Back-to-Back Championships

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The Old Rochester Regional Travel Basketball Team captured the 2013 Cape Cod Youth Basketball League Seventh Grade Boys’ Championship on Thursday, February 14.  They defeated Falmouth 44-34 in the final. The win gave the team back-to-back titles, having won the Sixth grade Championship last year, also against Falmouth.

The game started with Rochester breaking the Falmouth pressure with some fast-break layups led by Noah Fernandes (Mattapoisett) and Jacob Yeomans (Marion). Even with an early six-point lead, it was clear that the game was going to be a defensive battle, as both teams played relentless defense. Both teams contested every shot and batted away any risky passes. Bennett Fox (Mattapoisett) was able to add to the fast-break scoring, making not one but two spectacular left-handed layups while being heavily contested. He extended Rochester’s lead to 17-8 with only two minutes remaining in the first half. Falmouth remained calm and hit a short corner-jumper followed by a three-pointer from Sammy Koss, cutting the lead to four at the break, 17-13.

As the second half of the game started, Rochester jumped ahead with some tenacious pressure defense led by Fernandes (seven steals), Tyler Menard (Mattapoisett) and Fox. Fox (12 points) added some scoring with his defense, hitting two three-pointers with some clutch inside-scoring from James Sylvia (Mattapoisett). Rochester stretched their lead to 30-18 with just about seven minutes remaining, forcing Falmouth to call their final timeout.  Falmouth once again kept it close by forcing turnovers off their relentless full-court pressure, narrowing the lead to 36-30 with three minutes to go. Rochester now needed to call the timeout to get organized for the final minutes. And perhaps in a theme to their season after losing their first three games, the boys again showed their resiliency as champions in this final game.  They were not going to be denied. Like he had been doing all game long, Fernandes broke free of the Falmouth pressure with help from Jason Gamache (Mattapoisett) and Collin Fitzpatrick (Marion) to get the ball over half court and spread the floor. Then it was up to Rochester making their foul shots, and that they did. Fitzpatrick, playing against much bigger bodies on the Falmouth frontline, battled all game long on the board, along with teammates Michael Kennefick (Rochester) and James Dwyer (Mattapoisett) to hold their own right to the end of the game, refusing to give Falmouth many second chances. Fitzpatrick went 4-4 from the line, Fernandes 3-4 and Gamache 1-2 in the closing minutes, sealing the game. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the boys had realized they accomplished something rarely done at any level in any sport … back-to-back Championships!

The team finished the regular season 10-4 and with their 4 wins in the playoffs, they had a final record of 14-4. The boys will next compete in the Sandwich March Madness tournament in early March, followed by the coveted invitation-only State Tournament in mid-March. The State Tournament gathers the top eight teams from around the state in a weekend tournament. Last year, Rochester placed third and they are hoping to improve on that this year.

Rochester’s full roster and town affiliation: Jacob Asiaf, James Dwyer, Noah Fernandes, Jason Gamache, Tyler Menard, Sam Pasquill and James Sylvia from Mattapoisett; Collin Fitzpatrick, Corey Lunn and Jacob Yeomans from Marion; Michael Kennefick from Rochester; Tommy Noonan from Onset. Their Head Coach was Greg Yeomans and their Assistant Coaches were Mark Menard, Tom Gamache and Brian Fitzpatrick.

The game was taped by Robbi Around Town so be on the lookout for viewing times.

A Heavy Dose of Society

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Have you ever wondered what life is like after death?

Well, here’s hoping your afterlife isn’t as off the wall as this.

The Tabor drama department is up and running once again with the play “Miss Witherspoon,” which will be shown in the Black Box Theatre at Tabor Academy from February 28 to March 2 at 7:30 pm.

The play features a hapless woman named Veronica (aka Miss Witherspoon), played by Brittany Montuori, ’13, who kills herself because she is upset with what the world has become. She enters a bardo which happens to be framed as a miniature play in this version. Maryamma, played by Kristiana Sotiriou, ‘15, continuously reincarnates Veronica into different societies.

What makes this comedy of suicide hilarious is the way these societies are so different; yet, they each give the same shockwave of laughter to the audience.

For example, Colby Magratten, ’14, gets to play two different types of mothers: one extremely happy one, and one extremely abusive. The vast difference of the two roles is not only an unpleasant reminder of society, but also a new experience for Magratten.

