and first responders to meet, discuss and build camaraderie. While most small towns are unable to hold National Night Out events because of personnel demands at any given time, Marion Police Department Public Information Officer Karen Ballinger said this edition is emblematic of the cooperation typically enjoyed by Tri-Town departments.

“We work together so cohesively in Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester, that it only made sense to get everyone together to meet each other,” Ballinger said. “Our main goal is to get residents and EMS, Police and Fire acquainted not just professionally, but in a friendly way, too. We’re able to do that because of the three communities coming together.”

The Marion Harbormaster Department and Marion Recreation Department – as well as the Southeastern Law Enforcement Council, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit and Massachusetts Air National Guard – will also have representatives in attendance.

Admission to the event is free, and gift bags will be given out to the first 150 children. There will be music, food, a moonwalk, basketball, and photo ops with first responder vehicles. Handi Mandi will do free face painting.

For more information, call 508-748-1212.

By Shawn Badgley

Tri-Town Graduates and Awards

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Henry Blanchette of Marion graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology.

Ryan Muther, a Computer Science and History major from Marion, was named to the Dean’s List at Union College for the 2012-13 academic year.

Marion Concert Band

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On Friday, August 2, the Marion Concert Band will continue its Friday evening concert series with a program of music from the Broadway stage. The program, which includes highlights from some of Broadway’s most memorable shows, is as follows:

The Purple Carnival March – H. Alford; Broadway Show-Stoppers Overture – arr. W. Barker; O Mio Babbino Caro – G. Puccini; Tracy Gendreau, soprano; Selections from Wicked – S. Schwartz; The Showman – H. Akers; Opening Night on Broadway – arr. M. Brown; People (from Funny Girl) – J. Styne; Tracy Gendreau, soprano; West Side Story Selections – L. Bernstein; Selections from My Fair Lady – F. Loewe; American Legion March – C. Parker

Tracy Gendreau is a cantor at Holy Name Church (Fall River) and teaches Musical Theatre at the Onstage Academy of Performing Arts in Fall River. Her recent theatrical credits include Glinda/Auntie Em for the Little Theatre of Fall River’s performance of The Wizard of Oz, The Baroness in The Sound of Music, the Mother in the opera Amahl & the Night Visitors and Maggie in Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (all with LTFR). Gendreau has sung in an American Pop review in Downtown Disney, Orlando, for the Magic Music days program, the Rockin’ America review at Disney (2009) as well as the Swingin’ on a Star Musical review in several venues in Tenn. (2007).

The concert, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:30 pm at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf, off of Front Street in Marion.

Stop Harassing Local Dog Owners

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To the Editor:

About two weeks ago, you ran a letter from a reader complaining about dog feces on Ned’s Point Road. I walk on that road every day with my dog and rarely ever see any dog droppings. However, I do see miscellaneous paper cups, napkins, wrappers, etc., from local fast-food restaurants. Perhaps town resources should be used to clean up the street rather than harassing local dog owners.

Art Layton

Mattapoisett

 

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.

Open Space Survey

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To the Editor:

It’s time to wake up. The survey that is available on the Mattapoisett town website needs to be addressed by the people who live here. As of the last Conservation Committee meeting, only 49 responses had been received. Don’t start complaining when things are happening to your town that you don’t like. Express your feelings as to how Open Space should be should be managed in your town. Don’t just be sheep and allow someone else to make your decisions. Go to the town website and click on the button that says “Open Space Survey” and answer the questions. It might take five minutes to complete. And it might have a lasting effect on your home.

Paul E. Osenkowski

Mattapoisett

 

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.