Tome G Valadao of Marion, Adrian Paul Kavanagh of Mattapoisett, and Brianna Grignetti of Rochester Receive Bachelor’s Degrees in February 2020 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Alton Truman Terrell, III
Alton Truman Terrell, III, 91, of Marion passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday April 28, 2020. He was the husband of Mary MacArthur Terrell.
Born in Orange, Connecticut, the son of the late Alton Truman Terrell, Jr. and Elizabeth Clark Woodruff Terrell, he lived in Kennebunkport Maine before moving to Marion in 2002.
Truman was the President of Travel Washer truck washing. He was also involved in sales and owned a car wash as well.
He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Marion. He had been a piano player for the past 87 years, beginning at the age of 4. He played the piano at his church, nursing homes, as well as area restaurants and country clubs.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1946.
He is survived by his wife Mary; his children, Michael, Peter, Truman, John, and Elizabeth; his sisters, Mary and Katherine; 19 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Due to current restrictions on public gatherings, a memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
Family, Friends, Serenade Rowan in His Big Day
“They’re coming, they’re coming!” yelled Rowan from his front steps at the sounds of horns, soon to be followed by the sight of Skipp the Clown marching up the Farquharson family’s driveway in Rochester and leading a parade of warm wishes for a kid whose birthday party couldn’t be held on a picnic table packed with friends and a backyard run over with relatives.
On April 29, Rowan Farquharson turned six years old.
At a time when a child is old enough and young enough to enjoy the loudest, most boisterous birthday party that family and friends can give, they couldn’t give, thanks to Rowan’s mysterious immune system.
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, there was no way Rowan could have a traditional birthday party.
“Had we gone back to school this year, he’s someone who would have been kept out,” said his mother Hillary, a Marshfield native who works at High Point Treatment Center as chief of communications and prevention. “We keep everything very, very tight and secure.”
Rowan is the middle child among three boys. Cillian is seven years old and a first-grader at Sippican School, and baby brother Wolfgang is seven months old.
Since age two, Rowan has been beset with severe allergic reactions including hives, facial swelling and for the past two years, anaphylaxis. He’s been to hospitals in Boston and been tested multiple times according to Hillary without a conclusion.
“In February, his doctors at Boston Children’s determined that this is just how his body treats a viral load. Usually about three days after a reaction, he tests positive with another viral illness like the flu or pneumonia. This puts him at a higher risk for viral issues because he already goes into an illness at a disadvantage,” explained Hillary in an email.
She said it’s not the same as a peanut allergy; there is nothing Rowan’s parents can do to prevent the severe reactions. “We can only react,” said Hillary. “Rowan has to carry an (epinephrine auto-injector pen) with him at all times and can only be with adults who are trained to use it. In the setting of COVID(-19), we can, to use the maritime term, ‘batten down the hatches’ to keep him safe. His risk is greater and it’s going to take a lot longer for his reality to go back to normal than it will for a lot of his peers.”
His father Seth, a Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduate, is out to sea for long stretches as a merchant marine and is only able to be home for family events every other year. With Seth home, the family knew how tough it would be not to give Rowan a proper sixth birthday party.
Seth’s brother Jeremy Farquharson, a Carver police officer, made sure to add a splash of fluttering blue lights to the cavalcade that featured balloons, streamers, custom-made signs and stops outside the front door to exchange greetings, hold brief discussions and shout, “Happy Birthday Rowan!”
Aunts and uncles, grandparents and cousins, friends and even Rowan’s Kindergarten teacher Melissa Rogers stopped by.
Skipp the Clown led three processions, the first on foot, the second on his conventional unicycle and finally on his extra-tall unicycle.
Once a professional clown with several famous touring companies, Pawtucket, Rhode Island native Henri Emery II left the circus life for a plumbing career. But he was happy to shake off the rust and, true to form for a professional entertainer, cut no corners and took that extra-tall ride like he hadn’t missed a show.
Skipp’s wig was bright blue on Rowan’s birthday. “I have four different ones. They’re made from an animal, the yak,” he said before wheeling over to greet a car full of children before the cavalcade began its parade up the Farquharsons’ driveway.
Rowan, reached by phone earlier in the day, was already excited about his bedroom makeover. “Then I got a sleeping bag,” he said. “I’ve got a parade tonight with some of my friends, and then some people are going to come by with cars. And on September 2nd my little baby brother is going to get his birthday… I might make something. My baby brother is very cute.”
Maybe when older brother Cillian Farquharson turns seven on September 20, he and Wolfgang will have enjoyed more traditional birthday parties. But Rowan’s was special in its own way, and once Skipp the Clown and the honking cars fill of aunts and uncles and grandparents and teachers disappeared, burgers and a vanilla cake awaited inside.