“I get to scream at a lot other people during the play,” she said. “It’s not something I have done before during my acting career.”

While the plot in the play has remained the same, some of the specific details of the play have been altered.

The bardo is filled with toys, such as a swing set and a slide, to fit Maryamma’s adjusted personality as a child. Plus, the sleazy man, a deadly drug dealer played by Derek Huang, ’15, is given the added feature of being blind.

“We have kept adding silly things to make it interesting,” Director Donn Tyler said. “The only feature that we had to keep consistent with the original play was the transparent chair in the bardo because of the original director’s recommendation.”

The play is the second theatrical production over the span of a week, following the musical “Damn Yankees!,” which took place from February 21 to 23.

Huang and Matt Hlady, ’13, who was also in the musical, play varying fathers. Demi Hunte-Josiah, ’13, plays varying roles, including a teacher who fails miserably to communicate with the abusive mother, prompting one of Miss Witherspoon’s many deaths.

“At first, the thought of suicide made me skeptical,” Magratten said, “but the play has come together nicely, and I am excited to see how the audience reacts.”

By Nick Veronesi

Raymond L. Dominici

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Raymond L. Dominici, 93, died early Thursday in his home at 60 Highland Street of natural causes and surrounded by his family. The lifelong Milford resident is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Lydia F. (Coelho) Dominici, and three daughters; Debora Letourneau and her husband Gary of Milford, Amy Dominici of Milford and Denise Mello and her husband Russell of Mattapoisett. He had six grandchildren; Christopher Letourneau and his wife Jennifer of Milford, Adam Letourneau and his wife Jessica of Attleboro, Lee Anne and Haley Smith, and Taylor and Olivia Mello. He also had three great-grandchildren; Matthew and Samuel Letourneau and Collin Brennan, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Born March 7, 1919, Mr. Dominici was one of six children of Luigi and Lucia (Bacchiochi) Dominici. He graduated from Milford High School in 1937, became a machinist and later worked at the former Data General Corporation until his retirement in 1984. He was a talented musician, a saxophonist and band leader who played on weekends throughout the Metro West area for more than 50 years. A proud Marchegiano and member of the Nipmuc Rod and Gun Club, Mr. Dominici also enjoyed archery and hunting for pheasants, rabbits and deer. He loved to cook, and he was a member of the Italian Vets, where he was a longtime bocce captain.

Mr. Dominici was well-known and respected throughout the Milford community, a staunch Democrat and talented carpenter.  One of his greatest passions was baseball and the Boston Red Sox, who he supported through good times and bad his entire life. Some of his favorite players were Dom DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Nomar Garciaparra and Dustin Pedroia, and he finally was rewarded for his loyalty with World Series championships in 2004 and 2007.

His funeral will be held Monday, March 4, at 9 a.m. from the Consigli-Ruggerio Funeral Home at 46 Water St. in Milford. The mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Milford, where Mr. Dominici and his wife were longtime parishioners.

Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s cemetery on Cedar St. in Milford.

Calling hours are Sunday from 4-8 p.m.

Saccone Places Third in All-State Hurdles

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The All-State track meet is one of the biggest of the season; the state’s top 24 athletes in each event race against each other to decide the state champion for the indoor season. Old Rochester had several outstanding performances in the meet, including senior Ally Saccone, who once again proved her capability to compete on a state level.

Saccone placed third in the girls’ 55 meter hurdles and seventh in the long jump in a great day for the senior. In the preliminaries for the girls’ hurdles, Saccone placed seventh, running an 8.70. Although not her best time, it served its purpose as she was able to advance to the finals. In the finals, she cut off .2 seconds, a considerable amount of time for such a short distance, to place third overall with an 8.50. She was only edged out by Emily Dawidcyzk of Oxford and Melissa Isidor of New Bedford.

Saccone did not stop there. Right after her hurdle finals, she ran in the 55 meter dash, where she placed 13th with a time of 7.56 seconds. She then proceeded to jump 16 feet, 6 inches to take seventh in a talented long-jump field.

Although Saccone had a phenomenal day, she was not the only one from the Bulldogs track team to impress. Junior Mike Wyman, who was seeded 20th in the 1,000 meter run, was forced to run in the unseeded section of the event, where the slower times were. Despite this major setback, Wyman was still able to come in 5th place with a stellar time of 2:33.

