The Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen have voted to extend the scallop season until the end of April 2013. The inner harbor is closed from Mansfield’s Pier to Ned’s Point.
Tax Relief Fund
Applications are still available to help qualified Mattapoisett taxpayers with their 2013 property taxes through the Town’s Elderly and Disabled Tax Relief Fund. Applications and eligibility information are available at the COA Office at Center School and online through the “Most Used Town Forms” icon on the Town’s website, www.mattapoisett.net. Annually, the Committee disperses $500 grants to qualified applicants. The Tax Relief Committee members voted to extend the deadline to return applications to the Treasurer’s office to May 1. All information is kept confidential.
Two Fires in Mattapoisett
“The flames were are high as the house and climbing up to the tops of the trees,” is how one bystander described the scene. Just after 1pm the Mattapoisett Fire Department received a call for an out of control brush fire on Meadowbrook Lane. The fire, which had spread from a small brush pile that was being burned, was pushed by the high winds and spread rapidly. Initially a contractor working on a neighboring house who alerted the homeowner saw the smoke, the smoke could be seen from across the harbor. The MFD was able to rapidly knock down the fire and clean up he scene within an hour.
While working the scene of the brush fire the Department received a call regarding a possible car fire on Acushnet Road. The first police officers on the scene reported a pick up truck with smoke billowing from the engine compartment. The Fairhaven Fire Department was contacted to assist with the vehicle fire on Acushnet Road and arrived on scene at the same time as Mattapoisett’s Engine 4. On arrival firefighters were met with a fully involved vehicle. The vehicle, which was an older model, was a project that the homeowner had been working on for some time to restore.
The National Weather Service reports that South Coast Massachusetts is currently experiencing elevated fire weather potential. This condition is caused by low humidity and high winds, a condition which is common this time of year and persists until the natural vegetation starts to green up in he later spring.
By Paul Lopes
Journalism Class Invited to Boston Conference
ORRHS’s Journalism class was selected to attend a journalism conference in Boston on Thursday, April 4. On the Suffolk University campus, the conference takes applications from high school newspapers to attend the conference and compete to win a number of awards.
ORRHS’s Journalism class, the Paw Prints staff, applied in December. By sending in a few different issues from that year, they are judged on a number of criteria, ranging from layout to the quality of writing to how closely the paper adheres to the journalism code of ethics. While not every paper will win an award, all papers that are thought to be of high quality are invited to join the conference.
The conference will include a dinner, a still unreleased Keynote Speaker, group discussions over numerous topics concerning different areas of journalism and, at the end of the night, an award ceremony. The aim of the conference is to gather young journalists in acknowledgment of their hard work through the year while holding an informative conference for the benefit of each journalist’s writing.
The Paw Prints staff will leave school early on Thursday and carpool to the Middleboro/Lakeville train station. The staff and chaperones will take the train into Boston for the conference, then take the train home that night.
This is the first time ORR has been invited to the conference in two years.
By Jessica Correia
Journalists attending the conference, from left to right: Evelyn Murdock, Rose Haznar, Isaiah Kidney, Steven McIntyre, Samuel Resendes, Anne Roseman, Mia Resendes, and Cory Miranda
Internet Safety: What Every Family Should Know
Once upon a time, in a place not that far removed from the present, children played outside until suppertime or rode bikes miles through town. Our immediate community was really all that was available to us. Our parents knew we were safe.
That was then, and this is now. We live at a time when children are leaving home while sitting in their bedrooms. Worldwide virtual communication is, in fact, the reality. More than ever before, parents are confronted and confounded with how to protect their children from the myriad of problems that can arise from exposure via the Internet. It isn’t enough to simply tell kids what types of activities and websites they may visit; parents need to educate themselves and build in safeguards.
The Internet is not innocuous. The FBI and the Attorney General’s office both have information on their websites giving a clear look into the types of crimes that insidiously befall kids and how to protect against such problems. But time and again on these websites and others, parents were warned to be involved. The enormity of Internet safety concerns is evident with both the Attorney General’s office and the FBI providing specific guidance to parents.
The Attorney General’s website proclaims, “Anyone — those with good intentions as well as those with intent to do harm — can dip into your virtual bucket and search for your information years from now.” The website goes on to state, “It could be an identity thief or any other kind of predator, or anyone in your life who wants to lash out at you, can cause harm.”
