The Mattapoisett Tree Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 13 at 6:00 pm in the Community Meeting room of the Mattapoisett Public Library. Our special guest is Town Administrator, Michael Lorenco who will give an overview of the Village Road Project and answer questions. The public is welcome, as always.
The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) recently awarded the Mattapoisett Land Trust (MLT) just over $80,000 to complete a comprehensive study of the tidal marshes west of Mattapoisett Neck Road by June 30, 2024. The study will explore conditions in nearly 250 acres of saltmarsh, currently one of the most degraded salt marshes in Buzzards Bay, according to data from the Buzzards Bay Coalition.
Researchers will use field studies as well as computer modeling to evaluate future marsh conditions in light of increasing rain and wind storms and sea level rise. The final product will be a saltmarsh habitat restoration plan describing current and future conditions in the marsh and feasible restoration actions to help restore healthy ecological function within the marsh.
There are many partners working on this saltmarsh study: Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Town of Mattapoisett, as well as the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Project, Buzzards Bay Coalition, Plymouth County Mosquito Control and CZM’s Coastal Habitat and Water Quality program. Much of the technical work will be completed by Woods Hole Group and Greenman Pederson, Inc. working as subcontractors to MLT.
A public meeting will be held before the conclusion of the study to discuss study findings and restoration actions identified by researchers. Please follow the Mattapoisett Land Trust’s website to learn more about the study and future public meetings.
The good news out of Tuesday’s Rochester Select Board meeting is that the Police Department has received a $49,700 grant that will be put toward digital radios.
“It put us in a really good shape,” said Police Chief Robert Small, who reports that the new equipment will give the department “everything we need.”
As has been the case in so many postpandemic purchase agreements, there is a delay on the arrival of the merchandise.
“They have radios, they don’t have batteries,” said Rick Salvucci, the public safety systems manager for Mansfield-based Industrial Communications.
Salvucci told the board and the department chiefs that he had a difficult time getting a straight answer about the delay. First he was told the radios would arrive within eight weeks, he said, then four weeks, then another four another weeks. Finally, Salvucci requested a realistic timeline.
“They’re telling me 26 weeks is a good number,” he said, guessing that 22 weeks is probably more like it. “The cruiser radios don’t need batteries so they should ship sooner.”
Fire Chief Scott Weigel said his department has put its two mobile communications units in the ambulances and estimates 70 “portables” overall. He is working with the Acushnet Fire Department on a joint venture as suggested by a grant writer. He ordered 20 radios and is being told to expect their arrival in 22 weeks.
The story gets complicated where it concerns the Fire Department because, while the Fire Department will eventually upgrade to a digital system, it remains on the analog setting, and that has caused uncertainty regarding interdepartmental communications.
Select Board member Adam Murphy asked why go digital now when the departments are not entirely set up for it.
Salvucci said that there has been a lot of urgency for other deps within the regional dispatch system based in Duxbury to go for it. He said the problem with converting one department to digital incurs redundant effort and costs. According to Salvucci, several municipalities in the region have gone digital over the past several months, including Mattapoisett, Fairhaven and Plymouth.
“If we’re going to have to go to every single radio, we want to do it once,” said Salvucci. “My understanding was the town was on board with it.”
Salvucci deals in Motorola products, which Small said are prevalent among police departments across the region. Meantime, Salvucci maintains an association with another industry representative who sells Kenwood products, which have been the in-house equipment performing well despite age and mileage, according to both Rochester chiefs.
Hanson and Kingston fire departments are digital, and the entire Cape Cod is going digital, according to Salvucci. Ironically, Duxbury, the host town of the regional dispatch never will, as Chief Reardon doesn’t like the sound.
The discussion turned to towers in surrounding towns.
“We need to figure out how to get backup. That’s my biggest issue with this whole thing,” said Rochester Deputy Fire Chief and Highway Supervisor Jeff Eldridge.
The board and the departments thanked Salvucci for visiting the Select Board for discussion and brainstorming.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, December 11, at 6:00 pm at the Senior Center, Dexter Lane.
Rochester Select Board
By Mick Colageo
Last year, Denmark published statistics on its Gross Domestic Product with and without Novo Nordisk, the giant Danish pharmaceutical company that markets Wegovy – that is how much money is rolling in to the manufacturer of the wildly successful obesity drug.