Senior Dan Donohue also ran well, placing 11th in the 300 meter dash, running the quick race in 36.45 seconds. Donohue then joined up with senior Kevin Noone, junior Colin Knapton, and sophomore Kevin Saccone to run the 4×200 meter relay, where they placed 14th with a 1:34.47, once again breaking the school record for the event. Senior Aaron Holick, who just sneaked into the All-State meet as the final qualifier in the shot-put, also competed, placing 24th with a throw of 43 feet, 10.25 inches.

This essentially concludes the indoor track and field season for Old Rochester. Because of her third place finish, Saccone will be advancing to the New England meet, and Wyman could also have a chance of advancing due to this excellent time. Saccone, Wyman and the boys’ 4×200 meter relay will also be competing at the New Balance Indoor National meet in early March.

By Michael Kassabian

How Much will It Cost?

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To the Editor:

Reporting by several media publications of the Marion February 19 Selectmen’s meeting needs clarification. The CDM Smith PowerPoint presentation of the Marion Village Project for sewer, drainage and paving failed to consider misleading cost projections that I pointed out at the Selectmen’s meeting. The $18.4 million cost projection over the Project’s estimated 10-year life made by CDM Smith is not correct. The project is phased in five parts: Phase 1A, $5.2 million; Phase 1B, $4.6 million; Phase 2, $3.9 million; Phase 3, $3.2 million and Phase 4, $3.5 million. The estimated cost of the project is thus $20.4 million. There is $2 million in state grant money. The $2 million in grant money is a mealy a [sic] source of project funding. These grants do not reduce the cost of the project. Likewise, the Town Administrator misrepresented the project costs savings as $9 million. He, too, included the $2 million in grant money. The cost savings is only about $7 million, not $9 million.

These cost savings are base-lined against CDM’s cost analysis, made last year, of $27 million for this project. At that time, Marion’s Finance Committee properly said “no way.” Last year’s $27 million cost estimate contained a very significant cost contingency factor. How do you reduce cost? You do so in part by reducing the amount of the contingency. These are very soft dollar estimates. We were not told by CDM what is in the $248,000 Contingency for Phase 1A or what is in the $841,000 given for Other Town Costs for Phase 1A shown in the their PowerPoint report.

Also looking at the CDM presentation, it’s clear the estimated CDM fee for this project is approximately 20 percent of the constriction costs. This cost is euphemistically classified as Engineering Services. For project Phase 1 A, this cost is stated as $581,000. The higher the construction costs, the higher the CDM fee. Over the 10-year life of the project, it looks as if this fee will range in the $4 million area.

I would encourage Marion taxpayers to attend the public meeting on this project March 7, look at the project and ask some hard questions. From my view of the world, this project is over-engineered, full of bloat and not well-vetted. Is the Village Sewer, drainage and paving necessary? In some form, absolutely yes, no doubt about it in my mind. Is the Village Project acceptable with the current projected engineering and cost? My answer would be no. If this makes Marion taxpayers a bit skeptical, it should. It makes me very skeptical of the administration’s ability to properly scope and control consulting engineers and costs. We are looking at big dollars in capital spending and we in Marion better get it right.

At this point, we have an over-built elementary school and police station. Current Marion debt is about $45 million and another estimated $12 million (mine) in unfunded benefit obligations. There are approximately 2,400 taxpayers to pay this debt, interest plus new debt to pay for all of this “new stuff.” Do the per taxpayer math!

At the Spring Town Meeting, voters will be looking at approving the first phase of this project reported by CDM in its PowerPoint presentation as $5.2 million. Note, however, the Town will apply $1.3 million of $2 million of grant money, so it makes it look as if the project is only going to cost $3.9 million. Not so! The $3.9 million is the balance of what the Town needs to finance of the $5.2 million cost of Phase 1A, which will probably be by the issuance of long term debt.

Also consider that the fire department has a very expensive new fire truck on the horizon and then what and when are we going spend on the Town House before it falls down. ($5 to $8 million?) These costs are all coming down the line, plus may others. The Town warrant has yet to be settled as to what is on or not on it for Spring Town Meeting approval. It’s going to be a warrant not like the ones in recent years that I know.

