COA Discusses Community Pavilion

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            During the March 9 meeting of the Marion Council on Aging Board of Directors, a community pavilion was discussed. Chairman Harry Norweb opened the discussion by first sharing the importance of coordinating proposed improvements to the former VFW Hall grounds with the town’s plans to replace old sewer pipes located near a proposed pavilion.

            The board discussed design features for the pavilion, such as exterior hardware and support column facades. But before that project can be mounted, the cost will need to come primarily from donations, the board concluded. Estimates for the pavilion building range from $150,000 to $160,000.

            Norweb said bidding for the pavilion will have to proceed through government channels, but if initial bids hold, “We’ll be in a good spot.” The pavilion is part of a more expansive proposal to turn the property into a community park, with a pavilion that may include such amenities as a fire pit and outdoor furnishings. But costs will be one of several hurdles yet to be scaled.

            Another aspect of the parkland concept is a walking trail. That project saw movement when the COA directors submitted a grant request to the Community Preservation Act Committee for $30,000 and received a thumbs-up in Friday’s vote. Norweb said the next step for the project is to bring the request to the Board of Selectmen to gain its support in advance of the Annual Town Meeting, where voters will have the final word on whether or not the walking trail advances to construction. Norweb said the overall estimate of the trail was $39,000, of which $9,000 is being funded jointly by the Friends of the COA and the Friends of the Recreation Department.

            A third part of the overall parkland project is landscaping. The board discussed securing expert advice from a local resident whose knowledge base will help in the selecting and pricing of landscape plantings. Norweb said that paying y for the landscaping and the construction of a community pavilion will require a “coalition of support.”

            Member Merry Conway asked, “Are there other budgets that might pick up some of these enhancements?”

            Norweb said that funds were gifted from the Marion Social Club by a former member for improvements such as those discussed. COA Director Karen Gregory said that no funds could be anticipated from that operation given the tight budget she is working with.

            Norweb took time to acknowledge Dianne Cosman’s efforts in writing the grant submitted to the CPC, saying her work proved “victorious!”

            The next meeting of the Marion COA Board of Directors was not set at adjournment.

Marion Council on Aging Board of Directors

By Marilou Newell

Concom Grants Routine Approvals, Continuations

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            The Mattapoisett Conservation Commission on March 8 dispensed with a number of continued public hearings from prior meetings and immediately continued several others at the applicants’ request.

            Alan Loomis of McKenzie Engineering Group, Inc. returned for a Notice of Intent on behalf of his client, Armand Cortellesso/Brandt Point Road Builders, LLC, to construct a single-family house with associated grading and infrastructure within the 100-foot buffer to bordering vegetated wetlands at Lot 16 Nantucket Drive.

            Since the prior meeting, the conservation agent identified some minor issues that needed addressing. The commission asked Loomis to rectify some signage that was facing the wrong way, redo some of the wetland flags, sort out a failing siltation fence, and apply some siltation socks at a nearby catch basin.

            “That’s very reasonable,” commented Mr. Loomis.

            With no further questions or comments from the commission or the public, the commission approved the application and issued an Order of Conditions.

            David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone, Inc. returned for a continued public hearing for a NOI on behalf of his client, William Saunders, 50 County Road, the location of Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, to remove and replace a parking lot and stormwater management system.

            During the last meeting, abutters’ concerns prompted Davignon to integrate some screening along the southwestern property line and submit an operational maintenance plan to plant and maintain 12 6-foot green giant arborvitaes spaced 6 feet apart.

            The commission approved the application and issued an Order of Conditions.

            Davignon was also present for the continued public hearing for a NOI filed by Matthew Considina and Alex Monreal, 29 North Street, for proposed landscaping improvements, tree removal, a 12-inch earth berm installation to contain stormwater runoff, cedar posts with signs for permanent markers at each wetland flag, and a groundwater recharge basin upgradient of the earth berm.

            Neither the commission nor any abutters had any questions or comments, so the commission swiftly approved the application and issued an Order of Conditions with an additional condition of an on-site, pre-construction meeting before commencing the work.

            Dan Wells represented his client, Aaron Halimi, in a continued Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation public hearing for wetland line verification at 0 Route 195, North of 0 Fairhaven Line North, owned by Gerald Randall.

            Wells said three Fairhaven abutters had been duly served notification of the public hearing since the last meeting, and no one from the public appeared that evening to speak on the project.

            The commission selected Ecosystem Solutions, Inc. as its peer-review consultant and continued the public hearing until March 22.

            Before adjourning, the commission approved a Request for a Certificate of Compliance for Christian McCullough, 12 Oliver Street, after positive feedback from the building commissioner and the conservation agent confirming that the project was built according to the plan and no surrounding wetlands were disturbed in the process.

            The following public hearings were immediately continued until March 22: NOI, Randall Lane Solar, LLC, for a solar array at 29 Randall Lane; and NOI for Alexander Bauer, 7 Nashawena Road, to construct a single-family house with rear deck and concrete slab beneath the house to direct stormwater to the rear of the lot.

            The Request for a Certificate of Compliance for The Preserve at Bay Club, LLC was immediately continued until March 22.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission will be held on Monday, March 22, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Jean Perry

‘A Thousand Words in A Few Sentences’

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            It didn’t take more than a moment for Aliyah Jordan to know what she wanted to say. The question was how to say it, and her answer won first place out of 38 entries in Tri-Town Against Racism’s Black History Month Creative Expression Contest.

            Tri-Town Against Racism asked Grades 7-12 Tri-Town students for forward thinking “Beyond Martin and Rosa,” and the 15-year-old Tabor Academy sophomore from Atlanta went backward instead to the story of Claudette Colvin, Rosa Parks’ unheralded predecessor, by writing a poem she titled “Heroes Unsung.”

            Like the dimmest star in the galaxy,

shadowed by the most blinding of them all,

both with the same success,

but one seems more small.

            Like Claudette who first refused to sit in the back,

the knowledge of this many people seem to lack.

The dark-skinned teen with a soul in her womb,

was told that she was too black.

            To lead a movement.

            Rosa followed in her footsteps,

and sat right in the front.

Fair-skinned and well respected,

she had to be the one.

            To lead the movement.

            Division in the world,

the black vs. the white,

dissension in our own communities,

the dark-skinned against the light.

            Why must we classify ourselves,

based on hue and hair?

            We’re all human beings,

deserving of what’s equal and fair.

            Heroes.

            “You said 1,000 words in a few sentences,” recalled Jordan of her brother Jorian’s reaction after watching the video of the reading that Aliyah had submitted.

            With stunning eloquence befitting a perspective of someone many years her senior, Jordan took a courageous step by looking inside the Civil Rights Movement. Her authentic response resounded with Tri-Town Against Racism when winners were decided on February 28.

            “The judges were completed floored by both her poem and her reciting of it. She perfectly embodied the theme of our contest,” said Alison Noyce, Tri-Town Against Racism vice-president.

            Colvin’s obscured place in history was daunting to Jordan, who, ever since reading about the pregnant teenager and her determination not to be unseated preceded Parks’ famous act by nine months, was impressed by the former’s fearlessness. “She was the first person I thought about,” said Jordan.

            Despite admittedly being plugged into Tabor’s world and not being aware of the protests that transpired last year in the Tri-Town, or Old Rochester Regional School District’s subsequent adoption of an anti-racism resolution, policy, and subcommittee, Jordan’s mindset is unconsciously synched with that of the local area and especially the sponsoring organization that encourages people to “start where you are.”

            One of the leaders of Tabor Academy’s Black Student Union, Jordan will return to campus later this month for the first time since the pandemic, having studied remotely since the initial closure of the Marion-based prep school in March 2020.

            “I don’t think there’s ever going to be a hard solution, but progress comes with education,” said Jordan, adding it is important to keep “learning how other people see the world and how things affect them.”

            Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School student Noah Sullivan took second place with a video presentation celebrating Black History month featuring blockbuster movies “Black Panther” and “Spiderman – Into the Spider-Verse.”

            ORR student Autumn Tilly took third place with a digital drawing called “Pushing Forward,” her illustration a brilliant use of emerging shade as a foot belonging to a person of color steps toward light.

            Cash awards went to first place in the amount of $200, second place $100, and third place $50. Contest judges were Tangi Thomas, the president of Tri-Town Against Racism, and area residents Darrin Garcia, Jean DaSilva, and Janis Johnson.

            ORR student Alia Cusolito, who submitted a painting of late activist Audre Lorde, Old Colony student James Pierson with a drawing of late activist Malcolm X, and ORR Junior High student Sophia Cruz with a poster melding several influences, all received honorable mentions for their work.

            Jordan’s interest in poetry is only recent.

            “It really started last year after the Poetry Out Loud contest,” she said of Tabor’s event that enters every freshman. Jordan won second place among freshmen. The challenge was to write five poems and put them into a book. Other than that experience, she said she had never before submitted a poem for a contest.

            “I have taken a liking to journalism and anchoring, and also poetry, obviously. I think writing is kind of my passion,” said Jordan. “Being a lyricist is something I enjoy.”

            She used to play clarinet and wants to learn how to play piano. She participates in chorus and acapella groups.

            “I’m really into the drama and musical,” said Jordan, whose other school activities have included soccer and softball in 2019-20, and this year she wants to add tennis. She’s a big fan of two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka, who emerged as the sport’s spokesperson against racially motivated violence.

            The what-now aspect of Tri-Town Against Racism’s educational effort is daunting as it asks young people to formulate thoughts and express them publicly. While Jordan, at 15, has not plotted her career, “I’m just trying to find my passion and what I love to do,” she is participating as she is compelled.

            Tabor’s BSU only started last year and includes monthly debriefings on “what’s going on in the world … we’re just starting some of those hard conversations on campus,” said Jordan, whose outlook is “just bringing the world together instead of dividing us more.”

Tri-Town Against Racism Creative Expression Contest

By Mick Colageo

First Congregational Church of Marion

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The First Congregational Church of Marion is pleased to welcome Rev. Richard Woodward as our new Transitional Interim Pastor. Rev. Woodward was raised in the First Congregational Church of Royal Oak, Michigan, and went on to be ordained in his home church. He has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Religion from Central Michigan University and is a graduate of Gordon-Cornwell Theological Seminary with a master’s degree in divinity.

            Throughout his ministry, Rev. Woodward has served in a diverse range of churches. His first call to ministry came from the East Freetown Congregational Christian Church in East Freetown, Massachusetts. From there he was called to the Evangelical Congregational Church in Dunstable, Massachusetts, where he served as Senior Pastor for 24 years.

            Then, Rev. Woodward made the decision to expand his training in the field of Intentional Interim Ministry, taking courses with both the Interim Ministry Network and Interim Pastor Ministries. From 2014 to the present, he has enjoyed serving as Interim Pastor at three churches: Greenwoods Community Church in Ashley Falls, Massachusetts, the Sherman Congregational Church in Sherman, Connecticut, and the First Baptist Church in Plymouth, Connecticut.

            Rev. Woodward and his wife, Martha, are happy to be moving to Marion and being closer to their grown children who live north of Boston. Martha worked as a certified nurse’s aide, and through her work they have both been involved in volunteer nursing home ministry. Rev. Woodward also did a volunteer prison ministry conducting Bible studies. He helped start a prison ministry where men from his church were trained to be mentors to inmates to prepare for transition when released.

            After their second child passed away at five weeks, Rev. Woodward was drawn to grief work. He has spent time with those who are grieving and worked to help those who have lost loved ones. Rev. Woodward has found that “God always prepares us for the ministries that we will be doing.”

            Rev. Woodward is passionate about being with people. He enjoys family time, reading, music, gardening, cooking, camping, and travel. He has hiked all of the Connecticut Appalachian Trail, along with sections in five other states.

            The members and friends of The First Congregational Church of Marion are excited to have Rev. Richard Woodward as our new Transitional Interim Pastor. He feels our church has wonderful potential as we seek what God has called us to do in this town. We look forward to his guidance and leadership in this time of assessment, reflection, and planning as we prepare to search for a settled pastor.

            Feel free to email Rev. Richard Woodward at Rhwoodward@gmail.com or call the church office at 508-748-1053 to contact him.

            The First Congregational Church of Marion is located at 28 Main Street, Marion. Sunday Worship Service is at 10:00 am in person (following all COVID-19 protocols) and also on Zoom. The sanctuary is handicap accessible with an elevator. The church website is marionfirstchurch.org. You can find information here and a link to our YouTube channel to view previous worship services. The church office is located in the Community Center, 144 Front Street, at the rear of the parking lot.

A Livestream Music Event

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The Marion Art Center presents Sundog Organ Trio as a Livestream Music Event in partnership with ORCTV on Sunday, March 21, at 4:00 pm. Sundog Organ Trio formed in the fall of 2018. The three musicians “have a collective love for improvisation, and tight grooves.” The group features Brian Sances on guitar/vocals, Colin Bradley on organ, and Dylan Vaughn on drums. The band’s multi-styled sound might be considered rock ‘n roll-psychedelic-fusion, with sounds reminiscent of bands like Pink Floyd or blues and rock groups. Donations to this free event will directly support music at the MAC and will be split 50/50 between the MAC and performing artists. Find out more at marionartcenter.org/music.

Academic Achievements

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The following students have been selected for inclusion on St. Lawrence University’s Dean’s List for their academic achievements during the Fall 2020 semester. Margaret Cannell, of Mattapoisett, is a member of the Class of 2021 and is majoring in performance and communication arts. Grace Jackson, of Marion, is a member of the Class of 2022 and is majoring in psychology and performance and communication arts.

            The University of Rhode Island is pleased to announce that Grace Greany of Mattapoisett, Sophie Johnson of Rochester, and Tyler Menard of Mattapoisett were named to the Fall 2020 Dean’s List. To be included on the Dean’s List, full-time students must have completed 12 or more credits for letter grades during a semester and achieved at least a 3.30 quality point average. Part-time students qualify with the accumulation of 12 or more credits for letter grades earning at least a 3.30 quality point average.

CPC Votes to Recommend Nine Projects

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            After substantial discussions over recent weeks, Marion’s Community Preservation Committee voted on March 5 to finalize its Fiscal Year 2022 recommendations of applications received for town and state-matching funds under the state’s Community Preservation Act.

            Nine applications will be recommended for CPA funding at Spring Town Meeting. Ten applications had originally been presented before the CPC, one of which came off the final list and a second that was substantially limited from its original scope. Both changes cited eligibility issues.

            The vast majority of available funds are recommended by Friday’s CPC vote for Town of Marion projects including $90,000 for completion of the Town House Annex exterior and another $90,000 for near completion of the Town House’s Main Street entrance. CPA funds would pay for the design of a historically appropriate entry, the replacement of entry doors and windows, and restoration of the Annex facade as it faces Main Street.

            The Annex project originally requested $221,000 but was redesigned before presentation to the CPC by focusing on building work for $90,000 that will empty the final $33,440.99 in the Historical Preservation Commission’s account and also take $56,555.01 from undesignated funds. The concrete steps on the Main Street side will be completed at a later date.

            The other Town of Marion applications recommended by the CPC for funding include $30,000 for the Historical Commission’s cultural inventory, $30,000 to construct an asphalt, multi-use (walking) path to be installed on the grounds of the Cushing Community Center, $10,000 to purchase and install approximately 1,100 feet of split-post and rail fencing at Silvershell Beach, and a sixth town application for $5,675 to fund and place 250 cast-aluminum grave markers on veterans’ graves at town cemeteries.

            Sippican Historical Society was approved for a recommendation of $25,000 in CPA funding for its ongoing archival cataloguing, and Elizabeth Taber Library was approved for a recommendation of $4,867 in funding to complete its Reading Circle bench with four granite book covers celebrating diversity in authorship and readership.

            The Sippican Women’s Club had hoped for CPA funding to cover a wider scope of upgrades for the historic building housing Handy’s Tavern, but the CPC determined the restoration of the building’s front and rear entry doors to be the limits of applicability at $4,200.

            Marion’s Recreation Department boating program, which originally submitted a $30,000 request, was a poor fit for CPA funding as presented, an outcome that representative Chris Collings readily accepted and took back to the drawing board in his effort to get the program sufficiently funded.

            Prior to the application votes, the CPC voted to honor Town Administrator Jay McGrail’s request that CPA funding earmarked for the waterproofing of the front area of the Town House’s first floor be applied to all of the floor, the approval not changing the amount of money.

            At the conclusion of the meeting, CPC member and Board of Selectmen Chairman Randy Parker thanked CPC Chairman Jeff Doubrava for his three years of service in the CPC’s lead role.

            The next meeting of the Marion CPC will be held in December.

Marion Community Preservation Committee

By Mick Colageo

Town Settles Confidential Dispute

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            In the Marion Finance Committee’s only order of business in its March 3 meeting, its members voted to approve a transfer from the reserve fund in order to solve a personnel dispute involving a union member who left Marion employment during Fiscal Year 2021.

            Per terms of an agreement to remain confidential, the town will additionally fund a negotiated severance package in the amount of $40,000.

            “My takeaway is that this is a good thing for the town. It’s a payout of less than we would have had to pay if this person had gone to arbitration, won, and had to come back, so this is probably less than that. And it also ensures that we won’t have the employee around,” said Finance Committee Chairman Peter Winters. “It’s pretty much a done deal; this is just the transfer of the funds.”

            Town Counsel Jon Witten negotiated the settlement with assistance from Town Administrator Jay McGrail. Selectman John Waterman was involved from the very beginnings of the dispute with the employee. “I think where this has ended up is as good as we could expect, what Jay’s been able to work out here,” said Waterman.

            “The reason why we can’t go into detail is there is a signed, confidentially agreement in place,” said McGrail, who told FinCom, “I really appreciate the trust that you clearly have in the leadership that you have in place at the town here that we can bring this to you and you can approve it the way you just did. It’s a statement to you, and I appreciate that.”

            “We already know you got the best deal possible; there’s no more value we can add,” said FinCom member Charlie Larkin.

            “And it’s a good thing for this employee to not come back, based on my understanding,” said Winters.

            In other business, McGrail told FinCom that he and Town Accountant Judy Mooney sent the updated budget to the two School Committee chairs.

            Due to a medical emergency involving a member of school administration apparently resulting in the rescheduling of both the ORR School District’s public hearing (originally scheduled for March 2 and pushed to March 10) and the selectmen’s joint meeting with FinCom, McGrail estimates that the public budget hearing will be held on the last Wednesday of the month, March 31.

            Assuming the school budget number does not change for the meeting on March 10, McGrail told FinCom he figures that a week later following budget recommendations that he will be looking to FinCom for its vote on Town Meeting warrant Article 2.

            McGrail told FinCom member Shea Assad that he heard that the individual is doing better. “All signs point to him feeling better when I spoke to Mike (Nelson) on Monday,” said McGrail.

            Larkin offered to assist budget preparation in any way his help could be used. McGrail recommended Larkin email Nelson.

            Marion is among 13 towns outside Bristol County that are being saddled with debt service by Dighton-based Bristol County Agricultural High School.

            “We completely disagree with the assessment we received for the debt,” said McGrail, who is working with Representative Bill Straus in an effort to change a situation he summarized as “taxation without representation,” alluding to the Boston Tea Party.

            “We’ll throw our tea into the water,” quipped Winters.

            Marion already pays Bristol Aggie an assessment, but with only four students attending, the town feels the debt service in excess of $20,000 is unacceptable, especially without a seat at the management table.

            “It’s principle, too, because once the door is open,” said Waterman.

            McGrail was told that Marion will have an opportunity to meet with the Bristol County commissioners directly to relay their concerns.

            Winters asked for an update.

            “We don’t know if we’ll have an update before the Town Meeting, but I can tell you we’re not paying the bill,” said McGrail.

            Citing the Old Rochester Regional School District’s relative-enrollment budgeting formula and the uncertainty of school choice students on Marion’s school budget, Waterman suggested investment in a long-term study of enrollments in all three of the Tri-Towns.

            FinCom’s planned joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen and school administration originally scheduled for March 2 was rescheduled for Wednesday, March 10, at 7:00 pm. The budget schedule will culminate with the April 13 submission of the warrant of articles for Annual Town Meeting to the printer.

Marion Finance Committee

By Mick Colageo

MLT To Begin On-site Research

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Mattapoisett Land Trust and “History Hunter” Dean Withrow have reached an agreement to conduct historical research at selected MLT properties. Withrow will use a specialized metal detector to locate buried relics and will use careful techniques to remove what is found. Once cleaned and examined, all relics will be provided to MLT for safekeeping and display. Ground conditions will be fully restored so that no sign of excavation remains. If you see Withrow working, please feel free to say hello. But the public is reminded that metal detecting is not allowed on any MLT properties; Mr. Withrow’s activities are by special arrangement with MLT. Please contact MLT at info@mattlandtrust.org or 774-377-9191 with questions or for more information.

The MAC Showcases Student Art

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The Marion Art Center is pleased to present its newest exhibit, The High School Art Show. Students are from Old Rochester Regional High School, New Bedford High, Tabor Academy, and ORR Junior High, and the galleries feature works by nearly 30 young artists. The MAC has also partnered with the grassroots community organization Tri-Town Against Racism to showcase entries to TTAR’s recent Creative Expression Contest held during Black History Month, based on the theme “Beyond Martin and Rosa.” The contest was open to all students grades 7-12. Entries included visual and performing arts, video, poetry, and more. Nearly 40 works will be displayed as an online exhibit on the MAC’s website at marionartcenter.org/virtual-mac, and a small selection of works can be viewed in person at the Marion Art Center and in the MAC’s window display at the Marion General Store. Gallery hours are Thursday – Saturday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, or other times Tuesday – Friday by appointment. There will be a virtual reception on Friday, March 12, from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Those who would like to attend should email info@marionartcenter.org with “Virtual Reception” in the subject line no later than Thursday, March 11. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link prior to the virtual event. Both exhibits run through Thursday, April 15.