Henry N. Carlier

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Henry N. Carlier, of New Bedford, passed away on Friday, December 18, 2020 at the age of 88. Known to close friends and family as “Pete,” he was the loving husband of the late Jeanne L. (Boucher) Carlier who passed away last year on February 18, 2020. She was 83. Jeanne was affectionately known to all as “DeeDee.”

            Born and raised in New Bedford, Henry was the son of the late George and Yvonne (Tetrault) Carlier. Jeanne was the daughter of Albert and Jean (Hubert) Boucher of Acushnet.

            They were lifelong area residents with many of their married years spent living in Rochester. It was during those years living in Rochester that together, they would establish their dog kennel Hillrise. Over the years, Henry and Jeanne became accomplished and achieved success in raising, training, breeding, and showing German Shepherd dogs. They would see their greatest success with Tanley’s Gold Dust of Hillrise. AKA “Dusty.” Their work with Dusty would bring them all national recognition and a champion select honor. Their crowning achievement. In their earlier years of obedience training, Henry and Jeanne would have success through their German Shepherd Vala’s recruitment and service in the US military.

            A Veteran of the Korean War, Henry served in the United States Army. After he completed his service, Henry worked for several years in the flooring industry, followed by part-time employment until his retirement. Jeanne was a lifelong employee of Verizon. In their later years, Henry and Jeanne would further their love of dogs through rescue. They were active supporting members of nonprofit rescue and animal rights organizations. They also took part in supporting K-9 officers through vest donation. Both very social, Henry and his wife enjoyed travel. Their door was always open and friends and family were always welcome. Henry would spend his last remaining few years in residency at the Oaks. Jeanne in residence at Sacred Heart. They are both loved and missed by all. Henry and Jeanne are survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond LaPalme of Venice, Florida as well as by godchildren, several nieces and a nephew.

            Due to current restrictions on public gatherings, their funeral and burial will be private. Henry will be buried with his wife at the national cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, contributions in their honor may be made to the Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd St., NW, suite 450, Washington, D.C. 20037

Legislature Approves Healthcare Reform Bill

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Rep. Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett) announced on Wednesday that the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate have voted to approve and send on to the Governor health care reform legislation providing new flexibility for patient access to Telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

            The bill provides numerous coverage and health care access benefits to Massachusetts residents.

            Members of the House passed the initial bill H.4888 in July 2020, and after that, the legislation was negotiated by a conference committee with the Senate.

            “Telehealth coverage, Medicaid payments to community hospitals, and COVID-19 coverage will become permanently accessible to those needing better access to their physicians and providers. These added options for health care services are critical under the current pandemic restrictions and will remain important to the public,” said Rep. Straus. “We’ve learned this year that these changes are necessary for the health and wellbeing of the citizens of this commonwealth,” he added.

            There are three critical parts of the legislation. Of importance is the Mandated Telehealth coverage for all health care services that are covered for in-person physician visits; Enhanced Medicaid payments for independent community hospitals, which directs the state to distribute these Medicaid payments; and out-of-network billing, which assists consumers to avoid surprise medical bills by requiring health care providers and insurance carriers to provide better notice to patients of a health care provider’s network status before non-emergency procedures.

            Included in this reform is the allowance to MassHealth members of access to urgent care facilities without first obtaining a referral from a primary care provider before accessing services. Insurance carriers will be required, including MassHealth, to cover all COVID-19 related emergency, inpatient, and cognitive rehabilitation services without any out-of-pocket costs to patients. In addition, COVID-19 coverage for medically necessary outpatient services is covered under this bill.

            The bill now heads to Governor Baker for signature.

Elizabeth “Betty” Theriault

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Elizabeth “Betty” Theriault of Mattapoisett, MA passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, January 3rd, surrounded by loved ones. She was the devoted wife of Albert “Bert” Theriault for 61 years, living in the house they had lovingly built over many happy summers at Harbor Beach before moving from Holden, MA to enjoy their retirement year-round in Mattapoisett.

            Born to Mary and John Daly on September 28, 1933, she grew up in Wellesley, MA. Her father built a summer cottage at Harbor Beach in the 1950’s, across the street from what would be her own home decades later. She is survived by her daughter Mary-Alice Chasse and husband Jeff Chasse of Sturbridge and Mattapoisett, MA, as well as her grandchildren Anthony Chasse and wife Sarah, Emily Chasse, and Catherine Chasse. She is also survived by her son John A. Theriault and his partner Scott Kellogg of Mattapoisett, MA. Albert Theriault passed away in February of 2019.