Ted North, Marion 

ORR Athletic Booster Club Phonathon

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For the past nine years, the Old Rochester Regional Athletic Booster Club has sponsored a phonathon to help ORR student-athletes raise funds to support the high school’s athletic programs; because of the generous support of the Tri-Town community, this annual event has been a tremendous success. This year’s ORR Athletic Booster Club Phonathon will take place during eight evenings between March 4 and March 19 when student-athletes will call area residents to request a pledge of support for ORR athletics.

The ORR Athletic Booster Club was organized in 2004 for the purpose of supporting all of the athletic teams at ORRHS. Its mission is to encourage interest in and provide financial support to all ORR interscholastic athletic teams and to recognize and reward teams and student-athletes. The club promotes several events each year to raise funds for athletic equipment, uniforms, teamwear, awards and scholarships for graduating student-athletes. Funds raised by the Booster Club have been used to enhance the school’s athletic facilities and to purchase equipment for use by ORR teams. Some of the Booster Club’s recent projects include the purchase of medical equipment for the school’s athletic trainer, the “Bulldog Snack Shack” concessions trailer, new elliptical machines for the school’s strength and fitness center, and the installation of new award display cases next to the gymnasium. Since its inception, the Booster Club has raised over $300,000 to benefit ORR athletics.

Over 60 percent of ORR’s nearly 700 students participate in athletics, and the Bulldogs have achieved great success in many sports. ORR now has 24 varsity level sports after adding lacrosse to its athletic program two years ago and swimming this year. ORRHS is a four-time winner of the Boston Globe’s prestigious Dalton Award as the Division 3 high school with the highest overall winning percentage in the entire state and was once again named the South Coast Conference overall champion last year based on the combined records of all teams. This tradition of athletic excellence is a result of the athletes’ hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm and the Athletic Booster Club is proud to support them. ORR’s student-athletes hope that the residents of the Tri-Town will continue their generous support of Bulldog Athletics.

For more information, please visit the ORR Athletic Booster Club’s website at www.orrathleticboosters.com, or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/ORRABC and on Twitter at @ORRABC.

Educational Insights

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To the Editor:

If you have been reading my previous letters on current educational practices, you may be asking: why does she care so much? Yes, I have retired from a successful and rewarding teaching career. My own children have been out of school for many years. The answer to why I care so much is that I want every school to provide every child with the best and most inspiring learning experience possible; further, that I am deeply concerned about the dismantling of an excellent school system, the Old Rochester Regional District, in order to follow the misguided educational trends that emphasize data collection, standardized test scores, common assessments, school ratings, a narrowed and uninspiring curriculum, and a teach-to-the-test mentality over the good of the students in the classroom. As I have emphasized several times previously, children go through school only once.

My purpose in writing this and the previous seven letters has been to encourage parents, teachers, students, taxpayers and community members to ask questions of the administrators and the School Committee members. An additional purpose has been to ask everyone concerned to educate themselves on the detrimental effects of this emphasis on standardized testing and data collection. Other districts, other states, other parents, other teachers have begun to speak out against and move against these damaging trends, while the Old Rochester Regional District becomes more and more entrenched in these practices, particularly in the hands of the current Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, who clearly is only interested in data and assessment and puts little focus on instruction, which is what good teaching and learning is all about. One of my former colleagues, an excellent teacher herself, has often said to me, “When are we [the district] going to work on instruction? All we ever talk about is assessment.” The current School Committee members have not involved themselves in educational practices; as long as the Assistant Superintendent tells them the scores will go up, they fully support her and praise her efforts. The School Committees are elected to represent all of us in this very important area of public life — education. School Committee members focus on budget and scores. They cannot appropriately and effectively represent us if they do not educate themselves on the subject of learning and what is good for children.

School Committee members and all of us who care about public education need to read on the subject, do research and question. Many sources are easily accessible and more research appears every day.

