The MAC Theater Announces Auditions for August Play

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The Marion Art Center Theater announces open auditions for the upcoming production of Rabbit Hole written by David Lindsay-Abaire. Synopsis: Becca and Howie Corbett have everything a family could want, until a life-shattering accident turns their world upside down and leaves the couple drifting perilously apart. “Rabbit Hole” charts their bittersweet search for comfort in the darkest of places and for a path that will lead them back into the light of day.

            Director Kate Fishman will be casting five roles: one male and one female able to play late thirties/early forties, one female able to play early thirties, one female able to play mid-sixties and one male able to play a seventeen-year old boy. Character descriptions and more information can be found at marionartcenter.org/auditions.

            Auditions will be held at the Marion Art Center on Saturday, May 21 from 1:00 pm-3:00pm and on Sunday, May 22 from 1:00-3:00pm. The MAC is located at 80 Pleasant Street in Marion. Only fully vaccinated actors will be considered for roles. Please wear a mask to auditions. Performance dates are scheduled August 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28.

Dear R.M.S. PTO

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Dear R.M.S. PTO,

            Just a little thank you for your generosity during Teacher Appreciation Week and throughout the year!

It all began on Monday,

With some lovely breakfast eats.

Casseroles of cheesy tater tots,

And other tasty treats.

Next came yummy popcorn day,

List of flavors was so long.

Cinnamon toast crunch and strawberry cream,

You really couldn’t go wrong.

Italian day was Wednesday,

Pans filled with cheese and sauce.

Garlic bread overflowing.

And salads we could toss.

Thursday brought healthy choices,

Of yogurt, granola and trail mix.

With bowls made out of waffle cones,

A healthy snack we did fix.

Topping it off on Friday,

With a delicious sundae bar.

Complete with all the fixings,

From cookies to candy bars.

We can’t begin to thank you,

For showering us with these treats.

And for all the ways you show you care,

Your kindness can’t be beat.

            Gratefully yours,

Rochester Memorial Staff

(K. Mathieu)

Michael W. DiCroce

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Michael W. DiCroce, 73, of Rochester, died May 9, 2022 at Tobey Hospital, Wareham. He was the husband of Linda E. (Tousignant) DiCroce.  They were married for 51 years. He was the son of the late William and Shirley (Stubbs) DiCroce.

He was born in Brockton and live in Rochester for 18 years.  He graduated from Cardinal Spellman High School and attended Curry College.

Mr. DiCroce worked as an assistant store manager for Victory Grocery Store in Kingston for many years before retiring in 2004.

He enjoyed gardening, trains, Civil War and Revolutionary War history, talk radio and he was a fan of the Boston Red Sox.  He loved his family especially his grandchildren.  He was a faithful man.

Survivors include his wife, Linda E. (Tousignant) DiCroce of Rochester; a daughter, Marianne Martinkus and her husband Roger of Hanscom Air Force Base; a son, Michael W. DiCroce, Jr. of Rochester; a brother, William DiCroce of Falmouth; a sister, Anne D’Urso of Chatham; his grandchildren, Lucia, Lukus and Victoria Martinkus; several nephews.

Visiting hours are from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at Chapman Funerals & Cremations – WAREHAM, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham.

His funeral will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 16, 2022 from the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima, 282 Vaughan Hill Rd, Rochester.  Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Middleboro. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, visit: www.chapmanfuneral.com.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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I’m sure as you look at the picture that accompanies this article, you’re thinking, “Ok, what is that?” It looks somewhat like a cross between stilts for a one-legged man and the world’s biggest chopstick. Actually, this is a tool which is in the current exhibit at our museum at 355 County Rd. These calipers were commonly used in Rochester in the days of the many active sawmills.

            If you look at the caliper, you see that it’s comprised of a long, straight arm with two shorter ones that are perpendicular to it, and a closer look shows numbers and lines. The inner perpendicular arm has the numbers 8, 10, 12, 14 spaced along it. The longer piece has many numbers and lines on it much like a yardstick. The two perpendicular arms slide up and back on this longer piece.