            A 1955 American Literature graduate of Brandeis University, she continued with graduate work at Simmons College in Library Science. She then married Bert who she had met as an undergraduate at Brandeis. Later, she spent a year in the Netherlands accompanying Bert on his Fulbright fellowship and traveling through Europe with 2-year-old Mary-Alice in tow.

            They then moved to Holden, MA where she became an active volunteer in the community, serving on a variety of town committees. She was also active at St. George’s Church in Worcester, working for decades on the Christmas Fair including chairing it. She was a devoted mother, being first to arrive at every parent’s day, school play, track meet, and moreover the years. Upon retirement in 1990, they moved to Mattapoisett year-round, where she was again active in the community. She served as a Mattapoisett Library Trustee for 12 years, and as an active member of the Library Building and Renovation Committee for 10 years. From handicapped accessibility to the correct roofing tiles, she paid attention to the details of the process and spoke up when she thought changes were needed. Her goal was to make sure the town had the best library possible.

            In addition to community work, she and Bert were active in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for 41 years, both in Holden and Mattapoisett. For 19 of those years, she assisted Bert as a volunteer lighthouse keeper at Ned’s Point, giving community tours from the ground while Bert was at the top. In addition, she worked with the Mattapoisett Historical Commission to create wayside panels including at Ned’s Point to provide a brief history of the lighthouse to visitors. She was also active in the town’s Council on Aging and as a parishioner at St. Anthony’s Church for decades.

            In 2013, she was awarded “Mattapoisett Woman of the Year” by the Standard-Times.

            Given current public health concerns, services will be private. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Mattapoisett Library Trust, Inc., P. O. Box 475, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Carol A. Norman

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Carol A. Norman, of Centerville, passed away peacefully at the McCarthy Care Hospice Center in Sandwich on Christmas Morning 2020.

            Carol was the daughter of Dorris and Walter Longmore and grew up in Mattapoisett where she made life-long friends. She attended the Fairhaven Unitarian Church and sang in the children’s choir that her mother directed. It was a musical family and Carol played the trumpet, piano and sang in choirs and musical groups throughout her life. Carol met her future husband, Richard “Dick” Norman, at the Mattapoisett Public Beach when she was 14 and Dick was 15. They were an “item” from then on. They both attended Fairhaven High School where they played in the marching band. Carol and Dick both graduated from UMass Amherst where Carol joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She remained close until her death with several of her sorority sisters and their families. Carol and Dick married on September 11, 1954 during a hurricane (they celebrated their 66th Wedding Anniversary this past September). They had five children in quick succession. Carol and Dick brought their family to live next to Walter and Dorris on Point Connett in Mattapoisett in 1957. Summers were filled with beaching, boating and visits from their friends and their ever-growing families. Winters included rooting for the Old Rochester Regional High School basketball team that Dick coached.

            In 1966, when Dick became Barnstable Athletic Coordinator they moved to the house in Centerville where they would live for the next 52 years. For her friends and family, she served as her generation’s version of social media. If anyone wanted to share news or information, they called Carol and word spread. Her family was very proud of her many accomplishments, her contributions that reached around the world. Carol was instrumental in starting American Field Service (AFS) on the Cape and bringing exchange students from all over the globe to live with Cape families for a year and local students to study abroad. She worked with hundreds over the years and stayed in touch with many. Her grandchildren are particularly grateful that for them, she brought the world to her living room.

            Carol was a member of the Unitarian Church of Barnstable. The Church was her second home. She served as Director of Religious Education there for 20 years. She nurtured the growth and spirituality of children and youth in a church school that, at times, numbered over 100 children. She cared deeply about the plight of children and families worldwide and led awareness/fundraising efforts for UNICEF and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. In 1987, Carol, together with a group of UCB women, started the church’s women’s spirituality group—Womanspirit. She also worked for social justice in her own community, initiating the church’s monthly dinner provided to the NOAH Shelter. She coordinated the church’s monthly Overnight of Hospitality for men experiencing homelessness. She served on countless other committees and was the first recipient of the “Carol Norman Unsung Hero Award” given annually in her name to a church member who exemplifies selfless service and positive contributions to the church and community.

            She loved her husband, her family, her friends, her Church and her church family. She promoted world peace, one family at a time, one relationship at a time in the hope that all would learn that, essentially, people are all the same.

            Carol is survived by her husband of 66 years, Richard “Dick” Norman of Centerville; her sister, JoAnn Kelley of Yarmouth Port; her children, Susanne Norman of Brewster, Richard “Rick” Norman of Phoenix, AZ, Marcia (and Michael) Bear of Centerville, Nancy Donohue of Centerville and Andrea (and Terry) Meagher of Centerville. She is survived by her 10 grandchildren: Emma and Ben Vaneria; Elizabeth and Jacob Bear; Grace, Anna and Sheila Meagher; Patrick and Claire Donohue; and Sophie Norman. Carol is also survived by her 3 great-grandchildren—Charlie Mae and Teddy Vaneria and Charlie Hunt. There are many AFSers that are now a part of Carol’s family and include Karin of Austria, Donna “Montana”, Elina of Italy and Marianne of Denmark.

            A celebration of Carol’s life will be held when it is safe to gather. Memorial donations may be made to American Field Service International at afs.org or The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee c/o Unitarian Church of Barnstable, P.O. Box 3330, Barnstable, MA 02630

Travis W. Hannack,

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Travis W. Hannack, 46, of Rochester, passed away Saturday, January 2, 2021 unexpectedly at home. He was the husband of Melanie B. (Correia) Hannack.

            Born in Baldwin, WI, son of Jack and Bonnie (Sebion) Hannack, he lived in the New Bedford area since 2008.

            Travis had been employed for over 10 years as a Clinical Specialist in the field of Urology.

            He was a member of the Greater New Bedford Track Club.

            Travis enjoyed running and had completed several marathons.

            He is survived by his wife, Melanie; his parents, Jack and Bonnie of Spring Valley, WI; two sons, Oliver and Sebastian; two brothers, Aaron Hannack and his wife Becky and Jayden Hannack and his wife Casey; and several nieces and nephews, all of Spring Valley, WI.

            No funeral services are scheduled at this time. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Arthur Seifert

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Arthur Seifert, age 91 of Marion, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, January 2, 2021 surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Rose (Mesquita) Seifert to whom he had been married for 61 years.

            Born in New Bedford, the son of the late John and Martha (Geier) Seifert, he was a graduate of New Bedford Vocation Technical High School.

            Mr. Seifert was employed with the former John I. Paulding Inc. as a tool and die maker for over 40 years until its closing. He was a United States Army Veteran who enjoyed woodworking and sailing.

            In addition to his wife, Mr. Seifert is survived by his son Kurt and his wife Cynthia of Marion and her two children Jeffrey and Andrew Butrick. He was the brother of the late Alice Seifert.

            His Funeral Service will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021 at 10:30 am in the Rock Funeral Home 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, New Bedford. Visiting hours will be Thursday from 2 to 4 pm. For directions and online tributes, please visit: www.rock-funeralhome.com

Davignon Closes Busy 2020 on Successful Note

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            The Mattapoisett Conservation Commission capped 2020 by using its December 28 remote-access meeting to issue two negative determinations of applicability, award two Orders of Conditions, withhold a Certificate of Compliance, and continue four public hearings.

            Engineer David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone, Inc. left the meeting with two negative determinations and an Order of Conditions.

            Davignon’s first Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) was in representation of Charles Howard III and Jane Howard, 10 Third Street, for a Title 5 compliant septic system for a four-bedroom house with a detached garage that will be downsized to three bedrooms with the fourth becoming an upstairs apartment.

            The house sits on 20 square feet of upland, not in a flood zone. A 1,500-gallon septic tank will replace a cesspool with a 1,000-gallon pump chamber and a 2-inch force main to a leaching field. A small portion of the leaching field is located inside the 100-foot buffer zone. The closest activity will occur 80 feet from the wetlands, including tree removal and a gentle slope.

            Seeking a negative determination for minor work within the buffer zone, ConCom unanimously voted to issue a Negative 3 Determination stipulating notice to the town office before the commencement of the work.

            The second RDA, filed by Aucoot Properties LLC c/o Charles Cedarburg at 98 Indian Cove Road, requested that the state Department of Environmental Protection Waterways Program issue a new Chapter 91 Waterways License legalizing a long-standing, floating dock at the Marion town line. No Notice of Intent was filed because no work has been proposed. Davignon had already brought the request to the Marion Conservation Commission, where a small portion of the dock exists. Mattapoisett ConCom unanimously voted to issue a Negative 2 Determination with no paper filing.

            In a continued public hearing under Case SE 44-1415, Davignon had filed an NOI on behalf of Craig and Elaine Bovaird, 2 Oliver Street, for work including a deck to be rebuilt and expanded with new stairs and a new propane tank at a residence on a coastal beach in the velocity zone. There were no comments from the Department of Environmental Protection. The public hearing was closed, and ConCom voted to issue an Order of Conditions requesting that the site be cleaned daily due to its “extreme proximity” to the ocean.

            Bob Field of Field Engineering filed an NOI on behalf of Raymond Hanks, 18 Crystal Spring Road. Under DEP File No. 44-1417, Field is proposing a two-car garage addition measuring 28-by-30 feet and a slightly expanded driveway with incidental grading within 50 feet of the wetland. The work is close to a disturbed area. Field told ConCom he would be happy to walk the site with Conservation Agent Elizabeth Leidhold, who had asked prior to the meeting if they used soil analysis. Field confirmed that they had, and King said Leidhold would be in touch should she decide on walking the site with Field. The hearing was continued two weeks out to January 11.

            In a continued public hearing, Bart O’Brien of Whitman Homes, 36 Prince Snow Circle, filed an NOI to build a single-family house with utilities, as represented by Stephen Wry of Land Planning, Inc. Wry explained that the project includes 8,600 square feet of work within the buffer zone and reported that the DEP says the work will not have an adverse effect. There will be an erosion barrier with fences in the front and sides and a hay bale in the back. Wry told ConCom he had prepared an NOI for the adjacent lot, and O’Brien said the erosion had been addressed.

            After voting to close public hearing SE 44-1412, ConCom requested that no less than two and no more than five 4-by-4-foot posts be used to identify the wetland area. The comments from the NHESP will be incorporated, and the commission voted unanimously to issue the Order of Conditions.

            A Certificate of Compliance per Case SE 44-1352 was withheld from The Preserve at Bay Club, LLC for work at lots 122 and 123 Split Rock Lane after Leidhold requested an as-built on a 1:30 scale, citing unstable ground. There were no 4-by-4-foot posts, and the soil, lacking sufficient grass, was reported to be running down the hill. ConCom requested that a letter be sent to the applicant advising of the deficiencies in the conservation agent’s notes that must be addressed by January 11, when ConCom will consider a Certificate of Compliance.

            Two public hearings, both NOIs, were continued to January 11 per the meeting agenda: SE44-1404 by Alexander Bauer at 7 Nasholina Road, and SE44-1409 by Randall Lane Solar, LLC at 29 Randall Lane.

            King thanked his fellow commissioners for all they’ve done during a very challenging year, at which point a dog barked as if to acknowledge the comment. It was a welcome moment of Zoom meeting levity to close the business of ConCom on 2020.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for January 11 at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Mick Colageo

Marion Scholarship

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Through the generosity of Marion residents, the Marion Scholarship and Education Committee is offering a scholarship to high school students who will graduate in 2021.

            Applicants must live in Marion, be in good academic standing, and accepted at a recognized college for the fall of 2021.

            Application requirements and deadline information can be obtained through the college counseling office at your high school.

            Anyone who would like to contribute to these and to future scholarships can send your donation to The Marion Scholarship and Education Committee, Marion Town House, 2 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738.

New Year’s Irresolution Waiver

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            New Year’s is typically a time of celebration, the denouement to a frenetic, all-consuming holiday season. The calendar marks the inevitable ends and the new beginnings, and this transition gives license for one last hurrah. And after the hangovers comes the introspection followed by a clichéd manifesto of self-improvement and conquest.

            The movers and shakers ring in the new year with a self-congratulatory pat on the back, hoping to stay on the same trajectory. And everyone else gets a clean slate to break free from the shackles of mediocrity when unable to enjoy meaningful accomplishment. Year-end reviews can be a daunting prospect, but this particular annual ritual, the New Year’s season audit, is an almost fail-safe proposition; you either keep up the good work and stay the course, or you learn from your mistakes, offering a better tomorrow. The New Year’s bash is such a beloved racket because it has both sides covered; celebrate time well spent or add to a downward spiral and take your January 2nd mulligan.

            This year is anything but typical, and most of us would just assume put 2020 out of its misery. It’s hard to imagine who might be thriving during this catastrophe other than the toilet paper moguls and the price-gouging kettlebell merchants. As much as we’d like to turn the page, we can’t resolution our way out of this one. We’re at the mercy of a global pandemic, and we don’t have the luxury of our familiar, next-day do-overs.

            There’s nothing more annoying than a cockeyed optimist, cheerleader-type espousing positivity when you’re having a bad day. And no amount of silver linings is worth the devastation that comes with a public health crisis, but there have been a few bright spots and encouraging developments along the way.

            I’m a proud, card-carrying member of the alliance for a more pessimistic society. Still, I have to admit that I’m heartened by some of the adaptive measures being embraced by determined and resourceful exercise enthusiasts during the pandemic. People who have become so dependent on gyms suddenly found themselves without access to the equipment they’ve grown accustomed to.

            As Joni Mitchell foretold: “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”

            Many people scrambled to set up home gyms, but there was a run on equipment, and some items were pretty hard to come by. This gave rise to a back-to-basics movement through the fitness community. No-equipment workouts saw a renaissance, and people fashioned their own equipment out of household items, building supplies, nature, and anything else suitable when inspiration struck. Not always perfect replacements for the genuine articles, but definitely decent placeholders during a drought.

            I watched this unfold with nostalgic delight, as I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between this forced shift in exercise practice and what the founding fathers of modern-day fitness did during the dawn of their trailblazing days. What’s old is new again, the difference being that the old-timey physical culturists had to invent many of these exercises and training methods, whereas we have the benefit of their playbook.

            I find that this environment drives less thinking and more doing. The classic tale of unfulfilled fitness aspirations is the ambitious neophyte who spends a year researching which brand of treadmill to purchase. Being an informed consumer is always a good idea, but never-ending excessive analysis is the tale of a person who likes the concept of exercise more than actually putting in the work. These days people are using what’s available to them rather than overthinking the usual lengthy number of choices, and that’s what brings results.

            Even some of the exercise deniers have jumped on the bandwagon. In a strange twist on reverse psychology, some gym dropouts have become highly motivated to work out as an act of physical disobedience after being deprived of the opportunity to maximize their potential. Buying a gym membership and not showing up of your own free will is a time-honored tradition, but being cut off is another matter. “It’s my right to wither away, but I’ll be damned if the man is gonna determine the fate of my physical wellbeing.”

            We have less access to traditional settings for group exercise and classes, but there are plenty of virtual opportunities. A virtual workout experience as compared to the conventional in-person experience is an apples-to-oranges kind of thing, but they both come with their own set of pros and cons. As a technophobe, I haven’t fully embraced the George Jetson exercise approach, but I can’t deny the logistical upside and the sheer convenience of it all. I have trained people in Iowa, Alabama, and Maine from the comfort of my New Bedford digs since this whole thing started. And these things wouldn’t be available to us had we been getting crushed by a pandemic in years past.

            There are many resources for exercise help and information, but some of the familiar go-to tipsters we’ve grown to rely on are temporarily off the table. A problem that sometimes occurs with the personal trainer-client relationship is that the trainee becomes overly dependent on their trainer. A personal trainer should be an educator and a consultant, not a Svengali. When a person needs to be spoon-fed every last detail about leading an active life after years of working with a personal trainer, something went wrong. Having to step out on your own, spread your wings, and fend for yourself a little bit more than usual can be a good thing. I’ve noticed signs of more self-sufficiency and self-reliance since our everyday face-to-face interactions have been shelved.

            Perhaps the most important change during these uncertain times is that many of us have more time. Of those lucky enough to remain employed during this mess, a considerable number now work remotely. They’re still working hard, but no more rush-hour traffic, lousy commutes, wearing uncomfortable clothes, and spiffing up for direct human encounters. It takes a lot less time and effort to fake your way to a proper physical appearance for a waist-up Zoom meeting.

            This newfound surplus of time has afforded us the brain space to focus on some of those things that are neglected and overlooked when we’re overscheduled and running around like crazed worker bees. Physical and emotional wellbeing often gets lost in the shuffle, and this disruption has allowed us to allocate more time to some of these needs. Some things will be changed forever, and other things will return to their earlier state. As we slam the door shut on 2020, we can hopefully carry some of these positive adjustments forward when we resume our familiar pre-pandemic lives.

            —Certified strength and conditioning coach Norman Meltzer, the owner/operator of MW Strength and Conditioning in New Bedford, was known during his competitive weight-lifting career as “the Muscleless Wonder” for his lean, mean physique lacking in the traditional bulk associated with strength training. Meltzer’s experience and knowledge has helped pro, college, and high school athletes and teams, and even regular people improve their strength and performance.

Schvitz’n with Norm

By Norm Meltzer

ORR Girls Happily Hop on Ice

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            Girls who play hockey are among life’s elite problem solvers.

            If they’re from southeastern Massachusetts, they grew up skating on boys’ teams and clomping that extra 150 feet off the ice to a dressing room far removed from the epicenter of camaraderie, that sacred place where a team becomes a team.

            Adjusting is their way of life, from the skates they wear to what they get for ice time and how equipment fits. So, when the Old Rochester Regional High School girls hockey team was given the green light to play a 2020-21 season, the avalanche of special requirements, restrictions, and rule changes that came with the good news was filed away on their everyday things-to-do lists.

            “I’m happy for the girls that they’re going to get to play,” said Head Coach Ted Drew with a hint of trepidation because the circumstances are fluid and could change at any time. “It’s going to be a mishmash this year…. We’re going to figure this out as we go.”

            The Travis Roy Rink at Tabor Academy is closed for the season, but John Gallo Arena in Bourne has made ice time available. Some players were unable to practice on Sunday because they are the subjects of contact tracing in a COVID-19 case. Another regular was on skates but on the mend from shoulder surgery.

            The Bulldogs were a good, solid team in 2019-20; only they couldn’t generate enough offense to make many of the outcomes go their way, finishing 5-12-3 and out of the playoffs.

            “We were one of the better defensive teams around. Everyone kept telling us we were the best five-win team they’ve ever seen,” said Drew, in his second year as coach after ORR began hosting the coop program originated by Bourne in 2010.

            Improving on offense will not come easily without Erin Craig, who is attending prep school this winter, and 2020 graduate Madison Guinen. Fellow forwards Meghan Berg and Lauren O’Malley also graduated, as did all-star goaltender Megan Nolan.

            Succeeding Nolan is one challenge that the Bulldogs are well equipped to handle, as senior Meghan Craig is back for her senior year after sitting out the 2019-20 season recovering from foot surgery. Craig comes from a stellar hockey pedigree. The Mattapoisett resident’s uncle is the 1980 Olympic gold medalist Jim Craig. She has learned to fill the net smartly with anticipation and positioning that comes with experience and knowledge.

            “I’ve got to give the kid credit (despite being unable to play). She came to all the practices and games. She’s very vocal, and that’s what you need. She’s been well-coached,” said Drew.

            Augmenting the defensive side of the puck is a core of players that will allow Drew to deploy his niece, senior captain Carly Drew, as a forward this season. Carly Drew was previously the Bulldogs’ game controlling defenseman. Thanks to strength in the form of blueliners Emma Dettera, Avery Hathaway, Cassidy Hill, and Nora Schiappa, Carly Drew will now become the brains of the attack. Eighth-grade defenseman Lily Cook is a newcomer to the program.

            Seniors Amanda Orchuck, Amanda Wheeler, Isabelle Stone, and Abigail Thompson, and sophomores Heather Lapworth, Kellen Geake, and Emily Kilpatrick will be supported on the forward lines by freshman Sophia Sheehy and seventh-grader Elizabeth Kilpatrick.

            Girls high school hockey has adopted a field hockey rule known in that sport as “third party.” If two opponents are competing for the puck, what ice hockey coaches have long referred to as puck support is now illegal. The restriction applies to a two-man forecheck. Meantime, centers lining up for a faceoff must remain 6 feet apart until puck drop. Up to five players are allowed on the bench at any one time and only one in the penalty box.

            It wasn’t known until late in the game that the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) would sanction coop programs, upon which many girls high school teams and a growing number of area boys teams are predicated. And it wasn’t known where Bourne would land; even though the program originated as BMW, the Canalmen were an 11th-hour inclusion.

            Eight players are ORR students, six from Bourne, two from Apponequet Regional (Lakeville and Freetown), and one from Mashpee. Upper Cape Tech opted-out of winter sports, so with no boys hockey, it was decided that UCT’s girls would not play either. The “W” in BMW stands for Wareham, which is no longer part of the coop.

            Assistant coach Kami Medeiros is back to assist Drew, but Braly Hiller is on the mend from hip surgery and, under doctors’ advice, will not coach this year. Carly Drew has committed to play NCAA Division III women’s hockey next year at Anna Maria College in Paxton.

            ORR has scheduled seven games and will potentially play nine, beginning on Saturday, January 9, the season opener against Bishop Stang at Stephan Hetland Memorial rink in New Bedford.

By Mick Colageo