Another area of great concern is the district’s overreliance on Pearson as a provider of assessment materials, computerized learning, textbooks, curriculum and professional development. Pearson is not in the business of improving education and inspiring students to learn and grow. Pearson is a corporation that is in the business of making money for its investors, a fact that a little research will reveal. Pearson’s opening page may be titled “Always Learning,” but the first items noted at the top of the page are the current stock values for their investors, both in the U.K. and in the U.S. Pearson, by the way, is a company based in London in the U.K. and also is the publisher of the Financial Times. One of the first topics on the website page is titled Investors. Click on Investors, and you will find an article with the following title and subtitle: “Introducing Pearson Catalyst, the edtech incubator programme for startups: World’s leading learning company to help education startups jumpstart their companies and break through on a global scale.”

The item includes this paragraph: “The Pearson Catalyst incubator program is looking for dynamic, technology-centric, startup teams with a mix of talent, that have been up and running for less than three years and who have viable products that are ready for launch in the market. The ideal startup companies will have a product or products that complement or enhance a Pearson brand. Pearson Catalyst will incubate and accelerate up to ten teams of founders for at least three-months starting in mid-April. Startups will work and be based out of their existing offices, with the potential to meet at Pearson offices as well.”

Let us ask ourselves, “Is this education or business?” Our current Assistant Superintendent appears to be enamored of Pearson and their products.

Please explore Pearson at www.pearson.com. Since you are reading this in print, you will not be able to use this as a link, but you can type in the address or email me at tpdall9@yahoo.com, and I can send you the link digitally, as well as attachments of any of my previous letters that you would like to read. This also applies to the other websites that I am including in today’s letter.

I have had many community members, parents and former students approach me with positive comments about my letters and requests to keep at it, because someone needs to speak out. Many emails have complimented my desire to bring these issues to the forefront. What I hope will result from this interest is that everyone will do some research and reading and will contact their School Committees with questions and concerns. The School Committees are not only charged with monitoring the schools’ budgets, but they are more importantly charged with assuring that our students have the best possible learning experience.

I will write more in another letter about other school districts and universities that are questioning the data and testing that is so rampant in education, but here are some significant ones for now. The following two addresses will lead you to information on New Paltz, New York, where the school board has proclaimed its objections in a resolution. This is a brief quote from the resolution:

            “WHEREAS, the overreliance on high-stakes standardized testing in state and federal accountability systems is undermining educational quality and equity in U.S. public schools by hampering educators’ efforts to focus on the broad range of learning experiences that promote the innovation, creativity, problem solving, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and deep subject-matter knowledge that will allow students to thrive in a democracy and an increasingly global society and economy;”

Please read the entire resolution. Also, the second of the two articles talks about Pearson as well as the testing.

www.rethinkingtestingmidhudson.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-paltz-school-board-unanimously. html

www.rethinkingtestingmidhudson.blogspot.com/2013/02/cuomo-common-core-and-pearson-for-profit.html

In addition, please check out the position of the Seattle teachers and their resistance to the overuse of standardized testing, as well as parents opting out of testing and high school students boycotting the tests in support of their teachers. In a recent display of resistance at Garfield High School on a day when the MAP tests were to be given, the statistics show the following:

• 810 tests should have happened (both math and reading with some students taking both but not all)
• 184 tests did happen
• 104 tests were invalid due to students rushing through the test
• 273 students had been opted out
• 170 students refused to test
• 7 students did not test due to absences

One more recommendation for some significant, revealing and thought-provoking reading will suffice for today:

www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answersheet/wp/2013/02/22/massachusetts-professors-protest-high-stakes-standardized-tests

On The Washington Post website is a piece with the headline: “Massachusetts professors protest high-stakes standardized tests.”

The article begins: “A coalition of more than 130 Massachusetts professors and researchers from some 20 schools — including Harvard, Tufts, Boston and Brandeis universities — signed a new public statement that urges officials to stop overusing high-stakes standardized tests to assess students, teachers and schools.

The statement — also signed by academics from the University of Massachusetts, Clark University, Boston College, Lesley College and other schools — is the latest effort in a revolt against high-stakes testing that has spread from coast to coast. Students are opting out of taking standardized tests, teachers are refusing to administer them and some superintendents are criticizing the standardized test-based accountability systems passed in various states with the support of school reformers.”

