Nasketucket Bird Club

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The next meeting of the Nasketucket Bird Club will be on Wednesday, April 24, at 6:30 pm at the Mattapoisett Public Library, 7 Barstow Street. Free and open to the public. More bird info at the Nasketucket Bird Club website: www.nbcbirdclub.com or the Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/NasketucketBirdClub

            Woodpeckers, Presented by Dana and Bob Duxbury-Fox. Come and hear Dana and Bob tell the fascinating story about the Woodpecker family of birds. With 233 species in the world, they are found almost worldwide where trees are abundant. They can’t sing like some other birds, but they certainly can make a lot of noise. They don’t migrate but survive on a variety of foods. They are the super craftsmen of the bird world using their bill like a chisel. Their four legs hold them vertically firm on a tree while they carve out their spacious homes and find food. We will go a bit deeper to see how this family evolved, their special biology and how they live in difficult locations. Of course, we have come up with some interesting stories about many of the most interesting species that might surprise you.

Seniors Learn about Financial Wellness

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Superintendent Michael S. Nelson and Principal Mike Devoll are pleased to share that Old Rochester Regional High School hosted its inaugural Credit for Life Fair on April 10.

            The fair aims to help students learn about budgeting and money management skills, as well as starting to think about building healthy financial habits.

            Prior to the event, students selected a career of interest. Based on the associated salary of their chosen occupation, students were tasked with budgeting real-life expenses during the fair, such as housing, transportation, education, insurance and more. They were given checking and savings accounts and a credit card. They were also hit with real-life, pop-up scenarios along the way, such as their luggage being lost, expenses from their best friend’s wedding, saving money on insurance for safe driving, and receiving grant money for school.

            “Most high schoolers don’t have an understanding of what credit is, what a credit card is, or when to use it,” ORR senior Hunter Bishop said. “The best part of the event was learning how to manage our finances and knowing what accounts (credit, checking, savings) we should be paying for things with. It felt very interactive, and everyone ended up learning something.”

            Overall, the fair seeks to give students a “reality check” on how much money they would realistically be working with given the selected career, what their expenses may look like and how they can live within their budget.

            “It was exciting to host our first Credit for Life Fair this week to help our students learn about developing healthy financial habits,” Superintendent Nelson said. “Budgeting, saving and other skills students practiced through the Credit for Life scenarios are a valuable part of financial literacy education. We are grateful to host events like this that allow students to participate in hands-on, realistic learning experiences and ask questions of professionals.”

            Prior to the fair, Jim Curran presented to seniors about the FitMoney financial literacy certificate program, the five habits for financial wellness and using a household budget calculator.

            High school students throughout Massachusetts participate in the Credit for Life Fair in the spring. It is put on by a group of local banks that partner to support financial literacy in Massachusetts public schools.

UCT to Host Lacrosse Out Cancer

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Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School is proud to host a Lacrosse Out Cancer Challenge on Saturday, May 4 at Upper Cape Tech’s Football Field, offering an afternoon of competitive lacrosse games and comradery as they rally together to raise awareness for pediatric cancer research.

            Lacrosse Out Cancer is a lacrosse based “challenge” to raise awareness for the benefit of pediatric cancer research. Individual athletes or teams may pledge involvement for the purpose of awareness or to raise donations for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. The pledge is to participate in 47 reps on a daily or weekly basis to represent the 47 children diagnosed every day with pediatric cancer.

            On May 4, the below match-ups will be hosted on Upper Cape Tech’s Football Field:

            Girls Varsity Lacrosse vs South Shore 12:00 pm

            Boys ‘Varsity Lacrosse vs South Shore 1:30 pm

            Boys’ JV Lacrosse vs South Shore 3:00 pm

            There will be a suggested donation price for the game of $4.00 for students and $7.00 for adults. All proceeds will go towards the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. We hope that together we can Lacrosse Out Cancer and make a meaningful impact against pediatric cancer.

Town Officials Navigate ZBA Process

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               Rochester’s Zoning Board of Appeals on April 11 approved projects proposed and therefore expertly defended by two Town Hall officials.

               The board endorsed the variance of the required, 40-foot, side setback for a one-story, one-bedroom addition at 17 Gerrish Road proposed by Finance Committee Chairman Kris Stoltenberg and a Special Permit for the conversion of a basement into a dwelling unit at 305 Braley Hill Road filed by ZBA member Donald Spirlet.

               Both decisions hinged on the applicants’ careful arguments in favor of their petitions rather than any insider influence. Stoltenberg said the goal is for him and his wife to remain in their Gerrish Road home. Because of their age, he said, it has been a challenge to access their upstairs bedroom. “A first-floor bedroom would allow us to ‘age in place’ as they say,” he said.

               Stoltenberg said his 24×24-foot bedroom addition with bathroom and closet would match the colonial style of the existing home. It would be financially detrimental for them to have to move and difficult to place this addition elsewhere on the property, and the new space will be of no detriment to the neighborhood or the public good.

               Board member Jeffrey Costa commended Stoltenberg for hitting all three points important to qualifying for such a variance. The board approved, allowing a 5.5-foot side setback variance for the project, a 34.4-foot setback rather than the statutory 40-foot requirement.

               Spirlet said he had built his Braley Hill Road home with the intent of someday finishing the basement. He would now like to finish 50% of that basement to build a second kitchen with bathroom and laundry room. He said his three “rowdy” grandsons need a place to play where their noise won’t disturb the upstairs.

               Referring to the requirements for approval of a Special Permit, he said the change is appropriate to the site, as it is a residential use. There is adequate space for the new use, and the plan offers no hazard to pedestrians or vehicle. “Abutters know what I am doing,” Spirlet said.

               Board members approved the Special Permit after agreeing the plan fits all the criteria for what it called a “multifamily conversion” of the basement space. Conditions included that one unit within “remain owner-occupied” and that the new space not be used for a short-term rental.

               In other business, the ZBA announced it will attend a joint meeting with the Planning Board on May 14 at the Rochester Senior Center for the 0 New Bedford Road Briggs petition.

               Thomas Flynn, who served as acting chairman, reported this would be his last meeting as a Zoning Board member. He has been a ZBA member since 2011.

               The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals will meet next on Thursday, May 9, at 7:15 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals

By Michael J. DeCicco

Tri-Town Hiking Challenge

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Mattapoisett Land Trust is introducing the “Hike50 Challenge” in celebration of their 50th anniversary this year. From May 1 through August 31 of this year, MLT challenges you to hit the trails in the Tri-Town and log 50 miles of hiking.

            This Hike50 Challenge is a fun incentive for folks to explore trails and get outdoors in Mattapoisett, Marion, and Rochester. Participants are encouraged to log miles on trails managed by Mattapoisett Land Trust, Rochester Land Trust, Sippican Lands Trust, and the Buzzards Bay Coalition within the Tri-Town community. Those who log 50 miles by August 31 will receive a special edition MLT 50th anniversary baseball hat, 50th anniversary stickers, and a complimentary 1-year membership with MLT.

            Go online to mattlandtrust.org/about/50th-anniversary to read the rules of the challenge and to print out your own mileage tracker. Mattapoisett Land Trust will host a kick-off hike soon as a way to jump start your mileage, so keep an eye on their events calendar. What better way to celebrate MLT’s 50th anniversary than exploring the ecosystems they have conserved.

RMS Hosts Wind Turbine Workshop

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Old Rochester Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson and Rochester Memorial School Principal Heidi Letendre are pleased to share that Rochester Memorial School fourth-graders participated in an interactive wind turbine workshop last month.

            In March, teacher Stephanie Cyr and her fourth-grade class welcomed special guests Tom Lynch and Jason Brooks, the father of fourth-grade student Nicholas Brooks. Both Lynch and Brooks are experts from the Axess Group, a renewable energy corporation.

            “We are very fortunate to have had a visit from two experts in the renewable energy field,” said Nelson. “This visit not only enhances students understanding of sustainable practices but also inspires them to become future leaders in environmental renewable energy.”

            Throughout the interactive workshop, students learned about the various components of a wind turbine and how they function to harness energy. Students learned about Lynch’s and Brooks’ involvement working on one of the first offshore windfarms in the U.S., Vineyard Wind.

            They were shown job site photos of the different equipment parts used to make the wind turbines. Students learned that the enormous blades, which were described as being 50 feet longer than a football field can reach up to speeds of 180 miles per hour.

            The highlight of the day was a hands-on activity where students had the opportunity to construct their own miniature wind turbines. The students were divided into groups to assemble their model turbines. After completing their designs, the class engaged in a friendly competition to see which group of students could optimize their turbine’s performance to generate the most energy.

            “As a school, we are very grateful that Mr. Brooks and Mr. Lynch, from Axess Group, took the time to share their expertise on wind turbines with Mrs. Cyr’s fourth grade class,” Letendre said. “The students were completely engaged in the scientific process of making predictions, testing their hypothesis and problem solving together as a team. These real-world experiences are so important for our students to make connections to what engineering looks like in our everyday lives.”

            Students placed their turbine designs in front of an industrial fan and watched the digital reading on the nacelle, which houses all of the generating components in a wind turbine, including the generator, gearbox and drive train.

            “The opportunity for our students to engage with real-world experts like Jason and Tom is truly enriching,” said Cyr. “Not only did they learn about wind turbines, but they also experienced firsthand the thrill of scientific discovery and collaboration.”

Energy Management Committee

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To the Editor;

            Save our Green Community Designation. It’s hard to believe that the Town of Marion would vote to end its status as a Green Community, but the Select Board is considering it. Marion’s Energy Management

Committee (EMC) brought this program to the town seven years ago believing that we should support the Commonwealth’s effort to reverse or mitigate climate change. Destructive storms, weird weather and global warming will come to Marion just as they have in the rest of the world unless we all join the effort to reverse the trend.

            Since 2017 we have won Green Community Grants for more than $548,000 to build energy conservation measures in municipal buildings. So far we have succeeded in reducing the municipal energy use by 24%, providing repeated annual savings worth about $200,000 each year. The energy audits and engineering for these municipal projects was paid for with Green Communities grants.

            Three building codes regulate construction in MA (Base, Stretch and Specialized). All 291 Green Communities have recognized the need to build homes with higher standards of insulation and lower carbon emissions, but now our Select Board is considering a switch from the Stretch Code to the Base Code in hopes that it will encourage construction with fewer energy conservation measures for a lower price.

            Towns on the Base Code are generally known for doing as little as possible in the fight against climate change. I would rather that Marion follow the more responsible path and continue its campaign for a healthier world.

            Energy Management Committee members recommend that we stay with the Stretch Code and remain a Green Community. Let’s hope that the Select Board and others in this beautiful town will agree when the issue comes to a vote.

Bill Saltonstall

Member of Energy Management Committee

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

Ingrid Elizabeth Hellgren

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            Ingrid Elizabeth Hellgren, born on April 26, 1958, spent the summers of her childhood on Converse Road in Marion with her late grandparents, Harry and Thelma Kramer Ostenfeld; and lived there most recently from 2011 through 2013. The youngest child of the late Tage and Beryl Ostenfeld Hellgren, Ingrid was born in the Poconos of Pennsylvania and lived there for 19 years. She passed away suddenly on January 6, 2024 in Port Charlotte, Florida leaving a void in many hearts.

            Ingrid loved Silvershell Beach! It was the first place she wanted to go when she arrived on Converse Road as a child, and her favorite place to relax, read, and think as an adult. Like her grandmother Thelma, a pianist and music teacher, Ingrid loved music, learning several instruments, and attending as many live music events as possible throughout her life, including Friday night band concerts. She also loved to spend time with Gilda at the Stone Rooster, helping with preparations for the regular jazz nights in the summer.

            An excellent and very creative cook and baker, Ingrid loved making special things for neighbors and friends, and always kept them laughing with her quirky sense of humor. Along with music and baking, Ingrid loved animals, especially elephants and ponies, though she never had one of her own. However, while a teenager in Pennsylvania, she worked at a wild animal farm where she cared for many exotics including Boa Constrictors, Tarantulas, and a Siberian tiger. Her own pets also included spiders and snakes, as well as a raccoon, squirrel, and many cats. Her beloved dogs, Hooligan, a Jack Russell and Kona, a Golden Lab, loved exploring Washburn Park in the summer, and running along Silvershell in the winter.

            Ingrid is survived by her partner, Chuck Trites of Port Charlotte; her children, Carmine P. Crudele (Jennifer) of Plantation and Britt A. Crudele (Tyler Auner) of Tamarac, both in Florida; her sisters, Tonie Y. Waters of Inverness, FL and Janne Hellgren (Jack Boesen) of Marion, and her brother, Peter B. Hellgren of Stroudsburg. She is also survived by her nephews, Christian P. Waters of Cadillac, MI, and Erik L. Waters of Inverness; maternal cousins, Kenneth and Michael Grieve and Kat Gray and their families in Michigan; and her paternal uncle Ebbe Hellgren and cousins Jorgen and Ariel Hellgren and their families in Sweden. She was predeceased by her sister, Christa R. Hellgren, and by her aunt, Joan Ostenfeld Grieve (Tabor ’54).

            A Celebration of Life will be held on her birthday on Ft. Myers Beach in Florida. Remembrances would be greatly appreciated to a food bank or an animal rescue facility.

Concrete Splash Pad Approved

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            Coming before the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission on April 16 was David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone, Inc., representing 18 Water Street Realty trust. The trust had filed a Request for Determination of Applicability for proposed repair to eroded areas of a seaside lawn and the addition of a 6 inch by 3 foot concrete pad along an existing concrete pad which was also referred to as a splash pad.

            Davignon said that the concrete pad would help to control erosion from wave action topping the seawall. But before approving the application with a Negative Box 2 decision, the commissioners expressed skepticism that such a plan would control erosion from storm-related, wave action. They agreed that it was likely more requests such as this will come forward as more storms and their veracity become more damaging to waterside structures.

            In other business, a RDA filed by David Duchaine, Ocean Drive, for the construction of a gravel driveway to a buildable lot received a Negative Box 2 decision. Also represented by Davignon, the project is in preparation for construction of a home.

            An After the Fact Notice of Intent filing by Lauren and John Hartnett, 6 Ocean View Avenue, was conditioned with the additional condition that future repairs to an existing seawall may be maintained with notice to the office prior to the commencement of work.

            Environmental Agent Brandon Faneuf’s team reported that The Bogs, owned by the Buzzards Bay Coalition and currently under an Enforcement Order after erosion controls failed allowing the transfer of soils off the site located on Acushnet Road, stated that work was proceeding as planned. It was noted that the BBC’s plan to return the agricultural bogs to their natural state was nearing completion. Hydroseeding and bridge installations are also complete.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

Spring Show Surprises

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Surprises are in store for you art lovers. Just go to the Marion Art Center – where else! The MAC’s spring art exhibit features two artists whose works are as different as is possible to conceive but whose backgrounds are rich in a variety of artistic expression. Bernie Klim works are primarily acrylic on canvas. Joshua Baptista’s pieces are ink on collage paper and mixed media.

            Klim’s are drawn from the natural environment, whereas Baptista’s are from architecture and personal experiences. Both styles are rapturous in their own way.

            Baptista hails from the Boston area, now residing in Wareham, and has pursued a career teaching art. He completed his Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Montserrat Collage of Art in 2002. Later he pursued a Master’s in Fine Art from the American University in Washington in 2008.

            Baptista said the pieces in this exhibit are heavily influenced by the “skateboard” culture as well as producing works with a “hesher” mindset, which is described as a bit gritty and filled with oddities. We thought Baptista’s works were intriguing, precisely executed and indicated his ability to draw the viewers’ eyes deep into their core.

            The layering of paper and cut images gives this group of works a dense, intense drama accentuated by the stark contrast of black ink on pale paper. The images evoke a world tilted on its side, peopled by skeletons. But it is not threatening, it is engaging, and the depictions of Providence-based, Victorian Era structures are exquisite in their form and detail.

            We thought it reminded us of Edward Gorey meets 21st Century Goth, and they lived happily ever after.

            Klim is well-known for his artistic interpretations of south coast themes such as marshlands, woodlands and the like.

            We interviewed him in August of 2023, at which time he shared studying at the Massachusetts College of Art where he earned a BFA. He later earned a master’s in education. He described his method as “…expressive, reactionary, impromptu, quick,” likening it to alla prima (applying a single layer of paint versus layering to create depth and light).

            In Klim’s paintings, the sense of soaring plants heavily leafed with sunsets is pure brilliance; one doesn’t see the quickly applied brushstrokes, one sees intention and purpose and, yes, beauty. Klim believes in letting those initial, rapidly applied brushstrokes carry him along, leading to an emotional experience – he simply lets go and trusts the process.

            The exhibit will be available for viewing now through May 17. Marion Art Center, 80 Pleasant Street (corner of Main Street at Bicentennial Park) and is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Marion Art Center

By Marilou Newell