Charles R. Washburn Memorial Trust

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The Charles R. Washburn Memorial Trust is proud to announce its new President, Meredith M. Days. Meredith was voted in by Trust members on August 8. Meredith has been an active participant in working with Trust members for many years and will be replacing former president Wayne A. Mattson.

            The Trust was formed on December 6, 1955 by Trust Members James A. Arne, Clement H. Briggs, Ernest W. Briggs, Manuel Marshall, Fred E. Tibbits, Jr. and Albert W. Winters.

            The Trust property consists of approximately 16 acres of woodland, parking lot, “cookhouse”, two horse rings and large lower backfield, adjacent to town property.

            There are many plans in the works and it will be great to follow these energetic members in the coming months.

            The Trust is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit and receives its income from donations and rental fees to maintain operations.

Teen Advisory Board Pizza Party

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The Mattapoisett Library is excited to invite students aged 11 and up to join us for a Teen Advisory Board Pizza Party on Tuesday, November 7 at 6 pm. This event promises not only delicious pizza but also the chance to discover the incredible impact you can have on your community.

            The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) plays a vital role in shaping the library’s programs, services and resources to cater to the needs and interests of young adults. This pizza party is a fantastic opportunity to explore what TAB members do and how you can become a part of this dynamic group.

            The event is not just about food and fun – it’s your moment to get involved, share your ideas and create a positive change within your community. By joining the Teen Advisory Board, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute your voice, participate in exciting library initiatives and make lifelong friends who share your passion for learning and community engagement. No registration is required. If you have any questions, contact Michelle Skaar at mskaar@sailsinc.org or by calling the library.

Stepping up to Address Dementia

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            The Town of Marion may be emerging as one of the most sensitive to the needs of those with dementia, along with their caretakers.

            On Monday, November 13, at 5:00 pm, the town will be hosting “Supporting Dementia” as part of its ongoing initiative to help those suffering from dementia, as well as support for their caregivers. The event will be held at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, 465 Mill Street.

            Marion was one of the first area communities to offer a “Memory Café,” during which dementia patients and their caregivers share a meal and play some games.

            “I support the creation of the team and building opportunities for education,” Town Administrator Geoff Gorman said during an interview earlier this year about the town’s efforts. “It is vitally important that we create an environment that is educated on how dementia can affect both families and a close community such as Marion.”

            Council on Aging Director Karen Gregory says the Memory Cafe has been a success after it was initiated almost seven years ago. According to Gregory, Marion was among the first area towns to begin that but remains one of the few to still conduct it on a weekly basis.

            “It’s a place where you don’t feel alone,” she said. “We are unique in that we meet every week to keep the continuity going and establish connections.”

            The upcoming event will add to that support.

            “It’s a never-ending job. It goes on 24-7, and (we look for) any way we can to be of support and relief,” Gregory said. “We have a great building block with our Memory Cafe.”

            Gregory says she hopes that the November 13 event will allow locals to share stories so COA representatives can assess situations and offer more support or guidance.

            “Once we find what is needed, we can fill that void,” she said.

            According to a written release from the COA, it is projected that by 2025, an estimated 150,000 Massachusetts residents will be living with Alzheimer’s disease, which does not account for those with other types of dementia.

            An RSVP to 508-748-3570 is encouraged, as a light meal will be served during the November 13 event. Transportation can also be arranged, if needed.

            Gregory can also be reached at kgregory@marionma.gov.

Marion Council on Aging

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Marion Book Donation Drive

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The Friends of the Elizabeth Taber Library in Marion are launching an intensive Book Donation Drive in anticipation of their upcoming two-week Holiday Book Sale in December. Watch for news about that and related events.

            For this Book Donation Drive, it is requested that all books and other items, such as puzzles, games, and DVDs, be in gift-giving condition. Anything moldy, torn, or too well-used is not acceptable. If anyone has items to give, but no way to get them to the library, they can call 508-748-1252, and a member of the Friends will be happy to pick them up.

Marion Girl Scout Food Drive

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Marion Girl Scout Troop 67041 will be holding their 4th Annual Food Drive to support the Marion Food Pantry on November 4 from 11-1 at the Marion General Store.

            Items that are in high need are; Hearty Soup, Pasta Sauce, Pasta, Cookies, Crackers, Jelly and Jams, Canned fish, Canned Veggies, Cereal, Gluten Free Items, Jars of baby food and snacks, Peanut Butter, Condiments, Toilet Paper, Feminine hygiene product, and Soaps.

            All items in code and closed packages will be accepted.

Phones Go in Pouches

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            Old Rochester is participating in a pilot program at the junior high level that will allow students to keep cell phones on their persons, so long as they remain in a locked pouch that will be distributed by the school.

            On October 12, the ORR School Committee voted to accept the program after lengthy discussion and explanation from a representative from the Yondr Company.

            ORR Junior High Principal Silas Coellner presented the program that will store cell phones in pouches rather than lockers. In describing the new policy as a pilot program and a launch, Coellner outlined the disciplinary standards for the phone-pouch program.

            Cell phones are to be powered down from 7:10 am to 2:04 pm.

            “We actually backed off a bit in consequence,” said Coellner. He described the first offense of having the cell phone outside the pouch as required to turn in the phone to the office and pick up at the end of the school day. A student needs to commit a third offense in order to receive a detention.

            Pouches belong to the school and will be collected at the end of the school year; a lost pouch will be replaced by the school at no charge.

            Committee member Margaret McSweeny articulated a concern with an Apple Watch circumventing the policy’s limitations on cell-phone usages. Member April Nye noted other products with those abilities. McSweeny reiterated her belief that other smart technology should eventually be addressed. Member Matt Monteiro suggested an addendum to the policy to prevent cell phones housed in pouches but silently powered up in order to serve other devices as a hub.

            Matthew Army, the representative for the new pouch made by Yondr, attended via Zoom and was given the floor to further explain how the program works.

            Committee member Joe Pires said that while he supports the aims of the program, he feels as though the program is punishing many for the infractions of the few. Due to the current lifestyle of phone usage, he anticipates anxiety on the part of students and their parents because the pouch puts the phone off limits.

            “If we take it away, I just think we’re overstepping, overreaching in terms of a restriction,” he said.

            Attending via Zoom, committee member Jason Chisholm said, because the program is a pilot, it will yield data that can then provide the committee with a perspective to make a decision about policy. With that, he made a motion to accept the pilot program with the condition that an end date be established and a date to receive data on the pilot.

            Coellner said there is a tentative launch date of Tuesday, October 31, with an end date of the last day of school (June 10.)

            Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson explained that the motion needs to amend the Student Handbook. Chisholm rescinded his motion and seconded that of Jim Muse. Pires’ was the lone dissenting vote.

            After going through several relatively minor changes, the committee voted to approve the Student Handbook for ORR Junior High for 2023-24.

            DECA students have been approved for overnight travel during the 2023-24 school year.

            In a slight change to the committee’s vote, ORR High School Principal Mike Devoll asked the school’s DECA chapter to lay out its overnight-competition requests for the entire academic year to avoid coming back to the committee for each event.

            Students Andrew Porter and Alyssa Vera and Faculty Advisor Beth Trout represented the program to the committee.

            On January 4-5, 2024, ORR’s DECA chapter will be competing in the district competition (CDC) at Hyannis Convention Center. March 7-9 is the state competition (SCDC) in Boston’s Seaport District (exact location to be determined) and April 27-30 is the international (ICDC) competition at the Anaheim (California) Convention Center.

            Porter summarized the purpose of DECA competition, giving the students applied education and experience in the business world.

            “The trips are necessary because students have worked all year long to get these positions, and they desperately want to show their judges and competitors what they have to offer, why they think they’re the best, and why they think they belong there,” said Porter, summarizing activities including hearing from successful entrepreneurs and networking with other students and business leaders.

            Devoll said ORR’s DECA chapter has been successful abroad and reports back to administration on what was learned and what other schools are doing.

            “We’ve had kids place at the national level, so we’re not just a young organization. Our kids are doing well when they compete, which is exciting,” he said.

