Mattapoisett Congregational Church Celebrates Advent

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The Mattapoisett Congregational Church would like to invite the community to several special events to kick off the Advent season beginning with a beautiful Hanging of the Greens service on November 27 at 10 am where members present symbols of Advent such as a wreath and poinsettia onto the altar.  The Holiday Fair will be held on December 3 from 10 am-2 pm in Reynard Hall with baked goods, handmade craft items, including knitted hats and sweaters as well as handcrafted jewelry and other Christmas décor.  The White Gifts Pageant which celebrates the birth of Jesus will be held during worship on Sunday, December 11 beginning at 10 am with a donation of gift cards collected for needy families in our area.  A beautiful Christmas Cantata by the Mattapoisett Congregational Church choir and performers from Seaglass Theater will be held on December 18 at 10 am in the sanctuary.

            Every Sunday in Advent will be celebrated with lighting of the Advent candle with a culmination of all the candles being lit on Christmas Eve.  The Christmas Eve Family Service will be held at 5:00 pm and a Candlelight Service with a performance by the Harper and the Minstrel will be held at 10 pm.  Christmas Day, December 25, will be celebrated at Matt Congo with a “Carol Fest” at 10 am.

            Everyone is invited to celebrate the Advent season at Mattapoisett Congregational Church.  Please see the website at mattapoisettcongregationalchurch.org for more information!

Understanding Service

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Good Morning Marion.

          It is my distinct pleasure as a Veteran and Service Member to recognize and honor our Nation’s Veterans. Today, we reflect on what it means to serve. We reflect on the driving factors to serve and the sacrifices that come with military service.

          Regardless of whether you served in the Marine Corp (to which I wish a Happy Belated 247th Birthday), or whether you served in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, or Space Force, the call to serve is the common denominator that fortifies the strength of our Armed Forces.

          Another commonality among Veterans is the Oath of Enlistment. The Oath of Enlistment is an oath that every service member must promise and adhere to for their entire military career. If entering as an officer, you would take the military Oath of Office.

          In recognition of our Veterans’ devotion to serve, I will now recite the Oath of Enlistment:

          “I … do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

          To add to the commonalities that exist among our Veterans, it is important to reflect on who our Veterans were before committing to serve. They were recruits.

          The accepted ages of recruits into the Armed Forces range from 17 to 39 with the Air and Space Forces accepting the oldest recruits. For those of you old enough – and there are quite a few of you in the crowd – take a moment to reflect on who you were at 17, the age of our Country’s youngest recruits. What were your goals? Life experience? Influences? Had you already graduated high school? Were you submitting college applications? How were you spending your free time?

          Now think about your 20s and 30s. What are some of your most memorable moments? Did you earn your college degree or second degree? Did you earn a certificate or license from a technical school? Did you start your family? Were you able to negotiate your salary and start your career? Did you buy your first home? Did you get your first pet that was not the family pet? Did you welcome your first child? Did attend your 10th and or 20th year high school reunions? Did you lose loved ones or friends?

          Most folks can relate to these life experiences and goals, as they are not overly unique. Now think about coupling these life events with military service.

          So what does it mean to serve in the Armed Forces? The following is a brush stroke’s glimpse of what serve looks like.

          Service is sacrificing time with your loved ones, spending your weekends in support of base exercises and missions. Forgoing holiday rituals and dinners in order to deploy overseas. Missing birthdays and sometimes memorial services and funerals. Not having an opportunity to say goodbye or honor our loved ones. It means missing your child’s firsts … first words, laugh, crawling, or walking. For some, it means uprooting your family just when you started to lay down roots.

          Service also means exploring a new part of the world. Integrating into a new culture by eating foreign foods, listening to music, and observing culture and societal norms outside of your own. Having the chance to travel to other bases in order to receive additional training to further your professional development.

          Service is opportunity. Providing many the ability to earn a living, while learning a new skill that will benefit our country. Allowing folks to earn educational benefits for themselves or to transfer to their family.

          Service is belonging to a community of other servicemembers who often become an extended family member.