            In one of the Rochester journals, Florence Snell Taylor, remembering her childhood, talked about her father, Herbert Snell. He made a living as a conductor on the trolley line, but also cut hair, was a carpenter, built houses and made calipers. His daughter, aged 7 or 8, helped by painting the numbers on the calipers before her father shellacked them.

            Rick Hall remembers finding one of these at a yard sale. It was homemade with scratched in numbers. Unsure what it was, but intrigued by it, he paid $2.00. Later, he passed it on to George Church who explained its use and who had always wanted to own one. The calipers were used out in the woods by sawmill companies. Acting much like a slide rule, they measured the amount of board feet in a tree.

            I found the calipers that are in our exhibit hanging on the wall in the front foyer of the museum. I put them out with the other tools, hoping someone would tell me what they were and their purpose and someone (Rick Hall) did. Once again, it was brought to home to me how our Rochester history doesn’t reside just in the pictures, objects and papers that we collect and protect, but also in the memories of our members and other Rochester residents.

            While the museum is not currently open on Sundays, anyone who wishes to view the current exhibit can do so by getting in touch with Connie Eshbach 508-763-4932 or Sue LaFleur  508-295-8908. We hope to see people at our next meeting on May 18 where the program Stories in the Stone will be presented by Jeff Stevens at 7:00 pm.

By Connie Eshbach

ORCTV 2022 Annual Meeting

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Old Rochester Community Television will hold its annual meeting on Monday, June 6 at 5:00pm at the ORCTV Studio located at 135 Marion Rd., Mattapoisett. This meeting will include the election of members to the organization’s Board of Directors.

            2022 Board of Director’s Nomination Slate

Marion Nominee – Bill Tilden – 2 yr. term

Rochester Nominee – Erin Bednarczyk – 2 yr. term

Mattapoisett Nominee – Tim Smith – 2 yr. term

Membership Seat – Nancy Sparklin – 1 yr. term

Septic Repair Comes with Cost

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            A vote of approval by the Marion Conservation Commission on April 27 was a hollow victory for Omegon Nominee Trust in a Negative Determination of Applicability to upgrade two, existing, failed cesspools to Title 5 compliance with the installation of a 1,500-gallon concrete septic tank and chamber leaching area at 28 Landing Road.

            Commissioner Jeff Doubrava questioned the necessity of the denitrification system since there is no change in ownership.

            Referring to the Board of Health septic bylaw, project representative Dave Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone, Inc. told Doubrava that while he agreed with the way Doubrava read the bylaw, he has since been denied such a variance in the vetting of an unrelated septic upgrade.

            “They won’t grant you a waiver, even if it’s for a repair,” said Davignon, in whose estimation the denitrification system will require an additional $7,000 plus maintenance costs.

            The three-bedroom house is, according to Davignon, an older home with an older septic system that has experienced a hydraulic failure. “The owner is looking to get this taken care of as soon as possible,” he said.

            Commissioners visited the site on April 23.

            Proposed is a Title 5 system with a 1,500-gallon tank, a fast system, a denitrification system and a new leaching field. Davignon said the project will require repouring the base of the patio.

            “We’ve done the best we can. If we do test pits further up the hill, we’re going to get the same result,” said Davignon, noting the cost of the project.

            Mathew Shultz was voted an Order of Conditions for his Notice of Intent to install a 38×16-foot swimming pool, patio area, associated fence and landscaped areas as well as an addition/expansion on the deck with a new landing at 459 Point Road.

            A site visit was held on April 23, noting that the work is in the buffer zone but will not be any closer than 50 feet from the resource areas.

            Representative Chris Merrill of Merrill Engineers summarized the work planned around the single-family house presently on the lot. He said a silt sock will be installed to protect the resource areas until the work is finished. He also pointed out on his site plan the various wetland markers and a cedar fence that will surround the project.

            Commissioner Jeff Doubrava examined the potential of pool drainage toward the perennial stream. Walsh agreed there should be an ongoing condition that the pool drainage be controlled away from the perennial stream.

            Conservation Agent Doug Guey-Lee visited the site in advance of the April 27 meeting and reported compliance with Marion regulations.

            Commissioner Emil Assing recommended the members vote for conditions to request the owner maintain a minimum of 20 feet of additional siltation fencing or 10 hay bales on site and avoid draining the pool toward the perennial stream.

            Jonathan and Jill Castle were voted an Order of Conditions for their Notice of Intent to raze an existing garage and shed and construct additions to a single-family home with a connector to a new garage with associated site work including a new driveway and parking areas, new site drainage and the addition of 1 to 4 feet of fill at 406 Point Road.

            Walsh said the hearing was continued to have the landscape architect submit the landscape plan and also have representative Rick Charron note on his engineering plans for the hardscape. Charron noted that the applicant is also seeking a variance from the Board of Health from setback requirements.

            Special conditions were made relative to erosion control and stormwater runoff. All conditions under roads were eliminated.

            In other business, the commissioners discussed authorizing agents to sign on behalf of commissioners after votes. Doubrava said, years ago, the commissioners each signed a document subject to their review. “Now we sign a blank check,” he said. “I’m not trying to assert anything,” but Doubrava said checks and balances are already not what they once were, and the measure would further erode that sense of assurance. The Conservation Commission is awaiting a response from Town Counsel on the matter.

            The commission voted to issue a Certificate of Compliance for the Marion Department of Public Works for drainage-swale work done at 102 Front Street.

            John and Pamela Lees requested a continuance on their Notice of Intent for the reconstruction of a single-family house, including an inground swimming pool along with repair of a seawall, at 49 Water Street. The commission voted to continue the public hearing to May 11 at 7:00 pm.

            The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, at 7:00 pm.

Marion Conservation Commission

By Mick Colageo

Conrad “Slim” Omer Bernier

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Conrad “Slim” Omer Bernier, 90, of Rochester, passed away on Sunday May 1, 2022. He was the spouse of the late Anita (Babineau) Bernier, son of the late Omer Bernier and Aurea Poirier, and brother of the late John Bernier and Louis Bernier. Slim was born in Acushnet and lived all his life in the South Coast area.

            Slim was a veteran of the United States Army where he trained military working dogs at Fort Carson, Colorado. After completing his military duties, Slim returned to the area, married, and found work with New England Telephone. He remained with the Telephone Company his entire career.

            Among his many friends, Slim is perhaps best remembered for his avocations. He was a volunteer fireman for over 70 years, starting at age 12 as a junior member of the Acushnet Fire Department. When he moved to Rochester in the early 1960’s, he joined the Fire Department there. He remained a member for decades.  is 50th anniversary with the Rochester Fire Department was marked with the presentation of a gold-plated, fire axe.

            Slim had a passion for blacksmithing. He introduced many to the historic craft by demonstrating metalworking techniques at local festivals and by founding the blacksmithing program at the Freetown Historical Society. Slim will also be remembered as a presence at the New Bedford Airport where he taught ground school to aspiring pilots. He led a boy scout troop and coached youth hockey, a sport he learned when he attended Mount Saint Charles.

            More recently Slim made the Rochester Council on Aging a priority. He loved the comradery of the weekday breakfasts. He appreciated the French Club and the variety of services offered to seniors. More importantly to Slim, staying active in the C.O.A. honored his late wife, Anita who had been active in bringing the Council to Rochester.

            Survivors include his five children: Judith Brandau (Jeffrey) of Sneads Ferry, NC; John Bernier (Lynne) of Rochester, MA; Janet Cote (Rick) of Tampa, FL; Edward Bernier (Karen) of Stuttgart, Germany; and Steven Bernier (Julie) of Tampa, FL; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Claude Bernier of Glendale, Arizona and a sister, Diane Whitehouse of Denver, Colorado.

            Visitation will be Friday morning 8:00 am to 9:00 am at Rock Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint Rose of Lima Church in Rochester at 10:00 am. Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Bedford.

            While it is true Slim always had a list of five chores written on the back of envelopes for his kids to do after school, the family is limiting his final list to three items. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Slim’s memory to any of the following organizations:

1. The Rochester Fire Fighter Association, Attn: Memorial Fund, In Memory of Slim Bernier, 10 Neck Rd, Rochester MA 02770

2. The Freetown Historical Society, Attn: Memorial Fund, In Memory of Slim Bernier, PO Box 251, Assonet, MA 02702

3. Rochester Council on Aging, Attn: Eric Poulin, Director, In Memory of Slim Bernier, 67 Dexter Lane, Rochester, MA 02770

ORRHS Term 3 Honor Roll

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            The following students have achieved honors for the third term at Old Rochester Regional High School:

                  Highest Honors, Grade 9; Teresa Adams, Clara Bonney, Nolan Bushnell, Erin Cardinal, Delaney Chase, Gianna DeLeo, Hailee Ducharme, Eden Dupre, David Fredette, Dillon Furtado, Zachary Gates, Mallory Henesey, Aiden Levasseur, Katherine McIlmail, Zoe Pateakos, Scarlet Patnaude, Alaina Redsicker, Kaya Savaria, Scarlett Sylvia, Aubrey Sylvia-Everett, Ezra Thompson, Cassandra Tseki, Emily Wyman, Grade 10; Emily Abbott, Ella Caesar, Julia Crain, Alia Cusolito, Cole Goldie, Jacob Hadley, Aubrey Heise, Macy Ingham, Theo Jacobsen, Lily Johnson, Matthew Kennefick, Sara Kroll, Megan McFadyen, Ava McLeod, Jonathan Nguyen, Rada Nuchthongmuang, Cattarinha Nunes, Brenna O’Donnell, Andrew Porter, Alice Prefontaine, Marcus Robichaud, Kamryn Rodrigues, Gabriella Romig, Mariana Sudofsky, Jackson Veugen, Allison Winters, Grade 11; Rudy Arsenault, Maura Bailey, Sylvie Benson, Reese Burger, Theodore Carroll, David Costa, Paige Fuller, Liam Geraghty, Mason Hanks, Myles Lopes, William McIlmail, Alexander Nguyen, Quinn O’Brien-Nichols, Markus Pierre, Andrew Poulin, Lauren Rapoza, Norah Schiappa, Mariah Taylor, Arianna Vinagre, Emma Welter, Samuel Williamson, Sarah Wyman, Grade 12; Nathaniel Bangs, Matthew Curry, Thomas Galavotti, Edward Gonet, Samuel Harris, Harry Hunt, Isabella Hunt, Amelia Joseph, Amaya McLeod, Lucas Mello, Ariana Miranda, Stephen Old, Ethan Perez-Dormitzer, Michael Petrone, Emma Thayer

                  High Honors, Grade 9; Ella Bartholomew, Kelsi Chick, Sarah Curry, Hannah Eaton, Emerson Gonet, Logan Hart-Bonville, Aubrie Letourneau, Logan Maher, Zack Mourao, Heer Patel, Alexander Pither, Christina Shultz, Molly Sisson, Grade 10; Chloe Bean, Hunter Bishop, Murray Callahan, Sara Costa, Amber Engel, Elizabeth Harrington, Marina Martins, Emilia Perriera, Madelyn Pham, Kelly Quinlan, Allison Root, Paetyn Tripp, Arielle Troupe, Braden Yeomans, Grade 11; Failenn Fitzpatrick, Sawyer Fox, Jack Hebert, Sakurako Huynh-Aoyama, Sofia Irish, Jillian LeBlanc, Alexander Marsden, Jacksen Martin, Landon Maxwell, Aidan O’Donnell, Corinne Robert, Kira Sarkarati, Ella Shultz, Grade 12; Sally Butler, Anthony Calderone, Anna Dube, Jillian Ferreira, Jenna Gamache, Colby Gross, Lila Hall, Lauren Higgins, Jillian Martin, Sofia Martins, Ethan McElroy, Lucas McElroy, Steven Morrell, Elijah Motta, Emily Murphy, Olivia Mydlack, Marc Pothier, Charles Richards, Ethan Scully, Gabrielle Theodore, Maxwell Tucker, Klara Whalley, Jennifer Williams

                  Honors, Grade 9; Wesner Archelus, Patrick Burke, Keith Cavanaugh, Braeden Christopher, Alden Cole-Vieira, Aidan Costa, Jake Dellas, Lyra Demendonca, Luke DeVoe, Aidan Eagle, Elizabeth Feeney, Mia Figueiredo, Katelyn Fisher, William Fringuelli, Jack Gallagher, Connor Galligan, Elizabeth Houdelette, Jack Langlais, Peter le Gassick, Jenna Lynch, Gavin Martin, Madison McClendon, Danikka Myers, Jayden Pedro, Bailey Pelland, Varunyu Phimolmas, Gabriela Pinhancos, Audrey Pither, Brady Reardon, Matthew Rock, Emmalyn Skokowski, Miranda Solomon, Cameron Van Ness, Tessa Winslow, Grade 10; Chase Besancon, Sofia Bouley, Jorge Carrillo, Eloise Casi, Elisa Castro-Colaj, Mackenzye Caton, Theodore Cecil, Tyler Chick, Henry Cooney, Rylie Coughlin, Amalia Dupre, Emerson Femino, Ethan Furtado, Jaymison Gunschel, Keira Hart-Bonville, Eva Hartley, Joshua Hayes, Logan Leblanc, Zach LeBlanc, Keelin Lienkamp, Noah Mendes, Nicholas Miedema, Colin Mills, Owen Modracek, Nashajia Monteiro, Anna Pereira, Logan Perry, Preston Quinn, Katherine Scherer, Aidan Silk, Angela Tomasso, Tyler Williams, Remy Wilson, Tyler Young, Liam Yurof, Grade 11; Samuel Balsis, Ava Barrows, Ryan Blanchette, Torsten Brickley, Tyler Cardinal, Matthew Carvalho, Emily Cavanaugh-Fauteux, Caitlin Collier, Ryan Cordeiro, Brady Dias, Madeline Dugas, Kate Feeney, Julia Foye, Domenic Fringuelli, Lila Galavotti, Leo Grondin, Alexander Harrigan, Dylan Hartley-Matteson, Elizabeth Higgins, Derek Hiralall, Brendan Hubbard, Thomas Janicki, Aiden Lamontagne, Ashley Lawrence, Emmanuella Lawrence, Brady Lee, Mackenzie Luong, Drew MacGregor, Kyle McCullough, Jordan Nguyen, Ava Noone, William O’Shaughnessy, Abigail Paulette, Emma Petersen, Maeve Pires, Jeffrey Radek, Henry Richards, Reagan Rock, Makenna Servais, Charlotte Sisson, Isabella St Louis, Delaney Veilleux, Mackenzie Vigeant, Summer Williams, Zachary Zutaut, Grade 12; Jaelyn Allen, Jasmine Andrade, Amanda Armanetti, Brianna Arruda, George Barry, Claudie Bellanger, Erin Besancon, Magdalena Brogioli, Brendan Burke, Breigh Christopher, Evan Correia, Isabella Correia, Sabrina Cunningham, Talia DeLeo, Emily DellaCioppa, Caleb DeVoe, David Ditata, Tiago Duarte, Christopher Feeney, Logan Fernandes, Isabel Friedrichs, Hannah Furtado, Brody Garber, Keira Gleasure, Bailey Gosse, Taylor Green, Ava Hall, Mia Hall, Isabella Hedges, Mia Hemphill, Michael Holmes, Isabella Hunter, Chase Johnson, John Kassabian, Quin Kirby, Emma Levasseur, Sean Lund, Jamie MacKenzie, Drew Mastovsky, Elizabeth Maxwell, Isabelle McCarthy, Cole Meehan, Caroline Milam, Hailey Nye, Dylan Pallatroni, Sawichaya Phimolmas, Sydnee Pires, Benjamin Preece-Santos, Maria Psichopaidas, Hayden Rinta, Natalya Rivera, Isabella Romig, Chase Ryan, Julia Sheridan, Damon Smead, Mickenna Soucy, Carson Spencer, Callie Tavares, Emma Thorell, Autumn Tilley, Holyn Turner, Joel Watters, Cameran Weaver, Mackenzie Wilson, Madeline Wright, Emma Wyman, Nathan Yurof, Joseph Ziino

MLT Travels to Nantucket with ORR Science Students

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On May 9, forty of Lynn Connor’s ORR Marine Biology and Advanced Placement Environmental Science students will travel to The Brandt Point Shellfish Hatchery on Nantucket. The purpose of the visit is a tour and to study the Hatchery’s process of spawning to grow-out, how shellfish affect water quality and methods of farming oysters. There will be Marine Biologists and specialists who will explain the importance of restoration and methodology of recording species for density and biodiversity. They will meet with Leah Cabral Hill, Assistant Shellfish Biologist of Nantucket’s Natural Resources at the Hatchery, who has planned, coordinated and offered flexible time and space for the group while they are there.

“Leah Cabral Hill brought Nantucket’s oyster restoration project to life.” She and volunteers made sure no shell was left behind and the Natural Resources Department continues to monitor the light and temperature of the reef process. Ultimately, there will be an entirely new ecosystem, which will provide habitat for Nantucket’s aquatic species.

            The students will be accompanied by two of MLT’s own Board Members, in the field of biology, Mary Cabral, retired ORR Biology teacher and Wendy Copps, Coastal Engineer with a Master’s in the study of ecology of wetlands and ecosystems.

Marion’s Memorial Day Remembrances and Procession

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The 2022 Memorial Day Remembrances and Procession will take place on Monday, May 30 starting at 9:00 am in front of the Music Hall at 164 Front St, Marion. In the event of rain, the event will be relocated to the Multipurpose Room of Sippican Elementary School. 

            The 2022 procession and remembrances will follow same route as in past years, stepping off from the Music Hall northbound on Front Street, marching 0.6 miles up Front Street to the Veterans’ Memorial at Old Landing. Upon arrival at the Veterans’ Memorial, the town will pay tribute to our military’s “honored dead” who “gave the last full measure of devotion.”

            The procession and remembrances will feature the Sippican School Marching Band led by director Hannah Moore as well as The Portuguese American Band. Our Guest Speaker is Jack McLean, author of Loon: A Maine Story and United States Marine Corps Veteran. The ceremony will conclude with members of the Select Board laying a wreath at the Veterans’ Memorial.  The master of ceremonies for the event will be Major Andrew Bonney of the Massachusetts Air NUS Air Force National Guard. 

            The featured speaker is Jack McLean, author of Loon: A Marine Story (Random House, 2009,) a National Best-Selling memoir about his service in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 to 1968. He served as an infantry corporal in Vietnam in 1967-1968. In the fall of 1968, he became the first Vietnam War combat veteran to matriculate at Harvard University. His thirty-year marketing career began with the New York Mets. After subsequent stops in Boston, Portland, Charlotte and Washington, DC, he became the Founding Managing Partner of the Greater Washington Initiative. Jack has recently completed his second book, Three Survivors: A Veteran Story.

            Raised in Summit, NJ, Jack is married, has three daughters, seven grandchildren, and one dog. He currently resides in Huntington, NY.

            We encourage Residents are encouraged to join us for the remembrances as well as stand along the procession parade route on Front Street between Cottage Street and Ryder Lane.