Mattapoisett Recreation has added new fall offerings as many programs have filled. We now have Podcast Club at Old Hammondtown School on Mondays and Girls Free Basketball Clinics on Wednesday evenings. We also have spots available in Running/Track Clubs, Flag Football. Youth and Adult Pickleball, Finger Knitting and Robotics. Sign up online today at www.mattrec.net.
The diversity of local talent able to produce outstanding works of art in a vast variety of mediums is, in a word, stunning. That reality was on full display at the Rochester Council on Aging, as the members held their first Beachside Art Show on August 24.
Although not a juried exhibit, attendees could vote for their favorite art with three winners announced at the closing of the event. Not only did the artists come out in numbers, the types of artwork spanned fine art to crafts, all executed to perfection.
We were stopped in our tracks by the precision work displayed in wooden pieces crafted by Bob Francis, a carpenter most of his life, he shared, with finish carpentry being his foray. Francis exhibited a serving tray, a serving bowl and a vase, demonstrating the exactitude needed in wood selection and placement to achieve three-dimensional patterns. His entry came in third place.
Bee Bettencourt brought her appliqued quilt. A snow-white field with appliqued quilt stitching over which she patterned a sea of florals. She said it took her two years to complete the enormous quilt and that she had two others in various stages of construction. A labor of love indeed. Bettencourt was awarded second place.
Lynette Torres is a graduate of Vesper George School of Art in Boston. Her still life of a wreath demonstrates her highly honed talent for realistic depiction. She commented in her artist statement that she enjoys working in pen and ink as well as pastel and watercolor. Now that her family is grown, she can fully immerse her energy into what she loves – creating art. Torres tied for first place with Betty Beaulieu.
Beaulieu has been painting “representational” style works of art for many years, primarily in that unforgiving medium of watercolor. Her stated themes are Rochester’s countryside, pastural spaces, homes and barns and images with historical reference to the community.
The festive, evening event was well attended and fun with decorations featuring a beach theme, and there were plenty of hors d’oeuvres and beverages, primarily of the tame type.
Other artists present and happy to discuss their individual artistic pursuits were Jane Egan – she’ll be noted again in this article – Helen Johnson, Doreen Grover, Betty Devincent, Bunny Mogilnicki, Jeri Howland, Wayne Therrien, Millie Morrison, Barbara Allen, Julia Victorino, Sheila Martin, Janet Smith-Flaherty, David Morrison and Theresa Laspesa.
And yet there was still more ripe art to harvest!
Over at the Marion Council on Aging, a show titled Three Friends was simply gorgeous (closing as of August 30.) This show featured the creative work done by long time friends and artists Jane (Fitzgerald) Egan (who seems to have been everywhere this season), Charles “Chas” Wood and Jennifer Cipriano.
Wood brought out his whimsical carousel horses, owl and landscape works. Of the carousel horses, he said he has traveled around the northeast taking photographs of carousel horses and giving them a life of their own. The paintings included horses once spinning, young and old alike at Lincoln Park.
Cipriano, who has been friends with Egan for some 40 years, said that today painting gives her a meditative outlet, that when she is painting everything else going on in her life melts away, and she is free to create. Beauty we might add is the byproduct.
As for Egan, her beachside pastels speak to the variety of inspirational scenes that ignite her imagination. Although not really part of her exhibited pieces, we found her orangutan delightful in its realism and playful appeal.
Want to stay tuned for more arts and crafts? Follow local councils of aging on Facebook or read their newsletters. Better yet, just pop in and find out what’s going on. There’s always something that can bring a bit of joy into your life.
By Marilou Newell
Rochester’s Zoning Board of Appeals still hasn’t changed its mind about a requested variance of the town’s 40-foot minimum setback requirement for an existing pool shed at 2 Bishop Road that it had previously cast doubts about approving. On August 24, the board ended up repeating the same message, leading to a further continuance to September 28.
Consulting engineer John Romanelli had said at the previous ZBA meeting that the 12×16-foot shed at 2 Bishop Street is less than 40 feet from 0 Bishop Street because he made a mathematical error when drawing the lot lines. Now the owner of 0 Bishop, Mark Wilson, wants to sell his vacant lot and needs his parcel to be a legally conforming size. But the pool shed owned by his client, Logan Smith, 2 Bishop Road, is massive, filled with electrical and plumbing infrastructure and would be difficult to move to make the lots conform.
On August 24, Romanelli proposed as a solution moving the lot lines of 2 Bishop Road by 10.1 feet to make the lot less nonconforming. He speculated that he would have to gain Planning Board approval first if that is the solution the Zoning panel would endorse.
Board members replied they were not ready to endorse anything. ZBA Chairman David Arancio said the problem remains that it is a self-created hardship and that the board would find it hard to grant a variance for such a case.
ZBA member Richard Cutler asked if anything on the 2 Bishop Street lot besides the pool infrastructure would prevent the property owner from moving the shed from its current location. The property owner’s wife, Rebecca Smith, said the shed is on a concrete slab that covers underground plumbing for the pool. “It would be extremely difficult and inconvenient to move it,” she said.
Cutler explained that to qualify for a variance, there would have to be something on the lot that would help or hinder a plan from happening. Board member Jeffrey Costa said he has sympathy for the petitioners, but the analytical side of him tells him something different. “It’s not my problem,” he said. “It’s self-created. I can’t vote on (a lot-line problem) that doesn’t exist yet.”
Board member Thomas Flynn put it more bluntly. “State law is harsh toward granting a variance if you caused the problem yourself,” he said.
Romanelli then requested the continuance, and the board granted it unanimously.
Earlier on the agenda, Arancio noted it appears Town Planner Nancy Durfee’s recent proposal to create an informal bylaw review study group will not happen, according to input from Town Counsel. As a result, the ZBA agreed to form its own bylaw review subcommittee.
Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson then described starting the type of bylaw study work that Durfee had wanted to see her own proposed group take on. Johnson said he, Building Commissioner Paul Boucher and Durfee have already begun discussion on Zoning Bylaw revisions regarding “in-law accessory apartments” and “back-lot development” regulations. He said he will share these revisions with the Zoning panel as the new subcommittee begins its bylaw review work. He noted all the town boards need to work together on such an important undertaking. “And keep the flow of information going,” he said.
The Zoning panel agreed to form the subcommittee when all board members are present on September 28.
The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals’ next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 28, starting at 7:15 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals
By Michael J. DeCicco
Scott D. Gauvin, 55, of Rochester passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 30th 2023, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Janet M. (Plaud) Gauvin.
Born in New Bedford, the son of Bernard and Nancy (Hawes) Gauvin, Scott grew up in Mattapoisett having graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School in 1986. Scott moved to Rochester in 1994, where he raised his family and remained for the duration of his life. Scott retired from the Town of Mattapoisett Water Department after more than 20 years of service. His hard work, dedication, humor and all-around good spirit brought smiles to his hometown extended family. Scott truly enjoyed making others laugh and will be remembered for always having a joke to tell. He will also be remembered for having a huge heart and genuine desire to help others.
Scott enjoyed spending time with his family and was happiest when outdoors or working with his son in the garage. He was a skilled mechanic and could often fix things that no one else could. Scott was a devoted listener to Sunday Mornings Over Easy and Acoustic Sunrise. Many Sunday mornings were spent with his wife drinking coffee while listening to his old school twelve-speaker stereo system and looking out over his backyard as deer, woodchucks, turkeys, and an occasional coyote passed by. Scott also enjoyed taking his family for rides on his tricked-out golf cart as well as riding his scooter “around town” and into Mattapoisett with his wife. He was most proud of his John Deere tractor and how fast it could mow his lawn and out run his neighbors. Time spent with his three grandchildren provided him great joy, always bringing a smile to his face.
Survivors include his wife of 33 years; his daughter, Chelsey Frey and her husband Marc of New Bedford and their two children Mia and Leo; his son, Brett Gauvin and his wife April of Mattapoisett and their daughter Charlotte; his parents; his brother, Mark Gauvin and his wife Kathy of Mattapoisett; his sister, Joann Price and her husband Jim of Mattapoisett; brother-in-law, Steve Calise of Mattapoisett; mother-in-law Joan Plaud of Rochester; brother-in-law, Stephen Plaud and his wife Susan of Tiverton; brother-in-law, Howard Plaud and his wife Linda of Rochester; sister-in-law, Vanessa Martins and her husband Joe of Rochester; sister-in-law, Paris Worthington and her husband Kevin of Acushnet; sister-in-law, Jennifer Viera and her husband Kenny of Rochester; brother-in-law, Lawrence Plaud and his wife Lydia of Fall River; dear cousin, Lorry Barry Wolski and her husband Pete of Mattapoisett; along with many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Scott was predeceased by his beautiful sister Colleen Calise.
His wake will be held at Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals on Monday September 4th, 2023 from 2PM-7PM. His Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 5th, at 10AM at St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett. Please meet directly at church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, otherwise known as ASPCA www.aspca.org. Scott had a true love of animals, especially elephants, and would be so happy to know.
For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
On Saturday September 9 at 10:00 there will be a Butterfly Walk with the Marion Natural History Museum. Andrew Griffith of the Massachusetts Butterfly Association will be leading a walk at Nasketucket State Park in Mattapoisett. We will be looking for local butterflies and moths while examining their habitat requirements. Let’s have some fun looking for our late summer residents. We will be meeting at the park and please plan to wear appropriate clothing for walking through vegetation. Event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at www.marionmuseum.org.
On Friday September 29 at 3:30 pm the Afterschool Program with the Marion Natural History Museum will take a tour into the history of Marion’s Bird Island Lighthouse. Let’s learn a little about the history of the Bird Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse lamps were first lit in September 1819, and the structure has had quite a history since then. Its history includes multiple devastating storms, a ghost story involving the first lighthouse keeper and the long list of previous owners before the Town of Marion purchased the island in 1966. The lighthouse is maintained by the Marion Harbormaster’s office, who will be providing entrance to the structure and hosting the tour. Time is 3:30 to 4:30 and drop off and pickup will be at the Harbormaster’s office at Island Wharf. Sippican School children may request the museum’s staff to retrieve your child at 3:00 and walk them down the Island Wharf. Please register for this program at www.marionmuseum.org.
On Wednesday, September 13 at 3:00 pm, come listen to a presentation on mosquitos by Erin Morrill, Community Liaison for the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project. Learn about the life cycle of a mosquito, services provided by the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project to the Community, and using effective repellents along with eliminating stagnant water and disease risk.
The Savers Truck will be at Plumb Library on Friday, September 22 from 2:00-6:00 pm and Saturday, September 23 from 8:30-10:30 am to pick up donated clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, handbags and linens. Please use standard kitchen-size bags only. Every pound of items collected earns money for the Friends of Plumb Library.
The Friends of Plumb Library will be holding a 2-day book sale in the library’s program space downstairs on Friday, September 29 from 10:30 am-4:00 pm and Saturday, September 30 from 10:30 am-1:30 pm. We will accept donations for the sale starting the first week of September.
The scrambled word is back. A new word is available at the start of each week. Stop by each week in September to find the hidden little yellow school bus inside of the library. The bus will drive to a different hiding spot each Monday and park there for the week. Quietly tell a librarian where it is to win a small prize.
We will be closed Monday, September 4 for Labor Day. For more information, please follow us on Facebook, email us at info@plumblibrary.com, or call the library at 508-763-8600.
Henry Huttleston Rogers and Mark Twain were good friends and kindred spirits in many ways. They both were fond of theater, poker, billiards, practical jokes, the good-natured spoof, literature and architecture.
Mr. Rogers was a very successful American industrialist and financier. He made his fortune in the oil-refining business, becoming a leader at Standard Oil. He also played a major role in numerous corporations and business enterprises in the gas industry, railroads and copper.
When the United Memorial Church was being built in Fairhaven, Mr. Twain told Mr. Rogers, “This church will attract hundreds of sightseers. There ought to be a place they can stay.”
Mr. Rogers agreed and built the Elizabethan-style inn, just two blocks away from the church. While the inn was being built, the initials “T.I.” were carved in a stone shield over the entrance to the front door. After the inn was finished being built, Mr. Rogers reveled in what the mysterious letters meant. The new inn would be named “Tabitha Inn” in memory of his beloved, great-grandmother, Tabitha Crowell.
Unlike the grammar school, town hall, masonic building, Unitarian Memorial Church and other buildings, the Tabitha Inn was not a gift to the town. Instead, Mr. Rogers leased the building to Mrs. Catherine Price of Cambridge. She rented out the lovely rooms to tourists and Fairhaven teachers who came from out of town.
During World War II, the Navy took over the inn, and the Coast Guard trainees who were studying at New Bedford Vocational School were stationed there for two years. The Tabitha Inn was sold to the Catholic Church in 1944. The name was changed to Our Lady’s Haven, and it became a skilled nursing and rehabilitation home for the elderly.
I recently moved to Our Lady’s Haven. I enjoy eating in the beautiful dining room there that was used a long time ago for weddings, parties and ballroom-dancing classes for local teenagers. The stain-glass windows throughout the building are beautiful, especially in the chapel where I attend Mass every day.
I feel very blessed to be living there, as the staff are all wonderful and knowing I am living in a building that Mr. Twain and other notable friends of Mr. Rogers also stayed. Apparently, Mr. Twain favored a room in the front corner with a beautiful fireplace.
In my illustration of Mr. Twain and Mr. Rogers, I included Tom Sawyer as well. Although Mr. Twain was a successful author, he had great financial struggles. Mr. Rogers stood by Mr. Twain over the course of his career and gave him the financial assistance that he so desperately needed.
By George B. Emmons
What had been an arduous quest measuring progress in nickels and dimes has rather suddenly became reality for the Town of Marion, as member Bill Saltonstall reported to the Energy Management Committee on Monday night that the town has surpassed the state-prescribed goal of 20% in energy reduction.
“It sets us up for a somewhat more generous consideration for our requests for grant monies from Green Communities. … We couldn’t do it in a five-year period but appear to be there in the sixth year,” said Saltonstall, who traced the progress to approximately 24% reduction to the installation of heat pumps that replaced oil-burning furnaces in three municipal buildings this year.
Supply-chain problems blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed the delivery of those appliances in prior years.
“A lot of towns started the very first year of Green Communities (2008) and have yet to reach their 20%,” said EMC member Alanna Nelson.
The statewide initiative offers grant funding that incentivizes towns to upgrade municipal buildings, facilities and infrastructure primarily by going electric in lieu of fossil fuels.
Prior to this sixth-year rally in energy savings, Marion had plateaued at approximately 18% reduction. Saltonstall was the point person for research that, for instance, led to an upgrade in Marion’s streetlights to LED bulbs and a 49% cost savings. Overall, the town has cut its kilowatt-hour electricity consumption roughly in half, from 109,387 kWh when it joined Green Communities in 2017 to 55,514 kWh in 2023.
Saltonstall reported that Marion has reduced energy use in its municipal buildings by 29% and in open-space areas by 3%. Savings on electric vehicles reduced the amount of gasoline and diesel consumption by 29%. Water and sewer pump stations reduced energy consumption by 9%.
The EMC voted to distribute Saltonstall’s worksheet to the attending reporters at Monday’s public meeting at the Police Station.
Saltonstall was also happy to report that a Zoom meeting with EMC member Jennifer Francis, Town Administrator Geoff Gorman and the company PowerOptions yielded new information that with verification, “may make it easier for solar projects.”
Pending corroboration from Town Counsel, it seems the net-metering calculations that have held Marion back fall under a different program and do not need to be tallied up in the way the EMC had been. “We have a lot of questions about that, but it’s going to free us up to do a lot of projects in solar,” said Saltonstall.
Similarly, EMC member Tom Friedman has been corresponding with Green Skies Energy, a company that does municipal projects. Friedman was given the go-ahead to send Green Skies Energy Marion’s three proposed solar locations.
Likewise, the EMC determined by meeting’s end that it needs to decide which municipal building to target and recommend to Gorman that the town pursue it for a solar project.
“I think we have to do it in writing and start the ball rolling,” said Saltonstall, who will work with fellow Nelson and Francis on a draft letter to bring back to the committee’s next public meeting for approval.
As a parking-lot canopy, the Cushing Community Center is recognized as a relatively large solar project on the committee’s wish list, while the Police Station (roof panels) is considered the smallest.
“I don’t want to stuff this down their throat if they’re not interested. These canopies are high, the low point would permit trucks 14 or 15 feet high to drive through. They’re low structures,” said Saltonstall.
Citing the needs for the aged to avoid direct sunlight, especially for sustained periods of time, EMC member Eileen Marum recommended a solar canopy at Cushing. “Seniors participating in activities would be protected from the elements,” said Marum. “I think there are more advantages than disadvantages. … It keeps the place cooler.”
Saltonstall noted that the deteriorating parking lot outside the Cushing Community Center requires major renovation that could delay a solar-canopy construction for years.
The EMC is looking for a definitive conclusion to its efforts to put a solar project atop the landfill at the Benson Brook Transfer Station.
Nelson told the committee there will be a meeting next week with the Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC.) Nelson said, if negotiations with the currently interested developer fall apart, the project would go back out to bid. “It would be good to expedite that decision,” said Saltonstall. Nelson said she will tell CVEC that the EMC wants an expedient solution.
EMC Chairman Christian Ingerslev said that if the project is considered a problem, the committee should not throw out the idea but rather formulate a new proposal.
The EMC is researching solar scenarios at Sippican Elementary School and the proposed Harbormaster Department headquarters at Island Wharf, but Saltonstall’s latest look at the Marine Center plans left him pessimistic about a roof-solar project. He said he saw nothing in the plans about heating, air conditioning or solar.
“I just say we scrap that whole building and put a trailer there. When we get a hurricane, pull the trailer out,” said Marum.
The Marine Center plans call for renovation of the existing, grade-level bathrooms, but Saltonstall likes the idea of replacing the permanent structures with a portable system.
The next meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee is scheduled for Monday, September 25, at 6:00 pm at the Police Station.
Marion Energy Management Committee
By Mick Colageo
On Sunday, September 10 at 10 am, the Mattapoisett Congregational Church will once again host its “Welcome Home” event at Ned’s Point. Everyone in the Tri-Town area is invited to celebrate with us in worship followed by a BYO picnic lunch. Traditionally, representatives from the police and fire departments are recognized for their caring service to the people of Mattapoisett. Following worship at 10 am, there will be games for the children, registration for Sunday School, plus ice cream. There will be fun and fellowship for all. Contact the church office with any questions at 508-758-2671 or mattcongchurch@gmail.com.
On Friday, September 8, Sheryl Faye will masterfully bring to life the incredible and inspirational Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the meeting of the Sippican Woman’s Club at its clubhouse aka “The Tavern”, 152 Front Street, Marion at 12:30 pm. Since 2003 Sheryl Faye has developed over ten programs on individual historical women whose influence continues to inspire women today. The program is preceded by a luncheon, an opportunity to socialize and a brief business meeting. Sheryl’s program will begin at 1:30 pm.
During her lifetime Ruth Bader Ginsburg or RBG as she was known, out performed most men as a student, lawyer, jurist and was the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court. She advocated tirelessly to dismantle gender discrimination and advance women’s rights in US policies.
Guests and visitors are welcome to attend our meetings. Club membership is open to anyone whose interests are in the Town of Marion and is willing to fulfill membership requirements. With the exception of December, monthly meetings are normally held at 12:30 pm at our clubhouse on the 2nd Friday of the month – September through March. The annual fundraiser, the Holiday House Tour is held on the 2nd Saturday in December. This year the tour will be held Saturday, December 9. For additional information, please refer to our new website www.sippicanwomansclub.org