“I think I speak for every mother of an immune-compromised child when I say that I am grateful that the schools aren’t opening back up for this year, but I am heartbroken for all that they will miss,” said Hillary. “Kindergarten is a big year and there are a lot of important milestone occasions that he won’t get. If we could at least give him this, we wanted to. We got lucky that we have incredible friends and family who wanted to make today special for Rowan.”
By Mick Colageo
Racism to be Addressed at Next Joint Meeting
A two-hour-long meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee on May 4 was about to adjourn when member Shannon Finning felt compelled to share her concerns about racist content recently posted by a current Old Rochester Regional student on the social media app TikTok.
“I’m gravely concerned… clearly there’s more that we need to be doing with our students. Since that info came to light, I’ve been approached by parents of students (also reporting racist behavior)… I don’t think it can wait until we’re back in person,” she said.
As chairperson for the meeting, ORR School Committee Delegate Jim Muse said, “Racism does exist and it’s not something that we can deny, and the appropriate place to discuss that is the Joint Committee. We should be doing it as an entire district. The entire district obviously needs to have further education.”
ORR has a relatively low ratio of minority students when compared to other public high schools on the South Coast.
Students will not return to school this academic year; it is not known if the coronavirus will subside to the degree necessary to allow the 2020-21 academic year to begin on conventional terms.
Meantime, ORR Principal Mike Devoll has landed on the first week of August as Graduation Week. Details are yet to be worked out. On behalf of the committee, Marissa Hughes thanked Tony Tranfaglia and Village Signs for donating signs on all the ORR seniors’ lawns.
In his report to the committee, Superintendent Doug White acknowledged that “We’re in limbo as to the support we’re going to get from the state for our budget,” but said it remains important to move ahead so the town has a budget with which to work.
White made a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, itemizing increases and recommending an overall increase of $171,892 over Fiscal Year 2020, $137,509 of which is allocated for salaries. The 2.39 percent increase will raise the FY20 appropriated budget of $7,185,583 to $7,357,475 for FY21. The total cost of running the district is $7,717,787, offset by $360,312 in grants/awards and circuit breakers (i.e. reimbursements for spending over $45,000 on 64 students on individual education plans).
Three members of the committee approved the FY21 budget as presented, with Finning abstaining.
Based on October 2019 enrollment, Mattapoisett’s total of 436 students includes 69 with disabilities.
Assistant Superintendent Mike Nelson reported that only seven students in grades K through age 21 were educated out-of-district in FY20. “It’s an extreme point of pride. I feel strongly that special-education students should be in community schools,” he said, further projecting five students to receive out-of-district education for the 2020-21 academic year.
After several years of flat enrollment, Mattapoisett Schools Principal Rose Bowman projects three sections of K-6 for FY21, which in the case of Grade 6 is down from four sections. White indicated that no staff reductions are being considered at this time and that teachers can expect to operate at full staff and at normal pay for the next school year.
In her principal’s report, Bowman said that Mattapoisett schools had moved on from the first two phases of remote learning to Phase 3 in which all students receive feedback from their teachers.
Roughly 60 to 70 percent of sixth-graders are getting their school work done on time.
Kevin Tavares, associate principal at Center School, displayed some Kindergarten content online and said his goal is to get those children the same opportunities to learn as the sixth graders.
“One thing that would be really helpful is for families to have explicit outcomes (and) target specifically what progress is prescribed by the end of such a grade,” said Finning, acknowledging the unevenness that comes with an asynchronous structure. “Having somebody who can go in with some uniformity… I think collectively we want to do the right thing by our children.”
Member Carole Clifford said, “I’m really quite pleased with the work the teachers have done at Old Hammondtown because I know it hasn’t been easy.”
White thanked the tech team for its support.
In other business, the committee approved White’s suggestion that the eight available school-choice slots be capped at three for Kindergarten, three for first grade, and two for second grade.
The committee also approved the acceptance of the $4,200 collected via the GoFundMe account that had been set up by Finning in March to support the school lunch and breakfast program and placement of those funds in a school food account.
Muse called it, “another example of the goodness in the hearts of this community… and (I) greatly appreciate the school committee members stepping forward and not thinking about themselves.”
The deadline for applications for help from the ORR Tri-Town Lighthouse Education Fund is May 15.
Mattapoisett School Committee
By Mick Colageo
The Family Pantry-Damien’s Place
The Family Pantry – Damien’s Place will re-open on Thursday, May 14 from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. Our days of operation will now be Thursdays and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. Until further notice, we will not be open on Tuesdays. Current clients, please bring your card, new clients please bring photo ID. Food will be distributed outside the building. We request our clients to practice social distancing at all times.
As per Governor Baker’s Executive order clients are expected to be wearing masks.
Stay safe at all times during pick up. Thank you for your cooperation. See you soon.
‘Virtual Spring Fest’ Features Fun Inside, Out and About
What Sippican Lands Trust cannot do this year the traditional way, the organization will just do with safe separation physically and with online programs. Spring Fest is still on for Saturday, May 9, only the virtual way.
“Kristen Saint Don-Campbell with the Boy Scouts of Marion and (Sippican Lands Trust) board president Alan Harris have been instrumental. We’re excited to have a whole bunch of presenters,” said Sippican Lands Trust Executive Director Jim Bride, alluding to a variety of programs involving the discovery of mushrooms and the creation of one’s own nature journal. “Let’s see what’s in your own backyard” and “adapt to what we can do and getting people engaged to their back yard and the outdoors.”
Spring Fest, originally intended for Washburn Park in Marion, will instead be held in a variety of places and spaces.
Marion’s Boys Scouts and Cub Scouts Troop 32 will once again participate, and it’s hoped that students from the Sippican School Band who performed last year will be able to participate in an alternate format. The Toe Jam Puppet Band performed last year, and this year Mr. Vinny has taken his performances online. He will join Virtual Spring Fest with an online performance at 12:30 pm.
A do-it-yourself trash pick-up will happen from 8:00 am to 11:00 am around town, and it will feature a Picker-Upper Design Contest, as participants work on innovative designs in a race to become the planet’s next “best gizmo” to pick up trash.
Safety is stressed (i.e. masks and gloves), and participants with or without an invention are urged to walk the streets against the grain of vehicular traffic or on an open trail. They can drop off the trash that they collect in their own bags at the Island Wharf parking area, sign up for details on DPW pick-up or dispose of it themselves.
At 11:00 am, there will be a Backyard Nature Notes Craft (i.e. nature journal program) with hints from Jessica Harris.
“The other thing we’re doing is having an ‘iNaturalist’ program to identify plants and animals in their backyard… (and to) assess the biodiversity. We will put the information into a bigger table of information as to what’s out there for plants and animals,” said Bride. “We’re trying to be nimble, develop our programming and it’s flexible.”
And it’s free. All programs are open and accessible. “The Marion Cultural Council gave us a wonderful grant to support this program. We’re grateful for their support,” said Bride.
The so-called Backyard Bio Blitz functions as Marion’s spring citizen science biodiversity survey. Sign up before Saturday, May 9, and register for a free account on iNaturalist.com. Those who do can add animals, plants, and mushrooms that they find and try to identify in Marion. Good photos are a big help in this regard. There will be online banter with naturalists and experts for advice on how to find and identify animals, insects, plants, and fungi.
Virtual Spring Fest has published the following tentative schedule.
9:00 am: Bird Brains check-in on Zoom.
10:00 am: Meet some new buds and plants with Diane Cook and Susannah Davis.
2:00 pm: Fantastic Fungi with Debbie Ewing and friends from Champlain Valley Mushrooms and others.
3:00 pm: Salty critters around Marion with Krill Carson and Dani Marston from NECWA, who will discuss among other critters of the estuary the Diamondback Terrapins. Fish tales are welcome.
4:00 pm: Amazing arthropods (i.e. insects, spiders, and ticks) with Blake Dinius of the Plymouth County Extension Service.
9:00 pm: Magnificent Moths with Mark Mello of the Lloyd Center for Environmental Science.
All of the listed programs can be accessed for free by registering for each program at sippicanlandstrust.org/events.
By Mick Colageo
Mattapoisett Elections, Town Meeting Rescheduled
Mattapoisett Selectman Paul Silva and Jordan Collyer voted on May 5 to reschedule town elections on Tuesday, June 16, and the annual town meeting on Monday, June 22.
Silva noted that although the town clerk Catherine Heuberger was well prepared to conduct the elections as originally planned for May 19, lingering voter concerns over COVID-19 might find voters staying home. He said that while absentee ballots are available, “…a lot of people want to go out and vote.” Silva thought it was better to push the date out and wait to see what Governor Baker’s office provides for guidance moving forward.
Collyer wondered if moving the date two weeks would actually change anything, “…people will still be concerned.” He also noted that local schools had sent out notices mentioning the May 19 date.
In the remote-meeting room was candidate John DeCosta, who is vying for the vacant Board of Selectmen seat against former selectman Tyler Macallister. DeCosta said, “I agree with Paul… it would give myself and Tyler some kind of time for campaigning… we’re in a competition and in all fairness to both of us…” he thought a postponement would be helpful.
Silva said, “We need to give as much time as possible to the candidates.”
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said he would like to see at least two weeks between the town meeting and the town elections for planning purposes. But Silva believed there wasn’t an option, town meeting would need to be rescheduled. “I don’t think we can have a town meeting with everyone in a room… maybe hold it outside.” Lorenco expressed concern that a May 29 date for town meeting was only two days before the beginning of the new fiscal year. But Silva said the town could continue to use the one-twelfth method for conducting the town’s business that is allowed until a new budget is passed at town meeting.
Town consultant Mike Gagne said that the town’s bylaw requires one week at least between elections and town meetings.
Collyer said that DeCosta had made a compelling argument and that he wanted, “… to give the townspeople ample time to hear from them.”
In the end, the selectmen voted to move both to later dates.
Regarding town meeting, Silva said that the town meeting warrant would only have the budget articles and other articles “absolutely necessary at this time.” All other articles would be pushed off until the fall town meeting.
Collyer suggested that a draft of the warrant be provided, as it currently stands for the board to review and that at their next meeting, they could open the warrant.
As for those warrant items being pushed into the fall meeting, the selectmen asked to see a list of those items as well.
Dan White, a member of the Fourth of July Road Race Committee, asked the selectmen to consider a commemorative plaque for Bob Gardner, the founder of the race, on the anniversary of the race’s 50th year. “We wanted to do something to commemorate Bob and the race,” White said. Village Signs had the plaque made with the inscription: “Starting Line – in memory of the race founder Robert ‘Bob’ Gardner, Dedicated on July 4, 2020, 50th running of the annual Mattapoisett July 4th Road Race.”
Unfortunately, due to emergency restrictions, the race was canceled for 2020. White said possibly the plaque could be installed at the starting line on a granite post now and the town could hold a more formal celebration next year.
White did ask permission for an informal unveiling of the commemorative marker this summer. The selectmen said it was best to wait and see what restrictions or other concerns for gatherings will unfold in the coming weeks.
Collyer said, “Bob was a great guy and the place seems right. The monument is minimal. I like the idea. It would be perfect.” The selectmen voted to approve the installation.
Silva then shared Governor Baker’s May 6 order number 13 mandating the wearing of face covering inside establishments and out in public, where distancing cannot be safeguarded. He said that with the wonderful outdoor venues the town possess such as Shipyard Park, Ned’s Point, the wharves, and the bike path, it was imperative that people follow the rules. He said that monitoring of the town’s outdoor spaces had started.
Collyer, who sits on a special COVID-19 committee with members of the Board of Health as well as police and fire personnel and the town administrator, said, “People are gathering mostly in cars. The police have been instructing people as necessary. They are going to Ned’s several times during shifts. There have been some groups of kids on bikes, but that’s going to happen.” He said that most people are wearing coverings.
Both Silva and Collyer said if necessary further measures would be taken to safeguard the public. Gagne added that a second paragraph in the governor’s order mandates the wearing of face-covering when going into grocery and retail locations, as well as taxi services. To view the order, visit mass.gov.
Lorenco said that fliers were being provided to business for their customers as well as to educate employees.
The town administrator’s report featured measures being put in place by the state for boaters. Lorenco read portions of a three-page memorandum that spoke to the necessity of wearing face coverings, keeping distance in and around public launch and other boating outlets. It also mandates that boats may not gather together, individuals on a boat must live in the same household and that boats for hire, whale watching, and other recreational boating activities are currently prohibited. To view the memorandum, visit mattapoisett.net.
Lorenco said that commercial fishing was considered an essential service. Silva asked, “If someone wants to go out fishing, everyone in the boat must be from the same household?” Lorenco said yes. Lorenco also said that the harbormaster would be putting up signage regarding the public-launch area and that only Massachusetts vehicle registration would be permitted at the public launch.
Collyer said the COVID-19 committee was beginning to discuss plans for opening businesses and town buildings in the future. “We’ve started to discuss the new normal, what precautions to take at town hall, the library, the (Council on Aging),” he said. Collyer applauded the work done by the BOH and especially the public health nurse, Amanda Stone, who has been contact-tracing among her many other duties.
The installation of new LED lighting throughout the town is in full swing, Lorenco said, with 150 lamps retrofitted at this time. He said that if residents find the new lights too bright, they can call the selectmen’s office. He said the lamps are adjustable but are being installed at the highest setting, which may prove too bright for some locations.
Lorenco said that the Lion’s Club was meeting on this night and would most likely be making the decision to cancel both Harbor Days and the annual Triathlon for 2020. “Memorial Day observances are already canceled, but some things might be moved to Veteran’s Day,” he added.
A special Happy Birthday to Anita Croft, who turns 100 on May 7, was announced with everyone in the meeting room sending their best wishes.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for May 12 at 4:00 pm. Remote meeting access to be announced.
Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen
By Marilou Newell
ORRHS Term 3 Honor Roll
The following students have achieved honors for the third term at Old Rochester Regional High School:
Highest Honors, Grade 9; Rudy Aurele Arsenault, Maura Lee Bailey, Samuel Robert Balsis, Ava Karen Barrows, Sylvie Janet Benson, Gabriella Grace Berg, Ryan Steven Blanchette, Torsten Charles Brickley, Theodore Dean Carroll, Owen Bennett Cassidy, Caitlin Eleanor Collier, David Senra Costa, Kathleen Elizabeth Dunn, Sawyer Austin Fox, Julia Alice Foye, Domenic William Fringuelli, Paige Cherie Fuller, Liam James Geraghty, Mason Alden Hanks, Alexander Cole Harrigan, Elizabeth Ann Higgins, Derek Michael Hiralall, Emily Jan Kilpatrick, Brady William LaPierre, Philip Stuart le Gassick, Landon Timothy Maxwell, Aidan Jordan O’Donnell, William Dermot O’Shaughnessy, Paul Nicholas Petronelli, Andrew Louis Poulin, Lauren Grace Rapoza, Jaxon Bjorn Patrik Resendes, Corinne Evelyn Robert, Reagan Catherine Rock, Norah Louise Schiappa, Summer Bryn Williams, Sarah Marie Wyman, Grade 10; Amanda Marie Armanetti, Nathaniel Cameron Bangs, Claudie Alaine Bellanger, Kaylie Rose Bennett, Erin McCormick Besancon, Brendan Michael Burke, Sabrina Lee Cunningham, Matthew Anthony Curry, Quinn Michael Davignon, Jillian Elizabeth Ferreira, Isabel Filomena Friedrichs, Hannah Rose Furtado, Edward Anthony Gonet, Colby Dawson Gross, Faith Michelle Humphrey, Isabella Diane Hunt, John Joseph Kassabian, Keane Joseph MacGregor, Drew Evan Mastovsky, Ethan Robert McElroy, Amaya Catherine McLeod, Drew Charles Miranda, Maggie Elizabeth Nailor, Tavish Velouria Love Nunes, Stephen Michael Old, Marc Francis Pothier, Charles Martin Richards, Ethan Drew Scully, Julia Catherine Sheridan, Carson Peter Spencer, Emma Patricia Thorell, Autumn Taylor Tilley, Michael Augustine Valerio, Allison Lorrayne Ward, Cameran Grace Weaver, Mackenzie Marie Wilson, Madeline Jane Wright, Grade 11; Stephen Joseph Arne, Novalye Marie Arruda, Margaret Kelley Carroll, Steven Michael Carvalho, Alexander Robert Craig, Carly Michelle Drew, Sydney Adele Feeney, Rachel Marjorie Foye, Prosser Jack Friedman, Maeve Dorothy Geraghty, Isabelle Marie Kelly, Katelyn Phuong-Vy Luong, Christian George Noble Shriver, Evan William O’Brien-Nichols, Jonathan Jorge Pereira, Bessie Marie Pierre, Kennedy Rae Serpa, Paige Elizabeth Sommers, Kathleen Moyne Tenerowicz, Mason King Tucker, Emma Brooke Vivino, Emma Stetson Williamson, Samantha Marie Winters, Grade 12; Colby Ryan Alves, Cole James Ashley, Gabrielle Jenna Bold, Dante Michael Cusolito, Michelina Gabriela Ditata, Alanna Eileen Fitzpatrick, Emma Rose Gabriel, Jillian Erin Higgins, Stephen Patrick Marston, Ian Antonio Gomes McCann, Natali Lynne McGrath, Ella Katharine McIntire, Alexa Lyn McLeod, Alexandra Corinne Moniz, Torrey Aquinnah Monteiro, Natalie Elizabeth Nilson, Danielle Deveau Nutter, Rachel Michelle-Marie Perry, Hannah Lynn Pires, Cecilia Pearl Prefontaine, Alyssa Marie Quaintance, Mackenzie Elizabeth Riley, Alexi Marie Smead, Hannah Faith Stallings, Sofia Zoe Sudofsky,
High Honors, Grade 9; Emily Cavanaugh-Fauteux, Ryan Christopher Cordeiro, Matthew Lauron Eby, Leo Joseph Grondin, Sakurako Linh Huynh-Aoyama, Sofia Rose Irish, Jillian Mae LeBlanc, Mackenzie Nha-Thi Luong, Kyle Walter McCullough, Jordan V Nguyen, Abigail Madeleine Paulette, Haralambos Nicholaos Sivvianakis, Arianna Michelle Vinagre, Samuel Converse Williamson Grade 10; Jaelyn Shea Allen, William Keaton Baltz, Erin Margaret Craig, Caleb Everett DeVoe, Thomas Dawson Galavotti, Ava Elisabeth Hall, Mia Caroline Hall, Isabella Rose Hunter, Jake Tyler Louden, Katherine Grace Nilson, Sawichaya Phimolmas, Savannah Rosa Teixeira, Emma Ruby Wyman, Isaiah Grade 11; Michael Andrade, Mariana Gisela Ditata, Joseph Robert Dumas, Rachael Yi Li Fantoni, Abigail Christine Forcier, Colin Michael Kulak, Jhett Ericson Labonte, Colin David Mackin, Rebecca Judina Milde, Serena Josephine O’Connell, Faith Ann Lopes Oliver, Daphne Ellison Poirier, Sophia Cristina Sousa, Rachel Dorothy Zutaut, Garde 12; Camden Frederick Brezinski, Charlotte Anne Cole, Lucas Senra Costa, Molly Brigid Finnegan, Patrick Michael Finnegan, Grace Elizabeth Greany, Madison Kylie Guinen, Ruth Ella Harris, Madison Jeanne Hayward, Andrew Leaf Hiller, Kate Lida Marsden, Aidan Elizabeth Michaud, Luke John Mullen, Alexandra Jean Old, Rebecca Michaela Pacheco, Allison Rae Paim, Elyse Mary Pellegrino, Gracey Elizabeth Weedall
Honors, Grade 9; Mya Lynn Braga, Elizabeth Ashlee Bumpus, Reese Mary Burger, Tyler Braley Cardinal, Colin John Carroll, Matthew Edward Carvalho, Bennett Thomas Chase, Maggie Paige Conners, Murray Thomas Copps, William Paul Correia, Brady Andreas Dias, Kate Ann Feeney, Failenn Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Lila Claire Galavotti, Nolan Fergus Gibbons, Dylan Hartley-Matteson, Braden Ian Hayward, Thomas Russell-Malone Janicki, Konstantinos Myron Jorjakis, Aiden Scott Lamontagne, Emmanuella Jean Lawrence, James Patrick LeClair, Brady Thomas Lee, Myles Joseph Lopes, Braden Riley MacDonald, Alexander Aidan Marsden, Jacksen Giovani Martin, Gabriela Marie Matthews, William Reale McIlmail, Emma Maureen Mullen, Ava Katherine Noone, Camryn Isabella Nye, Madeline Grace O’Connor, Samuel Thomas Ortega, Lily Ann Pennock, Emma Louise Petersen, Grace Morgan Picewick, Markus Luke Pierre, Jeffrey Alan Radek, Henry Maxwell Richards, Nathaniel Scott Robertson, Kira Nada Sarkarati, Makenna Paige Servais, Ella Rose Shultz, Jacob Edward Smith, Kyle Francis Smith, Noah Michael Sommers, Cooper Noel Studley, Emma Shea Van Ness, Isabella Bleu Vanderpol, Mackenzie Mae Vigeant, Emma Lauren Welter, Grade 10; Justin Paul Allain, Jasmine Elizabeth Andrade, Jack Spencer Ashley, George Thomas Barry, Tristan Michael Borges, Magdalena Louise Brogioli, Sally Anne Butler, Evan Michael Correia, Wilson Daniel Coucci, Meredith Ellen Davignon, Emily Catherine DellaCioppa, Benjamin Timothy DeMoranville, David August Ditata, Anna Simone Dube, Logan Deborah Fernandes, Adam James Forrest, Jenna May Gamache, Brody Joseph Garber, Conner James Garcia, Keira Lynne Gleasure, Taylor Richmond Green, Lila Grace Hall, Brooke Amanda Hammond, Mia Rose Hemphill, Lauren Ann Higgins, Michael Francis Holmes, Harry Carter Hunt, Cadence Lynn Johnson, Layne Jared Lagasse, Lauryn Olivia Lent, Sean Myles Lund, Sofia Eve Martins, Isabelle Lynn McCarthy, Lucas Paul McElroy, Cole Jean Meehan, Lucas Fredric Mello, Spencer Harry Merolla, Lukas Timothy Michaelis, Caroline Vail Milam, Ariana Marie Miranda, Steven Paul Morrell, Emily Elizabeth Murphy, Ethan Samuel Perez-Dormitzer, Victoria Marie Perry, Benjamin William Preece-Santos, Zachary Robert Proffit, Maria Nicole Psichopaidas, Natalya Renee Rivera, Hannah Rose Rottler, Tess Elizabeth Roznoy, Damon Michael Smead, Mickenna Perry Soucy, Brooke Elizabeth Steed, Callie Mae Tavares, Gabrielle Elizabeth Theodore, William Christian Tirrell, Tyler Owen Trudeau, Maxwell Caden Tucker, Maxwell Gregory Vivino, Jennifer Lynne Williams, Nathan Thomas Yurof, Joseph Robert Ziino, Grade 11; Taylor Morgan Amaral, Benjamin James Austin, Margaret Mae Berry, Alexia Donna Blais, Marisa Lee Braga, Curtis James Briggi, Elizabeth Marie Bungert, Shelby Ann Carmichael, Isabella Marie Carrillo, Emma Minisce Carroll, Mia Isabel Costa, Jillian Elizabeth Craig, Meaghan Ellen Dufresne, Austin Childs Fleming, Davis Colby Fox, Jason Anthony Gracia, Elliot John Gurney, Charles Hartley-Matteson, Griffin David Henriques, Meghan Mary Horan, Molly Marie Janicki, Jacob Thomas Jensen, Tyler Joseph Karo, Olivia Grace LaPierre, Griffin Barrett Lawrence, Madisyn Rylee Leavitt, Brianna Lynn Machado, Eva Angeline Riscad McCann, Grace Elizabeth McCarthy, Abigail Rose McFadyen, Cooper Michael Newton, Samuel Pierce Noblet, Tucker James Nugent, David Joseph Oliver, Rachel Rose Pina, Ryan Patrick Quinlan, Raegan Louise Rapoza, Aidan Stewart Root, Emma Kat Schwabe, Teagan Ann Shay, Evan Thomas Smith, Cameron Joseph Spencer, William Michael Stark, Madison Lee Tavares, William Ryon Thomas, Andrew James Tripanier, Jessica Victoria Vance, Kayli NMN Vieira, Sophie Elizabeth Vigeant, Tyler Cole Wadman, Elizabeth Donna Wiggin, Ryan Alexander Wilson, Lucy Xin-ru Zhang, Paige Leona Zutaut, Grade 12; Felicia Marie Aguiar, Emmanuelle Bailly, Jacqueline Elizabeth Barrett, Sarah Elizabeth Besancon, Peyton Elisabeth Blood, Tova Kirstine Brickley, Mary Clare Butler, Bethany Ann Cabral, April Lynne Choquette, Luke Thomas Couto, Jacob Paul Demoranville, Jonah Arlindo DePina, Jacob Thomas DeVoe, Dylan Scott DeWolfe, Samuel Ryan Dunn, Jenna Rae Durgin, Taylor Alexis Gardner, William Scott Gauvin, Lilah Aaron Gendreau, Jack Francis Gerard, Luke Samuel Hanson, Meg Elizabeth Hughes, Ryu Bao Huynh-Aoyama, Patrick Daniel Igoe, Zoe Anna Kelley, Paul Herbert Kippenberger, Audrey Ann Knox, Emily Rose Larkin, Brianna Cassidy Lynch, Emma Kate Mastovsky, John William Meehan, Elise Jean Mello, Hunter Leigh Moreau, Noah Stephen Motta, Megan Ashley Nolan, Lauren Jean O’Malley, Dillon Aguilera Romig, Erin Elizabeth Scott, Joseph Patrick Sheridan, Kylie Isabel Silva, Nicholas Parker Snow, Brendan Edken Stack, Jendell Anise Teixeira, Eric Michael Tippins, Emily Ann Wilson, Kyah Grace Woodland
ORR Response
Letter to the Tri-Town Communities,
I am profoundly disappointed, but certainly not surprised of the action or mis-actions, in my estimation, of the ORR school administration’s response to the recent and latest episode of racism perpetrated by an ORR high school student. I am intentionally not detailing the incident, nor giving the student’s name, as I would like, you, the reader of this Letter to the Tri-Town community, to find an ORRHS student and talk to them.
The administration’s response is the usual to this sort of situation, of which there have been many. Countless parents have had to go to the high school and even some of the other district schools about situations affecting their children. Not all racial injustices have been perpetrated by students. The administration plays a major role as they seem to have no clue as to how to handle some of these situations or they just chose to ignore them.
The Old Rochester Regional District Superintendent, high school principal and the district school committee had a perfect opportunity to do something beyond putting a bandaid on the cancer that has festered at ORR school system for decades – more blatantly and egregiously at the high school. Last June, a group met with the District School Committee, wherein issues at the high school and one elementary school incident were brought to their attention in great detail. The group was direct and pointed and requested the school take action. Not a single response to date. So, Tri-town community, is it time for you to wake up and take some responsibility by demanding accountability from your employees?
Most recently, the cancer revealed itself to the entire tri-town communities by an evil social media post that in itself exposes the cancer I mentioned earlier. The poster without realizing it did the work of exposing what is in the hearts of too many people. A school administration that truly cares about all of its students would have taken a more thoughtful approach to the problem. Instead, their response was to meet with the students involved and devise a plan that would supposedly protect the black student, (full disclosure the black student is my granddaughter), by changing some classes and other superficialities.
In point of fact, the student should have been expelled from the school. Some cursory research on your part will reveal that black students suffer harsher disciplinary treatment than white students for comparable offenses. There is no question that a black student would have been expelled. Again, you do the research – educate yourselves. The black student and other black students should not have to see this white student in the hall. Whether classes return or not is irrelevant as a clear message needed to be sent. This incident will not be over when classes do return as positions would have been taken by other students and nothing will have been put in place or thought about to begin to change the culture at ORR or the system at large.
The ORR student’s action was and is reprehensible. It cannot be defended. The memory of his actions will continue for a long-time. My granddaughter and other black students at ORR have suffered immensely because of this recent incident and other incidents as among other things, white students constant use of the N-word. When this happens in the classroom, I have heard that at least one teacher’s response is frequently “knock it off”. And, what do you say about a teacher who walks up to another teacher who approaches two black students to check student names against those on her clipboard and flippantly remarks something to this effect, “Are you having trouble telling the black kids apart”?
The action of the school administration is the type of action that colleges and universities and even the military have taken, when campus/base/military rapes have occurred – protect the white male at all costs. Forcing the victims to have to see their perpetrator is cruel, evil and self-serving. Again, educate yourself in this matter, as well. Again, educate yourself by Googling articles on PTSD in black students.
It may surprise you to hear that I think it was totally wrong and another purely knee-jerk reaction on the part of UMass Dartmouth to rescind this student’s admission to the University. The discipline is upside down. University students by and large will not know who this student is, but ORR students know the student and that is where the suffering and agitation will continue. ORR students do not need to have this student in their midst. I believe it is also harmful to him. And, by the way, I care about what this student and his family is going through. I can only imagine what life has been like for them. Their suffering has just begun, but black students and families have suffered much longer and my granddaughter in particular, as she has so bravely taken up the struggle. It is heart-breaking to hear her say, “It is exhausting dealing with the racism at that school”.
I personally believe the University of Massachusetts should reverse their knee-jerk reaction to their admissions decision. They should also purpose to commit to taking steps to get involved with the communities in which they draw some students to help with some of these issues.
If a black student or maybe even a poor white student had committed a comparable act, fingers would be pointed at the parents. Parents would be blamed for their terrible parenting skills. It would be said that they obviously have not raised their child properly. A little investigation on your part will reveal that this young man’s upbringing is probably similar to how most of you readers raise or raised own your children. Is that the problem?
The views expressed in this letter are purely my own.
Yours truly,
Barbara Sullivan
The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra has canceled its May 23 concert, ‘The Finnish Line’. Originally the season finale, there will now be a “new” finale on Friday, August 21, 7:30 pm, at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. “Happy Birthday, Ludwig!” is a modification of the originally scheduled April 18 and 19 concert. The new NBSO program celebrates Beethoven’s 250th birthday with a performance of his Violin Concerto, featuring guest artist Vadim Gluzman, as well as Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. Tickets for the August concert are available on the NBSO website at www.nbsymphony.org.
If you are holding tickets for the originally scheduled May 23 concert, you have three options: donation, exchange, or refund. You may donate them as a tax-deductible contribution to the NBSO, exchange them for a future concert, or request a refund by emailing asmith@nbsymphony.org or calling the NBSO office at (508) 999-6276 and leaving a message. We are currently working remotely but are checking voice mail and will return your call as soon as possible.
The NBSO is developing new ways to connect with people through livestream concerts by NBSO musicians. A number of upcoming concerts can be accessed through the NBSO’s website under the Events/Upcoming Events, or if you have a Facebook account, you can watch on the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra Facebook page. On the day of the concert, the post will appear at the top. Past videos are available to watch at any time on either platform. The current lineup includes the following:
Saturday, April 25, 7:00 pm – Works for Solo Viola with Maureen Heflinger
Sunday, April 26, 4:00 pm – Spirit through Isolation: Piano Trios for the Soul with Emmy Holmes-Hicks (violin), Adrienne Tayler (cello), Andrei Bauman (piano)
Friday, May 1, 7:00 pm – The Lightness of Spring with Emmalee Holmes-Hicks (violin) and Peter Zay (cello)
Friday, May 8, 7:00 pm n– When Oboe Met Viola with Rebecca Hallowell (viola) and Ben Fox (oboe)
Sunday, May 10, 4:00 pm – A Mother’s Day Treat from Emmy and the P’s with Emmy Holmes-Hicks (violin), Peter Zay (cello and guitar), Piero Guimaraes (vibraphone)
Sunday, May 17, 4:00 pm – South Coast Chamber Music Series presents O Beautiful May with Janice Weber (piano), Emmy Holmes-Hicks (violin), Anna Griffis (viola), and Leo Eguchi (cello)
The NBSO is dedicated to building a community of music in the South Coast. Visit www.nbsymphony.org today!