And yet the Internet is a tool that is so deeply enmeshed in our lives that we can’t operate efficiently without it. So, what can a parent do?
Some of the suggested safeguards from these websites include: keeping computers in common areas versus behind closed doors, knowing passwords, setting blockers to keep out objectionable materials, monitoring phone bills and credit card statements for unknown numbers or charges and becoming computer literate.
One local father said he uses Net Nanny, a software tool that allows parents to track all electronic communications.
“The amount of information received can be overwhelming,” he said, “but you have to worry about all of it.”
Another father said, “I have my daughter’s passwords. She knows at any time I can check what she has posted or received.” Although that might sound like a threat to a teenager, additional dialogue assured this girl that her father simply wanted to protect her.
A young mother thought her child wasn’t old enough yet for Internet safety to be a real concern. “But I know I’ll have to put something in place soon,” she said.
Sooner rather than later is the key. Because kids are astoundingly more computer literate than their parents, it becomes even more imperative for parents to bridge the gap any way they can.
Last December, Old Rochester Regional High School hosted a meeting to help parents navigate the dos and don’ts of Internet use. Principal Michael Devoll told me, “We geared the information for non-tech savvy parents.”
Parents were told how critical it is for transparency. “If their teenager has a Facebook page, we told them to be ‘friended,’ or a Twitter account so they could get the messages, too,” Devoll said. He noted that the school has a policy for using the Internet while in the building, and that same policy would work well at home. The Internet policy for the school is available at www.orr.mec.edu.
Both Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee and Marion’s Lt. John Garcia said that although they don’t have formal Internet safety programs, they do suggest visiting the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com. From here, parents can go to “Resources” and then “For Families.” There‘s also a link to NetSmartz programs full of great information to jumpstart in-home security measures.
“There are different concerns for different ages,” said Mattapoisett Young Adult Librarian Elizabeth Sherry. Concerns can span from simply blocking adult content to protecting personal and financial identities. Sherry said that for young people heading to college, understanding how to protect their bank accounts and credit cards was necessary, whereas “younger children may have to deal with cyber bullying.” And she expressed concern that, “Teens don’t understand what you post on Facebook belongs to Facebook, not to you; it can be used for many things.” Sherry concurred that colleges and future employees may see material posted. Teens need to think before they post anything on a social media platform.
Ultimately, Internet safety requires a new type of cooperative effort between parents and their children. Clearly, our young people are faced with situations we could never have imagined except as a piece of science fiction. But our virtual lives are now trending openly on the Internet. It is adults’ responsibility to educate themselves and the children while standing guard over the rabbit hole known as the World Wide Web.
By Marilou Newell
ORR Lacrosse
ORR opened the season with an 11-2 victory over Bishop Connolly. Leading the way for ORR was Cam Severino with three goals and four assists and Max Houck with four goals. Contributing single tallies were Chris Marchisio, Peter Krause, Chad Santello and Ryan Manning. ORR received a strong defensive effort from Goalie Gerald Lanagan, who recorded 11 saves. Also playing well defensively were Haydon Bergeron and Will Taylor.
ORR (1-0) travels to Coyle Cassidy for a 6:00 pm game on Thursday, April 4.
Old Colony Student of the Month
Old Colony student Josh Cunha, grade 12 of Rochester in the House/Mill Carpentry Shop, was recognized as School Council “Students of the Month” for April 2013.
The criteria for the Student of the Month Program are based on a student’s improvement, service, attitude and shop projects. The Program is intended to raise self-esteem in the student.
Officials Approve Steeppass Change
The Conservation Commission approved a change from timber piles to a concrete block footing on the future construction of an Alaskan steeppass fishway at the Hathaway Pond Dam in Rochester. The new fishway has been designed to help improve the flow of river herring upstream for spawning.
Tom Cook and Walter Hartley, who are both involved with the project, appeared before the Commission, and cited the discovery of underground rock at the site where the timber piles were to be driven. The Commission unanimously decided to approve the change.
“They discovered a basically concrete rubble and course material bottom,” Cook said. “It was 18 inches to two feet thick. It was completely unexpected, but it was there.”
Cook added that the investigation of the site where the rock was discovered took about six hours, and that no work has taken place since then. He said that the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries had already accepted the concrete block foundation.
April 5 was the original date set for the expected completion of the project, which the parties now hope to complete by April 15, the projected date of the herring run.
“I’m concerned by the herring coming up there now, but that’s for you guys to decide,” Commission member Kevin Cassidy said.
Cook and Hartley said that they hope to start the project Monday, April 8, but that it shouldn’t take more than three to five days to complete.
“The earlier we start, the more likely that we are going to get it done in time,” Hartley said.
Members of the Commission expressed their support for the project and for the changes to it.
“The important thing is to make sure you get something in there so the fish can get back to their spawning area, and I’m happy [with the new plan],” Commission member John Teal said.
“The initial design for the project did not work out,” Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon said. “We have what I consider to be a good team that’s working on this. The construction methodology that’s been set forward is acceptable to the people involved.”
The next meeting of the Conservation Commission has been set for April 16.
By Nick Walecka
Gateway Youth Hockey Update
• Bantams – Facing the first-seeded team going into the Playoffs with a 24-1-2 record, the Gateway Bantams weren’t quite sure what to expect when playing against Weymouth, a Yankee Conference powerhouse team.
After a hard-fought battle on the ice by both teams, the first period ended in a scoreless tie. Shortly into the second period, Weymouth tallied the first goal, taking the lead and gaining the position of control. Gateway had plenty of opportunities on net, but nothing was getting by the Weymouth net-keeper. Great defense by Alex Hathaway, Mat St. John, Jake Tomasik and Doug Breault kept the score within one. Teaghan Andre made some outstanding glove saves and overall showed superb poise and confidence in the net.
Finally, in the third period, the Gateway threesome of Chad Lavoie, Jacob Spevach and Brady Smith pressured the Weymouth goalie and Chad Lavoie dropped one in, putting Gateway back in the game and also scoring his first goal of the season. Great back-checking and the solid play of Will Paling, Mike Houdlette and Sean Kelso added to more pressure in the Weymouth zone. Shift change and out came Brady Smith, Alex Atkinson and Brian Holmes, who battled in front of the Weymouth net banging away at the puck trying to get it in. Finally, Alex Atkinson got hold of the loose puck and tucked it in to break the tie and give Gateway the one-goal lead. With just 1:48 remaining in the game, Mat St. John used his agility and burst of speed to take the puck down the ice and drive it in to guarantee a 3-1 Gateway victory.
The Bantam team consists of several skaters who represent the first class of hockey players that helped bring youth hockey back to Wareham after several years without a program. When a close knit family of volunteers made Gateway Youth Hockey a reality a few short years ago, many of the current Bantams laced up their skates for the first time. Now years later, they are poised to put the exclamation point on their experiences in youth hockey.
“Most of these kids have skated together for more than four years, and they have grown so much together,” Coach Mike Houdlette said. The team endured their share of long losing streaks and blowout losses in the first few years, but their recent successes mirror that of the entire organization. Let’s hope next week these boys see their dreams become a reality.
Gateway hopes to see a great show of town support next week for the Championship Squirt game at 1:30 pm and the Bantam game at 3:10 pm next Sunday, April 7 at Hobomock Arena, 132 Hobomock Street, Pembroke.
• Middle School – The Wareham Vikings found themselves in the B2 Division playoffs Friday night after finishing their C Division season in first place. Facing B/R Papasodoro, the Vikings seemed a bit nervous about being moved up a division as the game started, especially since B/R managed a fluky goal in the first minute of the game. The Vikings soon found their stride though, and Goalie Chace Cunningham remained confident in what was to be a stellar playoff performance. The teams were well-matched as each side battled for dominance, and the score remained 1-0 against the Vikings until nearly the end of the second period, when Sean Kelso took advantage of a power play to hit the net. Within two minutes, Wareham managed to take the lead, with Doug Breault sinking the puck, assisted by Kelso and Mike Houdlette. The lead in hand, the Vikings defense went on high alert, relying on Jake “The Wall” Tomasik, Alex Hathaway and Coleby Paling to help secure the net. Will Paling and Connor Kelley worked to extend the lead, but their attempts on net were rebuffed. It seemed that a victory was secure, but another fluky goal by B/R ended the game in a 2-2 tie.
