‘No Mask – No Enter’ Selectmen Develop Disciplinary Process

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            On May 14 the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen discussed how and if they had the authority to implement fines or other disciplinary actions should businesses violate conditions imposed by Governor Baker that were to be updated on May 18. The specific issue is the need to wear face coverings inside places of businesses.

            Selectman Paul Silva expressed his concerns saying that, in the many years he has served the town, the number of calls he has received from people concerned that others are not wearing masks in public outpaces all other topics. “I’ve heard more about people, businesses not following the governor’s orders than anything else,” he said.

            Silva asked Town Administrator Mike Lorenco what he had learned in recent discussions with the town’s counsel on this topic – does the Board of Selectmen have the authority to impose fines?

            Lorenco said that his office had also been receiving calls from concerned residents. Silva said he wanted to come up with a policy, one that would notify businesses if they were in violation, giving them the opportunity to correct problems, followed by increasingly more stringent steps including the possibility of license revocation in the event rules continued to be breached.

            Lorenco shared the opinion of town counsel that the Board of Selectmen does not have the authority to impose fines but can call into question operating permits. “Only the Board of Health can impose fines,” Lorenco stated, “but you can hold hearings on licenses.” He further explained that current bylaws do not spell out specific fines for specific, non-criminal-action causes, thus the BOS does not have that authority.

            Last week Marion’s Board of Selectmen voted to give its Chief of Police, John Garcia, the authority to issue fines on defiant businesses or individuals but only as a last resort.

            Regarding masks, Lorenco said that a new explanatory flier was being passed out to businesses that spells out “No Mask – No Enter” and other signage that business owners can use to help educate themselves and the public.

            “I still think we should have a policy, three step policy,” Silva reiterated. Selectman Jordan Collyer concurred. Collyer said, “Maybe three steps, first a verbal warning with a letter outlining the verbal warning, then a written warning, then a hearing with maybe a suspension.” Collyer said that if someone calls to report a business those “complaints” must be in writing to ensure fairness to the business owner. “We are going to need something firm to avoid challenges,” he said. The selectmen agreed that electronic messages from the public with contact details would be acceptable. “It’s absolutely necessary to let businesses know so they can address it, so we don’t have to,” said Silva. Collyer asked Lorenco to draft the steps and have them reviewed by town counsel before moving forward.

            On the matter of fines, Lorenco said the Board of Health does have that authority, but the selectmen decided to wait until after May 18 to see if further measures would be necessary, “Let’s wait and see if the governor’s recommendations are sufficient,” Silva said.

            Earlier in the meeting the selectmen voted to open the spring town meeting warrant for petition articles until May 28. Currently the spring town meeting is scheduled for June 22.

            Financial implications from COVID-19 remain high. During an email conversation with former town administrator, now town consultant Mike Gagne, he reported to The Wanderer that the original FY21 operating budget had been sent back to all town departments in an effort to trim expenses. He wrote, “Local schools has trimmed their budget, they are at the lowest percentage increase I have seen in many years. Revenues that will be down, motor vehicle excise taxes, expect state aid to schools will be down, permits, license and fees down, earnings on interest.” While the primary source of revenue for the Tri-Town communities comes from real estate taxes, both Gagne and Lorenco stressed the importance of keeping a tight rein on expenses.

            Lorenco said during the May 14 meeting, “We are reworking the budgets to level spending wherever.” He said that monies were being redistributed in the updated budget-planning process, that numbers were being verified and that further cuts might be needed. Thinking ahead, Lorenco said, “…budgets and savings aren’t going to stop in June; we are going to take a conservative approach to hiring and spending in case things are prolonged.” He said that fiscal impacts from COVID-19 are likely to be felt through 2022.

            Silva said that state aid to the town generally comes in at $1,500,000 on a $28,000,000 budget. Lorenco noted the state is facing a heavy fiscal burden. “The state’s April budget came in $2.3 billion under budget… I expect a lot of financial trouble at the state and federal level.” He said it is possible hiring will be cut and capital expenditures trimmed. Collyer agreed that wherever possible savings will be sought, “We don’t want to overshoot our growth… we’re taking a hardline approach and may cut back our 2.5-percent levy.” He said that, should fiscal matters improve, the fall town meeting would be an opportunity to add back expense line items that were cut in the spring town meeting. But for now expenditures needed to be cutback.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen was not been scheduled at press time.

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell

Janice E. (Long) Bolton

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Janice E. (Long) Bolton, 74, of Fall River, passed away on Friday, May 22, 2020 at Catholic Memorial Home. She was the wife of the late Daniel Bolton.

            Mrs. Bolton was born in New Bedford, daughter of the late Elsie M. Long and had been a longtime resident of Westport before relocating to Fall River. Prior to her retirement, she worked as librarian of the Mattapoisett Public Library for many years. She was a member of the Unitarian Universal Church, Fairhaven. A lover of everything outdoors, she enjoyed jogging, kayaking, cross-country skiing and her favorite, quahogging on the Westport River.

            Survivors include her son: Ronald E. Besse, Jr. of Fall River; her daughter: Christine M. Besse of Fall River; 3 grandchildren: Danielle, Alyson and Samantha; and 2 great grandchildren: Ajay and Aidyn.

            A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

            In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.

George L. Hossfield, Jr

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George L. Hossfield, Jr, 97, of Mattapoisett MA died May 12, 2020 in his apartment in Carbondale IL. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, M. Jaqueline (Dwyer) Hoss-field in 2015.

            Born in Paterson, NJ to the late George L. Hossfield and Frieda E. (Marty) Hossfield, he lived in Paterson and Teaneck NJ, Cambridge, Quincy, Walpole, and Mattapoisett MA. He had wintered in Dunedin, FL for 30 years and summered in Mattapoisett since 1972. He passed away in Carbondale under the care of his loving daughter.

            Born into a family who treasured music, Mr. Hossfield began playing the piano like his father at a young age and played the violin in his high school orchestra. He focused on classical piano and became a proficient pianist filling his home with the sounds of Beethoven, Chopin, Bach and Mozart.

            After graduating from Teaneck High School, Mr. Hossfield studied electrical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA having his studies interrupted by WWII. He served as a weather forecaster in the U.S. Army Air Force during the war and was able to return to his studies and graduate as an electrical engineer from MIT after the war. He worked for a power company after graduation and married M. Jacqueline Dwyer June 5, 1948. They lived in Quincy before buying their first home in Walpole. Later he earned a masters degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University.

            While living in Walpole Mr. Hossfield was an active member of the Epiphany Episcopal Church (Superintendent of Sunday School), the Azure Masonic Lodge and Troop 97 of the Boy Scouts of America. He was an avid gardener and bee keeper. He learned carpentry and fine cabinetry at a trade school to add an attached garage and bedroom on his first house and built all the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and a second bathroom in his second home in addition to many other home projects. He was very interested in geology and a member of the Boston Mineral Club. He brought his family to many mines to chisel out various specimens, bringing them home to create an impressive collection that has delighted many visitors.

            While a student at MIT he began sailing on the Charles River and taught his future wife to enjoy sailing as well. Later he taught his children and grandchildren to sail and was active in the Power Squadron where he mastered seamanship and celestial navigation. He sailed his own boats on lakes in Maine and Massachusetts and in the sea in Boston Harbor and Buzzards Bay, spending weekends sailing to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, the Elizabethan Islands and Block Island. He shared a love of the ocean with his wife and in 1972 they purchased their home on the water in Mattapoisett MA where they enjoyed the association of the Point Connett and Mattapoisett community and hosted almost constant visits from children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, ex-tended family and friends. He spent many hours in his later years sitting on their deck watching children play on the sandbars and sailboat races across the bay and greeting all the neighbors as they passed by. In Mattapoisett he was a member of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Marion, MA and the Pythagorean Masonic Lodge in Marion.

            Through his employment with Allis-Chalmers he spent many months traveling in Europe, learning German, French, and Dutch and loving all the people and their cultures. Later he brought his wife and sons with him to Europe, Japan, and China on various trips. He also went out of his way to visit relatives and his ancestral homes in Switzerland and Germany.

            While wintering in Florida Mr. Hossfield enjoyed participating in all the Cedar Creek Court social activities and he became co-editor with his wife of the monthly newsletter for 17 years. He also began studying, collecting, cleaning and classifying sea shells. His wife got him to share her zest for yard sales.

            Survivors include three sons, George Hossfield, III and his wife Jing of Sandown, NH, Robin Hossfield and his wife Linda of Vero Beach, FL, and Dale Hossfield of Vero Beach, FL; a daughter, Brooke Thibeault and her husband Thom of Carbondale, IL; 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews with whom he corresponded.

            He was the brother of the late Berenice Hossfield Voght of Charleston RI.

            A celebration of life is being planned for sometime in the summer when the pandemic allows. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 545, Marion MA 02738 or the Masonic Brotherhood Fund, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 186 Tremont St., Boston MA 02111.

            Arrangements are with the Neptune Society of Florida and Meredith Funeral Home, 300 S University Ave, Carbondale, IL 62901.

Mattapoisett Machacam Club

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We’re sad to announce that the June 3 meeting of the Machacam Club has been canceled. Recognizing the need for caution and safety during this difficult time, it is best to pass on this meeting and allow the virus to run its course. June is the last meeting of the season and our next meeting will be held on September 2, 2020. If you have questions, please call 508-758-1326 or email cwmccullough@comcast.net.

Tabor Academy to Celebrate Seniors

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            On May 29 at 10:00 am, Tabor Academy will congratulate 134 seniors from 15 states and 11 countries around the world in an online virtual gathering. In spite of the unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Class of 2020 has enjoyed many accomplishments this year. Each of the graduates is on their way to exciting plans in college at home and abroad in the year ahead, and 26 students will be inducted into the Tabor Academy chapter of Cum Laude Society, a recognition for high scholastic achievement in secondary schools.

            The Class of 2020, like all students, had an unexpected change to their senior year. They departed campus eager for spring break and to return for a great senior spring. Instead, they learned they would finish out their coursework in an online/distance format, forego their last athletic and arts seasons, miss their prom and other senior traditions, as well as their traditional May Commencement on the Waterfront. In return, perhaps they have learned more than most recent graduates to manage the discomfort of uncertainty.

            According to Director of Communications, Kerry Saltonstall, Tabor will celebrate the class virtually while holding out hope that the school can host the seniors on campus for a proper send-off in early August. In the meantime, seniors will receive their accolades and congratulations from family, friends, and faculty at the Celebration of Seniors on May 29. The celebration will be live-streamed at 10:00 am EST at www.taboracademy.org/celebrate. It will look different and be different, but the sentiments of pride will be the same. Cum Laude inductees will enjoy a private virtual event, as well.

            In all, 134 seniors from around the country and around the world will join with their Tabor faculty, friends, and families for this virtual event. Words of welcome from Acting Head of School Julie Salit and speeches from student Co-Heads of School Fiona Moore (Carbondale, CO) and Jack LeBrun (Mattapoisett, MA) will be woven together with student musical performances, special prizes, and a grand video of campus memories. After the livestream, participants will visit in virtual Zoom rooms all over the world, hopping in and out, to share congratulations and appreciation.

            As Tabor celebrates the many talents, contributions, and achievements of the Class of 2020, they encourage alumni and friends to join in the celebration to help send the seniors off with fanfare.

            Tabor Academy Class of 2020 Graduates from the Tri-Town include;

            From Marion; Evan Christopher Chase, Isabelle Wynne Cheney, Peter Lawrence Cheney, Edward Robert Dunn, Benjamin Americo Forker, Nicholas Matthew Gebhardt, Molly Anne Kracke, Connor Andrew Macken, Adam Schillig Mendes, Peter Edward Murray, Michael Barry Pardo, Emma Katherine Quirk, Riley Liliane Dongyun Suh, Georgia Mary Toland, Luke Kotsuwan White, and Elizabeth Brookes Whitney

            From Mattapoisett; Danielle Elizabeth Craig, Anne Louise le Gassick, and Jack Landry LeBrun

            From Rochester; Beatrice Catherine Arnfield

How Far Can Local Government Govern?

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            Board of Health member Dot Brown and Selectman John Waterman debated the role of the Board of Health and the authority of towns to devise their own rules during Tuesday’s remote access meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen.

            Everyone is getting tired of the new normal, and the disagreement on what to do about it stems from the ambiguity and lack of applicable orders at the state level for a coastal town such as Marion.

            Frustration is mounting, and while Waterman sees the state’s lack of specific directives as an opportunity to govern at the local level, Brown stated that the job of the Board of Health is not to make it up as it goes but rather enforce state laws and guidelines.

            “We aren’t even allowed to go further than the state. Some towns have more stringent rules than the state and you’re not allowed to keep those,” said Brown. “We’ve been having a lot of trouble with some of their regulations because they (contradict one another).”

            Brown says she has sat in on calls and pointed questions have been asked and not answered.

            “When the guidelines aren’t clear… if the overall goal is to get things back going and doing it safely… we need to make local decisions where we don’t have clear guidelines,” argued Waterman, alluding to Marion’s boat-launch service and access to the town house.

            “I think you give us too much credit to affect this; it’s the state’s rule,” said Brown.

            What to do in the meantime?

            “If we have room to make a decision that doesn’t contradict the state guideline, I have no problem with that. But 80 to 90 percent of the time, we have no wiggle room,” said Board of Health Vice Chairman Dr. Ed Hoffer.

            “We should be able to identify those areas so we can (make progress),” said Selectmen Norm Hills.

            Waterman said, rather than call the state for an interpretation of orders, use the wisdom in the roles that experts hold locally and make decisions on the 25-percent rule at the town house and the launch service.

            “It’s not one case, it’s what we do,” said Brown. “We sit there and ask questions.”

            Hills said, “There are things where the state (order) is gray, and we should be able to determine what is the best way to go forward as long as we don’t step on the state’s toes.”

            Board of Selectmen Chairperson Randy Parker said, “We have to make (decisions) slowly. We’re all getting a little testy and grouchy with this thing going on… How we can plan ahead? What is the proper way to open the beach (parking lot)?”

            Brown said the Board of Health has a great plan and a great sign. “I’m pretty worried about enforcement,” she admitted.

            Town Administrator Jay McGrail said that Chief of Police John Garcia will monitor the parking lot and that work being done on the site by the DPW could be ready for Friday, May 22.

            Hills noted the other, smaller public parking areas that also need monitoring going into Memorial Day weekend.

            By May 25, office businesses including barber shops and pet grooming will open by appointment only and with specific rules on social distance between chairs, etc. They are charged with self-certification, and the only way the Board of Health will learn that proper standards and sanitizing practices are not being followed will be by complaints.

            Curbside retail will begin opening on Monday, May 25, and the public library will join in but not by Tuesday, May 26, according to McGrail. First, the library will submit a plan for town review.

            Information will be posted on the town website (marionma.gov), on Facebook and via an email blast.

            As anticipated, the Board of Selectmen voted to host town meeting on Monday, June 22, and town election on Friday, June 26. McGrail will meet with ORCTV on Thursday, May 21, to test the technology that will allow Marion to hold the meeting in three separate rooms at Sippican School and a fourth space, the Tabor Academy fieldhouse. A press release will be issued this week.

            The board also approved the revised budget of $29,518,843 for FY21. Contrary to initial plans, town meeting will deal with the entire warrant. McGrail reported that the Planning Board chose not to go forward with one or two items that will remain on the warrant and be passed over at town meeting.

            In revising the budget, Assistant Town Administrator Judy Mooney cut close to $200,000. She based her goals on what happened with state aid during the Great Recession of 2008.

            “There was no pushback (from department heads) whatsoever. Our goal was to keep our staff employed, and we were able to do so,” she said, recommending the capital plan go to town meeting as originally approved, “because more (money) is going into the stabilization fund than into any capital project… State aid is our biggest concern.”

            Mooney said the 2.55 percent increase for the FY21 budget is significantly greater than increase of the FY20 budget over FY19.

            After testing out the mechanics of public hearings with ORCTV and having worked with all of the chairpersons, McGrail requested the board allow public hearings as of June 1.

            “We have an extensive list,” he said. “The guinea pigs are going to be (the Board of Selectmen) for a liquor license on June 2.”

            Public hearings will operate with a dedicated phone line into the police station. As Parker had recommended at an earlier discussion, a public hearing will not be closed until the subsequent meeting so as to allow sufficient time for public feedback.

            The Board of Selectmen will continue planning weekly meetings, and the Conservation Commission will meet every other week.

            The board passed a motion to keep water restrictions in place for June 15 to September 15.

            In his Town Administrator’s report, McGrail told the board he plans to bring back full-time staffers into the office on Tuesday, May 26. They will be equipped with a self-guidance checklist, and the Town House has been fitted with plexiglass and desks have been relocated to meet distance requirements.

            A medical emergency caused a driver to crash into the gate at Silvershell Beach, but Marion still anticipates the potential of opening the parking lot on Friday, May 22 and getting the whole Memorial Day weekend. The plan for the beach will expand in mid to late June with a beach concession stand and bathhouse open to residential stickers only with no daily fee.

            Thursday, May 28, will be the final day of operation for the food bank run since March out of the Community Center. The town will transition to more delivery service for seniors. Families in need can note that Damien’s Place in Wareham has opened up its hours and running its facility again. Fliers will be going home with students attending school lunch program at Sippican School next week. Marion’s food bank operated for three months.

            Coming toward the end of FY20, McGrail briefly summarized that 90 percent of a daunting list of goals and projects has been completed, including but not limited to work on the lagoon, contracts with waste management, curbside collection, a solid-waste contract, and Master Plan Implementation.

            There are up to 40 items on Marion’s pending projects list. Waterman suggested assigning each of them to a particular selectman who would co-own the project in terms of moving it ahead.

            In other business, the Board of Selectmen approved common victualler licenses for two businesses, to applicant Elizabeth Carter for Ansel’s Cafe and to applicants William Daly, Jeremiah Daly, and Kim Susi for Marion Golf Club.

            Carter has worked at the restaurant for nine years and is taking over, expanding hours to Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in order to add some light breakfast.

            Jeremiah Daly explained to the board that he grew up on Old Meadow Road in Marion, and as Bruce and Sue Carlson retired, this is an opportunity to take over the lease of the property belonging to the abutting property owners known as Marion Harbor East Trust and keep “Little Marion” in business as Marion Golf Club LLC.

            The immediate plan is to invest back into the course and make use of the kitchen by serving cold sandwiches that are made off-site. Someday they aspire to restore the course to the original 1904 design of George Thomas. A restaurant inspection has been scheduled for Friday, May 22.

            The Board of Selectmen will hold its first public hearing since the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, June 2.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo

Health Agent Narrowed Down to Two Finalists

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            Tuesday’s Marion Board of Health meeting opened with a welcome dose of relief, as it was learned the driver who suffered a medical emergency and crashed a car into the gate to the Silvershell Beach parking lot is going to be okay.

            The town now has to go right to work in repairing or replacing that gate in time for a hope-so Friday, May 22, opening of the parking lot at the start of Memorial Day weekend.

            Undeterred, the Board of Health voted unanimously to open the Silvershell Beach parking lot with every-other-space restrictions effective Friday, May 22. Chief of Police John Garcia attended the meeting and said the police would make regular checks and be available to address any defiant or unruly behavior.

            On a screening committee with Board of Health member Dot Brown and Finance Manager Judy Mooney, Town Administrator Jay McGrail reported on the progress of the newly created position of part-time health agent. From 10 resumes, the screening committee identified a half dozen candidates and narrowed that list to two, Anna McEntee and David Flaherty, to bring to the Board of Health for discussion in its 3:00 pm meeting Thursday, May 22. 

            McGrail called McEntee and Flaherty “two qualified candidates… I think it’s going to be a hard decision for the board. Given it’s a part-time position, we’re really lucky to be bringing these two candidates forward,” he said.

            Marion Public Health Nurse Kathleen Downey’s time has been spent working mostly on COVID-19-related issues including mental health and behavioral issues in the schools related to the pandemic and resultant closure of classrooms.

            Downey said the total number of positive cases in Marion is around 10. The active-count was to be updated on Wednesday, May 20, and posted on the town website (marionma.gov).

            She said Marion residents have been choosing serum testing, which is problematic in a lack of interpretation. A positive result constitutes exposure but does not indicate when. Those who test positive in that method wind up in isolation for a minimum of 10 days, resulting in high costs. “We’re discouraging it until better guidelines on interpretation on what the serum tests really mean,” said Downey, who has followed up on 430 cases involving Marion residents, only 10 of those testing positive.

            With the state in a reopening process, the enforcement of rules has become a touchy subject. Downey addressed the importance of focusing on education and working collaboratively, but the enforcement piece lacks punch. “I can’t get done what I have to get done in a regular week. I don’t know who’s going to do that enforcement piece,” she said.

            Board of Health Vice Chairman Dr. Ed Hoffer said that businesses are expected to self-assess their own readiness and compliance, but don’t have to turn in a document anywhere so any revelations of non-compliance will only emerge on a basis of complaints.

            Considering tropical storms already have names, Downey thought it prudent to initiate discussion on a sheltering plan during the COVID-19 crisis. A high number of hurricanes has been forecast. A related problem Downey identified was the many volunteers age 65 and/or who have preexisting conditions, rendering them high risk. She suggested Old Rochester Regional High School as a shelter in the event of a hurricane.

            Downey also introduced the need to discuss the reopening of public schools for the 2020-21 academic year.

            “We’re going to have to have a plan,” she said, noting that the final say will come from the Board of Health. “I’d rather not have people develop an intricate plan only to find out it doesn’t meet what the Board of Health (requires). I would rather work prospectively.”

            Going forward, Downey will be meeting weekly with Tabor Academy, and Board of Health Chairperson John Howard will act as the board’s liaison to the prep school where he has had children, and now grandchildren, attending.

            Howard estimated that 34 percent of students enrolled at Tabor are natives of Asian countries. Since the campus closed in March, students have not been allowed to return and, in some cases, cannot go home. One group, Howard said, is renting a house.

            “I am aware of leadership issues at the academy,” said Howard, who said he expects Tabor to decide over the next seven to 14 days who will be head of school for the 2020-21 academic year. “Then we’ll know who to talk to. I don’t know who it’s going to be, but I know there’s going to be a decision.”

            Head of School John Quirk agreed to take a leave of absence following his arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated on January 31 in Falmouth. The case was continued without a finding. He was replaced on an interim basis by Julie Salit, the associate head of school for Faculty and School Affairs.

            Downey inherited an iPad from the retired district health director Karen Walega, but asked the board about a data plan so she wouldn’t be relying on wifi connections to operate it in a moment of crisis. McGrail said Marion has many phones on an account with Verizon and will address the matter.

            McGrail told the meeting that all departments in the town sustained FY21 budget cuts except the Board of Health.

            Howard made sure to thank everyone he could think of for their work amidst the COVID-19 crisis. “It’s a great team, no question about it,” he said.

            As a follow-up to the webinar she conducted on May 16 with guest presenter George Heufelder on alternative septic systems, Brown said she will develop a web page for residents to address frequently asked questions.

            The Board of Health will meet on Thursday, May 21, at 3:00 pm and hold its first public hearing since the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, June 16.

Marion Board of Health

By Mick Colageo

Doctor Draws Circle of Support from Her Church

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            On Friday, the Reverend Amy Lignitz Harken enjoyed a virtual graduation ceremony after earning her doctorate in ministry from Hartford Seminary, then was flabbergasted by the cavalcade of cars swinging by the end of her parsonage driveway, pausing and shouting their congratulations.

            A serenade of sorts was in order, but the Mattapoisett Congregational Church parishioners’ sense of family and outpouring of support for their pastor was more than evident. Banners, balloons, a drone, and impromptu singing brought neighbors out of nearby houses to join in the commotion and wish their local clergywoman the best.

            “I had no idea. It was a huge surprise; it was a very big surprise,” said Lignitz Harken. “My husband (Bruce) had mentioned that after graduation – we had a virtual graduation on TV – there might be something at the end of the driveway at two o’clock. I thought that it was very nice…”

            Adorned with a hooded gown and a graduation cap she really liked, Lignitz Harken greeted and interacted with dozens of people whose cars began their parade from the Mattapoisett Park and Ride before heading north into their pastor’s neighborhood.

            Lignitz Harken has been pastor at Mattapoisett Congregational Church since March 2011. She had been ministering in the Kansas City area before moving east “to take this call”. Bruce Harken, her husband of 16 years, is a contractor and a member of the congregation’s leadership team.

            “We felt that this would be an opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s an outdoorsy type of the world… kayaking and things to do. I had a good feeling about the people on the search committee,” said Lignitz Harken, who felt she was given an ample opportunity to express her ideas. “There’s all kinds of churches and all kinds of ministers… it’s kind of a chemistry thing. This felt like the (right) chemistry… The church is looking for a good fit, and the minister is looking for a good fit, and ultimately you’ve got to put it God’s hands.”

            Ultimately, Lignitz Harken wanted to be in a place “where everybody is going to have a sense of fulfillment and purpose, where we grow together.”

            She went back to school for her own growth.

            “For me (the doctoral program) was not about getting letters before or after my name at all. It was about continuing my education. I love to learn and being in a classroom. It felt like a really good season for me to embark,” she said. “Hartford has a very strong interfaith dialogue and religious pluralism. A lot of freedom there to create your own program and it’s small… seemed like the right time of life to do it.”

            Lignitz Harken’s dissertation was on “circles, processes, and congregations,” an application of a long-standing communications method aimed at establishing common ground before identifying differences. The emphasis is on helpful, respectful, egalitarian communication.

            “That just seems like something churches could really use, especially churches of all stripes, and especially in this political climate that is so polarizing. It makes it difficult for people who love each other to have an open conversation,” said Lignitz Harken. “We don’t have trouble talking; we have trouble listening.”

            On the premise that at some basic level core values are the same, differences can be explored in a healthier manner.

            “In the circles process, the way it’s done people connect on deeper levels, basic human levels, they realize how much they have in common,” said Lignitz Harken. “Once you start seeing other people as other people and not the enemy,” it becomes possible to achieve a mutual understanding so critical and so rare in today’s world.

            Lignitz Harken explained how, in the circles format, one person speaks at a time and everyone else listens. “When you’re the speaker, you have an assurance that you’re not going to be judged… and know everyone in the circle will have the same experience. It encourages respectful listening,” she said.

            Applications might include problem-solving or planning, sharing of stories, or getting to know one another better.

            “There are circles that deal specifically with conflict, but learning to talk to each other openly and know you’re not being judged, that avoids conflict. It’s so simple, but it’s a remarkable way for people to talk to each other,” she said, alluding to her dissertation. “That was my hope, to create a circles program and use it in the Congregational Church here in Mattapoisett.

            “If we can lead with our curiosity, instead of encountering somebody with the question, ‘Do I like you or do I not like you?’ lead with, ‘Who are you? Tell me about yourself.’ Life is not a two-sided coin. It’s many-faceted, but it’s more than many-faceted, there are no limits. Things change and people change. People can change.”

            The program drew “pretty good participation,” positive reactions and positive application to all kinds of challenges within the congregation.

            “It was to keep exploring how the church can best be church,” said Lignitz Harken. “It’s a brave new world out there. If we can just talk to each other, we can figure it out together.

            “One of the really neat things about circles is it celebrates difference. It doesn’t mean you’re a threat to me. You’re a human being, you’re a child of God. Both of us have parents, we have children, we value family, we value home, we have so much in common.”

            Improving communication factored into the church’s ability to respond to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

            “We were able to work very quickly to get a game plan and to really be of the same mind and make decisions quickly and collaboratively… I’m really proud of what we’ve done together,” said Lignitz Harken. “In terms of responding, we immediately set up a way to call on parishioners who would appreciate regular check-ins. We already had a team of people, and… that list grew exponentially and we had a lot of volunteers to be on that team.

            “If nothing else, this pandemic shows we are all in this thing together. We can oppose each other… or we can cooperate collaboratively for the betterment of everybody.”

            The church also built up what had been a small prayer ministry. Administrative assistant Tina Zantrofski started working out of her home, and Lignitz Harken started working out of the parsonage, “just to make all those adjustments very quickly,” said Lignitz Harken. “How are we going to worship, what kind of worship experience are we going to have?”

            The church also uses Facebook and YouTube. Sermons are posted on Facebook and ORCTV at 8:00 am Sunday and rebroadcast at 11:00 am Wednesdays.

            “Church Chairman Phil Jackson and I send out a letter that we write together, to update people on what the thinking is, trying to encourage people and let them know they’re not forgotten,” said Lignitz Harken. “There’s mission work going on, too, and we celebrate that. Our feeling is pretty universal that our primary concern is taking care of each other.”

            Even before Governor Baker rolled out a re-entry plan, the church had discussed ideas. But Lignitz Harken remains realistic, especially considering it’s church, not the parishioners’ place of employment.

            “The stakes are a lot different,” she said. “Houses of worship of all kinds are among the danger zones because you have so many people inside and a lot of (the buildings) are not well ventilated. We want to sing and be in physical contact with each other. That makes it difference.”

            Lignitz Harken’s stepson. Erik, 23, was about to start a new job in New York when the coronavirus detoured his path and instead made him a third resident at the Mattapoisett parsonage. Erik’s plight is not unique, nor are the challenges affecting Mattapoisett Congregational.

            “We’ve come a long way and we have further to go. The church is joyful and, just the way we’ve been able to respond to this challenge and in significant ways, I think it’s a testament to the church and the ministry of the church that we engage in together,” said Lignitz Harken. “We work together … we have a great staff. … leadership collaboratively help each other do our jobs.”

            Circles used to connote spinning one’s wheels, but Lignitz Harken’s education tells her that celebrating common belief and common experience can help people who otherwise might tend toward conflict find common ground and build on it.

            “A rising tide raises all boats,” she said. “We can all lift each other up. We don’t have to push somebody down in order to lift somebody up. The great thing about circles is we … have the wisdom ourselves. Nobody knows any congregation as well as the members there. We can lean on them.”

By Mick Colageo

ORR’s Ashley Soares Stays Hungry after College Freshman Adventure

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            Ashley Soares was in the middle of Tennessee when she and her UMass Lowell teammates found out the 2020 softball season was coming to an end after the River Hawks had only played 16 of their 49 scheduled games. They had practice in Clarksville the day the NBA suspended play, then the Old Rochester Regional High School graduate and her UMass Lowell teammates were in the middle of a five-hour bus trip to Memphis when the NHL and MLB suspended theirs.

            Individual NCAA conferences followed suit, canceling spring sports. Among early decision-makers were the Ivy and Patriot leagues, including UMass Lowell opponents. At that point, Soares knew more change was coming — in a year she had already had to make quite a few changes.

            “Coming into this year, I knew it was going to be — not a challenge, but I had to learn how to adjust my whole schedule and everything,” Soares said. “You know, I have this sort of way of life and COVID happens and you have to change it all up again. Classes were going great, and then they turn into them online and you have to change your way of doing things.”

            While the novel coronavirus threw an unexpected curve Soares’ way, the “way of life” she had come accustomed to in her freshman year was by no means a simple one. The life of a Division I athlete leaves little room for distractions between lifts, practice, games, classes, and homework. Yet, she fell in love with the lifestyle.

            “It was great,” Soares said. “I met a lot of great people. It was so awesome to be waking up early every morning to got to lift, to practice with my teammates who I love spending time with. It was just great to wake up every day and do something that I love.”

            Had UMass Lowell been able to continue the softball season, the America East Championship would have already been played. Soares and her teammates could be preparing for the Softball College World Series.

            Instead, the 2019 Old Rochester graduate has to settle for practicing the sport she loves in her basement and in her yard, in addition to taking classes at home. Not to mention, Soares also has another responsibility while she’s home from school. She’s working for a grocery store in Wareham.

            “It’s been awesome,” she said. “The staff is great, and we’re taking all the precautions to keep COVID away.”

            Soares is now training to prepare for the 2021 spring season with her freshman season now well behind her thanks to the pandemic. With MLB and other sports taking steps toward commencing play without fans, the Old Rochester alum may finally get her chance to shine for UMass Lowell. In a time of so much unknown, one certainty is Soares will all the necessary adjustments in order to be ready for her opportunity.

Sports Roundup

By Nick Friar

Rochester Reluctantly Approves Early Voting

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            Town Clerk Paul Dawson sought and was given a somewhat reluctant approval to initiate an early voting option with Rochester residents during the Board of Selectmen’s May 18 remote access meeting.

            The approval means that all registered voters in the Town of Rochester will receive a letter explaining the process along with an application to request a ballot. In order to enact the process and engage in early voting, residents will need to return the application to the town clerk’s office either by mail or in-person. Then those voters will be sent ballots that they can then return on or before the election day of Wednesday, June 17.

            The motivation is simple. Rochester has but one polling place, the Senior Center on Dexter Lane, and would like to avoid a crowd.

            “(The process of) early voting is exactly the same as an absentee ballot,” said Dawson, explaining how absentee voting is defined by law as a registered voter who cannot get to the polls because of emergency or work-related circumstances or a religious holiday. “The difference here is early voting is typically not available for town elections, and since the (state) legislature gave us this ability to have it for town elections, we should take advantage.”

            Under the proposal now approved, Rochester voters will be afforded the same opportunity that an absentee ballot provides, and this obviously based on safety precautions associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

            Chairman Paul Ciaburri asked Dawson what would keep anyone from voting twice. Dawson pointed out that the same risk is being taken with the absentee system and the early voting option being extended at the state and federal levels to the recent presidential primary as well as the November election.

            “There are checks and balances in the system to make sure no one votes twice,” said Dawson, noting that state law requires that polls be open on election day (June 17). “But to the greatest extent possible, it behooves us to limit the number coming into the polls.”

            “No matter what we do, whether we decide to do this or not, we should look at the options and let (residents) know early as we can,” said selectman Woody Hartley, who is running for reelection this year. “I think a lot of people enjoy going to the polls – I know I enjoy going – to do that thing that is democracy.”

            Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar reported that, of Rochester’s 4,457 registered voters, 90 have already filed an application to vote remotely, leaving 4,367. She also estimated based on those numbers that the early-voting application process would cost the town $2,183 and, with a maximum response, the potential for another $2,840 in costs for mailing ballots. Szyndlar said the maximum total cost would approximate $5,000.

            Dawson told the board, “If you give me the OK today, potentially by the end of this week and the beginning of next week they could all be out the door.”

            Despite efforts to communicate options via the town website, its Facebook page and the local press, Dawson indicated that the best way to get the message across is to send voters a letter.

            Vice Chairman Brad Morse said, “We need to do this” and made the motion to approve. Hartley seconded “for the sake of protecting the people of Rochester,” and Ciaburri approved “reluctantly.”

            The plan was for Szyndlar, Town Counsel Blair Bailey and all the selectmen to review the letter before it is mailed out. “As long as it’s got information about the town meeting, etc., it would be worthwhile,” said Ciaburri. Bailey suggested the letter include “everything we can get in there that doesn’t overwhelm folks.”

            Dawson thanked the board, calling theirs a “tough decision.”

            As for the polling place itself, Town Facilities Manager Andrew Daniel discussed tentative plans for walking traffic at the Senior Center polling place and said he thinks the town can avoid paying to rent a tent by adopting a plan for walking traffic. The main feature would be a walk-through in which voters would exit the building out a different door than the front entrance.

            Bailey expressed concern within the constant-flow model for disabled voters. Daniel said the added walkway around the back of the building would make it possible for a safe passage for disabled voters.

            “Andrew’s always mindful of ADA requirements. He’s done a good job,” said Hartley.

            Dawson said he expects soon to receive the secretary of state’s policies for maintaining social distancing in the polling locations. “We know we’re going to have to take different measures. I think the entrance will have to stay the entrance, then we’ll guide people out of the building,” he said.

            Szyndlar suggested that the matter could be addressed at the public safety meeting scheduled at the end of the month.

            In other business, Hartley publicly thanked Marcia Kessler for her work not only rolling out the town’s current plan to tune-up its recycling program, but for her efforts fielding complaints and questions on social media. “She has been an amazing, amazing, (public-relations) director for the Town of Rochester. She didn’t have to do this at all, she could have directed everything to town hall,” said Hartley. “My hat’s off to the work she’s doing.”

            Szyndlar agreed. “I’ve talked with her quite a bit (Monday)… told her she’s doing awesome work, great PR, and she really appreciated that.” Szyndlar said Kessler has clarified for residents what falls under recycling and what does not. “She’s phenomenal to work with her every day.”

            Hartley shared on his Zoom screen a photo of a canopy-mounted solar array like the one that may wind up at Rochester Memorial School.

            Szyndlar said she had emailed to the selectmen Governor Baker’s May 18 orders as Massachusetts begins a multiphase reopening.

            Barring emergency, the next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Monday, June 1, at 11:00 am, at which point Szyndlar will present a draft budget. She told the board’s members that they will need to sign the warrant on Monday, June 8, to get it posted for the June 22 town meeting. The selectmen are expected to make recommendations and vote on budget at their June 8 meeting.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo