Sneak Peek at Town Meeting

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            Of the 34 warrant articles up for vote at the May 12 Annual Town Meeting, the one that drew the most attention during Tuesday night’s “pre-Town Meeting” public hearing at the Music Hall was the $1,200,000 ladder truck being requested by the Marion Fire Department.

            Given the floor, resident Alan Menard estimated that the request accounts for 40% of items recommended by the Capital Improvements Planning Committee. Given the town’s 35-foot maximum allowable height for new constructions, he asked why.

            Town Administrator Geoff Gorman summarized that a replacement is needed for the 1991 truck that requires an annual $15,000 in maintenance. An exact duplicate would cost the town $2,000,000, and the truck being targeted for purchase will cost the town $400,000 less than its initial proposal. The life expectancy of the recommended replacement is 30 years.

            Fire Chief Brian Jackvony noted that replacing the ladder truck is part of the town’s ISL certification, which sets insurance rates for the community soon facing an audit.

            As Jackvony explained, justifying a 96-foot extension into the air may seem unnecessary while driving down Main Street, where houses were built just back from the sidewalk. Today, he said, the zoning setback for Residence A-E is 35 feet from the property line to the building, meaning a truck parked in the middle of the road needs almost 60 feet of aerial ladder just to get to the house. He also noted that Marion has grown from homes measuring 2,000 square feet to 5,000 and sometimes 10,000 square feet.

            Another matter of firefighting is method, which has changed with solar panels on houses.

            “That also makes the job of the firefighter more difficult,” said Jackvony, who said the truck becoming available to the town later this year is made by the same manufacturer as other fire equipment in town.

            Jackvony said he looked at quotes from other communities and noted that a 2016 competitive grant would be awarded towns with more multiresidential facilities such as New Bedford and Wareham.

            A 10-year-old used truck, he said, would bring with it frame deterioration. The value of Marion’s current ladder truck is $4,500 in scrap, Jackvony said.

            Steve Nojeim of the CIPC thanked Jackvony for his work and asked if Marion can consider going in with surrounding towns on equipment that doesn’t get used as regularly.

            In answer to citizens’ questions related to the $122,000 line item to replace the Creek Road water main that was at one time brand new but never put into service, Department of Public Works Director Becky Tilden explained that the DPW’s “first thought was line the water main to put the existing one in service.” That plan was scrapped when it was learned the pipe was in bad condition, including cracks.

            Article 2 will ask voters to raise and appropriate $26,000,722 toward a FY24 operating budget of $27,516,635. Finance Director Judy Mooney went through line items explaining budget tweaks.

            Public Safety is up 5.5% to $2,208,546 due to the addition of a School Resource Officer and state-mandated police reform that will affect the Harbormaster Department.

            Schools are up 2.55% to $6,666,193, the Public Works Administration is up 3.44% to $2,323,881 and Pension and Insurance is up 8.49% to $4,285,980. Debt service will go up 24.62% to $665,298.

            Community Preservation Committee allocations were highlighted by $378,000 for Open Space/Historical/Housing; $85,000 for the town’s participation in the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District and Buzzards Bay Coalition programs that are supported by a $4,500,000 grant, and $75,000 for the via Recreation Department to turn two tennis courts in poor condition into four pickleball courts.

            Nojeim asked if the work (Articles 11, 18 and 19) of taking inventory and digitizing historic items could involve the local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, to which CPC Chairman Jeff Doubrava explained that the delicate work “dealing with old, irreplaceable items” necessitates the use of professional archivists.

            Article 28 will ask voters to authorize all Marion boards, commissions and committees to use the Mullin Rule. Presently only the Planning Board is authorized to use the rule, which allows a member to miss one session of a public hearing and still vote on a case.

            During the regular agenda that preceded the public hearing on the Town Meeting Warrant, the Select Board heard a report from Board of Assessors Chairman TJ Walker and member Pat DeCosta on revaluation.

            With an injury in the office, Walker said the Assessor’s office relied heavily on DeCosta to offset a staffing shortage for a number of weeks but that tax bills are going out on time.

            Walker noted a drastic climb in average single-family house value in 2019.

            A resident said his home was assessed as a contemporary but had thought his house should be classified as a ranch. He asked about what software program Marion uses to evaluate properties. DeCosta explained that contemporaries usually go down in value but went up this year. … “Everything is selling way above assessed value,” she said.

            Under Action Items, the Select Board approved the following: the Kittansett Club’s alcohol license, appointment of Norm Hills to the Joint Transportation Planning Group (JTPG), a sewer connection at 55 Pleasant Street and Water/Sewer commitments of $1,043.18 (final readings April 12) and $7,829.82 (final readings April 25.)

            In his Town Administrator’s Report, Geoff Gorman said the Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 8, at 6:45 pm at Sippican Elementary School’s Multipurpose room, and a Food Drive will be held on Election Day, Friday, May 12, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Cushing Community Center, site of the polls.

By Mick Colageo

More School Choice Slots in Grade 8

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            It was determined at the April 27 meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee that up to 12 eighth graders will be allowed School Choice slots within the ORR District during the 2023-24 year. The vote will not change either the maximum of 125 School Choice students allowed in Grades 7-12 or the maximum 20 students allowed slots in Grade 7.

            The committee voted unanimously to approve Old Rochester Youth Football’s request of four game days of use of the high school’s Multipurpose Field, each day including five games on either Saturdays or Sundays in September or October.

            “It’s a good relationship. We like having Bulldogs on campus,” said ORR High School Principal Mike Devoll, recommending a positive vote from the committee.

            Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said that ORYF’s usage would be subject to weather, field conditions and the needs of the high school which take precedent. Devoll noted that an ORYF game day was cancelled last year due to weather-related field conditions.

            “I think last year we had the same conversation, we were able to make it happen. As far as I know, there were no negative effects,” said committee member Jason Chisholm, adding that varsity football coach Bryce Guilbeault is supportive of the idea. “I think we should absolutely support this. I know we have to follow protocol, but it would be nice if (ORYF) didn’t have to come back every year.”

            The ORR District is the recipient of several donations of varying kinds.

            Approved by the ORR School Committee were: a Perkins Grant of $5,000 for class supplies and transportation earmarked toward high school students doing internships and a Northeast Food for Schools grant of $14,583 to procure local and minimally processed foods for ORR’s meals program in 2023-24.

            In separate votes, ORR’s DECA chapter became the recipient of three donations, $300 from Fieldstone, $500 from Hiller Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram and $500 from Basic Financial Charitable Foundation. The donations support the DECA program and particularly trips.

            In separate votes, the committee unanimously approved Memorandums of Agreement between the committee and the ORR Teachers Association for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 sports stipends.

            The committee voted to approve several donations, including two 5×7-inch plaques to be given students for the Director’s Award and the Woody Herman Jazz Award. FORM also donated an amount not to exceed $400 for pizza, water and desserts for the band and chorus students’ end-of-the-year festival celebration on May 26 at the Junior High. FORM was also approved for a donation of a $100 gift certificate to Symphony Music for the James Armour Award. The McNulty Family’s donation of a snare drum to the Music Department was also approved.

            The committee voted to accept two 12 book donations from Greg Hardy, including “Woke Racism” by John McWhorter and “False Alarm” by Bjorn Lomborg. Devoll explained to the committee that the school librarian reviewed the texts and found that the other 10 books either met with negative or no professional reviews.

            Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Shari Federowicz updated the committee on the literacy program and recognized committee member Rose Bowman for her work presenting on parent-teacher engagement.

            With help from Devoll, attending the ORR boy’s winter track-and-field team was recognized for its 2023 Division 4 state championship.

            During public comment, Tom Kearns thanked the administration and the committee for the job they did in 2022-23 during trying times. He also thanked the librarian staff for its work and expressed confidence in the department.

            Nicki Demakis echoed Kearns’ sentiments and praised the committee and Matt Monteiro in particular for acting without bias and relying on experts in the evaluation of books. She also praised Chairperson Michelle Smith for her effort.

            Shortly after the public session began, the committee entered executive session and returned to public session.

            The next meeting of the ORR School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, May 18, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10. Both meetings begin at 6:30 pm at the ORR Junior High Media Room and are accessible live via Zoom.

By Mick Colageo

Mattapoisett Yacht Club

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Mattapoisett Yacht Club kicks off its 2023 season with The Annual Spring Fling on May 20. Open to all members and their guests, the gala event will be held outside starting at 5 pm at the home of Jim and Dale Barnes, 69 Mattapoisett Neck Road.

            There will be a variety of chilies and fixing stations. Members are asked to bring appetizers. MYC will provide the bar.  Last year’s event was a huge success, and the weather was great. RSVP to stephentinaclark@gmail.com with numbers attending before May 16.

Mattapoisett Friends Council on Aging Spring Luncheon

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At noon, Thursday, May 11, there is a Spring Luncheon at the Mattapoisett Council on Aging. The lunch is provided by RW Catering. The menu includes rolls and butter, Chicken Piccata, Veggies, Roasted Potatoes, and dessert. There will be a Door Prize and a 50/50 raffle. It is requested that you bring some personal care items as a Community Service donation.

Assistant to Maintain Title

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            The Rochester Select Board met on Monday and approved and signed the warrant for the May 22 Annual Town Meeting, with one big surprise. It was by a vote of 2-1, with board member Paul Ciaburri voting against. That negative vote from Ciaburri, who was attending remotely via Zoom, resulted from discussion of one of the salary items in the proposed $25,000,000 FY24 operating budget.

            Select Board Chairman Woody Hartley and member Brad Morse said they wanted to eliminate from the budget a Town Administrator Administrative Assistant position proposed by the new Personnel Board. They argued no one had discussed the plan for the new position with the Select Board in advance, and they wanted more time and needed more funding than budgeted to consider a new job that would be under the Select Board’s jurisdiction.

            Ciaburri asked, “Why can’t we let the people decide at Town Meeting?” Later in the discussion, Ciaburri added, “We’re giving raises to a lot of people in this budget. My question is why can’t we spend it on this one?”

            Hartley and Morse, nonetheless, kept Town Administrator Glenn Cannon’s proposed changes to the warrant before voting to sign it.

            Before that motion, Personnel Board member Adam Murphy asked why his panel’s hard work reclassifying a job description over the past year was being rebuffed this way. He argued this is a change in a job classification, not a new job per se, and someone is already doing the duties in the job description. The Personnel Board’s specific goal was to streamline the job classifications within Town Hall, Murphy noted.

            The new Personnel bylaw states his panel’s mission is to categorize job descriptions to be financially compensated in a like manner. Now someone will keep doing those duties for less compensation, Murphy argued.

            Murphy also noted that Cannon sits in on every Personnel Board meeting. Why is that not enough advance notice of the panel’s decision making, he asked.

            Morse said the Select Board knows this oversight is Cannon’s responsibility, and Cannon has been spoken to about it. Cannon agreed, saying he takes full responsibility for the Select Board’s lack of adequate time to respond to the matter.

            Hartley admitted the Personnel review system could be more refined but added, “We are trying to be careful with the town’s money. We see a reduction in free cash in our future. This is a decision we had to make.”

            In a follow-up interview, Ciaburri explained he feels that elevating the duties and compensation of the Select Board/Town Administrator’s administrative assistant was the right thing to do.

            “I feel the Personnel Board did their due diligence and have it correct,” Ciaburri said. “I’ve seen their hard work. This is what the Personnel Board was trying to do. Her job has changed. She has so much more work to do and should be compensated for it. What the Personnel Board did was absolutely right.”

            He said someone on Town Meeting floor could motion to retain the new position, “and that would be the right thing to do.”

            During Monday night’s meeting, Morse and Hartley whittled down the warrant they approved to 32 articles to include combining two articles, one to eliminate the town’s Stretch building codes and the other to withdraw from the Green Communities program, into one article.

            The Stretch codes tighten the base building codes in the name of more energy-efficient construction but are an expensive part of being a Green Community. The town is reconsidering its participation in the Green Communities program as it explores the costs of building an addition to the Police station and building a new Fire station.

            The Select Board also approved a new approach to presenting articles at Town Meeting. Crediting Town Moderator David Arancio for his suggestion, Hartley proposed that speakers who can explain each article be introduced as each article is presented. All three Select Board members agreed.

            In other action, the board approved appointing Richard Forand as alternate building inspector.

            No future meeting date was set before adjournment.

Rochester Select Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

Long Path to Successful Connection

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            “In 1996 when I got started with this thing, my children were four and five years old. Now their children are one and four,” stated Steve Kelleher chairman of the Mattapoisett Bike Path Committee. Time does slip into the future.

            Kelleher remembered that he had read a magazine article that spoke to a state bill that would mandate 10% of state Department of Transportation spending be allocated for recreational pathways, aka, bike paths. Armed with this information, he approached the then-seated Board of Selectmen about establishing a bike-path committee.

            Kelleher’s thinking at the time was that DOT monies would be available for the construction of a bike path on the railroad easement. Thus began the long and winding road that included decades of meetings, decades of planning and decades of grant writing in cooperation with the Mattapoisett Friends of the Bike Path.

            Today Kelleher and company are high-fiving.

            The most difficult phase, in terms of engineering, dubbed the Shining Tides Bike Path or Phase 1b, was opened to the public on April 28 after nearly two years of delays. Without fanfare but with a simple turn of a key in a padlock, the gates were opened. Select Board member Jordan Collyer has promised an official ceremonial opening planned for late May.

            Some of those delays can be chalked up to COVID-19 shutdowns and pandemic spread, but a months-long delay can also be directly attributed to engineering decisions that trimmed dollars off the state-funded project with the installation of planking not previously vetted with the town. Problems with the planking were brought to the attention of the Select Board by a resident with engineering chops. Upon further review, the planking was found to be defective.

            As reported by The Wanderer in November 2020, Planning Board Administrator Mike Gagne explained the series of events that led several community members with professional engineering backgrounds to contact Town Administrator Mike Lorenco with their concerns. Without a satisfactory response, Lorenco went from MassDOT to Representative Bill Straus for assistance.

            Gagne reported that the planking used between the Goodspeed Island beach spanning over the Eel Pond breach was of different material than that used in other locations. “The planks are warping and the laminated material is splitting,” he stated, later explaining that MassDOT had looked for “alternative analysis” (cost-saving measures) but with Straus’ intervention, the state planned to bring in a third-party engineer to evaluate and determine if the planks could be saved.

            The planking from Reservation Road to Mattapoisett Neck Road was a more costly variety of mahogany, whereas the planks used in the beach span were laminated pine, said Gagne.

            It appeared that the project had come to a standstill. The Select Board, in partnership with Straus, was in frequent contact with the DOT. The pandemic continued to plague the project as workers became ill. Volatile comments posted on Facebook group pages prompted Collyer to state at a recent public meeting, “This won’t solve anything.”

            Material issues were resolved to the town’s satisfaction, but achieving a Memorandum of Understanding between the town and the state resulted in more delay. Collyer became the Select Board’s point person in finding verbiage that would indemnify the town from financial responsibility for the boardwalk’s material replacement or other maintenance up to 20 years.

             During their April 27 meeting, Collyer announced a meeting of the minds had been achieved. “We worked with Representative Straus, the town’s administrator, and MassDOT … now the town won’t have to worry,” he said.

            The price tag for the Shining Tides section hovers around $7,000,000.

            Now all vested parties can turn their full attention to Phases 2a and 2b. Kelleher said there will be challenges, primarily in engineering a project that protects neighboring private property owners along the railroad easement from Railroad Avenue through the Park Street neighborhood and entering the state’s park-and-ride area on North Street. Two difficult crossings, one at Railroad Avenue and another at North Street, are high on the list for careful planning.

            But Kelleher said that the Marion connector (at the end of Industrial Drive) was completed with money supplied from the Friends group and a state grant and that Phase 2b design work of Industrial Drive, that including a bike lane, has already been designed, leaving Phase 2a.

            In the meantime, people are flocking to the newly opened Shining Tides pathway. Even on a recent windy, stormy day, smiling faces walked or rode along, taking in the vistas offered from an elevated boardwalk across barrier beaches.

By Marilou Newell

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club Raffle

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A beautiful double Adirondack chair is going home with someone from the June 24 Mattapoisett Woman’s Club’s June in Bloom Garden Tour. On that same day, the Club will be holding a raffle for a 2-seat ready-to-use Adirondack chair as a finale to the day’s Garden Tour.

            Tickets are priced at one (1) for $5.00 and five (5) for $20.00. Tickets for the raffle will be available starting at 9:30 am on the morning of the 24th at the Club’s White Tent in the parking lot next to the Ying Dynasty Restaurant. Advance tickets for the Garden Tour are $30.00 and go on sale online and at local businesses on May 9, and in-person tickets will be available on the day of the Garden Tour for $35.00 at the same White Tent.

            The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is a philanthropic organization, and the funds raised by the Club go directly to support the scholarships, public programming, and community outreach efforts of the Club. Additional information about the Club or these endeavors can be found at mattapoisettwomans.club.org or by emailing a representative of the Club at info@mattapoisettwomansclub.org.

June in Bloom

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Are you looking for even more signs that summer is just about here to stay? If so, join us at the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club’s June in Bloom. This year’s biennial Garden Tour will be in full display in our quaint seaside village on June 24, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

            Several expansive gardens will be waiting for ticket holders, each of which has been specially selected from a variety of styles including formal to informal, woodsy to cottage, seaside to secluded and even a monochromatic garden. The gardens highlight the use of annuals, perennials, herbs, shrubs, trees, and even spectacular container plantings. Besides simply viewing the beautiful gardens, visitors will find that all of them emphasize steps that can be taken to improve home gardens as well.

            Advance tickets, priced at $30.00, will go on sale on May 9. You can find them for sale at local businesses including at Pen & Pendulum, Isabelle’s, Town Wharf General Store, and Ying Dynasty in Mattapoisett; in Fairhaven at Periwinkles and What a Find.; and in Marion at Eden Florist and Garden Shop. You can also purchase tickets to the Garden Tour at the MWC’s online sales kiosk at mattapoisettwomansclub.org.

            On the day of the Tour, tickets will be $35.00 and will be available only under the tent beside the Ying Dynasty Restaurant on Route 6 in Mattapoisett. This is the same area where all attendees must stop to pick up their Tour Maps after 9:30 am on the day of the Tour, and it is also where day-of-sale tickets will be available. At 2:00 pm, all ticket sales will stop to allow participants adequate time to see as many gardens if their choice as possible.

            The proceeds from this year’s Garden Tour will benefit the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club’s Scholarship Fund as well as the Club’s philanthropic efforts, public programming, and community outreach. The Club is always open to new members from the greater SouthCoast area. For more information about the Club and/or a membership application, please see our website at mattapoisettwomansclub.org.

A Momentous Day

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“This is a momentous day for Mattapoisett,” stated Select Board Chairman Tyler Macallister on April 27. A long saga filled with real drama in the form of a pandemic and defective materials had sidelined the opening of the Shining Tide section of the Mattapoisett Bike Path, from Reservation Road to Goodspeed Island Road.

Now, after many months of working with MassDOT and Representative William Straus, the Memorandum of Understanding which protects the town for up to 20 years was signed. By signing the document, the town agreed to take ownership of the structures, and the state promised to bear any costs from material failure.

On April 28, the gates were unlocked. A formal opening is planned for May.

            Select Board member Jordan Collyer said he was pleased with the final language in the MOU and quipped that, “We are actually ahead of schedule.” A revised opening date of June 2023 had been set after earlier dates had to be pushed out.

            There remain other issues to be resolved, namely parking.

            Parking at the end of Reservation Road is strictly for golf-club members only. Town parking permits are not valid at this private beach area, Collyer stated. The private golf club has put up signs indicating the area is private. Parking at the Railroad Avenue parking lot has elongated slots for the exclusive use of boaters with trailers, but there are several lined spots for automobiles. There is no parking permitted at the end of Goodspeed Island Road. There is permit parking at the Landing off Mattapoisett Neck Road and three spots at the entrance of Brandt Beach on Brandt Island Road.

            Regarding shell fishing at Reservation Beach, Collyer said that between October 15 and April 30, the parking area may be used by those with shellfish permits, a long-held courtesy that the golf club has extended town residents.

            Boat-trailer parking was also discussed as a possible option at the town beach lot on Water Street. Select Board member Jodi Bauer said she wouldn’t want more than five slots available at that location for boaters.

            In other business, the matter of hiring a new harbormaster was discussed. It was noted that municipalities are looking at new experience requirements for harbormasters, primarily one that would include state-authorized, police academy training. In a follow-up, Collyer said that it is difficult to find someone who has put in the time training, but that some aspects of the job are more law-enforcement related, making a harbormaster’s position a nuanced one.

            Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said that the open position will be posted in the coming days. Collyer commented, “We are on borrowed time,” with the boating season about to begin. In the meantime, Lorenco, in cooperation with Sergeant Scott LeBlanc, is working on various harborside duties.

            Lorenco reported that the new road grader for the Highway Department has arrived as has the new fire truck.

            The Spring Town Meeting warrant is posted to the town’s website, and the League of Women Voters will hold a Candidates’ Night at Old Hammondtown School on Wednesday, May 3, at 6:30 pm.

            Later the same evening the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board met. Chairman Carlos DeSousa also commented on the open harbormaster position. He said the Select Board was putting together the job description. He also suggested that the board invite LeBlanc to the next board meeting.

            Board members expressed concern over not having an authoritative presence at the wharves, and guest John Cornish said he was worried for his boat docked at the pier. DaSousa said he would ask Lorenco what is planned.

            DeSousa noted that work is pending on shellfish and that work is also pending on the dredging at Long Wharf. That project will now be scheduled for the fall or winter. Completed projects include the servicing of boats and installation of dinghy docks. Other docks need repairing.

It was suggested that possibly students from a vocational-technical school might be able to help the town. DeSousa plans to explore the idea. He also said that bathrooms are open and being cleaned, the pump-out boat will be launched in the coming week and that freshwater and electrical service has been turned on.

            A Harbor Management Plan that was promoted by the previous Harbormaster Jamie McIntosh will not be moving forward at this time, it was noted. Regarding McIntosh, the board is planning to thank him for his service with a letter of appreciation. “We’ll acknowledge his service to the community,” DaSousa said.             The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for Thursday, May 25, at 7:00 pm. The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not scheduled upon adjournment

Tea & Treasures Road Show

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Sentimental Value or Family Treasure? Let the experts weigh in. Your grandmother’s favorite vase or necklace may be worth a small fortune. Would you like to know?

            Meet the Experts at the High Tea & Treasures Road Show, hosted by The First Congregational Church of Marion on Saturday May 6, 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm to be held at the Community Center, 44 Front Street. In addition to the Afternoon Tea, guests are encouraged to bring an antique, piece of jewelry, art or a curiosity piece to be reviewed by three experts in their field. Marion’s local antique expert, Frank McNamee, along with colleagues Nick Taradash and Abigail Field will provide information and commentaries. Their love of history has led Frank, Nick and Abigail to their current careers with each having an affinity for a specific area whether it be jewelry, manuscripts, decorative art and design, or textiles, clothing and East Asian antiques. Frank, Nick and Abigail have conducted appraisal discovery days for numerous non-profits groups and the First Congregational Church is thrilled to have Frank, Nick and Abigail join them on May 6.

            Many of us know Frank McNamee but may not be aware that his expertise is recognized far and wide outside of Marion’s borders. Frank has over 45 years in the antique business and 30 years appraisal experience. He is the owner of Marion Antique Shop which is located in Marion and is one of the largest and most active antiques shops in New England, and Marion Antique Auctions, which is Southeastern Massachusetts most important auction gallery conducting three to four high-end sales a year. He has handled Southeastern Massachusetts most significant estates. In 2013, he sold the lost Edgar Allan Poe manuscript for $300,000 and in 2020 he sold an old master drawing by Jan Lievens for $500,000. Frank has conducted appraisals for numerous law firms and museums, including the Smithsonian Institution, the New Bedford Whaling Museum and the New Bedford Museum of Glass, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design, and numerous historical societies. Frank is past president of the Sippican Historical Society and now curator of its museum in Marion, MA. He is a member of the Cape Cod Antique Dealers Association and a senior member of the Providence Appraisal Collaborative. Frank graduated from Massachusetts auctioneer’s school and maintains a current Massachusetts auctioneer’s license. Frank has also volunteered as a guest celebrity auctioneer for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Bedford, the New Bedford Whaling Museum where he auctioned off the painting by Arthur Moniz titled, The Home Coming for the Morgan Homecoming Gala in 2014 for $50,000.

            Nick Taradash was raised on a horse farm near the coast of southern New England in Rhode Island. As a young child Nick would wander the fields of the family farm searching for arrowheads, exploring the antique home restored by his family, and sharing the passions of his family – art, theater, and classic cars. A lifelong love of history formed with encouragement from his family and friends, Nick eventually went on to major in history at Vermont State University, graduating in 2014. Upon finishing his studies, Nick began working in the curatorial department of The New Bedford Whaling Museum. After two and a half years at the Whaling Museum, Nick chose to pursue a Master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute of Art with a focus in fine and decorative arts and design. After graduating in 2017, he began working for the New York Design Center in the 1stdibs Gallery. In 2021, Nick began work at the Nantucket Historical Society in the curatorial department.

            Abigail Field graduated from UMass Dartmouth with a BA in history in 2020 as the #1 student in the department. Abigail’s primary focus is in textiles and clothing, but she has since gained considerable expertise in East Asian antiques as well as jewelry. Throughout her schooling, she volunteered at the New Bedford Whaling Museum and the Mattapoisett Historical Society. She has also been hired as a logbook transcriber for a cross-organizational project with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and she is the executive assistant at the Sippican Historical Society.

            A limited number of tickets are still available. Admission: $25 in advance, $30 at the door and includes one items for review by this talented team. Additional items may be reviewed at $10 per item as time permits.

            Tickets may be purchased in advance at the General Store, Church Office located at the Community Center — Tues – Fri 9:00 am -2:00 pm, at Penny Pinchers Exchange, 39 Main St., Wed & Sat 10:00 am -1:00 pm or online https://www.marionfirstchurch.org/

            Gallery seating is available for $10 per item being reviewed and may be purchased at the door the day of the event.

            Additional information is available on the Church’s website: www.marionfirstchurch.org/.