Boys’ Track Comes in Close Second

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It was so close, but the Old Rochester boys’ track team came in second place at the Division 4 state track meet, just getting edged out by Newburyport by a mere 2 points. Several athletes had fantastic runs, but it would not be entirely enough to give the Bulldogs their first ever indoor-track state championship.

Sophomore hurdler Kevin Saccone started things off strong for the Bulldogs, where he exceeded his projected seed by two places to take fourth in the 55-meter hurdles in 8.44 seconds. Senior shot-putter Aaron Holick also surpassed his projected seed, taking fifth place with a massive heave of 47 feet, 4 inches.

Next came senior Nick Pacheco, who placed sixth in the mile with a 4:38, three seconds off of his personal best. Junior standout Mike Wyman won the 1000 meter run, blowing away the field with a time of 2:36. Dan Donohue came in a close second in the 300 meter dash, where he ran a 36.1. Since both Donohue and Wyman placed in the top 3 in their respective events, they will advance to the All-State meet next Saturday, where the best athletes in the state will be competing.

At the conclusion of the last individual event, the 2 mile, the Bulldogs had a slight lead over the Newburyport Clippers and the projected winners, Weston High School. The meet was so close that the relays would determine the champions.

The 4×200 meter relay was a thrilling race to watch. The Old Rochester squad of Kevin Saccone, Dan Donohue, Colin Knapton, and Kevin Noone won a tight race against Weston with a phenomenal time of 1:34.54. This time not only qualified the team for the All-State meet, but it also set a new school record for the event. The 4×800 meter relay was equally exciting, but Old Rochester’s Fred Murolo, Connor Medeiros-Sweet, Nick Pacheco, and Michael Kassabian could only muster an 8:51, good enough for 7th place.

Going into the final event, the 4×400 meter relay, Old Rochester and Newburyport were tied with 42 points apiece, with Weston in third place, trailing by 5 points. Each of the top three teams were in different heats, which made it hard for the teams to judge where they had to be to clinch the win for their team. Fred Murolo, Kevin Noone, Peter Krause, and Chris Demers each ran phenomenal times, but would lose to Newburyport’s relay team by a mere 2 seconds, giving the Clippers a fifth place to the Bulldogs seventh place. With this decisive race, the Newburyport Clippers clinched their second consecutive Division 4 title.

Despite the oh-so-close ending, the Bulldogs had a fantastic day, full of school records, All-State qualifications, personal bests, and a 2nd place overall finish.

By Michael Kassabian

Phoenix Crew Club Trivia Night

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On Thursday, February 28 at 6:30 pm, the Phoenix Crew Club will hold a Trivia Night at the Celtic Restaurant and Pub at 42 North Water Street in Downtown New Bedford. All money raised will benefit the team. All are welcome to join the fun and to form a team! The cost is $10 per person and teams of six or less can participate. Please come out and support this amazing group of kids and compete for prizes and bragging rights! For more information, contact Janice Foley at 617-823-5555 or janifoley@verizon.net.

Cat and Dog Rabies Clinic

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A Cat and Dog Rabies Clinic will be held on Sunday, March 3 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Fire State on Route 6. The clinic is open to residents in all towns. The fee is $12 per animal. Licensing will also be available for Mattapoisett residents at a price of $12 per animal and $9 per animal that is spayed or neutered. All dogs must be properly restrained. All dogs must be leashed and all cats in carriers. For more information, call the Mattapoisett Board of Health at 508-758-4100, ext. 8.

David Kane to Perform at K of C

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Join the Knights of Columbus for dinner and a special evening of entertainment on Saturday, February 23 from 5:30 to 9:30 pm featuring the comedy of local radio Rhode Island personality, David Kane. Doors at the K of C Hall in Mattapoisett will open at 5:30 pm for a community social hour and cash bar followed by a Chicken Parmesan dinner at 6:30 pm and show to follow. Dinner includes chicken parmesan, salad, garlic bread, coffee and dessert.

Kane, who describes his humor as “schticky stuff,” is promising lots of fun in a show that mixes stand-up comedy with interactive games with audience members. “We try to make it a good time and have everyone leave with a good feeling,” he says.

Kane has been a radio personality as well as performer in the Rhode Island area for most of his life. He lives in Johnston. Kane is well-known regionally for creating the character of Father Misgivings, an Irish Catholic priest. In this one man play, which Kane describes as featuring “blessings, Blarney, belly laughs and Bingo,” the character of Father Misgivings tells stories and relates his views about the idiosyncrasies of growing up and living life as a Roman Catholic.

Tickets are $20 each and can be reserved by calling Clay King at 508-758-6401 or Jim Alfres at 508-863-3496.  The proceeds are to benefit Knights of Columbus local charities.

One Person Caucus in Rochester

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Carol St. Don, the Chairman for the Democratic Committee for the town of Rochester, was the only person to register at the Democratic Caucus held at the Rochester Town Hall Saturday morning.

The purpose of the caucus was to elect two delegates and one alternate to represent the town at the 2013 Massachusetts Democratic Convention.  The caucus was open to all registered Democrats in the town of Rochester.

“You get a chance to vote and represent the town,” said St. Don, who has attended past conventions.  “You vote on who you want to run for office.”

The Democratic Convention will be held on July 13 in Lowell.

By Nick Walecka

Tall Tales of Mattapoisett

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Does your imagination ruin away with you? Are your favorite stories the ones that seem the most outrageous and silly? If that is you, come join the Mattapoisett Historical Society and the Mattapoisett Free Public Library for a morning of Tall Tales on Thursday, February 21 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. Learn what makes a really good Tall Tale. Listen to some of the American classic Tall Tales. Then get silly and outrageous with us as we write and illustrate Mattapoisett’s very own Tall Tale! The Tall Tale created will be bound into a book to be held in the Children’s Section of the Library for all to see and enjoy. For children in grades 2 – 4, limited to 10 children, registration required. Please call 508-758-4171 to register. The program will be held in the Children’s Section of the Library at 7 Barstow Street.

Sippican School Kindergarten Registration

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Children who will be five years of age by August 31, 2013 and reside in Marion are eligible to enroll in Kindergarten. Kindergarten Registration will be held at Sippican School on Thursday, March 21 from 9:30 to 10:30 am and from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

During these times, registration forms will be processed and new parents will have the opportunity to meet with our Principal and Nurse. A copy of each student’s updated immunization record must be submitted at the time of registration. Records should include verification of lead screening, Hepatitis B vaccination and other immunizations.

An original birth certificate for each student must be presented to be photocopied. Proof of residency requirements must also be met. Three verifications of home address (e.g. copy of lease or real estate tax bill, vehicle registration, driver’s license, current electric, cable or gas bill) are required.

Information and forms will be mailed by Friday, February 14 to the parents of all prospective kindergarteners. Any parent not receiving this information should call Cathy Caramanica at Sippican School at 508-748-0100, ext. 316.

ORRJHS Students of the Month

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Kevin Brogioli, Principal of Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, announces the following Students of the Month for January 2013.

• Green Team: Kathleen Gifford and Will Hopkins

• Blue Team:  Erin Taylor and Jesse Gilmore

• Orange Team: Mary Roussell and Aiden McEnroe

• Red Team: Nicole Pires and Trevor Stopka

• Special Areas: Haleydawn Amato and Jonathan Harris

Peter Monteiro, Jr.

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Peter Monteiro, Jr., 89, of Marion died Monday, February 11, 2013 at his home unexpectedly.  He was the husband of Elizabeth (Santos) Monteiro.

Born in Taunton, he was the son of the late Mary (Gomes) and Peter Monteiro, Sr.  He has lived in Marion for many years.

Mr. Monteiro served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later was a civilian truck driver at OTIS Air Force Base for many years.  He was a communicant of St. Rita’s Church in Marion and was a member of the Benjamin D. Cushing V.F.W. Post in Marion.

Survivors include his wife; his daughter, Betty Ann Washington of Chelsea; two sons, David Monteiro of Revere and Douglas Monteiro of Plymouth and three grandchildren.

His funeral will be from the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., (Rt. 28), Wareham on Fri., Feb. 15 at 9:00 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Rita’s Church, Front St., Marion at 10:00 AM.  Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Marion.  Visiting hours will be Thurs. from 5 – 8 PM.

For directions and on-line guestbook visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com

 

Mid-Week Fundraiser: ORRHS Talent Show

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On Wednesday, February 6, the high school auditorium held the Second Annual ORRHS Talent Show. The Class of 2013 founded it last year as a benefit for their junior year. It served the Class of 2013 well for their senior year with 15 acts and a heavy turnout for the mid-week fundraiser. All proceeds from the Talent Show itself went toward the senior class, while the profit from concessions went toward the juniors.

Four well-known teachers served as the judges for the night: Mrs. Graser from the Science wing, Mrs. Guilbert from the Math wing, Mr. White from the History wing and Mrs. Morrell from the English wing. At the end of the show, their combined votes would be the deciding factor on the two acts to take home first and second place.

The show opened with two of the night’s three hosts, Abby Hiller and Erin Murphy, introducing the event and sending words of gratitude to the judges for participating and to Mr. Sardinha for his help in making the show happen and run smoothly.

As the hosts exited the stage, the first act of the night opened with a profound rendition of Radiohead’s thought-provoking “No Surprises.” Junior Justin Smilan took the lead vocals with his accompanying acoustic guitar, junior Mathew Pereira backed up on bass guitar, junior Jared Tyndall played electric guitar and sophomore Hannah Cormier performed on drums.

The second act of the night took a lighter note with a song dedication to well-known student Timothy Gonsalves. The act was senior Sophia Santos singing “Kiss Me,” by The Cranberries, accompanied by senior Daniel Donahue. After her turn in the spotlight, Santos joined Hiller and Murphy as the third host of the evening.

A cover of “Boat Song,” by J.J. Heller, was brought to the crowd as the third act of the night.  It was sung by freshman vocalist Holly Frink, who was accompanied by freshman Abbi Morrill on guitar.

With a break from vocal numbers, sophomore Angela Weigal danced to the upbeat and saucy “Fever,” by Peggy Lee.

The crowd was entertained next with freshman Natasha Shorrock’s stand-up comedy act. Her refreshing jokes got the crowd laughing but really won them over when she dedicated her act to her friend Sarah, who was in the hospital.

Next, sophomore Alex Carr sang and played guitar to the timeless “Wonderwall,” by Oasis. The crowd was clapping happily along to the beat (albeit very offbeat as crowd-clapping usually goes) by the middle of the song.

As the last act before intermission, cousins Katrina and Evelyn Farias sang a duet of “More Than This,” by the current British pop sensation One Direction.

After a short intermission, the show resumed with sophomore Amy Bichajian performing a poetic ballet number to Ingrid Michaelson’s “Keep Breathing.”

Seniors Katie Kiernan and Maxwell Houck performed a crowd-pleasing duet cover of Bonnie Raitt’s touching “I Can’t Make You Love Me” with Kiernan on vocals and Houck on guitar and vocals.

The grand piano was pulled out next for last year’s runner-up, senior Fred Murolo. He dedicated the original song to judge Mrs. Guilbert and informed the crowd that it had taken him two hours to write the song.

Next, junior Natalie Martin, a previous contestant on the TV show “X-Factor,” sang to the crowd an a cappella version of “Beautiful Disaster” by Kelly Clarkson.

Last year’s talent show winner, Evan Lacombe, danced to the well-known Civil War-era tune “Johnny Come Marching Home.”

Junior Troy Rood serenaded the crowd with “Stars” from the ever-popular musical “Les Miserables” in the thirteenth act of the night.

Senior Nick Mathieu poured his heart out to the crowd with singing Gavin DeGraw’s “Soldier.”

Murolo and Houck took to the stage once more in the fifteenth and last act of the night. Murolo played piano and Houck sang to “100 Years,” by Five for Fighting. Murolo made a shout-out to fellow senior Aaron Holick and Houck invited the crowd to sing along to the well-known tune.

Finally, all contestants were off the stage and the judges went to deliberate in the lobby. In a fit of nostalgia, the three hosts united the crowd into a Backstreet Boys sing-along until the judges could make their decision.

When the judges returned, all contestants were brought onstage and the winners announced. Lacombe took home the runner’s up spot for his breathtaking dancing abilities and Murolo swept the first place title with his original piano composition. Embraces and celebrating continued onstage as the hosts said their final farewells, marking the end of the night.

By Jessica Correia