John R. Duggan

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John R. Duggan passed away on August 21, 2012 after a long illness. He was 84. Born in Malden, Massachusetts, he was the son of Dr. D. Joseph and Barbara (Russell) Duggan. Mr. Duggan was a graduate of Phillip’s Academy in Andover, Harvard College, Class of 1950, and also attended Harvard Business School. He received his J.D. degree from Suffolk University, and he had additional advanced degrees from Boston University and a Masters of Taxation from Bentley College. He was a proud veteran having served in the U.S. Army medical corps. John spent the majority of his career in corporate finance and held senior financial positions in several corporations including Boston Edison, the Acushnet Company, and GCC Beverages. During his retirement, he sang in the choir at St. Mary’s Church in Dedham for many years. He was a member of the Dedham Retired Men’s Club and the Kittansett Club in Marion. Some of his many enjoyments were reading western novels and being very active with sports. Married for 60 years to Nancy (Beaton) Duggan, they raised six children, John R. Dungan, Jr. of Hastings, Nebraska, Cynthia O’Malley of Oakland, California, Sara Preston of Wellesley, D. Joseph Duggan of Marion, Elizabeth A. Dowling of Dedham, and William P. Duggan of Walpole. He is also survived by his sisters, Janet McIlveen of Nahant and Mona Nesbitt of New York. He was the proud grandfather of twelve.

Mattapoisett Cultural Council Seeks Proposals

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The Mattapoisett Cultural Council has changed its funding priorities. While it continues to seek to support applicants who choose to direct their talents toward the development of internal individual thoughts and emotions of their audiences, in this funding cycle, the Council will give priority to those projects that:

1. Reflect an encouragement of regional arts, artists, and/or the humanities.

2. Promote community building by clearly involving other people, groups, and organizations within the Mattapoisett community. The Council continues to accept field trip grant requests, called “PASS” grants.

The Council will also give funding preference, for this grant cycle, to those projects that are Interpretive Sciences projects (“…engage people of all ages in learning about nature, science and technology in ways that explain how they relate to people’s lives.”).

The application forms have changed, and along with the guidelines and instructions for application, are available online at the Massachusetts Cultural Council website. Regulations governing Council funds require that:

• All applications are expected to be complete, on time and with the correct number of copies (nine) plus original.

• All successful applicants must provide proof of publicity for reimbursement.

Last year, the Mattapoisett Cultural Council had approximately $5,000 to distribute. Projects funded included:

• Buzzards Bay MusicFest

• Friends of Old Rochester Drama Improv Seminar

• Mattapoisett Free Public Library

• Mattapoisett LIONS Club Harbor Days

• Mattapoisett PTA Field Trips

For specific guidelines and complete information on the Mattapoisett Cultural Council, contact Cheryl Belknap at MattapoisettLCC@gmail.com. Application forms and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at www.massculturalcouncil.org/programs/lccgrants.asp. Application forms are also available at Town Hall. All applications must be postmarked by Monday, October 15.

Walking For The Jimmy Fund

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Every April, thousands of runners hit the pavement for the 26.2 mile course from Hopkinton to Boston for the annual running of the Boston Marathon. In September, however, the runners aren’t running; they’re walking to help cure cancer. Mattapoisett resident Ed Talbot is one of those walkers.

Talbot will join the ranks of thousands of walkers who will be participating in the 24th Annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk on Sunday, September 9. The route follows the exact course of the marathon except all proceeds from the walk will benefit the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute instead of the charity of the runner’s choice.

“My main motivation was that my mother passed away from cancer after an eight-year battle so I saw the suffering and I saw the hurt,” said Talbot. “I also have a friend who is currently battling it. He just finished his first round of chemotherapy and radiation so hopefully everything will be okay.”

Talbot is no stranger to the 26.2-mile course as he has completed the Boston Marathon six times and run a total of 20 marathons in his running career. This will be his fourth time participating in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. One might think walking would be easier than running, but Talbot begs to differ.

“I would run it any day versus walking,” said Talbot. “You are on your feet longer when you’re walking and when you’re running, you’re used to a faster pace. Boston is very deceiving. Everyone talks about the uphill portion, but for the first 15 – 16 miles, it’s all downhill so that beats up your quads. By the end of the race, you’re really sore.”

Talbot usually finished the walk between seven and a half to eight hours averaging 16 – 17 minutes per mile. While the course is tough, the Jimmy Fund makes the route as accommodating as possible, providing aid stations and food along the way. But there’s something even more special to be found during the walk.

“It’s so inspiring to see all the survivors along the way,” said Talbot. “There isn’t a family cancer hasn’t affected. We’ve been battling this disease for so long.”

Talbot will join seven walkers from Days Sports Shop in Fairhaven. The team, who calls themselves “Days Sports Spinners,” met while taking a spin class together. Since its inaugural year in the Jimmy Fund Walk four years ago, the Spinners have raised $10,000.

“It makes it much better having a group,” said Talbot.

Even though the Spinners have raised $3,000 so far, there is still plenty of time to donate to Talbot’s team. Log on to www.jimmyfundwalk.org and search for Talbot’s last name to make a donation. Every little bit of money helps in the fight against cancer.

“We are getting so close to finding a cure one of these days eventually it will happen,” said Talbot. “Think of the millions of people it will help. It’s inspiring.”

By Katy Fitzpatrick

Air Quality Alert Issued for Plymouth County

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The National Weather Service and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has issued an Air Quality Alert for Plymouth County effective from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm Friday afternoon and evening.

Due to the quick rise in temperatures that are expected to hit the 90’s today, ground level ozone concentrations within the regional may exceed unhealthy standards.

Residents are urged to be aware of possible side effects from the poor air quality including chest pain and shortness of breath.

Rochester COA to Hold Accreditation Forum

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Once again, the Rochester Council on Aging will be going through a year-long process to seek National Senior Center Accreditation, under the auspices of the National Council on the Aging and the National Institute of Senior Centers.  The goal is to achieve national accreditation for the Rochester Senior Center for a second 5-year term.  The first accreditation was achieved in 2007.

The first six to nine months of the process involves a comprehensive assessment of the senior center’s operation, which is categorized into nine  different operational standards.  This assessment is ideally accomplished through the involvement of many community friends & partners who are willing to serve on one of the nine standards’ committees.

Individuals are invited to find out more about the project and the process by attending an informational forum, on Thursday, September 13, at 2:30 pm at the senior center. To find out more about the process, its benefits, requirements, and just how you can help, all are encouraged to attend.

If you can serve on a committee, your maximum time commitment may be as much as 20 hours in a year, or as little as 3 hours in a year, depending on the committee chosen.  No specific skills or experiences are necessary to participate.  All ages are welcome.

The Senior Center will serve the community more effectively by re-examining its own programs and services to identify unmet needs and interests, and to plan for the growing demographics as the baby boomers are entering our service range.  This means keeping up with the fast pace of change, including the assessment of what we are currently offering and unable to offer, as well as the overall operation of the facility.

For more information, call Sharon at the Rochester Senior Center at 508-763-8723.

Marion Council on Aging Fitness Class

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Cardio/Strength/Flexibility class held every Monday from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at the Town of Marion Facility at 13 Atlantic Drive. 30 minutes of low-impact cardio to music, followed by seated abdominal workout and upper and lower body strength training with hand weights.  End with flexibility, relaxation and de-stress and breathing techniques. $4 per class. Taught by Certified Group Fitness Instructor. All ages and levels welcome. For more information please call the Council on Aging 508 748-3570.

Marion Couple Wins Sailing Race

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Jim and Maura Stewart of Marion teamed up with Doug and Ingrid Scott of Castline, Maine to win the 2012 Stone Horse Builder’s Cup on Sunday, August 12. The foursome set sail in Stewart’s boat, Pegasus, and successfully navigated the vessel to earn the top spot.

“It was a great day with good wind. Not too much and not too little,” said Stewart. “It’s a very casual event. I like being outside on the water.”

The race, which was held in Buzzards Bay off Padanaram, was originally scheduled for Saturday, August 11, but was postponed until the following day due to inclement weather. The course spanned 5.7 nautical miles and was broken up into six legs. The race started and ended on windward legs.

While Pegasus sailed away with the win, the start of the race wasn’t so perfect for the team.

“We started off not so great on the first leg but once we made some sail adjustments we started moving up. We got some nice wind so we were able to sail much higher than the leading boat and come in to win,” said Stewart.

Stewart said he became interested in boating in the 1980s. He has owned both powerboats and sailboats, but since retiring recently, he has stuck primarily with sailboats. He started sailing as an adult and has never had a lesson.

The winning vessel Pegasus is a 23-foot sailboat that was designed in the 1930s by a man with the last name Crocker. Stewart maintains the boat himself, spending a few months each year preparing the boat for the summer. With an old-fashioned fiberglass look and wood trim, this boat might not be the top choice to win a race at first glance.

“It’s more of a pretty boat than a racing boat,” said Stewart.

Jim and Maura only enter one race each year, but they spend at least three days a week on their boat sailing around to different places. Most recently, they spent 12 days on the ocean after the race sailing up the coast of Maine. For the Stewarts, sailing is more than the titles and trophies; it’s a way of life.

“The best part of sailing is having a nice day on the water and then going to the mooring with a bottle of wine and eating dinner. We’re laid-back sailors,” said Stewart. “It’s a great way to be outside.”

By Katy Fitzpatrick

Fall Sports Preview

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The ORR boys’ football program is looking to make up for its small size and lack of seniors with speed and some fresh, new faces for the 2012 season. The Bulldogs, led by Coach Henry Quinlan, took a big hit from graduation, losing valuable players like star Running Back DJ MacDonald, Quarterback Mike Asci and Wide Receivers Mikey Durocher and Max Risch. With only three senior players this year, the Bulldogs will have to rely on some of their underclassmen in order to win games in the competitive SCC league.

Senior Linemen Aaron Holick and Ben Mattson will lead the defense, along with junior Lineman Zach Bowen. On the offensive side, junior Nolan Bergeron will start as Quarterback and fellow classmate Colin Knapton will look to fill the shoes of MacDonald in the position of Running Back.

The team also boasts a variety of newcomers, particularly Richie and Raekwon Phillips. The brothers, transfer students from Wareham, will add speed to the Bulldogs’ offense, a thing that athletic director Bill Tilden says will be important for the team.

“The team is pretty light size-wise, but they definitely have speed,” Tilden said. “They’ve been working on a whole new offense, so we’ll see a new style of ORR football this season.”

The ORR football team looks to improve their 4-7 record from last year starting with a game at Martha’s Vineyard on September 7 at 6:30 pm.

The football team is not the only ORR sports team looking to improve upon last year. The boys’ cross country program looks to be undefeated SCC champions, while the girls’ team hopes to defend their SCC title. Coach Cindy Tilden leads both teams.

The boys’ team, which suffered one loss to Greater New Bedford Vocational Tech last year, will be led by a strong 1-2 in junior Mike Wyman and senior Nick Pacheco. From there, they have a strong varsity team with runners in seniors Fred Murolo and Conner Medeiros-Sweet.

The girls’ team will be led by juniors Sammie Barrett, Paige Santos, and Hannah Viera along with seniors Sophia Santos and Abby Hiller. The girls’ varsity team lost only one member of their varsity squad to graduation, while the boys lost four, including standout David Friedman. However, Assistant Coach Bill Tilden is not too concerned with either team’s top seven runners.

“You always try to improve from the season before, and we have a lot of depth through our top eight spots,” Tilden said. “I’m really looking forward to the season.”

Both the boys’ and girls’ teams will begin their season at the SCC Jamboree at Washburn Park in Marion on September 8 at 9:30 am.

By Michael Kassabian

State of Education Nationally & Locally

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To the Editor:

The following is the first in what I hope will be a series of letters on the state of education nationally, as well as locally.

As students, teachers, and parents experience the return to school, the time seems right to consider what school is really about – educating children.  I am compelled by conscience and a commitment to honesty to share what I have seen as detrimental to our children’s learning and to inspire all those who care about learning to ask questions and to voice concerns. After 28 years of teaching the amazing children of the Old Rochester Regional District families, I retired in June. “Why?” many have asked. I still loved teaching my students; my classroom experiences were still most rewarding for my students, as well as for me; my students and their parents still respected me for my creativity and authenticity in teaching. My response: The current state of education, the dramatic lowering of standards, the detrimental policies bred from data-driven decision-making, the frantic adherence to believing that there was meaning in the test scores, the willingness to pass students and award diplomas when the skills had not truly been acquired were all too damaging to our school and our students for me to stand by and see what was once a glorious public school offering an elite educational experience become each year a weaker and weaker experience for our students.

My hero and standard for action is and always has been Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Among his most meaningful statements for me are: “There comes a time when silence is betrayal”; “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”; and “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

I have thought long and hard about speaking out about the current state of education. I cannot be comfortable and silent. One of my considerations has been the heat I will probably take by inspiring controversy within the district and among parents and students. I have enjoyed many years of respect and admiration from parents and students for my teaching and devotion to education, especially in regard to high standards of performance and behavior, as well as ideals of creativity and imagination. Will the administration choose to attempt to discredit me, perhaps claiming that I am past my prime and reluctant to change? Or will they try to paint me as just a disgruntled employee? Neither of these is true. I have always embraced change; in fact, I have often been at the forefront of change.

Much of what is alarming about the current state of education in our own Old Rochester district is attributable to data-driven decision-making and data-driven policy changes. No Child Left Behind is all about schools’ reaching AYP – Adequate Yearly Progress. This AYP score is not about learning or about what is good for students, but about administrators and measurable school performance – a false measure of progress and learning. Our current administrators and School Committee seem to be obsessed with data and test scores. Administrators make decisions and change policies and curriculum quickly and without much thought to the ultimate effects on the quality of experience and educational culture. The School Committee approves those changes with little knowledge or discussion – approval based solely on promises of increasing test scores and a Curriculum Director who espouses the data-driven environment and has increased the narrow teaching-to-the-test mentality.

In terms of graduation rates, the AYP pressure has created a “diploma at any cost” practice in many high schools, ours included, and hence, fewer skills and less true proficiency. A good AYP score for a school requires that students graduate in four years; students who need extra time – a fifth year, perhaps – are given shortcuts to their diplomas. The school is maintaining its performance score, but the students who are given various ways out of completing requirements are then not developing the skills they need for lifelong learning and for the workplace. An attendance policy remains in place, but, again, in order to meet AYP, and to give students credits to graduate, absences are excused often without legitimate reasons. All of this diminishes the fine academic culture and emphasis on true learning that were once the hallmarks of our district.

Encouraging students to complete courses through computer programs like NovaNet, instead of making up work or retaking a course when the students are failing or have failed courses, or paring down curriculum to some bare minimum requirements deprives students of the skill-building they really need. The academic skills are not the only skills being given a pass, but also and more importantly, the personal growth skills needed to adjust to working with others, to cope with authority, to manage time and to work through tasks that are difficult – all skills needed for success in the workplace and in college and in life.

Learning is what school is about – individual growth and development. Motivation, creativity and authentic engagement are the answers. Currently, the readiness and proficiency levels are worse than they were before the state and federal government invaded education. One measure does not suit each student and every school. Schooling is not business – not about a score and a bottom line.

School administrators are losing sight of our mission, and the School Committee looks only at the data. Decision-making is top-down; not the collaborative effort it once was. I have been proud to be a part of the education and the truly fine experience the Old Rochester District has provided to our children; but each day for the past couple of years, I worried about what had been lost and what was being allowed to stand in its place. Again, from Dr. King, “Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’ Expediency asks the question, ‘Is it politic?’ But conscience asks the question, ‘Is it right?’ And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but because conscience tells one it is right.” Please think about what I have said and why I have said it, and find the courage to ask questions and become involved.

More next time,

Teresa R. Dall

Mattapoisett

RCF Thank You

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To the Editor:

The Rochester Historical Society congratulates the Rochester Country Fair Committee for such a successful event this year. All aspects of the Fair were well-planned and well-executed. The Fair proved a very enjoyable and profitable venue for the Historical Society and we look forward to 2013. Thanks for a job well done by the Fair committee and all the volunteers.

Sincerely,

Cecelia Hall, Betty Beaulieu and the Historical Society Fair Committee