ORR Presents ‘The Boy Friend’

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Spring is upon us, and that means it’s time for the Old Rochester Regional High School Spring Musical. This year, Drama Club Director Paul Sardinha and his cast of 113 students will be performing The Boy Friend, a classic show filled with humor and love.

“The Boy Friend is an old work horse in the industry,” said Sardinha. “It’s established and very crowd pleasing. It’s a very family oriented show.”

The original show featured Broadway legend Julie Andrews and is the third longest running Broadway show in history. The plot features a group of English girls attending high school in France during the 1920’s. One girl, Polly Browne, who is portrayed by ORR student Katie Holden, is preoccupied because she cannot find a boyfriend, until she meets Tony, portrayed by ORR Junior Max Houck.

“The whole play is a spoof,” said Houck. “There are a lot of inside jokes that are portrayed on stage and we make it really obvious.”

When Sardinha announced at last year’s drama banquet that the school would be performing The Boy Friend in 2012, he admits the response was not what he expected. However, after nearly 12 weeks of planning and rehearsal, the students are really coming together.

“They’re loving it,” said Sardinha. “They’re excelling at it brilliantly.  They’re exhausted because I’m trying to teach them how comedy works, and I’m trying to teach them how to do the funniest reading of their lines. They’re having a great time learning exaggeration.”

Sardinha holds auditions and selects the cast the week before the holiday break. When students return in January, the crew rehearses three days a week for three hours at a time until show time.  Most students in the play are also in a variety of other extracurricular activities, including Houck, who plays both soccer and lacrosse.

“It’s extremely hard to balance everything,” said Houck. “I play two sports, soccer and lacrosse, and I’m the captain of the soccer team, so I have to do a lot of stuff in the off-season too.”

This will be Houck’s first drama performance of his high school career.  While he originally auditioned for a different part, he was thrilled when he learned he was cast as the lead. Still, he’s got a little bit of jitters.

“I’m extremely nervous,” said Houck. “I’ve never danced or acted in front of a crowd before, and since this is a musical, that’s half of it. We’ll see how it goes.”

The good news is Houck won’t be alone on stage, with over 50 actors joining him under the lights and over 60 classmates helping backstage and on the technical end. A large group of parents help manage the banking and marketing for the production. From ordering and printing tickets to distributing posters, Sardinha says they are more than happy to help, and for that, he is grateful to be holding this position he has held for 20 years.

“I am so blessed to be working here,” said Sardinha. “It’s such a fantastic environment.  The faculty is great and the kids are phenomenal. And we have a fantastic parents group.”

The Boy Friend will run from March 22-24 at 7:30 pm and March 25 at 2:00 pm in the ORRHS auditorium. Tickets are $12 for seniors and students with an ID and $15 for adults and can be purchased at the Marion General Store, the Pen and Pendulum in Mattapoisett, the Plumb Corner Market in Rochester or in the school’s office during school hours.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

Learning Beyond the Classroom

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Students from Old Rochester Regional’s Advanced Placement English 12 class are preparing for a school-time performance of “The Kite Runner” at the Zeiterion Theatre on Wednesday, April 4.  The show is a stage adaption of Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel of the same title, which presents Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion through the eyes of a young boy. The students are currently reading The Kite Runner as their assigned reading for the month of March. The performance at the Zeiterion will be a capstone to the unit.

The tickets were purchased by the school with the help of Principal Michael Devoll, enabling students to see the performance for a small fee that covers the cost of the bus. Students will be missing only a few classes in order to see the performance; they will leave at 8:45 am and return at 10:50 am.

There was a short scare for the A.P. English students last week when it looked like they wouldn’t actually be able to attend the performance. This was because the school had purchased tickets for the performance on Thursday, April 5, which coincided with the school’s “Every 15 Minutes” program.        “Every 15 Minutes,” which educates the seniors at Old Rochester Regional about the dangers of drinking and driving, is a mandatory school assembly every year. The presentation was scheduled for the same time as “The Kite Runner,” but after some discussion with the administration at the Zeiterion, it turned out that the A.P. English class could attend the performance on April 4 instead. The class is still missing the police presentation for “Every 15 Minutes,” but they will have a separate presentation during their English class to make up for it.

The performance at the Zeiterion isn’t the only learning that is happening outside of Old Rochester Regional. Students from the class are also attending events at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, which are being offered to library cardholders in preparation for the same theater performance.  Last Wednesday, students attended a presentation by Dr. Gregory Johnson, who spoke about his volunteer experience in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion. Dr. Johnson might be speaking to the entire ORR student body in the near future — school nurse Kim Corazzini is hoping to work out the details.

The students also attended a book discussion for The Kite Runner this Wednesday at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library. Not all students from the class were able to attend (many were participating in the Drama Club’s dress rehearsal) but those who did were exempt from the in-class assessment for the reading.

The A.P. English 12 class isn’t the only class to benefit from out-of-the-classroom learning. In the past month, students from the A.P. English 11 class and the Creative English 12 class attended a performance of “The Merchant of Venice” at Trinity Repertory Company after reading Shakespeare’s play in class. The school, making the field trip more affordable to students as they only had to pay for the bus, also purchased the tickets for that performance.

By Anne Smith

Gearing Up for Spring Sports

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The Winter sports have concluded their respective seasons, which overall were some of the most successful in recent years. Now athletes and coaches participating in spring sports are beginning preseason preparations this week. As the spring track, lacrosse, tennis, baseball, softball, and golf teams prepare for their competitive seasons, preseason is a time to assess the condition of the team without the graduated seniors and to see how those spots will be filled with younger players.

Boys and Girls Spring Track both had very successful seasons last year, but many athletes have graduated. For the boys, Dana Dourdeville, Ian Knapton, and Christian Lavoie covered the distance, sprints, and throwing events respectively and were all major scorers for the team. On the girl’s side, Therese Morse, Emily Roseman, Hannah O’Day, and Alexandra Bare all graduated and were vital parts of the team. Nevertheless, performances in winter track by younger athletes show that there is certainly much potential for replacements.

For Tennis, key players like Shanice Dasilva and Olivia Offringa graduated, leaving spots open for underclassmen to step up and show what they are capable of. Golfers like Jono Wilbur have left ORR, and baseball and softball players such as Greg Kornichuk and Emma Keough have also graduated.

Preseason is the time when younger athletes realize the seniors are no longer there as insurance to win games or meets – now it’s up to them. It’s a great time for realizing potential and developing as an athlete, and individual, and a team. It’s clear from the successful winter seasons that there is plenty of athletic talent left at ORR. This spring season will be a season to watch.

By India Krawczyk

Now what?

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To the editor:

I would like to applaud the good job done by the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen at the February 28 meeting.

Paul Silva, Jordan Collyer and Tyler Macallister along with our Harbormaster, Horace Fields, worked to solve some of the issues that have been problematic with the Aquaculture farms in our Mattapoisett waters.

The Marine Advisory Board worked very hard all summer, listening to the concerns of Mattapoisett concerning the use of and preservation of our recreational waters.

You will be happy to hear that our town officials are all working together now to uphold the new Aquaculture rules and regulations as written.

I felt proud and honored to be witness to small town government at its best.

Thank you all!

Joyce Almeida

 

To the editor:

While budget struggles mount for area towns, is it now time for local government to let the taxpayers know about the costs for unfunded financial liabilities?

Several years ago, both the New Bedford Standard-Times and the Boston Globe editorialized that sick day buybacks alone would bankrupt some communities in the future.

Was anyone listening?

Sick day buybacks (unpaid sick days purchased under varying terms once an employee leaves a government position) are just one tiny sector of a government’s unfunded liability potential.

Others include shared healthcare costs, even after retirement; clothing allowances (in some communities called a uniform allowance); longevity payments annually, personal days for perfect attendance every six months, etc.

On March 7, I was one of a handful of folks attending a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2013 budget for Old Rochester Senior and Junior High Schools.

I was curious about unfunded financial liabilities and not hearing anything related to this but quite aware that seven teaching and custodial positions would go unfunded next year asked the question:

“How much money is in this budget for sick day buybacks and what would the liability be if the practice was stopped today and we paid the employees their due?”

The answers were not immediately available but were promised.  Within hours, the superintendent’s office volunteered the following:

“Next year’s budget for the two schools earmarks $11,050 for sick day buybacks.  Seems reasonable.”

As of last September, the tri-town liability for paying off the accumulated sick days just at the two schools would be $210,468.  That’s frightening.

Then came the shocker: If all of the unfunded liabilities for the two schools, projected into the future, were paid, the cost would be $12,900,000.

This I consider unsustainable!

Particularly when the potential costs for all other town employees are not included in that figure.

So my question to tri-town officials:  Now what?

Brad Hathaway, 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.

 


Bay Watch Project Making Progress

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Marion Board of Selectmen Chair Jonathan Henry gave an update on the Bay Watch Affordable Housing Project at the bi-weekly Selectmen’s meeting on the evening of Tuesday, March 20. According to Henry, the proposed project is moving along nicely and could be a reality soon.

“The atmosphere has been one of cooperation with the planners,” said Henry. “I am very encouraged by the willingness of the different boards to push this over the hump and get it started.”

The project proposes a new affordable housing complex, to be constructed off Route 105, providing 60 affordable rental units and 36 single-family homes. However, the latest modification of the plan has raised a number of issues since it came before the Zoning Board in January.

First, the road where the development would be constructed is not presently a public road, therefore school buses would not be able to go down the road and pick up the children. Also, because the road is a one-way, the town is concerned with how fire trucks and other emergency vehicles would be able to maneuver around and exit the property if necessary.

Henry addressed both of these issues at Tuesday’s meeting, saying that the town is trying to get the road in the public domain so they would be able to widen the road and make repairs as they see fit. He felt confident that the town would be able to reach a resolution with the planners and that the students would still have access to the bus on the street.

With regards to the emergency vehicles, Henry said the Fire Department and the town have come to a “handshake” agreement, that in the case of an emergency, the trucks and emergency vehicles would be able to turn around and have an alternative exit on the bike path and other abutting properties near the complex.

The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Thursday, March 22 to further discuss the project.

In other news, Town Administrator Paul Dawson was pleased to announce that the town’s audit report from the fiscal year 2011 was very strong with no issues.

The Board voted to approve Dawson to sign two contracts that would help improve roadways in town. The first contract would cost the town $330,000 and would help repave South Street, Ryder Lane and a portion of Spring Street. The second contract would give $247,500 to help improve the drainage systems on roads across town.

Marion resident Carol Sanz asked the Board for a number of status updates for projects that have recently been addressed at town meetings. Sanz inquired about the Town House Advisory Committee and whether or not the Board had met with the group to talk about the broadening of their research scope.

At the last Selectmen’s meeting, the committee went before the board asking permission to conduct more in-depth research than was originally outlined in their contract to determine what should be done with Marion Town House. The Board said they had met with the committee and that they will stick to their original contract outlines for now with the possibility to expand in the fall.

Sanz also requested an update for the lighting in the music hall and the Board said they would request an update and present it at the next meeting.

The Marion Board of Selectmen will meet again on Tuesday, April 3 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Town House.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

Sippican Choral Society Music Scholarship

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The Sippican Choral Society is pleased to announce that scholarship applications have been sent to the choral directors and guidance offices of the following High Schools: Old Rochester Regional, Wareham, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, and New Bedford. Graduating seniors who plan to major in Music Education, Composition, or Performance are eligible to apply. The deadline for submission is April 15. Check out our website: www.sippicanchoral.org.

Mattapoisett Council on Aging Art Exhibit

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The Mattapoisett Council on Aging will be hosting an art exhibit on Saturday, March 24 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Center School, 17 Barstow St. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

Mattapoisett Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt

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The Mattapoisett Lions Club is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 7 at 1:00 pm in Veterans’ Park at the Ned’s Point Lighthouse. The Easter Bunny will make an appearance and the hunt will be done in sections for different age groups. This is a free community event for children of all ages and their families.

Gateway Babe Ruth Sign-ups

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Gateway Babe Ruth is now accepting on line registrations for the 2012 Baseball Season.  Players living in the towns of Acushnet, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester and Wareham who will be 13, 14 or 15 years of age before May 1 are eligible to play. To download   Registration forms go to www.gatewaybaberuth.org. Forms must be submitted by March 29.  Tryouts will be conducted for each League, dates are listed on the Web Site. All parents are encouraged to volunteer their time to the Gateway League. For more information go to www.gatewaybaberuth.org.

Local Soccer Team Wins Tournament in NY

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A local soccer team of 11 and 12 year old girls were recently crowned Champions of the ‘Elite’ division of the prestigious Manhattan Soccer Kick-Off Classic, one of the top youth soccer tournaments in New York.

The NEFC South Coast United U12 Girls Team braved the cold, winter weather to play top teams from New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. They tied their first match against East Islip (New York), before winning their next two matches versus Connecticut Football Club Arsenal and Albertson Fury (New York) to earn their way into the Championship match, where they defeated Ukranian Nationals Dynamo (Pennsylvania) 1-0.

“I’m so proud of all the girls,” Coach Terry Gordon said.”They played hard all weekend and their efforts paid off with the championship. With hard work and determination, on and off the field, the girls were able to achieve this success.”

The NEFC South Coast Under 12 girls team is comprised of players from communities throughout the South Coast including Acushnet, Fall River, New Bedford, Dartmouth, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Swansea, and Somerset, as well as Riverside and Exeter, RI.

NEFC (New England Football Club) is a premier soccer club and non-profit organization that utilizes a developmental approach in molding skilled soccer players with a special emphasis on ball mastery and foot skills. For more information about the team or the competitive NEFC soccer club visit the team’s website at http://nefc.us/nefcsouthcoastunitedu12girls/home

 

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