Upcoming Events at the Elizabeth Taber Library

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Meet Kimberly J. Walsh Tuesday, author of Crew of Three: How Bold Dreams and Detailed Plans Launched Our Family’s Sailing Adventures, September 24 at 6:30 pm. Kimberly is a traveler and a gardener, not a sailor. She never dreamed she would live on a boat for two years sailing from New England to Grenada and Back. Crew of Three is her first book. She lives on the coast of Massachusetts with her husband and her crazy coonhound. When not working on their oyster farm or gardening, she enjoys hiking, cycling, kayaking and of course, traveling.

            Visit the library every Wednesday from 3-4 for crafts, food, games and more after-school fun for ages nine and up.

            Join the Tables of Content fund-raising event for the Elizabeth Taber Library – Sunday October 20 and Friday October 25. Support the library by enjoying a delicious dinner and lively book discussion at a Marion neighbor’s home. Go to the library’s website to register, select your book choices and date, get your book assignment & start reading, receive your dinner location and enjoy your evening. Tickets are $75 per person; all proceeds benefit the library. Learn more and view title options by visiting our website.

            Meet our new children’s librarian, Miss Macy. Macy is originally from a small town in Kansas and moved to Massachusetts for library school. She spent the last four years working at the Public Library of Brookline as a library assistant and then the children’s librarian. Her favorite library things are storytime, reading silly picture books and coming up with exciting new program ideas. Outside of the Library, Macy loves to spend time with her fiancé and their two cats, read on the beach and do lots and lots of craft projects.

            For more information on the Elizabeth Taber Library, visit us at www.ElizabethTaberLibrary.org or call us at 508-748-1252.

Preston C. Urquhart

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Preston C. Urquhart, 64, of Mattapoisett entered into eternal rest on Saturday September 7, 2024, following a period of declining health. Preston was the son of the late Karen Ellis and brother of the late Jennifer Lynn Hurd.

            Preston is survived by his two beloved daughters, Alexandra Cardeiro of Fall River and Molly Urquhart of Mattapoisett. Preston was a proud grandfather to six grandsons, (affectionately known as his own personal hockey team) Mason Urquhart, Dallas Urquhart, Jace Urquhart, all from Mattapoisett, and Elijah Todd, Ronan Cardeiro and Gage Cardeiro of Fall River. He is also survived by his brother, David Urquhart of South Carolina, formerly from Wareham, his stepfather, William Ellis of Mattapoisett, many nieces and nephews, and his former wife, Mary Beth Urquhart, to whom he was married for 18 years.

            Following graduation from Wareham High School, Preston went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology/Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts. After graduating from the Police Academy, he joined the Wareham Police Department. He worked in the Detective Division and served as Detective Sergeant for many years.

            Always affable, Preston enjoyed spending time with his friends, family and watching sports. He was a versatile athlete – excelling in golf, hockey, and baseball. He loved music, especially Motown, and was quite the dancer.

            Services will be private. Donations may be made in his name to the Mattapoisett Council on Aging or Southcoast Healthcare Systems. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the Council for the support, kindness and compassion shown to Preston, as well as the exceptional nursing and medical care given to him at St. Luke’s and Charlton Memorial. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Seasoned Pro to Crunch Numbers

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Judy Mooney doesn’t mind helping out some in her retirement, and that makes members of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee and Water District Commission very happy.

            The recently retired Town of Marion finance director agreed on Tuesday to serve both arms of the MRV as treasurer, a part-time job that the MRV is happy to compensate at the standard $34 per hour it pays out to contractors.

            Mooney’s assistance will take a load off the minds of Henri Renauld and Jeff Furtado, who mainly in name remain respective commission and committee member treasurers in compliance with established protocols.

            The Town of Fairhaven is the hometown of the MRV for the purposes of financial management, and staff additions and the division of information streams had rendered fact-finding a more cumbersome duty of late. Having worked with the personnel involved, Mooney indicated confidence she can do the job.

            September 10 was also the occasion for the reorganization of both the commission and committee, and the membership voted to keep everyone in their current roles, both arms retaining Vinnie Furtado as chairman and Renauld as vice chairman. Marion Department of Public Works engineer Meghan Davis will continue to serve the committee as clerk.

            In seeking the commission’s approval of $67,064.09 in paid invoices for the month of August, Renauld’s report included $15,240 in invoices related to capital projects from engineering firm Tata & Howard, over $10,000 from Borden & Remington and a compressor costing approximately $8,000.

            Renauld told Mooney he would like to upgrade the monthly treasurer’s report to cross-reference with the Town of Fairhaven.

            “A spreadsheet wouldn’t be bad if we could have one,” said Renauld, who had just completed a transfer of a little over $300,000 from Unibank to Rockland Trust. The funds, set aside for emergency situations, will now be in one account, making them easier to follow and easier to reconcile.

            Mooney indicated that she will review all angles of the MRV’s financial mechanics.

            Member David Pierce asked if Mooney’s review could reveal, “What funds we still have that we’re not seeing in the monthly reports,” relative to the annual budget. Mooney said she can handle that as well.

            During the committee meeting that preceded the commission’s, Jeff Furtado reported a total ending balance of $192,210.09.

            Where it concerns the Water Treatment Plant filter-upgrade project, Tata & Howard engineer Jon Gregory sought guidance as to how the commission wishes to pull together the firm’s Engineering Construction Services Agreement now that the bidding season is upon the MRV.

            Gregory reported that the general bidding opens on October 3, after which Tata & Howard will be pushing to get contracts approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection and then start construction as soon as possible.

            Gregory said he needed a district-commission vote to authorize Vinnie Furtado to sign and execute the agreement. Citing the next regular meeting on October 8, Vinnie Furtado said if necessary, the MRV could call a meeting before that date so as to not hold up Tata & Howard’s timetable.

            Legal counsel Blair Bailey said, while the MRV does not want to miss a beat, it needs to have to have a definitive number or a not-to-exceed figure in the agreement. He also hinted at scenarios where the agreement could either phase in parts or acknowledge multiple contingencies. “I do think we need more information,” he said.

            Gregory anticipates knowing more before the October 8 meeting and would share that information with Bailey.

            Mattapoisett Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, a commission member, suggested the possibility of dividing the construction services for the filtering project from the construction services for the ultra-violet light system, but Vinnie Furtado wanted to be certain the UV services don’t get left behind, especially after he sold Fairhaven Town Meeting voters on that segment of the project before they voted to appropriate $4,300,000 toward the project.

            Gregory explained that the intention has never been to consider dropping the UV portion of the project, only segmenting the funding to guarantee certain successes in sequence. “It’s set up so it can be added in the future,” he said.

            Gregory didn’t think it beneficial to set up an October 1 meeting.

            “It’s a little too early to tell if we need to do that … maybe in a couple of weeks (we’ll know),” he said.

            A conference was scheduled at the plant on Wednesday morning to welcome potential bidders. The deadlines to file subcontractor bids such as electrical is September 19 at 2:00 pm. General contracting bids open on Thursday, October 3, at 2:00 pm.

            At last count, Gregory estimated 15 bid sets had been out to general contractors or electrical subbidders. “There’s been some good interest in the project,” he said.

            In his Treatment Plant Operations update, Renauld said they had to replace a compressor after a seal let go on a low-lift, circulation pump, resulting in a significant leak. Weston & Sampson, he said, is looking at it with an interest in making the fix. Renauld is also looking to get bids on cleaning the plant’s backwash tanks.

            Renauld told member Nick Nicholson that the $91,000 in tornado damage to the transfer switch at the plant was not covered by the insurance company, which determined that the malfunction is age and not storm-related. Nonetheless, Mattapoisett appropriated funds the town received for tornado relief to pay that bill. Lorenco said any tornado money remaining would help offset the $6,800 effort to clean up a section of the property by the sand-bed fencing along Tinkham Lane. Renauld was authorized to spend maintenance funds to get that work completed.

            Gregory anticipates having the 2023 hydrologic river-monitoring report ready for the committee’s consumption at its next meeting.

            Emergency Response Preparation training will be held on November 7 at the Marion Music Hall.

            The next public meetings of the MRV Water District Commission and Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee are scheduled for Tuesday, October 8, at 3:30 and 4:00 pm.

MRV Water District Commission/Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee

By Mick Colageo

Alive with Imagination

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We are so fortunate to live in an area heavily populated with visual artists. We don’t have to fight Boston traffic or throngs of people to gain access to museums. Creative genius is close at hand. All we have to do is go to the library.

            Currently on view at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library are the imaginative works created by the seasoned artist JP Powel of South Dartmouth, where for decades he has found inspiration primarily in the natural environment.

            We caught up with Powel shortly after his exhibit opened (now through the end of September), and he shared how his long, artistic journey began and how it has sustained his creativity.

            “My approach to the theme of a painting is from my imagination.” Rather than painting what he sees, he paints an imagined retelling of the scene, “…imagined spaces.”

            One of the paintings currently on display shows a dirt road edged with vegetation, but in the foreground, as if reaching out to the viewer, is a large, gnarly tree, a tree that shows its age, shows its experiences, yet remains steadfastly holding its ground with strength. It dominates the painting while, at the same time, granting the viewer a verdant scene.

            All his works are oil on panel.

            “When I started out, it was easier to find discarded pieces of plywood,” he said with a chuckle, noting the status many young artists face, a lack of financial resources. Yet, as his circumstances changed, he stayed with wood panels to capture his imaginative works.

            We were smitten by Powel’s works, works that have a sculptural look and feel.

            “I didn’t study painting,” he confessed – he studied sculpture. No surprise. He said that he had mentors in the art world who showed him painting techniques. “They were my teachers.”

            Powel calls his style “imaginative realism,” with medieval overtones and heavy imagery. He explained that he uses the technique of first drawing the image on the panel, then painting it out. He wrote of his paintings, “… images have people seeing the world differently, more radiant.”

            Radiant indeed. One panel is vividly painted in yellows and blues, which captured our interest. We observed the central element, birds in flight heading into the beaming sunset – heading home. Is it a metaphor on a long life, we wondered.

            Art is subjective, and we know what we like. This exhibit checked all the boxes for us. See for yourself.

            Educated at Harvard, Powel painted for 10 years before joining his wife to pursue a business in creating pottery, then returned to painting. Today he can usually be found in his studio – imagining.

Mattapoisett Free Public Library

By Marilou Newell

Junior High a Pivot Point of Positivity

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In reporting to the Old Rochester Regional School Committee on September 5, ORR Junior High School Principal Silas Coellner said the climate in the junior high is the most positive he has seen in a long time.

            “We live and breathe transition at the junior high school. … It all happens very fast, and there’s a tremendous amount of work,” said Coellner, who told the committee he’s already thinking about sixth graders who will be coming to the school. “We do a lot of great work, but we want to articulate it, codify it if you will.”

            All the while, said Coellner, ownership and sense of belonging will be kept at the forefront of student life in the junior high school.

            In order to relax “the jitters,” the junior high school opened its building to parents on opening day and gave out 228 ice creams, more than the number of seventh graders.

            Coellner’s remarks came from separate agenda topics on September 5, but his principal’s report easily could have been part of his rollout of the 2024-26 (two-year) School Improvement Plan that he and ORRHS Vice Principal Vanessa Harvey both discussed.

            Before the committee’s vote approves the 2024-26 School Improvement Plans for the junior high and high school, Coellner pointed out that the plan aligns with Vision 2028, the ORR District’s overarching, five-year plan. The two-year program will get the junior high three years into ORR’s five-year plan. New components will include “getting our feet wet in ‘Portrait of a Graduate’ work,” he said.

            ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson pointed out that the school improvement plans now reflect the core values, mission and vision, and each element finds a common language with the overall district vision.

            Addressing the committee on behalf of ORR High School Principal Mike Devoll, Harvey said most of the work in teaching and learning will take place in the high school’s Instructional Council. She identified the council as “a very strong group” including administrators and coordinators.

            “We’ll be examining the curriculum as part of the curriculum cycle,” said Harvey, giving the floor to ORR Director of Guidance Lauren Millette to review several progress points. Millette said a committee will be formed to identify all points of support and will look to grow Project 351.

            The school committee recognized recent retiree Melanie Kellum, a longtime math teacher and coordinator, and Dr. Jaime Curley was welcomed to the committee as the new assistant superintendent of Student Services. Curley spent 18 years in the Dennis-Yarmouth school district as a special education teacher and school psychologist.

            The two were part of a wave of acknowledgements of new staff members, also including: Anita Faath (instructional assistant – paraprofessional); Susan Harrison (Computer Science teacher); Elizabeth Kennedy (PreK teacher – vocational); David McCarthy (World Language teacher); Pedro Silva (Music teacher); Ava Novakoski (Physical Education teacher); Danya Bischel (instructional assistant); Michael Bowen (Instructional assistant – paraprofessional); Rebecca Kearney (School Adjustment counselor/social worker); Angela Weiss (custodian); Luis Nolasco (custodian night supervisor) and Edward Pimentel (custodian).

            Kris Lincoln, the former director of Student Services, is now a Special Education teacher.

            Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Shari Fedorowicz recognized Kim Reed for her role in helping make August 22 a successful new teacher orientation day.

            Nelson publicly thanked the community for its support as schools opened, including the parents and police and fire departments. “It is a big deal,” said, crediting the community support systems for making ORR special. He said parking spots are hard to come by at Open House, which means the schools have strong partnerships with their families.

            Likewise, Harvey said ORRHS freshman have acclimated well to their new school surroundings. Student ambassadors helped the new students find their way.

            Committee member Margaret McSweeny asked if the 643-student enrollment at the high school includes the 95 School Choice students, and Millette confirmed that the 95 are among the 643 total.

            Meeting early, the committee took a tour of the school buildings under the guidance of Facilities Director Gene Jones, and Chairperson Michelle Smith opened the meeting by thanking Jones, called the buildings “fresh and clean and inviting.”

            In her Chairperson’s Report, Smith had executive secretary Melissa Wilcox share a YouTube video titled, “Kid President’s Pep Talk to Teachers and Students!”

            “Remember to look for the awesome, see the awesome,” said Smith.

            Smith was a unanimous choice to remain in her role as ORR School Committee chairperson, and April Nye was unanimously voted to become vice chairperson, a vacant role as the 2024-25 school year began.

            Christina Gagnon was reappointed as treasurer and Melissa Wilcox as secretary.

            As the committee went about establishing subcommittees for the 2024-25 school year, Nelson noted that member Jim Muse has indicated his willingness to serve where needed.

            Muse will return to the budget subcommittee alongside Nye, Smith and Matthew Monteiro. Frances-Feliz Kearns volunteered to serve as an alternate on the budget subcommittee.

            Among other actions taken, the School Committee unanimously voted to approve Ocean Cliff in Newport, Rhode Island, as the prom location on May 27, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

            The venue, as explained by senior class student leaders, will cost $18,620 and accommodate approximately 200 students. Tickets will be $40, but the class will provide tickets for students who cannot afford them. Likewise, while students will provide their own transportation to the venue, those who cannot do so will be able to ride to the event in a school bus.

            In his report to the committee, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber said he is working with the treasurer to wrap up FY24.

            Of the approximate $22,600,000 operating budget for FY25, Barber estimated that $9,300,000 is encumbered. He told the committee that it typically takes until well into October before all the budget’s encumbrances are identified.

            “That’s when you see a little bit more of a true value of what remains,” he said.

            With a capital stabilization fund approved at the town meetings, the committee will be asked at its next regular meeting to approve a transfer of funds.

            Smith reminded parents and guardians to fill out the online lunch form, noting that although lunch is free to students, it is funded with money that comes into the school. Monteiro added that the documentation will not only help the school recover money from the state but will help bring benefits to needy families.

            Barber credited Jones and the maintenance and custodial staffs for getting ORR’s athletic fields ready for the rush of activity that accompanies the new academic year.

            The committee entered executive session and returned only to adjourn.

            The next meeting of the ORR School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 26. Both meetings are to begin at 6:30 pm and be held at the ORR Junior High Media Room, also accessible via Zoom.

ORR School Committee

By Mick Colageo

The Road from Belhaven by Margot Livesey

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Please join us at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Sunday, September 22 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm for a Fall 2024 Purrington Author Talk Series. Hear author Margot Livesey give a talk about her newest novel The Road from Belhaven (2024) – the story of a girl’s coming of a late-19th century Scotland. Livesey grew up in a boys’ private school in the Scottish Highlands where her mother and father worked. She took a B.A. in English and philosophy at the University of York in England. Margot has published nine novels, including Eva Moves the Furniture, The Boy in the Field and NYT best seller The Flight of Gemma Hardy. Margot has taught at many universities and has been the recipient of many fellowships. Margot is currently teaching at the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She lives with her husband, a painter, in Cambridge, MA, and goes back to London and Scotland whenever she can. Author Alice Sebold says, “Every novel of Margot Livesey’s is, for her readers, a joyous discovery. Her work radiates with compassion and intelligence and always, deliciously, mystery.” Signed books will be available for purchase. The program is free and open to all.

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club Invites New Members

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The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club invites women of Mattapoisett who are interested in learning more about club membership to its ‘welcome’ luncheon on Thursday, September 19 at 11:30 am in Reynard Hall at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Whether you are new to the area, a new mom, a stay-at-home mom, or newly retired, you are welcome to enjoy lunch and meet some fabulous women. Women from surrounding communities with ties to Mattapoisett are also welcome to join.

            The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is a philanthropic organization that executes fund-raising events such as “Taste of Mattapoisett”, the biennial garden tour and more. These events generate the funds to support scholarships for local high school students, as well as make financial gifts to charitable organizations throughout the south coast. In addition to sponsoring fundraising events, the Woman’s Club offers small group activities focusing on the interests of club members, for example the garden group, great books, mahjong and walking group. Membership is open to any woman who is interested in getting together with fun-loving women and supporting the mission of the organization.

            We look forward to meeting you on the 19th. Philanthropy, friendship and fun await. For more information or questions, please contact info@mattapoisettwomansclub.org.

Life Savers Recognized

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George Powers was enjoying a springtime bike ride with a few hundred other cycling enthusiasts when he experienced a near-death heart attack. It’s a date he and his family aren’t likely to forget – May 19, 2024, on the Tour de Crème.

            Several cyclists sprang into action performing CPR, while others called for the emergency medical services. The story has a happy ending thanks to the collective and swift efforts of all who assisted Powers in his moment of need. On September 10 during the regular meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board, the Powers family said thank you as did the town.

            Receiving “hero” citations from the American Heart Association were Sergeant Adalberto Cardoso Jr., Detective Dennis Tavares, Officer Sean Parker, Officer Isaac Perry (harbormaster), Assistant Harbormaster Luke Mello, Officer Paul Andrews, and Paramedic Mike Florio.

            Rising to speak, Powers thanked all for their care and professionalism and for being there to help him as life hung in the balance. The combined efforts resulted in Powers’ body re-establishing a viable pulse before heading to the hospital.

            To show their appreciation, Powers’ brother George created a handcrafted coat rack inscribed with words of appreciation.

            In other business, the board voted to allocate $64,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the purpose of purchasing staff laptops, upgrades to systems in the Town Hall conference room for improved remote-meeting transmissions, and installation of a new fiber switch.

            Town Administrator Mike Lorenco reminded the public that the state is still collecting comments via a survey posted on the town’s website (Mattapoisett.net) on the topic of Hazard Mitigation.

            He also announced a special presentation on Radon to be held on Wednesday, September 25, at 1:00 pm in the library conference room hosted by the Board of Health. “Radon is an odorless, tasteless gas that can exist in any home,” an announcement read. It further stated that Radon can be found often in structures built on ledge or sand, both prevalent in the area. Representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will be in attendance.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell

Ghosts, Explaining the Paranormal

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The Rev’d Eric E. Fialho, Rector at Saint Gabriel’s Church in Marion, will be leading a six-week comprehensive course exploring how the Church defines, understands and explains the topic of Ghosts. Fr. Fialho is an accomplished instructor and has taught courses on many topics over the years, but he said that this one will probably be his favorite. Fialho had this to say about his upcoming class “Ghosts. Explaining the Paranormal”, This is a topic that interests many people, sometimes for the wrong reasons. There are many books and movies and TV shows on the subject of ghosts, and the public continues to be fascinated by the paranormal. We are all spiritual beings and most of us wonder about what happens to us when we die.”

            Fialho will focus on how the church has looked at this topic and made sense of it. Fialho added, “Without giving too much away, I think people will be very surprised by what they will learn over these six weeks. I am excited to burst bubbles and surprise people.” Through readings from Holy Scripture, Church mothers and fathers, and experts in the ever-evolving fields of parapsychology and exorcism, students will study one of the most misunderstood areas of belief in Christianity. Speaking about the sessions Fialho had this to say, “They will be an hour and a half each and consist of lecture, discussion, and story telling. I wanted to create a space which is both intellectual and folksy. I really wanted to make sure people had the ability to share personal ghost stories if they wanted to. I have also invited an exorcist from the Episcopal Church to guest lecture on one of the evenings.”

            This is a free-of-charge hybrid course, and will take place in-person at 124 Front St. in Marion on Wednesday evenings from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm from September 25 to October 30. College-level reading assignments will be given for almost all sessions, and this course is open to all people aged 18 and up. Fialho hopes that many people from the area will want to attend, and he has made space accommodations for what will prove to be a very popular course. If you plan on attending in-person or via Zoom, please email Parish Administrator, Jenny Lima at stgabrielsmarion@gmail.com. In order to attend the course, students are asked to plan to be present for all sessions. Auditing and dropping in and out will not be allowed for this course.

            Fialho will also be leading an optional “field trip” to Salem in October and bring attendees around on a private tour. Information and signup about the field trip will be provided during the first session.

Mattapoisett Republican Town Committee

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The Mattapoisett Republican Town Committee welcomes members, guests and community members to join us on Thursday, September 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm to attend our monthly meeting. The location is at the Knights of Columbus, 57 Fairhaven Road, Mattapoisett. Join in the discussion and planning of the upcoming Southcoast Rally.

            2024 MA Republican Primary winner of 10th Bristol State Representative is invited to speak and share his plans for a November victory with us. There will be light snacks, cash bar and good conversation. If you have any questions, contact Paul Crisuolo, Chairperson, PCMattyGOP@proton.me.