Claire Ann “Cookie” Audette

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Claire Ann “Cookie” Audette, 76, of Fairhaven died November 4, 2022 at home after a long courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her family.

            Born in Acushnet, daughter of the late Ulric O. Audette and Doris (Lelievre) Medeiros, she lived in Fairhaven all of her life.

            She was formerly employed as a cashier at Shaw’s Supermarket in Fairhaven for many years until her retirement.

            She enjoyed the company of her cat Victoria.

            Her family would like to thank her cousin Alice and her husband Roger and her niece Natalie and her husband Steve for bringing her to doctors appointments in Boston.

            Survivors include her son, Robert Pombo and his fiancée JoAnn Tavares of Fairhaven; 2 daughters, Susan Foley and Sandra Medeiros, both of Fairhaven; 2 sisters, Diane Mareiro of Rochester and Jackie Hinkley of Fairhaven; 4 grandchildren, Brooke, Lauren, Bobby and Brayton; 5 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

            She was the sister of the late Robert Audette.

            Her family will receive guests on Saturday, November 19th from 9-10 am followed by her Funeral Service at 10 am in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Route 6, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society. For directions and online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Common Goal to Streamline Permitting

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The Marion Bylaw Codification Committee is a subcommittee of the Planning Board, but not all Codification Committee members are Planning Board members.

            As the Codification Committee has been grinding through an arduous updating and cleaning up of existing bylaws, some Planning Board members have in their own public meetings articulated frustration with their lack of involvement in the drafting process, at least on the ground floor.

            So when the Codification Committee held a public meeting on October 27, two Planning Board members not on the Codification Committee attended, creating a Planning Board quorum of four, including the two members serving on the Codification Committee, Norm Hills and Eileen Marum.

            Planning Board member Tucker Burr also took a seat alongside committee members, while Planning Board member Chris Collings sat in a spectator row and did not participate in the meeting.

            The October 27 Codification Committee meeting agenda called for discussion with respect to the Village-Style Smart Growth District concept and the Planning Board.

            The committee went over changes, including signage regulations, as Hills was preparing a draft to bring before the Planning Board that he chairs.

            In Section G, commercial signage was discussed relative to political signage, and a clause stating that no private/political signs are allowed on public property was eliminated. It was noted that treating the two separately could be viewed as a violation of free speech.

            This kind of deep dive into a world of detail was only the tip of the iceberg of what the Codification Committee has been doing for several months.

            Building Commissioner Bob Grillo offered perspective regarding residential accessory dwelling units, noting that putting certain language into a bylaw does not guarantee it can be effectively enforced.

            Hills proposed forwarding the discussed items onto the Planning Board, adding that other items of concern can be addressed as they are identified.

            Member Will Saltonstall asked if the document should be addressed in “one big public hearing.” Hills said that matter is up to Planning Board, which can address the bylaws in multiple sessions “as necessary.”

            A detailed discussion ensued on the trigger points necessitating site-plan review, projects that can be done by right, and those requiring a public hearing.

            Grillo said that site-plan review is viewed “vastly different in the courts” and that the Planning Board’s purview is limited to things affected by the zoning bylaws.

            One thing that member Mike Sudofsky said can streamline the vetting/permitting process is to address zoning before the Planning Board holds a public hearing.

            “Watch Mattapoisett’s process. They have the same problems, but they approach it a little bit differently,” said Sudofsky. “Start with everyone understands the zoning (via a recommendation for the case from the zoning officer) … it’s just quicker. It’s worth it.”

            “The board requires good information before it can entertain an application,” said Saltonstall, interpreting Sudofsky’s message.

            Grillo suggested a preplanned (presubmission) meeting.

            “If we can get a clear understanding and say this requires site-plan review … from my office … it allows the Planning Board to use common sense and waive any of the engineering requirements,” he said. “If it’s a multiuse complex that’s coming in, we want everything. … so we don’t make somebody spend $20,000 or $30,000 on engineering.

            “We do it in Sandwich. We loosely do it here. It’s super helpful. (If) we have to talk to this board and that board and that board, then it’s more questions for me. One downside, if the property goes up for sale, we would have 20 meetings on the same property.”

            The Codification Committee did not announce a date for its next meeting upon adjournment.

Marion Bylaw Codification Committee

By Mick Colageo

Heating and Utility Relief for Tri-Town Area Elders

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Coastline Elderly Services, Inc. is providing assistance to older people in the communities of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester who need help with paying the heat or electric bills.

            The funds will pay for gas, electric, propane, wood or other heating needs to help reduce the financial burden for many elders who have difficulty with these purchases.

Funding for this project was made possible by the George E. Curtis Charitable Trust.

            Please contact the Council on Aging in each town to complete a simple application. Only one older person in the household who qualifies for this program, will receive a one-time assistance of $400.

            For the councils on aging in Marion, please call 508- 748-3570; Mattapoisett, 508- 758-4110 and Rochester at 508-763-8723.

ORRHS Drama Club to Present “Alice in Wonderland”

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The Old Rochester Regional High School Drama Club’s Fall production of Alice In Wonderland will be staged on November 17, 18, 19 at 7 pm and November 20 at 2 pm. Director Maxx Domingos and Assistant Director Sarah Whinnem are celebrating their second year as directors for the Old Rochester Regional High School Drama Club. Principal cast members are Cattarinha Nunes as Alice, Calder Eaton as the Cheshire Cat, Kathleen Dunn as the Queen of Hearts and Jorge Carrillo as the Mad Hatter. There are plenty of laughs and references to pop culture which make this a play which is best for older children (grade 5 and up) and their grownups. NOTE: The ORR High School is currently a latex-free building. Due to issues with latex elastics, we ask that no flower bouquets be brought inside the school. Thank you for your consideration.

            Tickets will be available at the Marion General Store, Isabelle’s in Mattapoisett, Friends’ Marketplace in Rochester and also at the door. Students & Senior Citizens $10.00, General Admission $12.00.

            Show Summary: “Alice in Wonderland” by Anne Coulter Martens presents a quaint and simplistic version of Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic. As the curtain rises, Alice slides into view at the end of her long fall down the rabbit-hole. It is a more delightful place for the audience than for Alice, who is trying desperately to get back home. She tries to get help from Wonderland’s craziest neighbors, the Mad Hatter, the Rabbit and from the very nice Cheshire Cat. Throughout her exploration of Wonderland, Alice comes to realize that finding the door that matches her special key is a more dangerous adventure than she thought.”

Town Says Yes to Featherbed Lane Donation

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The Rochester Conservation Commission Tuesday night approved a plan for the town to acquire 42.41 acres on Featherbed Lane, but not before discussing whether it was a good idea.

            The land is being donated to the town by property owners Bradford and Ruth Correia. The Select Board, which will make the ultimate decision as to whether the town should accept the donation, is proposing the Conservation Commission itself take ownership of the parcel.

            Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly reported to the commission that the land is “a priority habitat” for wetlands species. It is listed as 70 percent wetlands.

            Commission member Ben Bailey responded both with what he likes and doesn’t like about the plan. “It’s nice he (Brad Correia) is giving this to us,” he said. “It’s very generous. But he is taking it off our tax rolls.”

            The town will lose that tax revenue money, he said. Land records available at the meeting showed the Correias paid $1,500 in property taxes this year.

            Commission Chairman Chris Gerrior countered Bailey’s sentiments by noting that this type of acquisition is a way to add to the town’s preserved green space, an important goal in itself. Gerrior asked if the parcel is accessible from public ways. Kelly said it is definitely landlocked. However, there is a 6-foot pathway to the property from a public way, she said.

            Town Counsel Blair Bailey, appearing via Zoom, clarified the pros and cons of such an acquisition even further.

            “You are preserving it and preventing it from being developed,” Bailey said, indicating that more homes would mean more of a financial drain on town services. “The procedure here is the selectmen are asking your opinion. The final decision will be (with) the selectmen.”

            The commission’s resulting approval vote was unanimous.

            Blair Bailey then continued with the main reason he was attending the meeting. He reported progress with the battle between the town and 89 Box Turtle Drive. Blair Bailey said the town recently had a district court date with the attorney for the Box Turtle Drive owner. “I’m upbeat about the conversations we’ve had,” he said. “They are working on the plans the board wants to see.”

            The commission’s violation order against 89 Box Turtle Drive in July was for clearing land too close to wetlands without a permit and not even trying to communicate with commission members to resolve the issue or submit a plan.

            The Rochester Conservation Commission set its next meeting for Tuesday, November 15, at 7:00 pm at Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School, 476 North Avenue, in Rochester, also accessible via Zoom.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco

A Trio of True Tales

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            On October 28, the Mattapoisett Museum threw open its doors, let a few goblins out, while still others came in in the form of bipedal homosapians, the most frightful creatures on earth. The pre-Halloween event was a retelling, with live action of three true tales from the museum’s archives.

            The stories were gleaned for the most accurate bits of history being reformatted, so to speak, but not rewritten by museum volunteer Luke Couto. Along with Tiago Duarte, Matthew Curry, Nicholas Barao and Holyn Turner, Couto reenacted stories about special events that occurred in the lives of notable Mattapoisett residents in the 1800s.

            First was the story told by Joshua Cushing, whaling captain, to the Republican Standard newspaper. Cushing had shipped out as a crew member of the Mary Ann in the 1850s. It was a merchant ship, not a whaler, trading goods from one east-coast location to another and even east into the Mediterranean.

            Piracy was rampant at this time so before shipping out again, Cushing’s vessel was made to resemble a privateer. That bit of deception would not fool the Algerian pirates who roamed the seas, but the Algerian’s deception, hoisting England’s flag as the Mary Ann approached, did work. Before they could take decisive action, the pirates had gained the upper hand and taken Mary Ann’s captain hostage.

            Cushing and all who sailed the wide ocean knew that if captured by a pirate, they would likely be sold off as slaves. The sailors preferred death to capture and began brewing a plan to escape from the pirates.

            From the newspaper account he gave, Cushing stated, “Various ideas for escape ran through my mind, but being under the broadside of a ship of 44 guns which could sink us with a single volley, it was hopeless. I took the glass and watched the frigate, and at the end of an hour men armed with swords, guns, pistols and daggers were put off in a boat to return to the Mary Ann. At last my heart leaped with joy to see the Captain among the company, but my joy was short lived! On their arrival, the pirates brutally bound our foremast hands and threw them into the boat. Only the Captain, the cook, the cabin boy (a lad of 14) and myself remained. We were prisoners…”

            But the intrepid sailors weren’t giving up. They laid a plan to trick the pirates into peering over the side of the ship, and then the sailors would flip them overboard. As Cushing tells it, “Our plan was for the Captain to again show how to catch fish with the grain staff. This would draw the prize crew to the side of the vessel – in fact, they probably would lean over the rail the better to see the action. At a given signal, each of us was to pitch a man overboard. We were now only about 7 miles from Algiers and eternal slavery.”

            The end of the story is this: Cushing and the crew of the Mary Ann freed themselves from the clutches of the pirates and eventually returned home with a very exciting tale to tell. And the dagger. Well, Cushing’s dagger was returned to Mattapoisett Museum some years ago after being given to the Plymouth Society by Noah Hammond, who had come into its possession.

            The second true tale comes from the life of one Matthew Hiller. When he shared his story for one of the last times, Hiller was in his 90s. In 1862, the Civil War was consuming large swaths of the young republic. But it also touched people living in Mattapoisett.

            The whaling ship, the Alabama, encountered a Confederate war ship as they neared Portugal. The Alabama and its crew were taken by the Confederate sailors but later set free in San Miguel. Hiller was somehow able to keep the handcuffs that had been used to bind his wrists. The museum’s collection includes the handcuffs.

            Hiller would go on to become a whaling boat captain. One of his stories, which Couto did not note as being confirmed, was being swallowed by a whale and spat out. It could be true.

            The last true tale that the ensemble cast presented was likely the one with the highest creep factor – it’s about corpses.

            Well actually, it’s about three physicians who wanted to study human anatomy with the goal of better understanding of human body systems and to round out the education of a Dr. William Sparrow.

            As Couto suggests, Dr. A.S. Jones and Dr. Newton Southworth convinced Sparrow to go with them and assist in the removal of a corpse from the Alms House cemetery. At first, Sparrow wanted no part in the illegal grave-robbing scheme regardless of the corpse being excellent research material. He evidently caved to their persuasion, and off the trio went to collect the unknown human specimen.

            They would be caught red-handed and arrested, but they never went to trial. Southworth had said he had the Board of Selectmen approval.

            To learn more about these stories as well as upcoming events at the Mattapoisett Museum, visit mattapoisettmuseum.org.

Mattapoisett Museum

By Marilou Newell

Stone Wall Building Workshop

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Have you always wanted to learn the art and construction of stonewalls? Stonewalls are a staple feature to southeastern Massachusetts reminiscent of colonial times and stonewall building is a unique and impressive skill to learn. Mattapoisett Land Trust invites you to come learn how it’s down at our Stone Wall Workshop.

            Meet us at the Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Foundation parking area on Angelica Avenue in Mattapoisett on Sunday November 13. The workshop will run from 10-11 am. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring gloves; this will be hands-on. The workshop will be led by MLT’s Vice President of the Board, Peter Davies, who has been building and repairing stone walls for 40 years for friends and clients.

Sippican Woman’s Club

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The Sippican Woman’s Club will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, November 10. Since Veterans Day falls on 2nd Friday of the month, which is our normal meeting date, we will meet a day earlier on Thursday. We will meet at 12:30 for an array of finger foods and social followed by a business meeting at 1:00 pm and speaker to commence at 1:30/1:45 pm.

            Our speaker will be Lara Bekampis, the owner of a small event décor and consultation business which she has aptly named “She Sets the Table.” Lara decorates for events and holidays utilizing vintage pieces along with those of her clients’. Lara will give us inspiration to plan ahead and set our own holiday table with a fresh look as we welcome friends and family.

            The Sippican Woman’s Club is open to any woman whose interest is in Marion. Our meetings are normally held on the second Friday of the month September through March followed by an Annual Meeting held on the last Friday in April. Unless we hold an off-site meeting, we meet at our clubhouse, “Handy’s Tavern”, 152 Front Street, Marion. Please visit our newly updated website: www.sippicanwomansclub.org.

Plan in Place for Town Administrator Search

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            Jay McGrail’s final Select Board public meeting as the Marion’s town administrator was dominated by three appointments, the first about the search for his replacement.

            Attending the meeting via Zoom, Bernie Lynch of Community Paradigm Associates provided an update and sought approval from the Select Board with regards to forming a volunteer screening committee, advertising the job and establishing a timeline.

            “We’re into Mr. McGrail for a buck and a half and into you for a few bucks too,” said Select Board Chairman Randy Parker, addressing Lynch. “I agree with $150,000 plus or minus, to get somebody in here good for the Town of Marion.”

            While Select Board member Norm Hills said he preferred to start lower, member Toby Burr doubled down on Parker’s suggestion, saying, “It’s a highly competitive marketplace, so in order to attract somebody who’s good, we need to go to at least ($150,000.)”

            Lynch said in the past five years, two-thirds of Massachusetts municipalities have seen town administrators and/or managers leave. “We just need to be able to attract people to these positions. It’s a very tight market right now,” he said, adding that southeastern Massachusetts “is a little more challenging to bring somebody in.”

            Parker said he would like department heads to have a role in the selection process. The board agreed to pick a five-member screening committee that would send recommended applicants to department heads for a meeting at the Music Hall. Once the list is whittled down to four finalists, their names would be made public.

            The timeline will consist of a November 11 application deadline, and the screening committee will be named at the November 15 meeting of the Select Board. Lynch will conduct his initial meeting with the screening committee in the first week of December.

            The board next voted to approve the formation of a seven-member committee under Massachusetts General Law 40.C to conduct a study to explore the idea of creating a historic district in the Marion village area.

            In a 6:15 pm appointment, Meg Steinberg of the Marion Historical Commission and Will Tifft spoke to the Select Board about the history of failed efforts going all the way back to the 1970s.

            “If you look around the village the past few years, there has been a number of demolition projects,” said Steinberg, referencing Main Street and 49 Water Street, noting the general size and sight of new buildings in the district, including a residence opposite to St. Rita’s Church. She said that as of now, the town has no say other than zoning. “And zoning doesn’t address history and architectural quality.”

            Steinberg further pointed out that the town’s bylaws are a standard for protection that only applies to exterior features visible from a public way. “Right now, the most pressing issue in some historic districts are solar panels and car chargers … you have to adjust to the times,” she said.

            Tifft stressed that the effort comes without an agenda.

            “This is a study committee, literally designed to survey, educate, discuss, hold open meetings … to find out what and what would not be acceptable to the town,” he explained. “It’s not foregone what that recommendation is. This is not a proposal for a new bylaw or zoning changes at this time. The proposal is to do a study …”

            The formation of such a district will eventually require a public hearing and will ultimately be decided by a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting.

            Burr cautioned Steinberg that there will be costs involved for legal counsel, but he praised her for her presentation. “You’ve answered my questions very well.”

            Hills called it a “good concept to get started,” and Parker was happy to hear that Steinberg is “hoping to have it ready for next fall.”

            While Burr engaged heavily in discussion regarding the historic district proposal, he recused himself as a Select Board member for the first time at the third appointment presented by his wife Barbie Burr.

            The proposal for a community garden at the Cushing Community Center was enthusiastically supported by attendees of the meeting at the Police Station.

            Mrs. Burr explained that while Town Meeting and boards and committees tend to present familiar faces, she hopes that a community garden will function to “bring in a much wider circle.”

            The proposal, scaled down per Hills’ advice, calls for the allocation of 10,000 square feet of space in the north triangle of the Cushing Community Center footprint.

            In answer to Hills’ questions about “what’s real and what’s not,” including plans for a 20-foot-long and 8-foot-wide wall and a professional staff, Mrs. Burr delineated between two project phases.

            Careful to note, he is not opposed to the concept, Hills sought to bring definition to the proposal.

            Describing it as a “hard-scrabble farm” not in line with prettier gardens that tend to gain state assistance, Mrs. Burr did not anticipate a lot of money being involved.

            But Interim Town Administrator Judy Mooney, the town’s director of Finance, said the formation of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in itself would require guidance from Town Counsel.

            “A lot of money will be donated,” said Mooney, noting the building of a well and any donations that would go into a 501(c)(3) account. “We’re not trying to say the community garden is a bad idea, but … you’ve got to take it to a legal level.”

            Parker said he loves the community garden concept and named Needham, Salem and Wellesley among 18 in the state. He suggested Mrs. Burr “get ahold of one of those people and see how they did it. The most important thing is what does the senior center say about this? Because I love the senior center.”

            Asked for his input by Parker, Community Center Working Group Chairman Harry Norweb said, “We have to have very detailed documentation if we’re going to pitch in. Until that is nicely formed, it’s hard to even think about creating marching orders.”

            Merry Conway, chair of the Friends of the Marion Council on Aging, said the Friends were founded in 2014 to support the activities of the COA and are not to get involved.

            “We take direction from the COA,” she said. “It’s hard to know until it’s fleshed out a little bit more. … There are definitely benefits to it, but it’s the genesis of the plan rather than the completion of the plan.”

            Mrs. Burr said she was basing her proposal on the community garden in Dartmouth.

            Parker suggested Mrs. Burr gather information from multiple towns with community gardens, come back to the Select Board with answers to some of their questions and “make sure the team at the COA is on board with this.”

            “We’ve still got a long way to go,” said Hills.

            In his final Town Administrator’s Report, McGrail passed along information about the fundraiser basketball game between the Old Rochester Unified Team and Tri-Town Police officers on Monday, November 7, at 6:30 pm at ORR. A $10 donation is requested from adults and $5 from students.

            Marion resident and Technical Sergeant of the Massachusetts National Guard Mandy Givens will be the guest speaker at the town’s Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, November 11, at 11:00 am at Old Landing. A 12:00 pm luncheon will follow at the Cushing Community Center. Residents are asked to RSVP for the luncheon by calling 508-748-3570.

            A nonperishable food drive will be held on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Community Center.

            McGrail concluded his remarks by thanking Mooney and the Select Board for their support.

            “It’s been an honor,” said McGrail. “Nothing I’ve done wasn’t without her and without you guys. Mr. (John) Waterman was a huge part of it for a number of years. I wish he was here.”

            An open house seeing off McGrail to his new job as town manager in Middleborough will be held on Thursday, November 10, at the Town House.

            In other business, the board voted to approve the acceptance of Sewer Rate Relief for FY23 and the transfer of management of the Sprague’s Cove Stormwater Retention Facility to the Department of Public Works (per MS4 state requirements.)

            The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, November 15, at 6:00 pm at the Police Station and accessible via Zoom.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo

Coastline Helps Seniors Stay Independent

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            When it comes time to seek in-home services for yourself or a loved one, go no further than picking up the phone and calling Coastline Elderly Services. Whether you are the caregiver or in need of direct services, Coastline can provide that link between need and service.

            Established 45 years ago, New Bedford-based Coastline serves a large, southeastern Massachusetts region that includes the Tri-Towns of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester, where many hundreds of senior citizens now reside.

            “The main thing to know is that we are an access point for services,” Coastline Executive Director Justin Lees told The Wanderer, noting that the agency is one of 24 area “aging access service points” in the Commonwealth. Together, these agencies function to connect seniors living independently with services that can and do extend their independent living status for as long as possible.

            Lees explained that agencies such as Coastline were established after the federal government passed the Older American Act in 1965. This act established the Administration on Aging within the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. To drive services deep into communities, regional access service points were established. Coastline receives funding from both the federal and state governments, Lees said.

            Among the larger programs for which Coastline is responsible are nutrition related, such as Meals-on-Wheels. To provide meals, there must be cooks and chefs. Coastline has a program that marries seniors with food service employment opportunities. Like a two-for-one solution, the program provides meals to some and employment to others.

            “We have three staff members employed because of grants from Coastline,” said Rochester Council on Aging Director Eric Poulin, who points to the daily breakfast café offered at the town’s Senior Center on Dexter Lane.

            Poulin said that 90 percent of the monies generated from the café are held for the planned building expansion, while a Tuesday-Friday luncheon program is provided by Coastline. A $2 voluntary donation that goes to Coastline is requested, but “if someone can’t pay, they still get the meal,” he said. “We also receive grants for exercise programs through Coastline.”

            Karen Gregory, Marion Council on Aging director, also lauded Coastline’s services. The COA’s lunch-program chef is funded through Coastline. “It’s a unique dining experience,” Gregory stated, bringing seniors together to share a meal and socialize. She also said Coastline has provided grants for exercise programs and prints the monthly newsletter distributed by senior centers.

            Coastline gives elders the opportunity to take charge of their health and well being up to and including as their needs increase. If you take a quick trip around their website, you’ll find such services as connecting seniors to home health aides, food preparation, shopping, housekeeping, elder protective services, congregate housing programs and money management.

             Digging a bit deeper, Coastline also provides or coordinates such important services as mobile dental hygiene, referral services for female-related health screenings and respite-care programs offering adult day care.

            Coastline’s primary population served may indeed be senior citizens, but the agency also offers programing that serves adults with disabilities.

            To learn more about Coastline Elderly Services, visit coastlinenb.org or call 508-999-6400. You may also contact your local Council on Aging for more details. For Rochester, call 508-763-8723; for Marion, call 508-748-3570 and for Mattapoisett, call 508-758-4110.

By Marilou Newell