Academic Achievements

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Charlotte Cole and Elle Gendreau of Mattapoisett been named to the Spring 2021 Dean’s List at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. Full-time students who complete 12 or more credits per semester and earn a GPA of 3.4 or higher are placed on the Dean’s List that semester.

            College of Charleston congratulates more than 2,200 students who were named to Spring 2021 President’s List and Dean’s List including: Julia Jeffries of Marion, who was named to the President’s List. Jeffries is majoring in Business Administration. Jack Howard of Marion was named to the Dean’s List. Howard is majoring in Undecided.

            The following Tri-Town residents were among the students who received their degrees in May as part of the Class of 2021at Roger Williams University: Nicholas Ferreira of Rochester graduates Cum Laude with a B.S. in Computer Science/Custom Specialization; Celeste Hartley of Rochester graduates Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Engineering/Civil Engineering Specialization; Emily Kiehl of Marion graduates Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Marketing; Madeline Pope of Mattapoisett graduates with a B.S. in Marketing.

            Rochester resident Hannah Nadeau has been named to Husson University’s President’s List for the Spring 2021 semester. During the spring semester, Nadeau was enrolled in Husson’s Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies/Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program.

            Hannah Guard of Marion, a Commonwealth Honors College student at the University of Massachusetts, completed a double major in biochemistry and molecular biology, and in public health sciences, with a minor in psychology. Motivated by her grandmother’s dementia, Guard became involved in Students to End Alzheimer’s Disease. As an executive board member, she led successful fundraising and outreach efforts. Following her passion to be a scientist who works to prevent dementia and other diseases, Guard immersed herself in epidemiology to learn concepts that could connect her knowledge of biochemistry to helping people. She spent five semesters as a research assistant for the UMass Breast Health Study, exploring breast cancer risk factors. For her honors thesis, Guard explored the relationship between bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental chemical, and inflammatory makers in breast milk of nursing mothers. This research could further the understanding of breast cancer risk. To further her career dedicated to preventing neurodegenerative conditions, Guard will begin the master’s program in epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health next fall.

Reading Frederick Douglass Together

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On Saturday, July 3, at 10:00 am, the Marion Art Center will present Reading Frederick Douglass Together, a public reading of Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” in Bicentennial Park, located at 1 Spring Street in Marion. Bicentennial Park is located directly across the street from the MAC, at the corner of Main and Spring Streets in Marion. Guests should bring their own chairs or picnic blanket to the event and should arrive about ten minutes early to find a seat in the park. The presentation of this public reading is a statewide initiative coordinated by Mass Humanities, a generous sponsor of this free community event.

            A diverse group of orators will present an abridged version of the speech, including additional remarks, and the reading will run about 45 minutes. There will be a Q&A to follow – all guests are invited to join this informal discussion. The entire program should last about an hour. A paper version of the speech, along with a list of community conversation starters, will be available to guests immediately following the reading. The Marion Art Center will also provide coffee and tea at the event.

            Program scholar Dr. Moise St Louis, Assistant Dean of Students/Director of the Frederick Douglass Unity House at and Interim Associate Vice Chancellor at UMass Dartmouth, will give remarks and help lead an informal group discussion at the event. The FDUH is “an intercultural center that empowers and transforms the student experience, through activities and initiatives designed to challenge, foster, and enrich the cultural life of the UMassD community. Unity House places a particular emphasis on providing a supportive environment for the academic, cultural, recreational, and social pursuits of UMassD’s ALANA students –African/Black, Latin@/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American/Indigenous – and social justice allies.” Dr. St Louis holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Politics/International Relations as well as the following degrees: B.A. in Social Thought and Political Economy, B.A. in Afro-American Studies, a B.A. in Political Science, and M.A. in Comparative Politics.

            Reading Frederick Douglass together is presented by the MAC in partnership with Tri-Town Against Racism, a local grassroots organization whose mission is “to intentionally create an anti-racist environment for our citizens. In doing so, we seek to target systemic, institutional, and structural racism within the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester.”

            Reading Frederick Douglass Together is free and open to the public. Additional resources can be found at masshumanities.org/programs/douglass/douglass-resources. Please contact the MAC with questions by emailing info@marionartcenter.org or by calling 508-748-1266.

New Police Sergeant a Marion First

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            The Town of Marion promoted a woman to the office of police sergeant for the first time, the Select Board voting to approve Alisha Crosby to a one-year probationary period effective June 27 as the town’s first-ever Marion Police sergeant during the board’s June 22 meeting at the Music Hall.

            “I appreciate the opportunity,” said Crosby, who was supported by the attendance of over a dozen officers including her presenter, Chief of Police Richard Nighelli, along with retired Chief of Police John Garcia and several family members.

            Nighelli called Crosby “a great addition to our command staff” and the “first female supervisor in the history of the Marion Police Department. Thanks to Officer Crosby’s work, there is no glass ceiling here. She shattered it.”

            At the affirming vote of the three-member Select Board, Town Administrator Jay McGrail led a standing ovation for Crosby, a 2010 Randolph Police Academy graduate who has 11 years as a full-time officer with the Marion Police Department and has served as liaison to Sippican School.

            Crosby’s community efforts have included a toy drive that brought over 1,000 toys to children during the last holiday season, along with work with foster children.

            The Select Board also approved officer Peter Bourgault’s promotion to permanent status with the Police Department. Bourgault just completed his probationary period that began on June 20, 2020, and recently received recognition for his leadership in a May 16 rescue mission of six passengers of an overturned vessel in the marina channel including three suffering from hypothermia.

            Tuesday’s was a lengthy Select Board meeting with substantial community interest in two cases involving food-and-drink establishments.

            In a 6:15 pm public hearing, Mike Achilles appeared before the board to advocate for an entertainment license for the Mary Celeste Neighborhood Lounge at 149 Front Street.

            Achilles, a resident at 7 Cottage Street for the past eight years, opened the Mary Celeste six months ago and now has 12 employees. Achilles said he has served over 4,000 customers, has listened to the concerns of neighbors from when he applied for a liquor license, and has not had a single complaint. He summarized his activities in knocking on doors to check and alluded to successful fundraisers for charitable causes.

            Achilles said he plans light jazz music inside and out, including small live acoustic sets, dinner and a movie on the patio, and visiting authors to discuss their books. With a capacity of 50 patrons indoors and 32 outside, Achilles said he anticipates only one event per week maximum, but alluding to logistical challenges, would like his entertainment license not to be strictly limited by that standard.

            He said his business should be afforded the same consideration that the town has given other village businesses including Kate’s Simple Eats, but several abutters and non-abutting citizens criticized the application as being too large a leap.

            Abutters said parking was supposed to be on the property but is already crowding the street, and others said that when the restaurant opens at 3:00 pm children are active on their skateboards and in potential danger of cars looking to park in the area.

            Achilles said the neighborhood presently has more noise than what the Mary Celeste would add and said sensors on the premises will help govern that, but he did not have an answer ready to Selectman Randy Parker’s question as to the present decibels setting.

            Selectman John Waterman suggested a three-month probationary period that would presumably end in September and allow abutters to revisit the matter and have their say. McGrail added that, in the interim people could reach out to his office and get that information to the board.

            Reiterating his intentions to work with the neighbors, Achilles said he is not against a probationary period but reminded the board that Kate’s Simple Eats was not required to operate on a probationary period. “I’m asking for fairness here … I’m okay with this, but I think there should be a standard,” he said.

            The public hearing was continued to July 20 at 6:15 pm.

            On May 4, the Select Board promised to talk about parking restrictions on River Road with residents concerned about the ramifications of the new business replacing Gilda’s at the mouth of River Road facing Route 6 near the Wareham town line.

            According to River Road resident Chris Collings, a member of Marion’s Planning Board, eight River Road residents representing six households were in attendance seeking protection against potential road blockages. The group also authored a petition hoping to leverage a result.

            Taking their turns, several spoke. Dick Gregory, 10 River Road, said it is unsafe for drivers turning right off Route 6 westbound onto River Road and it would take a couple hundred yards of parking restriction to avoid the critical delay turning off of the highway. He also noted that, in the past, there would occasionally be intoxicated people on his porch who could not find their cars and people urinating behind his house.

            Waterman explained that the new owners have to establish a parking plan that shows they can handle the building capacity but that he has yet to see it.

            The residents acknowledged that a no-parking law is not a solution because residents, guests, and vendor services need to access their properties.

            McGrail noted that, should the owners’ proposed parking plan not support the capacity of the building, then the Select Board could in turn limit the capacity of the building. Building Commissioner Scott Shippey has the right to approve the project.

            Another abutter suggested that the large rocks bordering the business lot obscure the view of motorists and alluded to a recent collision resulting in a fatality.

            The discussion did not require action on the part of the Select Board, which awaits a parking plan from the applicant.

            In a 6:30 pm continued public hearing, the Select Board voted to approve a special permit for Papa’s Real Estate, LLC to operate a propane storage business in a water protection district at 0 Luce Avenue, pending Planning Board approval.

            In other business, the board voted to approve the reappointment to boards and committees all members in good standing as of June 22. The board approved a request from MMR (Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester) Hose Company for a decommissioned surplus fire engine to be used for training purposes. The board approved a $4,500 donation for the new walking path at the Cushing Community Center, the reappointment of DPW engineer Meghan Davis to the Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee, and ratified the clerical union contract.

            Parker recused himself from the board’s action to approve the Sippican Lands Trust’s request for a one-day liquor license for its September 18 SLT Beer and Oyster Fest at Cushing Community Center with the stipulation of a police detail.

            The board also approved street closures for the July 5 Independence Day parade.

            In response to an email from Christian Pedulli regarding “no littering” signage, the board discussed the lack of a littering bylaw in Marion. There is a state law against tossing trash out of a car and also littering at the marina.

            Finally, the board discussed its July meeting schedule, which hinges on preparation to address the town’s agreements with the Old Rochester Regional School District and the ORCTV contract on July 13.

            The next regular meeting of the Select Board was not set at adjournment.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo

Sixth Graders Share Thoughts

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            Elementary schools from all three Tri-Town districts held outdoor ceremonies under tents on their respective campuses to celebrate the promotion of and say goodbye to their sixth graders. Rochester Memorial School held its ceremony on June 18, and Old Hammondtown School in Mattapoisett and Sippican School in Marion held their ceremonies on Monday morning.

            Each ceremony had its own personality, as do the students of each school, and The Wanderer asked each school to select a student to speak on subjects serious and silly. Here are the results.

            Name, age, school: Jacob Pacheco, 12, Rochester Memorial.

            Where will you attend in 2021-22?: “I’m going to ORRJHS through the School Choice Program so I can continue learning in the Old Rochester district.”

            Favorite class: “My favorite class is Social Studies because it’s the subject I like to learn and it’s fun.”

            Favorite school lunch: “Popcorn chicken.”

            What lesson did you learn at RMS that you can take with you to the junior high?: “I learned how to solve problems and get through hard times with the help of my teachers and friends.”

            What do you want to be when you grow up?: “I want to be a computer scientist.”

            Name, age, school: Josh Oliveira, 12, Old Hammondtown, Mattapoisett.

            Where will you attend in 2021-22?: Old Rochester Regional Junior High School.

            Favorite class: “Probably Math. I like the challenges in it, and I like Mr. (Kyle) Letendre, the teacher.”

            Favorite school lunch: “Pizza day.”

            What lesson did you learn at Old Hammondtown that you can take with you to the junior high?: “Actually, my fifth-grade teacher, Miss (Laura) Mirabito, told me, ‘You’re going to go places.'” (Josh acknowledged that confidence makes a big difference.)

            What do you want to be when you grow up?: “I want to be an orthodontist like my dad (Dr. Neil Oliveira).”

            Name, age, school: Megan Kroll, 12, Sippican School, Marion.

            Where will you attend in 2021-22?: Old Rochester Regional Junior High School.

            Favorite class: “Probably science.”

            Favorite school lunch: “Pancakes.” (Editor’s Note: We never got pancakes in school.)

            What lesson did you learn at Sippican that you can take with you to the junior high?: “Treat others the way you want to be treated, the Golden Rule.” (Megan said this lesson has been taught since she was in the first grade.)

            What do you want to be when you grow up?: “When I’m older I want to be a marine biologist.”

By Mick Colageo

The Grange Fair is Back

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Hurrah! Things have finally turned around with Covid and life is getting back to some kind of normal. We have the OK to hold our Agricultural Fair. It will be August 21. We are working very hard to get our fair book together and printed with the hope it is available mid-July. If you are familiar with our fair, you know there are rules for entries and you also know that if you grew it, you can enter it. If it’s a craft you made, enter it. The book is meant to be a guide. We are looking forward to finally being able to see and say ‘hello’ to many old friends and to meet new ones as well.

            Entries will be accepted Friday afternoon, August 20, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm and again at night from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Entries must be in place by 8:45 pm for judging to begin. We will again be serving a Ham & Bean Supper at 6:00 pm. Seating at this time may be limited to allow some spacing and there will also be meals for take-out. Because of this, if you know you are coming, reservations for sit-down or take-out are recommended. Produce left from the fair will be auctioned after the supper, beginning about 7:15 pm.

            We hope to see many of you there on the 21st of August. If you have any questions, please contact me at 508-295-8908 or at sash48@comcast.net. Have a great, safe Summer, Sue LaFleur, Rochester Grange Fair Secretary.

Summer Library Program at Plumb Library

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The 2021 statewide Summer Library Program (SLP) theme is “Tails and Tales”! The Plumb SLP will follow this theme by offering seven weeks of animal-focused free “things to do” for children (ages 3-12), teens (13+) and adults. The Plumb SLP began June 21 and concludes August 9. Registration for the SLP is required. Please register on our home page from now until July 19 at www.plumblibrary.com, and registration for individual SLP events opens on the event calendar.

            By registering for the Plumb SLP, you are promising to try your best to read, attend events, and complete activities, challenges, BINGO cards, and logs during the program dates! Prizes will be earned! Do what you can, when you can. It’s easy! Just remember to SLP: Sign up, Log, Participate!

            Children can sign up for such programs as Backyard Band Jams, July 28, 10:30 am – 11:15 am. Ms. Rhonda (Matson) is back for some outdoor FAMILY music-making fun events on July 28. This event is best suited for children up to age 9, but all are welcome! Registration is required and is limited to 15 Families.

            Sonshine Yoga with Yogi Lisa will be on July 8, July 22, and August 5, 10:30 am – 11:15 am. Yogi Lisa is back to do several animal-themed outdoor yoga classes. She can’t wait to meet you on your mat (or towel!). Registration is required for each class individually. Classes will be held, weather permitting. Maximum class size is 10 children aged 4-9.

            Fun with Plumb’s Jr. Friends will be on July 7 at 10:30 am. Learn how to make animal origami, bee and butterfly flower crowns, and do a STREAM activity with veteran members of Plumb’s youth group, the Jr. Friends. This class will be held outdoors, weather permitting, and is best suited for children aged 5 and up. Registration is required and is limited to 10 children.

            Tails and Tales Green Screen Photo is on June 26, at 10:30 am. Stop by to kick off the 2021 Tails and Tales Summer Library Program with a family photo! This is an outdoor event weather permitting. You will have the choice of several green screen generated backdrops. Thanks to Mrs. Voci, an SLP mom and teacher, these photos are free and will be emailed to you directly. No registration is needed for this event.

            Tuesdays with Teachers will be on June 29, 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm. Three fantastic RMS Teachers will be here this summer to read children a story and then do a related activity! Mrs. Alves will be here June 29; Mrs. Johnson will be here July 13; and Mrs. Sollauer will be here July 27. This event is best suited for children aged 4 and up, but all are welcome. Registration is required and is limited to 12 children.

            Rochester Tails ‘n’ Trails 4-H Club Animal Show-and-Tell is on Wednesday, June 30, 10:30 am – 11:15 am, and July 1, 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm, The Rochester Tails n’ Trails 4-H Club would like you to come and meet some of their 4-H project animals, including cows, rabbits, chicks and chickens, a mini horse, and more! Come to learn some interesting facts and learn how we care for our animals. We welcome you to ask questions and even pat our furry friends! The club will be offering similar programs on Wednesday and Thursday. These will be outdoor programs, weather permitting. Registration is required and is limited to 12 children. All ages are welcome.

            Wally’s Making Books Come Alive (via Zoom) is on June 30, 2:00 pm. Join us on an interactive reading adventure with Wally, the official mascot of the Boston Red Sox! Wally will act out scenes from different books while kids laugh along! Children are encouraged to interact with Wally and help him as he increases their interest and love for learning. This is a 35 to 40-minute show hosted by Big League Brian and Wally. The curriculum is geared toward elementary aged children, but everyone is welcome to attend! Registration is required. The private Zoom link to the show will be emailed to registrants 24 hours before the show.

            Giant Puppet Seek and Finds! Where is Hodge Podge? June 26, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Come find Mr. Vinny’s giant puppet, Hodge Podge, at the library on June 26. Please visit the library to find him, or drive by. Take an in-person picture with Hodge Podge or from your vehicle. By 2:00 pm, either email your photo to Ms. Lisa at info@plumblibrary.com or come into the library to show a librarian. Registration is not required for this program. This event is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts and Rochester Cultural Council.

Scenic Roadway Proposal Needs Tweaks

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            Ryan Correia, a developer who has come before the Mattapoisett Planning Board over the course of many months, once again met with the board to discuss matters related to driveways and scenic roadway bylaws. The June 21 meeting resulted in more questions on the part of the board members coupled with a to-do list for Correia.

            At issue has been a new driveway opening in an existing stone wall, a landscape feature that enjoys some protections if located on scenic roadways. Correia and the board had previously discussed new penetrations into the stone wall for driveway entrances of a planned four-lot subdivision. At issue on Monday night was whether or not the private driveways would actually be terminating on a short stretch of the original road layout, which for years has been little more than a look-out spot of police surveillance of motorists.

            For more than 45 minutes, the board discussed roadway ownership rights and responsibilities and whether a tree on public lands could or should be removed to make way for one of the proposed driveways. Interim Planning Board Administrator Mike Gagne asked Correia if it is possible to position driveways for the Lots 1 and 2 closer together, a redesign that might alleviate the need to remove the tree in question and other concerns, such as the intersection of Acushnet and Crystal Spring Roads.

            In the end, Correia was tasked with discussing design changes with his engineer and the potential buyer of Lot 1, confirm acceptable widths of driveways with the Fire Department, and determine if shrubs located on public property would need to be removed and, if so, determine if they are jurisdictional to a local board. The hearing was continued to July 19.

            All other matters taken up by the board were also continued until July 19, including the Randall Lane, LLC solar array site plan review, an ANR application for Dupont Drive and David Street for a lot swap agreement between Roland Bolida and Terrance Granahan, represented by John Romanelli of Zenith Land Surveying, and two requests for tree removal by Tree Warden Roland Cote for 16 North Street and 17 Prospect Road. Also continued was an ANR submitted by David Monteiro for lots located on Locust Street and Mattapoisett Neck Road.

            Attorney John Mathieu requested covenant releases for properties owned by Dennis Arsenault in Snowfield Estates, a request that was continued upon valuation of incomplete work for a new surety agreement.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, July 19, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

28th Annual Buzzards Bay Swim

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The Buzzards Bay Coalition will hold its 28th annual Buzzards Bay Swim, a 1.2-mile open-water swim across outer New Bedford Harbor. The swim is a signature outdoor event held by the Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting clean water in communities across the Buzzards Bay region. In the past 28 years, the Buzzards Bay Swim has raised more than a million dollars for clean water.

            This year’s swim will follow the traditional route from the South End of New Bedford to Fort Phoenix Beach State Reservation in Fairhaven, but the field of participants has been kept intentionally small, reflecting public health precautions in place when the event was planned. In 2019, the swim drew 278 swimmers who raised more than $170,000 for Bay protection efforts; this year, it will be limited to 50 swimmers who have participated in the past and have agreed to raise at least $1,000.

            Rob Thieler, a swimmer who participates with his fellow Chappy Swimmers group members, said he is looking forward to the event. “We are long-time supporters of the Coalition and its mission. Water quality, conservation, and public access are all vitally important to how we enjoy the Bay. And honestly, we also love a good race! The Swim is one of the most fun and best-run events in New England,” Thieler said.

            During the event, swimmers pass the iconic Butler Flats Lighthouse and the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier, one of the largest stone structures on the East Coast, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard and a local safety patrol. The participants are welcomed to the finish line by cheering supporters and a beach party breakfast complete with steel drum music and beverages by Buzzards Bay Brewing of Westport.

            “We are thrilled to be diving into the Swim. It’s a celebration of clean water, and an important source of support for protecting the Bay,” said Jennifer Downing, vice president of engagement for the Coalition. “We are so appreciative of the enthusiastic response of our swimmers at the opportunity to get back in the water, and we are grateful for the partnership with the City of New Bedford, the Town of Fairhaven, the U.S. Coast Guard, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, and all of our sponsors who make this event possible.”

            Interested in knowing more about the event or supporting this year’s swimmers? Visit savebuzzardsbay.org/swim.

ORR Lacrosse Teams Carry Momentum into Tourney

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            With only one loss between Old Rochester Regional’s boys (12-1) and girls (11-0) lacrosse teams, the two squads are making their push toward the state title in the South Sectional tournament.

            Competing in the boys Division 2 circuit, the Bulldogs entered the tournament as the third seed thanks to their 10-1 regular season record. With only 16 teams in the event, there were no byes, so ORR kicked things off in the first round with a 14-3 win over No. 14 Martha’s Vineyard on June 18.

            That win gave the Bulldogs another look at South Coast Conference opponent Apponequet, which entered the tournament as the sixth seed. The Bulldogs made sure there was no way their perfect 2021 record against SCC opponents was ruined in the quarterfinals of the South Sectional tournament, knocking off the Lakers, 20-3, on June 21.

            Garrett Salit has been ORR’s leading scorer through the first two postseason games. After scoring three times against Martha’s Vineyard, Salit scored four goals against Apponequet. He also had an assist in each game. Brendan McIntire also scored three goals against Martha’s Vineyard, which he followed up with a two-goal outing against the Lakers. Tyler Cardinal, Will Tirrell, Ben Austin, and Steve Arne each scored twice against Apponequet, and Ryan Quinlan did the same against Martha’s Vineyard.

            The Bulldogs advance to the semifinals on Thursday, June 24, to take on the winner of No. 2 Sandwich and No. 7 Scituate.

            Coincidentally, ORR girls lacrosse is set to play No. 9 Scituate next in the Division 1 South Sectional tournament after having eliminated No.17 Marshfield, 11-6, on June 21.

            The top-seeded Bulldogs were led in their first-round win by Maggie Carroll, scoring four goals and assisting three others. Kelly Quinlan also played a big part, finishing with a hat trick in the victory. Maddie Wright scored two goals for the Bulldogs, Lindsay Durgin assisted three and scored one of her own, and Meghan Horan scored once and logged an assist in the win.

            The Bulldogs will face Scituate on Wednesday, June 23, at home at 4:00 pm in the Division 1 South Sectional quarterfinals.

Old Colony Boys Lacrosse

            The Cougars earned a first-round bye with their No. 1 overall ranking in the Division 3 South Sectional tournament, but they could not advance past the quarterfinals. Old Colony’s 13-6 loss to No. 8 Fairhaven was not due to a lack of effort on Will Harrop’s part. He scored every one of the Cougars’ goals. Old Colony finishes the season 9-3.

Old Rochester Regional Boys Tennis

            The Bulldogs cruised through the first round, sweeping a familiar opponent from the SCC, No. 19 Fairhaven, 5-0. Marc Pothier and Christian Noble Shriver swept first and second singles, respectively, and Jacob Haldey came back to win at third singles after dropping the first set. Prosser Friedman and Markus Pierre didn’t lose a single game in the first doubles match. Max Vivino and Riley Farrell nearly did the same at second doubles, winning 6-1, 6-0.

            ORR then ran into a longtime nemesis in No. 2 Dover-Sherborn. Entering the match a perfect 15-0 on the season, Dover-Sherborn swiftly ended ORR’s campaign with a 5-0 finish in the Division 3 South quarterfinal. With their 1-1 showing at the tournament, the Bulldogs finish the season 8-2.

Old Rochester Regional Girls Tennis

            The Bulldogs ran into a tough opponent in the first round as the No. 9 seed, falling 5-0 to No. 8 Monomoy. With the loss, ORR finishes the season 6-2.

Old Colony Baseball

            The Cougars earned a preliminary round bye as the fifth seed in the Division 4 South tournament, but they struggled to hold down No. 12 Seekonk in the first round. The 14-3 defeat marked the end of Old Colony’s 8-4 season.

Old Rochester Regional Baseball

            The Bulldogs worked their way past the .500 mark with a 9-6 win in the preliminary round of the Division 3 South Sectional, but they ultimately could not stay there. No. 14 ORR went on to lose 19-0 to No. 3 Medfield in the first round, finishing 5-6 on the year.

Old Colony Softball

            After winning 21-3 in the preliminary round against No. 20 Avon, No. 13 Old Colony ran into a much tougher opponent in No. 4 Abington. Even though Abby Orzechowski struck out seven on the mound, the Cougars could not hang with the higher-ranked opponent, losing 11-1 in the first round.

Sports Roundup

By Nick Friar

Meet Mattapoisett’s Select Board Candidates

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            The July 27 special election for the vacant Select Board seat will be a contested race to the conference table with two residents tossing their proverbial hats into the ring.

            One candidate, Tyler Macallister, is a former Select Board member who served for eight years in that capacity before stepping down in 2019 to seek the position of town administrator. When that opportunity went to Mike Lorenco, Macallister made a bid for his vacated seat running against John DeCosta. That seat went to DeCosta, whose passing earlier this year reopened the seat. Macallister is now pursuing that vacancy.

            Kenneth Wilbur is also vying for DeCosta’s unexpired term. A self-proclaimed “newcomer” to local politics, Wilbur, a retired musician, educator, and U.S. Air Force veteran, said he is willing to study all facets of town government and the issues facing the community, and take time before making decisions.

            Macallister told The Wanderer during the 2020 selectmen’s race that it has always been his intention to try and return to the board. That sentiment has not changed. “I know the issues facing the taxpayers,” he said at the time. Macallister recently noted that many actions on the part of the Select Board will be needed in 2021 such as a decision on school consolidation and union negotiations over the next 18 months. “Mattapoisett is at a crossroads.”

            Along with his former Select Board seat, Macallister held a five-year seat on the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission and the Plymouth County Advisory Board and currently sits on the Finance Committee.

            “We are doing well in spite of COVID-19 because we planned for things like this with stability funds,” he said. “We came through because of a lot of hard work on the part of various boards and committees. I can continue those efforts to keep our funds strong.”

            Having had his teeth deep into municipal politics the past decade, Macallister has crafted positions on the front-burner issues facing Mattapoisett.

            Regarding the community’s often-discussed aging population, Macallister applauded the work done by the Council on Aging, although he believes the budget for this entity is rather small. “They have done a tremendous job,” he said. Macallister would be open to new forms of housing focused on seniors that are more affordable than market-rate units. “We need to investigate and support such proposals so people don’t have to leave Mattapoisett.”

            Of school consolidation, which Macallister believes would open the town up to new ways of using municipal real estate, he said that such a plan would take time to develop and that school consolidation could be slowly phased in, possibly through teacher attrition. He said the school budget would be positively impacted by school consolidation.

            The funding for such an effort as school consolidation and the relocation of Town Hall, which is also being considered as part of a larger plan, would necessitate debt. But Macallister pointed out, “We can and have used debt intelligently.… As debt expires, we bond another project.” He said this manner of borrowing is part of the reason the town earned a AAA bond rating.

            Macallister, 53, has a Master’s in Business Administration from UMass (Amherst) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marine Biology from UMass Dartmouth. He is a consultant to the renewable energy industry and owns and operates a charter fishing business. Originally from Cape Cod, Macallister and his family have lived in Mattapoisett for 20 years.

            Wilbur admits he has an uphill battle in coming up to speed on all the facets and issues facing the Select Board. Still, he said, “I’m retired; I have the time.” He said he always researches matters he is interested in to make better and more informed decisions. “I can do this; I’m a quick learner.” Wilbur also said that, if elected, he would spend several hours a day at Town Hall making himself available to the residents.

            Wilbur said there are not enough services for senior citizens in the community, but said he needs to visit with the Council on Aging to better acquaint himself with its programs. Of the seniors living in the town’s only subsidized housing project, he said, “Nobody seems to care about them.”

            Citing rising taxes as a big concern of his, Wilbur asserts that seniors are being taxed out of their homes and that there is a lack of affordable housing for young families. Of the biggest ticket item in the town’s budget, schools, he expressed concerns over rising salaries and the number of staff members in the schools’ employ. “Back in my day, there was one nun and 50 students.… Everyone did what they were supposed to do,” he said, adding that the town’s expenditures need more review.

            With a varied professional background, Wilbur has traveled the country as a musician as well as a member of the U.S. Air Force Band. Such experiences, he believes, have helped him to listen and learn. He also stressed, “I like to read,” a practice he believes will help him understand the role Select Board members play in the running of the town – a process he estimates will take him about six months after being elected.

            Wilbur, 68, is a graduate of Lowell State College (now part of UMass) where he studied music and performance. Finally settling in Mattapoisett approximately seven years ago, Wilbur attended local schools and has many extended family members in the community.

By Marilou Newell