Sports Shorts

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Old Rochester Boys and Girls Track – The boys and girls teams both beat Seekonk High School last week, making ORR Track undefeated SCC Champions for both the boys and the girls for the first time ever. In the 600 meter, Morgan DaSilva and Tori Saltmarsh racked up points for the team, taking first and third. In the mile, Sam Barrett and Abby Hiller accumulated enough points for ORR to decisively win before the relays.

For the boys, Dan Donohue and Colin Knapton took first and second in the 300. David Romanowicz scored well in both Hurdles and High Jump, and David Friedman and Nick Pacheco covered the distance races.

Next up ORR Track heads to the SCC meet on Saturday.

Old Rochester Girls Basketball – The girls’ team qualified for the South Sectional tournament this week with their 40-39 victory over Case. With the Bulldogs trailing near the end of the game, Gabby Reuter scored in the last seven seconds to ensure victory. Reuter had 10 points in the game, joined in the double digits by Milayla Bouvette with 12, a career high. Their record now stands at 10-6 overall and 8-5 in the SCC. Next up they play Wareham.

Old Rochester Boys Basketball – The Boys also won against Case this week, finishing the game with a score of 64-54. Forrest Cote played well, scoring 11 points. Max Risch was also instrumental in winning, scoring 15 points, and Matt Beatty had 6. Their record now stands at 10-5 overall and 8-5 in the SCC.

Old Rochester Hockey – ORR Hockey did well this week with a 6-0 win over New Bedford Voke. In the first period, Max Sherman scored three successive goals, followed by Bobby Stickles and Cam O’Connor. In the second period, Jeremy Lawton finished up with the last goal eight minutes before the end of the game. Their record now stands at 7-3-4 overall and 5-1 in the SCC.

By India Krawczyk

Zonfrelli Honored for Charity Work

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For many, excellence isn’t a rare occurrence, but habitual. Commitment to the pursuit of that excellence is what defines a champion. Torin Zonfrelli, a senior from Carver at Tabor Academy, is dedicated to excellence in all fields – athletic, academic, extracurricular – and on Friday, was recognized for his hard work and commitment to his community.

A two-sport captain and three-sport varsity athlete, Mr. Zonfrelli’s superior ability in athletics is undeniable. Having took home the Class A, New England championship, he attended the National Prep Wrestling Tournament at Lehigh University for four year. Mr. Zonfrelli is an outstanding wrestler and an inspirational leader.

Mr. Zonfrelli was also awarded the Bay State Games Future Leaders Scholarship in the summer of 2011 and proved himself very capable the next season as a football captain.

In academics, Mr. Zonfrelli is devoted, underscored by the fact he skipped Precalculus to pursue the more challenging Calculus AB his junior year. Mr. Zonfrelli enjoys mathematics and sciences, filling his schedule with AP Chemistry and Differential Equations, but also branches out into classes like AP English Language and AP Economics. Throughout his four years, Mr. Zonfrelli has always maintained a heavy workload and a strong GPA.

However, Mr. Zonfrelli’s most important contribution was not inside the school at all. Rather, on his own time, he began The Zonfrelli Project, which is dedicated to providing food for individuals and families in need. The Zonfrelli Project has helped countless families and now supplies the church food pantry at St. Anthony’s Church in New Bedford, MA every Thursday.

In the spring of 2011, the Positive Coaching Alliance and Liberty Mutual Insurance began their search of the “Top 10 Responsible Sports Moments of the Year.”

The PCA is headed by Jim Thompson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and is a national non-profit organization dedicated to building and rewarding character in youth athletics. The organization has various big names involved, including board members Steve Young, Hall of Fame San Francisco quarterback, and Doc Rivers, coach of the Boston Celtics. Last Friday, representatives from Liberty Mutual attended Tabor’s weekly all school meeting to present Mr. Zonfrelli with a $1,000 award to support charities of his choosing.

Congratulations to Torin Zonfrelli and best of luck in your future efforts.

By Jake Farias

Job’s Cove Aquaculture License Approved

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About two years after first pursuing a permit to operate a one-half acre oyster farm business at Job’s Cove, Chris and Benjamin Bryant of Greenport Consulting finally received the Marion Board of Selectmen’s stamp of approval to proceed.

The Mektukquaamsett Improvement Association, a group of homeowners from the Jobs Cove area, had contested the proposed aquaculture business but the MA Department of Environmental Protection had officially backed the project. The association took the case to the MA DEP Office of Appeals and Dispute Resolution, arguing that the operation was on too large of a site and adversely impact the endangered Diamondback Terrapin.

The office of appeals, however, sided with the applicants last summer and denied a request to reconsider the matter. With all of the town permits obtained from necessary boards, the Selectmen formally endorsed the aquaculture license at their meeting on February 7.

“I feel we are in a mortal room of Dorothy, brought into the room by the Wicked Witch of the West…We completed our task, and completed our permits,” said applicant Chris Bryant.

“We will use a small amount of seed this spring and grow into our site,” the applicant said of the oyster operation, which would use floating bags held by buoys.  “We’ve got a good background so I we think we’ll be okay.”

“We got involved into looking at ecologic ways to improve the harbor, it had nothing to do with the paycheck,” he said in general of his aquaculture undertaking.

Selectman Jonathan Henry lauded the Bryants for their persistence in pushing the application through.

“I have to congratulate you for having the stick-to-it-ness to see it through,” he said.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support right from the beginning. I’ve had the worst events happen in the past two years, but the town has been outstanding,” said Chris Bryant. “Every one we’ve dealt with has been great to us, if it hadn’t been for that we would have given up.”

In other business at the Selectmen’s meeting, the board voted to assist Baywatch Realty in getting special tax credit financing for their affordable housing project.

The board will submit a letter of support on behalf of Baywatch, but Selectman Roger Blanchette stressed that it is “strictly a financial matter.”

“We are pretty much aware there are a lot of hoops [for Baywatch] to go through: the ZBA, Conservation, and the [MA Department of Environmental Protection]. It doesn’t relate to the other things required,” he said.

The board also approved a three-year contract between towns regarding ORCTV access. Under the new agreement, Town Administrator Paul Dawson assured the Selectmen and public that “the services will remain the same” despite Mattapoisett pulling back one-ninth of the franchise cable fees to do their own government broadcasting.

“It’s been a challenge to keep an agreement in place so all towns get equal benefit. This has gone on for months, the legal wrangling between lawyers,” Mr. Dawson said. “But this is a very good agreement that protects the services the towns have always enjoyed. All towns get equal value out of it. It took a lot of back and forth and wrangling, but I think it is a good solid contract.”

In other business, the Selectmen endorsed a negotiated agreement with Marion town employees effective from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014.

“It was a process long, but in the end a good contract for both sides,” said Selectmen Stephan Cushing.

The Town Administrator also reported that the recently formed Town House Study Committee – which is investigating the renovation needs of the building– is underway. Planning Board member Jay Ryder is serving as Chairman.

“The committee is up and going and things are moving along,” he said.

In other business, Mr. Dawson said he has narrowed down applicants for a part-time Grant Administrator for the town to three candidates. The Selectmen will conduct the final interviews at their next meeting.

By Laura Fedak Pedulli

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

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The Mattapoisett Congregational Church invites you to a Pancake Supper from 5:30 – 7 p.m. on February 21. On Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins, families ate up all the rich foods left in their pantries.  One way they used up the eggs, milk and fats in the house was to add flour to make special pancakes.  Please join us for this yummy event. Free-will donation.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying!

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Tabor Academy presents the popular musical “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying!” on February 23-25 at 7:30 PM on the stage of Fireman Auditorium, Hoyt Hall on the Tabor campus.  A cast and crew of over 45 students have teamed up this winter to bring this Pulitzer Prize-winning musical to life.  The lead role of J. Pierpont Finch, a window washer who cons his way to become CEO of the World Wide Wicket Company, is played by Oliver Palmer ‘13 of Owensboro, Kentucky.  Rosemary, Finch’s secretary and eventual wife, is played by Claire Knowlton ‘13 of Milford, MA.  Other principle roles include Cal Heavey ‘12 of Marion as Bud Frump, the spoiled nephew of the boss, J.B. Biggley, who is played by Joe Coffey ‘13 of East Dennis, MA; Izzie Grover ‘12 of Marion who plays Smitty, Rosemary’s best friend; Claire Chatinover ‘13 of Edgartown, MA as Hedy LaRue, Biggley’s love interest; Rachel Petri ‘12 of Rochester as Miss Jones, Biggley’s secretary; Chapman Hyatt ’13 of Evergreen, Colorado as Bratt the personnel manager; and Jacob Swift ’12 of Fairhaven as Twimble the head of the mailroom.  The production staff includes John M. Heavey as the director, David Horne, the music director, Richard Van Voris the technical director, Danielle LaTulippe, the choreographer, Annemarie Ferdericks and Ruth Finnie the costume designers, and Molly Hanson ’13 of Tiverton, RI as the stage manager.

