Academic Achievements

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Bryant University is pleased to recognize the Class of 2020 who have completed their undergraduate studies to earn a Bryant University degree, one which has more value now than at any time in Bryant’s history. Drew Estes of Rochester earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Finance. Kaleigh Goulart of Marion earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. Shaun Lavoie of Mattapoisett earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Marketing.

            Callum McLaughlin of Mattapoisett graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with an MS in mechanical engineering. Some 4,000 degrees were conferred in the 2019-2020 academic year at all of RIT’s campuses. A virtual celebration was held May 8 at rit.edu/classof2020.

            Emily Josephson, of Rochester earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Simmons University in Boston and was named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list.

            Mary Katharine McIntire, of Mattapoisett was named to the 2020 Dean’s List at Union College. McIntire is a member of the Class of 2020 majoring in Economics and Political Science.

Sometimes Yin but Other Times Yang

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            I was having lunch a couple of summers ago with noted double threat Helen Wan, novelist/lawyer, and as I complained about writer’s block and misrepresented my world-class procrastination, she recommended a book called Daily Rituals. I picked up a copy soon after and promptly put off reading it in keeping with my usual, shiftless style.

            This book is a fascinating look at the artistic process, detailing a breakdown of the quirks, habits, and methods of some of history’s greatest minds. My big takeaway was how very different the working styles were amongst these renowned figures in reaching success. Some were night owls, while others were morning people; some worked in short spurts, while others hammered away over tortuous marathon sessions; some abused their bodies, while others had more healthy leanings.

            It was refreshing to soak up this ‘different strokes for different folks’ perspective because it validated what I’ve noticed in the weight room. In the world of fitness, there’s not one singular recipe for success that works for everyone. What is a highly successful approach for one person may be completely inappropriate for another person. There are time-honored methods and scientific data that support various practices, but there isn’t a one size fits all.

            When I was cutting my teeth as a weightlifter, the best in the world were the Bulgarians and Russians. Both programs were like factories, pumping out world champion after world champion.

            The Russian way was precise, methodical, program design where you knew several weeks in advance exactly how much you were supposed to lift on any given day. The Bulgarian way was to basically max out every workout, which then determined your various training loads for that particular day.

            The Russian model is attractive because people like structure and to have every little thing spelled out for them. And though a workout may be simple to read or understand, it takes a lot of discipline to do what you’re supposed to do, regardless of how you feel that day or life’s other diversions that can compromise a training session. The Bulgarian model is sensible in that if you’re having a good day you lift more, and if you’re having an off day you lift less. There’s not really a clear winner when both programs produce champions.

            And while technical program design can be studied and analyzed until the end of time, there are a hundred other choices and variables that are going to have an impact on your exercise experience.

            Some people enjoy exercising at five o’clock in the morning (not me), while others are better off working out later in the day. Some people like training alone, and others like working out with a training partner. I liked having a training partner who happened to be stronger than me. He was a few weight classes heavier, and I was never gonna catch him, but it was good to have something to chase. Other alpha-types feel the need to be stronger or better than their workout partners. Some athletes respond well to castigation, and others need nurturing; some training partners need to be the Skipper, and others need to be the Gilligan.

            We like to emulate our sports heroes and celebrities in hopes of enjoying their measure of success, but it’s never as simple as that. The short explanation is that I can do everything that Tom Brady does in his offseason training, and Bob Kraft isn’t calling me anytime soon, or Bruce Arians for that matter. Celebrities on infomercials are often disingenuous hucksters who overstate the benefits of whatever they’re pitching while disregarding the other factors that explain their coveted look. Some athletes’ training programs are only possible to tolerate with the help of drugs.

Of course, every Little Leaguer would love to get his hands on Mike Trout’s workout plan, but what’s advisable for a 29-year-old may be completely inappropriate for a 15-year-old. Not to mention that a workout written for someone who plays 162 games should look a lot different than one for a 20-game season. Rather than steal his blueprints, young athletes should aspire to be more like him. He’s fast, so they should work on speed; he’s strong, so they should work on strength, etc. Try to emulate, but don’t just blindly copy.

            This is why sweeping generalizations as applied to fitness drives me crazy. Swimming is not a good form of exercise for people who don’t know how to swim, and drowning is even worse. Rock climbing is not a good exercise choice for those of us who are scared of heights. Swimming is a perfect fit for some people, just as biking is for others. Training at the crack of dawn works well for some people, but late afternoon has always been my sweet spot. Never say never, and never say always.

From the ironic fitness outcomes, stranger than fiction files, as well as don’t try this at home, is the story of Jeff the bartender. I ran into Jeff after not having seen him for quite some time, and he nimbly identified himself to spare my embarrassment when he realized that I didn’t recognize him. He had lost a lot of weight and he looked far different from the last time I had seen him. When I asked about his metamorphosis, he revealed his path to success as being a broken leg.

Infirmity was his salvation.

As an able-bodied bartender, he hustled throughout his long shifts and played in three different softball leagues. But he also boozed it up and smoked acres of weed. And then came the late-night pizzas and all else that comes with a living on the razor’s-edge lifestyle of a pleasure-seeking mixologist in the wee small hours. Being bedridden served him well, not because he did any of the right stuff, but because he unwittingly avoided most of the wrong stuff. I wouldn’t recommend orthopedic injury as a treatment plan for weight control, but I suppose if the shoe fits…

Voltaire worked in bed, and Hemingway preferred to write while standing; we should embrace the idea of discovering what works best for us as unique individuals.

            — 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 Muscless 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

Central Office Builds Team, Cuts 10 Days to Prepare Teachers

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            All the while concocting three distinct scenarios for a 2020-21 return to school, Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson has also been leading a small hiring committee to find the right person to function in the role he had held six years as Doug White’s assistant.

            On the same day that the ORR Joint School Committee / Superintendency Union #55 approved Nelson’s proposal to amend the academic calendar to start with two weeks of teacher preparation and delay opening day until September 16, he gained the committee’s approval on the appointment of a key addition to the new administrative team at Central Office.

            Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Jannell Pearson-Campbell brings nearly 20 years of experience in special education to the job, has held significant administrative roles including principal and assistant principal, and was most recently assistant director of special education for the Waltham public schools. 

            The qualifications are obvious, but it was in her meeting with ORR faculty and staff where Pearson-Campbell made an impact that influenced Nelson in the final stages of deciding on a recommendation for appointment.

            “I’ll cut to the chase. All those who interacted with her said, ‘Wow, I felt like I’ve known her for a long time already,” Nelson told the Joint School Committee in its August 12 Zoom meeting. “Her interpersonal skills with our stakeholders really sold me on making the recommendation (to hire).”

            Nelson said in his interview with Pearson-Campbell that she was forthright in telling him she had always wanted to become an assistant superintendent of schools and one day a superintendent. When asked about helping formulate a new administrative team at Central Office, she told Nelson, “Well it’s like a marriage and we need to make it a good one.”

            Out of 40 applicants, Nelson interviewed 10 and identified two finalists. After the Joint School Committee voted to approve her appointment, Pearson-Campbell wanted to share the moment on Zoom with her mother.

            “(My mom) is a retired teacher and she always told me not to go into teaching, and I want to show her and say, ‘Look Mom, look what I did,’” said Pearson-Campbell. “I just want to thank everyone for the opportunity. When I came to the district, everyone was so welcoming, everyone was so happy to meet me there. I thank all the committees, Mr. Nelson, the school committee, all the teachers, all the business people, the secretaries, everyone was like, ‘Thank you for coming in.’ I really appreciate being able to work with everyone at the beginning of this journey, and I just want to thank you for the opportunity.”

            “We’re delighted to have you,” said union-side Chairperson Shannon Finning. Region-side Chairperson Cary Humphrey simultaneously offered his congratulations as did several other committee members.

            While stressing that ORR’s return-to-school plan for the 2020-21 academic year will begin in a hybrid model and be subject to continuous review, Nelson chose quality over quantity in getting his first school year as superintendent off the ground.

            Nelson reported that Jeff Riley of the state Department of Education has allowed individual districts to truncate the traditional 180-day school year to 170 if the 10 extra days are used at the beginning of the school year to provide COVID-19-related training for faculty.

            The Joint School Committee approved Nelson’s proposal to use September 1-15 as training weeks and officially start school on September 16.

            Citing ORR’s “cohort ideology” that divides students’ physical attendance into two consistent segments meant not to overlap, Nelson laid out the hybrid return-to-school model but did not close the door on a full, in-person return to school in 2020-21.

            “I’d like to think this is the last time that we will talk about proposed changes, but… I know that there’s a strong, strong possibility that we’ll be using all of our learning models this year,” Nelson told the meeting.

            Nelson recommended that all half-time professional-development days be moved to Mondays so they will not take away from student-teacher interaction on hybrid half days. Immediate ramifications included moving a teacher-meeting day originally scheduled for September 1 to March 22, 2021. The following development days have also been moved: September 23 to September 28, February 3 to February 1, March 3 to March 1, and June 2 to June 7. The full professional-development day previously scheduled for January 15 will be moved to January 11 to accommodate the hybrid learning model. November 3 was scheduled as a professional development day, but that is also election day and Old Hammondtown School is a ballot station in Mattapoisett.

            The strongest concerns were put forth by committee members well aware of the stress being felt by communities where both parents work amidst a lack of discussion around a full, in-person return to school.

            “I certainly support the need for educators to have the two weeks to prepare for this kind of unprecedented experience. My concern with the calendar at its entirely, I’m worried that we’re committing to only considering a hybrid or out-of-class scenario, and I would like a commitment that we will be considering, when appropriate, the opportunity to be fully in person. I don’t want to be locked in for the year because of an approval to a calendar today. I’m not comfortable with that,” said Finning. “Many parents are looking… for a commitment from the school committees that we will, one, require you to have a plan and what that would look like, and, two, that we would ensure that we would revisit minimally before January if not before that.”

            “That is the goal of our school district, that is what we want,” said Nelson, who emphasized that committee approval for the hybrid model is only a starting place for the academic year. Nelson committed to discuss in-person learning “on a much more regular basis” going forward.

            “I appreciate everyone’s patience, I appreciate everyone’s feedback,” he added later in the meeting. “I take it extremely seriously, and I will continue to do everything in my power working with the key stakeholders to provide the best education possible under the current circumstances.”

            In answer to a non-committee faculty question asking for more specifics, Nelson said that the approval of the Joint School Committee mobilizes him to update the current hybrid plan for return to school but that committee approval would be required for a shift from the hybrid model to full in-person or fully remote. And those scenarios are subject to executive order from the state.

            “That’s my understanding of the process, and I just think it’s very important for people to realize that we may have to utilize all three learning models – maybe sometimes more than one – based off of how COVID-19 impacts statewide and local communities,” said Nelson.

            Finning related the concerns of residents looking for more transparency of ORR’s presentation of all three learning scenarios. Nelson said that information, as it’s updated, belongs in a unified presentation and needs to go out to all stakeholders at once.

            During the open-comment segment of the meeting, the immediate financing scenario for 2020-21 and establishing trigger points for potential shifts in modes of learning were discussed. Many would like to have a document laying out hypotheticals.

            Nelson continued building his Central Office team by gaining committee approval for his recommendation of Craig Davidson as director of Student Services.

            “I just want to start off by congratulating Dr. Pearson-Campbell, that’s awesome – congratulations,” said Davidson, who has a special education background and most recently held a similar position in Bourne. Davidson’s energy and enthusiasm were evident as he addressed all involved in the hiring process. “My visit to the district, it was outstanding. I loved the interactions with everybody, and I’d really like to thank the school committee for voting me through… I can’t wait to start working at some point in the best district on the SouthCoast.”

            Nelson added that progress has been made by the policy subcommittee created for the purpose of exploring how ORR can improve as an anti-racism institution.

            The next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 24.

ORR Joint School Committee / Superintendency Union #55

By Mick Colageo

Albert C. “Al” Muren

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Albert C. “Al” Muren, of Marion, MA and Port St. Lucie, FL, died peacefully of natural causes at age 86, on August 18, 2020. Albert is survived by his wife, Frances Sajewicz; three children by his wife of 47 years, the late Irene (Rosselot) Muren – Andrea Shanahan of Medford, MA, Clifford Muren of Natick, MA, and Gail Stetson, and her husband Jon Stetson of Fairhaven, MA; and three grandchildren – Elise Muren, John C. Shanahan, and Alison Shanahan. He is also survived by two sisters, Judy Matthews of Arvada, CO and Regina Martin of Carson City, NV. 

Albert was born in Barberton, OH, and graduated from Norton High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University, and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from Northeastern University. He started his career at PPG Chemicals in New Martinsville, WV, where he led the development of processes related to the manufacture of PVC and for sulfur-based products, and was transferred for three years to Corpus Christi, TX. In the mid-70s, he accepted a position with Polaroid Corporation in New Bedford, MA, and settled with his family in Marion, MA. At Polaroid for 20+ years, he worked as an engineer developing color-processing chemicals for instant cameras, and from which he retired as a principal engineer in 1994. 

During retirement, Albert spent winters at his home in Port St. Lucie, FL, escaping the cold New England winters to revel in the warm weather. A self-described “avid athlete of average ability,” he enjoyed year-around golf, tennis, and six-wicket croquet. 

A life-long amateur musician and singer, he played tuba in The Ohio State Marching Band, sang with the Sippican Choral Society in Marion, MA and the Treasure Coast Community Singers in Stuart, FL, as well as barbershop chapters in New Bedford, MA and Jensen Beach, FL. A devout Catholic, he was a parishioner at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Port St. Lucie and Church of Saint Rita in Marion. 

Among his many friends, he was known as kind and energetic, with a streak of mischief. Growing up, he was a loyal brother to his two younger sisters and a responsible son who made his parents proud. Throughout his life he lived up to his own high standards and never knew the idle life. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading, and following business news. Especially later in life, he had robust social life that included sports, dining, and even a discovered talent for ballroom dancing. 

He was a good man. He will be dearly missed by all. 

Visitation will be on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett, MA. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at 10:30 AM in St. Louis Church, Owensville, OH, followed by burial in St. Louis Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 964 Main St., Pawtucket, RI 02860 or Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Rd., Coconut Beach, FL 33073. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com

MAC Summer Members’ Show

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The Marion Art Center’s Summer Members’ Show opens Friday, August 21. There will be no reception for the exhibit, but gallery hours can be found online at marionartcenter.org/on-exhibit. Please contact the MAC to arrange a viewing appointment outside of regular gallery hours. The MAC will also make the show available on the website by early September. The show ends September 26. For questions, email info@marionartcenter.org or call 508-748-1266.

Town of Marion: Online Building Permits Available

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Building Commissioner Scott Shippey is pleased to announce that Marion residents are now able to obtain building permit applications online.

            Residents can now complete building permit applications online by visiting the Building Department website at marionma.gov and clicking the “Online Permitting” tab in the left menu. A kiosk is also available for residents to complete building permit applications electronically at the Town House.

            The Town’s permitting software is user-friendly, accepts electronic payments, and available 24 hours.

            All homeowners who have not hired a contractor for a building project may choose to utilize this service by creating a personal account. A contractor can also complete the application online on the resident’s behalf. All types of building permits are available to apply online. Supporting documents can be uploaded and attached as needed.

            Residents who wish to continue to submit paper permit applications will still be able to do so.

            “We are excited to bring this new feature and make it easier for residents to complete their building permits online and support a greener, paper-free option,” Town Administrator Jay McGrail said. “We also think this is a good time to launch online permitting and urge residents to file permits electronically to keep business going while minimizing social contact during the coronavirus pandemic.”

            Anyone who has questions about the online permitting process can call the Building Department at 508-748-7516.

Nolan Fergus Gibbons

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Nolan Fergus Gibbons, 15, of Marion, Massachusetts passed away in his sleep early Tuesday morning, August 18, 2020.  He had attended Sippican Elementary School and Old Rochester Junior High and High School. 

Born on July 12, 2005 in Boston, MA, Nolan came into the world making musical cries. By the age of 5, he was in constant motion, dancing, singing and teaching himself piano. 

In the next 10 years, Nolan went from private singing lessons to performing across New England in the Encore Repertory Theater, Break A Leg Theater Company and Showstoppers, garnering roles in productions of West Side Story, Young Frankenstein, The Wizard of Oz, Seussical the Musical, Mary Poppins, including the lead in Shrek The Musical. 

In 2017, he won “New England’s Got Talent” with his own arrangement of John Lennon’s “Imagine” (singing live with his own pre-recorded video/vocals in the final round). 

His momentum lead him to join Acapop!KIDS, a professional teen a cappella group, where he sang and performed nationally in concerts, albums and music videos. In 2019 and 2020 he sang in the renowned A Cappella Academy camp in Los Angeles—”the best 10 days of my entire life”—performing and composing with people and music he dearly loved. His original songs and compositions are set to release this fall. 

He is survived by his loving parents, Warren and Sheila (Arenstam) Gibbons; his grandparents, Boyd and Gay Gibbons and the late Anne and John Arenstam; a vibrant, caring community of artists and musicians; his beloved cats, Evie, Roland, and Ruthy; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family. 

Funeral services will be held privately. A public memorial service will be held at a date and time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations please be made to the Nolan Gibbons Memorial Fund, https://www.gofundme.com/f/nolan-gibbons-memorial . 

Hartley Breaks Silence in Land Negotiations

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            Rochester Selectmen Woody Hartley and Brad Morse were in fundamental disagreement during Monday’s public meeting whether negotiations with the First Congregational Church of Rochester over two acres of land between the church building and Town Hall should be kept under the wraps of executive session or be brought out into the open.

            “This isn’t the right place to debate this,” said Morse.

            “It is the right place to debate this,” said Hartley.

            Citing a $10,000 negotiating gap that could cost the Town Hall an opportunity to “almost triple” the size of its land footprint, Hartley expressed his frustration in open session on Zoom.

            “I want to know what’s going on here. We didn’t have an executive session tonight. I think it’s time we talk about this stuff in public session,” he said. “That’s unhealthy, not the process we should be using. We’re basically mandated to buy that property.”

            Hartley was alluding to a Town Meeting vote on June 22 that authorized Rochester to spend up to $160,000 for the land, a purchase that would in turn enable the church to make needed upgrades to its building.

            “We haven’t had a formal response to our offer except in the press… I guess it’s over… It should still be in closed session, but they’ve opened the door,” said Morse, referencing the church’s comments in a recent newspaper report.

            Richard Cutler, attending the Zoom meeting on behalf of the church, said, “The last offer presented to the church through me was through email; the response to that email is another email.”

            Chairman Paul Ciaburri assured Cutler that Rochester can make its offer formal on paper.

            Morse insisted that the matter should remain in executive session, but when pressed said he offered the church $150,000 for the land because Rochester had received a written appraisal of $125,000 and the church had received an appraisal for $160,000.

            Hartley said that the original appraisal between $155,000 and $162,000 in April was established before the selectmen voted to bring the matter to Town Meeting, “and that was really the basis of moving forward. It’s what it’s worth to us for the future.

            “One more time: The ($150,000) offer we made most recently was the exact same offer that was a month ago rejected. We asked the seller to provide additional information to prove it’s a buildable lot, yet we offer the same price. That’s why I was opposed to it… When the townspeople supported it overwhelmingly – nary a question – I just don’t understand why we’re holding this up for $10,000… we may never get this chance again.”

            Ciaburri countered, “You could argue that the other way, that the church is (the party holding up the negotiations).”

            Morse still considered the offer generous considering the appraisal Rochester obtained at $125,000. “(Regardless)… based on where our appraisal came in, we didn’t even split the difference.”

            Town Counsel Blair Bailey was away and not in attendance at the meeting.

            The board did agree to set a Special Town Meeting for November 16 at 7:00 pm at Rochester Memorial School.

            In her Town Administrator’s Report, Suzanne Szyndlar said the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has allotted Rochester $301,662, approximately $300 less than last year. “At least we’re getting some Chapter 90 allotment,” she said.

            Szyndlar reported having completed a Chapter 40 update to the state Department of Housing and Community Development for the Cranberry Highway Overlay District. She said the town will not receive $350,000 in zoning payments unless six conditions are met, including pedestrian improvements and connecting the district to each of the two nearest bus stops. “The developer will take care of it,” she said.

            Ciaburri reported on his trip last week to Franklin and announced that Rochester was given 12,400 N95 facemasks, 600 face shields and 80 sets of goggles through Mass Emergency Management and FEMA.

            In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, Ciaburri said that “people should shelter in place” and that the Council on Aging building will only be used as an emergency shelter as a last resort in the event such as a direct hit of a hurricane. “If we have to (use the Senior Center) we will, but we prefer you shelter with your family and friends. But, if need be, we will do what we have to do for the citizens of the town,” he said.

            Hartley asked about holding meetings at the Senior Center, similarly to how Marion has begun holding meetings at its Music Hall. “The technology has been a challenge at every one of our meetings. I think they’re having a lot of luck,” said Hartley.

            Szyndlar explained that phone service has been an ongoing problem with hybrid meetings at Town Hall that was not a problem at Rochester Memorial School. “Comcast doesn’t have the bandwidth we need; I’m starting to look into moving over to (Verizon) Fios,” she said.

            Bailey’s ongoing efforts to research and improve the remote-access audio for meetings held at Town Hall will yield new equipment.

            In other business, the selectmen unanimously voted to sign the 2020 State Primary Election warrant.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Monday, September 7, at 6:00 pm.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo

Rochester Senior Center

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The Town of Rochester has a new website. The new site has pages for each of the town departments. The Rochester Council on Aging will manage their own page on the town’s new site, and make changes instantly. The page contains current information, scheduled events, and a calendar. It will also contain newsletters and forms in the future. It is very user-friendly and will eventually replace the Senior Center’s current website. Both the website and the new town webpage will be maintained until further notice. The new town webpage can be found under “COA” townofrochestermass.com.   

            The Rochester Senior Center is planning to reintroduce the newsletter in the fall. The newsletter will contain articles, information about upcoming events, and general information about what’s going on in the community and at the Senior Center. The newsletter will be available online at both the current website and the town’s new website. The current website is www.rochestermaseniorcenter.com.  

            The Rochester Senior Center Board meeting and Friends of the Rochester Senior Center meeting will be held Wednesday, September 2 at 9:00 am and 10:00 am respectively. The Board meeting is held virtually and/or at the Senior Center. The Friends meeting will be held at the Senior Center. Due to COVID restrictions, a maximum of 15 people is permitted in the large room at the Senior Center (eight people per 1000 sf/per room). Meetings held outside can accommodate more people, weather permitting. Face coverings are required and six feet of social distancing from non-household members apply. Everyone attending activities held at the Senior Center will be asked to sign a COA Waiver of Liability Agreement. Waivers are available at the front desk. Waivers will be kept on file. You do not have to fill out a waiver each time you visit.

            The Friends of the Rochester Senior Center are inviting local seniors to join this dynamic group. Please contact the Senior Center or a Board member to learn more. The Friends of the Rochester Senior Center meet monthly and raise funds to assist the Senior Center. The Friends are hoping to hold a car-hop and a craft sale in the fall. 

            The Rochester Senior Center would like seniors to know what to expect if they or a loved one tests positive for Covid-19 in terms of isolating and quarantining. Isolating and quarantining are steps taken to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Detailed information can be found at mass.gov.  However, in general;

            If you test positive, you will be contacted by a health official to identify your close contacts within two days of becoming symptomatic or obtaining a positive lab result. Close contacts are anyone you have been within six feet of for 15 minutes or longer, regardless of whether or not either person wore face coverings. People who test positive for Covid-19 must isolate for a minimum of 10 days, and must be cough and fever-free for at least 24 hours before they can be released from isolation by a public health official. Isolating means not leaving your property, or coming into contact with other people, including household members.

            People who are identified as close contacts of a person who has tested positive for Covid-19 will be contacted by a public health official, and should get a PCR test as soon as possible. Close contacts are required to quarantine for 14 days. Quarantining means you should not leave your property or have any contact with other people. If you must leave to seek medical attention, you should wear a face mask and alert providers of your status. You may not take public transportation or have visitors on your property.

Mattapoisett Election Information

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Mattapoisett will be offering in-person Early Voting at the Mattapoisett Town Hall, 16 Main Street. The hours are Saturday, August 22from 12:00 to 8:00 pm and Sunday, August 23 from 8:00 am until noon. We will also be offering in-person voting Monday, August 24through Friday, August 28, 2020 from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. On Tuesday, August 25, we will be open for voting until 8:00 pm.

            The polls will be open at Old Hammondtown School for the State Primary on September 1, 2020. The hours will be 7:00 am until 8:00 pm. At the polls on Election Day, we will be processing Early Ballots throughout the day in a Central Tabulation Facility.

            We are also accepting requests for mail-in ballots until August 26. We are processing the requests as quickly as possible. If you have already submitted a request but have not received your ballot, please call the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-758-4100 x 2 or email Town Clerk, Catherine Heuberger at townclerk@mattapoisett.net.