Committee Addresses Sippican Dress Code

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A two-year bus contract for the fiscal years of 2013 and 2014 for the district was approved by the Marion School Committee at their meeting on Wednesday night, January 4.

The Braga Bus Company offered the 2011 rate for the fiscal years of 2013 and 2014, which will cost $377,215 per year for the district, but will save $59,918 over the next two years. The contract cost does not include bussing costs of special education students or late busses leaving the junior and senior high school.

“We’re very pleased with the service they’ve provided over the past few years,” said Superintendent Doug White. “We work with them and the Department of Public Works in the towns to determine road conditions and the safety of our students, especially in winter weather and they have been attentive to any concerns we’ve had.”

The contract cost does not include a “fuel escalation” clause which was described as “plus or minus 5 percent of the cost of diesel fuel in 2009 when the contract bid was accepted,” according to Katie Isernio, School District Business Administrator. “It (fuel surcharge) has run us approximately $4,000 per year so far,” said Ms. Isernio.

Mr. White presented his report and said that fiscal year budget 2013 presents a challenge, with the expiration of federal and state funds, which were used to offset a decrease in local revenue. “Over the next several months, finance subcommittees from all four school committees will be meeting regularly with administration to create the proposed FY 13 budget”, said Mr. White.

Another item discussed was a grant application to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that could possibly secure funds up to $500,000 for the purpose of finding new and more efficient ways to deliver core local services which could include delivering technology services. The district agreed to push for inclusion of a position for a technology director in the FY 2013 budget to coordinate all the schools in the district. After the technology subcommittee presents their report in February, describing the importance of technology direction for the district, the grant application can proceed.

Elise Frangos, Director of Curriculum presented the January 13 Professional Development workshops available to teachers. There will be no school for students on that day. All the teachers from all the district schools will attend, with many of the sessions touching on the “common core curriculum” found both in and outside of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS).

Another professional development day is planned for January 27 and there will be no school for students on that day.

Lyn Rivet, Principal of Sippican School said the Sippican School Council discussed the School Council’s discussion of a dress code and a survey was done. Of the 368 families at Sippican School, 227 responded, with 21 percent voting yes for a strict dress code and 79 percent voting no.

Committee member Michelle Ouellette asked about the wording of the survey question which used the words “strict dress code” and also said that in looking at the time stamps recording the votes, some only seconds or minutes apart, it appeared that some people had replied numerous times to the question. “I think it’s still open to debate,” said Ms. Ouellette.

“We asked the School Council to gather information on the topic, whether it’s valid or invalid or if it was a negative or positively worded question… they did their job,” said Chairman Brad Gordon. Mr. Gordon said that the School Council agreed that the current code could be ‘tightened up’ and that topic will be listed on the agenda for their next meeting.

Ms. Rivet said that the teacher training module for the grade tracking software program, Power Grade, has been purchased for $2500. Sixth grade teachers will begin working with the tool and transfer current grades over to the system. The system allows students and parents to view the grade standards and how a students progress stacks up tot he standards.

Facilities Manager, Steven Murphy said that the district had locked in a 6 cent rate for electricity for the FY 2013. The current rate ranges from 6 and a half to 8 cents, saving approximately $1000 per month for Sippican School. Mr. Murphy said that a flat gas rate has been negotiated and with a lower average daily temperature, he is projecting a 7 percent decrease in gas costs for FY 2013.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

Early Morning Fire Call

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The Mattapoisett Fire Department had an early morning call to the Kinsale Inn this morning. The first officer on scene reported that there was smoke in the building and that all occupants had safely exited. When the Fire Department investigated they found that smoke from a fireplace had backed up into the building.

Remembering Mattapoisett’s Radio Pioneer

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When people think of Mattapoisett history, whaling shipbuilding normally comes to mind. However, the town has another, lesser-known distinction: the first female radio announcer in New England hailed from none other than Mattapoisett.

Eunice Randall Thompson – the aunt of former Selectman George Randall and a noted radio announcer and engineer – recently was posthumously inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcaster Hall of Fame.

This past fall, Mattapoisett residents and relatives of the late engineer – Eunice Stolecki, Cheryl Randall and Pierce Randall – ventured out to Quincy, MA to attend a gala awards ceremony and luncheon that honored this woman’s role in radio history.

Born in 1898, Eunice was raised on a Massachusetts farm on Randall Lane (at 29 Randall Lane, which incidentally includes the town’s oldest house built in 1741) but envisioned for herself a life different than other women from her era.

She taught herself Morse Code and learned all about ham radio (or amateur radio) – and a chance encounter with another radio pioneer, Irving Vermilya, led to a mentorship that helped her pick up the skills to be hired as the first female radio engineer for the AMRAD station 1XE on Medford Hillside. She later went on the air of Boston’s first radio station in 1922.

Over the years, Eunice had a successful career as an engineer and radio expert/consultant who was active in the Eastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association and South Shore Amateur Radio clubs. During World War II she volunteered for WERS and taught code to aspiring amateurs. She passed away in 1982 in Maine, where she resided with husband Ken Thompson.

“I don’t think people realize the importance of Mattapoisett in radio history,” commented Donna Halper, a noted radio historian, consultant, author, university professor and radio announcer who herself broke ground as the first woman announcer at Northeastern University in Boston in the 1960s. Ms. Halper has thoroughly researched the lives of Eunice and Mr. Vermilya – a “ham radio legend for 40 to 50 years” from Mattapoisett who passed away in 1964.

In particular, Ms. Halper has worked hard to bring Eunice’s contributions to radio to the public’s attention – which she feels were omitted from many narratives on early broadcast history due to her gender.

But Ms. Halper’s interest in Eunice is personal as well.

“I’ve been the first woman in every place I’ve been. What I really wanted to know, is who is my mother?” Ms. Halper said.

Eunice likely did not consider herself a feminist, Ms. Harper said, but “wanted to follow her own path. I don’t think she believed in stereotypes.” However, she “tried to change the language” of radio, especially in her insistence of bring called a “draftslady” instead of “draftsman”.

As an accomplished radio engineer and announcer, “she had her foot in both worlds.”

Cheryl Randall, the great niece of Eunice, remembered her as a woman of great stature (she was 6’4” tall) who taught her Braille as a child.

“We’d write letters back and forth in Braille. It was really cool,” she said. Although Ms. Randall said not everyone in her family was accepting of her decision to not “stay home and have babies” – the women generally supported her.

Back in the day, Ms. Randall said Eunice built a receiver at the Randall Road home so family could listen to her broadcasts.

“She ran a wire through the woods. It was pretty amazing,” she said, adding that some of the old wires are still visible on the property today.

In addition to her engineering prowess, both Ms. Randall and Ms. Halper describe Eunice’s voice as powerful.

Ms. Halper said that recording technology was developed much later than Eunice’s original broadcasts, thus “for the most part recollections are only through memories of those who were there.”

However, the Edison Company in 1937 gathered up well-known announcers for a re-enactment of their shows – offering Ms. Halper a coveted chance to hear her idol’s voice.

“You can hear what an incredible voice she had: a deep rich contra alto. It was pretty amazing listening to her,” said Ms. Halper – adding a footnote that in the past, the old microphones distorted voices so women’s voices sounded higher and men’s voices sounded lower in pitch.

“She had such a great voice. She used to sing. She was the total package,” Ms. Randall said about her great-aunt. She recalled that the radio pioneer encouraged her to get her poetry published in a magazine.

“She was an inspiration. I was lucky to grow up knowing her. Those were different times, and that generation is so special,” she said.

Ms. Halper has a strong interest in the friendship between Eunice and Mr. Vermilya – the man who offered to teach her after randomly picking up her amateur Morse coded messages at his home two towns away around 1918.

He had responded in code, “Your daddy didn’t teach you right, little boy.” After responding, Eunice had added, “And by the way, I’m not a little boy, I’m a girl.” From that point, Mr. Vermilya offered to teach her more about ham radio and the two became lifetime friends.

“Talk about chance in bringing two people together,” Ms. Halper commented. “Eunice was a true friend to him.”

Of the two personalities from Mattapoisett who shaped radio, she said, “Their stories are so important to the people who created my industry.”

By Laura Fedak Pedulli

Habitat Project Headed Back to Town Meeting

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Marion selectmen appointed a new member to the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission (MOSAC) and agreed to ask Town Meeting to increase the lot size on a planned Habitat for Humanity project at their regular meeting on January 3, 2012.

