The Mattapoisett Town Beach and Leisure Shores Beach were closed to recreational swimming on Tuesday due to a finding of elevated bacteria levels. The town retested the sites on Tuesday and reopened the beaches on Wednesday morning when the new test came up negative .
Lisa Winsor, of Mattapoisett, is a cancer survivor and a Pan-Mass Challenge cyclist who was honored by the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, June 29 during PMC Night at Fenway Park. Winsor was among the cancer survivors who rode her bike around the warning track in a pre-game ceremony during which the PMC’s 34th anniversary logo was unveiled on the Green Monster. On August 3 and 4, together with 5,500 cyclists, Winsor will ride up to 190 miles across Massachusetts in the Pan-Mass Challenge charity bike-a-thon. Now in its 34th year, the Pan-Mass Challenge is a pioneer of the athletic fundraising industry and today raises more money for charity than any other single athletic event in the country. This year’s goal is to raise $38 million for adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The PMC is a model of fundraising efficiency as it contributes 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause. This is the 11th year that the Boston Red Sox Foundation is the presenting sponsor of the Pan-Mass Challenge.
Photo by Danny George
To the Editor:
Wow. I am still so amazed and excited by the incredible support shown by the community for Sippican’s Band Blast. Over 100 volunteers worked before, during and after the Blast to pull it off. I can’t thank Chris and Kelly Horton and their crew from Harbor Blue Seafoods enough for the delicious barbecue. Tom Strom and Kool Kone are always there to help Sippican and that was true at the Blast, too. Lockheed Martin generously donated Red Sox tickets that were raffled off to a lucky winner. Pilgrim Bank, Shaw’s, Cape Cod Shipbuilding, The Wave, Stop and Shop and Lowe’s all contributed valuable elements to the night. Many thanks to the Marion Town Police for keeping us safe and to the Department of Public Works for filling the dunk tank. A special shout-out goes to DJs David Craig and Chuck Vieira for making the night so much fun.
Special recognition goes to my fellow music teacher, Patty Richard, art teacher, Erin Kirk, and the fabulous custodial staff for working like crazy behind the scenes to make Band Blast a reality. Also, many thanks go to so many other teachers who joined the fun, especially the boss. What’s more fun than dunking the principal?
Band Blast raises money to support the music program at Sippican; the music program and the Blast are all about the young performers. These boys and girls did an incredible job playing on that windy night and I am so proud of them.
Wishing all of the band a great summer and keep practicing!
Thanks again to everyone for coming out,
Hannah Moore
Band Director
Sippican School
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.
To the Editor:
In your recent Wanderer issue (Vol. 22, Issue 25, Nr. 1056), Letters to the Editor, Mr. Robert Brown expressed his support for the Mattapoisett Community Tennis Association (for those enjoying tennis) and mentioned the Mattapoisett Lions Club, among others, as being public service organizations.
He goes on to say “the Lions Club had changed its focus to supporting eye research only.”
Mr. Brown, were you at the Town Beach this past week when Lion members prepared and served hot dogs and popcorn to beachgoers, did you notice the roof repairs on the shade sheds at the beach, were you aware of the turkey dinners provided to our senior citizens this past May, how about the ramps constructed for our disabled citizens, the eyeglasses and hearing aides we provided, or the trip to New Jersey, by Lions members, helping and feeding their unfortunate citizens after the recent hurricane? All these services provided at no expense to the recipients.
Mr. Brown, these are just a few of our most recent services, performed for our community, all at no charge to the recipients.
Although eye research and hearing research are extremely important to us, they are far from the only focus.
Mr. Brown, why not visit us at Harbor Days and utilize the services of our Eye Mobile? It will be our pleasure to explain the true facts regarding Lionism in general and Mattapoisett in particular. You might be interested in allowing us to offer you an invitation to join.
We Serve,
Paul Levine
Past President
Mattapoisett Lions Club
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.
The Tri-Town will be bursting with red, white, and blue starting bright and early on Thursday, July 4 and running all weekend long.
Residents will exercise their freedom to run around in the middle of the street at the Mattapoisett Road Race on July 4. Founded in 1971, the race will cover five miles – not kilometers, mind you, because this is America, after all! – along the coastline and through the village, finishing at Shipyard Park. Although preregistration has closed, aspiring participants can still sign up on July 3 until 8:00 pm at Shipyard Park and from 7:30 to 8:30 am on the day of the race.
The starting gun – or its equivalent – will go off at 9:00 am. Throughout the history of the race, the Race Committee has given over $120,000 in awards to Tri-Town students who have been involved in running. Proceeds from this year’s race will go to ORRHS senior athletes. The best spectators will be recognized for their efforts. For more information, see www.mattapoisettroadrace.com.
While the Road Race procession might move at a faster pace, Marion’s Fourth of July Parade will also start at 9:00 am on Thursday, running along Front and Spring Streets. Spectators are advised to arrive a bit earlier.
Marion will also put on its annual Horse Show on Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Washburn Park. Founded over 65 years ago, the Horse Show will feature State and Regional competitions. Local equestrians “are at the heart” of the event, according to the Horse Show organizers. The Mattapoisett Lions Club will provide the chow, but attendees may pack a picnic basket, as well. Open classes start at 9:00 am. Registration starts at 7:30 am on the morning of the show.
After residents recover on Friday, they can get right back to it on Saturday morning starting at 10:00 am at Bicentennial Park, when local artists and artisans exhibit their work – including ceramics, fibers, jewelry, paintings, prints, photographs, collages, bags, accessories, puppets, painted objects, sculpture, furniture, folk art, glass and soaps – at Arts in the Park. The festival provides live music and a food booth during the day, as well as a raffle of donated pieces. Proceeds will benefit the Marion Art Center.
Last but certainly not least, Marion is bringing back the Fireworks at Silvershell Beach after a massive fundraising effort across town erased bad memories of 2012’s shortfall. The show starts at 9:00 pm, with a rain date of Sunday, July 7. Thousands will flock to the event, which will end the Tri-Town’s Independence Day celebration in grand style.
By Shawn Badgley
A budding controversy was nipped in the bud on Monday, as the Marion Tree and Parks Committee reversed course on a proposal to remove trees from the Town House grounds.
A June 12 email from Tree and Parks Committee Chairman Margie Baldwin had asked the Board of Selectmen to consider cutting down two maple trees that were, in the Committee’s estimation, restricting potential growth for replanting flower beds on the grounds. There were also questions pertaining to the trees’ health, but no conclusive studies had been conducted.
Some town residents responded in a flurry of emails, letters and phone calls to the Selectmen, the Tree and Parks Committee and local media.
The “maples are not in trouble other than waiting for an untimely and unnecessary death for the sake of a garden,” wrote Sue Maxwell Lewis in a letter to the Selectmen. “Please stop and think this through.”
The tree removal would have required a public hearing; a fact that Baldwin said has been lost in the exchange.
“We weren’t making a unilateral decision by any stretch of the imagination,” Baldwin said. “We were asking for input from the Selectmen, and that didn’t happen. The email was read at their last meeting – apparently this is the policy – and I had no idea about this, nor was I asked to attend.”
Selectmen Chairman Steve Cushing said at the meeting that any decision should wait for public input. Upon receiving a good deal of it, Selectman Jody Dickerson confirmed that he “had been informed by the Tree and Parks Committee that they are not moving forward,” according to Board Secretary Debbie Paiva.
“I’m happy,” said resident Annie Rockwell, who had objected to the removal. “The trees did nothing wrong. Cutting down trees is not what a Tree Committee is supposed to do. Public input is what the Selectmen asked for, and that’s what they got. I hope they don’t revisit this in the future.”
Baldwin said that the issue had been misconstrued, and readily accepted its resolution.
“I understand people are sensitive about trees,” she said. “God knows I am. We’ve done a lot for the town, and for us to be painted as villains isn’t fair. I feel badly that it got out of hand, and the trees aren’t going anywhere.”
The next Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for July 9.
By Shawn Badgley
The Rochester Board of Selectmen ruled on a number of issues Monday evening, including an approval of the appointment of two reserve police officers to part-time status and the approval of several town employee contracts for the next three years.
Police Chief Paul Magee was on hand to introduce the two officers – Officers Jason Denham and Nathan Valente (both of Rochester) – to the Board, who ultimately signed off on their newly appointed status.
Magee said they’ve each been with the force for some time now, working details and the like, and they have both completed the training required to serve on the Department.
The Board also approved the reappointment and contracts for the town’s Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Accountant, Assistant Accountant, and the Police and Fire Chiefs.
According to Town Administrator Richard LaCamera, the contracts include brand new job descriptions for each of the employees, and also include the same cost of living increases that were approved at the last town meeting.
Also approved were changes to the contracts of the entire Police Department, which includes a change to the former sick-day policy, which allowed for the accrual of sick time and subsequent “cashing in” of that sick time at the end of expiring contracts.
“We’ve cleaned [the contracts] up quite a bit,” Town Counsel Blair Bailey said.
“We’re ending that practice [of the cashing out of sick time]. The goal is to still benefit the employee when they need the sick time, but to avoid that burden for the town.”
LaCamera also discussed the status of several construction projects in the town, both present and future.
He said that the current Town Hall project “is coming along very nicely,” and that three sides of the building are done, as well as the installation of new furnaces and air conditioners.
As for projects at the Council on Aging and Police Station, he said that they were currently “stop and start” because of the amount of rain of late, but that they hope to be completed very soon.
“They’re hoping to get them done tomorrow and Wednesday if the weather holds up,” he said.
He also touched on future repairs to the Fire Station, which are set to take place in the upcoming months.
The project “seems to be good as far as I’m concerned,” LaCamera said. “A lot of the work is being done by call firefighters who are carpenters and electricians.”
LaCamera also went over various expenditures included in the Capital Funding Project, including the sale of a tractor/mower to offset the costs of repairing the town’s other two. They were also approved to purchase a new one in September of 2012, which will cost the town $99,000, and which has already been included in the town’s budget.
Others include the purchase of a nine-passenger van for the COA, which is currently in use, as well as changes to the Plumb Library.
“If you look at the Capital Project overall, we’re in very, very good shape,” LaCamera said. “Everything is going great.”
LaCamera also noted that because of the holiday, recycling for Thursday, July 4, will not be picked up until July 11, and that trash will be collected on Saturday instead of Friday. He also noted that the town’s offices closed on July 4 and 5.
Finally, the Board officially announced the resignation of Derek Medeiros from the Old Rochester Regional School Committee. They added that letters of interest for the open position be addressed to the Board, which will appoint someone temporarily until the election in September.
By Nick Walecka
Not unlike driving through a small town where blinking could mean you’ll miss it, the same could have been said of the Mattapoisett Planning Board’s meeting on Monday night. With only one item to handle and that one being more technical than anything else, things moved quickly.
Robert Field of Field Engineering representing the Town of Mattapoisett came before the Board to have them approve revisions for plot plans on Brandt Island Road, Lot #5 Assessors’ Map #14. The town owns the parcel, and it was intended that an abutter purchase the lot to extend their space. However, the town needs to allow for public process. Therefore, the lot will be explicitly detailed as a non-buildable lot. It can sell at public auction, but will never be buildable. The Board approved the request to revise the description to clearly denote it as non-buildable.
Bonnie DeSouza was the only resident present. She was invited to ask any questions she might have. She said she wanted to know the status of any progress or movement regarding plans on rezoning portions of Route 6. Board member Ron Merlo said he had not yet reached out to SRPEDD to get the information gathered thus far on this long-term project.
Before DeSouza departed, the members asked for an update on the Bike Path plans. She said she was hopeful that plans would be before the Board of Selectmen sometime this summer.
With that, the Board took care of housekeeping and paperwork, called it a night and closed the meeting 20 minutes from start to finish.
By Marilou Newell
Beverly B. (Lemos) Harris, 66, of Mattapoisett passed away Thursday June 27, 2013 at her daughter’s home after a long illness. She was the wife of the late William J. Harris.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Manuel and Beulah (Tripp) Lemos, she lived in Acushnet for many years before moving to Mattapoisett 14 years ago.
Beverly owned and operated Country Hardware in Acushnet with her brother Gary.
She loved spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed the ocean, going to the beach house in Onset, and dining out with her high school friends.
She is survived by her children, Deborah A. Medeiros and William J. Harris, Jr. and his wife Kim, all of Acushnet; her brother, Gary Lemos of Acushnet; and five grandchildren, Brooke and Craig Medeiros, Lauren, Sydney, and Seth Harris.
She was predeceased by her fiancé, Thomas E. Borges.
Her Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday at 11 AM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Route 6, Mattapoisett. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 9-11 AM prior to the service. Burial in Acushnet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to The Shepherd’s Pantry, P.O. Box 760,
Fairhaven, MA 02719. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
Evelyn S. (Yehle) Regula, 90, of Mattapoisett and Tiverton, RI, passed away Friday, June 28, 2013, at Charlton Memorial Hospital, in Fall River, after a brief illness. She was the wife of 53 years, of the late Frank J. Regula.
Born and raised in New Bedford, the daughter of the late John and Susanna (Neumann) Yehle, she lived in Mansfield for 32 years before moving to Mattapoisett 31 years ago. After retirement she also wintered in Florida for 15 years until her husbands passing. She most recently had been attending St. Madeline-St. Sophie Church, in Tiverton, RI.
A graduate of New Bedford High School, she had worked at the Foxboro Company for 11 years until her retirement. She was a former member of the Catholic Women’s Club in Mansfield and enjoyed golfing and bowling.
She is survived by a son, Andrew F. Regula of Plymouth; two daughters, Lynne F. Bougas and her husband Nick of Raynham and Suzanne Gent and her husband Kurt of New Bedford; five grandchildren, Erik, Adam, Mark and Mari Gent and Kristina Hennessey; two great grandchildren, Jack Hennessey, IV and Claire Hennessey; a brother Otto Yehle and his wife Jeanne of New Bedford; two sisters, Marion Riker of FL and Frances Sullivan of New Bedford; and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 4-7 PM, in the Donaghy Funeral Home, 465 County Street, New Bedford. Her funeral will be Wednesday, July 3, 2013, from the funeral home at 9:30 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM in St. Joseph-St. Therese Church, 1960 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford. Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, New Bedford.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 1 State St., Suite 200, Providence, RI 02908.