Why are Wegovy and friends such a hit? What should you know about these drugs?
America is suffering an epidemic of overweight and obesity – some 70% of us are either overweight (BMI>27) or obese (>30.) Excess weight contributes to the development of hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, and losing 5% or more of body weight has been demonstrated to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The problem is that losing weight is hard. For most of us it goes well beyond “will power.” The determinants of weight are complex, and include genetics, environment and habits. The food industry with its high fructose additives and advertising are also culprits.
Enter the Holy Grail – the search for a safe and effective drug that will help people lose weight.
Drugs for weight loss have been around for a while and include phentermine, orlistat and Contrave.
Phentermine is an amphetamine that has been shown to produce about 6% of body-weight loss after six months of use, but has the expected side effects of anxiety, racing heart and insomnia. Orlistat decreases the body’s absorption of fat and leads to about a 5% weight loss; it has a number of bowel side effects including leaking of stool, though is otherwise safe. Contrave combines naltrexone, an opioid blocker, and bupropion, an antidepressant. About half of those using it lose at least 5% of body weight after a year. Side effects include seizures, behavior changes and suicidal thoughts.
So, modest weight loss and serious or annoying side effects with these older agents.
The new kids on the block are GLP-1 agonists – drugs that mimic the effects of glucagon-like-peptide-1. They send a signal to the brain that you are full and also slow the stomach emptying. These drugs have been used to treat diabetes since 2005. Because they must be injected, they never captured much of the diabetes market.
What has turned the GLP-1 agonists into blockbusters is their dramatic effects on weight. In different trials with different products, subjects lost 12% to 20% of their body weight after a year. Most recently, a trial of semaglutide in very high-risk patients – in their 60s with established cardiovascular disease – showed that those on the drug had 20% fewer events (heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death.)
There are now three products on the market: Wegovy (semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide – a GLP-1 agonist plus another.) Given the vast market potential, more will follow.
What is the downside? First is cost. Wegovy retails for $1,349/4 weeks; Zepbound for $1,060/4 weeks; Saxenda about $1,300/4 weeks. And note that these drugs must be taken indefinitely! In trials, those who stopped the drug after a year regained most of the weight they had lost by a year after stopping.
Nuisance side effects including nausea, diarrhea and constipation are common. More serious side effects including inflammation of the pancreas or gallbladder, kidney injury and suicidal thoughts have been reported in less than 1% of people taking them.
Are they for you? If you are seriously overweight and have other conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and/or heart disease, and if you have made your best effort at losing weight without medication, definitely discuss their use with your doctor.
Remember that weight is a life-long issue, and commit to using dietary changes and exercise as part of your life.
Dr. Ed Hoffer is the chairman of the Marion Board of Health, a graduate of MIT and Harvard Medical School. He is Associate Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard and a Senior Scientist at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
By Dr. Ed Hoffer
Society members will be busy December 9 and 10. We’ll be at the Plumb Memorial Library Holiday Sale from 10-2 with all of our historical items, including clothing, books, maps, tick-tack-toes and more.
Then the next day we are holding our Holiday Organ Sing at 2:00 at the Museum at 355 County Road. This is a unique opportunity to enjoy holiday music on an organ from the 1890’s in a building that is even older. The museum’s Vocalion organ is rare, and its music has a quality that is not found in pipe organs.
There is no charge for admission, but we ask attendees to bring an unwrapped gift for a child or teen and any donations to support our ongoing restoration of the organ will be gratefully accepted. As always, refreshments will follow the music.
The Mattapoisett Free Public Library has an array of exciting children’s events planned for December.
On Saturday, December 9, between 1 pm and 3 pm, children aged 6 and up can unleash their creativity in the children’s room by crafting their very own Travel Lego Box – a personalized space for taking Legos on the go. No registration is required, and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
On Thursday, December 14, patrons have two chances to participate, 3:30 pm or 4 pm, in Make a Candy Lighthouse, with all ages welcome. Adult assistance is needed for children under 5. Registration is required.
Additionally, Snowy Days Storytime will take place on Thursday, December 14 and Thursday, December 28, at 10:30 am, featuring songs, stories and fun. No registration is required.
Finally, on Friday, December 29 at 1pm, the library invites families to join Film Friday: Holiday Edition, featuring “Nutcracker: The Motion Picture” by the Pacific Northwest Ballet, complete with popcorn and beverages. No registration is required.
For further inquiries, feel free to contact the library at mfpl@sailsinc.org or by visiting our website at MattapoisettLibrary.org. It promises to be a delightful month full of creativity, festive activities and community engagement.
Sally L. Sleeper Cottrill passed away on Monday December 4, 2023. She was 77 years old.
Born in New Bedford, MA on December 3, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Donald H. and Esther V. (Sohlman) Sleeper. She was a longtime resident of both Fairhaven, MA and Marion, MA.
She was a tremendous mother who loved her three sons and their extended families dearly. Leading by example, she instilled a strong sense of family values in her children. She gained a strong love for music from her mother and a sharp wit from her father. She was always thinking about and trying to help other people.
Sally was an extremely dedicated employee of the New Bedford Housing Authority, serving as the administrative assistant to the executive director from 1982 until her retirement in 2018. She was also an active congregant of the First Congregational Church of Marion for over 40 years, contributing to the church in several meaningful ways. Other notable community contributions include her service as a Marion Boy Scout Troop 32 committee member for well over a decade, serving in various formal positions along the way. If any person or organization asked her for help, she had a hard time saying “no.”
She is survived by three sons, Donald and his wife of Guilford, CT, Eric and his wife, Caryn of Cary, NC, and Andrew and his wife, Andrea of Swansea, MA; four beloved granddaughters, and other extended family.
Her Funeral Service will be held on Friday December 8th at 10 am at the First Congregational Church in Marion. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 4-7 pm at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the First Congregational Church of Marion, P.O. Box 326, Marion, MA 02738. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
After a continued public hearing (from November 21) on the Board of Assessors Tax Classification for the Town of Marion, the Marion Select Board voted on Tuesday afternoon to approve a factor of 1, meaning a single tax rate for the town.
Board of Assessors Chairperson Pat DeCosta said that 93.7% of the town’s property is residential. The resultant tax rate will be $9.26, down 18 cents from last year.
The Select Board meeting was an hour earlier than usual and held at the Cushing Community Center on Route 6, as town employees gathered at Council on Aging headquarters for their annual holiday party.
Under Action Items on Tuesday’s agenda, the board voted: to approve unpaid Water/Sewer lien commitments of $225,306.89 (November 30); the renewal of all 2024 licensing (effective December 31); to report an estimated seasonal population increase of 900 to the state Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, effective July 10, 2024; to revise the town’s Flag Policy with slight changes (only municipal and school-organization flags shall be flown on municipal flagpoles; and finally, a Water/Sewer commitment of $902.06 (final readings November 29.)
Town Administrator Geoff Gorman noted that historically, Marion has not and will not fly the flags of commercial or third-party organizations on town flagpoles (the Bulldog flag is okay.)
In his report to the Select Board, Gorman reported a shuffling of the deck where it concerns project managers for the Maritime Center and Department of Public Works construction projects.
Building Commissioner Bob Grillo will serve as OPM for the new harbormaster operations building at Island Wharf, and Facilities Manager Shaun Cormier will act in the same capacity for the new DPW construction at Benson Brook.
Gorman told the board he met with the three-person team from South Coast Improvement and discussed the layout of the construction setup, including public access and parking. He said the store will be open during construction, including handicapped access. Gorman also received signed contracts from SCI and is waiting on a “wet contract.” Construction is expected to take no more than 350 days but is estimated at nine months. Gorman said he sent the documents to the state’s Seaport Economic Council and is waiting on that entity.
The town has been going through DPW plans aiming to determine what can and cannot be done in house with a plan to finalize bid documents by Monday, April 1, after which the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting will be closed.
The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, December 19, at 6:00 pm at the Police Station.
Marion Select Board
By Mick Colageo
Subdivision rules and regulations have a deeper history in our state than one might believe. As far back as 1891, the City of Boston drafted its first comprehensive subdivision control statute. During the early 1900s, additional regulations and rules were added, language modified, including but not limited to subdivision powers which were conferred to planning boards in 1936.
The road to understanding and rendering fair decisions on matters of land subdivisions continues to pose questions in the 21st century, in spite of decades of legal review and regulatory oversight.
Thus, when the abutters, primarily property owners living on Oakland Way, asked questions regarding the Form A Approval Not Required subdivision for property owned by Laurel Henning, answers were not crystal clear. As noted in the ANR Mass.gov handbook, hundreds of legal challenges have shaped regulations over the years.
On Monday night, the Mattapoisett Planning Board sought to add clarity where it could for the benefit of the abutters. Neither the applicant nor her representative, Bill Madden of G.A.F. Engineering, were present to address questions.
Abutters’ major concern centered around ownership of the “way” described as a driveway with easement rights to all abutters.
The posting of the application read, “Form A Approval Not Required Application for Map 8, Lots 70 & 72, applicant Laurel Henning, parcel B and Lot 70A on Oakland Way and Lot 72A on Foster Street.”
Planning Board member John Mathieu provided some pertinent details regarding the private property held by Henning, the right-of-way easement and duties of care of the way, and a heavy suggestion that they establish a homeowners’ association. He told the residents it is important to understand the intentions of the owner in order to protect their use and maintenance of the way.
Beyond that, Mathieu said that Henning could not usurp their free travel on the way, but, further, she also had no responsibility to maintain it. The land was privately held.
The board moved to accept the one-lot subdivision plan as presented, noting to the abutters that the board had no responsibility regarding existing utilities that were also noted as privately held by each property owner.
Another ANR was a bit more straightforward.
Forms A and B Approval Not Required for property located on Ocean Drive with lots owned by brothers David and Joseph Duchaine was heard. Engineer Dave Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone, Inc., explained that parcels A and B will not be considered building lots and that a new lot 16B will meet frontage once zoning approves the proposed roadway, making it a building lot.
The application is pending Fire and Police Department acceptance for safety requirements. It was continued until the December 18 meeting.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, December 18, at 7:00 pm.
Mattapoisett Planning Board
By Marilou Newell
The following students have achieved honors for the first term at Old Rochester Regional High School;
Highest Honors: Sarah Cabral, Rosemary Clark, Rylie Coughlin, Sage Elia, David Fredette, Katherine Guevara, Jacob Hadley, Keira Hart-Bonville, Theo Jacobsen, Genevieve Kelly, Madison Lucas, Megan McFadyen, Jonathan Nguyen, Xavier Pateakos, Jiya Patel, Alexander Pither, Hannah Thorell, Amanda Tomasso, Sasha Volkema, Emily Wyman
Honors: Emily Abbott, Greta Anderly, Helena Anesti, Sophia Anesti, Gianna Annunziato, Noah Arsenault, Gabriel Bache, Georgia Bailey, Chloe Bairos, Abigail Balsis, Lila Bangs, Ella Bartholomew, Chloe Bean, Malcolm Bean, Henry Berry, Chase Besancon, Arianna Bessey, Ella Bishop, Hunter Bishop, Allison Bodeau, John Bongiorno, Clara Bonney, Emily Borges, Cadel Bosma, Sofia Bouley, John Bowman, Sophie Bozzo, Makayla Brissette, Caroline Brogioli, Laila Brown, Patrick Burke, Nolan Bushnell, John Butler, Aiden Cabral, Lucas Cabral, Ella Caesar, Ryan Calderone, Erin Cardinal, Cassidy Carroll, Eloise Casi, Sibley Casi, Liam Cassidy, Mackenzye Caton, Theodore Cecil, Russell Chace, Cassandra Charron, Delaney Chase, Kelsi Chick, Tyler Chick, Braeden Christopher, Joie Ciffolillo, Gavin Coffey, Aiden Comorosky, Belle Comorosky, Gabriel Connors, Tucker Cook, Henry Cooney, Evan Cordeiro, Bryan Correia, Emma Costa, Sara Costa, Julia Crain, Cadogan Crete, Tapper