ORR Students Earn AP Awards

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21 students at Old Rochester Regional High School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Exams.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.

Ten students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams: Nina Batt (College of the Holy Cross), Emily Bungert (Bowdoin College), Dana Dourdeville (Brown University), David Friedman, Sofia Gabriel (Swathmore College), Justine Jesse (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Johanna O’Day (Boston College), Nathan Reynolds (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Emily Roseman (Bates College), and Amanda Tilden (Northeastern University).

Two students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are: Molly Barrus (Bentley University) and Gregory Kornichuk (Worcester Polytechnic Institute).

Nine students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are: Mary-Lee Barboza (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), Michael Gifford (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), Kristoffer Johansen (Brandeis University), Ian MacMillan (Massachusetts Maritime Academy), Megan Merlo, Cody Nadeau (McDaniels College), Rebecca Spevack (Boston University), Alexander Stylos (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), and Xiaoyu Wang (Worcester Polytechnic Institute).

Of this year’s award recipients at Old Rochester Regional High School, two are juniors: David Friedman and Megan Merlo. These students have at least one more year in which to complete college-level work and possibly earn a higher-level AP Scholar Award.

Mattapoisett Recreation Sign-ups

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Sign-ups for all winter activities offered by Mattapoisett Recreation will be held on Saturday, December 17 from 9:00 to 11:00 am at Old Hammondtown School. All students from the Tri-Town are invited to participate: Basketball (grades 1-6), Hip Hop, Gymnastics, “Camp Rock 2” Theater, Irish Step Dance and more will be available. Please visit the town website for all information and registration forms: www.mattapoisett.net.

Old Colony Students of the Month

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The following Old Colony students were recognized as School Council “Students of the Month” for December 2011: Junior Geoffrey Bentz, Rochester, Computer Information Systems; Senior Jason Lapre, Rochester, House/Mill Carpentry.

Girl Scout Cookie Drive

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Troop 80165 will kick off this year’s the Girl Scout cookie sale on Saturday, December 10, in Rochester at Plumb Corner from 8:30am to 12:30 pm.

Cookies are $4 a box and help support Girl Scout programs, as well as teach girls to set goals, learn money management and develop marketing skills. Girl Scout cookies are a treasured American tradition, and every Girl Scout cookie has a mission: To help girls do great things.

Girls Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. During the Girl Scout cookie sale, girls set cookie sales goals to support their chosen activities for the year, to fund community service, leadership projects, and much more. Would you like to support Girl Scouts? Come to Plumb Corner on December 10!

View Book Highlights Ashley Mural

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Many Mattapoisett residents passed by the house at 20 Water Street when it was recently renovated. To the passerby, it was just another village home undergoing a facelift, but the renovation unearthed one of the greatest treasures Mattapoisett has ever received – the Clifford Ashley Whaling Coast mural. Mattapoisett Historical Society President Seth Mendell was lucky enough to bring that artifact home to 5 Church Street, the Museum, for viewing, and he has released a view book for all local mural enthusiasts.

The mural was painted by nautical artist Clifford Ashley in 1919, and was the result of a commission by Gilbert Hinsdale, a harpoon collector and close friend of Clifford Ashley. The 16 by 6-foot mural, depicting a detailed view of the New England “Whale Coast” as it appeared in 1810, was placed on the ceiling of the sunroom and became a part of Mr. Hinsdale’s Water Street home, staying in its spot as subsequent generations moved in, and even after the Hurricane of 1938, Hurricane Carol, and Hurricane Bob made their presences known.

Mr. Hinsdale’s grandniece, Polly Field Duff Phipps, eventually came to own the home and when the time came to sell, she wanted to make sure that the chart would be properly maintained. She called her cousin, Seth Mendell, to take a look at the mural for consideration.

From the moment Mr. Mendell looked at the mural, he knew that the Museum had to have it, and for the next couple years, he looked for someone to restore it and bring it back to Mattapoisett, where it could be on display in a permanent spot. Along with his friends Nate Bekemeier and Ben Rogers, Mr. Mendell removed the mural and commissioned Boston-based restoration expert Gianfranco Pocobene to breathe life back into the mural, which had been exposed to 90 years of moisture and salt air in the unheated sunroom.

The cleaning revealed “unbelievable” vignettes and details that could only be appreciated close-up. As a result, “it became apparent that a view book was essential if the whole story of the Ashley chart was to be told,” Mr. Mendell said in the preface to the Ashley Mural view book, A Chart of the Whale Coast of New England c. 1810.

