Pilings Hold up Pier Project

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            After engineer David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone, Inc., went through a list of changes previously requested by the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission for a Notice of Intent filing for proposed work at 89 Mattapoisett Neck Road, it was determined during Monday night’s public meeting that the case would be continued.

            It was noted that the town’s contract agent, Brandon Faneuf, had not had an opportunity to make a site visit, a necessary site review to ensure plans met requirements for the construction of a wharf over wetlands.

            The property is owned by A. Mueller Trust Declaration. The proposed pier would give the residents access to water from which a small boat with shallow draft could be launched. Details include 74 feet of fixed structure with an additional 28 feet for the gangway and float. Plans indicate the use of pressure-treated pilings, and that presented a problem for the commission’s newest member, David Nicolosi.

            When first presented to the commission during the June 26 meeting, Nicolosi broached the subject, saying he wasn’t in favor of pressure-treated lumber being used because the chemicals would eventually leach into the water. On this night, he revisited that concern.

            “It’s a pristine area,” said Nicolosi, referring to the shoreline and marine area. He said if the area were a marina or other seaside location already closed to shell fishing, his opinion might be different. He said there are environmentally safe materials that in his opinion, should be used. Commissioner Barry Lima agreed.

            Chairman Mike King turned to Davignon, who said he would discuss the matter with his client before returning for further review. The filing was continued to the commission’s July 24 meeting.

            Also continued until that date was a NOI filed by the Crescent Beach Improvement Association. Also represented the client on this application, Davignon said the organization was seeking permission to widen several beach-access streets composed primarily of bordering beach grass and sand, as well as perform some beach nourishment and seaweed removal.

            Davignon said the goal was to maintain the beach for area residents and provide improved emergency access to what amounted to pathways to the beach.

            Lima said, if approved, the activity should be conditioned so that maintenance equipment not be stored on the beach and that refueling not take place on the beach. The filing was continued to July 24 to allow for commissioners to make a site visit and review proposed staking of vegetated areas. Further comments from the Department of Environmental Protection are pending.

            A NOI filed by Caroline’s Way Trust, 1 Goodspeed Island Road, was conditioned for the repair of storm-damaged slope and organic seawall. There were no comments from the state Department of Environmental Protection, Davignon reported, as he represented this applicant as well. The project was approved with additional conditions of washed cobble stones, sand analysis to be performed, no machinery storage on the beach and no refueling on the beach.

            Also conditioned was a NOI filed by Andris Rieksts and Lisa Francis, 0 Park Place, for the construction of a single-family home.

            A Certificate of Compliance intended for Daniel Lee III and Tracey Lee, 42 Church Street, was considered invalid as work never commenced. This clears the way for the selling of the home.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Monday, July 24, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

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The Rev. Robert Malm, Interim Rector St. Peter’s on the Canal, Buzzards Bay, will conduct services Sunday, July 16 at 8 and 10 am at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 34 Water Street, Mattapoisett, next to the Town Beach. During its 139th summer season St. Philip’s invites clergy from near and far to conduct services each week using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. All are welcome.

Ruth Nicolaci

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With a life well lived, we announce the peaceful passing of Ruth Nicolaci on July 2, 2023, at her home with her family present.

            Born in Highland Park, NJ and raised in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late Rudolph and Alice (Hauske) Hiller, and the widow of John F. Nicolaci. She was educated at the Berkeley Institute in New York and Wheaton College in Norton, MA.

            Survivors include three children, Lisa Knowles Murray and her husband Chris of Middletown, RI, Brenda K. Hughes and her partner Roger Fortier of Somerset, and George B. Knowles IV and his wife Erin of Fairhaven; two stepchildren, Ann Nicolaci Labb and her partner Gary Dancosse of Manchester, CT and John Nicolaci, Jr. of Tampa, FL, seven grandchildren, Jessica Tiffany Hughes, Ryan Slater Hughes, George B. Knowles V, Emma Ruth Knowles, Amanda Phillips Murray, Eve Nicole Cleary and Mark Nicolas Labb; and three great-grandchildren, Kennedy, Nico and Delia.

            Over the years, Mrs. Nicolaci served as a director of the following organizations: the New Bedford Day Nursery for fifty years until her death, the Compass Bank (now Santander) for fifteen years, the New Bedford Chamber of Commerce, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Massachusetts Nurserymen’s Association and the Marion Garden Group. She was the plant lady on radio WBSM’s Plant Talk program for many years. She loved being with family, gardening, piloting their plane with her late husband, and playing tournament croquet with the Marion Mallet Club. She was involved in the horticultural field as part owner with her former husband of G. Bourne Knowles and Co., in Fairhaven.

            In lieu of flowers, please send a floral bouquet to someone you love or gift to the Hagerstown Aviation Museum, Hagerstown, Maryland in memory of John F. Nicolaci. A private family burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Marion. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Tick Talk

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            There is definitely an uptick in tick-borne illnesses this season.

            Tick-borne diseases, namely Lyme, Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis, can affect people of any age.  Please know to expect ticks here in Mattapoisett and in neighboring towns.

            Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas and on animals. When you and your pet spend time in wooded areas, whether it be camping, gardening, or simply playing in the backyard, you will likely be in close contact with ticks.

            How can we prevent being bitten by an infected tick?

            Know where to expect ticks. Ticks are known to live in shady, moist areas at ground level. They cling to tall grass, brush and shrubs, usually no more than 18-24 inches off the ground. They also live in lawns and gardens, especially at the edges of woods and around stonewalls. Ticks do not jump or fly and are not known to drop onto passing people or animals. Rather, ticks transfer to humans and animals by direct contact.

-Stay on clear, well-traveled trails.

-Avoid contact with tall grasses and vegetation.

-Wear light-colored clothing to spot ticks easily.

-Wear repellent with DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil.

-Check your pets and yourself daily following outdoor activities.

            If a tick gets on the skin, it generally climbs until it reaches a warm, protected area. Measures of prevention include:

-Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors and check again once indoors.

-Common areas to check for ticks when scanning your whole body is: under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist and on the hairline and scalp.

-Shower soon after returning indoors.

            If you find a tick on your skin, do not panic. Kids, tell your parents if you find a tick so that it can be properly removed.

-When removing the tick, do not squeeze, twist, or squash the tick.

-Use fine-point tweezers or a tick-removal tool.

-Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.

-Pull the tick straight out with steady, even pressure.

-Disinfect the bite area and wash your hands.

            If symptoms develop, contact your primary care physician as soon as possible. Early detection is key to a speedy recovery. For further information, go to www.mass.gov/tick-bornediseases. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the Mattapoisett Public Health Nursing Office at 508-758-4118.

By Emily Field, MSN, RN

Tree-Clearing Plan Key to Solar Proposal

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Rochester’s Planning Board Tuesday informally reviewed a plan to place a 2.39-megawatt, ground-mounted photovoltaic solar array on 12.55 acres of a 30.2-acre parcel on Cushman Road.

            Andrew Hamill, representing petitioner Blue Wave Solar dba/BWC Snows Pond LLC, said a site-plan-review application and Special Permit-review application will follow what he introduced as an informal discussion prior to submission of a formal proposal.

            Hamill said his engineering firm, Weston & Sampson, has already met with the local tech-review committee and made suggested changes to the plan, specifically breaks in a nearby stonewall for access to the back of the property. He noted that the array will be built 380 feet away from the nearest abutter on Jason’s Way and will be surrounded by a 7-foot-tall, vinyl, chain-link fence. He said the petitioner will soon file a Notice of Intent with the Conservation Commission and a Landscaping Plan.

            Planning Board members asked to see more details on the final plans, including tree clearing currently proposed. Board Chairman Arnold Johnson said he wanted to see fencing more clearly defined on the plan. Board member Ben Bailey said he wanted to know more about the project’s tree-clearing plan.

            Hamill agreed to comply in future, updated plans. “I’ll be happy to put some shaded trees where you want them,” he said.

            Elsewhere on Tuesday’s agenda, the board’s three public hearings ended quickly. The hearing on the special permit and site-plan-review application to develop a commercial building at 621 County Road to include Megan’s Organic Market, a recreational-marijuana retail facility, was continued until August 15 because the petitioners had failed to notify abutters by certified mail.

            “They will be notified they will have to go back and present all their information from the beginning,” said Town Planner Nancy Durfee. “It’s in the rules and regulations what they have to do.”

            “One hundred percent, they should have known better,” board member Chris Silveira said.

            The petitioners for a plan to locate a native tree and perennial nursery on 2.5 acres at 157 Vaughn Hill Road asked for and were granted an extension of their public hearing to September, as they have decided to hire an engineer to formally draft their plan.

            In other meetings with town boards, Tree Talk owners Jennifer and Charles Anderson have expressed wanting to simplify their business plan as much as possible and not spend too much money. As a result, the board had urged them to submit a more professionally detailed proposal.

            The board then approved a request from Mark and Ashley Briggs that their site-plan-review application to construct a building to be used to restore, detail and store collectible cars at 0 New Bedford Road be withdrawn “without prejudice.”

            The board also approved skipping its next (July 25) scheduled meeting. The board will meet on Tuesday, August 15, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Planning Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

July at Rochester Historical Society

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July 19 at 7:00, we will have music with Tom and Sheila Perry followed by our annual ice cream social. This will all take place at the Rochester Historical Museum located at 355 County Road.

            The first 2 drop-off dates for our August 5 & 6 yard sale are Friday, July 21 11:00-1:30 and Monday, July 24 10:30-1:00.

            Remember, we are requesting clean and unbroken items. No clothes, shoes, baby or large furniture and no electronics – TVs, computers etc. When dropping off items, please drive around the museum to the side door facing the cemetery. Any questions, call Connie 617 750 2818 or email eshbach2@aol.com or Sue 508 295 8908 or email sash48@comcast.net.

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club Scholarship

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The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is honored to announce that the 2022-23 Continuing Education Scholarship has been awarded to Rosemary Williams, a lifelong Mattapoisett resident.

            Rosemary holds a Bachelor degree in Music Theory from Berklee College of Music and is an early intervention Board Certified Music Therapist. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Social Work degree online at Simmons College. Her aim is to combine music therapy with social work to more effectively reach those in need. Rosemary is also the mother of three young children, ages 6, 5, and 4 months.

            Rosemary is grateful to her husband Whynton and her mother for helping her balance the many responsibilities in her life.

Marion Board of Health

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To the Editor;

            In response to comments made at the Board of Health meeting of June 15, 2023 I offer the following:

            Prior to 2000 the present retention pond area at Silvershell Beach was mostly unused public land which was developed into a stormwater retention system to capture and treat polluted runoff from Converse Road and its side streets. It was never proclaimed off limits to townspeople nor was it designated to be part of the public beach.

            Some years after the retention ponds were built, during the years 2016-1017, concern that the lack of frequent maintenance of encroaching vegetation would impact the system led to a community supported effort to rehabilitate the stormwater control feature.

            An informal plan was drawn by Davis Land Design, Inc. showing a frequently mowed & maintained area. The plan included a wide mowed walking path to keep the area from being overtaken by invasives. The plan also responded to calls by local dog owners who expressed a wish to have an alternative place to walk from May to October.  It showed 2 benches for those wishing to walk and rest as well as a trash barrel placed in the parking lot, reachable over the fence by dog owners to deposit waste bags (where the DPW could easily access it). This placement would make it simple for dog owners to pick up and dispose of waste without entering the beach parking lot.

            This plan was presented to a group of town members including Paul Dawson (the Town Manager), Sherm Briggs, Jody Dickerson, myself, and others where it was approved on condition of approval by the Conservation Commission and the Selectman. It was subsequently approved by all.

            The town cleared invasives, top dressed with compost, and reseeded. Benches were donated by local dog owners – Friends of the Pond Path. Jody placed a trash can within easy reach. Delivery and placement of the 2 new benches were facilitated with the help of Sherman & Alice Briggs.

            Local dog owners are aware that their dogs are not allowed at any time on the beach between May 1 & October 1 and are respectful of that bylaw.  While many towns allow access before 8 am and after 8pm we recognize that a robust recreational program at Silvershell informed the decision to prohibit all use in Marion during beach season.

            We applaud Dr. Howard’s suggestion of a waste bag dispenser. In fact, several years ago we provided and continue to stock one. We would welcome informational signage referencing the delicate nature of the area. Education around stormwater and our delicate ecosystems is critically important and should be presented whenever appropriate, as we do on other local public lands.

            There are at present 2 openings to the area, one at each end of the fence surrounding the currently well-maintained areas. These openings were created by DPW to facilitate their entry with large mowers. I can see how there might be some confusion about the best entry point for those who drive in to walk their dogs. I live close by so have always walked in at the North end of the path which means that I don’t have to enter the parking lot. Perhaps a sign clarifying how to enter or a designated spot for dog owners to park would solve that issue.

            I believe we can all agree that healthy ecosystems and abundant wildlife are part of what we love about this space. I feel confident that any and all dog owners would be heartily supportive of the bylaw – referenced penalties levied on any individual who might allow their dog to harass resident species.

            While we agree that presently the Board of Health has no jurisdiction in this matter, it goes without saying that clear detection of high percentages of dog-related waste in Sprague’s Cove would warrant further discussion.

            Respectfully submitted,

 Susannah Davis, Marion

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.

Alia’s Art Focuses on Growth

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One image displays brightly colored flowers at the bottom and a classic New England forest and American flag at the top.

            This painting is called “Cultivate” and is one of many meaningful paintings conducted by Old Rochester Regional High School rising senior Alia Cusolito.

            The image captures what it is like for a liberal-minded member of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Questioning community to grow up in Rochester, a conservative farm town. The title “Cultivate” represents the growth needed for a farm community to thrive, as well as the growth needed for a LGBTQ student to thrive in such a community.

            For the first time in recent memory, according to Mattapoisett Historical Society Museum members, the museum hosted an art exhibit from one local student.

            Cusolito says it started off as a contest in which museum directors called for paintings and other art during Pride Month. Cusolito did just that but also impressed members with art representing life as a small-town teen, as well as art capturing the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ community.

            Cusolito hosted an exhibit last Saturday and was busy chatting about art with members of the public.

            Some were paintings and some were collages. Almost all drew “oohs” and “ahs” from members of the public who were in and out on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

            A lover of all arts, including music, Cusolito’s work reflected some diverse interests, including one spontaneous jam session with a guitarist friend. Cusolito has been singing in chorus since elementary school and also plays the piano and banjo. The colorful painting of friend Jay captured the sheer joy of spontaneous music for teens.

            “It’s my friend group and my sense of community and joy with them,” Cusolito said. “I wanted to convey that.”

            Another painting captured what it is like for LGBTQ students to grow up in America today. Others tackled racism, climate change and standing up against violence. Some featured paintings, collage cut-outs from magazines and other media all in one.

            “I like having mixed media. It’s more of an interesting combination,” Cusolito said.

            In addition to art, Cusolito is also the copresident of the nonprofit Queer Youth Ensemble and has been an activist since early childhood.

            “Alia strongly believes that everyone can make a change in the world, and that we should all try to do so,” read a description under a photo of Cusolito at the exhibit.

            People walking by were inspired by the messages.

            Carole Clifford, a member of the museum’s Board of Directors, said earlier that weekend a walk was conducted and people were moved by Cusolito’s talent and depth.

            “It’s very timely,” Clifford said of those messages.

            “It’s very powerful,” Exhibits Committee member Missy Rogina said of Cusolito’s work. “Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but each piece has a powerful message.”

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

New Marine Resource Officer Introduced

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            Isaac Perry, Mattapoisett’s newly appointed Marine Resource Officer, was officially introduced to the town at the July 11 meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board.

            Doing the introductory honors was Police Chief Justin King, who said Perry came highly qualified, had been a police officer in the towns of Marion and Rochester, a shellfish officer in Dartmouth and a graduate of Mass Maritime Academy.

            Perry said that he was impressed by the work ethic of all town employees he has met thus far and how helpful everyone has been. He said he is learning the “pace of the harbor” and is excited to be in Mattapoisett. Perry is a resident of Rochester.

            The board took up the issue of dogs in Shipyard Park. Although there has been a local bylaw on the books for many years banning dogs from the historic park, it was agreed that new signage might help to drive home the point. However, the board also concluded that signs alone will not stop violators.

            Board members Jodi Bauer and Jordan Collyer harkened back to the days when a “matron” patrolled the town beach and Shipyard Park, ensuring that rules were being obeyed. “She was scary,” chuckled Bauer.

            But the issue is a serious one. The board agreed that enforcement of the bylaw is needed as well as new signage. Town Administrator Mike Lorenco will work with Perry and Animal Control to develop a plan for patrolling of the park.

            Presently, the fine for having one’s dog in a restricted area or not picking up after a dog is $10 but can reach as much as $500 for repeat offenders.

            Lorenco reported that a contract for the development of a new website would cost approximately $30,000, and an annual maintenance fee would be added. After some discussion, it was determined that a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be posted for website development, possibly adding features currently unavailable.

            They said that the online permitting feature that the town was supposed to have from the current provider of 17 years has never operated properly. After further discussion, the board decided to ask the public what features they would like to have available when using the town’s website. More to follow on this topic at next Select Board meeting.

            Mattapoisett’s public beaches were closed earlier in the day when water testing proved bacteria levels were high. Member Tyler Macallister said that heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding in other parts of the state are impacting local waters, “…up and down the coast.” Beaches have been closed, he said.

            Lorenco added that the town does not usually need to close its beaches, but heavy rains are the issue. Lorenco advised the public to check the town’s website and Facebook page for updated information. He said testing would continue Wednesday, July 12.

            Lorenco also reported that in about six weeks, VHB, the town’s engineering consultant for the Village Streets Improvement project, would be holding a public meeting to roll out the latest plan. He also said the town would be meeting with MassDOT to discuss the Route 6 corridor and possible changes to that heavily traveled state roadway.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not scheduled upon adjournment.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell