Town of Marion’s Future Growth Discussed

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Designing a master plan for the town of Marion was the topic of discussion at the Marion Planning Board meeting on Monday evening. Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) representative Sandy Conaty attended and asked the board how she could help.

“We have the Marion 2015 plan and a 1996 growth management plan … are these two documents your master plan?” asked Conaty. The Planning Board discussed the defeat at town meeting of the Neighborhood Overlay District a year ago and asked Conaty about the other 350 towns in Massachusetts and how they were dealing with growth issues and tax increases.

Conaty’s reply was to take the issues in small chunks and not be overwhelmed by the entire town.

“If you want to grow, how are you going to do that?” she asked.

After much discussion, the board agreed to spend time at each meeting discussing the topic and possibly surveying the public about growth and increased taxation issues and how to tackle them.

“We have many intelligent and wise people in Marion who we have to tap into via surveys and questionnaires. We need to get opinions and help on this topic,” said Chairman Jay Ryder.

A full board of all seven members plus secretary Terri Santos attended the meeting.

In other business, the board approved a correction of an ANR Plan for the Knott family of 56 Allen Street. Bill Madden, of GAF Engineering, represented the Knotts and said that a typographical error in a deed reference was caught by an attorney in the transaction and that he was there to request approval for the change in the plan.

“This is a change in plan only, just something to be struck from the deed,” said Madden. The board approved the request.

A pre-submission conference for Fieldstone Farms, 806 Mill Street (Route 6, former Frigate Restaurant) followed with owner Arne Johnson, represented by Kevin Forgue, engineer with GAF Engineering along with architect Anthi Frangiadis.

Johnson spoke to the board and said that the reason for the board appointment was to get a feeling for the process of making his business vision a success. Johnson plans to raze the building and build a new structure that adheres to current setback regulations, parking regulations, run off and landscaping requirements and get his new produce business in progress during 2013.

The new business will be known as Fieldstone Farms.

The board adjourned at 9:30 pm.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

A Brief Meeting

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            The Mattapoisett Planning Board met on Monday, August 6, but had no public hearings on the agenda for the night. An informal discussion listed on the agenda with Daniel C. Perry was postponed to the next meeting as per Perry’s request.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board will be on Monday, August 20, at 7:00 pm.

By Eric Tripoli

Camp Massasoit Celebrates 50 Years

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For the 50th summer, Camp Massasoit has been providing summer fun for the Tri-Town since 1962.  The camp, which is located on Mattapoisett Harbor, recently held a celebration to honor the long-standing tradition of YMCA programs.  The camp welcomes over 500 campers each year.

 

Buzzards Bay Regatta Photos

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The Buzzards Bay Regatta was held this weekend.  Check out these great action shots! Photos by Anne Smith.

Student Actors Take Outdoor Stage

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Students in the Mattapoisett Free Public Library’s summer reading programs put on a performance they wrote themselves Friday afternoon in their outdoor theater outside of the library.  Check out our pictures below!  Photos by Katy Fitzpatrick.

Mattapoisett Police Investigating More Break-Ins

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Mattapoisett Police are investigating both a house break-in and an attempted break-in that occurred late yesterday morning, Thursday, August 2. The actual break-in occurred on Park Street, and Police Chief Mary Lyons said the suspect took jewelry and a laptop.  Today, the police are checking with local pawnshops to see if any of the stolen items have turned up. Additionally, investigators lifted the house for fingerprints.

The attempted break-in happened on Pocohontas Way, where Lyons said a neighbor saw a male suspect dressed in all black approach the back of his neighbor’s house.  When police arrived, the suspect had fled, but managed to break a window to try to get into the house.

These two incidences are only a fraction of the amount of robberies and attempted robberies all three police departments in the Tri-Town have faced this summer.

“This summer it seems we have had more than we usually do,” said Lyons.  “This is an easy time for people to break into homes because most people are leaving their windows open.”

Last week, Mattapoisett recorded three other robberies; one on North Street and two on Route 6.  In Marion, police responded to a breaking and entering on Ichabod Lane last Wednesday, July 25.

