Schools Learn about Internet Safety

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Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson has announced that the ORR School District and Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55, working in collaboration with the Southcoast Public Health Collaborative (SCPHC), recently hosted keynote speaker Katie Greer for a series of internet-safety talks.

            Throughout the school day on March 25, Greer gave a presentation to students and staff, grades 4-8 at Rochester Memorial School, Sippican Elementary School, Old Rochester Regional Jr. High School and Old Hammondtown Elementary School on internet safety.

            During the evening, Greer gave her presentation “Social Media and Your Child’s Mental Health” to community members and families at the high school. The presentations covered internet trends, privacy and advice for creating a positive online experience, tailoring her discussions based on the age of the students. Greer spoke to families about navigating the digital landscape in a technology-driven society. She provided proactive initiatives to help keep their kids safe while using social media platforms.

            “I was very pleased to work with Katie to set up the presentations at all of the schools,” Rochester Memorial School Assistant Principal Charles West said. “These kinds of discussions foster a welcoming environment for families to talk about internet safety and decision making in regards to social media.”

            The partnership with SCPHC included Marion Public Health Nurse Lori A. Desmarais, RN, BSN, Mattapoisett Public Health Nurse Emily Field, MSN, RN, Rochester Public Health Nurse Connie Dolan, RN, and Olive Wicherski, MPH, Shared Services coordinator for the collaborative.

            The SCPHC utilized funding from the Public Health Excellence Grant to welcome guest speakers such as Greer to the public schools. Hosting keynote speakers is beneficial in helping to inform the community about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people.

            “By engaging experts who shed light on the impact of social media on mental health and overall well-being, we take proactive steps to educate and empower students to navigate these digital landscapes responsibly,” said Wicherski. “Through informed discourse and intervention, we strive to foster a healthier digital environment for our youth.”

            “Although social media has afforded so many individuals a means to connect amid the last couple of years of social isolation (due to the pandemic), it has also been a root cause in the decline of mental health among adolescents and adults alike,” said Field. “Anxiety (linked to fear of missing out), depression, and the inability to see in person the potentially harmful effects of shared words and images – these are all ill effects of social media. The public health sector is grateful for dynamic speakers such as Katie Greer who remind each of us to navigate the social media world with caution and, more importantly, to keep dignity and respect at the forefront of our actions.”

            “I’d like to thank the Southcoast Public Health Collaborative for working with us to put this wonderful event on,” Nelson said. “Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to host Katie and provide an opportunity to educate our students and school community on this important topic.”

            “Katie gave engaging and informative presentations that were valuable to families navigating the internet with their children,” said ORR Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Shari Fedorowicz. “We’re grateful to have hosted her and believe that this was a great opportunity to educate the community and answer parents’ questions.”

Poetry Month at the Mattapoisett Library

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Award-winning Providence poets Karen Donovan and Catherine Imbriglio will read from their poetry on Saturday, April 20 at 2 pm, at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library at 7 Barstow Street.

            Karen Donovan’s latest collection of poems, Monad+Monadnock, was published by Wet Cement Press. Her book Planet Parable (Etruscan Press) appears in the innovative multiauthor volume Trio along with complete books by the poets Diane Raptosh and Daneen Wardrop. Her other books of poems are Your Enzymes Are Calling the Ancients (Persea Books), which won the Lexi Rudnitsky / Editor’s Choice Award, and Fugitive Red (University of Massachusetts Press), which won the Juniper Prize. She is also the author of Aard-vark to Axolotl (Etruscan Press), a collection of tiny stories and essays illustrated with engravings from a vintage Webster’s dictionary. She has new work in the 2022 anthology Dreaming Awake: New Contemporary Prose Poetry from the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. From 1985 to 2005 she co-edited ¶: A Magazine of Paragraphs, a print journal of very short prose.

            Catherine Imbriglio is the author of two books of poetry, Parts of the Mass (Burning Deck), which received the Norma Farber First Book Award from the Poetry Society of America, and Intimacy (Center for Literary Publishing), which received the Colorado Prize in Poetry. Her poetry and criticism have appeared in After Spicer (John Vincent, ed.), American Letters & Commentary, Aufgabe, A Broken Thing: Poets on the Line, Conjunctions, Contemporary Literature, Denver Quarterly, Epoch, Green Mountains Review, New American Writing, Pleiades, Poetry International, The Pact, West Branch, and elsewhere. A selection of her poetry was anthologized in the Iowa Anthology of New American Poetries, ed. Reginald Shepherd (University of Iowa Press). She is a senior editor in poetry for Tupelo Quarterly.

