The weather held out so that the Witches from the Marion Art Center were able to host the Annual Halloween Parade in Marion! A grand time was had by all, Happy Halloween!
Mattapoisett Man Arrested for Cocaine
As a resut of a narcotics investigation, the Mattapoisett Police Department executed two search warrants resulting in the arrest of Jason Pina, 38, of 91 Fairhaven Rd. in Mattapoisett.
During the investigation, Narcotics Officers from Mattapoisett, Fairhaven Police Detectives and members of the Bristol County South COast Anti-Crime Task Force (SCAT) observed Pina engage in multiple hand-to-hand drug transactions.
On October 26 at approximately 6:00 pm, that Mattapoisett Police and members of the task force observed Pina conduct a drug transaction from his vehicle. Pina was then stopped by the task force on Route 6 in Mattapoisett less than one mile from his house.
Following the search of the vehicle, officers immediately proceeded to Pina’s residence. As a result of the search of the residence and vehicle, officers located six grams of cocaine packaged for resale, drug paraphenelia, scales, packaaging material and cutting agents used to increase the amount of cocaince for resale. In addition, officers seized US currency from the proceeds of drug sales and a GMC truck.
Pina was placed under arrest and charged with posession of a Class B controlled substance with the intent to distribute subsequent offense and posession of a Class E substance.
Any persons with information concerning drug activity can remain anonymous and is encouraged to contact the Mattapoisett Police Department at 508-758-4141 ext. 209 or 212.
Rochester Resident Wins Scholarship
The Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists (M.O.S.E.S.) bestowed Rochester resident Kyle Cassidy, son of Department of Transportation member Keven Cassidy, with a Scholarship Trust Award at its recent monthly meeting.
Cassidy is a student at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, working toward a Masters of Science in Marine Sciences & Technology. M.O.S.E.S. – representing 39 different Massachusetts agencies – is a group of 3,400 professional scientists and engineers working each day to keep the Commonwealth’s citizens, their air, water & food supplies, the energy that they depend on, the environment that they live and recreate in and the infrastructure that they travel on safe.
Its Goodwill committee allocates and distributes more than $12,500 annually to support the advanced education of its members and their immediate family.
Scarecrows Spook Mattapoisett Library
On Saturday, October 27, the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library held their annual kids’ scarecrow contest. Local children were invited to create their own signature scarecrows and were judged at a mini-competition outside the library.
This year there were seven entries in the contest. Congratulations to the following winners:
•“Best Dressed” award went to Luke Couto for his “Star Wars” themed scarecrow
•”Scariest” award went to Sophia and Marina Martins for their bug-eyed Rastafarian scarecrow.
•”Most Original” award was given to Alexandra Macallister for her scarecrow frog.
•”Most Classic” award was presented to Reagan and Matthew Rock for their traditional, bandana-wearing scarecrow.
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- “Frog” by Alexandra Macallister
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- Reagan and Matthew Rock
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- Sophia and Marina Martins
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- “B Werewolf” by the Dupre family
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- Star Wars by Luke Couto
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- Candystriper” by Charlotte Cole
The Mysterious Death of Thomas Randall
The gravediggers worked hard digging through the cold February ground. The corpse had been buried for seven days during the dead of winter of 1841. Hopefully, the smell would not be as bad.
Rumors had begun to circulate in the days after the death of Thomas Randall. His death had come “by unfair means,” it was said. Unfair, presumably meaning he was murdered.
He was 43 years old and was eating dinner with his family when he fell back in his chair, began gasping for air and turned black in the face. He was known as an “intemperate man” and may have been drinking at the time. Before anyone could help him, if help was even attempted, he died.
It had snowed about six inches on February 1, the day after his death. The Reverend Thomas Robbins noted he attended a funeral the next day of the “drinking man who had died suddenly.” He was buried at the “Mattapoisett Cemetery” after the funeral.
Thomas Randall married Maribah Parlow on June 18, 1820 in Rochester. They had five children between 1821 and 1832, all girls. Perhaps it was because Mr. Randall was known as being a drunk and he had died suddenly with his family watching, people began to think his death was not an accident.
The rumors persisted and soon several people demanded an investigation. The coroner asked a jury to order a disinterment of the body, and on February 9, several men went to the cemetery with shovels in hand to dig up the remains of Thomas Randall. The news had spread throughout New England. Newspapers in New Bedford, Boston, Salem, Northampton and Keene, New Hampshire would report on the grizzly post mortem exam. Digging up bodies was not a common thing in 19th century. Social beliefs of the time thought of the dead body of something to be protected. There were also many superstitions about corpses, such as the belief that the living needed to be protected from the dead.
When the grave diggers made their way though the cold, icy ground and the several inches of snow that continued to fall during the past few days, they lifted the wooden coffin up and loaded it on to a wagon. The rotting corpse was carried through the streets of Mattapoisett to perhaps the office of one of the physicians in the village.
Waiting to observe the dissection and exam of the corpse was the coroner, the jury and “several spectators.” Dr. A. S. Jones of Mattapoisett was assigned to perform the post mortem exam. This same Dr. Jones would be charged a few years later along with another local doctor and a medical student for robbing a grave of a corpse for the purpose of dissecting it.
Dr. Jones went to work on the body of Mr. Randall while the onlookers observed in curious silence. Medical training at the time did not often include hands-on dissections of bodies. What one knew of anatomy was often learned through reading books and later while operating on living persons. Perhaps Dr. Jones took this opportunity to explore anatomy while performing the exam. Or perhaps he worked quickly because the corpse was already over a week old.
While examining the air passage of the deceased, Dr. Jones was sure he discovered the cause of death. Either by reaching in the mouth or cutting open the throat, Dr. Jones produced what appeared to be a mass of flesh. Upon further examination and knowledge of the menu of his dinner the night of his death, it was discovered that the mass lodged in the deceased’s throat was a large piece of boiled pork weighing about an ounce and a half.
The jury rendered a verdict of an accidental choking while eating. Any thoughts of an “unfair” death were quickly put to rest in Mattapoisett. Mr. Randall was returned to his grave where he has been, hopefully, at rest for the past 177 years.
By Kyle DiCicco-Carey
Tri-Town Cleans Up After Sandy
Some said it was to rival Hurricane Bob, the storm that devastated New England in 1991. The “perfect storm” comprised of Hurricane Sandy and two other weather systems made landfall around New Jersey last night, but the South Coast felt the approach hours before. Sustained winds of over 35 miles per hour raged across the coastline from Rhode Island to the Cape all day, but eventually faded away around midnight.
While the Mid-Atlantic states have seen everything from heavy snow, rain, wind, and major flooding, the Tri-Town emerged from the storm relatively unscathed.
“Things are looking up. We had some sand washing up on the road near the town beach,” said Mary Lyons, Chief of Police in Mattapoisett. “We still have some power outages.” According to the NSTAR website, there were 813 customers in Mattapoisett without power before noon on Tuesday.
What could have become a catastrophe ultimately ended up as an inconvenience. Schools and town halls were closed. Flood warnings were declared. Some areas of the South Coast were even evacuated on Monday afternoon.
Luckily, damage was limited to fallen branches and small to medium-sized debris along roadways. No towns reported any major fires or medical emergencies during the storm. Since the storm began to wane, emergency crews have been hard at work addressing problem areas.
“Roland Cote, the Tree Warden, along with two contract crews, are out working on dealing with wind damaged trees and their removal. Clean-up at the town pier, town landing, town beach, Ned’s Point will proceed after tree work and road obstruction removal,” said Michael Gagne, the Mattapoisett Town Administrator.
“We had downed wires and trees all over town. There doesn’t seem to be any neighborhood hit more hard than another. As we speak this morning, clean up operations are underway,” said Marion Town Administrator Paul Dawson. He reported that the town measured a 67-mile per hour gust of wind on Monday. “This could have been a devastating storm.”
Meteorologists were predicting wind gusts of over 80-miles per hour and a storm surge of almost 10 feet for many lower areas around the South Coast. While the full moon increased the high-tide level overall, flooding related to the storm surge was minimal.
The amount of damage may be less than anticipated, as of Tuesday afternoon, there were still some trouble spots.
Chief Lincoln Miller of the Marion Police Department asked that residents steer clear Delano Road as there is a large fallen pine tree leaning against the power lines. There were also reports of downed poles on Featherbed Lane in Rochester. Electrical outages were limited to 152 customers in Marion and 88 in Rochester before Tuesday at noon.
“We were left in pretty good shape. This morning, clean-up was going well,” said Sgt. James Wassmouth of the Rochester Police Department.
There, clean-up efforts went smoothly, according to Paul Ciaburri, the town’s Emergency Management Director.
“The Highway Department has done an exemplary job as has the Fire Department in getting stuff off the roads, keeping things passable,” he said. Ciaburri also commended the efforts of many Rochester residents who, armed with chainsaws and pickup trucks, helped emergency crews clear away debris.
“That’s how we do it. The people here love to help and if they can, they will. It made clean-up a lot better thanks to them,” Ciaburri said.
In other news:
•Marion Art Center has confirmed that the annual Halloween Parade is still scheduled for Wednesday, October 31 at 4:00 pm. The celebration will be held at Marion Music Hall in the event of rain.
•The Mattapoisett Police Department has confirmed that the town Halloween Parade is still scheduled for Wednesday, October 31 at 6:00 pm.
•Mattapoisett Transfer Station will be open on Sunday, November 4, so residents may dispose of any brush or branches that fell as a result of the storm. No fees will be assessed.
•According to the NSTAR website as of Tuesday at noon, there were 813 customers without power in Mattapoisett, 152 in Marion, and 88 in Rochester.
By Eric Tripoli
Hurricane Sandy Shelter Information
As Hurricane Sandy makes her way up the east coast, here is some information on emergency shelters in the Tri-Town that will be opened if necessary. NOTE: The shelters are NOT open yet, and will only be opened at the discretion of each town. Each town will notify their residents upon opening of the shelters. Also, animals will not be permitted with the exception of service animals.
Marion
Sippican School, 16 Spring St.
www.marionma.gov
Mattapoisett
Old Rochester Regional High School, 135 Marion Rd.
www.matapoisett.net
Rochester
Rochester Memorial School, 16 Pine St
Rochester Council on Aging, 67 Dexter Ln.
www.townofrochestermass.com
Also, here are some important emergency contact numbers:
All Emergencies: 911
Marion Police Department: 508-748-1212
Marion Fire Department: 508-748-1177
Mattapoisett Police Department: 508-758-4141
Mattapoisett Fire Department: 508-758-4150
Rochester Police Department: 508-763-5112
Rochester Fire Department: 508-763-2611
National Grid Power Outage Line: 1-800-465-1212
National Weather Service in Taunton: 508-822-0634
Marion Art Center Holiday Events
The Art Center’s will start the Holidays with a gala opening of its Annual Holiday Shop Friday, November 16th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Both Galleries will feature one of a kind and limited edition gifts in ceramics, fiber, photographs, wood, jewelry, paintings, glass, scrimshaw, collage, toys, painted furniture, and more. Truman Terrell will entertain on piano while shoppers enjoy food and wine at the opening. Over 30 artisans will be selling their fine arts and crafts through December 20th.
Holiday Shop Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 1 to 5 and Saturdays, 10 am to 2 pm. Admission is free.
The Marion Art Center Players will open their production of “It’s A Wonderful Life – The Radio Show Version” on Friday, November 30th, with shows on Saturday, December 1st, Friday, December 7th, Saturday, December 8th (all at 8:00pm) and a 4:00pm matinee on Sunday, December 9th. This beloved tale written by Frank Capra, has been adapted by Tony Palermo as a 1940’s style radio-on-stage production complete with a live audience and live sound effects. Rex McGraw is directing a stellar cast who will be put through their paces playing several roles each. This show is a perfect way to enjoy the season with family and friends. Tickets are $12.50 for Marion Art Center Members and $15.00 for non-members. Reservations are highly recommended: 508-748-3984.
On Saturday, December 8th, Timothy Wade, local sand and ice sculptor and painter, will give an ice carving demonstration starting at 10:00am on the patio outside the Art Center. Visitors are invited to come and watch as he transforms ice into beautiful sculpture, take a few pictures with the finished product, or stop by on their way along the Sippican Women’s Club House Tour.
The Marion Art Center is located at 80 Pleasant Street, Marion, MA 02738. For more information visit MAC’s website at www.marionartcenter.org or call 508-748-1266.
Tri-Town Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
As Hurricane Sandy barrels its way past Cuba and toward the east coast of the United States, people everywhere from Florida to Maine are preparing for the worst. Forecasters are calling for the hurricane to mix with a cold front from Canada and an outgoing storm system. The combination of the three weather fronts could have a focused impact around New Jersey and lower New York, but high winds and storm surges are expected for the majority of the coastal regions of the upper eastern seaboard.
On Friday, October 26, the Marion Board of Selectmen held an emergency meeting to appoint an emergency municipal liaison to coordinate relief efforts should the hurricane pose a threat to the area. The Board appointed Selectman Jonathan Dickerson to the position.
“The need for this was to identify a Selectman to be available in case we have to make some sort of storm declaration,” said Chairman Stephen Cushing.
In the event of a violent storm, Dickerson would be required to declare a state of emergency for the town. He would also be authorized to release emergency funding for municipal purposes and would be in charge of coordinating communication with utility companies and external emergency services, if required.
The meeting was slated for Monday but bumped up to Friday once the path of the storm changed, suggesting an earlier landfall than first predicted.
“At this point in time, it appears the storm is going to take a track up the Atlantic and the early computer models that shown it going out to sea and been eliminated. It is almost certain that it will make landfall somewhere on the east coast,” said Paul Dawson, Town Administrator.
The area could expect to see storm surges from two to six feet, with possible sustained winds of 100 miles per hour. The severity of the potential storm surge will also depend on the level of the tides.
“Right now we’re cautiously optimistic. We still expect to have an impact,” said Dawson.
On Friday morning, the Town of Mattapoisett held an emergency meeting of the department heads to discuss a readiness plan. The Town of Rochester will determine on Saturday whether or not the emergency preparedness committee will meet.
By Eric Tripoli
Bento S. “Ben” Martin, Jr.
Bento S. “Ben” Martin, Jr., 75, of Mattapoisett died October 24, 2012 unexpectedly at home.
Born and raised in New Bedford, the son of the late Bento S. and Laurentina R. (Pimental) Martin, he had lived in Mattapoisett since 1963.
He was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett.
Mr. Martin was formerly employed by Falmouth Bank and Shawmut Bank before retiring from Compass Bank. In retirement, he worked at Mattapoisett Council of Aging.
He was a member of the Mattapoisett Lions Club and was the recipient of the International Melvin Jones Fellow award. Mr. Martin was a past board member of the Mattapoisett Council on Aging, past member and board member of the Mattapoisett Friends of the Elderly and a board member of Pine Island Cemetery. He was the recipient of the 2011 Mattapoisett Keel Award presented by the Wanderer.
“Poppy,” as he was know by his grandchildren, enjoyed spending time with his family.
Survivors include his son, Kenneth W. Martin and his wife Barbara of Ashburn, VA; two daughters, Kelly-Anne Weglowski and her husband Marc of Mattapoisett and Kimberly L. Eldridge and her companion Michael Downing of West Wareham; his former wife, Judith A. (Luiz) Martin of Boca Raton, FL; a sister, Rose Marie Arguin of New Bedford; 5 grandchildren, Jillian E. Sol, Timothy M. Martin, Amanda L. Eldridge, Brady M. Weglowski and Jadyn A. Martin; and several nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Edward S. Martin, Gilbert S. Martin and Natalie S. Rowland.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10 AM at St. Anthony’s Church, Mattapoisett. Burial will follow in Pine Island Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Healing little Hearts, Boston Childrens Hospital, P.O. Box 1535 Mattapoisett, MA 02739. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.