Peter F. Coville

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Peter F. Coville, 83, of Mattapoisett died July 19, 2021 at Milford Medical Center.

            He was the husband of the late Nancy D. (Dunham) Coville, with whom he shared 50 years of marriage.

            Born in Wareham, Peter was the son of the late Lawrence and Stella (Ryder) Coville. He lived in Wareham before moving to Mattapoisett in 1972.

           Peter earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Bridgewater State College, and his doctorate from Boston College. He spent his career in the Wareham Public Schools first as a high school English teacher and then as principal of the Minot Forest School. Peter volunteered at Tobey Hospital in Wareham and was a member of the Tobey Guild.

            Peter and Nancy loved to travel and entertain. In his later years, Peter enjoyed a quiet life at Golden Pond Assisted Living where he was a beloved resident. An avid reader, you could always find him buried in the latest bestseller!

            Peter is survived by his two spectacular children, son Christopher Coville and his wife Susan of Williston, Florida, and Plymouth, Massachusetts, and daughter Joannah Sampson and her husband Gerard of Daniel Island, South Carolina.

            Visiting hours will be held on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 4-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. Funeral and burial at a later date will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Gleason Family YMCA, 33 Charge Pond Rd., Wareham, MA 02571. For directions and online guestbook and directions, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com

Finning Resigns Amid Conflict

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            Dr. Shannon Finning has tendered a letter of resignation from the Mattapoisett School Committee effective July 13. The resignation also ends her membership on the Old Rochester Regional Joint School Committee / Superintendency Union #55, for which she had served as union-side chair.

            In her letter to the Town of Mattapoisett, Finning cited conflict with Chairperson James Muse.

            “While I am proud of my dedicated service to the community over the last two plus years, particularly of my service during the superintendent search, my effort to ensure all voices were heard during our reopening conversations, and my contributions to the establishment of and initial year of service on the anti-racism subcommittee, I am unwilling to serve on a body that continues to select a chair who has treated me, personally, with disrespect and, of more concern, has, in my opinion, demonstrated an unwillingness to hear from all constituents and effectively engage and communicate with parents and families in particular,” read Finning’s statement in part.

            When asked about Finning’s allegation of personal disrespect, Muse told The Wanderer, “I always respected Dr. Finning, her position as a school committee member and her professional knowledge, and personally.”

            During the summer of 2020 and into the 2020-21 academic year, Finning spoke critically in public meetings about Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson’s performance, articulating her frustration over a lack of transparency in his rollout of the return-to-school plan.

            The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education asked school superintendents last summer to submit plans for full in-person, hybrid, and full-remote learning models with the requested emphasis on the in-person model. Finning stated during a fall school committee meeting that she had yet to see the in-person model requested by DESE, but Muse insisted that Nelson had complied with DESE’s requests and had given ORR’s submitted plans its approval.

            Nelson created a COVID-19 dashboard on the school district website that provided up-to-date information for all school bodies in the district, and thresholds were established for potential pivots in the learning model.

            The ORR district began the school year primarily in a hybrid attendance format (two days in class, three days via remote access). District school committees frequently heard in public meetings from students’ parents who expressed frustration with remote-access learning.

            In March, ORR pivoted the learning model for grades K-2 back to full in-person, and a few weeks later vetted building plans to do the same with grades 3-6. By the end of April, grades 6-12 were also back to full, in-person learning, and the hybrid model was discontinued.

            Finning did not respond to a request for further comment on her resignation.

            Asked for comment, Nelson sent the following statement to The Wanderer: “I want to thank Dr. Finning for her time and effort as a Mattapoisett School Committee and Joint School Committee member. Dr. Finning offered many, many hours to serve the community of Mattapoisett and our schools during the past two years and I appreciate her contributions very much. I wish Dr. Finning continued success in all her future endeavors.”

            Muse likewise extended his appreciation for Finning’s service. “I thank her for her service, and I wish her the best in the future.”

