Dale Muther Allison, Ph.D.

on

Dale Muther Allison, Ph.D. age 81 of Marion, MA formerly of Honolulu, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Newtown Highlands passed away just as she wished in her beloved residence and childhood summer home. She was the widowed wife of W. Anthony Allison, M.D. with whom she shared 54 years of marriage, and was the mother of Patricia Dillard, Vivian Shelton, Anita Allison and her beloved dog Max.

            Born in Newton, MA, the daughter of Donald Muther and Florence (Briggs) Muther. Dale and her brother Brahm were raised by her WWII widowed mother in Newton Highlands. She was a graduate of Newton South High School, Boston University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Dale Allison has more than 50 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Professor of Community Health, and Acting Dean. She began her nursing career as a public health nurse in Southeast, Washington, D.C.. Dale continued her work at UPenn teaching women’s health and working with predominantly African American pregnant adolescents. After completing a Master of Science in Nursing at UPenn, she taught maternity nursing students at Bryn Mawr Hospital before returning to UPenn to work as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. After finishing her doctorate, Dale moved to Hawaii and was on the faculty at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Dale transitioned to Hawaii Pacific University where she moved up the ranks from professor, to Assistant Dean, to Acting Dean before her retirement in 2013. Dale was most proud of her work with underserved populations on the North Shore of Oahu and the community health centers where she was a director of a program integrating traditional Hawaiian healing practices with Western Medicine, bringing people into healthcare. Teaching, Practice, and Research have been her focus throughout her career to help people to understand their health care issues.

            Dale was a loving wife, mother, family member and friend who opened her heart and home to all. As a practicing Quaker, social causes and groups were of particular importance to her. She volunteered as a “spy” for the Fair Housing Counsel, was a Girl Scout Leader, was active in supporting like-minded political candidates, and was instrumental in the 1989 court case US v. Lansdowne Swim Club, integrating the pool. While in Hawaii she explored and challenged herself in new pursuits such as learning to motorcycle, scuba dive, surf, and paddle an outrigger canoe. Dale loved swimming, boating, and porch sitting with loved ones at her home in Marion.

            Dale is survived by her three daughters, Patricia M. Dillard and her husband Gregory of Texas; Vivian A. Shelton and her husband Zachary of Virginia; Anita N. Allison of Massachusetts; and, 6 grandchildren, Gregory III, Lydia and Jeramiah Dillard and Jaden, Sophia and Jewel Shelton.

            A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 4th at 10 am in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Fairlawn, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Marion.

            For online tributes, please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com

Mattapoisett Library Artist Series

on

“An Antarctic Adventure: a photographic essay of the incredible beauty of Antarctica” Come to the Mattapoisett Free Public Library during April 2 to April 30 to see the Artist Series exhibit by Mattapoisett resident Ray Rose. Called “An Antarctic Adventure: a photographic essay of the incredible beauty of Antarctica,” Rose took the photographs during his recent trip to the Antarctic. Rose has traveled the world and been to all seven continents. Of all the places he visited, Rose feels Antarctica was the most incredible. The exhibit is free and open to all.

ORR, Town Asked to Divide $600,000 in Cuts

on

            The Rochester Finance Committee made significant headway on Monday night in its effort to achieve the town’s half of $600,000 in requested FY25 budget trims, the other half to be made by the Old Rochester Regional School District.

            The committee was not able to nail down the $300,000 in cuts that it seeks, in part because Finance Director Suzanne Szyndlar was unable to attend the meeting. Finance Committee Chairman Kris Stoltenberg has been discussing revenue assumptions for the FY25 Budget with Szyndlar, but some of the details of departmental budget discussions still need clarification.

            “We have been out of whack almost every year, but it’s never been quite that dramatic,” said Stoltenberg of the $600,000 correction prescribed by the committee. “Suzanne has the numbers and they’re pretty hard numbers. Then we fix the budget. She’s done as much as she can on the assumption side for the revenue, so now we work with the departments.”

            On the ORR side of the equation, Town Administrator Glenn Cannon said that the school district, which also includes Marion and Mattapoisett, has already made some recommendations but has yet to “come to the ($300,000) target, so it’s something they’re still working on.”

            According to a Wanderer report on the March 11 public meeting, Rochester Memorial School’s FY25 operating budget proposal represents a 6.63% increase over FY24, and ORR’s proposal represents a 4.84 increase. According to the report, Rochester is sending five fewer students to ORR this fiscal year.

            Stoltenberg was reportedly met with dismay upon letting ORR officials know there is still work to be done to the tune of $300,000.

            “They were a little shocked and surprised at what we were looking for,” said Stoltenberg, acknowledging that, “in the end, we’re part of the Tri-Town community. Any mismatch, we have to look at (Rochester Memorial School). It wasn’t a great experience because they were kind of downtrodden when we left that meeting.”

            During the ORR District’s budget presentations to the school committees, level services have been emphasized.

            The Finance Committee needs to have the FY25 budget ready for the Select Board’s approval by mid-April. The Annual Town Meeting in all three of the Tri-Towns is scheduled for Monday, May 13.

            On Monday, the Finance Committee verified plans for FY25 budget cuts with the Police, Fire and Highway departments.

            The most complex of issues brought to the committee by a department head on Monday was Fire Chief Scott Weigel’s plan for a 5%, across-the-board net increase in wages for his employees, who are all part-time workers on a call basis. His department request is variable, based on 5% minus the town’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

            Cannon confirmed that the Select Board last week voted to approve a 2.5% COLA for FY25, but he said the board could still alter that number before the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting is finalized. A 2.5% COLA would mean that Weigel wants a 2.5% in-department increase to achieve a net 5% increase.

            Weigel explained that as it currently stands, a part-time firefighter can earn $31 or $32 per hour in surrounding towns as opposed to $26 per hour in Rochester.

            “We’re trying to be competitive; you have to be competitive in order to keep people,” he said. “We’re trying a dollar and change (increase) just so I can be competitive and keep people we have. I’m just trying to be in line with everybody else.”

            Stoltenberg told Weigel he will follow up on the matter with Szyndlar with the understanding that no agreement has been made.

            Weigel’s most significant cut ($23,229.44) was a request for a part-time, daytime firefighter to work on Saturdays and Sundays. He confirmed other FY25 departmental budget cuts, including approximately $9,000 related to the red-alert mobile dispatch (computer system), $4,908 in EMS-related equipment maintenance, oil heat ($1,000), medical services ($1,000) and other areas totaling $42,071.44.

            “We asked the chief to cut $40,000 from his budget so he exceeded (the request),” said Cannon.

            Highway Surveyor Jeff Eldridge confirmed plans to cut to forestry and snow/ice-removal areas. He also canceled several requests to bring his budget back to FY24 levels. He had requested a full-time mechanic in FY24 ($62,000); that request was cut before it reached voters, and plans to add it this year were scrapped.

            Eldridge indicated that a $5,000 cut from a $20,000 request for the replacement of equipment and a $17,000 cut in snow/ice treatment may steer him toward the Capital Planning Committee.

            Stoltenberg suspects that a canceled $79,000 request from the Police Department for a replacement vehicle will succeed as a capital item.

            Other departments helping reach the $300,000 goal include the town clerk (removing a request in clerical hours from 12 to eight, a $3,408 cut); Planning (removing $500 clerical and $300 cleaning costs); Town Building (down $10,000 – Cannon said that Facilities Manager Andrew Daniel is in the loop); Health (insurance was overbudgeted, according to Stoltenberg, a $46,000 cut, and $10,500 more after a plan to increase administrative hours was scrapped).

            Stoltenberg said that with Monday’s agreements, the bottom line adds up to $275,358 in FY25 budget cuts. He didn’t necessarily consider the figure to be short of the goal, considering there is still work ahead in finalizing revenue estimates and ironing out details. The exact shortfall is not known.

            A much larger matter is the question of how much of the $300,000 to be cut from the schools budget will affect Rochester Memorial School as opposed to Rochester’s share of the ORR Junior or Senior High School budgets.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Finance Committee will be scheduled for Monday, April 1, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Finance Committee

By Mick Colageo

Machacam Club

on

The next meeting of the Machacam Club is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3. We meet at the Eastman American Legion Hall on Depot Street. Social time begins at 5 pm followed by dinner at 6 pm and our speaker for the evening taking the podium at 6:45 pm. Chef Colby is, again, preparing a full, satisfying meal. New members are always welcome. Questions contact cwmccullough@comcast.net

Breezeway Changes Everything

on

            Carlos and Jennifer Varnum may add a two-story garage and expand their house at 534D Point Road, but a by-right project became a public hearing for a special permit all because of a breezeway.

            The only case heard by the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals on March 14 was a “quirky” one by Building Commissioner Bob Grillo’s estimation because the breezeway connecting the garage to the existing house triggered the application of Section 230-6.1 e (1) of the Marion Zoning Bylaw that limits the height increase of an existing structure to 10%.

            The bylaw allows the reconstruction, extension or change of a nonconforming single and two-family house with the approval of the building commissioner provided the alteration does not increase the nonconformity.

            “The reason it requires a special permit is because they’re increasing the height by more than 10 percent, and they’re increasing the height of the existing building by more than 10 percent because it’s attached,” explained Grillo, who offered the applicants the option of going without the breezeway and, given its conforming setbacks, thereby canceling the need for a special permit. “They could have that same structure in the same spot and it wasn’t attached, it’s by right. But because it’s attached, in essence they’re increasing the size of the existing structure by more than 10 percent.”

            Representative Chris Leaver of New Bedford-based Turowski2 “T2” Architecture presented on the Varnums’ behalf.

            Leaver said that the attached garage, at 24 feet and 8 inches, will exceed the height of the house (19.5 feet at its peak) by more than the allowable 10%. A second part of the project will expand the house in the back but will not add to the height of the house.

            Marion’s height limit is 35 feet.

            Leaver said that the second floor of the garage will be used for storage. He said the owner’s business results in many boxes. He said current plans call for an unfinished interior.

            “At this current point, it is not going to be looked at as any kind of other or additional living dwelling. It is strictly for storage,” said Leaver, who clarified by adding there is no plumbing or heating in the plan.

            Being a Special Permit application and not a variance, the owner did not need to prove hardship. Leaver referenced a meeting with the Conservation Commission that made comments regarding where an existing shed can be located. There were no comments from neighbors.

            Member Will Tifft asked about overall lot coverage. Leaver did not have that information on hand but considers it a small increase percentage-wise because of the size of the lot. Grillo said the 40% lot-coverage limit does not apply to a ZBA application that is not seeking a variance.

            “If for some reason when they come in for the permit, I’ll be asking for (lot coverage), and if it doesn’t match that number, I won’t issue the building permit, and they would have to come back (to the ZBA) for a variance),” said Grillo.

            Along with Tifft, Chairperson Cindy Callow and members Dani Engwert, Joan Gardner and Jeff Doubrava voted unanimously to grant the Special Permit.

            The Marion Zoning Board of Appeals did not schedule its next meeting upon adjournment.

Marion Zoning Board of Appeals

By Mick Colageo

Ultra-processed Foods: What Are They? Why Should You Care?

on

About half the calories consumed by people in high-income countries such as the United States and Canada come from ultra-processed foods, and such a high consumption of these “Franken-foods” contributes to many health problems.

            What are ultra-processed foods?

            Most of our food is processed to some degree, if only with preservatives, and not all processing is bad. Pasteurized milk is “processed,” and is generally safer than unpasteurized milk. Iodine added to salt gives health benefits.

            There are many ways to classify how foods are processed, but the most widely used system is NOVA, developed by academic food scientists in Brazil.

            NOVA Group 1 includes unprocessed or minimally processed foods. The latter includes removal of inedible parts, drying, roasting, freezing, etc., with no additives.

            Group 2 includes processed ingredients such as salt, sugar and oils that are used as additives.

            Group 3 includes foods where the Group 2 ingredients are added to Group 1 food to increase their durability and enhance their flavor.

            Group 4 foods are those that are ultra-processed, foods that are manufactured, often in several steps.

            Natural food products are fractionated into sugars, protein, oil and fats, starches and fiber. These component parts are then chemically treated, most often by hydrolysis or hydrogenation. The final food product is then assembled with various industrial techniques and colors, flavors and preservatives are added.

            Common ultra-processed foods we may consume daily include carbonated soft drinks, packaged snacks, ice cream, flavored breakfast cereals, prepared pies, pasta dishes and pizzas, “nuggets,” hot dogs, sausages and powdered instant soups and desserts. Note that some of these may be labelled “all-natural” or organic.

            Why should you care? High consumption of ultra-processed foods has been linked to such health problems as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and many gastrointestinal disorders.

            Recent studies have shown that ultra-processed foods, usually high in both sugar and fat, trigger a similar brain response as do addictive substances like nicotine and alcohol.

            What should you do? First, realize that U-P foods are not arsenic. Having a scoop of ice cream or some fries once in a while will not kill you. In moderation, they can be part of a healthy diet. The goal is to keep U-P foods to less than 25% of your daily calories.

            Eat fresh or stewed fruit in place of store-bought pies and cakes. For breakfast, have oatmeal or minimally processed granola with fruit rather than sugary cereals. Cook more: Bake chicken or fish rather than heating up prepared frozen dinners.

            Look at labels. If a product contains 4 or more ingredients, some of which you cannot pronounce, put it back. If it is obvious where the food came from (eggs come from hens, apples from trees) it is generally OK. If the origin is unclear, try something different.

            Don’t fall for hype – an “organic natural” packaged cookie might still be ultra-processed.

            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.

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Ed Hoffer

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

on

One of the maps in our current exhibit shows the Lothrop-Thomson Purchase of 1673. The purchase of 1800 acres was made by John Tomson, Joseph Lothrop and Barnabus Lothrop. They paid 10 pounds to Native Americans, William Wetispaquin, Assaweta, Tobyss and Beevat for the tract of land. The acreage in part bordered Snipatuit Pond and was in the area that became North Rochester.

            This purchase of land predated the purchase of the lands of Sepecan and the creation of the town of Rochester. Because of this, the land in the Lothrop-Tomson purchase was not located in any town or county.

            Papers found at the museum show that Barnabus Lothrop petitioned the Governor of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England and the honorable council and House of Representatives in the General Court on the 29th of May in 1706. In his petition, he represented himself and the heirs of Joseph Lothrop and John Thomson who were deceased. He wrote that their lands “are situate lying and being within the farthest colonies of New Plimoth” and are “not yet put within any town nor county which is found to be very prejudicial and inconvenient to us”.

            He sent a second letter on October 18, 1706, repeating his concerns and adding that not being in any county “we know not how to prosecute those that cut and carry away our timber off from our land.” There is a lot more flowery language and prayers to God that a “righteous” decision will be made.

            This second letter or petition did the trick and in October, 1706, the council ordered that the tract of land “therein mentioned be annexed to the county of Barnstable and at present put under the constablwick of Rochester until this counsil shall see cause otherwise to order”. Hopefully, this put an end to the thefts of his timber.

By Connie Eshbach

ORR Preschool Openings Available

on

Superintendent Michael S. Nelson is pleased to announce that openings are available in the Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55 Project GROW preschool program.

            Project GROW was established in an effort to provide high-quality preschooling to children in Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester. 

            “Our inclusive and accessible Project GROW program exemplifies our commitment to providing every child with the opportunity to learn and thrive regardless of their abilities and background,” said Superintendent Nelson. “We are thankful to the staff who work very hard to give these preschoolers a memorable and positive first classroom experience.”

            The goal of the program is to provide preschool to children whose families have been unable to enroll in another program and who desire a preschool experience. The program also aims to provide an inclusive learning environment for children with special needs.

            The program consists of two classes: Tuesdays and Thursdays at $2,520 per year; and Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at $3,780 per year.

            Classes take place from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Sippican School and Rochester Memorial School, and 8:50 am to 12:50 pm for the Center School. All classes follow the public-school calendar. Families with preschool-aged children participating in the program can attend at the school located in their respective town.

            Openings are available to all children who reside in Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester who will reach age 3 before September 1.

            Preference is given to children who may be considered educationally at risk, children who have special needs, children with no preschool experience, children in foster care, children who have experienced homelessness and families that meet tuition-assistance eligibility guidelines. Preference is also given to those with parents who have special needs or a disability, parents in active military service, teen parents and children cared for by a grandparent or guardian.

            “Our high-quality preschool program is dedicated to providing a nurturing environment where every child, especially those with special needs, can receive an excellent education,” said Early Childhood Coordinator Doreen Lopes. “Our hope is that every child has the opportunity to learn and grow to their fullest potential.”

            There will be many opportunities for parents and guardians to get involved in their child’s educational experience through the program, and they are encouraged to participate. Parents and guardians are reminded that they are responsible for providing transportation to and from the program each day. Each preschool class is staffed by a certified teacher and assistant. The program aligns with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and follows the High/Scope curriculum.

            To register your child for the program, visit oldrochester.org/departments/early-childhood-programs/project-grow?

Commission Waiting for Directive

on

On March 25, the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission once again received a report on the status of The Bogs project off Acushnet Road, now owned by the Buzzards Bay Coalition. In recent months, excavation-site work and stormwater volumes had rendered stormwater control systems unable to handle drainage necessary to keep the water on site.

            Calls to the commission by abutters expressing concern that stormwater had overtopped temporary drainage systems put in place during full on-site work had been received. Subsequent site evaluation by Brandon Faneuf, the town’s environmental agent, bore witness to the massive flooding described by neighbors. The commission saw fit to issue an Enforcement Order to the BBC for immediate remedy to take place.

            On-site monitoring of the former bog acreage was put in place to ensure that any future stormwater runoff would be contained on the site through an elaborate system of ditches, ponds and coffer dams.

            The commission also suggested that soils transferred from the site from storm flooding might contain harmful agricultural chemicals historically used on cranberry bogs. The issue of whether or not to mandate soil testing was referred to the Select Board, whose response is still pending, Chairman Mike King stated.

            The biweekly report noted that erosion controls were holding as designed and that work on the site that will ultimately result in new walking trails and passive, outdoor recreation opportunities, found everything in order.

            While the BBC did not request a lifting of the Enforcement Order, King said the commission still needed to hear from the Select Board in the matter of soil testing before lifting the order.

            In other business, a Request for Determination of Applicability filed by Judith Otter, 15 Bay View Avenue, for improvements to an existing deck received a Negative Box 2 decision.

            Certificates of compliance were issued to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for work completed on Phase 1b of the bike path and to Dan McCarthy, 16-18 Ocean View Avenue, for an invalid Order of Conditions.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Monday, April 8, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

Community Programs at the MNHM

on

March 27 – Inviting Pollinators in your yard with Joe Dwelly. Let’s take a look at gardening with the native plantings that our local pollinators rely on,, including Monarchs and milkweed, Spicebush Swallowtail and sassafras, and the Mourning Cloak and hackberry. We will also be looking at wing pattern diversity. Meet at the Marion Natural History Museum at 10:30 to 11:30 and remember to RSVP.

            April 3 – Frogs and Toads. Come learn about the frogs and toads of our region with Certified Frog Watcher Maggie Payne. We’ll take a look at some of our more common species and hopefully some live specimens. We’ll also hear about citizen science programs that you can participate in to help keep track of these important forest species. Free event. Meet at the Marion Natural History Museum at 10:30 to 11:30. Please RSVP at www.marionmuseum.org to ensure a seat.

            April 12 – Amphibian Ecology and Diversity in the Highest Elevations in New Hampshire. Join us as we welcome Scott Smyers, Senior Scientist with Oxbow Associates. Scott will be presenting his study of Wood Frog populations in high elevations in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Let’s take a look at these important ecosystems hidden in plain sight, some right along hiking trails, in the White Mountains. We will hear about amphibian species distribution, changes in communities, and shifts in calling phenology that reveal how complicated these ecosystems are for amphibian’s survival. Program will be held at the Museum from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Please remember to RSVP, and there’s a $10.00 suggested donation to the Marion Natural History Museum.