Suzanne Keith Dixon

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Suzanne Keith Dixon, 73, of Rochester, MA, peacefully passed away on March 3, 2024 at Tobey Hospital in Wareham after a decades-long battle with cancer. She was born July 8, 1950, in Wareham, MA, the daughter of the late Wendell T. and Ruth W. (Taber) Keith.

            Suzanne graduated from Fairhaven High School, class of ’68 and UMass Dartmouth. For most of her life, Suzanne resided in Rochester with her husband of 51 years, Walter H. Dixon, in a home they built together. Early in their marriage, much to their parents’ dismay, Suzanne and Walter purchased their property “way out in the country” and spent years making it an incredibly beautiful and special place. Suzanne loved her home and could be found most days reading, knitting, or lost in her vast gardens of flowers. She was creative and clever beyond measure and most who met her were in awe of her resourcefulness and imagination.

            For many years, Suzanne could be found at local craft fairs, selling her dried flower arrangements, procured from her garden, or as a first mate on her husband’s commercial fishing vessel, the Pedlar. Later in life, she was known by many for her beautiful fresh bouquets that she sold on her home’s farm stand.

            Suzanne is survived by her husband Walter H. Dixon of Rochester; son, Jacob H. Dixon of Attleboro; daughter, Molly K. (Dixon) and spouse Christopher T. Fournier, and their children, whom she loved fiercely, Winslow, Felix, and Ashby of Rochester. Suzanne is also survived by her half-brother Donald I. Pierce of Reading, MA and was predeceased by her brother Thomas Keith formerly of Fairhaven, MA.

            Per Suzanne’s wishes, a private Celebration of Life will be held later in the year when her gardens are in bloom. In lieu of flowers, keep those you care for close and tell them you love them every day.

            Arrangements are by Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham. To leave a message of condolence, please visit chapmanfuneral.com.

FY25 to Reform Town Employee Plan

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            Rochester’s Finance Committee Monday reviewed a new Personnel Classification and Compensation Plan for town employees that will be on the May 13 Annual Town Meeting warrant and will add $19,833 to the FY25 budget.

            Presenting the results of her committee’s review of the town’s current plan, Personnel Board Chairperson Kristine Nash explained that one of the main goals was to line up job classifications for noncontract employees with Personnel Bylaw-contract employees. She said this review found many problems that need to be rectified.

            The review discovered that there were no approved job descriptions for these employees, she said. Pay-grade ranges are not the same for people with like duties and responsibilities. Bylaw language is not being followed regarding step advances. Pay percentages between steps are irregular and unequal. Employee steps one and two are rarely used when hiring new employees. The current plan has not been substantially reviewed in 20 years.

            The remedy’s first goal was to develop job descriptions for the 21 noncontract town employees not covered by the Personnel Bylaw, and those new descriptions have been completed and approved, Nash said. The next step is the Personnel Board’s proposals for a new FY25 Classification and Compensation Plan.

            That eight-step plan, she said, would declassify all current employees into clearly defined categories and make grade adjustments to bring parity between positions with the same responsibilities and duties.

            The plan would eliminate the word “grades” because current ones are more reflective of individual employees than a classification as the bylaw states it.  It would add one step because, Nash said, 50 percent of veteran employees covered by these employees are at the maximum step. It would change the bylaw language regarding how an employee gets a step increase and equalize that increase between all steps to 2.5% between each. It would establish a low, middle and high wage-range for positions in a category and wage ranges utilizing FY24 “grade” ranges for all classified positions.

            Nash said Finance Director Suzanne Szyndlar has calculated the cost to implement the new plan for FY25 to be $19,833 because it will affect nine “max” employees and the grade adjustments for six employees.

            Nash concluded her presentation by noting “the 21 employees in this new plan represent the heart and soul of the town. But because they are ‘non-bylaw’ employees, they don’t feel heard. This will give them their voice.”

            In other action, the Finance Committee approved Chairman Kris Stoltenberg’s motion to recommend a FY25 Cost of Living Increase of 2.5%, lower than the 3% amount that the committee had previously approved.

            Szyndlar then reported the reason for this change. She said the next fiscal year’s budget currently shows a $55,700 deficit between expenses and revenues.

            The town has seen a 3.41% revenue increase, but school-budget request increases are higher. Rochester Memorial School’s request is a 6.63% budget increase. Old Rochester Regional High School’s request is a 4.84% increase, despite the fact the town is sending five fewer students there this fiscal year. Szyndlar said she and Town Administrator Glenn Cannon are planning to meet with school officials to revisit these requests. Stoltenberg said the committee will want to meet with the Highway, Police and Fire departments at its next meeting to discuss their budget requests.

            The Rochester Finance Committee is scheduled to meet next on Monday, March 25, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Finance Committee

By Michael J. DeCicco

‘Lil’ Shop’ Has Cast Eager to Take on Edgy Roles

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Old Rochester Regional High School senior Jackson Veugen isn’t considering a career in dentistry any time soon, but Veugen has embraced his role as Orin, the sadistic dentist in ORR’s upcoming spring performance of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

            The ORR Drama Club will take the stage on March 21, 22 and 23 at 7:00 pm and March 24 at 2:00 pm.

            Veugen, who has been involved in drama, did not want the role of this archetype villain at first but now feels the role was meant for him. Veugen auditioned for one of the “plant roles” in this adventure, but director Maxx Domingos had something else in mind for him: Orin.

            “I’m glad that happened,” Veugen said, but conceded jokingly, “I don’t think anyone is supposed to like this character.”

            Other ORR actors also can relate to their respective characters and are looking forward to bringing the quirky comedy to the stage.

            Seniors Jorge Carrillo and Mackenzye Caton will take the stage in their first leading roles. Carrillo will play the lead male Seymour Krelborn, and Caton will play Krelborn’s love interest Audrey.

            Caton said she remembers watching an old “black and white version” of the musical with her nana. Caton said Audrey was her favorite character, along with the plant-based Audrey II. Caton said her nana will be attending the performance, deepening her emotional ties to the play and the character.

            Carrillo said he related to Rick Moranis’ portrayal of Seymour.

            “He spoke to me, and I loved the lines he delivered. I thought I could fit that character,” Carrillo said.

            Eloise Casi landed her preferred role as Ronette, a talking urchin.

            “I really wanted to be part of the singing ensemble,” Casi said, but got more than what she bargained for. “It’s fun singing, and I get to be part of the storytelling aspect of the show.”

            Other principal characters include Aidan Silk as Mr. Mushnik, Emerson Roy as Audrey II (voice), and the following students as urchins: Chloe Bean, Casi, Alia Cusolito, Kennedy McKay, Amanda Tomasso and Emily Wyman.

            Music direction will be done by Jenna Kendall and the sound design by John Farrell.

            The musical will be Domingos’ sixth as director and assistant director’s Sarah Whinnem’s fifth.

            General Admission is $15 and students and senior citizens $12. Tickets are available at the Marion General Store, Isabelle’s in Mattapoisett, Friends’ Marketplace in Rochester and at the door for all performances. Eventbrite is selling tickets online (small service fee added) at bit.ly/ORRDrama-LittleShop-2024.

ORRHS Drama Club

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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Listening to the news these days can be alarming, especially when Russia’s leader talks about the potential use of nuclear weapons while he moves to take over Ukraine. Of course, history teaches us that it often repeats itself, and those of a certain age are reminded of this same feeling of heightened tension in the early 60’s with the “Berlin Crisis” and the “Bay of Pigs ” crisis.

            As early as 1951, the Cold War led the U.S. government through speeches and magazine articles by President Kennedy, as well as Civil Defense pamphlets, to prepare for the possibility of nuclear war. Promises of public fall-out shelters were made and citizens were encouraged to construct and supply their own fall-out shelters.

            Some companies seized on the idea and marketed bomb shelter kits. Lists were published with the items that should be placed in these shelters. Canned food, extra clothes, flashlights and batteries, games and toys were some of the suggested supplies. The Civil Defense recommended dosimeters to measure radioactivity and one quart of water per person per day. (This is sounding like the grandfather of the “Prepper Movement”- that old history repeating itself again). People began to realize that they might have to stay in the shelters, living off the grid, for weeks and would need tools and even more supplies.

            Children weren’t exempt from these preparations with schools “duck and cover” drills. How many of you questioned if your school desk would really protect you from a bomb? In Weymouth, they picked a day when all students had to walk home. I guess they didn’t think the bus drivers would be around during an attack and they wanted to make sure that we could all find our way home. It doesn’t make sense to me now and it didn’t then.

            I have to say I didn’t know anyone who had a fall-out shelter or had any friends who were the proud owners of the dollhouse offered by the Marx Toy Company in 1962. It was a metal dollhouse that included a bomb shelter complete with supplies pictured along the wall.

            By 1963, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was passed, and countries began a de-escalation that ended the Cold War. The threat of a nuclear disaster along with talk of bomb shelters waned. However, I finally did get to see fall-out shelter and it was in Rochester. When Tom Strutski was remodeling the former Dempsey’s aka Plumb aka Bonney House, he gave us a tour of the bomb shelter in the basement.

            The shelter had bunk beds, a table, shelving, an escape hatch to a tunnel, an exit to the yard and a hand crank ventilator shown in the picture. It helped to move the air around within the shelter.

            The basement is still there but without the trappings of a bomb shelter. I wonder if the Plumb Memorial Vault with the 1976- time capsule inside could be down there somewhere.

By Connie Eshbach

Nasketucket Bird Club

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The next meeting of the Nasketucket Bird Club will be on Wednesday, March 27 at 6:30 pm at the Mattapoisett Public Library, 7 Barstow Street. Free and open to the public. More bird info at the Nasketucket Bird Club website: www.nbcbirdclub.com or the Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/NasketucketBirdClub.

            The meeting program will feature Shawn Carey who will be speaking about Iceland.

OHS Annual Grade 6 vs Staff Charity Basketball Game

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            Doors open at 6:00 pm with tipoff at 6:30 pm. This year, OHS will be partnering with Gifts to Give as the charity for the Student vs. Staff Basketball game. Below is a list of items needed most by Gifts to Give. Please note the clothing can be new or gently used. Their shelves are bare after a very long holiday season. There will be a donation trailer located at OHS through the weekend of March 17. There will also be collection bins at the basketball game on March 15 at ORRHS.

            Childrens Clothes (Sizes Infant to 18), Childrens Shoes and Sneakers

            New in-package underwear and Boys and Girls socks; Girls sizes: 4, 6, 8, 14, 16, Women’s sizes: 6, 7, 8, 9, Boys sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, Men’s sizes: XS, S, M and L

            Socks sizes: S, M, L

Holy Ghost Grounds Revival

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            As their memories fade into sepia tones like old photographs of childhoods spent working the farm and visiting relatives, the Nunes sisters of River Road, Dottie (Nunes) and Kathy (Hohne), and their cousin Adele Raphael discussed their growing-up years in Mattapoisett via cell phone.

            A high point of those years on River Road was the season of summertime feasts and gatherings held at the Holy Ghost Grounds off Park Street. As of 2024, the historical consultant working on the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s survey of Mattapoisett’s historical/cultural assets has designated the grounds a “priority one” location.

            The Nunes descendants are proud to note that their family members were integral members of the now-defunct Holy Ghost Club. Dottie recently shared the original citation granting the organization status as a corporation for the “… purposes of promoting social, instructive and humanitarian progress …” as the Holy Ghost Club of Mattapoisett. What followed were many decades of clambakes and joyful gatherings for people whose overall impact of developing Mattapoisett can’t be denied.

            From a quick tour through the book “The Early Portuguese Settlers in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts” (Lulu.com 2009) by Nathalie Sylvia Hemingway, we found confirmation that the Holy Ghost Grounds was used as a seasonal meeting place, a place to celebrate religious feast days, and a place where family and friends gathered to rekindle and maintain relationships that cemented primarily Portuguese decedents to their culture and a flourishing community.

            But all things come to an end.

            As the original signers of the corporation passed into history, younger descendants did not come forward to continue traditions that the grounds were famous for – food, fun and faith. The corporation sold the property to the YMCA, which later sold it to the Town of Mattapoisett in 2016. Those 5-plus acres are now being evaluated by the town’s reuse committee for newer uses as determined by public input.

            On March 7, the committee met. There was discussion regarding what has been achieved thus far, a public survey and a public meeting, both of which gave the public the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas on reuse options.

            Shifting through the data collected thus far, the committee will be preparing a master plan that will be presented to the Select Board. They believe one major takeaway is that the community wants a thoughtful but measured approach to reuse options. Passive recreational pursuits such as a walking trail and playground seem to be favored for now.

            In January, the committee reported, “A survey that generated some 550 responses (primarily from full or part-time residents) was held between August and September. The survey gauged respondents’ positive or negative views on different activities, resulting in a healthy response from a wide range of age groups.”

            Ray Hanks, chairman of the newly formed Cemetery and Memorials Committee, said it was important to maintain Barlow Cemetery, which is located within the property. Rachel McGourthy, chairman of the Historical Commission, said that the commission was in the second phase of identifying historical assets in the town and that the Holy Ghost Grounds was on the “priority one” list.

            Chairman Mike Rosa pointed out that the reuse committee was charged with producing a report that would give the board, “…ideas, costs and who the stakeholders are.”

            The next meeting of the Holy Ghost Grounds Reuse Committee is scheduled for April 4 at 6:00 pm.

Holy Ghost Grounds Reuse Committee

By Marilou Newell

Cougars Make Tourney Noise

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            The Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School boys’ basketball team won two games in the MIAA Division 5 state tournament, earning the right to travel to Orange on March 5 to play in the “Sweet 16” round against the Mahar High School Senators.

            Despite playing with great intensity and battling adversity the entire game, the Cougars came up short with a 56-42 loss to end the season. The team, which finished 22-3 overall, played their hearts out and represented Old Colony with the utmost passion and class.

            Leading the scoring for Old Colony were Wyatt Smily with 8 points and Max Finney and Luke Meelia with 7 points each. A junior, Finney finished the season with a career total of 999 points, just one shy of the 1,000-point club.

            The Cougars, seeded 21st in the Division 5 power rankings despite an impressive 18-2 regular-season record, played only one home game during the tournament and in the Preliminary Round, ousting 44th-ranked Notre Dame Cristo Ray, 63-36, on February 27. They then traveled to Springfield on March 1 to win a dramatic Round of 32 contest, 57-56, over 12th-seeded John J. Duggan Academy. Also coming into the tournament 18-2, Duggan was among 18 Division 5 teams with byes into the Round of 32.

Old Colony Basketball

By Logan Hamlet

Mattapoisett Museum

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Two programs are back by popular demand at the Mattapoisett Museum at 5 Church Street.,

            Crochet for Beginners and Advanced Beginner Students will occur every Monday at the Museum for six weeks from 6 pm-8 pm, starting March 18 and ending April 22. The dates are:

March 18; March 25; April 1; April 8; April 15 and April 22.

            The class will be instructed by Jackie Sousa, who has been knitting and crocheting since she was a small child, a skill her grandmother taught her mom and passed down through the generations. This class is limited to 6-9 people, depending on experience level; tickets must be reserved in advance for the session. Refunds will not be given unless we have to cancel the session. Cost for Museum members is $120 and $130 for nonmembers. Please register at: www.mattapoisettmuseum.org/events

            Jackie recommends that you bring a size G or H hook and a skein of cotton yarn, like Lily Sugar’n Cream Super Size Yarn, which can be found at Joann Fabrics.

            Watercolor for Beginners – Ned’s Point Lighthouse is also back by popular demand. It will be held on March 21 at 6:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Museum. Have you always wanted to learn the basics of watercolor but were intimidated to give it a go? Watercolor is magical and a bit tricky, but with step-by-step instructions from local artist Lana Quann of “The Wandering Brush” everyone creates a unique one-of-a-kind painting. For a little local flavor, the subject of the painting will be Ned’s Point Lighthouse.

            All classes are geared toward beginners, and if you’ve dabbled a bit, you can learn a few techniques to make watercolor painting more enjoyable. Quann supplies all materials and a mat to frame up your finished piece. Please arrive 10 minutes early. BYOB or light beverages and snacks. The cost for Museum members is $35 and $40 for nonmembers. Please register at: www.mattapoisettmuseum.org/events.

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The ORRJHS Drama Club will present “Romeo & Winifred” on Saturday, March 16 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, March 17 at 2:00 pm at the ORRJHS Auditorium, 135 Marion Road, Mattapoisett. This hilarious spoof turns Shakespeare upside down and shakes things up with a stage full of zany modern-day characters. Directed by Kate Fishman and illustrated by Sophie Zhou. Tickets will be sold at the door: $10.00 for adults, $5.00 children 12 and under.