“We are out patrolling and doing the best we can looking for suspicious people in cars,” said Lyons.  “But the neighbors are our best defense.”

Lyons encourages residents to notify the police of potentially suspicious activity as it is happening and not waiting until hours after the fact; something Lyons said residents have been doing, making it harder for police to catch suspects.

Here are some other tips to help keep your home safe:

            •Keep car doors and house doors locked.

            •Don’t let mail or newspapers build up outside your home if you go on a trip.  Have a trusted neighbor take care of them for you if need be.

            •Keep your lawn looking somewhat neat.  If burglars see an overgrown yard, they may be more inclined to take a closer look at the house it belongs to.

            •If you see suspicious people or vehicles, call the police. Try to get a license plate number or description if you can.

            •When casing homes, many burglars will ring the doorbell and engage in a quick conversation if someone answers the door.  Don’t open your door to someone you don’t trust.

            •Use motion lights for night security.

            •Be vigilant and watch your neighbors’ homes.

By Katy Fitzpatrick & Eric Tripoli 

Helen Ruth (England) Kenison

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Helen Ruth (England) Kenison, age 81, of Salem, NH and Mattapoisett, MA died June 28, 2012 at Parkland Medical Center, Derry, NH.

Mrs. Kenison did clerical work at Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation, Boston, MA; Loom Weave, Lawrence, MA; National Security Agency, Ft. Meade, MD; and MFE Corporation, Salem, NH.

She was born in Cambridge, MA and graduated from Somerville High School class of ‘48’ and Bryant and Stratton, Boston, MA.

She was a member of Pleasant Street United Methodist Church, Salem, NH and served on many committees including President of United Methodist Women, Pastor Parish relations, Nominations, Flower Chairman, Vice President Women’s Society and Sunday School teacher (also in the Philippines and Germany).

She was Past Matron of Somerville Chapter No 206, Order of the Eastern Star in Massachusetts and member of Salem Chapter No 57, Salem, NH.  She received the Rose Award for Recognition of Service Excellence by General Grand Chapter, Washington, DC.   She served as the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls in both Germany and Salem, NH and received the Grand Cross of Color.

She was a volunteer at Salemhaven Nursing Home since 1987 and also volunteered at the VA Hospital, Manchester, NH.  She was very active in the Young at Heart Program at the Salem Athletic Club for many years as well as Senior Friends at Parkland Medical Center, Derry, NH.  As a member of the Salem Senior Center and the knitting club, she knitted slippers for service men and women.  She also was part of the Friends of the Elderly, Mattapoisett, MA and a member of the Rockingham Rubies Red Hat Society, Salem, NH.

She loved doing picture puzzles, gardening and traveling with her husband and family throughout the fifty states and overseas.  She was an avid bowler in military family leagues, the MFE Corporate team and in recent years as a member of the Senior Leagues at Park Place Lanes, Windham, NH.

She leaves her husband of 57 years, retired CW4 Damon W. Kenison Sr., son, Damon W. Kenison Jr. and wife Heather of NC and daughter and her husband, Mary Lou F. and Frederick H. Gould Jr. of NH.  Brother, John A. England Jr. of NC.  Four grandchildren; Damon W. Kenison III and wife Lynn of AR, Jamie M. Kenison of VA,        Angela R. Normyle and husband Christopher of NH and Christopher M. Mata and wife Christina of NC. Six great grandchildren;  Brady C. and Carter A. Normyle, Jonathan J. and Nathaniel N. Mata and Taylor and Michael Kenison as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Pleasant United Methodist Church, 8 Pleasant Street, Salem, NH 03079, or a charity of one’s own choice.

Calling Hours were held on Monday, July 2, 2012 at Douglas and Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main Street, Salem, NH 03079.

Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, July 3, 2012. Burial followed at Pine Grove Cemetery, Salem, NH.

Lesley J. (Sackman) Kelley

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Lesley J. (Sackman) Kelley, 71, of Mattapoisett passed away at home on Wednesday August 1, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the wife of the late Paul M. Kelley, Jr.

Born on September 3, 1940 in Hackensack, New Jersey, the daughter of the late Eugene R. and Dorothea (Winslow) Sackman, she was raised in New Jersey and New York, and moved to Mattapoisett when she was 17 years old . She and her late husband enjoyed spending time during the winter at their home in Vero Beach, Florida.

She was a graduate of Fairhaven High School and Virginia Intermont College.

Lesley worked as a registered nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital for 26 years.

Her passions were being around her children and grandchildren, reading, and watching the Boston Red Sox.

She is survived by her three children, Donna M. L. MacDougall and her husband Chris of Marion, Katherine A. Linhares and her husband Edgerton Coble of Melrose, and Donald Linhares Jr. and his wife Catherine of South Dartmouth; two sisters, Nancy Makuch of Stagecoach, Nevada and Janet Day of Lebanon, Indiana; her grandchildren, Jonathan and Hannah MacDougall, Alicia and Lilly Coble, and Miles and Gretchen Linhares; and her cousins, Peggy and Penny Dervitz of New Jersey.

 

The family would like to thank the caregivers from Tender Hearts Home Health Care for their support and unconditional care provided to Lesley.

Her Funeral Service will be held on Monday (Aug. 6th) at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, 124 Front St., Marion. Burial will follow in Cushing Cemetery. Arrangments are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hawthorn Cancer Center, 537 Faunce Corner Rd, Dartmouth, MA 02747 and Community Nurse & Hospice Care, P.O. Box 751,Fairhaven, MA 02719. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Police Find Missing Marion Woman

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Multiple police departments and emergency response teams worked together to find a missing 84-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s Disease who went missing early Friday morning from her Marion home.

On Friday, August 3 at 2:29 am, the Marion Police Department responded to a report of a missing 84-year-old female with Alzheimer’s Disease in the area of Converse Road and Aucoot Ave.

A preliminary search was conducted, with officers of the Marion Police Department, Mattapoisett Police, Rochester Police, Wareham Police, firefighters from Marion Fire/EMS and K-9 units from Mass State Police and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department.

Also responding to the search were officers from the Marion Harbormaster’s Office and the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Search and Rescue Team.

At 4:13 am, a K-9 from the Mass State Police located the missing female, asleep in the marsh off Aucoot Cove, a few hundred yards away from her home.  She was treated by Marion Fire/EMS and transported to Tobey Hospital, with non-life threatening injuries.

Robert P. Balzarini

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Robert P. Balzarini, 64, of Rochester, died July 31, 2012 in the Boston Medical Center, Boston. He was the husband of Michelle A. (Dupuis) Balzarini and the son of the late Peter J. and Nellie T. (Gallerani) Balzarini.

He was born in Wareham and lived in Rochester all of his life.

Bob graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School, Massasoit Community College and Southeastern Massachusetts University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

He was a Seabee in the United States Navy. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War having served 3 tours of duty.

Bob worked in the Cranberry Industry for 29 years at Decas and Hiller Cranberry Companies. He managed the fresh fruit division. After retiring, he enjoyed being at his wood lot cutting and splitting firewood.

A lifelong Rochester “townie”, Bob served as a volunteer firefighter and worked for many town departments including the police, highway, and cemetery departments. He loved hard work and helping others, he was tough, strong and dependable. But what mattered most to Bob at the end of the day was his family.

Survivors include his widow, Michelle A. (Dupuis) Balzarini; his daughter, Ashley M. Orander of Rochester; his sister, Marie Weigel of Rochester; a brother, Peter Balzarini and his wife Anne of Wareham; his mother and father in law, Jerry and Margaret Dupuis of Wareham; his sisters in law, Danielle Fagundes of Wareham and Renee Hodgkinson and her husband Bob of FL; several nephews, nieces, cousins and many friends.

His funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 4, 2012 in the First Congregational Church, Rochester. Burial will follow in Sherman Cemetery, Rochester.

Visiting hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham.