Bruce M. Reed

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Bruce M. Reed, 77, of West Wareham, formerly of Rochester, passed away peacefully, at home on August 15, 2012 after a 4 ½ year battle with cancer. He was the son of the late George M. and Evelyn M. (Howland) Reed.

Bruce was born in Rochester and lived there for many years before moving to Wareham in 1990.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Janice (Pope) Reed; 4 children, Brenda Hannon and her husband Mark of Middleboro, Karen Kane and her partner Kevin Johnson of Whitefield, NH, Steven Reed and his girlfriend Tracey of Dartmouth and Wendy Ashworth and her husband Scott of Rochester; 9 grandchildren, Scott, Brian, Eric, Heidi, Kelly, Chris, Derek, Pat and Christina; 12 great grandchildren; his stepsons, John Pope of Wareham, Mike Pope of Bourne and Mark Pope of NH; a brother, Glenn Reed of Rochester; a sister, Catherine Hartley of Addison, ME. He was predeceased by a son, John Reed.

He graduated from Wareham High School in 1954 as an all-star athlete and went on to play AA baseball and semi-pro football. He also played and coached softball on many area teams. His passion in later years was golf. He was a member of Rochester and Little Harbor golf clubs and enjoyed many trips to Florida and Myrtle Beach.

Bruce worked for Barnes Tree Service and after retirement drove school bus for the Old Rochester School District.

Bruce always enjoyed watching the grandchildren play sports and taking trips to golf resorts and historic spots.

His graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 in the Rochester Center Cemetery, Dexter Lane, Rochester.

Visiting hours have been omitted.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bruce’s memory may be made to the VNA of Cape Cod, 434 Rte. 134, Suite D3, South Dennis, MA 02660.

Herring Counts Improve Dramatically

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Since 2004, it has been illegal to catch herring in Mattapoisett due to its low numbers.  The moratorium placed on the fish has allowed its numbers to grow slowly and steadily. But from 2011 to 2012, the growth has been incredible.

“The reason for the growth is that we’ve had great weather,” said Mattapoisett Herring Inspector Bob Martin. “We haven’t had a lot of rain.”

Due to the small amount of rain, the gates in the river have been closed so the herring run had a lot of water in it, providing a safe place for herring. According to Martin, the increased herring count has several positive benefits.

“It means a lot for the environment,” he said. “It is a big fish for stripers and whales.”

With increased herring, it will attract more fish to the area so that they can feed off the herring, ultimately providing local fisherman with more fish. Martin said if the herring continues to increase in numbers, fisherman can catch up to 50 bushels of fish when the moratorium is lifted.

The herring are tracked electronically. As they go through the tubes in the herring run, an electronic counter keeps track of all the fish. The counter is located in Snipatuit Pond near the headwaters of the Mattapoisett River.

In 2008, the herring count in Mattapoisett was 10,000 and it has steadily increased to 12,587, which was the count in 2011. However, in 2012, the count increased dramatically to 28,447.

Still, the count must be at least 50,000 before the moratorium is lifted, and Martin said the marine fisheries are doing everything they can to protect the limited fish.

“The herring is getting a lot of play all of a sudden,” he said. “The marine fisheries are doing everything they can to get people to stop catching them. Hopefully they are keeping the boats away from them.”

By Katy Fitzpatrick

ORRHS Swim Team Raising Funds

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In just a few short weeks, the 2012-2013 school year will be underway at Old Rochester Regional High School and the brand new varsity co-ed swim team will kick off its inaugural season. For the first time in 50 years, the school will have its own swim squad, and the parents and swimmers are looking forward to making history.

At the end of June, the Old Rochester Regional School Committee gave the green light for the school’s first varsity co-ed swim team at its final meeting of the year. For years, many swimmers left ORRHS to attend Bishop Stang High School because they were the only local school with a swim program. But now, swimmers in the Tri-Town will have a chance to represent the Bulldogs in the pool.

“For the swimmers that stayed here at ORR we wondered why not start a grassroots swim program?” said Friends of Old Rochester Swimming Secretary Chrissi Gelson.

Parents of interested swimmers approached ORRHS Principal Mike Devoll and Athletic Director Bill Tilden with a proposal after researching how much it would cost for coaching, travel and other expenses. The team was approved under the condition that the parents would provide the funding for the group for the first two or three years of its existence. After the third year, the school will take over the funding.

The team has until October 1 to raise $7,500 and they have been busy fundraising all summer long. So far, they have held two car washes, collected donations at Harbor Days, sold ORR Pandora beads and recyclable bags and sent out a mass mailing list to collect donations from local residents and businesses. The response, Gelson said, has been terrific.

“I am so overwhelmed with the amount of support we have received from everybody,” she said.

Despite the generosity of the community, the swim team still has money to raise. During the month of August, they will hold two special fundraising events. On Wednesday, August 22, the team will hold a silent auction at the Inn at Shipyard Park from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The auction will be open to 80 guests and tickets are $25 to attend. Appetizers and a cash bar will be available.

On Saturday, August 25, the team will hold a Swim-A-Thon from 1:00 to 2:30 pm at the Gleason Family YMCA in Mattapoisett. Participants may swim as individuals or relay teams, and pledges can be made as lump sums or per lap.

So far the team has enlisted nearly 20 swimmers and is hoping to draw even more interest once school starts. Gelson’s daughter, Cate Feldkamp, is among the swimmers already committed to the squad and committed to a sport she loves.

“Swimming does tremendous things for her self-esteem,” said Gelson. “It’s also good for health and fitness. It’s so important for them to be able to see the results of their hard work and how far they’ve come from the beginning of the season.”

For more information on upcoming ORRHS Swimming fundraising events or to make a donation, contact orrbulldogsswimming@gmail.com.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

Vote in the Primary Election

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To the Editor:

Uncharacteristically, primary day this year is Thursday, September 6. All across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, voters will head to the polls on a Thursday. It’s especially important to vote on primary day because several races will be decided based on the outcome of the primary elections.

Unlike many states in the US, Massachusetts makes it easy to cast a ballot for the candidates of your choice. Consider:

• Vote using an absentee ballot if you’re out of town on primary day or Election Day.

• Vote early; visit your Town Hall.

• Vote, even if you turn 18 the day before the Election Day.

One important caveat: only those who are registered with a political party can vote in its primary! So, you must register by August 17, cast your ballot and then un-enroll, if you choose to do so.

Remember, however, you can only vote in the party primary in which you have enrolled.  You cannot register to vote in the Democratic primary, vote, un-enroll and then enroll and vote in the Republican Party primary.

To vote in the November 6 general election, you must register to vote by October 17.

If you have any questions at all about voting, please talk to your Town Clerk or you can visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.sec.state.ma.us.

This is your chance! Your vote counts! Never think that your one vote doesn’t matter!

Respectfully,

Cindy Johnson

Mattapoisett

 

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.

Brad Barrows 3rd Annual Bike Run

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This year’s Third Annual Brad Barrows Bike Run will take place on Saturday, September 15. The run will start at Rick’s Tavern in Mattapoisett. Kickstands will go up at 12:30 pm and after the run, food will be provided for all the riders. There will be a raffle for donated items and also a 50/50 raffle. The entry fee is $20. Any questions, please call Dick Barrett at 774-263-4596.

The Brad Barrows Second Annual Bike Run was able to donate $5,000 to the Old Rochester Little League. This money will be put toward scholarships for families in need during these trying economic times. A check for $250 was presented to the Fairhaven/Acushnet Little League as well. In addition to the little league donations, money was donated to the Mattapoisett Clock Fund. Many local merchants in our Tri-Town area generously donated the funds.

Marion Concert Band Weekly Performance

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The Marion Concert Band will present a concert with a nautical theme on Monday, August 20.  The program is as follows:

• National Anthem

• Hands Across the Sea – J. P. Sousa

• Fantasy on American Sailing Songs – C. Grundman

• Seagate Overture – J. Swearingen

• Blue Danube – J. Strauss

• Clarinet Escapade – R. Ward

• Sea Songs – R. Vaughan Williams

• Under the Sea (from The Little Mermaid) – A. Menken

• Washington Grays – C. Grafulla

• Highlights from Victory at Sea – R. Rodgers

• Martinique – R. Washburn

• Parade of the Tall Ships – J. Chattaway

• From Tropic to Tropic March – R. Alexander

The concert, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:30 pm at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf off Front Street in Marion. All concerts are free and open to the public.

ORR Orientation

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The 2012 Old Rochester Regional High School Freshman and New Student Orientation will be held on Friday, August 24 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm at the school. Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend.

Marion Art Center Events

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On Sunday, August 26 at 4:00 pm, the Occasion Singers will perform a special family concert featuring songs from all of the Disney classics. The vocal ensemble has put together an all-Disney Revue which will include selections from America’s favorite Disney movies: The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Snow White and more.