          As for me, service meant independence. I enlisted at the age of 18. I knew that I wanted an opportunity to go to college without incurring debt, and I wanted to live in my own space as I was living with my grandfather. And living with my grandfather, rest his soul, meant that I had a curfew and rules. I also wanted to travel the world, especially Spain. I took three years of Spanish in high school and daydreamed about eating paella in Spain. Regardless of the military benefits, I understood that I would need to adhere to a lifestyle that demanded selflessness and there was no way I could avoid adhering to rules … just my Grandpa’s.

          All this to say that today and all of the past Veterans Days I reflect on my reasons for reciting the Oath of Enlistment. I reflect on my commitment to serve and how those reasons evolved and change over the course of my first enlistment up to my current enlistment.

          So, whenever you go to thank a Veteran for their service, it is my hope that you feel a sense of connection to what it meant for that Vet to serve. It is also my hope that families can continue learning more about their loved one’s service, and that the familial bonds of service amongst brothers and sisters in arms continues to build lasting relationships.

          Thank you again for being here this morning to honor our Nation’s Vets. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Veterans present in the audience. Thank you for your service, as it my honor to serve.

Town of Marion Veterans Day 2022

By Mandy Givens

Editor’s note: The following is the keynote address shared by Marion resident and Technical Sergeant of the Massachusetts National Guard Mandy Givens during the town’s Veterans Day ceremony on November 11th at Old Landing.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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The map that accompanies this article shows how much larger Rochester was in its early years. When “Rochester-town in New England” was incorporated on June 4, 1686, it stretched from the Plymouth line (today, about the middle of Wareham) on the east to Dartmouth on the west and reached inland to Middleboro. As time passed, sections of Rochester were turned into new towns. Wareham was created out of a part of Rochester combined with land from Plymouth in 1739. Marion broke away in 1852, and Mattapoisett followed in 1857.

            Because of these connections, all three towns have been active participants in Rochester’s many celebrations. Indeed, the most important “oration” of both the 200th and the 250th anniversaries were delivered by a Wareham resident.

            On July 22, 1879, the oration was given by the Rev. Noble Warren Everett of Wareham, who was a grandson of The Rev. Noble Everett, one of the “old town’s” early ministers. His speech at Handy’s Grove was lengthy (to put it mildly) and among his accounting of 200 years of history, under the heading of “Patriotism of the Inhabitants,” he mentions the involvement of Rochester in wars beginning with the French War and progressing to the War of the Rebellion, known today as the Civil war.

            Zeroing in on Rochester’s participation in the Revolutionary War, he is the one who first said that more men from Rochester (based on population) fought in the war than those from other places. He goes on to highlight four soldiers out of the many who served. First, Lieut.-Col. Ebenezer White of the Fourth Regiment Plymouth County Militia. In the first year of the war while involved in an engagement in Rhode Island, the hilt of his sword was shot away. He survived and went on to be an active participant in town government.

            Another, Ensign Ebeneezer Foster was killed at the battle of Burgoyne on Sept. 19, 1777 at the age of 21. His grave can be found in the Center Cemetery. Elnathan Haskell was a Major of Artillery in the Continental Army and an aide to Gen. Washington.

            Everett cites the Rochester town records for the biography of Ichabod Burgess. “Ichabod Burgess departed this life in 1834. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and during the whole war he nobly dared to meet in awful fight the enemies of his country. He fought and bled and conquered; and now has conquered his last enemy and joined his glorious file leader, Washington in glory”.

            Thank you to all our Veterans.

By Connie Eshbach

Holiday Greens Sale

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The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club’s 3rd Annual Holiday Greens Sale will take place on Saturday, December 3 from 9 am to 1 pm.  The sale will be held in the parking lot between Ying Dynasty and Harriet’s Catering on Route 6 in Mattapoisett.  Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted.  Rain date is Sunday, December 4 at the same place, at the same time.  

            For sale will be beautifully styled, handmade wreaths, swags and centerpieces of all sizes.  Bundles of greens and holly branches will also be available to purchase.  In addition, there will be a variety of handmade ornaments, most featuring a seaside theme, as well as the MWC’s well-known collection of cards and notecards available to buy. 

            This sale has sold out the past two years, so the word to the wise is to come early for best selection.  See you there.

Deeded Path to Water Requires Expert Input

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            The Marion Conservation Commission had a busy two weeks, adjudicating several cases during its October 26 and November 2 public meetings.

            Because there is an inherent lack of definition of delineation on where work will actually occur, the commission voted on October 26 to issue Scott S. Rassoulian a Positive Box 3 Determination of Applicability in his bid to conduct some clearing of a deeded, existing, 10-foot right-of-way, pass way at 195A Converse Road.

            Rassoulian, who told the commission he holds in common with the property at adjacent 195B (Lot 36) the deeded right to the pass way, wants to clear obstructions so he can carry his kayak to the water. The proposed work will require the filing of a Notice of Intent.

            “We don’t know where the (salt) marsh starts,” said Commissioner Shawn Walsh, explaining that any work will require a properly delineated resource area.

            Commissioner Emil Assing asked if it was possible for Rassoulian to come back to the commission with another RDA having described in exact detail the cutting intended and the wetland areas delineated on an engineering plan. Walsh said, theoretically, it is possible with the additional information.

            “Unless they prove otherwise, the water-side clearing would be in the salt marsh, and that to me is something that should be in a Notice of Intent,” said Conservation Commission Chairman Jeff Doubrava.

            After a recent site visit, Walsh discussed the vegetation on the more-seaward pass way but also noted that the materials that accompany the Request for Determination of Applicability was not clearly shown on the RDA file.

            Having observed that the plan marked as wetland according to the state GIS map is probably salt marsh, Walsh estimated the length from the stakes to the saltmarsh line to be approximately 89 feet.

            “A wetlands consultant is the appropriate professional to look at this area. … There really isn’t enough information for us to issue a Negative Determination at this point,” said Walsh, who explained further that the RDA is a question posed to the commission that essentially proposes an activity and asks, “Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to get a permit to do the work?’ The issue here is we’ve got a (plan) that doesn’t show the resource areas.”

            Walsh noted that the path has a seawall and land subject to coastal storm flowage. He suggested that the seaward end of the pass way be staked.

            Doubrava agreed and said, without wetlands markings, the commission could revisit the site and find that it has been clear-cut. “This has to be surgical, and we have to know what the bounds of this are going to be,” he said.

            Representing abutters, attorney John Markey asked where is the line and what are the resource areas, suggesting that a professional is necessary to make these determinations. “Those things are not sufficiently clear,” he said.

            In response to Markey’s comments, Mrs. Rassoulian said, “We’ve been harassed, we’ve been sweared at, we almost got run over. … We’ve tried every way, and all we want to do is take our kayak to the water.”

            Having just asked Mrs. Rassoulian to limit her response to Markey to wetlands-related matters, Doubrava reiterated his request, reminding the attendees that a meeting two weeks prior “almost got out of hand.”

            Mr. Rassoulian said he wants to settle the matter as amicably as possible and asked that the staking that needs to occur as part of the commission’s vetting process not be removed.

            In arguing his case, Mr. Rassoulian noted that a government website containing satellite images of the area going back to 2005 shows growth that he considers invasive and not historic and puts the onus on the homeowners to keep the pass way clear. Abutters argued that the trees are actually growing back and existed prior to hurricanes.

            “We don’t want to damage any property, none at all, because we also care about conservation,” he said. “We are right side by side (with our neighbors) so we are not trying to make a highway there. We just want to be able to use our right of way that has been deeded to us.”

            Attorney Patrick Delaney appeared on the Rassoulian’s behalf only regarding easement rights.

            At the motion of Commissioner Matt Schultz, the members voted to issue a Negative Box 2 Determination of Applicability for stormwater management and restoration of a swale on the part of the Town of Marion at 112-114 Point Road.

            Representing the town, Jody Dickerson of the Department of Public Works explained the swale was receiving runoff until the last few years when sand, dirt and debris filled into the area. The DPW is looking to clean up the area so the swale will work correctly. Dickerson said the ground will be reseeded with wildflowers.

            The commission voted an Order of Conditions to applicant Steve Clark, who filed a NOI to upgrade an existing, failed septic system at 707 Mill Street.

            The commissioners voted to issue Jay G. Flanagan a partial Certificate of Compliance after work was completed on the septic system at 26 West Avenue, leaving garage work to be completed.

            After a site visit, the commission granted Kathleen Welch a three-year extension to her Order of Conditions at 82 West Avenue. Walsh admitted disappointment that mitigation plantings were not in and suggested those will be done at the earliest possible opportunity.

            During its November 2 meeting, the commission voted to amend the Order of Conditions, allowing Paul and Linda Vivino to raise their garage with other conditions remain as previously issued at 12 West Avenue.

            Representing the Vivinos, Dave Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone Inc., said that since an Order of Conditions was issued early in 2022, it has been determined that the garage would be best have a new slab poured at a higher elevation.

            Starting from scratch on the same footprint would allow the raising of the slab on the backside of the structure 20 inches, pitching toward the front, which would be raised 18 inches. The idea is to create a pitch without a drastic drop in the driveway. The plumbing from the drain would remain the same, but the higher trench grade would also allow the removal of retaining walls from the plan.

            Doubrava said the amendment to the Order of Conditions makes the activity no more impactful.

            Abutter Ann Perry, 13 West Avenue, expressed concern about runoff into the road. With permission, Davignon responded that the difference between the property Perry referenced and the Vivino property is the Vivinos’ runoff will drain toward the garage rather than the street.

            Guey-Lee substantiated Paul Vivino’s explanation of the presently higher grade as a temporary staging area for equipment.

            Negative determinations of applicability were issued in two, connected cases with a common applicant.

            Elizabeth Weinberg and Peter and Laura Grauer filed a Request for a Determination of Applicability for seawall and pier maintenance at 23 Water Street, and Weinberg and Elizabeth Smith filed the same RDA at 5 Water Street.

            Representing Weinberg, Smith and the Grauer families, Davignon said the applicants simply want to continue maintenance. The work would be done manually this fall, he said. “It’s all manual footwork, one person with a manual and a trough.”

            The commissioners voted to issue George and Viola Taylor an Order of Conditions for the upgrade of their failed septic system within the 100-foot buffer zone at 33 Abel’s Way.

            Darren Michaelis of Foresight Engineering explained that the 1977 house needs a replacement for the septic tank. The existing leaching field is 20 feet from the wetlands, and moving it will put the wetlands 60 feet away.

            A MicroFAST septic system with denitrification technology will be installed, and the old leaching field, having no sewage on the ground, will be abandoned. (The next day, the Board of Health would grant the variances requested.)

            The Notice of Intent filed by Marion Trust #1, Michael Craffey, to repair an existing seawall and remove invasive phragmites at 522 Point Road was once again continued to November 16.

            The commission determined that the Zoning Board of Appeals’ decision to approve the Heron Cove Estates 40B housing project is not jurisdictional to the ConCom.

            The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission will be held on Wednesday, November 16, at 7:00 pm at the Police Station and also accessible live via Zoom.

Marion Conservation Commission

By Mick Colageo

Douglas E. Macomber

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Douglas E. Macomber, 71, of Harwich passed away unexpectedly at his home on November 7, 2022, due to complications from an illness. He was the son of the late Elliot and Grace Macomber of Marion.

            Doug was an Emmy-award winning cameraman in the Investigative Reporting Division of WBZ Boston. His love for photography and art of all kinds followed him throughout his life. He held great appreciation for the beauty of nature and wildlife and capturing local scenery through photography. In his later life, Doug thoroughly enjoyed working at local farmers markets and engaging in intriguing conversations with his many Uber riders. Anyone who was lucky enough to know Doug appreciated his kindness, humor, and unwavering loyalty to his friends and family.

            Doug is survived by his siblings, Beth Simmons of Fairhaven, Leslie Macomber of Marion, Christine Macomber and her partner Fred Klein of Mattapoisett, Steven Macomber and his wife Becky of Marion, Lisa Macomber and her husband John Malkoski of Seattle, WA; many nieces and nephews; several grand nieces and nephews; as well as many beloved friends whom he considered family.

            A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers,  donations may be made in Doug’s name to the Human Rights Campaign.org.

Phyllis M. (Lawson) Eklund

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Phyllis M. (Lawson) Eklund was born 92 years ago in Brockton, Mass., and grew up in Campello, the Swedish neighborhood. Her earliest memories were of her father’s funeral home on Sheppard Street, where for a few years she lived with her parents, John and Signe (Birath) Lawson, and her older brother, John Quentin Lawson.

            Phyllis carried the values of patience, compassion, kindness, and generosity instilled in her in childhood through her life’s journey, which would eventually take her to the other end of Plymouth County—Marion, Mass., where she died Nov. 12, 2022.

            Phyllis graduated from Brockton High School in 1948. Shortly thereafter, she began dating Robert “Bob” Eklund, who grew up two blocks from her. She also began studies in dental hygiene, taking courses at Boston Dental and Boston University and going on to earn a degree at Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene.

            After Phyllis and Bob married in 1954 and settled in Brockton, she continued her career, most notably as the school hygienist in Abington, Mass., until starting her own family. Soon, she was busy raising Jack, Jane, Julie, and Jill and putting her creative talents to use wallpapering, upholstering, knitting sweaters and Christmas stockings, and sewing clothing.

            Phyllis served on the boards of the YWCA and the Wales Home. She got together with women friends in a weekly bowling league, for Thursday Club gatherings, in an investment group, and for rounds of golf.

            In the late 1980s Phyllis and Bob retired to Marion, where they had summered for many years. She enjoyed a growing brood of grandchildren and loved orchestrating get-togethers for the entire family; the younger generation has treasured memories of Christmases spent together at East Hill Farm in New Hampshire.

            A warm and friendly person with a classic sense of style, Phyllis had a ready wit, and even in her declining months, she could charm her family and her caregivers into bringing her endless bowls of ice cream.

            She is survived by Bob, her husband of 68 years; son Jack and his partner, Laurie Mulgrew; daughter Jane and her wife, Sarah Bauhan; daughter Julie and her husband, Scott Kampmeier; daughter Jill and her husband, Chris Farrell; and six grandchildren.

            Services will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the youth and family programs at the Old Colony Y, attn. Vincent Marturano, 320 Main St., Brockton, MA 02301 or the YMCA Southcoast, attn. Robyn Branco, 128 Union Street, Suite 304, New Bedford MA 02740. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Tri-Town Against Racism

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TTAR will be having our third in the Community Conversations series focusing on the Importance of Representation in Literacy: Highlighting the Value of Complex Subjects in Literature Selection. The event will be led by a panel of local librarians. It will be hosted at Tabor Academy on Monday November 14, 6:30-8. Please register by Friday, November 11 for planning purposes. To find details and to register, go to bit.ly/TTARCC3.

Sippican Historical Society

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Marion (Old Rochester) is one of the oldest towns in the United States, and the Sippican Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of documentation on its historic buildings. In 1998, the Sippican Historical Society commissioned an architectural survey of Marion’s historic homes and buildings. Over 100 were cataloged and photographed. SHS will feature one building a week so that the residents of Marion can understand more about its unique historical architecture.

            The home at 368 Front Street may represent the only surviving building from the 18th- and early 19th-century cluster of residences called “Parlowtown.” Parlowtown Road was originally a Native American trail that ran northwest to Rochester. It fell into disuse in the mid-19th century, when the rugged, swampy nature of the terrain made its maintenance difficult. This Federal-style cottage was built circa 1800 by the Parlow family.

Septic Paperwork ‘Not Incidental’

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            Back attending in person on November 3 after “zooming” into the Marion Board of Health following a hospital stay, Dr. Ed Hoffer focused his comments in two public hearings for septic-system variances on what happens after the systems become operational.

            The board, including Chairman Dr. John Howard and the recent addition of foundational member Albin Johnson, would vote to grant variances to homeowners at 707 Mill Street and 33 Abel’s Way, but not before Hoffer made sure that the systems will waste thousands of dollars minus ongoing attention as prescribed in Marion’s septic bylaw.

            “The paperwork is not incidental … a nitrogen-removal system requires testing, and it’s important that homeowners understand this,” he said, defining it as “part of their obligation.”

            The variance for variance requests made by Steve Clark at 707 Mill Street were presented by Zenith Consulting Engineers, including distance from a slab foundation from the required 10 feet to 3 feet.

            The Zenith representative told the board that the variances are needed to meet the state’s Title 5 requirements and reported that Marion’s own consultant (George Heufelder) approved the system as proposed.

            Representing the property owner at 33 Abel’s Way, Foresight Engineering’s Darren Michaelis laid out a variance request, including the reduction of the required setback from the existing foundation from 20 feet to 11 feet, the substitution of a percolation test and the allowance of one observation hole.

            Attending the meeting remotely, Michaelis explained that the variances are needed to complete a “simple septic repair” on a 1977 house sitting in a “tight area” where it became necessary to place a liner to prevent any type of problem where the sewage pipe crosses the water pipe.

            He said Marion’s Conservation Commission approved the project, which includes analysis confirming soils and depth of the water table.

            The nitrogen-reducing, MicroFAST wastewater-treatment system comes with a deed restriction that Hoffer requested certainty of the owners’ knowledge regarding the necessity of maintenance and testing. The deed restriction ensures that the IA system must be maintained into perpetuity.

            Johnson asked if the system comes with a boiler-plate series of instructions for the owner. Michaelis explained that a two-year agreement will be turned in prior to the release of the permit, and Desmarais added Heufelder’s approval. Michaelis said that once the unit is purchased, the homeowner signs the contract with the vendor. He told Johnson will send a PDF of the contract.

            Neal Balboni appeared before the board to provide a project-status update for his mother’s house at 28 Pitcher Street. He said there has been work done on the eaves to make sure animals cannot get inside the house. Balboni said that official representation is out of state.

            “I’m going to make sure it’s monitored,” he said, telling the board that the long-term plan is to totally renovate the house. “We would like to keep it in the family.” The property has been owned by five generations of their family.

            In her Health Director update to the board, Public Health Nurse Lori Desmarais characterized Marion’s 41 COVID-19 cases in October as stable but noted that most residents with concern are home testing.

            Tabor Academy held a flu-vaccine clinic on November 3, administering 117 flu shots. Marion is working on a drive-through, flu-vaccine clinic for Thursday, November 17, and 60 residents had indicated interest as of November 3. An email blast was sent out.

            Public hearings are scheduled for November 30 and December 1 for the state’s proposed amendments to Title 5 regulations. Desmarais indicated that draft regulations will address Cape Cod first, then mainland residences.

            In updating the board on Chapter 2 complaints, inspections and orders to correct, Desmarais said she was unable to contact the resident at 464 Front Street but will go back to conduct the last inspection associated with the order.

            Desmarais also reported that a generator for emergencies at Little Neck Village is not legally required, but the site does have a generator that gives emergency lighting and heat. Hoffer suggested a note to the owner suggesting an upgrade upon necessary replacement that would power up appliances so that insulin could remain refrigerated for those residents in need and similar needs.

            Desmarais reported five food inspections and five more scheduled for November.

            After meeting with Interim Town Administrator/Finance Director Judy Mooney, Desmarais reported that the Board of Health should anticipate a “level-service” but not “level-funded” budget for FY24.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for Thursday, November 17, at 4:00 pm at the Police Station, also accessible live via Zoom.

Marion Board of Health

By Mick Colageo