I include a brief excerpt from the research results: “Negative impact on curriculum and instruction. Surveys of teachers in Massachusetts (Abrams et al., 2003; Clarke et al., 2003) and nationally (McMurrer, 2007; Moon et al., 2003; Hinde, 2003) show a marked increase in teaching to the test and narrowing the curriculum to tested subjects as a result of high-stakes testing. In addition, research compiled by the NRC and others shows this comes with a negative impact on school climate, often creating an environment of intimidation, fear, anxiety and stress for both teachers and their students, including kindergarten children (Hout & Elliott, 2011). Further, investigators of the Atlanta cheating scandal identified high-stakes testing as a cause of the problem (Georgia Bureau of Investigation, 2011). Under such conditions, it becomes difficult for teachers to create a learning environment that promotes creativity, critical thinking, risk-taking, experimentation and a love of learning. Moreover, as with other negative consequences, there is a disparate impact: teaching to the test, curricular narrowing and damaging school climates more frequently affect low income and minority students.”

Why should the Old Rochester Regional District administration be investing time, effort, money in following trends that diminish the quality of the educational experiences for our students, when, in so many places, thinking people are calling a halt to the data-driven, narrowed curriculum approach? Old Rochester had once been in forefront of education. What now?

Thank you for reading. Please take advantage of the information available, and please remember that the School Committee members are representatives and should hear from their constituents. As always, if you would like to contact, email me with comments or questions at tpdall9@yahoo.com.

Teresa Dall, Mattapoisett

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

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The Rochester Congregational Church on the Green will hold a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner on Sunday, March 10 at 4:00 pm. The corned beef and cabbage dinner is a fundraiser for repairs to the church roof. Tiffany Rozena will be entertaining with Irish fiddle music at 4:00 pm. The price for dinner, including Irish soda bread and delicious homemade desserts, is $14. Doors open at 3:30 pm. Call the church office at 508-763-4314 by March 7 for tickets.

Gateway Youth Hockey Update

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The Gateway Ice Wolves played two games on Sunday. In the first game, they stayed undefeated in the Yankee Conference by beating the GYH Ireland team 6-4. It was their closest game of the season thus far. In the second game, they lost for the first time since January 12, 2-0. Ironically, the loss came to the same team, YD.

Despite dropping the first two games of their tournament last week, the Pee Wee Gladiators closed out the Cranberry Tournament at Hobomock Arenas by skating to a 5-5 tie with the previously perfect Coastal Stars. The Gladiators’ unrelenting effort played spoiler to the Stars’ hopes for a perfect tournament run. The Gladiators drew first blood on a Zack Lovendale goal assisted by Quirino DoCanto. Lovendale notched two more tallies in the second period, earning himself the hat trick. Despite Zack’s offensive effort, the Gladiators found themselves down 5-3 with 90 seconds left to play. With goalie Steven Strachan replaced by the extra skater, DoCanto found the back of the net with 37 seconds remaining in the game. The Gladiator coaches continued their gamble by risking the open net in favor of the sixth skater for the game’s final center-ice face-off. With risk came reward, as DoCanto led a final drive to the net with merely five ticks left on the clock. A melee ensued in front of the Stars goalie and when the ice shavings settled, it was Tyler Lovendale getting credit for the game-tying goal in the last second of the game. DoCanto finished with three points, as did both Lovendale brothers. Jared Westgate also added an assist. Coleby Paling’s strong defensive effort was recognized by each of his coaches, as he led all Gladiators in time on ice.

Later on in the week, the Gladiators went 0 for 2 in Martha’s Vineyard. Despite a strong team effort, the players couldn’t stop the barrage of shots that went at their goalies throughout both games. But they will have to solve the riddle of the Islanders soon enough as the Gladiators will likely draw Martha’s Vineyard in the first round of the playoffs to start March 9.

Gateway Bantams battled it out on Saturday night in Pembroke against the Eagles and, despite two periods of sluggishness, in the third period they finally came to life to pull off the win with a 3-1 victory. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Then, early in the second period, the Eagles sent one by Gateway goal tender A.J. Bridges, putting them up by one. Late in the second period, Will Paling snuck one by to tie it up for Gateway. The final period brought Gateway alive with great passing and back-checking. Many shots on the net were deflected by the Eagle goalie as Gateway kept hammering away with slap shots. On a power play, Mat St. John went from behind his net, skated the puck down the ice, and put Gateway up by two. A nice play set up by Brian Holmes with a great pass to Brady Smith, who slammed it in the net, gave Gateway the edge they needed. After pulling their goalie, Sean Kelso just missed an open net by inches. Tegan Andre, taking over for A.J. Bridges had a flawless period and a half in goal. The win places Gateway in third place in the Yankee Conference and qualifies them for playoffs.

Seeking Freedom

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In 1863, the Third Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia was stationed at Fort Monroe in Virginia. That year, President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, an order that required the army to treat anyone enslaved in Confederate territories as free persons.

Soldiers at Fort Monroe were already used to dealing with slaves seeking freedom. In 1861, General Benjamin Butler of Massachusetts declared that any slaves escaping to Union lines would not be returned to slavery. General Butler was not exactly freeing slaves. He considered them contraband of war. However, many slaves considered it freedom and began to head toward Fort Monroe. The fort soon became known as “Freedom’s Fortress.”

Sometime between 1861, when General Butler issued his orders on dealing with escaped slaves, and 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, a slave named William Scott began working as an assistant cook with the Third Regiment.

William was born into slavery around 1822 in Virginia. He was enslaved in Hicksford by a man named Nathaniel Land. At some point, William was sold to a man named George Gray of Windsor, North Carolina.

By 1850, George Gray owned five human beings ranging in age from 20 to 80 years old. 10 years later, Gray owned even more people, 17 in all. The youngest was six years old. It is presumed that Gray lost his slaves to freedom around 1863, including William Scott. In 1869, Gray’s wife, Helen Land, died and Gray died 10 years later. The inscription on his stone in Rose Field Cemetery in Windsor reads: “In memory of George Gray. The righteous hath hope in his death.”

While a slave under George Gray, William became involved with a slave woman named Priscilla Collins. Priscilla had been married to another slave and had children. While slave marriages held no legal standing under local or federal law, enslaved humans married out of tradition, the belief in the importance of family and, of course, love.

However, slave marriages could be broken at anytime. A slave owner could decide to sell a slave who was married while the spouse stayed behind. Children of a slave couple could be sold as well. Families were often ripped apart to never see one another again.

Priscilla was born into slavery around 1805 and was owned by a local lawyer, James Allen. Among Allen’s possessions that sold at his estate sale after he died in the late 1840s were six Waverly novels, five tea spoons and “1 black man to Dr. Bond.”

Priscilla was sent to live with lawyer Allen’s son, Thomas. It is possible that at this point, Priscilla and her husband were separated or her husband died. Later, Priscilla and William would meet and they would marry.

However, the circumstances of the war would force them apart, but not forever. While William was working as the assistant cook for the Third Regiment, he headed north with a company that was made up mostly of men from Lynn, Mass. It is unclear why he didn’t travel back to Lynn with the company. Instead, he ended up in Mattapoisett.

William evidently became popular in Mattapoisett. The whereabouts of Priscilla were either known by William or a group of people who befriended him in Mattapoisett and tracked Priscilla down. In 1868, she was brought north to be reunited with William.

In June, William and Priscilla were married on Mechanic Street at a house that had been “fitted for their use.” At the time, this was the only house on the west side of the street from County Road to Church Street besides a school house that sat on the corner of Church and Mechanic Streets.

In attendance were 75 of their friends “representing all classes” who had made the arrangements for the couple to marry. William and Priscilla received many gifts which were described as “new, useful and entertaining.” The evening of their wedding was spent at their home with their friends singing songs and celebrating.

William went to work as a farmhand and by 1880, Priscilla’s 13-year-old granddaughter, Delia Allen, was living with them as a family.

Five years later, Priscilla would become sick and die. Her cause of death was listed as enlargement of her liver. She had survived slavery, become a free woman and lived to be around 80 years old. William was now living alone. Delia was living in New Bedford, possibly with a family as their servant. However, in 1889, she too became ill and died of a consumption-related illness.

William continued to live in his Mechanic Street home for the next couple of decades, working as a laborer. In early November, 1912, he became ill. He was in his 90s working as a gardener but time was taking its toll and his heart was failing. On December 12, 1912, William died in at home.

He was laid to rest in Cushing Cemetery, his headstone noting his origin as a slave. Nearby are the graves of Priscilla and Delia, forever reunited with his family.

Be sure to view the interactive map based on this article on The Wanderer home page

By Kyle DeCicco-Carey