            Both poets will have poetry books available for purchase and signing following the reading. Light refreshments will be served. Everyone is invited to attend this event celebrating Poetry Month, April.

Cushing Cemetery

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There will be a Biannual Cushing Cemetery meeting at the Mattapoisett Library on April 20 at 10 am. The meeting will be held downstairs and all Board, and Trustee members are encouraged to attend. This meeting is open to the public if you want to attend.

Donna McAuley Kelly

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Donna McAuley Kelly, age 87, of Weston and Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, died peacefully on April 6, 2024, after a valiant three-year battle with several cancers. She was surrounded by her husband of 65 years, Hugh J. Kelly, and her loving family.

            Born on September 4, 1936, and raised in the Bronx by the late Mary (Dolly) Buckley and Harold J. McAuley, Donna was the eldest of eight children, and had the benefit of an Ursuline Education from elementary school through her graduation from The College of New Rochelle in New York. She later attended Boston College working towards her Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Therapy, which enabled her to pursue her passion for working with children as a Speech and Language Pathologist for the Natick Massachusetts School System.

            Donna had a radiant spirit with an insatiable appetite for learning. She was often found investing in the stock market by day and diving into a good book at night. She was a prolific artist who loved nothing more than sculpting in clay and stone or translating a beautiful view to her canvas using oil and watercolor. She enjoyed deep conversations where she shared her vast knowledge and wisdom with others but loved nothing more than enriching the development of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

            Donna was predeceased by her parents and siblings David McAuley, Paula Hollis, Brenda Victoria, and Laura Samuelson; and survived by her siblings Barbara Kelly, Brian McAuley, and Martha Keller.  She is survived by her devoted husband, Hugh J. Kelly, their five children Chris (Shirley), Hugh (Shannon), Brian, Katie Hay (David), Donna Ruhanen (Troy); and 22 grandchildren, Erin Banta, Megan Cochran, Joe, Cat, Clare, and Emma Kelly; Nicho, Aggie, Theo and Temi Kelly; Patrick, Michael, Faith, Julia, Koko and Aedan Kelly; Grace & Keira Hay; Jack, Finn, Elle and Tom Ruhanen. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Jack, Hudson, and Belle Banta; Georgia, James, and Charlie Cochran; and Alice Kelly.

            The Kelly Family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the tireless professional caregivers and nurses who tended to Donna over the last two years as well as the devoted staff of Good Shepherd Hospice Services of Massachusetts.

            A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 am on Saturday, April 20th at St. John The Evangelist Church, 9 Glen Rd, Wellesley Hills, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Donna McAuley Kelly Scholarship Fund at the Academy of Mount Saint Ursula, 330 Bedford Park Boulevard, Bronx, New York, 10458.

            Online guestbook at gfdoherty.com. Arrangements by George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley.

Schools Budget Approved

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            The Old Rochester School Committee held its FY25 Budget Public Hearing on March 28 and voted unanimously to approve the budget for recommendation to voters at the three town meetings to be held in of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester all on the same night of Monday, May 13.

            The proposed FY25 operations budget of $21,663,474 represents a $693,178 increase over the FY24 figure of $20,970,216.

            After Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson explained how the budget process begins with an assessment of needs and is then refined by processes that are governed by the state and at the same time beholden to fiscal responsibility to the three member towns, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howard Barber explained the mechanics and part of the budget process.

            Barber gave examples of grants and other special revenues, along with general funds, long-term bonds, short-term bond-anticipation notes and capital stabilization.

            Funding offsets topping $1,000,000 (grants and other special revenues) apply $580,000 to ORR’s Central Office, $281,221 to the high school, $167,934 to the junior high school and $10,000 to facilities. More than half of this revenue ($580,000) is generated by ORR’s status as a School Choice district.

            A major driver in the FY25 budgeting process was a new contract with the Amaral bus company, which won the bid to continue as the transportation company of choice on a town-by-town basis.

            After holding steady with year-by-year extensions of an existing contract, the new deal drastically increases the cost of busing students from $768,000 annually to $893,120, an increase of $125,120 in one year.

            Barber also pointed out in his presentation that Chapter 70 state aid ($3,496,795) only increased by approximately $30,000 over FY24, slightly less than 1%.

            Nelson publicly thanked Barber for his work in laying out the budget in layman’s terms. He also recognized the subcommittees and town government officials for their work in assisting the process.

            Committee Chairperson Michelle Smith said Barber’s work has helped her understand the challenge and the process. Members April Nye, Jim Muse and Joe Pires added their thanks.

            Member Matthew Monteiro said for the public’s benefit that the expenditures do not represent what the committee wants but rather an act of “paying our bills.”

            Pires asked Barber what the town representatives’ feedback has been given their own budget challenges. Barber said all three towns have offered feedback indicating agreement in the ORR budgeting plan and the intent to approve and recommend to town voters at Town Meeting.

            In other business, the committee voted to accept a $1,000 donation from Cape Cod Five for the annual Credit for Life event.

            The committee also voted to recommend the three member towns share $12,000,000 in new debt to participate with ORR’s long-term facility-upgrade goals. Barber explained that debt is coming off the books in February 2025, and now would be the opportune time to begin committing money to capital projects facing the school beginning with a massive upgrade to the HVAC system. The district also lists security in the highest priority; that will take the form of the replacement of 60 exterior doors and a new public-address system that will join the junior and senior high school buildings.

            Nye explained from her subcommittee work that the main committee’s vote would essentially authorize the towns to vote to appropriate ORR funds for these purposes.

            In light of budget challenges in each of the towns, Pires recommended that the committee not vote on the matter.

            Nye read the motion on the table to appropriate the funds as planned. Pires’ was the only dissenting vote.

            The next meeting of the ORR School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, April 11, at 6:30 pm at the Junior High Media Room and remotely via Zoom.

ORR School Committee

By Mick Colageo

ORR Receives Music Award

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Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson had announced that the ORR School District has been recognized as a Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation.

            In its 25th year, the Best Communities for Music Education is awarded to districts nationwide that demonstrate outstanding efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

            This is the third time ORR has been recognized by the NAMM Foundation, with the last time being in 2023. ORR was among 23 school districts across Massachusetts that were recognized this year.

            “I’m very proud of our passionate and dedicated students and music educators,” said ORR Junior High School Principal Silas Coellner. “The NAMM Foundation recognizes music excellence, and it comes as no surprise that our district has been the recipient of such honor for a third time.”

            “We are honored to be recognized as a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation,” said ORRJH General Music and Band Teacher Richard Laprise. “This award is a tribute to the dedication of our music educators, the unwavering support of our administration and families, and most importantly, the passion and talent of our student musicians.

            “At Old Rochester, we believe music education goes beyond notes on a page. It fosters creativity, collaboration and a lifelong love for the arts. This recognition is a testament to that shared vision, and it inspires us to continue making music a vibrant part of every student’s educational experience.”

            In order for districts to qualify for the Best Communities designation, they answered detailed questions about funding, commitment to the music program, graduation requirements, staffing and access to music instruction. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

            “I am incredibly proud of our students for receiving this prestigious recognition,” Nelson said. “This recognition not only honors their individual excellence but also reflects the collective commitment of our entire school community to nurturing and supporting artistic endeavors. Congratulations to our students and schools on this well-deserved honor.”

Earth Day: Invest in Mattapoisett, Invest in Our Planet

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All hands on deck. Help make our little section of the planet a healthier and safer place to live, work, and play.

            The Sustainability Partnership group of the Mattapoisett Library is organizing its second Earth Day rain or shine event on Saturday, April 20, to kick off a community cleanup drive that will run from 9 am to 11 am. Please sign up at Mattapoisettlibrary.org through the Events Calendar.

            Volunteers are encouraged to gather in front of the library for assignments, or families and friends can start from their homes and clean up their neighborhoods or nearby parks.

Children under 14 are welcome, but they should be supervised by an adult or guardian at all times.

            The Sustainability Partnership has a limited number of tong-like pickup devices for hard-to-reach debris. Volunteers are encouraged to wear gardening gloves and sturdy shoes, bring hand sanitizer and water to stay cool and hydrated and work in teams. Additionally, volunteers are advised not to touch items like needles, syringes and medical waste.

            As principal organizer for the Sustainability Partnership’s second Earth Day event, Ms. Barbara van Inwegen expressed her gratitude to all those participating in 2024. Last year, “we collected more than 800 pounds of trash,” said volunteer Roxanne Bungert, a Mattapoisett Women’s Club member.

            After the cleanup, volunteers return to the library to drop off supplies and bags of trash for weighing.

            By participating in Earth Day’s cleanup, on Saturday, April 20, from 9 am to 11 am, volunteers strengthen Mattapoisett’s response to solid waste, a significant challenge with escalating consumption that poses significant threats to our environment and public health.

Marion Scouts Annual Town Cleanup

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The Scouts of Marion Cub Scouts Pack 32 and Troop 32 are once again leading the annual Earth Day celebration for Marion. The scouts are looking for volunteers to join the town-wide Cleanup in conjunction with the DPW and Marion Board of Health. The Scouts invite all community members to join them on Saturday, April 20, rain or shine, from 9 am to 12 pm. This family-friendly event will begin at Washburn Park where you will receive a location to clean, yellow safety vests, gloves, water, and of course trash bags.

            Any interested party who would prefer to commit to a clean, specific location, would like to participate at another time/date or anyone with questions may contact Kristen SaintDon-Campbell at ksaintdon@gmail.com. Please use the subject line Town Cleanup.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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Most often I am writing about articles, letters or pictures that I find in our museum collection, but this time I’m writing about objects, most specifically, ones that show how our ancestors spent their free time. Our new exhibit will be debuting on the weekend of June 22 and 23 along with an expanded two-day Historic Fair. The fair will include a living history exhibition, a chance to practice mustering like a Colonial soldier, a scavenger hunt, music, bake sale, a Treasure Hunt using compasses, old games, maybe animals and much more. The exhibit is titled; Past Pastimes-How We Entertained Ourselves for the Last 337 Years.

            At the Museum, we have quite a few pieces that will be on display. There’s an early bathing suit, a set of cement children’s blocks, hoops to roll and a lot of board games from the 50’s and 60’s and– yes, our old games are close to 75 yrs. old.

            We are looking to expand the exhibit with both adult and children’s items. Think a wooden Chinese checkers game, older crafts, autograph books, scrapbooks, card playing paraphernalia and how to play whist or canasta or pictures of card parties.

            An old Victrola, Magic lantern, old dolls or wooden toys, cap pistols, Davy Crocket hat, old baseball glove or wooden skates. I think you can see what we’re looking for and the older the better. Items can be a donation or a loan, and you can get your antique back at the end of the exhibit. We’ll give a receipt for any loaners.

            Pictures and reminisces would be great. We found at our board meeting that just naming a game from our childhoods sent us on a trip down memory lane.

            We appreciate your help with this. Arrangements for drop-off or pickup can be coordinated with Connie (617 750 2818 eshbach2@aol.com or Sue 508 295 8908 sash48@comcast.net).

            Watch for more info on the upcoming Maxi Fair with a Colonial Flair. With a grant from the Mass Cultural Council, we are greatly expanding our events. Many are geared to our youngest residents and visitors, so we hope you circle the date.

By Connie Eshbach

Amphibian Study Presentation at the MNHM

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Scott Smyers, Herpetologist, will be presenting a study of Wood Frog populations in high elevations in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on Friday, April 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Marion Natural History Museum. Scott Smyers has studied the behavior and ecology of amphibian and reptile species native to the eastern United States for more than 20 years. He has also led field studies for pond-breeding amphibians using various trapping techniques. His experience with amphibians includes laboratory studies of three species of pond-breeding salamanders in southern Louisiana, including Ambystoma opacum, A. maculatum and A. talpoideum.

            Take a look at ecosystems that are hidden in plain sight, many along the well-travelled Appalachian Trail. Guests will learn about amphibian species distribution, changes in communities and shifts in calling phenology that reveal how complicated these ecosystems are for amphibian survival. The museum suggests a donation of $10 per person. Please register in advance at marionmuseum.org to ensure a seat.