Dorothy E. (Costa) Oliviera

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Dorothy E. (Costa) Oliviera, 90, of Dartmouth, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Monday, July 2, 2012 at St. Luke’s Hospital. She was the wife of the late Manuel C. Oliviera.

Born in New Bedford, a daughter of the late John and Emily Costa, she had resided in Dartmouth and Mattapoisett She was a graduate of New Bedford High School.

Mrs. Oliviera had worked at the Star Store, the Council on Aging and as a senior aide for Coastline Elderly Services. She was a seamstress, a lyricist, a composer, a musican, a poet, an artist, an author and a devoted wife and mother.

Survivors include her her son, Wayne J. Oliviera and his wife Ainse, her daughter Carol A. Regan all of Mattapoisett; a brother, George Da Costa of Freetown; a sister, Beverly LaBonte of New Bedford; grandchildren, Richard Regan, Michelle Moulton, Nicole Young, Bethany Oliviera and James Oliviera; great-grandchildren, Connor, Tyler and Parker Moulton, Kaidin and Addison Young; several nieces and nephews; and her companion Henry Oliveira. She was the sister of the late Richard Da Costa and Donald Da Costa, Hilda Brown and Lillian Allain.

Her Funeral will be held on Friday, July 6, 2012 at 8am from the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth followed by a Funeral Mass at 9am in St. Mary’s Church, 783 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth. Visiting hours Thursday 5-8pm. Burial in St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Mattapoisett.

Rochester Historical Society

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The July meeting of the Rochester Historical Society will be on Wednesday, July 18 at 7:00 PM at the East Rochester Church/Museum, 355 County Road, Rochester. The meeting features an Ice Cream Social with music provided by the gospel group “Know Greater Love” featuring Tom & Sheila Perry of Wareham.  All are welcome to come and enjoy the songs, socializing, sundaes and a bit of Rochester History in our quaint 1857 church building.

Rochester Readies for Road Race

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Runners and walkers of all abilities are invited to participate in the fourth annual Rochester Road Race sponsored by Covanta Semass.  This 5k (3.1 mile) event will kick off on Saturday August 11th at 9 a.m. and is open to runners and walkers of all ages.

The race is incorporated as a non-profit organization and net proceeds from entry fees will be donated to “The Family Pantry – Damien’s Place” in Wareham.  In addition, participants and spectators are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items, which will be collected prior to the race and donated to the food pantry.  Damien’s Place provides food to over 500 families in need each month.  To date the Rochester Road Race has raised over $20,000 for the Pantry and donated over 1,450 pounds of food.

Awards will be given to the top overall male and female finishers and top three males and females in each of 8 age divisions.  Refreshments, goodie bags and a chance to win raffle prizes will be available for all participants.  The first 300 registered participants also receive Road Race t-shirts.

Entry forms can be picked up at Plumb Library, printed from www.rochesterma.com or participants can download forms or register on-line at www.JBRace.com.   Runners and walkers can also sign up, and pick up numbers, on Friday evening from 5 pm to 7 pm at the First Congregational Church of Rochester as well as Saturday on morning from 8 am to 8:45 am, at Dexter Lane athletic fields in Rochester.

Before Wednesday August 8th, the entry fee for adult runners is $15., with a reduced entry fee of $10. for walkers and those 12 or under and 70 or older.  After August 8th, registration is $20.00 per runner.

The race will start on Dexter Lane, continue down Mary’s Pond Road to Walnut Plain, and turn left on Clapp Road.  A water stop will be set up on Clapp Road at the halfway point.  Runners will turn left onto Mendell Road, and then make another left onto Rounseville Road, finishing on the church green in the center of town.

Mattapoisett Lions Club Triathlon Pictures

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Congratulations to all the participants of Sunday mornings Mattapoisett Lions Club Triathlon!  Check out our pictures!  Photos by Katy Fitzpatrick.

 

Marilyn L. (Lopes) Howard

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Marilyn L. (Lopes) Howard, 71, of Fairhaven passed away Saturday, June 30, 2012 at the Royal of Fairhaven after a courageous battle with an extended illness.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Paul A. and Gertrude (Nunes) Lopes, she graduated from Fairhaven High School in 1958 and Regis College in 1962. She later received her Masters Degree from Boston University. She grew up in Fairhaven and lived in Boston, California as well as the Philippines before returning to Fairhaven in the late 1980’s.

Marilyn joined the Peace Corp from 1962-1964 and worked as a tutor, counselor/ language arts instructor for the Job Corp. She also was a Reading Clinician at the Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Brighton. She enjoyed gardening, yard work, reading and trips to her lakeside camp in Maine.

She is survived by three brother, Antone P. Lopes and his wife Diane, Daniel N. Lopes and John P. Lopes all of Fairhaven; her former husband Wendell T. Howard of Houston, TX; a nephew, Paul Lopes; three nieces, Amanda and Kimberly Lopes and Heather Schultz; and several great nieces, nephews, aunts and cousins.

In accordance with her wishes, private services were held at St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Mattapoisett, Saturday, July 7, 2012 under the direction of the Fairhaven Funeral Home, 117 Main Street, Fairhaven.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Pl. West, Brookline, MA 02445. For memorial register go to, www.hathawayfunerals.com.

Mattapoisett Resident Remembers Vietnam War

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Mattapoisett resident, Dr. David Jenney, was one of the keynot speakers at the Fairhaven  Vietnam Moving Wall event on Friday, July 6.  During the event a Sikorsky Blackhawk Helicopter circled the crowd and landed in the lawn of Cushman Park.

Dr. Jenney, who retired as the Director of Engineering after a career with  Sikorsky Aircraft, talked about the number of lives that these helicopters have saved since their development.  The Vietnam moving wall is a half size replica of the wall in Washington DC and lists 58,277 names of men and women .

 

Center School Clock Restoration Complete

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It’s been a long time coming, but the Center School’s Seth Thomas Clock restoration project  is finally complete!  Thanks to the hard work of the Balzer Family Clock Works and RestorationProject President Ray Andrews, as well as the generous donations of the town of Mattapoisett and its residents, the clock bell will ring once again.

Andrews estimates the clock bell will ring for the first time around 3:00 pm on Friday. The new clock will be open to the public for viewing.

Photo by Katy Fitzpatrick

Rick Balzer makes the final adjustments to the Center School Seth Thomas Clock before it is moved to its new location. 

Swimmers Suit up to Save Buzzards Bay

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Temperatures so far this summer have had swimmers flocking to the nearest body of water to keep cool. On Saturday, July 7, nearly 300 swimmers will plunge into Buzzards Bay in order to raise money to help preserve the Buzzards Bay Watershed by participating in the 19th Annual Buzzards Bay Swim.

“I think the planning has gone very well this year,” said the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Vice President of Operations Maureen Coleman.  “I think we are very lucky.  The swimmers have really risen to the challenge this year.”

The racecourse spans 1.2 miles, kicking off at Davy’s Locker in New Bedford and finishing at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven. A party and awards ceremony will be held upon completing of the race.  Live bands and Fun 107.1 will be on site to provide entertainment.

Registration for the race closed earlier this week. 294 swimmers is the official count for 2012, which is approximately 80 more than 2011’s 216 participants. The majority of the racers come from the Tri-Town and Southeastern Massachusetts even though the event is open to swimmers across the state.

“We’ve seen incredible growth.  It’s very exciting,” said Coleman.

So far, the racers have raised $56,000, but they can also raise money through sponsors. If the racers generate $100,000, longtime swimmer Larry Fish will donate an additional $25,000 to the Coalition.

“All of the money raised supports all of our work,” said Coleman.  “We are dedicated to the restoration, protection and sustainable use and enjoyment of the watershed.”

Coleman said that while the Coalition focuses on a variety of different aspects in preserving the Buzzards Bay Watershed one of the key areas of concern today is the nitrogen pollution.

“It is literally choking the life out of our coves and harbors,” she said. “Luckily we have a strong advocacy program to protect that town by town.”

For more information on volunteer opportunities with the Buzzards Bay Coalition or to sponsor a swimmer, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

 

RMS Names New Principal

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After several months of searching for the right candidate, Superintendent Doug White named Dr. Moira Smith Rodgers the new principal of Rochester Memorial School.

“Dr. Rodgers brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in the areas of curriculum and instruction,” said White in a press release issued last week.  “In addition, she has a reputation of being a strong communicator who prides herself on forming positive relationships with all stakeholders.”

Prior to accepting the position in Rochester, Dr. Rodgers served as the Director of Curriculum & Instruction for Falmouth Public Schools. She also served as a teacher for grades 4 and 6 in Falmouth.

Dr. Rodgers began her educational career in 1994 as a teacher in the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Sociology from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Shortly after, she received her Master’s Degree in Education from Boston College.  In January 2012, she earned her Doctorate of Education from Northeastern University. She also has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

“I am confident that this selection will bring the leadership, stability and continuity that will allow the Rochester Memorial School community to continue to prosper and grow,” said White in a press release.

Dr. Rodgers will assume her duties as principal on Wednesday, August 1.  She currently resides in North Falmouth.

Emergency Selectmen’s Meeting Douses Fire

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The rumors of Thomas Joyce’s resignation have been somewhat exaggerated.  On July 5, 2012, the Marion Board of Selectmen posted a notice on the town website advertising an emergency meeting regarding the “resignation of Fire Chief Joyce.”

When contacted, Town Administrator Paul Dawson stated the meeting had been called because there was concern that Chief Joyce might resign as EMS director, effective at 12:00 pm on Thursday, if issues involving his compensation were not addressed

“I think there were some misunderstandings between the parties.  I have no complaints.  Since we combined fire and EMS, things have gone very well,” said Joyce.  “He’s doing a fantastic job,” Dawson said.

Last year, the town began considering consolidating the fire department with the EMS, under one director.  On July 1, 2011, Joyce was appointed to fulfill that role, but without a procedure for compensating him for his work as EMS director.  “It was a dry run to see how things could go,” said Town Administrator Paul Dawson.

But a year later, Joyce has yet to receive any compensation for his role running Marion’s emergency medical services.

“We’ve had an on-going issue regarding pay for the chief’s position as EMS director,” said Dawson.

Discussions regarding how to pay Joyce continued over the summer but stalled.  Dawson said talks resumed in November of 2011, but eventually stopped again due to the preparations for the Annual Town Meeting and the drafting of the town budget.  “It was a very busy time.  He understands there is a lot of bureaucracy involved,” said Dawson.  “He and I were having on-going discussions, so he was aware.”

The process was further convoluted by Joyce’s current pension, which he earned as Wareham’s Chief of Police. “As a retiree of a pension system, he is subject to limited earnings,” Dawson said..

A year after Joyce’s appointment, they are finally on track.  “We understand the parameters now.  We just need to discuss how that will occur,” Dawson said.  “The Board of Selectmen will be requesting to meet with the Finance Committee to discuss whether there should be retroactive pay from July 1, 2011 to now.”  Dawson said that the Board of Selectmen may seek a transfer from reserve funds.

The Board of Selectmen is also investigating other towns that have blended their fire and EMS departments and how they compensate those directors.

By Eric Tripoli