Scott D. Gauvin

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Scott D. Gauvin, 55, of Rochester passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 30th 2023, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Janet M. (Plaud) Gauvin.

            Born in New Bedford, the son of Bernard and Nancy (Hawes) Gauvin, Scott grew up in Mattapoisett having graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School in 1986. Scott moved to Rochester in 1994, where he raised his family and remained for the duration of his life. Scott retired from the Town of Mattapoisett Water Department after more than 20 years of service. His hard work, dedication, humor and all-around good spirit brought smiles to his hometown extended family. Scott truly enjoyed making others laugh and will be remembered for always having a joke to tell. He will also be remembered for having a huge heart and genuine desire to help others.

            Scott enjoyed spending time with his family and was happiest when outdoors or working with his son in the garage. He was a skilled mechanic and could often fix things that no one else could. Scott was a devoted listener to Sunday Mornings Over Easy and Acoustic Sunrise. Many Sunday mornings were spent with his wife drinking coffee while listening to his old school twelve-speaker stereo system and looking out over his backyard as deer, woodchucks, turkeys, and an occasional coyote passed by. Scott also enjoyed taking his family for rides on his tricked-out golf cart as well as riding his scooter “around town” and into Mattapoisett with his wife. He was most proud of his John Deere tractor and how fast it could mow his lawn and out run his neighbors. Time spent with his three grandchildren provided him great joy, always bringing a smile to his face.

            Survivors include his wife of 33 years; his daughter, Chelsey Frey and her husband Marc of New Bedford and their two children Mia and Leo; his son, Brett Gauvin and his wife April of Mattapoisett and their daughter Charlotte; his parents; his brother, Mark Gauvin and his wife Kathy of Mattapoisett; his sister, Joann Price and her husband Jim of Mattapoisett; brother-in-law, Steve Calise of Mattapoisett; mother-in-law Joan Plaud of Rochester; brother-in-law, Stephen Plaud and his wife Susan of Tiverton; brother-in-law, Howard Plaud and his wife Linda of Rochester; sister-in-law, Vanessa Martins and her husband Joe of Rochester; sister-in-law, Paris Worthington and her husband Kevin of Acushnet; sister-in-law, Jennifer Viera and her husband Kenny of Rochester; brother-in-law, Lawrence Plaud and his wife Lydia of Fall River; dear cousin, Lorry Barry Wolski and her husband Pete of Mattapoisett; along with many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

            Scott was predeceased by his beautiful sister Colleen Calise.

            His wake will be held at Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals on Monday September 4th, 2023 from 2PM-7PM. His Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 5th, at 10AM at St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett. Please meet directly at church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, otherwise known as ASPCA www.aspca.org. Scott had a true love of animals, especially elephants, and would be so happy to know. 

            For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com. 

Upcoming Programs at the MNHM

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On Saturday September 9 at 10:00 there will be a Butterfly Walk with the Marion Natural History Museum. Andrew Griffith of the Massachusetts Butterfly Association will be leading a walk at Nasketucket State Park in Mattapoisett. We will be looking for local butterflies and moths while examining their habitat requirements. Let’s have some fun looking for our late summer residents. We will be meeting at the park and please plan to wear appropriate clothing for walking through vegetation. Event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at www.marionmuseum.org.

            On Friday September 29 at 3:30 pm the Afterschool Program with the Marion Natural History Museum will take a tour into the history of Marion’s Bird Island Lighthouse. Let’s learn a little about the history of the Bird Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse lamps were first lit in September 1819, and the structure has had quite a history since then. Its history includes multiple devastating storms, a ghost story involving the first lighthouse keeper and the long list of previous owners before the Town of Marion purchased the island in 1966. The lighthouse is maintained by the Marion Harbormaster’s office, who will be providing entrance to the structure and hosting the tour. Time is 3:30 to 4:30 and drop off and pickup will be at the Harbormaster’s office at Island Wharf. Sippican School children may request the museum’s staff to retrieve your child at 3:00 and walk them down the Island Wharf. Please register for this program at www.marionmuseum.org.

Fall into These Fun Events at Plumb Library

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On Wednesday, September 13 at 3:00 pm, come listen to a presentation on mosquitos by Erin Morrill, Community Liaison for the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project. Learn about the life cycle of a mosquito, services provided by the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project to the Community, and using effective repellents along with eliminating stagnant water and disease risk.

            The Savers Truck will be at Plumb Library on Friday, September 22 from 2:00-6:00 pm and Saturday, September 23 from 8:30-10:30 am to pick up donated clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, handbags and linens. Please use standard kitchen-size bags only. Every pound of items collected earns money for the Friends of Plumb Library.

            The Friends of Plumb Library will be holding a 2-day book sale in the library’s program space downstairs on Friday, September 29 from 10:30 am-4:00 pm and Saturday, September 30 from 10:30 am-1:30 pm. We will accept donations for the sale starting the first week of September.

            The scrambled word is back. A new word is available at the start of each week. Stop by each week in September to find the hidden little yellow school bus inside of the library. The bus will drive to a different hiding spot each Monday and park there for the week. Quietly tell a librarian where it is to win a small prize.

            We will be closed Monday, September 4 for Labor Day. For more information, please follow us on Facebook, email us at info@plumblibrary.com, or call the library at 508-763-8600.

Historical Home Gains New Resident

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            Henry Huttleston Rogers and Mark Twain were good friends and kindred spirits in many ways. They both were fond of theater, poker, billiards, practical jokes, the good-natured spoof, literature and architecture.

            Mr. Rogers was a very successful American industrialist and financier. He made his fortune in the oil-refining business, becoming a leader at Standard Oil. He also played a major role in numerous corporations and business enterprises in the gas industry, railroads and copper.

            When the United Memorial Church was being built in Fairhaven, Mr. Twain told Mr. Rogers, “This church will attract hundreds of sightseers. There ought to be a place they can stay.”

            Mr. Rogers agreed and built the Elizabethan-style inn, just two blocks away from the church. While the inn was being built, the initials “T.I.” were carved in a stone shield over the entrance to the front door. After the inn was finished being built, Mr. Rogers reveled in what the mysterious letters meant. The new inn would be named “Tabitha Inn” in memory of his beloved, great-grandmother, Tabitha Crowell.

            Unlike the grammar school, town hall, masonic building, Unitarian Memorial Church and other buildings, the Tabitha Inn was not a gift to the town. Instead, Mr. Rogers leased the building to Mrs. Catherine Price of Cambridge. She rented out the lovely rooms to tourists and Fairhaven teachers who came from out of town.

            During World War II, the Navy took over the inn, and the Coast Guard trainees who were studying at New Bedford Vocational School were stationed there for two years. The Tabitha Inn was sold to the Catholic Church in 1944. The name was changed to Our Lady’s Haven, and it became a skilled nursing and rehabilitation home for the elderly.

            I recently moved to Our Lady’s Haven. I enjoy eating in the beautiful dining room there that was used a long time ago for weddings, parties and ballroom-dancing classes for local teenagers. The stain-glass windows throughout the building are beautiful, especially in the chapel where I attend Mass every day.

            I feel very blessed to be living there, as the staff are all wonderful and knowing I am living in a building that Mr. Twain and other notable friends of Mr. Rogers also stayed. Apparently, Mr. Twain favored a room in the front corner with a beautiful fireplace.

            In my illustration of Mr. Twain and Mr. Rogers, I included Tom Sawyer as well. Although Mr. Twain was a successful author, he had great financial struggles. Mr. Rogers stood by Mr. Twain over the course of his career and gave him the financial assistance that he so desperately needed.

By George B. Emmons

Marion Surpasses 20% in Energy Reduction

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            What had been an arduous quest measuring progress in nickels and dimes has rather suddenly became reality for the Town of Marion, as member Bill Saltonstall reported to the Energy Management Committee on Monday night that the town has surpassed the state-prescribed goal of 20% in energy reduction.

            “It sets us up for a somewhat more generous consideration for our requests for grant monies from Green Communities. … We couldn’t do it in a five-year period but appear to be there in the sixth year,” said Saltonstall, who traced the progress to approximately 24% reduction to the installation of heat pumps that replaced oil-burning furnaces in three municipal buildings this year.

            Supply-chain problems blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed the delivery of those appliances in prior years.

            “A lot of towns started the very first year of Green Communities (2008) and have yet to reach their 20%,” said EMC member Alanna Nelson.

            The statewide initiative offers grant funding that incentivizes towns to upgrade municipal buildings, facilities and infrastructure primarily by going electric in lieu of fossil fuels.

            Prior to this sixth-year rally in energy savings, Marion had plateaued at approximately 18% reduction. Saltonstall was the point person for research that, for instance, led to an upgrade in Marion’s streetlights to LED bulbs and a 49% cost savings. Overall, the town has cut its kilowatt-hour electricity consumption roughly in half, from 109,387 kWh when it joined Green Communities in 2017 to 55,514 kWh in 2023.

            Saltonstall reported that Marion has reduced energy use in its municipal buildings by 29% and in open-space areas by 3%. Savings on electric vehicles reduced the amount of gasoline and diesel consumption by 29%. Water and sewer pump stations reduced energy consumption by 9%.

            The EMC voted to distribute Saltonstall’s worksheet to the attending reporters at Monday’s public meeting at the Police Station.

            Saltonstall was also happy to report that a Zoom meeting with EMC member Jennifer Francis, Town Administrator Geoff Gorman and the company PowerOptions yielded new information that with verification, “may make it easier for solar projects.”

            Pending corroboration from Town Counsel, it seems the net-metering calculations that have held Marion back fall under a different program and do not need to be tallied up in the way the EMC had been. “We have a lot of questions about that, but it’s going to free us up to do a lot of projects in solar,” said Saltonstall.

            Similarly, EMC member Tom Friedman has been corresponding with Green Skies Energy, a company that does municipal projects. Friedman was given the go-ahead to send Green Skies Energy Marion’s three proposed solar locations.

            Likewise, the EMC determined by meeting’s end that it needs to decide which municipal building to target and recommend to Gorman that the town pursue it for a solar project.

            “I think we have to do it in writing and start the ball rolling,” said Saltonstall, who will work with fellow Nelson and Francis on a draft letter to bring back to the committee’s next public meeting for approval.

            As a parking-lot canopy, the Cushing Community Center is recognized as a relatively large solar project on the committee’s wish list, while the Police Station (roof panels) is considered the smallest.

            “I don’t want to stuff this down their throat if they’re not interested. These canopies are high, the low point would permit trucks 14 or 15 feet high to drive through. They’re low structures,” said Saltonstall.

            Citing the needs for the aged to avoid direct sunlight, especially for sustained periods of time, EMC member Eileen Marum recommended a solar canopy at Cushing. “Seniors participating in activities would be protected from the elements,” said Marum. “I think there are more advantages than disadvantages. … It keeps the place cooler.”

            Saltonstall noted that the deteriorating parking lot outside the Cushing Community Center requires major renovation that could delay a solar-canopy construction for years.

            The EMC is looking for a definitive conclusion to its efforts to put a solar project atop the landfill at the Benson Brook Transfer Station.

            Nelson told the committee there will be a meeting next week with the Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC.) Nelson said, if negotiations with the currently interested developer fall apart, the project would go back out to bid. “It would be good to expedite that decision,” said Saltonstall. Nelson said she will tell CVEC that the EMC wants an expedient solution.

            EMC Chairman Christian Ingerslev said that if the project is considered a problem, the committee should not throw out the idea but rather formulate a new proposal.

            The EMC is researching solar scenarios at Sippican Elementary School and the proposed Harbormaster Department headquarters at Island Wharf, but Saltonstall’s latest look at the Marine Center plans left him pessimistic about a roof-solar project. He said he saw nothing in the plans about heating, air conditioning or solar.

            “I just say we scrap that whole building and put a trailer there. When we get a hurricane, pull the trailer out,” said Marum.

            The Marine Center plans call for renovation of the existing, grade-level bathrooms, but Saltonstall likes the idea of replacing the permanent structures with a portable system.

            The next meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee is scheduled for Monday, September 25, at 6:00 pm at the Police Station.

Marion Energy Management Committee

By Mick Colageo

Welcome Home

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On Sunday, September 10 at 10 am, the Mattapoisett Congregational Church will once again host its “Welcome Home” event at Ned’s Point. Everyone in the Tri-Town area is invited to celebrate with us in worship followed by a BYO picnic lunch. Traditionally, representatives from the police and fire departments are recognized for their caring service to the people of Mattapoisett. Following worship at 10 am, there will be games for the children, registration for Sunday School, plus ice cream. There will be fun and fellowship for all. Contact the church office with any questions at 508-758-2671 or mattcongchurch@gmail.com.

Sippican Woman’s Club

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On Friday, September 8, Sheryl Faye will masterfully bring to life the incredible and inspirational Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the meeting of the Sippican Woman’s Club at its clubhouse aka “The Tavern”, 152 Front Street, Marion at 12:30 pm. Since 2003 Sheryl Faye has developed over ten programs on individual historical women whose influence continues to inspire women today. The program is preceded by a luncheon, an opportunity to socialize and a brief business meeting. Sheryl’s program will begin at 1:30 pm.

            During her lifetime Ruth Bader Ginsburg or RBG as she was known, out performed most men as a student, lawyer, jurist and was the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court. She advocated tirelessly to dismantle gender discrimination and advance women’s rights in US policies.

            Guests and visitors are welcome to attend our meetings. Club membership is open to anyone whose interests are in the Town of Marion and is willing to fulfill membership requirements. With the exception of December, monthly meetings are normally held at 12:30 pm at our clubhouse on the 2nd Friday of the month – September through March. The annual fundraiser, the Holiday House Tour is held on the 2nd Saturday in December. This year the tour will be held Saturday, December 9. For additional information, please refer to our new website www.sippicanwomansclub.org

Bullard’s Hometown

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            “British-born Joseph Rotch was the preindustrial age visionary who transformed New Bedford from a sleepy farm and fishing village to the global center of the whaling industry that endured for more than a century, shaping the city and the region into the 20th century.” From the forward written by Ken Hartnett for “Hometown,” a personal account and history of New Bedford written by its former mayor, John Bullard, and published by Spinner Publications. You shouldn’t be surprised to find the main character is New Bedford.

            Bullard’s name is synonymous with the revitalization of New Bedford’s seaport district along with other historical sites that this old, former industrial giant of a city called homeport. He is a native son in the true sense of the word, coming with long lineage to grandparents named Rotch.

            Age may have slowed Bullard down a bit, but he carries on connecting movers and shakers with one another to continue the work he began decades ago, bringing vibrant, economically rich assets to New Bedford.

            On August 26, the Rochester Plumb Library hosted Bullard, where he spoke extemporaneously for nearly an hour, sharing stories of his years working as mayor of New Bedford and building relationships with people near and far whose organizations might be able to improve New Bedford for all its diverse populations.

            The book itself is surprisingly heavy, weighing in at approximately two-plus pounds. It is laid out like a scholastic history book with wide pages covered in text and chapters that slowly build the story of Bullard’s work and the multitude of people with whom he worked.

            As a young man headed to college, Bullard said he didn’t have a clear pathway, no grand plan for what he should study or put his hand to.

            “I wasted two years of my parents’ tuition money drinking beer,” he shared. “I wondered, ‘how should I engage the world?’”

            A prolific reader, Bullard studied the words of Gandhi and Martin Luther King and embarked on what he thought would be a round-the-world trip by sea. But fate had other things waiting for the young man as he came to the conclusion, “I should go home. The light bulb went on, I should fix up my hometown.” Bullard would go on to take his place at studying architecture and city planning for which he received a degree.

            Bullard is the consummate public speaker, but his is a laid-back style, slowly building to the main point while entertaining the listener. We could have listened to him all day, as he wove tale after tale of his work and results with W.H.A.L.E. (waterfront historic area league), working with Sarah Delano rehabilitating the Zeiterion Theater (formerly the State Theater), running for mayor and winning in 1983, helping to establish NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and being a board member of the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

            In the early days as a trailblazer for all things New Bedford, Bullard reached his hand out to all willing to put their shoulder to the work he identified as necessary for the immediate and long-range future of the small, struggling city.

            Bullard believes that for those to whom much is given, paying it forward should follow. He appreciates the comfortable upbringing and home he was born into. He has spent his adult life helping others either directly or indirectly.

            Among the many things Bullard has learned along the way, the health and well-being of the environment is at the top. He has studied and worked on sustainable development, development that could meet the needs of the people now and in the future. Bullard asserted there is no throwing “’away,’ … if you discard trash, you just have to go get it later.”

            Bullard says that his time working with political leaders is nothing like what is happening today in Washington. “Kennedy and Orin Hatch worked together. That would never happen today.” He said finding the level ground where disparate leaders could agree was the key but sadly not today.

            Civil rights leaders knew Bullard’s name as did fishermen, business leaders and those in political office. Yet, despite years of public service now chronicled for all to read, the seasoned champion of New Bedford has regrets.

            “I should have paid more attention while I had the opportunity,” Bullard admitted of his early years at Harvard. And when asked about the current state of New Bedford Public Schools, he responded that the current administration is doing well, but during his time in office he didn’t have his eye on the school’s issues. He wishes he could have a “do over.”

            And what if he were mayor today, an audience member queried. Bullard didn’t hesitate answering. He quickly identified what he believes would drive economics in New Bedford: “The arts lead to economic growth.”

By Marilou Newell

Planting Island House Gets High Marks

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            The Marion Zoning Board of Appeals was duly impressed with the proposal for a new house in place of an old one on Planting Island and voted unanimously during its August 24 meeting to grant Elizabeth and Christopher Karvonen a Special Permit under Chapter 230-6.1c1 and 230-6.1c1a to demolish and reconstruct a residence at 56 East Avenue. The property is zoned Residence C.

            ZBA members Chairperson Cynthia Callow, Will Tifft, Danielle Engwert, Dana Nilson and alternate member Joan Gardner established a five-member quorum for the meeting.

            Representing the Karvonens, architect Will Saltonstall explained existing nonconformities on two setbacks, the front setback facing East Avenue and the side setback to the southerly abutter. Saltonstall asserted that the new house will not be any more detrimental to the neighborhood than the one it would replace.

            The first variance would extend an existing, nonconforming condition. The original house was within 14.1 feet of the street, and the proposal is for a 15.8-foot setback. The existing garage is 12.8 feet from the lot line, and Saltonstall proposed the garage would sit 13.8 feet from the same line. He noted that the roof overhang is calculated in those measurements, as required by the bylaw.

            Saltonstall explained that the applicants bought the house in 2014 and had used it as a summer home but are now planning to live there full time. As a result, the Karvonen’s propose razing the existing, three-bedroom house and building a larger, three-bedroom house with a detached garage.

            “They hired us to explore expanding the existing dwelling, which is kind of a modest cottage, and after a pretty rigorous exploration of that, we decided in the end that the structure didn’t merit that kind of investment,” said Saltonstall, whose mission was redirected toward designing a replacement home.

            Saltonstall said the new house will have two floors but has been designed with cross gables so as not to be as imposing as some other new houses recently constructed on Planting Island.

            The other variance would allow the proposed increase in height of greater than 10% of the original house (18.4 feet.) The new house would be 29 feet high, a 37% increase in height.

            “But again, that’s not a big box that’s that high,” said Saltonstall. “At the highest point, the structure’s there, but again, we’ve worked hard to be considerate of scale and proportion of the … proposed house. … I think it’s going to be very consistent with the streetscape on either side.”

            The Karvonen’s also own the abutting lot to the west and according to Saltonstall, have reached out to all of their abutters but without a lot of specific responses.

            The property, he said, “kisses the edge of the flood zone but it’s actually a high lot for Planting Island, so it’s … actually not in the coastal flood zone, it just kisses the edge of the ‘A’ zone.”

            The lot is connected to a Title 5 septic system that Saltonstall said is intended for continued use (Marion has a bylaw requiring a septic upgrade to include denitrification technology in all new constructions that is vetted by the Board of Health.)

            Two abutters indicated concern regarding the tree line that could be impacted, but both applauded the design’s effort to reflect favorably on the neighborhood.

            Callow said she has received several calls regarding the emerging concerns regarding short-term rentals, including Air BnB’s and suggested that the ZBA should be knowledgeable on the subject.

            The Planning Board is currently formulating a draft for a new bylaw to address recent complaints among residents. According to Tifft, the town raises taxes by 5% for leases under 30 days.

            The ZBA heard from Jeff Doubrava, who indicated interest in joining the ZBA as an alternate member. Callow acknowledged having worked with Doubrava when she was a member of the Conservation Commission, on which Doubrava still serves.

            A chemical consultant for the past 20 years, Doubrava told the ZBA he is partially retired and will fully retire next year. He plans on living in Marion full-time for the rest of his life. He also serves as chairman of the Community Preservation Committee.

            The ZBA agreed to recommend Doubrava to the Select Board for alternate membership.

            Pending more information, the ZBA offered no comment to the Planning Board on two matters: the site-plan application at 1 Island Wharf and regarding a special-permit request at 0 Luce Avenue.

            Without scheduled cases, the ZBA did not set its next public meeting.

Marion Zoning Board of AppealsBy Mick Colageo

ORCTV Channel Lineup Changes

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Effective immediately for all Comcast/Xfinity cable customers in the Tri-Town viewing area, ORCTV has been informed of the following channel changes to your local cable line-up: The Government channel for each town has been changed from channel 95 to channel 26. The Educational channel has been moved from channel 97 to channel 8. The Public channel will continue to be shown on channel 9. Thank you for taking note of these changes.