As always, this group will showcase their talent with intricate harmonies and elegant arrangements. Children and the young at heart will be invited to sing along and dance when the music moves them. This concert is designed for fun and would be the perfect family outing to end the summer before school starts. Beverages and popcorn will be available with a donation.

The ensemble is directed by Cassandra Morgan with singers Christopher Saulnier, Rui Moniz, Eric Bosworth, Melanie Hannack, Denise Bastos and Caroline Blais.

Kids under 12 are free and adult tickets are $12.50 for MAC Members and $15.00 for non-members. The Marion Art Center is located at 80 Pleasant Street (corner of Pleasant Street and Main Street) in Marion, MA 02738. Reservations are highly recommended.

Please stop by the Center or call 508-748-1266 to reserve your seats.

The Summer Members Art Show opens at the Marion Art Center on Friday, August 24 with a gallery opening reception to meet the artists from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. All members in good standing have been invited to submit two pieces for the exhibition which will run until October 3.  This year, the exhibition will be themed “Small Works.” All work must be no larger than 144 square inches, including the mat and frame, or if unframed, no larger than 12” x 12.” Artists may drop off their work at the Marion Art Center on Tuesday, August 21 and Wednesday, August 22 between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. All pieces must be labeled with the artist’s name, the title, and the sale price. Artists receive a commission on all sales and the Marion Art Center receives a portion of those sales.

The Marion Art Center announces that it will be offering Watercolor Painting for Beginners starting on October 3 and will run until November 21. The course is 8 weeks long and will be offered on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Patricia White is the instructor.

This course is designed for adults who would like to try watercolor painting but do not know where to start. Students will explore different techniques while working on the landscape, still life, figurative and/or imaginative painting in a nurturing environment. Supplies are not included. The fee for the 8-week course is $175 for Marion Art Center members and $190 for non-members (maximum 10 students).

Road Race Collects 465 Pounds for Charity

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On Saturday, August 11, over 300 runners braved the rainy weather to participate in the 7th Annual Rochester Road Race in order to raise money and food for Damien’s Food Pantry in Wareham. A total of 465 pounds of food and canned goods were collected for the charity.

“We want to say thank you to everyone,” said Chuck Kantner, Vice President of the Rochester Road Race Committee. “We encourage people to get involved in the local community and support something that is meaningful to them.”

Kantner has been at the helm of the race since its inception in 2006. He teamed up with a group of local running enthusiasts to create the event.

“There were local races in Marion and Mattapoisett, but Rochester didn’t have one,” he said. “We thought it would be nice if every town in the Tri-Town had a race.”

Rochester rounds out the Tri-Town race season,  and with the Marion Village 5K in June and the Mattapoisett Road Race in July, many familiar faces participate in each of the races. Of the 340 registered runners this year, there were a wide variety of seasoned runners and families participating.

“There’s a definitely a number of really good runners,” said Kantner. “But there’s definitely a lot of families and it’s a great family venue. It’s a special event for them.”

The 3.1-mile race started on Dexter Lane, continued down Mary’s Pond Road to Walnut Plain and turned down Clapp Road. From there, runners turned down Mendell Road and finally down Rounseville Road before finishing on the church green in the center of town.

340 runners marks the lowest registration the race has seen in recent years as compared to 358 runners last year and 365 in 2010. Kantner said he believes the rainy weather kept people from registering the day of the race and that pre-registration numbers were actually higher than the previous years. Still, despite the lower turnout, the 465 pounds of food raised for Damien’s Place is the most the race has raised in the past three years.

“Even though the registrations were off a little bit this year, we had more pounds of food and that’s great. In the end, that’s what it’s all about,” said Kantner.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

Marion Man Arrested for Heroin, Pills Posession

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On Friday, August 10, 2012 at 11:27 am, detectives from the Marion Police Department were involved in executing a search warrant at a single family residence located at 50 Old Indian Trail.

During a search of the residence and property, detectives located several grams of heroin, packaged for distribution, along with several pills of the prescription medication Valium.

Arrested was Anthony Reynolds, age 47, of 50 Old Indian Trail in Marion.  Reynolds was charged with Possession of a Class A controlled substance, with intent to distribute and Possession of a Class C controlled substance. Reynolds was booked at the Marion Police Station and then transported to Wareham District Court for arraignment.

The investigation was the result of a cooperative effort with detectives of the Fairhaven Police Department, who led the initial investigation.

Also involved in the investigation were officers from the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department, and the Mattapoisett Police Department, along with a K-9 unit from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department.