            “I think it’s so important, real-world experience. It allows you to collaborate with other schools, other kids in the same program with the same ambitions, so congratulations,” said Pires to the student representatives.

            “It’s been very exciting watching DECA grow,” said committee Chairperson Michelle Smith.

            The committee approved a donation from the First Congregational Church of Rochester of 10 notebooks, 25 folders, a box of pencils, a box of pens and two backpacks for students.

            Nelson gave the Financial Report, telling the committee that the district is in good position with a balance of $958,901. In Food Service, breakfast and lunch numbers are up.

            The foundation for the new press box at Hagen Field was laid the week of the meeting, and a new backstop has been placed at the high school baseball field.

            Nelson noted that Devoll was at last meeting in process of terminating an instructional assistant; the resultant vacancy has been filled by Kevin Severson.

            During public comment, former school committee member Charles Motta suggested that the committee reconnect with representatives at the state level, as they had during Dr. Doug White’s tenure.

            At the start of the meeting, Smith called for a moment of silence in recognition of the tragic loss of life on October 7 in the Middle East.

            The next meeting of the ORR School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, November 16, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, January 18, 2024. Both meetings begin at 6:30 pm in the ORR Junior High Media Room.

ORR School Committee

By Mick Colageo

Should I RSVP on RSV Vaccine?

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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has traditionally been thought of as a disease of infants. As many as 80,000 babies under age five are hospitalized annually in the U.S. with RSV, mostly in the winter, and some 300 die. Until very recently, there was little that could be done to prevent RSV.

            A monoclonal antibody has recently been approved that was 80% effective at reducing hospitalizations in infants, but it costs $495 per dose.

            Also new are two RSV vaccines for adults that were shown quite effective, and this availability has focused attention on RSV in older adults.

            The “usual” winter respiratory virus about which we have worried for years is influenza. There is quite a bit of variability in influenza from year to year, with estimates of 140,000 to 700,000 flu hospitalizations and 12,000 to 52,000 deaths annually over the past decade. Flu vaccine efficacy has been quite variable, but vaccination is universally recommended.

            For the past three years, Covid has pushed flu out of the headlines, and it is unfortunately still with us.

            Estimates for RSV for the same 10-year period are that 60,000 to 160,000 older adults are hospitalized each winter with RSV and 6,000-10,000 die. A CDC analysis of a large sample of adults over 60 found that while RSV was much less common as a cause of hospitalization than flu or COVID, patients with RSV tended to be sicker.

            The two recently approved vaccines both reduced the rate of RSV illness requiring medical attention by about 85%. The advisory committee recommended the vaccine for pregnant women to protect their newborns and for adults 60 and older.

            Like all new vaccines, there are unanswered questions. There seemed to be a small but real increase in neurologic side effects (notably Guillain-Barré, a temporary paralysis) in vaccine recipients and possibly a small increase in atrial fibrillation. For the frail elderly, the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. For healthier seniors it is less clear.

            Cost may be an issue. The vaccine costs $200 to $300. It is covered under Part D of Medicare, not Part B like flu or Covid shots. Not all private insurances cover it.

            If you are older with heart or lung disease, I would definitely recommend it. If your general health is excellent, the decision is a personal weighing of risks and benefits.

By the way – masks reduce the spread of all respiratory illnesses. And if you are sick and coughing, do everyone a favor and stay home until you are better!

            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

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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When I was in 4th or 5th grade, my father gave me Landmark books for Christmas. It was a neat gift because you got one book a month for a year. The only catch was that they were all nonfiction. I read them all but enjoyed the biographies more than the ones on topics like the building of the Panama Canal. One biography that made an impression on me was that of Louis Pasteur. The book began with Louis as a young boy hearing a man screaming after being bitten by a rabid dog, a death sentence at the time. This scene made an impression on me and a lasting one on Pasteur, born in 1822.

            Pasteur grew up to become a scientist, specifically, a chemist and microbiologist. His discoveries of the principles of both vaccination and pasteurization made him famous. His chemistry research led to an understanding of both the causes and prevention of diseases. This knowledge became the foundation of today’s public health.

            While these days vaccinations have become a flashpoint for some, Pasteur’s development of vaccinations for rabies and anthrax have saved the lives of millions. About now, you are saying. “Ok, interesting but what does it have to do with Rochester history?”

            Well, one of the newest additions to our museum is a home pasteurization machine, pictured with this article. This machine came from the home of Conrad “Slim” Bernier at 84 Robinson Rd. It’s a SAFGARD Home Pasteurizer with a two- gallon capacity, perfect for a one cow family. The Berniers had that one cow, and she was named Tinkerbell.

            The way pasteurization works is using heat to kill any bacteria present in raw milk and then letting the milk cool. The directions on the pasteurization machine have arrows. The homeowner would turn the dial to the on position and the machine would heat the milk. A signal would light up when the milk was hot enough. The dial would be turned to the off position to begin the cooling process.

            Not unlike vaccinations, discussions about drinking raw milk have partisans on both sides of the issue. However, in the 1800’s and early 1900’s, prior to the use of pasteurization to kill any bacteria that may have gotten into the milk either from the cow or its environs, there were many deaths from typhoid, diphtheria, scarlet fever and other diseases traced back to contaminated milk. Pasteurization began to be used in the U.S. in the 1920’s and that combined with better hygiene practices throughout the food chain greatly decreased the presence of these diseases.

By Connie Eshbach

Machacam Club

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The next meeting of the Machacam Club is scheduled for Wednesday, November 1. Chief Colby will be in attendance this month. We meet at the American Legion Eastman Post on Depot Street. Doors open at 5 pm for social time followed by dinner at 6pm. Our speaker program begins at 6:45. New members are always welcome. Please contact Chuck at cwmccullough@comcast.net with questions.

Commission Usually Goes First

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            On October 24, the members of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission found themselves questioning which permitting entity in Mattapoisett goes first when an applicant is seeking to perform construction activities on their property. Is it the Zoning Board of Appeals or the Conservation Commission?

            On the agenda for the evening’s meeting was a Notice of Intent filing by Allan Pineda and Mary Manning for the demolition of an existing office structure at 33 Church Street and the construction of a new single-family dwelling.

            The property is located within wetlands jurisdiction due to storm-surge potential. However, the commission had received a letter from legal representatives for abutters located at 31 Church Street, Tom and Mary Bolger, objecting to the application being heard at this time. The Bolgers contend that the Zoning Board of Appeals should be first in rotation in permitting the proposed construction.

            Conservation Agent Brandon Faneuf read portions of the submitted letter and portions of the Wetlands Protection Act that relates to permitting processes. There appeared to be conflicting directives in the state document, prompting him to suggest that legal counsel be brought in to settle the matter.

            Representing the applicants was Andrew Stackpole of Field Engineering, who concurred with seeking legal guidance in this matter. Commission Chairman Mike King noted that in the 15 years he has been on the commission, “Conservation has always gone first.” The commission will take the matter up once clarification is received.

            In other matters, two Requests for Determination of Applicability were approved with Negative Box 2 decisions for a new septic system at 58 Shore Drive, owned by Pauline Mostrom, and at 32 Ocean Drive, owned by Seth and Claudia Hankowski for the installation of an in-ground pool.

            A Notice of Intent filed by the Williams Living Trust, 26 Ocean Drive, for the placement of sand for beach nourishment was conditioned.

            After considerable discussion of stormwater drainage systems relevant to a Notice of Intent filed by Christian McCullough, 8 Channel Street, the project was accepted after several suggested modifications to the drainage system were agreeable to engineer David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone, Inc. Additional trenching and plantings will be part of the new plan of record when the case returns to the commission for conditioning.

            A Notice of Intent filed by Stephen Schwartz, 48A Shore Drive, for the replacement of pier pilings and jetty boulders displaced during storms was continued to November 13.

            Rounding out the evening were two extensions of conditions for two lots located on Dupont Drive and owned by John Gregorio and a Certificate of Compliance for Noyes Avenue and Dyar Street owned by the Mattapoisett Land Trust.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is planned for Monday, November 13, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell