McDermott, Thompson Swap Seats

on

Tuesday night’s brief Rochester Conservation Commission meeting featured an unexpected twist as the commissioners approved full member Kevin Thompson’s request to be dropped down to an associate member.

            The commission then voted to promote recently installed associate member Carl H. McDermott III to full membership. Chairman Chris Gerrior added that McDermott’s promotion will now need to be approved by the Select Board.

            Gerrior explained after the vote that Thompson, a full member for four years, requested the downgrade because he was finding it hard to make the time to participate. “He was attending on Zoom,” Gerrior said. “It was hard for him to find the time. He has two school-age children. One has a regular commitment on Tuesday night.”

            Gerrior also announced during the meeting that there was no update on the 89 Box Turtle Drive Enforcement Order. He said that is neither good nor bad news. The issue’s resolution is “going well,” said Gerrior.

            The commission recently issued fines to the owner of 89 Box Turtle Drive for wetland code violations, specifically working closer than 25 feet from wetlands without a permit. After months of no contact with the board, the property owner’s attorney, Timothy Angley, appeared via Zoom in August to report that his client is engineering plans that were to be ready in mid-September.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, October 4, at 7:00 at Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School library and via Zoom.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco

Audition for a Holiday Classic

on

The Marion Art Center (the MAC) Theater announces open auditions for the upcoming production of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol, adapted for radio from Charles Dickens’ novella by Anthony Palermo, directed by Rick Sherburne.

            Auditions will be held in the MAC’s Anne Braitmayer Webb Theater on Saturday, October 1, 12:00-2:00 pm and Sunday, October 2, 2:00-4:00 pm, with callbacks on Monday, October 3 at 7:00 pm if necessary. The MAC is located at 80 Pleasant Street in Marion. Performance dates are scheduled December 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 2022. Some dates are subject to change. Evening shows begin at 7:30 pm while Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 pm. Only fully vaccinated actors will be considered for roles.

            Auditions will consist of the reading of scenes from the show for the many familiar characters: Scrooge, the Cratchits, Jacob Marley and the other spirits of Christmas and numerous supporting roles. While this is written as a radio play, this production will focus on its storytelling nature, focusing on the quality of the performances as heard through the voice. As such, individual cast members may play multiple parts, and male and female roles may not be gender-bound. In short, those who wish to audition should come prepared to try out for whatever part appeals to them.

Further information can be found online at marionartcenter.org/auditions.

Celebrate the 150th year of the MNHM

on

Celebrate the 150th year of the Marion Natural History Museum on October 21 at 7pm, the event is free.

            In 1872 Elizabeth Taber donated the building which houses the museum and the Elizabeth Taber library to “put some snap” into her hometown. Elizabeth herself donated her own natural history collections to our museum as well as the beautiful cabinets and furnishings, which still house our displays.

            In celebration of the Marion Natural History Museum’s 150th, the Museum is excited to present an introduction to the Museum’s latest display, the Coahuila Meteorite, with Mark Munkacsy. Mark is an amateur astronomer with the American Association of the Variable Star Observers and president of the Astronomical Society of Southern New England.

            The Coahuila Meteorite is on loan to the Marion Natural History Museum from the Mineralogical & Geological Museum, Harvard University. Mark will cover where the meteorite has been, how it formed, how old it is and what sequence of events may have occurred for it to appear here on earth.

            Refreshments will be provided thanks to the generosity of On the Go Takeout Catering. We will also be providing a satellite station to explore our night sky, Virtual Reality tour of our space programs, and an opportunity to view our beautiful new Bird Island mural. Help us celebrate this important anniversary for our museum and for our community.

Colby Rose Dowling

on

Colby Rose Dowling, 26, passed away on September 21, 2022, in Taunton, MA.

            Colby was born on June 15, 1996 in New London, CT, to Dennis Dowling and Wendy Dowling.

            Colby graduated from Old Colony High School in 2014 where she completed her Cosmetology degree. She went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the New England Institute of Technology in 2018. She started her career as a hairdresser but her favorite job was counseling children from troubled homes and families. Her dream was to pursue a carrier in either criminal justice or continuing her involvement in helping disadvantaged children. She had an incredible way of connecting with children and providing them with the love and support they needed.

            Colby will most be remembered for being a loving daughter and sister. Her friendship, beautiful smile, kindness, generosity and talent will be missed.

            Colby is survived by her mother, Wendy; her sister, Baily; her grandparents, Lois and Fred; her aunts and uncles, Margaret, Denise, Jane, Bubba, Tim, Robert, Bryan, Shelley, Susan, Rick, Leslie, and Julie; her cousins, Miles, Nolan, Elaine, Ryan, Drew, Kevin, Julie, Jonathon, Joe, Kenny, Jimmy, Ashley, Nick, Tyler, Freddy, Tommy, Sophia, Palmer, Madelyn, Ava, and Levi.

            Colby is also survived by her loving furkids, Nova and Luna. She was a true lover of animals, especially her cats.

            Colby is preceded in death by her father, Dennis Dowling.

            Colby’s Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 10 am in St. Anthony’s Church, Mattapoisett. All are invited to meet directly at Church. Her visiting hours will be held on Monday, September 26th, from 4-8 pm in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Mattapoisett.

            Memorial donations can be made in Colby’s name to CARE southcoast, a volunteer-run, nonprofit, no-kill animal rescue center.

The Halloween Cover Contest

on

Are you ready for some spooktacular fun? Dust off the cobwebs and sharpen those scary pencils! Your best Halloween artwork could be on the cover of The Wanderer and you could win a cash prize! Submit your best original Halloween drawing, photo, compilation, or artwork to enter for publication on our October 27 cover.

        Deadline for submitting artwork is Monday, October 17,at noon. Online voting will take place from October 19 to October 25. The cover winner will win $100 and his or her artwork will be on the October 27 cover of The Wanderer! All entries must be original; cover entries must contain completely original artwork and/or photos. No copied items, including traced clip art, will be considered for the contest. All entries must be accompanied by a completed and signed entry form, available in our office or on our website. A full list of rules and regulations can be found at www.wanderer.com. For more information, call our office at 508-758-9055.

Peter Michael Martin ‘Close to Home’

on

Local Mattapoisett artist Peter Michael Martin has been exploring and expressing his artistic capabilities for a long time. Yet he never ceases to bring forth fresh perspectives on well-known themes or new themes heretofore never seen. He finds inspiration everywhere with one idea followed by another and then another until a fully explored concept is developed.

            Take the Moby Dick project as an example. Titled “Moby Dick Inspired Visions,” we were awestruck when we attended the exhibit of black, Tyvek cuttings a few years ago. The images are striking, to say the least, in black and white, giving the finished pieces a woodblock print quality but on a truly grand scale.

            Using the story of Moby Dick as his inspiration, Martin delivers visual expression to passages, people and themes found in the much-loved pages of Melville’s piece de resistance. The cohesion of this exhibit comes from Melville’s story, but there is at least one family connection. On a sail measuring 22 feet in length and suspended from the ceiling of the Cape Cod Art Museum is inscribed the death notice of a family member, an uncle lost at sea while whaling in a ship named The Herald. This connection between Melville’s fictional tale and Martin’s real-life ancestor demonstrates that art does mimic life.

            On a much smaller scale but packing just as big a visual punch is the exhibit now on view at the Mattapoisett Library (through October 14) titled “Close to Home.” Here we find Martin continuing his exploration in cutting; this time, however, it’s wood blocks. He uses a process called white-line woodblock printing also known as Provincetown Printmaking that came on the art scene in 1914. A spin on the Japanese process of woodblock printing where a new block is needed for each color, American artists, most notably B.J.O. Nordfelt, wanted to simplify the process. This innovative group of printmakers were able to create prints from one block for all colors.

            Martin explained the white-line process and where he drew his inspiration for this latest exhibit on September 16 during a brief presentation at the library. The artist spoke to the cutting process and the use of color to achieve a spectacular finished piece. On exhibit along with printed works are some of the actual blocks he used for this series.

            Martin shared that during the early days of the pandemic. He studied the images around his home, such as neighbors passing by, walking their dogs or chickens that he once raised.

            Expanding on the notion of home, Martin said that he visited Poland to learn more about his mother’s family. There he was drawn to purchasing old books filled with visual food for his artistic soul. One book contained photographs of traditional clothing with richly embroidered surfaces in jewel tones. Using that color palette, Martin created white-line prints of abstract orbs that connect and then seem to drift apart in what can be described as stained-glass-like images. Small in scope, yet sensual and evocative.

            In a follow-up, Martin said he continues to add pieces to the Moby Dick group and has had his work published in an international catalog for woodblock printing.

            After a long career as an educator, Martin retired. At Old Rochester Regional High School, he cotaught art as an alternate form of assessment. Since retiring, Martin has been pursuing visual arts. For an artist who once found pleasure in paper cutting in the German style known as scherenschnitte (translated meaning – scissor cuts), the word exacting comes to mind, precision comes to mind, perfection comes to mind. Martin’s works are all that and so much more.

By Marilou Newell

School Committee Starts September Strong

on

            The September 14 meeting of the Marion School Committee kicked off a few minutes behind schedule, as members of the committee went on a tour of Sippican Elementary School, meeting some of the new staff and checking out the setup for the recently started school year. Once everyone had settled in, the meeting was called to order.

            The meeting opened with a presentation to welcome new staff members, with short bios and fun facts presented in a PowerPoint format. Among them were Michelle Ennis, the school adjustment counselor who had moved to America from Ireland when she was 18. She’s had a photograph published by National Geographic and Parade magazines and has performed in professional bands for over two decades.

            The next newcomer was Taylor Nelson, a Grade 6 teacher who grew up on Martha’s Vineyard. She has a five-month-old daughter and traveled to Australia as part of a soccer tournament when she was 12. Then came Maggie Francisco, the school psychologist, with a birthday on New Year’s Eve and an affinity for cornhole; she has even helped design and build cornhole boards! Debra Smith is a Grade 4 teacher who started her career as a high school English teacher. An adopted child herself, she’s previously worked for an agency providing services for adoptive families as well as having volunteered for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, remaining in contact with her Little Sister to this day.

            Rounding out the pack was Katie Pike, the new art teacher, who has previously dyed her hair “every color of the rainbow.” She taught ceramics at a youth summer camp in Bridgewater for two years and loves to explore the outdoors in New Hampshire.

            After a warm group welcome, the approval of the minutes was raised. A brief debate ensued over details some members felt were missing with revisions suggested and reviews agreed upon. With that settled, the committee went into a brief Executive Session.

            Upon return, the members discussed the opening day of the school and the celebrations and events therein. Much praise was heaped upon the keynote speaker, Liz Kleinrock. She gained national attention after appearing in a short documentary produced by Fluid Film, as well as news outlets such as CNN, The Washington Post, NPR and BBC.

            Having worked as an AmeriCorps volunteer teacher, a classroom educator and a diversity coordinator, Kleinrock works around the nation to make sure students are getting the support they need in the classroom. She received the Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018 and has published articles with Heinemann Publishing and Teaching Tolerance on topics such as destigmatizing privilege, trauma-informed teaching and cultivating relationships with students and families.

            After an approval of the Student Handbook, the committee gave an update on the School Resource Officer. Given the year’s budget, hiring a SRO was not considered feasible, though it was noted that additional funding was being sought out and would likely be attained. There was also mention of a pilot program to increase the police presence in the building. Committee members wanted to stress the fact that this was something being actively worked on.

            The committee confirmed that there would be a free breakfast and lunch program for students for the 2022-23 school year and celebrated the announcement while going on to note that there had been and could continue to be supply-chain issues and subsequent cost concerns as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

            The installation of an ADA-compliant electric door in the Sippican Elementary School entrance is ongoing, as is the reinstallation of the rear playground to ensure students have ample opportunity for positive exercise and play.

            During the Central Office Administrators Report, the potential need for a literacy assessment for the student population was discussed. The goal would be to identify literacy needs within the school system. Funding has been sought through various grants and partners, though currently the status is “fingers crossed.” Details will come when more concrete plans have been identified.

            The Principals Report came with praise for all the new staff members, reminding those present how lucky they were to have a full clinical team including a school adjustment counselor and psychologist. Also mentioned was Marion Public School’s partnership with Tri-Town Against Racism in order to decorate the bulletin boards across the building, along with monthly classroom activities based around things like Black History Month or Autism Acceptance Month, “touching on all of the people who are in our community and celebrating who we are as a school.”

            After brief discussion of the fourth graders’ upcoming instrument selection, which apparently heavily favors the trumpet, the microphone was turned over to the School Committee reports, which commented upon a number of routine goings-on, including upcoming subcommittee meeting dates and potential future agenda items.

            The meeting was then opened for public comment, during which a Marion citizen took issue with ORR’s selection of Kleinrock as a lecturer to faculty. She claimed that Kleinrock, a Korean-American woman, was forcing a political narrative into the education system with her antiracist teaching. She claimed that a book that was recommended on Kleinrock’s website, “Not My Idea” by Anastasia Higginbotham, was racist against white people, before stating that Kleinrock’s endorsement of the book was further proof of Kleinrock’s political agenda.

            The second public comment was from another Marion citizen who wanted to raise concern against the lack of a School Resource Officer. The committee reminded them that they had previously addressed this issue and stated again that there isn’t room in the FY23 operating budget. After confirming that no further comment was raised, the committee adjourned the public meeting.

            The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26, at 6:30 pm at Sippican Elementary School and via Zoom. The next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 29, at 6:30 pm at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School and via Zoom.

Marion School Committee

By Jack MC Staier

Boating Skills & Seamanship Course

on

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Flotilla 65 will be starting its 12-week Boating Skills & Seamanship Course (BS&S) on Monday, September 26 from 7-9 pm through December 12 at 80 Middle Street, Fairhaven.

            This 12-week comprehensive course is designed for both the experienced and the novice boater. It is taught by experienced Coast Guard Auxiliary instructors with years of experience on local waters. It is a perfect introduction to recreational boating fundamentals, such as: boating terminology, boat equipment/handling, boat trailering, lake boating, handling a small to midsize boat, rules of the road, navigation, medical/safety awareness, understanding weather, engines, radios and how to read a nautical chart and chart plotter, buy a boat, tie a knot, handle emergencies and call in a Mayday.

            Many insurance companies will offer discounts on boat insurance to individuals who successfully complete this course. Individuals who successfully complete the course and pass the exam are awarded certificates and cards.

            The $55 fee includes the textbook, chart and all course material. Family discounts are available for shared materials.

            To register online, please go to www.flotilla65.com/public-education.

            If you have any questions, please contact MaryBeth Soares, Flotilla Staff Officer – Public Education at (508) 493-5531 or via email: mbsoares11@verizon.net

Machacam Club

on

            The next meeting of the 2022/2023 Machacam Club season has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 5. We meet at the American Legion Eastman Post on Depot Street. Doors open at 5 pm for social time followed by dinner at 6 pm. Our speaker program begins at 6:45. We welcome New Bedford Fire Chief (Ret) Gomes who will speak about his experience on the ground for the first ten days following the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. New members are always welcome. Please contact Chuck at cwmccullough@comcast.net with questions.

on

Lois C. (Phillips) Straffin, 81, of Rochester, passed away peacefully at home with her family at her side on September 22, 2022. 

Survivors include her husband, Richard W. Straffin, they were married for 48 years; her 6 children, Glen Jutras, Scott Jutras, Eric Jutras, Donna Nichols, Michael Straffin,  Patricia DeNardo and her husband Marc; 12 grandchildren; many great grandchildren.

She was born in Buffalo, NY and lived in Rochester, MA for 36 years.  She graduated from Canton High School.

She worked for many restaurants and retail stores in the area.

Lois was a great cook and wanted to make sure everyone was well fed.  She loved hosting cookouts and holiday dinners, especially Thanksgiving.

She was a longtime supporter of Damien’s Pantry where she served on the Board of Directors and ran a team of volunteers for 10 years. She was very religious and faithful and a member of the First Congregational Church in Rochester. She enjoyed attending Bible classes there.

She enjoyed traveling, camping in New Hampshire, dancing with her husband, and she was a voracious reader.

A memorial service will be held at a later date at the First Congregational Church in Rochester.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Family Pantry, Damien’s Place, P.O. Box 730, East Wareham, MA 02538 or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.

Arrangements are by Chapman Funerals & Cremations – WAREHAM, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham.  To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, visit: www.chapmanfuneral.com.