Crete, Makenzie Crowley, Elba Cruz Mendoza, Sarah Curry, Alia Cusolito, Grace Custadio, Jackson Daniel, Gianna DeLeo, Gianna DeMarco-Poyant, Reis DeMello, Averee Depina, Abigail Desorcy, Luke DeVoe, Rafael Duarte, Gisele Duchaine, Hailee Ducharme, Lillian Dumoulin, Mccayla Dupont, Amalia Dupre, Eden Dupre, Dylan Durgin, Abigail Durr, Aidan Eagle, Noah Eagle, Hannah Eaton, Amber Engel, Elizabeth Feeney, Carys Femino, Alexandra Fiano, Katelyn Fisher, Kathryne Fitzpatrick, William Fortier, Brendan Foster, Molly Franco, Brendan Fuller, Dillon Furtado, Ethan Furtado, John Galavotti, Jack Gallagher, Giada Gandolfi, Reilly Garber, Zachary Gates, Jacob Gear, Lillian Gendreau, Cole Goldie, Emerson Gonet, Clara Gouveia-Silva, Isabel Govoni, Zadie Goyette, Jaymison Gunschel, Chloe Guttenberger, Lucas Hadley, Sebastian Harrigan, Elizabeth Harrington, Owen Harrington, Logan Hart-Bonville, Eva Hartley, Ian Hartwig, Madalyn Haverty, Grace Hebert, Aubrey Heise, Mallory Henesey, August Herbert, Corinne Hibbert, Meredith Higgins, Brody Hiles, Lily Hinds, Lyla Hotte, Caroline Houdelette, Elizabeth Houdelette, Dominic Hurley, Jacob Iappini, Garrett Ignacio, Macy Ingham, Taryn Jackson, Lily Johnson, Louise Johnson, Kierra Keegan, Elizabeth Kilpatrick, Hadley King, Olivia Kinney, Sara Kroll, Charlotte Laliberte, Tenley Lane, Peter le Gassick, Logan Leblanc, Morgan LeBlanc, Zach LeBlanc, Aubrie Letourneau, Aiden Levasseur, Alexis Lord, Caitlyn Lund, Jenna Lynch, Ty MacKenzie, Brady Maguire, Addison Mahar, Logan Maher, Marley Mailloux, John Marmelo, Rhianna Martinez, Marina Martins, Neva Matos, Aleeya McCarthy, Tiera McCarthy, Katherine McIlmail, Ava McLeod, Benjamin Meighan, Carly Mello, Noah Mendes, Nicholas Miedema, Elise Modracek, Owen Modracek, Xavier Monteiro, Blake Moreau, Maya Morrison, Miah Motta, Zack Mourao, Caillaigh Mullen, Jacob Nelson, Jacob Newton, James Noblet, Cattarinha Nunes, Phoenyx Nunes, Brenna O’Donnell, Caitlin O’Donnell, Grady Oliveira, Isabelle Ortega, Liam Osterday, Owen Osterday, Angela Palmer, Scarlet Patnaude, Morgan Patraiko, Reilly Patraiko, Anna Pereira, Emilia Perriera, Logan Perry, Varunyu Phimolmas, Luke Pierre, Nina Pierre, Ava Pimentel, Gabriela Pinhancos, Audrey Pither, Noah Pittsley, Alice Prefontaine, Jake Proffit, Leah Ptaszenski, Jasmyn Pumphery, Kelly Quinlan, Dimitri Raposo, Brady Reardon, Alaina Redsicker, Ariella Resendes, Zachary Riggs, Tessa Ripley, Gavin Robbins, Noah Robert-Howley, Shay-ann Robertson, Marcus Robichaud, Ellen Robitaille, Orion Rocci, Matthew Rock, Kamryn Rodrigues, Allison Root, Ava Ross-Sinkler, Grace Rousseau, Fiona Roveda, Sienna Roveda, Addison Roy, Ellsea Roy, Emerson Roy, Maxwell Roy, James Russell, Noah Santos, Javani Scherer, Austin Scully, Aiden Sellinger, Christina Shultz, Ian Shultz, Aidan Silk, Ella Silva, Kaelie Smalley, Chelsey Soltau, Molly Souza, Stephanie Spearin, Addyson Spencer, Devin St Germaine, Alexa St Louis, Stefan St. Louis, Mariana Sudofsky, Scarlett Sylvia, Aubrey Sylvia-Everett, Catherine Sylvia-Everett, Ezra Thompson, Olivia Thompson, Katherine Thomsen, Noah Thorell, Angela Tomasso, Landis Treichler, Paetyn Tripp, Richard Troy, Rachel Tse, Cassandra Tseki, Lucia Valadao, Cameron Van Ness, Ava Vanderpol, Jackson Veugen, Nolin Vieira, Anya Walker, Linden White, Matthew Williams, Tyler Williams, Caitlin Wilson, Allison Winters, Jenna Woodward, Molly Wronski, Dayvie Zuckerman, Kennedy Zussy