“How to Succeed” (or “H2$” as it is currently known on Broadway) opened on Broadway in October 1961, running for 1,417 performances.  Starring Robert Morse in the lead role of Finch, the show won seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle award, and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In 1967, a film based on the musical was released by United Artists, with many of the original cast recreating their roles. A 1995 revival was mounted at the same theatre as the original production ran for 548 performances and starred Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally.  A 50th anniversary Broadway revival directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford and starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette opened on March 27, 2011, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre where it is still enjoying a robust run.

H2$ continues to draw enthusiastic audiences for the past forty years. A terrific line-up of songs written by Frank Loesser (“I Believe in You,” ‘The Brotherhood of Man”) powered by witty lyrics matches a clever story by Abe Burrows that satirically skewers the American corporate culture of the late 50’s and early 60’s.  With its overt sexism and corporate promotion based on personality rather than performance, the world of H2$ may seem distant from our own ostensibly P.C. culture.  Yet, The World Wide Wicket Corporation may well remind audiences of the corporate culture of today!

Mattapoisett Rail Trial Update

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Friends of the Bike Path will meet February 28, 2012 at the Mattapoisett Public Library on Barstow Street beginning 6:30.  We are gearing up for an active year of progress, public relations, and events. The meeting agenda will include questions and answers on progress, as well as a planning session for upcoming events:  Bike safety sessions and bike ride for April, plus a fitness and a fundraising challenge on Sunday June 24, 2012.  Both events will be a family friendly to encourage everyone to come out and ride or walk on our beautiful rail trail.

Regarding bike path progress, there has been a meeting with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and we are looking forward to a 25% review including a public hearing in late spring or early summer.  We are hopeful that the successful 25% review will result in the Phase 1B project Mattapoisett Neck to depot Street) being back in the regional TIP for construction funding.  While we wait for construction, we hope to replace the former pedestrian bridge across the Eel pond breach. This project needs to get environmental permits squared away, but we are confident we’ll get it done.  And finally, we are working with other towns along the South Coast Bikeway(Fall river to Wareham) on a variety of informational and bike advocacy issues.  Please come February 28 to learn all about what happening on the Bike Path and sign up to volunteer.

SouthCoast Children’s Chorus Informance

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The SouthCoast Children’s Chorus announces its February informance on February 12 at 4:00 pm at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church at 124 Front St. in Marion. The “informance” is an informal performance in which the chorus demonstrates aspects of their rehearsal process – from beginning to learn a song, through the polishing phase, and on to complete performance. The Chorus will sing songs from their repertoire, demonstrate rehearsal techniques, entertain questions from the audience, and encourage the audience to join them in a song or two! The SouthCoast Chldren’s Chorus is a 35-voice auditioned regional chorus with singers from Marion, Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, New Bedford and Westport, and is directed by Leslie Piper and accompanied by Joyce Jacobsen. Admission is free, but a suggested donation of $5 per person ($10 maximum per family) will be accepted at the door.

Marion Democratic Town Committee

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A meeting of the Marion Democratic Town Committee shall convene for the purpose of electing four Delegates and three Alternates to the Massachusetts State Convention at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, Saturday, June 2. The caucus will be held at the Indian Cove Club House, 106 Indian Cove Road, Marion February 11 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Snow date Saturday, February 18 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

For more information contact Judi Havens at 508- 826-1027 or Eileen Marum at 508-758-9751.

Marion Census

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If you have not yet returned, or telephoned in, your 2012 Annual Street Listing (Census) please do so immediately to the Marion Town Clerk, 2 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738. Home visits will be made to all residents failing to respond. Should you have any questions please contact the Town Clerk’s office 508-748-3502.

RHS Takes a Trip Back in Time

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The February meeting of the Rochester Historical Society will be on Wednesday, February 15 at 7:00 pm at the East Rochester Church/Museum, 355 County Road, Rochester. Frances Florindo will present “A Trip Back in Rochester History” through the pages of an old Jenkins family scrapbook. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

It is with great pleasure the Heritage Days Committee extends a big thank you to the community and to the people who stepped forth to insure the event will continue.

The next meeting will be February 21 at 6:30 pm in the library meeting room, anyone who was unable to attend January’s meeting but wants to help is cordially invited to join us. As always feel free to contact theseamstress@verizon.net with questions, suggestions or concerns.