Women on Target

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The Sippican Rod and Gun Club is hosting its 8th annual Women on Target event on September 24, from 8 am to 5 pm. The cost of the course is $100 per participant. The event includes coffee and morning refreshments, classroom instruction, lunch and live fire range instruction. Upon completion of the course, all participants will receive a certificate, which is required to obtain a firearms license in MA. Anyone interested in participating or have questions, please email Andrew Daniel at adaniel81180@gmail.com or call 774-929-0321

MAB Weighs in on Wharf Repair Costs

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            The recent disclosure that cost estimates for repairs to Long Wharf are nearly double the original figures was discussed at the August 25 public meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board.

            A week earlier, the Select Board reviewed the latest estimate provided by engineering consultants Childs Engineering Corporation expressing concern costs have soared since beginning discussions with Childs in the spring.

            In a report produced last spring by the firm to assess the current state of Long Wharf, Childs referenced “multiple issues” owing to the age of the construction. Built in the 1800s, the wharf was transformed to its current appearance in 1992 after a portion of the wharf was damaged in Hurricane Bob.

            The report stated, “The current form … includes a dry stacked rock seawall supporting the fill that comprises the wharf interior. It is assumed that behind the masonry seawall the wharf is constructed of a combination of rock, soil and concrete fill. With an asphalt deck.” The report included some interesting historical data points. “Evidence suggests the rock seawall is founded on timber piles or cribbing, but the timbers were not clearly visible.”

            Childs reported having used the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) Waterfront Facilities Inspection and Assessment manual and processes to clearly substantiate its findings in the report.

            Reinforcing what most understand to be true, Childs documented the poor condition of the structure with minor to moderate defects throughout and more advanced deficiencies over a large portion of the stone seawall.

            “The structure as a whole remains stable … but lacked resiliency and is susceptible to overstressing or breakage during a storm event,” the report stated. The consultants also pointed out that due to the poor condition of the seawall, it should be immediately repaired to bring it to operational condition for the next five to ten years.

            Option 1 recommended “precast concrete with steel reinforcing modular block wall to encapsulate the existing wharf. The existing wharf behind the new concrete block wall will need to be excavated and backfilled to eliminate voids, and the utilities replaced.” The Option 1 price tag is $4,700,000.

            Discussions on this night centered around the importance of getting the wharf repaired using the concrete-block option. Another option that had come at nearly double the cost called for the use of granite blocks, requiring a far more specialized type of construction and one vastly more labor intensive, the MAB believes.

            Having been asked by the Select Board to weigh in with their recommendation, MAB members were united in the concrete-block solution despite Select Board member Tyler Macallister having voiced concerns at the last Select Board meeting that concrete might be less durable.

            Present at the meeting was Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, who said new cost estimates for concrete-block construction are likely to approach $10,000,000, given the escalated cost of building materials. But he assured the committee that grants will be sought once the design selection is finalized.

            In other business, MAB members finalized text changes to the rules and regulations that will be forwarded to the Select Board.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for Thursday, September 29, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board

By Marilou Newell

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bridge

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            She was sitting in her kitchen removing stones from cherries with the aid of an antique extractor she’d found on a dusty shelf in the back of a secondhand shop. It was a red, runny mess of a job, but she was smiling, happy, enjoying herself.

            Her kitchen was a wonderland of old-fashioned gadgets, jars of honey and a refrigerator filled with alternative foods and supplements. It was a dark, moody space, just the way she liked it with a Tasha Tudor flair.

            Friends had arrived earlier in the day for a visit, a girlfriends’ weekend. The occasion filled up some of the lonely spaces, spaces she now willingly gave up to them while denying to herself that such spaces existed.

            She didn’t mind being alone in her hundred-year-old hillside farmhouse now that he was gone. He had loved this place, she had agreed. Now she saw him everywhere.

            And there was the dog: a large, warm, comforting companion to care for and sleep with on the floor in front of the stove. She was more or less content – more or less. At least she got through many days balanced, or seeming so even to herself. Or she’d say the darkness was balanced by loving spirits she felt around her most of the time. Information she’d spontaneously share apropos to nothing.

            She was a tiny slip of a woman, bone and muscle and sinew, held together by grit. Vanity had faded, replaced by the freedom of braless days and elastic-waistbands at night. But she still enjoyed her bling, of which she possessed a great deal. She was totally herself now. The wait was possibly worth the cost, but she wasn’t sure.

            As her friends gathered for the first cocktail of the evening, she looked at each with love only true friendship can inspire. She had not had a drink in over 20 years. She knew her friends needed the temporary release and so she laughed with them easily.

            Throughout the course of that first night, each would take a turn updating the latest news, details of jobs, children, events and, of course, men. They laughed with sweet guffawing abandon over past life chapters and how lucky they all were to have survived thus far. It had been touch-and-go for each at various points in their journeys.

            And, she was now sick. Had been for a long time and counting. Some days she’d accept that her beloved old farmhouse would one day have to be sold. Other days with renewed vengeance she’d exclaim she’d die right there. Then she would chuckle a bit at her own selfish nature. After all, she knew the end of the story – it would all be sold off one day.

            That weekend the friends ate fresh corn on the cob boiled up in an old dented pot over the one working burner on her antique Glenwood stove that threatened to blow them up or just simmer the water, simmer away the fear. What was living anyway but a series of events grand or miniscule, life changing, affirming or dangerous or maybe often just plain boring. They each in their own way marched through their days successfully if but scared. And she would encourage, applaud and hold them dear, always in mutual trust that they were safe in each other’s company. They ate corn as a last supper, so sweet, fresh and filling. She cut her corn from the cob and chewed it slowly, letting the taste of it fill her mind as well as her body. She was sick but not beaten.

            She would look around that large, low ceilinged, open-plan space where she had lived with him, had lived as husband and wife like two orbiting planets and this room their universe with the central stove their sun. She would daydream whole afternoons away thinking about the past, and then take his warm body to bed with her at night. The empty dawns were harsh.

            In the afternoon of that second day, they went blueberry picking. The late summer heat was a punishment, but they wanted their fill now. Later it would be too late. She sat on the farmer’s porch while the girlfriends gathered berries like little children – giddy and free, unburdened by their real lives during this interlude in a farmer’s ancient field.

            Later that afternoon, they would be refreshed in the river behind her neighbor’s house where the water flowed in cooling torrents from surrounding mountain ranges, numbing the pain that they all knew was coming.

            That last night no one said it, but all knew it was the last of these coming-together-in-harmony weekends. Time was running out.

            She eventually sold that farmhouse and a vast inventory of possessions, while filled with anger that this day had finally come.

            She wanted what she wanted. She wanted him. She wanted her dogs. She wanted someone to hold her hand and lead her where she needed to go even if it meant so much would be lost forever. She would wax philosophically, then wane and refuse the reality. Her tides were either very low or very high, the navigation nearly impossible. She needed the help of others now. Her independence was going, going, gone.

            She had lost so much and now she was leaving her sanctuary. Steel will got her through the hours. When the time came, she packed the last of what was going with her in the car and said goodbye to home forever.

            She resisted the urge to look in the rearview mirror, but she saw the home she had created receding behind the hills in her mind. Nothing would ever be the same.

            Relocated to a place where services and her family could ease her through her final days, she never fully settled. Nearly smothered by possessions she could not release, she drifted more and more into a state bordering on mania until the medications were administered.

            She was not afraid of death. She believed it was the next chapter with a rainbow bridge waiting for her to cross. She believed she needed to be as gracious as possible for her daughter’s sake so she tried to stay busy with a to-do list etched in her brain, pushing the limits of her strength with the power of her will. She knew she would be leaving soon and that he waited with the dogs for her arrival.

            Her daughter got the memorial right. But then again, her mother had had a hand in writing the script. There was a buffet, music and the sharing of photographs to trigger the memories, laughter and tales of back when.

            “My Mother was a gypsy,” her daughter had stated. A loving, seeking, intelligent, hippie-like, soul drifter whose magnetic charms we were drawn to.

            Now that she is where she is, I must let her go, floating away in warmth and comfort I hope she has found, with the occasional circling back on gossamer wings to let us know all is well.

            All is well here, too, my friend, all is well.

This Mattapoisett Life

By Marilou Newell

Welcome Home

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On Sunday, September 11 at 10 am, the Mattapoisett Congregational Church will once again host its “Welcome Home” event at Ned’s Point. Everyone in the Tri-Town area is invited to celebrate with us in worship followed by a BYO picnic lunch. Traditionally, representatives from the police and fire departments are recognized for their caring service to the people of Mattapoisett. There will be games for the children, lighthouse tours plus ice cream. There will be fun and fellowship for all. Contact the church office with any questions at 508-758-2671 or mattcongchurch@gmail.com.

ORR Athletic Hall of Fame

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The Old Rochester Regional Athletic Hall of Fame is happy to announce that we are finally moving our ORR Athletic Hall of Fame Induction agenda forward again with two “fall kick-off” alumni events after a two-year idle time during the COVID-19 epidemic. We are excited to announce aPeter Trow Memorial/Scholarship Golf Tournament to be held on Sunday, September 25 at 1 pm at the Reservation Golf Club in Mattapoisett and our 2022 10th Annual Induction Banquet Ceremonies to be held on Saturday, October 8 at 5 pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Mattapoisett.

            The Peter Trow Memorial/Scholarship Golf Tournament has a special place in the ORRAHOF community. Peter, who passed away this past January, was one of our first year 2011 HOF Inductees. Peter stayed on and helped formulate our committee’s induction goals for recognizing and celebrating those ORR Grads who stood out in the ORRHS sports programs. His leadership skills are sorely missed by our committee. Please visit ORRAHOF website www.orrahof.com for all the golf event details and thank you for your support.

MOSAC Saves Thousands on Clearing

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            Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission Chairman John Rockwell called a special public meeting for August 17 to discuss progress on the Point Road Bike Path.

            Rockwell explained to the members in a short, historical sketch that several years ago, the commission received a grant allowing it to construct a bike path/trail along Point Road from Jenna Drive to Creek Road. Recently, MOSAC has been working on the section between Joanne and Jenna Drives, having staked out the path in that section and requested responses for tree removal.

            While marking trees for removal within the 14-foot layout according to the request of prospective job bidders, MOSAC members were approached by representatives Asplundh Construction, a company that happened to be on site removing trees on behalf of Eversource. Rockwell explained MOSAC’s plan and asked if the company could clear two remaining trees that its representatives had tagged with blue paint. The company representative said they would remove those trees and any more trees that the commission would mark. Another company working with Eversource will clean up the downed trees, limbs and brush, in the end saving Marion several thousands of dollars.

            Rockwell called it “good financial news for us,” noting that the commission had received a $5,000 quote for comparable work. He indicated during the August 17 special meeting that the optimum route had been somewhat compromised in order to avoid paying large sums to remove some of the larger trees.

            It turns out thanks to Aspundh Construction’s involvement that some of the route will not need amending, but Rockwell determined that as the path goes into the woods a former decision to remove a 7-inch oak and a 9-inch oak to spare an 11-inch oak should also be reviewed. The more-expedient method, he suggested, is to reconsider the exact direction of the path every 50 feet.

            The matter, he said, is time sensitive; as of August 17, Aspundh was one third of the way up the path to finish its own work, after which its workers would be off to their next job and unavailable to perform further clearing.

            There are various considerations for users of the path, including the neighbors’ preference for distance from the path, the security of users remaining visible and of course cost. “Some of those costs are a one-time thing,” said Rockwell, noting that diminished privacy is a concern and where possible redesign is geared toward Increasing the buffer.

            MOSAC member Deb Ewing said she was initially of an opinion to wind the path through trees and shade, but she called the current decision a safety factor. “Sticking closer to the road … I think if it’s possible just to go along the road, it is also going to be the type of thing that utility companies are going to be doing that work,” she said. “To take out other trees for that little bit … I like our route, I like what we did.” But it was clear Ewing now thinks the path is better off running alongside Point Road.

            Rockwell said the original course led to concern over costs and potentially running out of funding. “I don’t want to say, ‘Just go along the road,’ because there are a lot of factors,” he said. “Everything has to be site-specific.”

            Shaun Walsh, a member of the Conservation Commission, echoed the sentiments of the membership in keeping the path closer to the road. “It’s such a short path,” he said. “The whole idea is … mainly a safety thing. The main idea is to get (bike riders and pedestrians) off Point Road.” As Rockwell more bluntly put it during a Monday morning follow-up call, the next-step connection to the Creek Road Bike Path will allow people to “walk to the village without getting run over.”

            The Point Road Bike Path is not part of the South Coast Bike Path but is being designed for a potential connection to the larger path if such an endeavor becomes financially feasible.

            MOSAC clerk Amanda Chace sought clarification that Rockwell provided that regardless of what the commission decided during the August 17 meeting, the company working with Eversource would remove the marked trees in accordance with the offer made a few days earlier. Chace also clarified that there will be a bid process, albeit with a smaller scope of work.

            The meeting concluded with a vote to authorize Rockwell and Ewing to visit the site shortly after the meeting to view the new clearing and make adjustments to approximately half the distance of the area in question based on the new conditions.

            The next meeting of the Open Space Acquisition Commission is scheduled for Thursday, September 1, at 7:00 pm.

Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission

By Mick Colageo

Mattapoisett Is Special

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I am forming a Prayer Group for those who would like to join. Come out, September 16 at 6 pm at the Knights of Columbus. I would like to meet you and join forces; our town has been through a very difficult experience. We will be praying for all who were affected by the M.B.Y. Fire and together we will see Mattapoisett Remain a Special Place to live. II Chron. 7:14

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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Over the many years of Rochester’s history, the town has been fortunate that so many prominent men have been so civic-minded. Some of these men were first sea captains, men of business or rose through the military. One such man was Charles Sturtevant, born on Nov. 11, 1757. He appears on the list of those who fought for independence during the Revolutionary War where he gained the rank of colonel. His name is also one of those in the list of selectmen during the years 1697 thru 1857.

            He had several descendants of note including a son, John Bourne Sturtevant, who was famous for his encyclopedic memory and a grandson, Capt. Randall, who during the Civil War fired the last shot on the sinking ship, “Cumberland” in its battle with the Merrimac.”

            In 1815-1816, a “mortal fever” reached Rochester. The disease, “spotted fever” (not smallpox), was first detected in Fairhaven and then Mattapoisett before moving into West Rochester. This disease killed over 200 people in the area. It particularly attacked heads of households, 61 of whom died in Rochester alone.

            A Dr. Mann of Boston was sent for to help in controlling the disease. Maybe, he suggested wearing masks, washing hands and staying 6 feet apart. Whatever his measures were, the progression of the disease eventually stopped at the home of Colonel Sturtevant about a mile west of Rochester Center. Col. Charles Sturtevant died April 20, 1816, the last victim of the “spotted fever,” and he is buried in Rochester Center.

By Connie Eshbach

Academic Achievements

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The University of Rhode Island celebrated more than 4,000 of its newest alumni during the University’s 136th Commencement including Madison Elise Carvalho of Rochester and Riley O Nordahl of Rochester. Close to 3,600 undergraduate degrees and more than 800 graduate degrees were conveyed to students during the ceremonies which took place May 20-22, 2022.

Heron Cove Has Closing Date

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Ken Steen’s 120-unit, affordable-housing development planned off Route 6 near the Wareham town line is in line for its final public hearing with the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, September 8, at 6:00 pm.

            Town Counsel Jon Witten advised the ZBA not to close the public hearing during its August 25 public meeting in order to leave the window open for new information including signage plans inside the development, one of few areas causing pause during a straw poll taken on all 27 waiver requests.

            The vast majority of Steen’s waiver requests fall into two categories: matters that had been talked out to the mutual satisfaction of both the ZBA and the applicant and clerical matters pertaining to the ZBA’s role as sole municipal vetting authority for the 40B project.

            The ZBA acknowledged receipt of a letter from peer-review consultant Peter Palmieri stating approval that Steen’s representatives responded favorably to all of his concerns and questions. That cleared the way for a wrap-up discussion on waivers.

            ZBA Chair Cynthia Callow told the members that the Heron Cove case had gone “way past the 180 days,” a time limit to close a public hearing once opened. Steen gave verbal consent to an extension to September 30, and his attorney Mark Bobrowski showed up prepared to email the extension in the necessary document form.

            One plan that was scrapped as a result of the timeline revelation was an architectural review. Callow told the board that Marion Building Commissioner Bob Grillo “can do for us what the architectural review would have done.”

            When ZBA member Will Tifft was asked for his vote to cancel the architectural review, he sought clarification on Grillo’s limits.

            “Everything that I saw from the original proposal, from the architect to the peer review on the architecture, in my opinion either dealt with (state-building) code issues that I would deal with or aesthetic issues, which I think you were going to deal with,” Grillo told the board. “It’s probably going to be set up as a condition. I wouldn’t want to make those decisions. I think that should be on the Zoning Board.”

            Grillo said that while the board should review paint color or the style matters, heating systems and the like would need to be in the conditions “up front.”

            The vote to cancel the architectural review was unanimous.

            Witten advised the ZBA to make further review in signage on the grounds of the project a condition of approval. “You don’t want to leave this (matter) open, notwithstanding good success with Mr. Steen’s past projects. … We don’t want to have this battle six months from now,” said Witten, stressing that “it’s perfectly fine” to approve the project contingent on further review of signage.

            “You don’t want (Grillo) to be the responsible party for any kind of subjective review,” Witten said. “It’s not his job. All the subjectivity goes to the board.”

            Callow said that Palmieri also notified the ZBA that he is satisfied that Steen has addressed his concerns regarding Marion Village Estates, and she asked the board to move to approve Steen’s recovery of his certificate of credit. The vote was unanimous, legally closing Steen Realty’s business with MVE and Fieldstone Lane. In attendance at the Police Station, Steen thanked the commission.

            At the beginning of the August 25 meeting, Callow also sought to correct a procedural misstep, telling the ZBA that she had mistakenly been asking for seven votes when she should have been asking for five. Furthermore, she explained that while ZBA member Margie Baldwin was included in discussion, (due to attendance requirements) she should not have been asked for any votes related to the Heron Cove case.

            For the August 25 meeting, Callow said Dani Engwert would not vote and designated Tucker Burr the alternate, joining Callow, Dr. Ed Hoffer, Dana Nilson and Tifft as a five-member quorum. Engwert would still participate in discussion only.

            The ZBA will meet a half-hour early on September 8 to accommodate (in a small measure) A-Attorney Mark Bobrowski, who plans to join the meeting remotely from France.

            The next meeting of the Marion ZBA is scheduled for Thursday, September 8, at 6:00 pm.

Marion Zoning Board of Appeals

By Mick Colageo