Coach Howie Ladd expressed pride in the team, saying they had played well against each of their playoff opponents during the season, and had held their own tonight. B/R Papasodoro was the toughest team they would face during the series, and Coach Howie was pleased with the team’s performance. He has every confidence that they will continue to do well during the playoffs, and that the Championship trophy is well within their grasp. After a heartbreaking loss in last year’s division Championship, the Wareham Vikings Middle School team is certainly ready to take that trophy home.
Planning for Solar
To the Editor:
Recent media reporting on the objectives and agendas of Marion’s Energy Management Committee, EMC, requires a pause for scrutiny and comment regarding the impact of this Committee’s activities on Marion.
A major EMC agenda item is changing Marion’s zoning bylaws to allow “as a matter of right zoning” with “expedited permitting” at the land fill for a commercial solar farm to be used as a solar garden. This “as a matter of right” is the same zoning concept the State mandates regarding 40B affordable housing allowing out-of-town developers to cram down projects inconsistent with Marion’s zoning objectives and protections.
The first EMC objective with this proposed zoning change is to meet the State’s criteria for Marion to qualify for the Green Communities’ designation. The second is to allow the EMC to develop a private commercial solar garden on the Town’s landfill. These proposed changes would allow the EMC to circumvent Marion’s traditional commercial zoning requirements for a special permit and site plan approval for the commercial solar farm project. At this point, commercial solar farms are not allowed in Marion. If such projects are to be allowed, a two-thirds majority Town Meeting vote approving zoning changes would be required. Solar farms should be allowed only in commercially and industrially zoned districts by Planning Board special permit and site plan approval. This is just good zoning public policy consistent with Marion’s zoning requirements for all commercial projects. Solar farms should not be treated any differently than any other commercial industrial project. The EMC would like a “favored nations” status for such projects to meet the requirements of the Green Communities’ designation and to construct a privately-owned solar garden on the Town’s environmentally sensitive landfill.
At this juncture, it’s apparent that there are a number of significant issues all intertwined like a bowel of spaghetti and the issues are: (1) zoning, (2) Green Communities’ designation criteria and (3) siting a privately-owned commercial solar garden on the Town’s landfill.
The State’s Green Communities program is strictly voluntary. Marion elects to participate in the program if it’s determined the benefits exceed the burdens for the Town and its citizens. For Marion, the direct and indirect cost to the Town and school can easily range from $300,000 to $500,000 before grants are received. This becomes the breakeven point or hurdle rate necessary before there is any State grant money benefit to the Town. This hurdle rate does not consider the cost to meet “stretch building code” requirements that must be adopted as part of the Town’s qualifying criteria.
What exactly does qualifying for the State’s Green Communities’ designation provide Marion? The answer is simple: (1) intangible “bragging rights” that Marion is a Green Community and (2) allowance for Marion to participate competitively with other designated communities for grants which in the aggregate by state statute are limited to $10 million. Grants can only be spent on a very limited list of selected environmentally green projects. It’s a community competitive “beauty contest” for limited grant money. Only about 30 percent of the State’s 351 municipalities now qualify for the Green Communities’ designation. There is a reason for this low community participation rate too.
It’s very difficult for smaller communities such as Marion to qualify for Green Communities’ designation and to find Town projects that will qualify for grant money. First, it is a very, very expensive and administratively burdensome state program for small communities such as Marion. The administrative and capital costs and other qualifying requirements are extremely high in relationship to the benefits received. Secondly, Marion, due to its small size, does not have a Green Communities’ qualifying capital requirements base large enough to effectively utilize any grant money that might be available. It’s a cost-benefit analysis the EMC has yet to perform, yet the EMC seeks significant zoning change before such work has been completed and the Town is informed of the results.
There are five criteria that Marion must meet in order to qualify for the State’s Green Communities’ designation.
1. Stretch building code adopted by a majority vote at Town Meeting;
2. “Matter of right” zoning for selected alternative energy such as solar farms, requiring a two-thirds majority Town Meeting vote;
3. Expedited permitting process, again requiring a two-thirds majority Town Meeting vote;
4. Establish a program to purchase fuel efficient vehicles; and
5. Establish a five-year 20 percent energy reduction program for the Town and school operations and facilities.
These criteria all appear very appealing until their consequences on the Town are considered, as will be discussed in future letters.
Ted North
Marion
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