            The Mattapoisett School Committee is currently working through the process of filling the vacated seat with the town clerk and the Select Board, and Muse anticipates the position will be filled by appointment in accordance with town bylaws. “We do not expect that there will be a special election,” he said.

            In other news, the committee received written confirmation dated July 15 from the state Attorney General’s Office that it found no grounds to pursue the Open Meeting Law complaint filed by Mattapoisett resident Stephanie Clark.

            The AG’s Office determined that the October 22, 6:30 pm Mattapoisett School Committee meeting notice in dispute had been posted on October 20 at approximately 4:10 pm by the town clerk on a bulletin board outside Town Hall, satisfying both the 48-hour time and official posting-location requirements.

            The committee will next meet toward the end of August.

Mattapoisett School Committee

By Mick Colageo

Bike Path Bridge Planks Failing

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            It came at the end of a long Planning Board meeting – troubling revelations that the planking on Mattapoisett’s heralded bike path Phase 1b was failing.

            Planning Board Administrator Mike Gagne advised the board members of discussions that have taken place with state agencies involved in the design and construction oversight of what is hoped to one day be a scenic recreational pathway through marshland and water features dubbed “The Shining Tides Pathway.”

            Gagne explained the series of events that brought this matter to attention. He said that several community members with professional engineering backgrounds have noticed problems with the planking along the bridge at Goodspeed Island beach. Those residents contacted Town Administrator Mike Lorenco with their observations and concerns. Lorenco wasted no time in contacting the local office of MassDOT to discuss the matter. Not receiving adequate responses as more community members noticed problems, Lorenco contacted Representative Bill Straus to assist and to engage MassDOT in the Boston office.

            “Three months ago, with the town administrator, we expressed our concerns over the material on the bridge,” Gagne began. He said that the planking used between the Goodspeed Island beach spanning over the Eel Pond breach is different material than that used in other locations along the pathway. “The planks are warping, and the laminated material is splitting,” he stated. Gagne said that the town has expressed its deep concerns over the defective materials and likely liability and costs the town would incur if those planks remain in place.

            “The town is on top of this [and] has stated [its] concerns over the long-term impact of the delaminating materials,” Gagne said, adding that some planks show knots that have fallen out.

            In a follow-up, Gagne said that the MassDOT design team had looked for “alternative analysis,” (cost-saving measures), to reduce materials expenses. “It’s a common practice.” He said that with Straus’ intervention it now appears that the state will bring in a third-party engineer to evaluate the situation and determine if the planks need replacement or can be remediated. That process is pending, he said.

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

            In other business, a 30-minute meeting with members of Beals and Thomas, the engineering firm overseeing the plans for a large solar array off Randall Lane, produced little in the way of forward movement for the project.

            Discussion themes included the more than 100 items identified by the town’s peer review consultants, BETA Engineering, and Beals and Thomas’ responses, as well as plans to subdivide the acreage into four lots in an effort to achieve permittable frontage for the project. Present was Town Counsel Jonathan Silverstein of KP Law, who said it is up to the Planning Board to determine if the existing roadway is sufficient for the use intended. He also said that frontage requirements are not exempted for solar projects. The hearing was continued until August 16.

            Continued until August 2 was an Approval Not Required petition filed by John Romanelli for property located on Dupont Street. Also continued was an ANR filed by David Monterio for lots located off Locust Street, and by the Town of Mattapoisett for lots located off Tinkham Hill Road. Adding to the August 2 agenda will be a continuation of a Definitive Subdivision planned for Park Lane Extension filed by Andre Rieksts, Scott Atkinson, and Margo Wilson-Atkinson.

            A nearly 30-minute discussion regarding the fate of a tree located at the intersection of North Street and Church Street was continued until September 20 after it was disclosed that the tree may not be located on a designated scenic roadway. Tree Warden Roland Cote had advocated for the tree’s removal due to its compromised health.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, August 2, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

Time Capsule Memories

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            Fifty years ago, John DeCosta Jr. was a little boy whose father was deeply involved in all things local. As a selectman and member of various clubs and organizations, DeCosta Senior was there lending support. What his son witnessed was the importance of community involvement.

            When DeCosta Junior became selectman in 2020, one of the fun things he had hoped to assist with was the opening of a time capsule planted during the construction of what is now known as the gazebo but to longtime residents more affectionally known as the bandstand. The laying of the time capsule capped a year-long labor of love that would manifest itself into a new, far more visually appealing bandstand in 1971. DeCosta passed away in April, thus never seeing the time capsule opening that took place at 7:30 pm on July 17, 2021.

            But before we get to the opening of the time capsule, let’s walk a little further down Memory Lane to how this landmark, situated on the banks of Mattapoisett Harbor, came to be.

            As the history goes, the 1938 hurricane took out the original bandstand on the southwest corner of Shipyard Park, necessitating the rebuilding of that structure. After all, the town band, under the leadership of Bandmaster John Pandolfi, needed a place to play, and the popularity of square dancing still held its charm with many people flocking to the bandstand during long summer evenings to dance and watch others twirl to live music.

            But the replacement bandstand, which looked something like a raised deck, would eventually also need replacing. Armed with a conceptual design created by John Doran, Bruce Rocha Sr. brought that concept to the band and the Lions Club. Soon the concept began to take shape. In November 1969, the Bandstand Committee was formed. Along with Rocha, committee members were Paul Alves, Jr., Mrs. Louis Corey, George King, Archibald Lammey, Donald Finley, and Mrs. Alden Kinney.

            Rocha was appointed as clerk of works and spent time researching design concepts. The group would eventually accept a design by Doran. Fundraising became a critical activity and would ultimately raise the $6,000 needed for the project. The committee members reached out to local businesses for support and also sold ceramic plaques and director chairs that helped to generate interest and the much-needed cash. Rocha recently confirmed, “The town didn’t pay a dime; it was all through donations.”

            Presto Press coverage of the year-long effort was frequently published. The Presto Press would become an integral part of the final story.

            “In an effort to gain public support for the proposed new bandstand for Shipyard Park, members gave unanimous approval to the suggestion that an invitation be extended to each leader of a local civic organization to meet with the Mattapoisett Band Committee for a discussion,“ The Presto Press reported in 1970. One group stepping up to meet the financing challenge was the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club. This organization alone donated $1,000, reports recorded.

            A meeting with Pandolfi in the early weeks after the committee was established was reported by The Presto Press this way: “Pandolfi presented his view, necessary requirements such as proper acoustics and floor space for some 50 players … also present was Mr. Winfield Jenney, president of the Square Dance Association, and Mr. Samuel Bertram, president of the Mattapoisett Improvement Association.”

            Volunteers of all stripes helped to make the dream of a new “gazebo-like” structure possible, a place where the town band could hold concerts and where the community could gather for various events. From fundraising to donating labor and equipment, Rocha recalls, “The community came together.

            “It wasn’t just one person,” he reminisced, “everyone stepped up to the plate.” Of the people who donated their time and or money to the community project, Rocha said, “They worked nights and weekends willingly.”

            The Presto Press reported in June 1971 that Rocha stated, “Progress on the build is going well after a wet winter and spring. Electric was been installed.” As clerk of the works, Rocha reported the progress to the committee saying, “Nineteen months of hard drive on the part of not only the committee members but also that of the numerous volunteer townspeople, fund collectors and workers at the site…” Completion was a mere few weeks away at that point.

            The idea of placing a time capsule under the completed bandstand became a reality when Dr. Donald Nahigyan donated a copper capsule into which notable items were placed and then buried under the structure.

            When recently asked what was inside the soon-to-be-opened time capsule, Rocha said, “Mostly paper,” but without stating what kind or why. The secret remained well-guarded until the opening.

            Back to John DeCosta Jr. – he wanted the capsule opened on the 50th anniversary of its placement. To honor his memory, the Lions Club did just that.

            With an eager crowd of onlookers cheering him on, current Lions Club President Ross Kessler descended into the murky pit where the capsule had lain these five decades. Rocha accepted the contents and read from several pages of The Presto Press. The capsule contained a type-written ledger of all who had donated their time, talents, and money to the building of the new bandstand. It also was crammed full of articles written by Presto Press reporters about the inception and final creation of the bandstand.

            Kessler didn’t commit to when the Lion’s Club might refill the capsule for a future opening, but he said he felt certain it would happen and should include the placement of “a cellphone,” he said with a hearty chuckle.

            One final note, in honoring John DeCosta Jr.’s memory with the capsule opening, it was disclosed by Rocha afterwards that the intention was to open it in 100 years, not 50. Methinks John would have found that rather funny.

By Marilou Newell

Mattapoisett Road Race

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It’s an atypical year, so the Mattapoisett Road Race Committee is hosting an atypical version of our race – a 5K in August! Race Day is August 21 at 9:00 am. We have the same mission: To support our collegebound ORRHS 2021 seniors. There will be a new shortened course to enjoy, which wends through the scenic village, circles the treasured Ned’s Point Lighthouse, and finishes at our charming Shipyard Park. Entries online at www.mattapoisettroadrace.com. Entry fee is $30 and non-refundable. August 1 is the online registration deadline for those wanting t-shirts. August 19 is the online registration for all others. August 21, 7:30 am – 8:30 am, in the tent at Shipyard Park for t-shirt and/or number pick-up. The starting point is North Street between Captain’s Lane and Church Street. The race director will instruct runners when to proceed to the start. Parking for runners is at Center School, Ying Dynasty, or St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. All ORRHS 2021 Seniors may go to our website to apply for the Mattapoisett Road Race college stipends.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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As most know, Old Rochester was made up of several sections that created village centers of their own due to the difficulties in traveling to the town center for church and town meetings. It was a long trek by foot, horseback, or wagon. Two of those sections (Mattapoisett and Marion) solved their travel problems by separating from the mother town in the 1800s.

            The North Rochester section of town was not created out of land that was part of the Proprietor’s agreement with the Plymouth Court, rather it was purchased directly from the Native Americans. In 1673, land was bought from Tuspaquin in what was known as the “South Purchase.” Most of the land was Middleboro, but a section that wrapped around the top of Snipatuit Pond was combined with land from another purchase to create North Rochester.

            The North Rochester part of town was closer to both Middleboro and Freetown on their borders than to Rochester center, especially since Neck Road, the quickest route, ended at the shores of Snipatuit Pond, necessitating the use of a longer more roundabout route, so North Rochester had its own church, stores, farms, and businesses. However, rather than seeking to separate, they desired a quicker route to the town center. The solution, a causeway, had both its defenders and detractors. Those against its construction believed the pond to be too deep and, therefore, the cost too high.

            I’ve heard two stories as to how the matter was resolved. The first had the state involved and an intrepid resident taking off his shoes and rolling up his trousers and walking across the pond to prove its shallow depth. The next and maybe more accurate story was, in order to show the shallowness of the water, Town Meeting was held at the south end of Neck Road. The North Rochester men waded across to attend, and the causeway proposal passed.

            The original causeway was built by hand using tipcarts. Gravel came from the land of John and Peleg Clark at the south end and from the land of Hosea Maxim on the north end. A stone culvert was left open to allow for water to flow. The causeway was finished in 1879 and the first people to drive across in a carriage were 5-year-old George Cowan and his parents.

By Connie Eshbach

Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Workshop

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Join us on Zoom to learn about a Hazard Mitigation Plan on Tuesday, July 27th at 6 PM. The Town of Marion is working colloboratively with the Woods Hole Group on a Hazard Mitigation Plan. Having a Hazard Mitigation Plan makes the Town eligible for mitigation grants and non-emergency disaster assistance programs. Woods Hole Group will be hosting a public virtual workshop on what is a Hazard Mitigation Plan, what programs it makes the Town available for, and what vulnerabilities and mitigation actions the Town can do to better prepare us for the future of hazards. 

This effort is part of the 2017 Marion Master Plan’s Coastal Resiliency goals and will assist in potential future funding for a new Creek Road pumping station. The Hazard Mitigation Plan is being funded through a grant applied for and received by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  

Residents can join the Zoom meeting via the link and information below:

Topic: Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Workshop
Time: Jul 27, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81461102735?pwd=UHBWR3lnOGtpamFpK1JyS1dvYWd0Zz09

Meeting ID: 814 6110 2735
Passcode: 606622

Residents can also join by phone by calling 646-558-8665.

Young People’s Concert

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The Marion Concert Band continues its Friday evening concert series with a Young People’s Concert on Friday, July 23. The concert will include an opportunity for children in the audience to play rhythm instruments with the band. The program is as follows: Children’s March – E. F. Goldman; Looney Tunes Overture – B. Holcombe; A Disney Spectacular – arr. J. Moss

A Trumpeter’s Lullaby – L. Anderson; Journey to the Lion’s Castle – R. Galante; Pixar Movie Magic – arr. M. Brown; Highlights from Frozen – arr. Sean O’Loughlin; Variations on “Bingo” – S. Reisteter; The Candy Man (from Willie Wonka) – A. Newley; Walt Disney Overture – J. Christensen; The Wizard of Oz Fantasy – H. Arlen; Moana – arr. J. Bocook; Shrek Dance Party – arr. P. Murtha.

            Trumpet soloist Robert Couto, a native of New Bedford, was a member of the United Sates Navy Band from 1992 to 2016. He earned a Bachelor of Music from The Hartt School of Music in 1989 and a Master of Music from The Juilliard School in 1991. He has performed with the Hartford, New Haven, Maryland, and Annapolis Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Berkshire Opera Company, and has also appeared with notable conductors Leonard Slatkin, Kurt Masur, and Zubin Mehta. Couto is a former member of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and the George Washington Faculty Brass Quintet. His teachers include Ray Mase, Chris Gekker, Roger Murtha, and Jack Martin.

            The concert, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00 pm at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf, off Front Street in Marion. All concerts are free and open to the public. ‘Like’ us on Facebook at “Marion Town Band” for up-to-date announcements and rain cancellation notices.

Chief Pleads Not Guilty to OUI Charge

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            Mattapoisett Police Chief Mary R. Lyons pleaded not guilty to the charge of Operating Under the Influence during an arraignment held on Monday, July 19, in Falmouth District Court.

            The charge stems from a weekend incident in which Lyons was driving northbound on Route 28 in Bourne and was pulled over by Massachusetts State Police. It was determined on the scene that Lyons was operating her vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

            In response to the incident, Mattapoisett Town Administrator Mike Lorenco released a statement on Monday afternoon: “The Town is continuing to investigate the incident involving our Chief of Police, Mary Lyons. At this time, the Chief has been placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately. The Police Department will be under the direction of Captain [Jason] King until further notice. The Town at this time cannot comment more on the matter as we must protect the integrity of the investigation and the ongoing legal proceedings.”

            Lorenco had told The Wanderer earlier on Monday that after the arraignment he planned to meet personally with Lyons and the Select Board, Jordan Collyer and Jodi Lynn Bauer, and then determine an immediate course of action. He released a statement in the morning, saying, “The Town is taking the matter very seriously and is thoroughly examining the details of the case. Citizens can expect appropriate and swift action following our investigation.”

            At Tuesday night’s Mattapoisett Select Board meeting, Vice Chair Jordan Collyer reiterated Lorenco’s comments and asked for the public’s patience while town officials continue their investigation into the matter.

            Also facing a marked lanes violation, Lyons, 61, was released on her own personal recognizance with the promise to appear back in court on August 31 for a pre-trial hearing. A message seeking comment from Lyons’ attorney, Robert Nolan, was not returned in time for this edition.

            State Trooper Patrick Bosworth reported an arrest at 10:52 pm on July 17, having observed Lyons’ 2014 Lexus GX460 SUV moving part way into the left lane and back into the right lane on Route 28 northbound in Falmouth and Bourne. The arrest report alleges an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, bloodshot and glassy eyes, and swayed body movement on the part of Lyons. It also says that she failed a visual-acuity test at the scene.

            The report states that Lyons denied having anything to drink that night and told the officer that her hips and knees would prevent her from being able to complete the physical tests that the officer had told her were needed to determine whether she was OK to drive. The report further states that Lyons pretended to blow into the Preliminary Breath Test equipment, and it was determined on the scene that she was intoxicated.

            When the police cruiser arrived at the State Police Bourne Barracks, Lyons had already freed herself of the handcuffs that had been placed on her at the scene. The report said the handcuffs were placed in front of rather than behind Lyons to assist her mobility.

            Lyons, who had told the arresting officer that she was coming from a golf course, was the sole occupant in the vehicle, which contained golf clubs, according to the report.

            Lyons has served as Mattapoisett chief of police since January 1, 2001. She joined the town’s Police Department as an officer on June 25, 1985.

By Mick Colageo

Solutions Remain a Work in Progress

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            With so much to consider from every corner of the community, the Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee, a body of some 20 volunteers, has discussed a wide variety of topics since the beginning of the year. From the needs of senior citizens to the needs of school-age children, from street improvement projects to climate resiliency issues, from the future of municipal buildings to playgrounds and recreational opportunities and the use and care of coastal assets; simply put, it is a great deal to consider.

            But, moreover, once the committee has completed its work, how do identified wants and needs get funded and shepherded to reality? That was the big question asked during the group’s July 9 meeting.

            About midway through the hour-long meeting, member Yamin Flefeh asked the most compelling question set before any municipal committee: “Where does the money come from for all these good ideas … this never-ending wish list?”

            Planning Board Administrator Mike Gagne responded, saying that a list of wants and needs would have to be prioritized and presented to the Select Board and the Finance Committee. But who or what entity would have ownership for completion of projects identified in a Master Plan fell into a gray area. Gagne suggested that it could possibly be the role of the Planning Board to bring the Master Plan document from the shelf to the conference table in an annual effort to use the document to its fullest potential.

            Member Nathan Ketchel, who is also on the Planning Board, asked, “Should we bring it up with Capital Planning, should we invite them to attend our September meeting?”

            Member Bob Bergman, who also sits on the Capital Planning Committee, said that in its research the CPC found there were projects and areas in the community that seemed to have no oversight from any municipal entity. “Some things are not governed by anyone at Town Hall,” said Bergman, who went on to say that the CPC is trying to identify and tie down such matters in order to present more comprehensive information to taxpayers. He also expressed caution, saying, “But there are limitations to funding, so prioritization has to happen.”

            Some of the ideas floated out by the committee on this night included construction of a playground at the Holy Ghost grounds, a town-owned property that this group and the Recreation Department have identified as underutilized, along with an outdoor stage for live performances and events, and a possible repurposing of the soon-to-be-decommissioned fire station.

            Master Plan Committee and Planning Board member Janice Robbins thought that exploration of “the good things we already have” would be beneficial, and that a new cultural committee might take charge of such matters.

            Committee member Carole Clifford said that the town does have a Cultural Council funded in part by the state and the town whose role is to evaluate grant applications and distribute the funds based on their direct or close impact on the community. She also pointed out that different groups such as the Mattapoisett Land Trust and Mattapoisett Museum are actively coordinating programing in joint ventures.

            The lack of public access to stretches of coastline was once again discussed with no resolution. And, once again, the repairs and improvements needed on several of the town’s cherished wharves were noted.

            Sandy Hering of the Tree Committee brought up the possibility of community gardens with Clifford suggesting the Holy Ghost grounds as a worthy location to consider.

            Many potential projects were discussed, but the burning question of how to complete even one remained open as the committee adjourned.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Master Plan is scheduled for Wednesday, August 4, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee

By Marilou Newell