The Friends of the Rochester Council on Aging and the Rochester TRIAD group invites our senior community and their grandchildren to our Rochester Community Block Party. The event will take place on Thursday, June 22 from 1-4 pm at the Rochester Senior Center on 67 Dexter Lane in Rochester. Classic Rock performed by the band “Rebooted.”
Over 50 members of the Marion Garden Group were joined by 10 new members for the Annual Meeting and Luncheon at the Beverly Yacht Club on Tuesday, June 6. The following officers for the Board were proposed and approved: Suzy Taylor, president; Sarah Mitchell, vice-president; Lindy Williamson, Secretary; Phyllis Partridge, treasurer; Kathleen Egger, membership; Martha Fisher, fundraising; Sylvia Strand, programs; Wendy Bidstrup, publicity; Liz Hatch, past president.
Other business included reports from various heads of events and projects including the upcoming fundraiser, “Secret Gardens of Marion” tour, Emilie Kendall, chair. All members will participate to make this bi-annual event, a memorable occasion, to be held June 23, rain or shine. Visit MGG website for tickets and information. Other fundraisers like the Holiday Boutique and wreath sales, plus dues, donations and good will make it possible to give back to other town nonprofits.
Thanks to the support and generosity of the community at large, MGG, by unanimous vote, approved the following organizations to receive donations this year: Camp Hadley restoration – Marion Boy Scouts; Landscaping – Council on Aging; Plantings – Elizabeth Taber Library; New landscaping – Marion Art Center; Sippican Lands Trust; Memorial Garden restoration – Sippican School; Sippican Women’s Club; and tree id tags – Tree Committee.
The window boxes, urns and planters are maintained by volunteers year round. Special help is needed for the large planters during the summer. If you’d like to be a “Planter Angel”, check in on the website: www.mariongardengroup.org.There’s lots of information about other activities. Founded in 1956 (after the hurricane), the Mission of MGG is “To identify and improve strategic public areas within Marion by enhancing them with gardens and landscaping. “And a long before that, in 1889, in her Last Will and Testament, Elizabeth Taber left a bequeath for “the improvement and embellishment of my native place. [Marion].”Listing trees. flowers, sidewalks, parks, fountains and works of art….to beautify and make wholesome my native village…that its people may live in the midst of healthy, elevating and refining influences”
Dr. James Francis Tierney, Jr., 94, of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts passed away peacefully at home on Sunday June 11, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was born and raised in Boston, the son of Dr. James F. Tierney, Sr. and Margaret (Crowley) Tierney.
After graduating from Boston College, he attended Boston University School of Medicine. He spent his residency at Boston University Medical Center and temporarily left to serve as a Lieutenant in the Navy Medical Corps on the aircraft carrier USS Kearsage. After completing his residency, he relocated to New Bedford to be closer to his sister, Mary Tierney Burns. He practiced medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital for over 50 years until his retirement in 2013. During his career, he also served as the Bristol County Medical Examiner and a Clinical Instructor at Tufts Medical Center.
Jim was best known for his bedside manner, sharp wit, dry sense of humor, timeless dance moves and fashionable sweaters. Aside from his love of medicine, he also loved golf and baseball and followed the Boston Red Sox closely. He was also an avid reader, often finishing his children’s required summer reading books in one evening (much to their amazement).
He was married to Jean (Galligan) Tierney for over 59 years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Erin Tierney and her husband James Geraghty, James Tierney III and his wife Laura (Carlson) Tierney and Brendan Tierney and his wife Jennifer (Sodaski) Tierney. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Maeve and Liam Geraghty, Ava Tierney, and Finn, Cal and Luke Tierney. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.
He was predeceased by his son, Ian Tierney, his sister, Mary Claire Burns, and her husband, William Burns, and his brother, The Honorable John A. Tierney, and his wife, former Mayor Rosemary Tierney.
His family wants to extend its sincerest thanks to his caregivers and Community Nurse Home Care of Fairhaven, both of whom took amazing care of him.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 16th at 11 am at St. Lawrence Church, 565 County St., New Bedford. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, June 15th from 5-7 pm at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Community Nurse Home Care, 62 Center St., Fairhaven, MA 02719. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
Rochester’s Planning Board Tuesday considered in a public hearing a special permit and site-plan review approval application to construct a commercial building that will house a recreational-marijuana establishment, Megan’s Organic Market, at 621 County Road.
The hearing was ultimately continued until the panel’s next meeting on June 27 after the applicant’s engineering representative, Phil Cordeiro, explained the specifics of the building plan, and the board asked for more information on those details.
Cordeiro said his client will ask the board to approve two variances regarding the required separation of well systems from the business’s stormwater system. He said the plan is for a 7,500-square-foot commercial building between two residential lots with a 24-foot-wide driveway entrance. Traffic flow will send deliveries to the western rear of the building and be spacious enough for emergency vehicle access as well.
Water will come from a tie-in to the Town of Wareham. Vegetative setbacks of 20 feet will be built between the residences as well as a 6-foot-high fence on one side. Lighting will have “zero spillage” onto other properties and will be controlled by motion sensors.
Board Chairman Arnold Johnson asked for more information on signage and the sightlines that the business will have from the abutting homeowners and to revisit a past traffic study on the area. Cordeiro said he had not yet conducted a sightline test. Johnson said to definitely do one and return to the next meeting with a mock-up of the intended signage.
The town’s engineer, Ken Motta of Field Engineering, asked how much earth will be removed. Cordeiro said earth dug from one part of the parcel will basically remain on site. Johnson instructed Motta and Cordeiro to work on plan details for the next meeting.
The meeting began with the board voting in favor of an Approval Not Required petition for the Blais Family Living Trust property at Clapp Road and Mary’s Pond Road, deciding that Planning Board regulations and restrictions do not apply. The plan at the address is to create two house lots measuring 98,000 square feet each out of what was originally three lots.
After Johnson announced the notices to the abutters’ list had gone out too late, the board continued until June 27 a hearing into a special permit and site-plan review for a plan to construct a building for restoration, detailing and storage of collectible cars at 0 New Bedford Road.
The board also continued to June 27 the public hearing into a site-plan-approval application to relocate a native tree and perennial nursery from Clarksburg, Maryland, to 2.5 acres that will be leased by Jennifer and Charles Anderson at 157 Vaughn Hill Road to sell “native species.” Board members told the petitioners that the drawn plan they submitted lacked details on the parking lot, as to a cross section of the hard-top plan and parking design.
The Planning Board’s next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 27, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco
This spring, the Mattapoisett Boy Scouts of Troop 53 embarked on a community service project with the building and installation of 10 birdhouses. The goal of the project was to benefit the community by providing habitat for birds that consume a lot of mosquitos.
These houses were designed to attract wrens, bluebirds, swallows and chickadees, all of which are in the top 10 bird species that eat mosquitos. Some wrens eat 10,000 mosquitos per day!
The project was inspired by the success of the Eagle Scout project along Eel Pond by Troop 53 Eagle Scout Murray Copps. Those houses provided a habitat for many tree swallows which have been seen flying over the pond and going in and out of the houses all spring.
The scouts started with a tour of those birdhouses and an educational session from Murray. Using hand tools, the scouts then built the birdhouses from kits that were generously donated by Helen Lozoraitis and Paul Duffy. On June 10, the boys installed these houses in the open field under the powerlines off of Crystal Spring Road.
Troop 53 would like to thank Helen and Paul for brainstorming and making this project happen and to everyone else who helped along the way. We are looking forward to hearing what kinds of birds are using the houses and if the neighboring residents report a more comfortable summer with fewer mosquitos!
The 11th-seeded Old Rochester Regional girls’ tennis team won two MIAA Division 3 state-tournament matches before falling in the quarterfinals to third-seeded Dover-Sherborn (21-0) by a 3-2 score on June 10.
The Bulldogs, who had eliminated 22nd-seeded Ashland and sixth-seeded Medfield in prior rounds, finished their season at 13-4.
The 10th-seeded ORR boys’ lacrosse team defeated East Longmeadow, 12-8, on June 6 but was eliminated from the MIAA Division 3 state tournament in the Round of 16 by seventh-seeded Falmouth, 14-7, on June 8. The Bulldogs finished their season at 13-3.
The previously undefeated Old Colony boys’ lacrosse team fell by a 17-4 score in the Division 4 state tournament to South Hadley on June 7. The Cougars finished at 16-1.
By Mick Colageo
The Rochester Historical Society is very excited about our upcoming program and speaker on June 21 at 7:00 pm at our museum at 355 County Rd. Perhaps you heard stories from your parents or grandparents or you may remember when Mary’s Pond was a destination with more happening than fishing and kayaking. Peter Balzarini of Wareham will be sharing stories, memories and memorabilia about the “good old days” at Mary’s Pond. It should be a great trip down memory lane. As always, refreshments and conversation will follow the program.
Also, the Historical Society will be at the COA Community Block Party from 1-4 on June 22.
Not long ago someone from a local paper asked me to explain Rochester’s groups/boards with the word “historic” in their names. There are three entities that fit that bill. Two of these are town boards and the addition of “al” helps to distinguish one from the other.
The Historic District Commission has as its mission maintaining the historic character in Rochester Center. They guide those who wish to build in that area to blend with the existing buildings.
The Historical (note the-al) Commission has a broader scope. Their goal is to preserve, promote and in some instances protect Rochester’s rich history. This includes the many homes and public buildings that have been here for untold years. To make the public aware of these spots, the commission has created an historic plaque program. Information about the plaques is available on the Historical Commission section of the town website. The Commission has been donating plaques to public buildings. They can be found around town, including one at the entrance to Town Hall.
In addition to the plaques, the Historical Commission visits the third grades at Rochester Memorial School each spring to teach various aspects of Rochester history. They provide each child with a Rochester history color book. Over the last two years, the Historical Commission has worked to have a memorial created to honor those who fought in the Revolutionary War, as none existed in town. With the help of Jeff Eldridgr and Peter Foss, the memorial was created and dedicated in May.
Now to the Rochester Historical (another-al) Society which owns and maintains the Rochester Historical Museum. The Society is independent of the town. It is a nonprofit organization and receives no town funding. The mission of the Society is similar to that of the Historical Commission. However, we preserve more than buildings. Our museum is home to many papers, pictures, maps and artifacts that tell the story of Rochester. We have a yearly exhibit, monthly meetings with speakers and other activities to share history and to engage the public.
We do our best to answer questions and highlight Rochester’s history through meeting topics and exhibits. We are also dedicated to preserving the East Rochester Congregational Church which houses our museum and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This is not an easy task as any steward of an almost 200-year-old building would understand.
Some of the confusion around these three organizations no doubt stems from the fact that at least two of them share board members. This happens in many towns where the pool of volunteers is shallow. It’s safe to say all of these groups would welcome more volunteers and members.
By Connie Eshbach
OutHounds Adventure Club is collaborating with the Mattapoisett Land Trust to bring you a cohosted dog hiking Adventure. The Old Aucoot District is a collection of properties making up around 397 acres of protected land and trails. Our launch point for this adventure will be at the Hollywoods Road kiosk where we will begin by meandering our way through a small forest before making our way into the larger Old Aucoot District. The hike will begin at 9:30 am on Saturday June 17 and end around 11:30 am.
You must register online prior to the event at outhounds.as.me/oldaucootdistrict. The hike will happen rain or shine. Please dress appropriately for the weather. And most importantly, bring a leash and harness for your pup and don’t forget the bags to clean up after them.
In an effort to engage public feedback on its Vision 2028 Strategic Plan, the Old Rochester Regional School District held a four-session public forum over Monday and Tuesday.
Dr. Shari Fedorowicz, assistant superintendent of Teaching and Learning, presided over the process that in the third session held Tuesday afternoon, saw mostly school administrators gathered in the ORR Junior High media center.
Fedorowicz outlined an opportunity for community members and stakeholders to move forward a five-year plan emanating from the ORR School District’s stated mission “to inspire all students to think, learn and care.”
Breaking down the mission statement, the “think” aspect asks the school community to foster a culture of excellence and integrity, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking. The “learn” aspect strives for excellence, and the “care” aspect spreads a sense of belonging among all students.
Fedorowicz identified Core Values as “what we live by as we go through this process,” Theory of Action as hypothesizing implementation by conceptualizing the “portrait of a graduate” and Equitable as “applies to everybody.”
The Strategic Plan Process is meant to establish initiatives followed by quality plan review.
“Where we’re at right now is a public forum for community input,” said Fedrowicz, focusing on objectives, strengths and opportunities.
After organizing information emanating from breakout groups, participants left exit tickets for the administration’s consumption.
In dedicating 10 minutes per topic, Tuesday afternoon’s smaller gathering allowed for the World Cafe Method (whole group) to share ideas. Teaching and learning (curriculum, support systems), climate and culture and an equitable learning environment were all addressed.
Participants were asked to discuss elements they feel proud of, identify opportunities and articulate questions or concerns. They were charged with identifying two priority values and two future opportunities to share with the team.
ORR Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber spoke about ancillary services such as tech, food and transportation, seeking feedback as to efficiencies and deficiencies. He said that regarding tech, ORR advanced from the 1980s in a short time.
Barber discussed the progress made in building security, including identity verification, scanning and in the buildings’ overall safety platform. “There are not a lot of entries and exits,” he said.
Systems monitoring activities so that security can “know who everyone is.”
Mattapoisett Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, in attendance, asked about the cyber-security piece, noting that computer-system hacking is growing nationwide. Barber said that three years ago, ORR conducted a security poll only to be sidetracked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barber said that while finances used to have a simple 2% annual increase, ORR is now looking at all enrollment-influenced factors based on a dollar value per student. Tech replacement cycles are now built into the budget, which has to be able to address a 25% replacement of Chromebooks and the like.
Lorenco said that Capital Planning in Mattapoisett has improved, putting items on the committee’s list that did not appear in prior years. He offered the ORR District help with any issues where the town can be of assistance.
Barber noted that bonds will be paid up as of June 2025, so the administration is conducting walk-throughs with Facilities Director Gene Jones.
Sippican Elementary School Principal Marla Sirois also participated in the Climate and Culture aspect, defining the goal of the team to create as inclusive and equitable an education as possible for students and families.
Asked what is new about that, Sirois said surveys always yield something about a building’s culture, especially as the community evolves and the school gains a better understanding as to what the “school community needs from us.”
ORR High School Principal Mike Devoll, who attended Monday night’s session as well as Tuesday afternoon’s, said ORR is focused on communication and strengthening community involvement and is working with Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School on seeking consistent involvement from the community to try to bring some uniformity.
A parent with children in both school systems said ORR can improve on its response time to emailed questions and in the content of those responses. Canned responses from emails, she said, are not cutting it.
Multiple parents, she explained, have emailed about a safety issue in a classroom, answered by a response saying safety is our number-one priority.
“If you’re getting that, it means others are,” said Director of Student Services Craig Davidson, calling it “great feedback.”
School Committee member Matthew Monteiro discussed the struggle of lower-income students getting into the Advanced Placement classes at the same rate as others who are not outperforming them. “That’s a strength we’re trying to get information on,” he said.
Fedorowicz encouraged participants to email follow-up questions.
Crediting Doreen Lopes, Davidson discussed family engagement and tiered interventions to close the gap for students not able to speak or read in English. He said the ORR District has approximately 74 different reading programs or interventions, a number the district is trying to narrow down.
ORR’s recent literacy program is meant to standardize curriculum for the younger learners so that when those students come together at the junior high, achieving consistency becomes realistic.
Support systems, it was noted, have been successful, but educator Colin Everett said that while “scaffolding” is necessary, ORR should have a plan to take scaffolding away “and let the student go into the world.”
Joint School Committee
By Mick Colageo