In a meeting with the remaining members of MOSAC, the board reviewed the two candidates who had applied for the vacancy, which had been left with Sue Maxwell Lewis’ resignation. Because the position is elected, a chosen candidate would have to be appointed by the Board to fill the spot until the next town election.

After reviewing the applications of Elizabeth Brainerd and Ted North, and after receiving MOSAC’s recommendation, the Board appointed Ms. Brainerd to the position.

“We were quite happily surprised that Elizabeth Brainerd put her name in,” said MOSAC member John Rockwell. Ms. Brainerd’s experience includes time on the Planning Board, 13 years on the Zoning Board of Appeals, and serving as Sippican Lands Trust president at one time.

“She seeks out people’s thoughts on issues, before she forms her own opinion,” said Mr. Rockwell. “I don’t think we could do better.”

The Board unanimously supported the recommendation, saying that it was a good opportunity to have a new person on a committee.

“[Ted North] has wonderful credentials,” said Selectman Roger Blanchette. “[But] it’s been my war cry since I became selectmen that we need more and more people on committees.” Mr. North currently serves on the Planning Board and the Capital Needs Committee.

After the appointment was made, MOSAC brought the Board’s attention to a Habitat for Humanity project slated for an area on Route 6, near Point Road. The single family dwelling would be the first Habitat for Humanity project in Marion, and is the result of a Town Meeting vote that allowed the Affordable Housing Trust to carve a 5,000 sq. ft. lot out of a four-acre parcel to be used for affordable housing purposes.

Mr. Rockwell said that the Board had the opportunity to go forward with the 5,000 sq. ft. project, which could be achieved in a fairly short time with a variance for frontage, or consider bringing the issue back to Town Meeting in May to carve out a larger lot.

Mr. Rockwell cited several engineering hurdles – including a new velocity zone designation on FEMA maps, frontage issues and a small yard – as reasons why the Board would consider asking the town for a larger lot size.

Selectman Blanchette, a member of the Affordable Housing Trust, expressed dismay that the town had approved such a small lot size without further consideration. “I feel real badly that I was asleep at the switch when the [vote] was made at Town Meeting,” he said. “I feel stupid. It should have been caught… 5,000 sq. ft. is a postage stamp. It should have been 15,000 from day one.”

Tom Magauran, vice chairman of the Planning Board, said that the issue should be brought back to Town Meeting, because the lot size was inadequate for the area in question.

“There’s no place for kids to play,” said Mr. Magauran, noting that most of the homes in the proposed neighborhood are 15,000 square feet and larger. “None of us with a family, which is what Habitat is aiming to [support], would want it.” Mr. Magauran urged the Board to reconsider the lot size, calling it “stingy” and “inappropriate”.

“If we have a chance to do something different, we should do it,” said Chairman Jonathan Henry, who said that he didn’t regret the 5,000 sq. ft. recommendation made at Town Meeting, but that he was willing to reconsider the issue.

Upon Selectman Blanchette’s motion, the Board voted to bring the lot size vote back to Town Meeting for reconsideration, with a minimum lot size recommendation of 15,000 sq. ft.

Under action items, the Board:

• Approved an all alcohol license for three Marion social club events, dated for January 14, January 15 and January 28.

• Appointed Margo Steinberg, Neal Balboni, William Johnston and Robert Raymond to the Town House Advisory Committee.

The Board also received requested two water abatements for 1 Converse Road and 956 Point Road. In both abatement requests, it was determined that the meters were functioning properly and that over-consumption from watering gardens with either sprinklers or faulty irrigation systems caused the water bill spike. The abatements were denied.

By Anne Kakley

Planning Board Supports ZBA on Bay Watch

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The Planning Board put its full weight behind the Zoning Board of Appeals in its decision-rendering process of Bay Watch Realty Trust’s request to modify a Special Permit application for its latest proposed affordable housing development.

“I think we can all agree that the ZBA is doing a great job,” said Chairman Jay Ryder at the board’s January 3 meeting, in response to the formal request that the Planning Board weigh in on the application.

This past fall, Bay Watch offered to significantly scale down its 40B project – which originally was for 168 units – to 96 units. The plan includes two affordable 30-unit apartment buildings (60 total units), positioned south toward Route 105 and 36 non-affordable homes north on the parcel beyond the apartments. It is now before the ZBA, as well as the Conservation Commission.

The Planning Board issued an official “no comment” on the application, which implies that it trusts the ZBA to handle the matter. However, some Planning Board members expressed concern about the revised 40B project, in particular its separation of affordable and unaffordable units.

“I personally don’t think it’ll fly in the long term,” said Vice Chair Tom Magauran. He expressed concern that the two 30-unit buildings are 100 percent affordable, not 25 percent as typically preferred by the HCD, and do not mix income types.

“If you do fill it, you are filling it all with 60 tenants who meet this low-income requirement – they all will be under financial stress. The project will not be successful in the long term if you are going to have every one of the units under financial stress. It can become a problem,” he added.

Current affordable housing rates in Marion, which would apply to the project, would set income limits at $44,959 for one person and $51,400 for two people. One affordable housing complex in Marion, Marion Marketplace, advertises one bedroom for $829, not including heat, hot water and electricity. Mr. Magauran noted that market rates are comparable, thus filling the affordable units – with their extensive application process – would be difficult.

“And this is not to be disparaging to financially stressed people, if you are financially stressed you have all of these pressures in your world. [The 40B project] will have social costs,” he said.

Relatedly, board member Sherman Briggs encouraged the public to attend the ZBA meetings and for individuals to offer their input on the revised project.

“This is a lot for a small town, and to make [the two units] 100 percent affordable makes it a joke for the town, and it is a bad joke,” added Mr. Magauran.

Also at the meeting, Mr. Ryder said that Cumberland Farms may begin the demolition and reconstruction of its expanded pumps and two-story convenience store as early as March. He predicted that safety issues will need to be addressed as vehicles could crowd the other Cumberland Farms gas station during construction.

“It’ll be a nightmare, but it’s going to be interesting,” said board member Steve Gonsalves.

In other business, the Planning Board unanimously endorsed an Approval Not Required Petition for 1101A Point Road presented by Frank Westgate on behalf of Tangi Pina.

The board also decided to discuss at its next meeting on Tuesday, January 17 possible warrant article items for the annual town meeting in May.

By Laura Fedak Pedulli

Rochester Trail Guide Coming Soon

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Rochester expects to produce a trail guide for local walkers and hikers in 2012, the Rochester Conservation Commission discussed at their meeting on January 3, 2012.

The booklet will first be distributed to members of the three organizations behind the effort, including the Trustees of the Reservations, Rochester Lands Trust and the Open Space Acquisition Commission. Additional copies will be available to the public and available at the Rochester Town Hall and possibly distributed at town meeting. The Old Colony Vocational Technical High School will handle the printing of the booklet.

“This is a great example of a collaborative effort,” said Laurell Farinon, Rochester Conservation Agent. The text of the guide is complete, with the gathering of maps now in progress.

In other business, the board discussed a Notice of Intent filed by Eduardo and Maria Gouveia for property located at 31 Edwards Lane. The Gouveias propose to construct a 24-by-24-foot garage within the 100 foot buffer zone to a bordering vegetated wetland. The Gouveias representative, Kevin Forgue of G.A.F. Engineering, requested a continuance, which the board agreed to schedule for January 17.

In reviewing the plans, board members had several questions including why an existing storage building wasn’t shown in the plan. Other information, including the actual width and amount of paved or stone area in the driveway, was also requested be shown.

The board also heard a request for a Certificate of Compliance for J. Michael Brides for the construction of a garage and deck within the 100-foot buffer zone to a bordering vegetated wetland. The board issued the certificate.

The board discussed a recent grant of $15,000 awarded to the town to assist in the Geographic Information System (GIS) of tracking data by digitalizing files, maps, reports and charts in the conservation commission files. Ms. Farinon said that her office is preparing information in an effort to get the bid specifications out to qualified contractors who can handle the scope of the project.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

Relay For Life of Tri-Town

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Relay For Life of the Tri Town will join over 5,000 other Relay events across the nation in celebrating the ones that have survived, remembering those that we have lost and fighting back against cancer. The Relay For Life of the Tri-Town will carry this message to the people of our community on January 15 at Old Rochester Regional High School-library, 135 Marion Rd, Mattapoisett, MA 02739 at 7:00 pm.

This kick-off is to introduce the 2012 season to the community, previous/existing teams and anyone that is interested hearing more about this event. You will learn about the 2012 theme, cancer facts, fundraising ideas and information on how to form a team. Everyone in the community is encouraged to attend and hear how they can make a difference in what has become the largest single non-profit organization in the world.

For more information, please call Heather at 508-758-8017 or e-mail the event at tritownrelay@comcast.net or find the group on Facebook or Twitter under Tri-Town Relay for Life.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relay For Life is an overnight event that lasts up to 24 hours.
One Day, One Night, One Community, Our Fight!

Challenging Year Ahead for Rochester

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Although Rochester has managed to maintain its staff, service and programs for the past four years, an ever tightening budget due to rising education and health care costs may force the town to make tough decisions in 2012, Town Administrator Richard LaCamera said.

“This is going to be most challenging year the town has had in a long, long time,” he said, noting that these difficulties are shared among towns across the commonwealth.
He said education costs for Old Rochester Regional and Rochester Memorial School continue to pose problems in keeping the town’s balance sheet in order. The school is struggling with spikes in special education costs – and added utility costs associated with the RMS’s expansion also is putting more strain on the elementary school budget. The RMS budget subcommittee has been holding additional meetings recently to find ways to cope with these unplanned expenditures.

“We have not had any increases in state aid for four years, we are down 27 percent,” Mr. LaCamera said, noting that Governor Deval Patrick’s budget set for release this month will offer a clearer idea of what budgeting challenges are in store. “We just can’t sustain budgets without increases in state aid, when they non-funded budgets… The state is not fulfilling their requirements to fund special education costs and the school systems have to endure,” Mr. LaCamera said.

Health insurance costs for the town continue to rise while the budget fails to grow at a concurrent rate, he said. “In the last four years, increases in health insurance have been between 40 and 50 percent,” he said. Currently employees contribute 50 percent towards their health care costs.

Mr. LaCamera said he has disseminated budget forms to department heads, which are due at the end of January after the governor’s budget is released, and will do his best to meet their needs in a tough environment. He said no staff has been added to any departments in the past four years – but maintaining the current staff will be difficult.

In addition to this, he said is working with department heads on a five-year plan to look at “what we can do and can’t do.”

To help offset costs, the town does regionalize services, in particular sharing some trash and recycling contracts with Mattapoisett and Marion. In addition, the town shares a Town Planner with Wareham, and its Building Inspector and Board of Health Director with other communities. “We have many part-time people,” Mr. LaCamera said.

Despite budgetary challenges, Mr. LaCamera said it is still important to think long term about upcoming needs the town faces.

One issue he plans to address is the need for a revamped town hall or use of a new building to house town officials. He said a plan to put an addition on the Town Hall was put forward eight or nine years ago – before he became Town Administrator – and now it has reached the point that the issue needs revisiting. Currently town services are administered at the Town Hall and Annex – but the lease on the latter building is set to expire in 2013.

“You find when you try to keep all staff, services and programs going, you get to the point that the Town Hall is the last thing to get addressed. I think it’s time to put a plan together in 2012, looking at the long term and short term to renovating existing facility, or looking at getting a new Town Hall on Dexter Lane near the Police Department.”

Mr. LaCamera said that in 2012, the town needs to look at its road maintenance plans. He said $750,000 is put aside every year for such a purpose – but with the cost of oil and asphalt prices – “it doesn’t go every far.” He estimates that $4 million of road work needs to be done in Rochester.

“It won’t happen in the next couple of years – but there has to be a plan,” he said.
In the meantime, Mr. LaCamera is gearing up for a tough financial year ahead.

“Our goal next year has been what we have done in the previous four years – try to maintain all the staff and services that we have… but it is going to be a major challenge,” he said.

By Laura Fedak Pedulli

Rochester’s Café Parlez has Fun and Food

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Café Parlez, the fiction book club, which meets at the Joseph H. Plumb Library in Rochester the last Thursday of every month at 6:30 pm, is appropriately named – they talk (parlez) and they eat (café).

“I’d say once a year we’ll get a call from someone who wants to know if we are reading and discussing French books,” joked Jen Frasier, Library Assistant and coordinator of Café Parlez.

Fourteen people came last Thursday evening, with goodies, to discuss The Princess Bride, by William Goldman.

“How many of you didn’t read the book or didn’t finish it,” asked Ms. Frasier. Five people raised their hands and everyone burst into laughter. “I have a tough time with fantasy,” said Bunny Mogilnicki, “unicorns and talking animals… I can’t take that.”
Ms. Frasier asked how many had seen the popular movie and many raised their hands. The group sat around a table, where they placed their books and someone noted that all the covers of the book were different, both hardbacks and paperbacks.

Many in the group gushed about the book and used words like “classic” and “cult” to describe the story, which included wild beasts, a giant, a pirate, a six fingered villain and, of course, a princess and her true love. The group talked about their favorite characters, their names and how the story plays with our cultural perception of romantic love.

Ms. Frasier handed out a two-page guide of information on the book with discussion questions. At one point, the group discussed the library placement of the book under Young Adult. “Is this category appropriate… should it be under satire, adventure, romance or fantasy,” asked Ms. Frasier. Someone brought the October 2011 issue of Entertainment Weekly, which had a photo display of the actors who appeared in the 1987 movie, with then and now photos.

Deb Smith, who moved to Rochester from Northampton, last May, enjoyed the book club meeting. “This is my fourth time here and it’s a fun evening and a great way to meet new people,” said Ms. Smith.

The schedule for 2012 is available at the library and includes: Bel Canto, Room, Three Junes, A Visit from the Goon Squad, The Last Child, The Tiger’s Wife, Mrs. Kimble and The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

The Plumb Library also has a non-fiction book group, run by Library Director, Gail Roberts, whose nickname is “the grand fromage’. They meet on the third Thursday of the month, at the library, at 6:30 pm. Several attendees belong to both clubs. Barbara Brown, from Marion, belongs to several area books clubs, including one organized by the First Congregational Church of Marion.

“The club gets people reading something they might not ordinarily read,” said Ms. Roberts, “It stretches their interests and it’s important to try different things.”
On January 19, the non fiction book club will discuss Two Guys Named Wes Moore, a nature vs. nurture book about two men, born in the same year who grew up only a few blocks apart and how their lives unfolded.

Ms. Roberts and Ms. Frasier decided to switch roles in March and Roberts will pick the fiction book and coordinate the meeting while Frasier will pick and run the non-fiction book club meeting. “We just wanted to mix it up a little,’ said Ms. Roberts.

Ms. Frasier has books available for anyone wishing to join in and distributes copies of Book Page, which lists book reviews of recently published books. Café Parlez is sponsored by the Friends of Plumb Library.

After a lively discussion about the book and the refreshments, the group was told about a yarn and pattern swop to be held at the library on January 21 between 2:00 and 4:00 pm. “Bring needles… there will be goodies too,” said Ms. Roberts.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

ORR Defeats Apponequet

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Girls and Boys Winter Track – Both the boys and girls went up against Apponequet High School and emerged with wins after a tense meet. The girls did well in the 55-meter, with Ally Saccone and Hannah Walsh placing in the top spots. In the thousand meter, Abby Hiller and Sam Barrett scored for the girls, and Hiller came back successfully to win the 1 mile. For the boys, it was a close meet coming down to the 4×4 relay. The team composed of Evan Lacombe, Kevin Saccone, Matt Vicino, and Nick Coehlo finished first and ensured ORR’s victory. Next up, the boys and girls face Dighton Rehoboth in what is sure to be a tough meet.

Boys Basketball – The boys had an exciting win against Apponequet High School ending in a final score of 78-77. Brendan Parker led the way for the ORR boys with 22 points total and 7 three-pointers. Biruk Legasse scored 13 points, and Forrest Cote scored the final shot in the game ensuring victory. The winning streak continued for the boys, who also faced Fairhaven and won 53-41. Max Risch emerged as the top scorer for ORR with 24 points total, and Matt Beatty led the way with three-pointers scoring two. Their record now stands at 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the SCC.

Girls Basketball – The ORR girls also successfully defeated Apponequet with a final score of 35-32. Katie Wilbur, a junior Captain for the team, scored a total of 18 points, and Gabby Reuter, a freshman newcomer, scored 13. Unfortunately, the girls were not able to keep up their winning streak and lost to Fairhaven High School 46-29. Despite this, Colby Garstang stepped up for the team scoring in the double digits with 11 points, and Abby Offringa helped the team out with her two three-pointers. The girls are now 3-3 overall and 3-1 in the SCC.

By India Krawczyk