The Mattapoisett Police Annual Halloween Parade will take place Monday, October 31. Everyone taking part in the parade is asked to gather behind center school on Church Street starting at 5.30 pm. The parade will begin at 6.00 pm and end back at Center School. Weather permitting, the costume judging will take place in the rear of Center School on the basketball courts, starting at 6.45 pm.
The Mattapoisett Congregational Church’s annual holiday fair will be held on Saturday, December 3 from 10 am to 2 pm in Reynard Hall at 27 Church Street in Mattapoisett. This year’s event will include homemade frozen foods, baked treats, hand knitted items, Christmas/holiday decorations to include greenery for wreaths as well as jewelry, silent auction items, a kids table and the addition of a hot soup luncheon. All proceeds benefit the ministries of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. For additional information, please contact the church office at 508-758-2671 or mattcongchurch@gmail.com.
We are going to try to stay open through the fall from 1-3 on Sundays. It is best to check beforehand to make sure we’ll have someone at the museum. You can call Connie at 508 763 4932 or Sue at 508 295 8908 before noon on Sunday. We also will open by appointment which can be arranged calling the same numbers.
Three cases came to completion, resulting in favorable decisions by the Marion Conservation Commission during its October 12 public meeting.
Rick Charon from Charon Associates represented J. Patel, K.K. Brothers Corporation, in their Request for Determination of Applicability for the upgrade of a failed septic system at 664 Mill Street, described by Charon as a package store at the corner of Congress Road and Mill Street (Route 6.)
As Charon explained, the so-called “micro-fast” septic unit experienced mechanical failure, as did the pump chamber. The applicant dug up the leaching field, finding no problem, but mechanical components need replacement.
The existing septic system had not been maintained for a long time so the proposed plan is to replace the existing secondary unit, the pump and electronic controls, with a new Singulair brand 96N STU unit featuring denitrification technology. Just the chamber and leaching field would remain.
Commission Chairman Jeff Doubrava said members visited the site and asked about the town sewer line. Charon said Mill Street in that area only has septic. Charon said he is waiting on George Heufelder, the Cape Cod-based engineer who reviews all Marion septic applications. Charon told the commission he sees no possibility that Heufelder would require replacement of the leaching field, which is “working fine.”
ConCom members Emil Assing and Shaun Walsh voiced their support for the proposal, but Walsh joined Doubrava in his utter surprise so close to the Wastewater Treatment Plant that there is no access there to town sewer.
Charon said that even if tying into sewer were possible, digging into state-controlled Route 6 would be very difficult. Converse Road, he said, would be another matter.
After the public hearing was closed, ConCom member Ethan Gerber motioned a Negative Box 3 Determination because the alterations to the area would be minimal, and the wetlands would not be affected by the activity. The commissioners voted unanimously to green-light the project as presented by Charon.
In a continued public hearing, Deb Ewing once again represented The Cove in Marion Trust in its Notice of Intent to conduct proposed maintenance of vegetation at Jenney Lane.
Doubrava summarized the continuance on the basis of a concern with having a member of the town signing the NOI as the owner. He said Town Counsel Jon Witten advised him that he could sign the NOI on behalf of the commission.
Ewing reported that the day before the meeting, the Cove members deposited 17 more turtle babies. “We put them in the wetlands area, so that’s not an area we want to mow,” she said.
Per the motion outlined by Walsh, the commissioners voted an Order of Conditions for the proposed maintenance of vegetation with the exception of the proposed mowing of 3,094 square feet of bordering vegetated wetlands.
“I just don’t see the necessity for it,” said Walsh, referencing his study of box-turtle habitat. Buffer-zone mowing was covered in Walsh’s proposed motion for approval.
Mariano and Leah Garcia-Blanco filed a Notice of Intent for demolition and various site improvements to an existing residential house lot at 18 Sippican Lane.
Represented the applicants, Brian Grady of G.A.F. Engineering told the commission that an ANRAD had been filed on the property several months ago that confirmed all the resource areas on the site.
The Blancos proposed a 920 square-foot addition to the existing house, a detached garage to the rear, along with reconstruction of an existing tennis court to make it slightly smaller and relocation of a bulkhead to the opposite side of the house. A fountain and benches will be removed and an existing septic tank and pump chamber will be replaced. The new septic system will feature denitrification technology.
The construction, said Grady, will fall below the 10% threshold for riverfront activities.
Based on his site visit, Assing said the applicants seemed to try to keep as much work as possible out of the riverfront area and recommended the commission vote to issue an Order of Conditions with prevention of pollution and protection of wildlife habitat. The vote was unanimous.
Asked for comments to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding an application filed by Martha Collins-Gray and Robert Gray regarding an ongoing Order of Conditions at 114 Front Street, the commissioners agreed that a Request for Determination of Applicability filing is in order.
The commissioners also voted to accept the Restoration Plan proposed at 122 Register Road.
The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26, at 7:00 pm.
Marion Conservation Commission
By Mick Colageo
For over a year, the Marion Affordable Housing Trust has been editing the Housing Production Plan for the community. In partnership with the Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD), the plan will stand as a roadmap to aid those seeking affordable housing options in Marion.
On October 11, Tobey Ast, Norm Hills, Nancy McFadden and Chairperson Terri Santos met to finalize edits to the production document.
With the 120-unit, Heron Cove 40B housing project on the horizon, the Town of Marion, Santos noted, will reach 11-percent of all housing stock as being “affordable,” a number slightly above the state’s suggested 10 percent.
But that doesn’t mean the work stops for this committee.
Santos said that of their stated goals for rental and real estate, down-payment assistance plays a part in the overall housing scheme.
Also noted was the importance of continuing the pursuit of affordable units, given that agreements between the town and developer or unit owners oftentimes have a finite “dropout” date, the date when the unit is no longer required to remain affordable.
Santos mentioned that the Heron Cove units may list for approximately $116,065. She also commented that “any affordable units” are good units.
Another area of interest for the committee is finding ways to modify or change zoning requirements so that units not currently qualified become qualifiable. Santos suggested that accessory structures, primarily family-related additions, become convertible to affordable rental units. Hills commented that this proposal has been brought before Town Meeting in the past but was not proven acceptable to the voters.
Another area being reviewed is the possibility of development on town-owned parcels. However, Hills stated such lands are primarily deeded to open space.
The next meeting of the Marion Affordable Housing Trust is scheduled for Monday, November 2, at 6:00 pm.
Marion Affordable Housing Trust
By Marilou Newell
Join the Mattapoisett Land Trust for a chance to tune into nature, destress and tap into a state of mindfulness. We are lucky to have Carly Baumann, a local professional with training and certifications in Yoga, Yoga Nidra and meditation lead this experience for us all. Carly will lead participants in a practice of mindfulness with moments of silent exploration and group sharing while walking through nature.
On Sunday, October 30, we will meet at the MLT kiosk at the end of Bowman Road, just off of Aucoot Road, starting at 10:00 am. The walk will conclude at 11:00 am. This walk will happen rain or shine, so wear appropriate outdoor footwear and clothing. This is a free event and all are welcome. Come with an open mind and curiosity.
Kenneth W. Stickney, 96, of Mattapoisett, died peacefully on Thursday, October 20, 2022. He was the husband of Olive M. (Anderson) Stickney.
Born in Milford, MA raised in West Roxbury, son of the late Lloyd and Marion (Wheelock) Stickney, he lived in Fairhaven before moving to Mattapoisett in 1957.
Kenneth worked as Chief Chemist for Fibre Leather Manufacturing for 43 years before retirement. He received the Keel Award, Zeimetz Award, a plaque from the Board of Selectmen, for 30 years of community service. He sang in the Wanderers, the Mattapoisett Congregational Church Choir, and the Sippican Choral Society. He volunteered for the New Bedford Soup Kitchen for many years. He enjoyed bowling in the league at Bowlmor where the Standard-Times featured him in 2 articles. He was the secretary treasurer for the MIT alumni club.
Kenneth served proudly in the U.S. Army during WWII.
Survivors include his wife Olive; and his children, Dana P. Stickney of Mattapoisett and Jill D. Stickney of Wolfeboro, NH.
His Memorial Service will be held on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 2 pm in the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, 27 Church St., Mattapoisett. His burial will take place privately at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Market Ministries New Bedford.
River Road abutters voiced their concerns over a proposed, two-lot subdivision located off Wareham Road adjacent to River Road when the Marion Planning Board met with Bob Rogers of G.A.F. Engineering on Monday night.
Rogers, representing Danielle Realty Trust, detailed the drainage plan and pointed out that a nearly identical project had been planned in November 2012 after receiving conditions and waivers. That project never advanced beyond the planning stage, Rogers noted. Now armed with updated drainage plans, proposals were back on the drawing table.
Rogers said that the basic, two-lot subdivision would now be connected to the municipal drainage system that the town installed in 2012. He said the project was pending new percolation testing being asked for by the Board of Health but that the original plan, other than stormwater drainage, was primarily the same.
A cul-de-sac that will provide the necessary frontage for the residential lots was discussed. Rogers told the board that a letter to the Fire Department had been sent with no comments received to date.
The roadway is planned to be 18-feet wide with two, 9-foot travel lanes. Planning Board member Andrew Daniel said that the requirement was for a total of 20 feet. Rogers responded that when a berm and swale were added to the 18-foot width proposed, the total exceeded 20 feet. He said there would be sufficient room for fire apparatus to maneuver.
Addressing questions from the board regarding the stormwater drainage plans, Rogers said, “There are seven catch basins along the 250-foot road.” He also reminded the members that the road would remain a private way.
When public comment was invited, several neighbors in the River Road area expressed their long-held concerns, centering primarily on stormwater potential to flood their established holdings.
Jack Beck, 17 River Road, said that in the past, heavy rainfall unchecked created deep ruts in his driveway. Eric Bart, 24 River Road, said that his basement is regularly flooded and that the removal of trees to create the lots will further add to the problems associated with runoff.
Rogers responded, “We have put extra effort into the design,” but that there may be a “couple of months” when the site is unstable that may be problematic. If weather comes into play, “…there may be sediment transfer,” he said. But Rogers also assured all that erosion controls would be in place.
Also voicing similar concerns were Jeremy Hutton, 67 Wareham Road, and board member Chris Collings, who was speaking as a private citizen.
The hearing was continued to Monday, November 21, at 7:05 pm.
The board voted unanimously to make official its acceptance of the revision to Section 300-2.1 through 300-6.1 of Marion’s Subdivision Rules and Regulations as presented at the board’s last meeting. The revision ditched the previously proposed use of a Hybrid-Y dead-end-road design and instead will allow the use of an expanded-width cul-de-sac or hammerhead, the required dimensions of which accompany diagrams that are now included in those Rules and Regulations.
As he had in the board’s last public meeting, local developer Sherman Briggs readdressed the matter of the Marion Village Overlay District, questioning the role of the Codification Committee as author of the document rather than the Planning Board.
Board Chairman Norm Hills once again explained that the Codification Committee is a subcommittee of the Planning Board. Daniel and fellow Planning Board member Jon Henry agreed that the Planning Board should author the document, but Planning Board members are not allowed per state Open Meeting Law to attend a Codification Committee meeting without turning it into a public meeting of the Planning Board requiring posting. Hills said that after the next meeting of the Codification Committee, he would bring the document to the Planning Board for its scrutiny.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, November 7, at 7:00 pm.
Marion Planning Board
By Marilou Newell
“I just decided that I would like to be a person who has read all of Shakespeare’s plays and that was going to be my New Year’s resolution.” Elizabeth Sylvia, Mattapoisett resident and published poet, explained the impetus behind her work.
Working as an English teacher meant she had more than a passing familiarity with the Bard of Avon, but she wanted to dig into his works, “completionist” style. Two years of work later, she has published her first book of poems titled “None but Witches,” itself a line from the play, “A Comedy of Errors.”
“There wasn’t (initially) any writing component to that resolution, but once I started reading the plays …” recalled Sylvia.
The first poem she was inspired to write came while reading “Titus Andronicus,” one of Shakespeare’s bloodier tragedies.
“It’s about the corrosive nature of vengeance and about how good it feels when you’re thinking about revenge but how bad it really is for you in the end. How you destroy the things you love,” explained Sylvia.
Vengeance is certainly a powerful notion and one worth putting pen to paper for. But as Sylvia continued through Shakespeare’s works, the urge to write only grew. Finally, after realizing she had 28 poems from the catalog already, she decided to go all in.
“It morphed into a writing project because I was so … not even necessarily inspired. Sometimes I was inspired, but other times I was actually kind of irritated or frustrated or angry with the situations Shakespeare created, especially for a lot of his female characters.”
Overall, Sylvia wanted to pay more attention to the women in Shakespeare’s plays, whether that be the popularly mourned figures like Juliet and Ophelia, those strong-willed and outspoken types like Beatrice or the outright schemers like Lady Macbeth. When it comes to her style, Sylvia noted that while she was inspired by Shakespeare’s works, she didn’t want to try to sound like him.
“A lot of the poems inhabit… not a world of Shakespeare, but a contemporary world that’s influenced by the things I read,” Sylvia said. “Some of the poems are about my own experience, some of them are more ideas driven, some of them are really about the plays. So there’s really a range there.”
Using her own voice and style meant eschewing iambic pentameter. “I deliberately said when I was working on this project that I was not going to write any sonnets… because I know that I can’t write Shakespeare better than Shakespeare could write himself. But I don’t think any writer could spend two years reading Shakespeare, who was so inventive with language and so complex with language and so free to move the pieces of language around without being influenced by that kind of… diversity and seniority of language.”
Still, when it comes to the Bard, she was emphatic that his works were for everyone.
“If you want to read Shakespeare, I would say just do it,” said Sylvia. “And especially since the pandemic, there have been some fantastic kind of… mostly audio with a little bit of video presentations on YouTube, where wonderful stage actors have staged sort of ‘Zoom Shakespeares.’ So if you don’t want to read, be a listener.”
Much like poetry, hearing Shakespeare perform rather than reading it off the page can be an entirely new experience, bringing depth to words a reader might otherwise have glanced over.
“I think the misconception of Shakespeare is that you have to be really smart to enjoy Shakespeare,” said Sylvia. “Shakespeare, especially when performed, was by intention made to appeal to a wide variety of audiences. And sometimes that is fat jokes and sexual innuendos and ridiculous things happening.”
Some of his fat jokes were in fact the inspiration for one of her poems called “Nell’s Own.”
“I think (“Nell’s Own” is) one of my favorites, and it’s been a crowd favorite too,” she said.
The eponymous Nell is a character from “A Comedy of Errors.” She never actually appears on stage; instead, her appearance is described as a source of mockery. “Basically, there’s almost two entire pages of the play in which two characters laugh about how fat she is,” said Sylvia. Unsatisfied with Shakespeare’s attempt at getting a cheap laugh, Sylvia took a crack at reclaiming the narrative.
“I wrote a poem from her perspective… turning all that mockery around into a source of power.”
The offhanded body shaming isn’t the only critique she levels against the full folio.
“Shakespeare was a product of his time,” she noted, for better or for worse. “As much as he transcended his time, which I think he also did, I think the idea of personal will, especially when it came to young women, was not something that he espoused.”
Certainly, social attitudes have changed since Shakespeare’s time, though many of his works and characters continue to be thematically relevant and emotionally relatable.
For Sylvia, the character closest to her heart is Audrey, a simple goatherd from “As You Like It.” While much of the play is about nobility fleeing their riches to live in the woods, Audrey regards her farm life as something to escape from. When the opportunity presents itself, Audrey marries the royal clown – yes, clown – without hesitation, moving into the ranks of minor nobility and leaving behind her role as a goatherd.
“I always think of her as a character Shakespeare would have written for people like him, who moved to London from the countryside and were really excited to be… exposed to all of these experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise have had,” Sylvia explained.
Small-town life might be charming in our current digital age, but back before indoor plumbing one could understand the appeal of a metropolitan lifestyle.
When asked what other characters struck a particular chord with her, she named various mothers from Shakespeare’s early historical plays due to their repeated and inevitable loss.
“(They’re) trying to ensure the safety of their children in a world where everything is so much out of their control,” she explained, noting that if there was a mother present, one or more of her children were bound to come to a grisly end, and how that impacted her. “I think when you’re a mom you feel that way. Like you want everything to go right for your kids and you just… like there are so many things that you don’t have any power over.
“My kids are not in any danger of being beheaded, but I think that feeling of ‘How can I keep them safe when I just don’t have the power to be able to do that?’ is something that any mom can connect to.”
Sylvia’s connection occurred at the same time as the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexican border. The televised mourning of mothers trying to find their children, she felt, was reflected in the stories she now read, further deepening the emotion she found in them, something she attempted to capture in her anthology.
Those interested in hearing more of Sylvia’s work can attend the reading at the Mattapoisett Public Library on Saturday, October 22, at 2:00 pm. Author Wendy Drexler will also be reading poems from her work “Notes from the Column of Memory,” which should please fans of sonnets, as it contains several around the central themes of time, family and memory.
In closing, Sylvia offered this bit of simple advice to aspiring bards.
“If you want to write poetry, then I would say write poetry.” She also mentioned her own poetry group, which she cited as a huge source of support and encouragement through her writing process. “I think the number-one thing people interested in writing poetry should do is find other people to write with.”
By Jack MC Staier
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 Marion General Store, Pen & Pendulum in Mattapoisett and Friends’ Marketplace in Rochester and also at the door. Students & Senior Citizens $12.00, General Admission $15.00.
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.”