Mr. Mendell’s view book includes 49 close-up photographs with captions revealing historical context of the illustrations. Within the details are tidbits that show the climate of the whaling industry in 1810, such as the location of the Montauk Point Light, and how the Wampanoag tribe influenced the coast. On page 30, Mr. Mendell points out that the map shows a “site for a proposed canal” on Cape Cod in 1810.

While it’s exciting to think of this treasure calling Mattapoisett home, the view book is a great addition to any SouthCoast history buff’s collection. Mr. Mendell hopes that residents will consider the view book for holiday shopping, and the proceeds from the book sales will benefit the Historical Society. For more information, or to purchase a copy, call the Mattapoisett Museum and Carriage House, 508-758-2844.

By Anne Kakley

Planning Board Supports Habitat Effort

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In true community fashion, the Marion Planning Board and the local Buzzard’s Bay Area Habitat for Humanity (BBAHH) worked together to try to make a project happen at the meeting on Monday at the Town House.

At a prior November meeting, which addressed the original proposal, several board members, including a vocal Steve Gonsalves, said that the lot lacked room for children to play or a family to have a garden. “The lot is too small for a family,” said Mr. Gonsalves.

Several board members agreed to work with the Habitat (BBAHH) representatives to try to negotiate new larger lot lines for the project. The property is located at 185 Wareham Street in Marion. Abutters on all sides are the Town of Marion, Open Space Acquisition Committee (OSAC) and Marion Housing Authority Trust (MHAT).

Board member Sherman Briggs stepped up to the plate and negotiated with the various interests abutting the proposed house lot, proposing a new lot consisting of 15,000 square feet. The original house plans remain the same, with the surrounding area being in question.

“We want this to happen,” said Mr. Briggs, who worked on the effort to increase the lot size and make it appropriate for family living. The changes proposed by the Marion Planning Board have to go through the comprehensive permitting process, as required by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

“This has to be passed on to Paul Dawson (Town Administrator), and the Open Space Acquisition Committee and the Marion Affordable Housing Trust, and we’ll see what happens,” said board member Sherman Briggs.

The land, with an existing building to be demolished, was purchased with Community Preservation Committee funds at Town Meeting in May, 2009. A portion of the four-acre parcel was transferred to the OSAC and the remainder to the MAHT. Much of the parcel is wetlands, with the proposed home in an upland area on the parcel.

The building of the home would take place in spring of 2012. The board requested the revised design plans, showing the new setbacks, house plans, shed proposal and other details.

Next up was a discussion of a possible purchase of the land and building formerly known as The Frigate, 806 Mill Street, care of Arne Johnson.

Mr. Johnson spoke to the board and said that he was interested in purchasing the property, but wanted to learn more about the process involved in using the property as a Retail Use/Market Locally Grown Foods.

“I plan, if I go forward, to use the property as a produce market featuring New England food products such as honey, fresh fruit, vegetables, salad dressings, croutons, cheeses, maple syrup and milk and cream sold in glass bottles,” said Mr. Johnson.

“I grew up on a farm… growing and selling produce,” said Mr. Johnson, who arrived late to the meeting because he had just returned from playing Santa at the Rochester Tree Lighting ceremony.

“Our plan is to tear down the existing building and build new… we’d only have a crawlspace… as opposed to the foundation there now,” said Mr. Johnson.

“I won’t go forward unless I can determine the various aspects of purchasing the parcel, including the zoning requirements and associated details (setbacks, parking, storage and septic),” said Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Johnson said that he was born and raised growing and selling farm products and wants to open a retail store, to be built on the Frigate property, if approved and financially viable after determining local codes and requirements.

The board discussed the situation and board member Tom Magauran summarized the applicant’s proposal, which boiled down to a Zoning Board of Appeals decision as to whether the property could move from one non-conforming use (a restaurant), to another non-conforming use (retail store), in an area zoned residential.

The existing non-conforming use, being the Frigate Restaurant, had been “in use” for over 29 years, which the board acknowledged would make the applicant’s proposal more appealing to the ZBA. “The big issue is storm-water,” said Mr. Magauran. “We welcome your proposal, and want to encourage new business… let’s see the proposed site plan and go from there,” said Mr. Magauran.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

Selectmen Table Bob’s Tire Class III Application

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After a long and contentious hearing at their December 5 meeting, the Board of Selectmen tabled Bob’s Tire’s Class III license hearing for 45 days so the company can resolve a number of longstanding issues.

Town Counsel Blair Bailey had required Bob’s Tire – which operates on the same property as Murphy’s Auto Salvage on 35 County Road – to apply for the license because dealing tires classifies as trading in auto salvage parts.

In the hearing, Robert Perry described his company as a “nice operation” that is an “asset to the town” – but many neighbors asserted that their two commercial neighbors are in noncompliance.

In particular, neighbors cited Murphy’s Auto Salvage’s failure to follow through with conditions of a 1985 Special Permit by the ZBA – namely that it clears out its other property, 19 County Road, and return it to a residential zoning condition.

Atty. Bailey, among others, had photos showing the debris that remains on the site – such as trailers, old boats and even a turret of a home. Michael Murphy said that the site was used to house tires and other debris while he cleaned out 35 County Rd. as required by the Special Permit. His son, Adam Murphy, said at the hearing that they cleaned out piles of 40,000 to 50,000 tires, and put some of them in trailers that now are at 19 County Road.

Mr. Perry and Mr. Murphy both insisted they are working to completely clean up 19 County Rd., but the slumping economy has slowed the process.

“The [1985] decision was to use [19 County Rd.] for residential use only. It is not even close,” said Atty. Bailey, who also questioned whether the business is restricting its operation to 5.1 acres of the 7-acre site, as required by the permit.

Some neighbors also complained about the truck traffic and lighting.
“Bob’s Tire is not a good neighbor. If you want, come over and have a cup of coffee on my porch at 6:00 am. [The trucks] actually shake my house…. It is impacting my value,” said one West Wareham resident.

“There are two huge lights… my whole house is lit up like a Christmas Tree at night,” said West Wareham resident David Lareau, who also contended that the company is not maintaining a 50-foot perimeter as required in the 1985 Special Permit.

“County Road is a truck route, but it seems the only trucks that cause damage are from Bob’s or Murphy’s,” responded Michael Murphy, arguing that the companies receive unfair complaints when many 18 wheelers use County Rd. that have no relation with their businesses.

Other complaints were about frequent flooding of County Road due to the pitch of 35 County Road property – but Selectman Richard Nunes told the applicants to approach Wareham’s Highway Department on the matter, as that road is under Wareham’s jurisdiction.

The Selectmen agreed that before issuing a Class III license, the 19 County Rd. site needs to be cleaned out as required by the 26-year old ZBA permit.
Also, the Selectmen voted to request help from the state’s Executive Office of Community Development to determine if Bob’s Tire needs its own Special Permit. Mr. Perry said he is operating under the belief that because Bob’s Tire shares property with Murphy’s Auto Salvage, it is under Murphy’s Special Permit. Atty. Bailey disagreed.

In other business at the meeting, the Selectmen also took time to formally acknowledge Benjamin Ferreira, a 16-year old Life Scout of Rochester Troop 31, who was awarded the Boy Scout Heroism Award for extinguishing a flame at a gas pumping station for snowmobiles.

“If it weren’t for Ben’s quick reactions and bravery, the flames would have spread to the gasoline can that was sitting on the back of the snowmobile. If the flames spread to the gas can it surely would have exploded. This would have resulted in the snowmobile rider, and Ben, being seriously hurt or even killed,” said Michael Blanchard, the Troop Master who shared the story with the Selectman.

Mr. Blanchard added that since 1923, only 3,230 troops have received the recognition, as such is a “very rare award to be handed out.”

In other business at the meeting, the Selectmen approved three Conservation Restrictions presented by Alan Decker of the Buzzards Bay Coalition. The first two CRs were for land donated to conservation by local residents: one at Old Haskell Farm at Walnut Plain Road and another off Hartley Road near Snow’s Pond.

The third CR pertained to a 28-acre property off Wolf Island Road, of which 18 acres resides in Mattapoisett and the other 10.7 acres is within Rochester’s boundaries. Mr. Decker explained that the property’s CR will be held by the town of Fairhaven, as three of its wells are near the property thus the conservation would provide aquifer protection. Laurel Farinon said the town had purchased the land for this purpose for $20,506.

Town Administrator Richard LaCamera in his report said that the pitbull owned by Jeffrey Froh of 6 Stevens Road, will be adopted by a family in a neighboring town. Three complaints about the dog over the past year prompted the Selectman to evict it at its last meeting. Although at first Town Administrator Richard LaCamera said notifying the receiving town isn’t necessary as that is required only when a dog bites a human or foal – Selectman Richard Nunes insisting on it.

In other business, the Selectmen:
• Approved alcohol beverage licenses for Plumb Corner Market of Rochester, Adrian’s Package Store, Lloyd’s Market, Rochester Golf Club and Matt’s Blackboard Restaurant.
• Approved Class II licenses to sell used vehicles for E.B. Auto Sales, Vaughan Hill Motors, C&C Auto Brokers and The Custom Shop.
• Approved Class III licenses for salvage businesses for High Street Auto and Truck Salvage and Murphy’s Auto Salvage.

By Laura Fedak Pedulli

Rochester Break-in “Victim” Arrested for Lying to Police

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Rochester Police have charged the “victims” of the November 16 home invasion on Hartley Road with a number of criminal charges after one of the reporting parties admitted to police that they made the whole thing up.
 
Criminal complaints were issued in Wareham District Thursday charging Jeffrey Mello, 22 , no known address and Donna Laliberte, 51, of Hartley Road Rochester each with three counts of false report of a crime, conspiracy, and obstruction for misleading investigators with false statements.
 
The charges come after Mello was arrested in Mattapoisett on an unrelated warrant and while in custody admitted to Rochester investigators that he made the story up at the request of Laliberte who is the home owner. Mello said the original suspect, Augusto Darosa, came to the house to retrieve some personal items he had there and left without incident. When Laliberte came home and found out Darosa took his belongings she became extremely upset that Mello let him remove the items because she claimed Darosa owed her about $2500. 
 
Mello told investigators that Laliberte directed him to call the police and tell them that Darosa had stolen the money or she would kick him out of the house. Mello said because he was homeless and staying with Laliberte, he agreed to go along with the story so he would not get kicked out. 
  
Rochester Police arrested Laliberte on a warrant for the charges at her home Friday morning. She was arraigned in Wareham District Court. Mello is wanted on an outstanding warrant for the new charges and police are actively looking for him.  Charges against Darosa have been dismissed.

Rochester Police Press Release

Mattapoisett Landing Progress Reviewed

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Minor amendments to an approved site plan for Mattapoisett Landing were brought before the Planning Board at their scheduled meeting on Monday, December 5.

The site plan, originally approved after a public hearing process in 2006, includes 28 buildings for a 55 and over community. Brian Porter, representing Brophy and Philips, a Brockton developer, presented some of the minor changes, none of which prompted the need for further public notices because the changes actually reduced the scope of the project.

In the presentation, Mr. Porter showed that the footprint of each building had been reduced slightly and a roughly 600 square foot “clubhouse” for communal needs, which will include a unisex bathroom and a kitchenette, was detailed in the plans. Mr. Porter said that the project would stick to the original plans for duplexes and triplexes, but some driveway orientations had been changed.

Planning Board member Karen Field asked for details on landscaping, and Mr. Porter said that they would be continuing with a plan for a stone dust walk and three ring gardens.

The buildings will have town water and septic, said Mr. Porter, and the utilities are starting to be installed. “Now people can actually see something [developing],” he said.
“Keep us updated,” said Chairman Thomas Tucker.

The developer will have to come before the Board at a later date for an as-built approval.

By Anne Kakley

Big Turnout for Holiday in Park

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It was only fitting that the biggest Christmas tree that has ever graced Mattapoisett’s Shipyard Park should also see the largest Holiday celebration the town has ever held.

“It was spectacular,” said Melody Pacheco, administrative assistant to the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen. Each year, Ms. Pacheco is instrumental to organizing the Holiday in the Park, which kicks off the town tree lighting with a visit from Santa on a fire engine, ornament making, music from the Old Hammondtown School band and chorus, and food donated from local establishments. “We couldn’t have done it without the help of a lot of generous people,” said Ms. Pacheco. “It was the biggest one yet. There must have been a thousand people out there.”

Prior to the Holiday in the Park, Ms. Pacheco’s husband Kenny and stepson Todd Pacheco adorned the Holiday tree with lights.

“I think my son did a good job,” Mr. Pacheco smiled. “The lights look really even!” Mr. Pacheco worked at the event as emcee, which was considerable given the level of activity and noise.

An unexpected twist this year came in the form of two marriage proposals. Matthew Arguin proposed to girlfriend Carolyn Costa, and couple Ashley White and Jon Sweatland announced their very recent engagement at the Holiday event.

While romance was in the air, a thread of philanthropy wove residents together, as a pile of toys and canned food grew throughout the night. At the donation table, Mattapoisett Lions Club members Teri Nelson and Mariann DeCosta reported an “excellent turnout” for toys and food, despite, or perhaps because of, the economy.

“This is as good as last year,” said Ms. Nelson. “All the food goes to St. Anthony’s pantry and helps people in the Tri-Town.”

As he does every year, Santa Claus himself made a rock star appearance on a fire engine, along with his good friends Rudolph and Frosty. Children waited in line patiently to tell Santa all their wishes, as parents chattered among themselves and enjoyed music from the Occasion Singers, who regaled the crowd with old-fashioned renditions of Christmas carols in four-part harmony.

By Anne Kakley