The Rochester Republican Town Committee will hold its next meeting on Monday, February 10, at 6:30 pm. The meeting will take place at the Ponderosa Sportsman Club, located at 242 Robinson Rd, Acushnet. Russ and Wendy Keeler are the guest speakers and will talk about the Rochester Land Trust. The community is welcome to attend and bring a friend.
The Marion School Committee met Thursday, January 30 with a list of action items and pending approvals. The first item was the approval of a fundraiser for Sippican Elementary for a fieldtrip in May. The sixth-grade trip is to Camp Burgess in Sandwich. The trip fundraiser was unanimously approved. Three donations were also approved and accepted: $4,000 from the Feinstein Foundation for school pantries, Shutterfly/Life Touch annual donation $1614.86 as a part of revenues generated, and $27.79 from a sixth-grade fundraising effort with Red Robin. A mini-grant was also accepted for $320 for a Lego Spike Kit.
The district’s financial report was given, noting the remaining funds and expenses in line for the remainder of FY25. The Chairperson’s Report was also presented, being about halfway through the current school year. School libraries have reported a record number of books being checked and read the past year with other literacy programs, according to Superintendent Nelson, going strong.
Project Grow has seen many programs through the winter such as learning about beehives, tracing shadows, and writing to pen pals. Third graders also created portraits for the upcoming Tri-Town Against Racism art contest for Black History Month.
The committee also went over what was approved at the most recent Joint School Committee meeting from January 23.
Considering the recent pandemic, the superintended said towards the end of the meeting, “we have learned we need to have a School Health and Wellness Committee – connected to our food service department and physical education department. I am recommending the four school committees appoint a member from each of the boards.” From Marion, committee member Nicole McGaffey volunteered and was approved by the committee for membership in the new School Health and Wellness Committee.
The next meeting of the Marion School Committee will be held March 6.
Marion School Committee
By: Sam Bishop
Boys Basketball
The Old Rochester Regional high school boys’ basketball team hosted Bishop Stang (7-7), on January 29, and won 78-61. Gavin Martin was named the player of the game, as he got a double-double, scoring 13 points and having 12 assists. Finn Kavanagh scored 22 points, Grady Oliveira scored 16, and Henry Berry and Hunter Horsey both had 8 points. The Bulldogs doubled Bishop Stang’s score at half, going up 36-18 and never going back. Old Rochester made 9 three-pointers in the win, and their record currently stands at 8-8. Their next game will be played at home against Joseph Case (1-13), on February 7.
Girls Basketball
Old Rochester played Greater New Bedford Voc/Tech (7-10) on January 31 and won 65-53. The Bulldogs continue their dominance, winning nine games in a row. They will host Bourne (13-1) on February 6.
Hockey
The Bulldogs played Bishop Stang (12-3) on February 1 and won 4-0. The Bulldogs are now 7-7 after the win and will face Greater New Bedford Voc/Tech on February 5.
Sports Roundup
By Aiden Comorosky
Sitting atop a small rise in the topography of Spring Street sits the Elizabeth Taber Library, an elegant fixture in the community since 1872. The library was gifted to the town by philanthropist Elizabeth Taber. The posted history of the library states that Taber was considered the “fairy godmother” of Marion. The childless widow was a sharp financial investor and generous in giving Marion and other organizations outside the town boundaries money used to benefit the cultural and social integrity of this seaside gem.
Taber gifted the town additional monies to ensure the library could operate with financial stability into the future.
Two wings were added to the original building in the 1980s that increased the much needed stack space, that’s library-speak for book shelves. As time has marched forward into the twenty-first century, the growing needs of the community for a host of library services, meant considering renovations. Fortuitously in 2024, an anonymous doner stepped forward with a generous gift sufficient to fulfil many of the identified improvements.
The architect working with the town and the library staff to identify and refine space needs, and the aesthetic look of the interior spaces is David King, a Boston based architect. We talked to King to better understand the process and the plans. “It’s important to keep the historic look and feel of the space,” he began. And while the overall footprint of the two-story building (the Marion Natural History Museum is located on the second floor) will not change, “…meeting space will be opened up, a fresh and airy breakroom will be configured in the basement, and flexible partitions will be used.” King also noted that the children’s room will see improvements as well.
Coming into the library through the front doors, King said a new circulation desk will greet visitors. All architectural elements that speak to the age of the building will be honored. Decorative moldings and Corinthian-like columns will remain in place.
Planning wrapped up a few weeks ago and now the library staff is ready to move to their temporary headquarters in the Marion Music Hall. Nothing short of monumental, Library Director Liz Sherry is excited with what the future holds in store. In the meantime, she wants the public to know that nearly all library services will be available at the Music Hall with the exception of copying and computers and other network-based services.
Sherry said “…it is gratifying to make these improvements.” She believes it speaks to the community’s support and appreciation for the library. Of the updated spaces she added, “It will be fresh and accessible.”
Sherry also shared the exciting news that the library had recently received a grant from The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The grant in the amount of $30,000 (Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) will fund a year-long art education project. Starting in March, this year-long project will bring free professionally led crafting workshops to the community of Marion and help the library build a collection of crafting tools and materials.
The first craft workshops in March will be led by fine jewelry maker Heather Beck, who will be teaching copper stamping in a variety of formats. Beck will lead the following workshops: Saturdays in March at the library from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm: Marth 8 copper bookmarks, March 15 copper key chains, March 22 copper pendants, and March 29 copper night lights.
Beck’s classes are aimed at young adults and adults and participants can attend one or multiple workshops. Anyone interested in registering for these workshops can email the library at ETLibrary@sailsinc.org or register in person at the library’s temporary location at the Marion Music Hall. Spaces are limited and participants must be aged 12-or-older.
Future crafting education workshops include basket weaving in April, glass blowing in May, jewelry making in June, machine and hand sewing in July, and wood carving and scrimshaw in September.
For more information and updates, visit the library’s website elizabethtaberlibrary.org.
By Marilou Newell
The Lamb of God Christian Church of Mattapoisett will be holding our monthly no-cost Food Assistance Outreach at the Mattapoisett American Legion Hall, 3 Depot Street, Mattapoisett, on Sunday, February 9 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
This Monthly Food outreach will have frozen meats, non-refrigerated 1-2% milk, assorted juice, frozen vegetables, fresh eggs (limited quantities), and non-perishables. Supplies are limited and all food is fresh and directly received from the Boston Food Bank.
All Mattapoisett residents needing additional help with the rising costs of food are welcome. As supplies increase this outreach will be opened up to all of the area towns.
For more information call (508) 998-6990, or E-Mail: pastor@lambofgodma.org or Facebook: Mathew Vangel.
The Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 12, followed by the Town Election on Friday, May 16.
Here is the list of the available elected positions:
Board of Assessors (1)
Board of Health (1)
Select Board (1)
Marion School Committee (1)
ORR School Committee (1)
Open Space Acquisition Commission (2)
Planning Board (2)
In order to run for an elected position, you must be a registered voter in the Town of Marion.
The Nomination Papers are available and must be returned to the Town Clerk’s Office by the end of business on March 28. The potential candidate must secure twenty eight (28) signatures in order to be placed on the ballot. The Town Clerk recommends that the potential candidate obtain at least thirty five (35) signatures.
Any questions, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-748-3502.
College of Charleston congratulates John Butler of Mattapoisett, majoring in Economics and of Mattapoisett, Sally Butler majoring in Marketing, who were named to the Dean’s List for Winter 2024.
Springfield College has named Rylee Kouta from Mattapoisett to the dean’s list for academic excellence for the 2024 fall semester. Kouta has a primary major of Pre-Prof Athletic Training.
The following Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) students were named to the Dean’s List for Fall 2024:
Chaz Aguiar of Mattapoisett, class of 2027, majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Rudy Arsenault of Mattapoisett, class of 2027, majoring in Robotics Engineering.
Andrew Porter of Mattapoisett, class of 2028, majoring in Architectural Engineering.
Paige Sommers of Rochester, class of 2025, majoring in Biomedical Engineering.
William Thomas, of Mattapoisett, a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham Campus, located in Madison, NJ, has been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2024 semester.
College of Charleston congratulates John Butler of Mattapoisett, majoring in Economics and of Mattapoisett, Sally Butler majoring in Marketing, who were named to the Dean’s List for Winter 2024.
R. William Blasdale, known as Bill to most, passed away on January 30, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of family values, committed service, generosity and leadership.
Bill grew up in Mattapoisett and at 15 years old he met Mary Jean Schmidt. After graduation from high school at Tabor Academy and college at Princeton University, he and Mary Jean married and eventually settled in Mattapoisett to raise their family. In the 65 years they shared together they raised two children, Spencer and Amy, and supported two grandchildren, Avery and Hadley.
Although he was involved in countless community and business leadership positions he made decisions based on prioritizing family. He was a Lion’s Club member and served as town selectman from 1975-1981. In a letter to the town in 1981 he explained his decision to step down: “One’s responsibility as a husband and father come first. Public service comes second.” He found a less time-demanding way to continue his service and was elected town moderator from 1981-2003. He was known for his diplomacy, wit and ability to build consensus in these town roles. With his self-deprecating humor he reflected that, “My greatest contribution to the town was a sewage system. What a legacy.”
Bill held a life-long commitment to citizen democracy and reminded us that citizenship bestows rights but also demands responsibility, especially for the health and education of all. He led by example, helping to found the Southcoast Community Foundation and serving on the board of Southcoast Health System, Southcoast Hospitals Group, and Southcoast Physicians Group. Bill’s dedication to his high school, Tabor Academy, was exemplified through his service on the Board of Trustees from 1982 to 2014, including his tenure as Board Chair from 1991 to 2006. “He was,” as Former Head of School Jay Stroud described, “as dependable and as essential to Tabor life as the tides themselves. Bill’s wisdom, profound common sense, and extraordinary sense of balance and proportion helped our Board become the engine for change and growth that characterized the more than two decades we worked together.”
Bill’s professional career was divided into “Act 1 and Act 2” as he would say. He served as President and CEO of Julius Koch, USA in New Bedford, a company that manufactures textiles. After 28 years at Julius Koch, he went back to school, became a certified financial planner (CFP) and co-founded Seamark Financial with Lynne Nahigyan in 1996. He served as President of Seamark for 28 years before retiring in June.
His memory will be cherished, his contributions celebrated, and his spirit acknowledged as a beacon of citizenship, generosity, thoughtful leadership, warm-hearted concern, and gracious care.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jean, his daughter, Amy Blasdale-Cushing and spouse Brad Cushing of Melbourne Beach, Fl, his son, Spencer Blasdale and spouse Nell Blasdale of Milton, MA and his granddaughters Avery and Hadley.The family will hold a Celebration of Bill’s life on May 31. Please refer to www.waring-sullivan.com for updated service information and to place an online tribute. Donations in his memory can be made to The Southcoast Community Foundation. Arrangements are in the care of the Waring-Sullivan Home at Fairlawn.
Paul Newby Grace, 70, of Mattapoisett passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
Known affectionately by everyone as Newby, Paul Grace was an excellent musician and performed professionally throughout the region. He began playing keyboards at an early age, becoming a soulful keyboard player and singer who put his heart and soul into his music. He especially enjoyed performing the music of Stevie Wonder. His most recent musical endeavors were with the band Diamond Dust as well as solo performances locally and on social media.
He also loved nature. For many years he owned and operated a successful landscaping business. One of his favorite pastimes was to take a country drive along the backroads of Westport to Horseneck Beach where he would just park and watch the waves.
Newby had an engaging, charming personality and easily made friends. His smile and twinkling eyes quickly endeared him to those he met. Newby never had children of his own but was very close to his nieces, nephews, and great-nephews as well as his step-children from an earlier marriage. He was especially close to his great-nephew Will. Newby’s most cherished times were those spent with family and when he was sitting at his keyboard playing music while singing his heart out.
Those closest to Newby know he struggled during his last few years with personal and health issues, but he persevered and braved his circumstances as best he could, living modestly in Mattapoisett senior housing until his unexpected death.
Newby will be deeply missed by all his family and friends who loved him dearly.
Paul is survived by his siblings, Susan Grace and her husband Rich Taber of Mattapoisett, Peter Eugene Grace of Tarpon Springs, FL, and Angela Grace of Ocean Springs, MS; his nieces and nephews, Jessica Noblet and her companion Barry Lima, Thomas Bonneau and his wife Ania Sliwinska, Lauren Bonneau and her partner Matthew Arriaga, Russell Dearing, and Ali Grace; his great-nephews, William Huggins and his wife Shaynna, Samuel Noblet, James Noblet; and his step-children James Glover and Tricia Guenette.
His memorial service will be held Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 1pm-3pm at the Seamen’s Bethel 15 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740. A Celebration of Newby’s Life will take place following the service from 3pm-5pm at Gallery X, 169 William St, New Bedford. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com
Hazard mitigation plans were briefly discussed on February 3 as the Mattapoisett Planning Board went through their brief but important agenda. The board has been formulating mitigation plans for several months in concert with the town’s safety units (police), Highway Department (evacuation routes), and the Water and Sewer Department (Mattapoisett River Valley).
The board approved changes and updates based on community and departmental comments and moving to endorse the plan as proposed. Next step for the plan is a review by MEMA which is the state agency charged with the responsibility for ensuring cities and towns are ready in the event of environmental calamities. As noted on the state’s website, “We provide Massachusetts residents and visitors emergency preparedness resources, emergency alerts, and information during and after emergencies and disasters. MEMA coordinates with federal, state, and local government agencies, non-profits and businesses to prepare, respond and recover from emergencies and disasters.”
The plan will also go through a FEMA review to ensure it aligns with federal requirements.
The board also approved the adoption of the 2022 Master Plan. Next stop the Select Board.
Also on the agenda were two applications for Approval Not Required. The first was filed by the Mattapoisett Land trust for property owned by Faith Ball and Lauren Carlson, 0 Cove Street. The land separation was described as unbuildable parcels with the intent for future conveyance to the Mattapoisett Land Trust.
Also approved was an Approval Not Required for 76 County Road owned by Dagnelllo LLC. The intent is the creation of a buildable lot for future development.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for March 3 at 7:00 pm.
Mattapoisett Planning Board
By Marilou Newell