Art Exhibit Discovers Beauty Within

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The Marion Art Center’s latest exhibit brings together the works of two artists who share a common goal of finding the beauty and meaning that hides within and bringing it into the light. The show is titled Emergence. Very apropos for a spring event.

            Tracey J. Maroni is a painter whose canvasses explore what lies beneath the surface such as the flower bulbs of spring or the skies above. Paula Stebbins Becker is a textile artist whose displayed works are crafted from weavings that have been deconstructed and then reimaged into something new.

            Maroni told us that she is and always has been inspired by the natural world. “I’ve been an observer my whole life.”

            Through those observations, Maroni finds the colors and the layers that inform her paintings. She said that she has worked in many mediums including water color. Maroni confided that several of her professors while studying at university were tremendously supportive, including one who purchased an early watercolor. “I was brought to tears,” Maroni recalled.

            Maroni believes that planets are living-giving entities and as such exist both above and below the earth’s surface. Imagined cross-sectional views of flowers emerging from beneath the earth’s surface reaching towards the sun are a major theme in the works now on exhibit.

            Maroni’s paintings are subtle and give a restful, non-turbulent expression through plant life and the surrounding atmosphere. She incorporates the technique of layering paper over areas of the canvas, thus giving the finished piece texture and depth. Maroni holds a BFA from the University of Amherst.

            Stebbins Becker works with the tangible threads, yarns and fabrics. She explained the process of taking finished weavings and carefully taking them apart either in total or in part, sometimes leaving threads in place like memories of what was. Throughout the process of deconstructing and then constructing, Stebbins Becker said, “I allow the hand and the thread to lead the way, intuitively building layers and textures that bring about surprises …”

            The materials the artist employs run a surprising gamut from Thai hemp batik, linen warp, hand-dyed threads and even barks and exotic woods to name a few. In one series of weavings, she asks the viewer to “cultivate” compassion, peace, and joy – a process of giving. In another series, she asks the viewer to “harvest” – a taking action. The giving and taking actions are expressed in exquisite complexity. Also rather apropos for this time in human history.

            Threads are the main element of Stebbins Becker’s works. Even the smallest pieces are conserved during the deconstruction process, pieces that may be used for knotting sections together. She wrote in her artist’s statement, “Unraveled fabrics and threads are gathered, bundled, layered, wrapped and woven into a new piece.” This process of reordering, reorganizing and creating something new keeps the creative intentions flowing.

            Stebbins Becker has also taken completed textile works and added still-life elements, which are then photographed. Once again, giving new life and meaning to the original threads.

            Stebbins Becker received an MFA in Fibers from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BFA from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

            This breathtaking exhibit draws one’s eye deep into the displayed works, then returns one refreshed back to the here and now. The show is open now through May 6. Visit marionartcenter.org for details.

By Marilou Newell

Stormwater Issues Bring Addressed at Plumb Corner

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            Brian Wallace of J.C. Engineering came before the Rochester Planning Board on Tuesday night for two separate matters: a playground project at the Countryside Daycare Center and to hear peer-review consultant Ken Motta’s newest to-do list for the residential subdivision at Plumb Corner.

            Wallace said the existing playground and roadways would be updated to include safety measures such as crosswalks, speed bumps and traffic-flow signage. He also said that trash dumpsters would be located in one disposal location.

            Wallace asked for several waivers. He said that waivers for landscaping, drainage and parking were unnecessary items for the type of improvements planned for the playground. The site-plan review was continued to April 26.

            Later in the meeting, Wallace faced a list of stormwater-related issues that needed immediate attention. Motta, of Field Engineering, started his commentary by saying of the development team, “They have been proactive and were doing repairs on Friday.”

            At issue are stormwater drainage systems in several locations at the site that failed during heavy downpours. Motta said that drainage basins could not function properly because construction bags, designed to keep sediment from clogging drainage systems, blocked stormwater recharge. Motta said those were changed to filter fabrics.

            Motta also presented a list of corrective measures, such as better erosion controls, erosion controls around the central wetlands system, an articulated stormwater plan and stabilization of exposed soils. The Planning Board moved that Wallace should attend the board’s April 26 meeting with proof of repairs and other directives in place.

            The board also discussed two bylaw articles planned for the Spring Town Meeting. One article is titled Arbor Fund Bylaw and the other is Solar Screening. With the aid of Town Counsel Blair Bailey, the board sought to find language that would clarify who would be mandated to pay fees to the Arbor Fund and for how many removed trees. They also discussed text changes that would mandate where and how solar screening would be required. The articles are now destined for the Select Board’s review.

            The Planning Board made final changes to its decision regarding the construction of a solar array by Renewable Energy LLC planned for 0 Neck Road. Before accepting the final document, Chairman Arnold Johnson said, “We reserve the right for additional screening,” and “a bond must be in place prior to construction.” He further emphasized that solar panels should not be visible from Neck Road.

            Earlier in the evening, a request for an Approval Not Required determination for a minor lot line change at 253 Hartley Road, owned by Robert Lawrence, was approved.

            Continued to the April 26 meeting was the continuation of site-plan review for a proposed cell tower located at 0 High Street and filed by Industrial Tower and Wireless LLC.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, at 7:00 pm.

Rochester Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

Earth Day 2022 at the Rochester Women’s Club

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On Saturday April 23 The Rochester Women’s Club will be hosting its town-wide cleanup.The event will begin at 9 am and runs until 1pm.

            The Women’s Club is located at 37 Marion Road in Rochester. We encourage Rochester Residents to stop by the clubhouse, pick up a few trash bags and get a street assignment or let us know where you would like to clean. This year’s cleanup is cosponsored by Boy Scout Troop 31, The Rochester Women’s Club and Covanta SEMASS. Jeff Eldridge and the Rochester Highway Department will be picking up the filled trash bags that our volunteers will leave on the side of the road. The Club is hoping families and friends will gather together to help in the effort to give our beautiful streets of Rochester a clean sweep.

            Direct any questions to Marsha at 508-322-0998. You may find free coffee and donuts if you get there early. Also, free flower seeds packets will be given away.

Daffodil Scavenger Hunt

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Looking for something different and fun to do over Spring Break? How about going on a Scavenger Hunt?

            As part of Daffodil Days, during school vacation week, from April 19-23, the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club will be sponsoring a Daffodil Scavenger Hunt for Kids. The Scavenger Hunt is free and open to kids of all ages. 

            Registering for the Scavenger Hunt is super easy. Either go to the Children’s Room at the Library and sign up there or go to this website: tinyurl.com/MWC-DaffodilDays   —  and register online. It’s as simple as that.

            While you are at the library, pick up your Scavenger Hunt map. Complete the Hunt by following the map and visiting each of the Woman’s Club daffodil gardens around town.  Find the sign in the garden with the garden’s name and number on it and match that garden to the right garden on your map.  Finally, put the number of that garden onto your map in the right garden. 

            Now, return your completed map to the Children’s Room at the library no later than Saturday, April 23 to collect your prize. And while you’re at the Children’s Room, make some terrific crafts and be sure to visit the Daffodil Table to learn more about Daffodils, gardening, and community projects. 

            The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club always welcomes new members, and it invites prospective members to check out membership information on the Club’s Facebook page and/or website at: mattapoisettwomansclub.org/member/

Herring Migration A Cause to Celebrate

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In visiting the April Herring migration under the bridge on Route 6 just east of Mattapoisett Neck Road, you can tell herring are running out of the ocean into the river by a clamorous gathering overhead of gulls, ospreys and crows swooping down to feast on easy pickings of bait fish driven to the surface by this passing commotion.

            This passage of herring out of the ocean and up the river to spawn in the very same pools of their own origin has a special environmental title of anadromous for this remarkable reproductive instinct.

            Two species of herring are most common at this time of year, the Atlantic Alewife and the Blue Back herring. The Alewife prefers a water temperature of 51 degrees and the Blue Back at 57 degrees before they appear moving inland. With present climate change of global warming, both may already be on their way. Because of the industrial dam built in the early 20th century preventing fish passage, a special fish ladder has been constructed for their movement.

            When herring see this convenient structure creating a current, the school climbs up into close formation to battle their way up to the last rung of the ladder, as in my illustration. However, today herring fishing in any Massachusetts coastal river has been banned by the state Division of Marine Fisheries to overcome a falling population in New England. However, you can still find fresh herring in some top restaurants and seafood shops, where it has been canned, pickled or smoked for a more delicate flavor than the oilier, pungent-flavored fish.

            You may wish to take your children or grandchildren to the nearby Mattapoisett herring location where long ago, Wampanoag Indians came to the same clearing for the natural spring event and enjoyed herring for a change in their winter diet from the everyday deer and rabbit.

            There is a similar fish-ladder park in Middleborough just a half-hour drive away and farther up the coast to Plimoth Patuxet, where later in time the Pilgrims were saved in spring by the April herring run from starvation during the previous winter by getting badly needed protein in their diets.

            Later in history, General Washington’s starving troops at Valley Forge next to the Delaware River were similarly benefited by very historical herring run. Even today in Buzzards Bay, we can be aware of this environmental meaning of a Spring Herring anadromous migration to celebrate and appreciate for future generations to come.

By George B. Emmons

Debut of Long-Range Goals, Strategies

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The April 6 meeting was a turning point for the Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee, as a draft of goals and strategies in various categories was unveiled.

            Guiding the local committee has been Lizeth Gonzalez, principal comprehensive planner with the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District.

            Goals and associated strategies for established categories or themes have been discussed and debated over many months. Monthly meetings and workshops found the 19 committee volunteers enthusiastically championing such themes as potential school consolidation, as well as learning from one another about areas they might have been less familiar with such as roadways. The task of taking all the data and comments and turning it into a usable format that could then be set up for action items is no small task – that is the role of SRPEDD.

            There are eight planning elements, Gonzalez explained. Those elements are: Lane Use; Housing; Economic Development; Open Space and Recreation; Natural and Cultural Resources; Transportation; Services; and Facilities.

            “The Master Plan follows a thematic breakdown using Vision for the future including: Vibrant Village Center, Thriving Business Corridor, Protected Coastal Neighborhoods, Sustainable Inland Growth, Preserved Natural Systems, Resilient Services and Governance, and Safe, Connected and Reliable Infrastructure,” Gonzalez wrote.

            Under “Vision” Vibrant Village Center, Gonzalez captured, “Promote a strong historic village character through a walkable, compact neighborhood with climate resilience in mind.” This “vision” then contained such strategies as zoning changes that might “expand flexibility in the Village Business District by assessing dimensional limitations including lot coverage, height and density.”

            Other strategies outlined included zoning changes that would allow duplex structures and provide visual guidelines for designs in the village area.

            Under Programs and Policies, Gonzalez described the Vibrant Village Center element this way: “Adopt a Village Historic District to support preservation in the Village Center … and create a Mattapoisett Village branding through wayfaring, events, and local business partnerships.”

            Under the element Safe, Connected and Reliable Infrastructure, Gonzalez wrote, “Make routes to the recreational areas and the Village Center safe for pedestrians and bikers and prepare critical roads for climate change.”

            Strategies for this element include capital projects such as elevated roads or improvements to stormwater drainage systems in key flood areas, continuation of Complete Streets projects (under the state funding program by that name), completion of the bike path, and establishing ownership for maintenance and evaluation of major roads for traffic calming.

            Gonzalez asked the group to provide written feedback so that finetuning of this document, critical for the completion of the Master Plan, can continue.

            To receive a copy or the draft of Master Plan Goals and Strategies, contact Gonzalez at lgonzalez@srpedd.org.

Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee

By Marilou Newell

Richard D. Ouellette

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Richard D. Ouellette, 70, passed away at Somerset Ridge Skilled Nursing Facility on Friday, April 8, 2022, after a short illness. Richard was the son of the late Dona E. and M. Yvette (Jean) Ouellette. A life-long resident of Marion, Richard was the proprietor of Guaranteed Pest Control Company. A long-time family owned and operated company established by his father. He enjoyed his plants, birds and was a member of the Marion Social Club. He was  always willing to help out a friend if he could.

            He is survived by his three sisters, Donna Anderson, (John) of Mattapoisett, his twin sister Susan Charbonneau of Lakeville and Karen Ayres, (Joseph) of Marion. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews, relatives and good friends. He was the brother of the late Gene E. Ouellette. His family is very thankful and would like to thank the caregivers of Somerset Nursing Home and Kindred Hospice.

            Services will be private. Memorial gifts may be made to the Marion Social Club P.O. Box 763, Marion, MA 02738. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.warehamvillagefuneralhome.com 

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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The goal of the Rochester Historical Society is to preserve as much of the town’s history as possible and to share it with the community. At the museum, we have historical items, many, many documents and pictures. I often think that it is the pictures that do the best job of taking us back to the past and of depicting the changes that have occurred over the centuries. The two pictures accompanying this article are a case in point. One shows us the Hartley Sawmill in its heyday when it was the town’s biggest employer. The second picture shows the mill office, which is all that is left today. No big trucks, loads of logs or busy workers.

            On April 20 at 7:00 pm at the museum at 355 County Road., we’re planning an evening of pictures brought by attendees and scrapbooks that will take us into the past. We hope to see pictures of babies, ancestors and places that have changed or disappeared over the years. Once we have put out the pictures, we will try to match them with the people who brought them. I am sure the evening will prove that a picture is really worth a thousand words. If you have any questions about the program, you can contact me at eshbach2@aol.com.

By Connie Eshbach

FCCR Ladies Friendship Luncheon

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A Ladies Friendship Luncheon will be held on Saturday, April 30 at 12:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall at First Congregational Church of Rochester, located in the center of town (11 Constitution Way.) Invite a friend to come and share fellowship, food and music and learn more about “Women of the Bible.” Tickets are $15 per person. Please call the church office at 508-763-4314 or email rochestercongregational@comcast.net to register by April 23.

CWMP Options Coming into Focus

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            The Town of Marion might realize more benefit than a healthier harbor from its recent regulations requiring any new septic construction in town to include denitrification technology.

            “Nitrogen mitigation is something you should hang your hat on,” Kent Nichols of Weston & Sampson told the Marion Select Board and Town Administrator Jay McGrail during Monday afternoon’s Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Workshop.

            Marion is asking the state for additional sewer capacity to accommodate what it expects will be a dramatic rise in users once a pair of residential developments are constructed along Route 6 near the Weweantic River.

            “If we’re asking for a little more flow … we can add discharge at the (wastewater-treatment) plant but lessen the net effect due to nitrogen reduction,” suggested Nichols, whose presentation included basic financial scenarios and discussion on how to procure funding in next steps to modernize and stabilize the town’s sewer infrastructure.

            Ultimately, Marion prospers with more sewer ratepayers spreading the cost of massive upgrades that lie ahead in some scenario.

            On Monday, Nichols presented a series of breakdowns on four general approaches including full and minimal options with notes and discussion regarding short and long-term pros and cons of each scenario. “Every option requires permitting … nothing is a slam dunk,” qualified Nichols.

            Financial outlooks were presented in “apples to apples” comparisons that omitted discussion about aspects present in all options such as infiltration and inflow (I/I) and sewer extension. Key issues compared included: Capacity, (Marion plans on handling 686,000 gallons per day) Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Copper and Solids.

            Technological differences among the four basic approaches cancel out the need to deal with every issue listed above, but each of the four brings its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

            Nichols categorized the following treatment alternatives as feasible: A. process improvements to Marion’s existing facilities; B. groundwater discharge of Marion-produced effluent; C. Relocating Marion’s outfall; and D. Regionalization with the Town of Wareham. In the case of regionalization, Marion would need to build a pipe to connect to Wareham’s infrastructure and continue a level of operation that would prevent buildup via the usage of the wastewater lagoon for equalization.

            Option A1 would require $2,500,000 in discreet capital costs but a total of $10,800,000 including ancillary costs; A2 would include a third lagoon and require $4,500,000 in discreet capital costs and with ancillary costs total $12,800,000.

            A1 is the hedging of A2, which is “what really should happen to your plant,” Nichols told the board.

            Approach B1, 100,000 gallons per day of groundwater discharge requires $7,300,000 in discreet capital but $15,600,000 including ancillary costs. B2 is the groundwater discharge of all effluent. The cost is $9,200,000 in discreet capital and $17,300,000 altogether.

            Nichols said making the “B” approaches work “depends on soils being conducive to this.” The main advantage of B, he said, is in permitting. “It just doesn’t address your whole issue.” B2, for instance, does not meet phosphorus removal. Given the site’s lack of permeability, Nichols said, “We’re not convinced B2 would be a workable alternative out there.”

            Category C1 is outfall extension to Salt Marsh and C2 outfall extension to Outer Cove. While Category-C options would not need to remove phosphorus, Nichols recommended against Salt Marsh as a most risky plan due to the nature of the soils, noting that engineering firm CDM Smith also commented accordingly on soils in its report.

            Category D is regionalization with Wareham, the options determined by which option Marion would choose for its connection to the out-of-town infrastructure. In either case, Nichols estimated costs that soar past all other options to $71,000,000 for discreet capital spending and $76,000,000 total counting ancillary costs.

            Select Board member John Waterman said he found the second option with the third batch processor most appealing. That option requires Marion being granted an increase on its permit. The backup plan would be the groundwater option.

            “The goal ought to be if we can get one area of town sewered as soon as we can and moving on that track as soon as we can. The more users we can get on the system, the more we can spread the debt service,” said Waterman.

            Nichols and Select Board Chairman Norm Hills agreed.

            A public-input session was discussed, as well as funding opportunities including ARPA.

            “(Coastal Zone Management) has been very supportive of the town. I don’t think that can be overstated,” said Nichols. “One of the reasons they really like supporting Marion is … your very programmed approach.”

            While the matter will come up in future Select Board meetings, the CWMP public meeting will be held in person at the Music Hall on Monday, May 23, at 6:00 pm.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo