The Rev. Christopher Capaldo, Rector of St. Chrysostom’s Church, Wollaston, will conduct services on Sunday, August 15, at 8:00 am and 10:00 am at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, next to the Town Beach in Mattapoisett. This is the 137th Summer Season at St. Philip’s when clergy from nearby and far visit every week using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. All are welcome.
Acknowledging the frustration of the half dozen abutters present for the August 10 continued public hearing to argue against Ben Bailey’s proposed 720-foot road extension at 0 Gerrish Road, Rochester Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson empathized with their concerns but maintained that the Planning Board is bound by the town’s rules and regulations.
Translated to the case, a definitive subdivision plan, Johnson flat-out told Bailey’s abutters that if the board withheld approval of Longbow Lane, then the town could be sued and would lose because it would be an illegal infringement on the applicant’s rights.
Thus, the Planning Board voted to grant Bailey, who recused himself from participation as a Planning Board member because he happens to be the applicant, close to two dozen waivers, including the prescribed 500-foot limit of such a private road. Waivers approved also relieved Bailey of the requirements addressing pavement, planting strips, curbs and berms, sidewalks, monuments and markers, street trees, landscape plantings, and stormwater management systems (exempt from DEP regulations due to the project’s size).
Asked during the hearing by Jeff Powers, who described himself as an engineer at Brown University, if the number of waivers requested by Bailey is typical, Johnson confirmed that to be the case. Brian Grady of G.A.F. Engineering, representing Bailey, noted that several of the waivers, including the width requirement — the road will be 18 feet wide — result in less impact to the neighborhood, not more.
In answer to abutter Bob Mogilnicki’s challenge of the Planning Board’s purview where it concerns the definition of the verbs “shall” and “may” in the town’s bylaws, Town Counsel Blair Bailey [no known relation to Ben Bailey] delineated between the bylaws and the rules/regulations, explaining to the abutters that the board is well within its authority to grants the requested waivers. Bailey furthermore laid out examples of the board’s actions in other cases around Rochester.
Blair Bailey has 25 years of experience in municipal law, including over 21 years with the Town of Rochester. He told the abutters he has never seen a subdivision application that did not ask for at least one waiver and later confirmed that the 23 requested by Ben Bailey is an average number.
“Subdivision regulations are waived by this board almost regularly,” he said.
As a result of the board’s vote, abutters will have roads on both sides of their properties.
Johnson assured the abutters that the Rochester Fire Department went out on the site and requested easements to get to the adjacent pond to pump water to combat any potential fires in the neighborhood and said they were happy with what was being presented.
Grady took it a step further, indicating that the Fire Department had direct input in the design.
Planning Board member Chris Silveira suggested to the abutters that they pool financial resources and offer to buy the land from Ben Bailey.
Johnson tried to steer the discussion back inside the purview of the board. “Unfortunately – and I’ve said this many times over the years – it’s not a popularity contest, whether we like a plan… We do issue waivers on every single project,” he said. “Mr. Grady’s right, if we cut the road to 500 foot and don’t grant (Ben Bailey) any of the waivers, you have a more visual eyesore than what you’re having now.”
Traffic concerns were expressed, but Johnson insisted that whatever comes of the development will be related to one additional residence because it is on the plan of record as sent to the Plymouth County Registrar of Deeds.
Johnson also explained that, unlike solar projects, Ben Bailey’s subdivision is not required by regulations to provide screening to abutters.
“You do bring up a good point about the roads, but unfortunately, the rules are not on the books now,” he told abutters.
The board also voted to accept into the record of Tuesday’s public hearing all of the submittals, testimonials, and records from Ben Bailey’s prior application, which had been withdrawn in favor of a new application in order to correct the lot number.
Two other public hearings involving solar were continued to August 30, including Snipatuit Road Solar, LLC at 188-190 Marion Road and Cushman Road Solar at 0 Cushman Road.
Johnson told the board that the search committee for a new town planner met with a candidate it considers to be qualified and recommended that candidate to the Board of Selectmen to enter contract negotiations.
The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, August 30, at 7:00 pm.
Rochester Planning Board
By Mick Colageo
The Marion Concert Band will present a Latin-American “Festival” of music on Friday, August 13. The diverse program includes music from Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Cuba and the Caribbean, as well as familiar music that demonstrates the influence that Latin-American musical styles have had on American popular music. To add to the festive atmosphere of the evening, the audience is encouraged to wear tropical or Latin-American attire. The program is as follows: España Cañi (Paso Doble) – P. Marquina; Mexican Overture – M. J. Isaa; Caribbean Rondo – P. La Plante; Danzas Cubanas – R. Sheldon; Brazilian Festival – A. C. Jobim; Montego Bay (samba) – S. Nestico; Tijuana Brass in Concert – arr. T. Ricketts; Spain – C. Corea; Mambo Greats – S. Bulla; Blue Mambo – M. Sweeney; Mas Que Nada – J. Ben; Malagueña – E. Lecuona; Commandante (Marche Espagnole) – G. Guentzel.
The concert, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00 pm at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf off Front Street in Marion. All concerts are free and open to the public. ‘Like’ us on Facebook at “Marion Town Band” for up-to-date announcements and rain cancellation notices.
Judy Jenkins Kilroy, 82, of Marion formerly of Holliston passed away suddenly Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Tobey Hospital in Wareham. She was the wife of Richard E. “Dick” Kilroy. They were married for 58 years.
Born in Buffalo, NY, she was the daughter of the late Gerard and Julia (Carey) Jenkins. She graduated from Mount Mercy Academy, Daemon College (formerly Rosary Hill) and received her master’s degree from Nichols College. Judy was a computer systems analyst for Boston Scientific in Framingham for 10 years and retired in 2000. She previously worked for the Bose Corporation.
Sailing out of Sippican Harbor in Marion since 1969, Judy was a member of the Beverly Yacht Club and raced in several Marion-Bermuda races, including the inaugural race in 1977 on the yacht Roblin. She also raced in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1999 along with her husband on their yacht Vixen. Judy also raced her small boat, a Bullseye named Seamus in the Women’s fleet for several years at the Beverly Yacht Club.
Judy and Dick resided aboard the yacht Dashaway for 14 years during the winter months in the British Virgin Islands and travelled throughout the Carribean from 2000 to 2013. She was a member of the Women’s Club in Holliston, Sippican Women’s Club in Marion and the Bridge Club in Marion. Judy was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Holliston and St. Rita’s Church in Marion. She was an avid sewing professional, including sewing baptismal gowns at St. Rita’s. Judy also enjoyed photography.
Survivors include her husband Dick of Marion; her son, David Emmett Kilroy and his partner Ms. Dana DeCapite of Royal Oak, MI; her daughters, Karen Kilroy Mastovsky and her husband David of Marion, and Kathleen Kilroy Berkel and her husband Craig of Sudbury; her grandchildren, Heather MacMunn and her husband James, Emma Mastovsky, Drew Mastovsky, Ryan Berkel, Devon Berkel and Kyle Berkel; her brother, Jerry Jenkins and his wife Barbara of Buffalo, NY; her sisters, Suzie Jenkins Gorman and her husband Bill of Beaumont, CA, and Elizabeth Jenkins Tkach and her husband Russell of Troy, OH.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at St. Rita’s Church, 115 Front St., Marion at 10 AM. A reception will immediately follow at the Beverly Yacht Club, 99 Water St., Marion. Burial will be private.
Donations in her memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452 or on-line at https://www.alz.org/manh OR Beverly Yacht Club (specify Junior Sailing Program in memo field), 99 Water St., Marion, MA 02738.
Arrangements by Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham. To leave a message of condolence visit: www.chapmanfuneral.com
Horace Farnham Field III of Mattapoisett, MA – aka Dicky and/or Sam – passed peacefully on July 23, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. Born 1933 in Salem, MA, he was the oldest of four children to the late Horace Farnham Field, Jr. and Katherine (Fabens) Field. As a child, he spent his years residing in Northfield, MA with much time also spent in Mattapoisett, MA. He was the husband of Karen (Jorgensen) Field for 53 years.
Horace’s interests from an early age led him to aviation, and he was forever playing with wings. He earned his pilot’s license barnstorming in taildraggers at the age of sixteen. Following early education, he joined the U.S. Army and deployed to the 1st Division working on L-19/O-1 Bird Dog observation aircraft in post-war Germany. He was a veteran of the Korean War. Following military service, he returned to study at East Coast Aero Tech in Bedford, MA before embarking on a long career split between Kaman Aerospace and Sikorsky Helicopters. His early work included field service roles in Burma, Pakistan and Iran. Horace returned to the States in the mid-60s and was stationed in Lakehurst, NJ where he met his wife, Karen. The pair left together in 1969 for new assignments in Japan, The Philippines, and the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, where he worked closely with the Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC-7 ‘Sea Devils’) of the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet during the Vietnam War. The early 70’s Horace was assigned to Naples, Italy and then Norfolk VA. Horace moved his family to Scotland in 1978 to cover Europe and on to England in 1982 where he began managing Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the business divisions of Sikorsky. In the early 1990s he returned to the field supporting the Air National Guard in Alaska, the Pacific Fleet in California, and various operations in North Carolina. He had a brief tour in Australia before wrapping up his career at Sikorsky headquarters in Connecticut, retiring in 1999.
Upon retirement, Horace returned to Mattapoisett and attended Massachusetts Maritime Academy, completing the Harbormaster training as well as the Plymouth County Police Academy program. He proudly became Harbormaster for Mattapoisett and served a few highly enjoyable years in this capacity.
Personally, Horace was a family man who loved and cherished his family, friends, and community. He was an avid pilot, hunter and sportsman, sailor and navigator, walking stick craftsman, joke teller, and black lab companion. He donated use of family land in Northfield, MA annually for the ORR Survival Program. He was honored as 2013 Mattapoisett Man of the Year. He volunteered for Buzzards Bay Coalition, receiving the Guardian Award in 2016. He was a member of the EAA and Harmony Masonic Lodge.
Horace is survived by his wife, Karen, and their children Libby Field, Gaynor (Phillip) Frost, and Horace (Emily) F. Field IV; three grandchildren Charlotte, Horace, and Harrod, his brother James Field of Northfield, MA, and several dear extended family members. He was predeceased by his sister, Sally Patenaude, and brother, Charles Field.
Funeral services are private. Memorials can be made to Mattapoisett Harbormaster c/o Jamie McIntosh, or Helping Hands and Hooves, Mattapoisett, MA. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit: www.saundersdwyer.com.
Mattapoisett has joined Marion and Rochester in the market for a new town planner. A recommended candidate declined the Rochester job vacated last month by Steven Starrett, and Gil Hilario is leaving Marion this month to become town planner in his hometown of North Attleboro.
When Mary Crain stepped aside as Mattapoisett’s part-time town planner some six months ago, semi-retired former Town Administrator Mike Gagne stepped in to help the town and its Planning Board until the role could be filled. Time is now of the essence, it seems.
During the August 2 meeting of the Planning Board, Gagne asked the board members to prepare for his departure by creating a list of the most important and essential responsibilities of a part-time town planner.
“I’m probably better as a town administrator than a planner,” he quipped. Gagne said the Planning Board members should take the time to make a list of those areas of responsibility that they believe a 19.5-hour town planner could reasonably be expected to handle. Gagne also said that he would have a discussion with Town Administrator Mike Lorenco to determine if some clerical aspects of the position could be handled by existing staff members in Town Hall.
Planning Board Chairman Tom Tucker stated in a follow-up interview that Gagne will be staying on until a replacement can be found and a smooth transition accomplished.
Members acknowledged that the board needs help but wondered about the budget with Nathan Ketchel, saying, “I have no idea what our budget is.”
Gagne said that the fee structure currently in place for Planning Board permits does not offset the cost of a part-time employee, but that the town would be looking for an offset to cover expenses.
Gagne had circulated to the board members a job description from another community also looking to fill the role of a part-time town planner. That was met with approval. Gagne also shared that he would talk to several retired planners he was acquainted with to ferret out their interest in working for the town short-term while it seeks a permanent hire.
In other business, the board members discussed the need to ascertain whether they are prepared to conduct site plan reviews based on new FEMA regulations as approved by Town Meeting voters in June. Gagne said the Attorney General’s Office had not yet approved the FEMA oversight requirements now expected to be executed by the Planning Board. They also discussed the need to set a fee for such site reviews and what associated documentation is required.
Earlier in the meeting, the board issued an Approval Not Required [ANR] for property located at Dupont Drive and David Street represented by John Romanelli of Zenith Land Surveyors. The approval grants permission for two neighboring property owners to swap lots.
Also approved was a covenant release requested by Carol Lawrence for property located on Sparrow Hill Road. The subdivision, which was filed in 1974, had little historical documentation to support previous boards’ requirements, but Gagne said that Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer has confirmed that the private roadway serving the lots is in fair condition.
Approval of an extension of a covenant for the Preserve at Bay Club located on Split Rock Road has been sufficiently satisfied by a cash surety, it was determined. Two lots were planned for release.
A discussion with new owners of property located off Crystal Spring Road that was formerly owned by developer Ryan Correia was discussed. The new property owner, John Muldoon, assured the board members that development plans include mindful use of any rocks removed from an existing stonewall as a driveway entrance and that part of the reason he chose that specific location to build his new home was because of the existence of the wall. Also discussed was the need to remove a tree on town property and the mitigation of same with the planting of two or more new trees.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, August 16, at 7:00 pm.
Mattapoisett Planning Board
By Marilou Newell
On Saturday, August 28, the Sippican Tennis Club in Marion will be holding its second charity tournament, the Sippican Open Charity Tennis Tournament, which supports local non-profits. In 2019, the Sippican Open donated to the Marion Garden Group, and this year’s beneficiary is the Elizabeth Taber Library.
The Sippican Open is a doubles tennis tournament open to the public. Over 60 participants are expected to play. Participants can sign up on their own or with a partner, and there are women’s and men’s flights of varying skill levels. Prizes go to the winners, an exciting raffle is planned, and refreshments are included. The $75 entry fees will be donated to the Elizabeth Taber Library.
Ed Shanaphy, Sippican Director of Tennis, has been a long-time champion for these community-oriented events. Shanaphy reported that, “Tennis players throughout the South Coast participate in this fun event to give back and have fun at the same time.” It is a time when the courts are open to the community for broader enjoyment.
Elise M. Frangos, president of the Elizabeth Taber Library, is looking forward to the impact that this fundraiser will have for the library. “We are truly honored and grateful that the Elizabeth Taber Library will be the beneficiary of the Sippican Open this year. The funds will enhance the youth book collections and create cozier reading and collaborative spaces for young readers. We are so excited that this fundraiser will make this possible.”
To register, go to stccharityopen.eventbrite.com. For further questions, email Membership@sippicantennisclub.com.
Dorothea A. Harris, 93, of Marion passed away at home on August 3, 2021. Mrs. Harris was the wife of the late Robert E. Harris and daughter of the late Edward E. and Marjorie E. (Rose) Reed, Jr.
Dorothea was born at home in Whitman, MA and attended Whitman Public Schools. She was a Girl Scout Trainer and Leader and Band Parent. She worked for many years as a Switchboard Operator for New England Telephone and Telegraph and later as a Clerk for Peaceful Meadows Creamery. She was also a former volunteer and Docent for the Sippican Historical Society for 20 years.
A seven time Mayflower descendant, a Fortune descendant, 2nd boat on which Philip Delano arrived on and a ninth generation direct descendant of John Ellis, who’s family drew a home lot at Sippican for his service and death during the King Philip’s War.
Dorothea is survived by her devoted daughter Ann M. Harris of Marion, her sister JoAnn Reed of East Bridgewater and many loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was the sister of the late Barbara Goulet, Ruth W. Eastman, Marjorie A. Duguette and Edward E. Reed III. Ann especially is grateful and thankful to the staff and administration of MasterPeace Home Care and Beacon Hospice for the amazing and wonderful caregivers.
A private graveside service was held in Old Landing Cemetery. To leave a message of condolence please visit www.warehamvillagefuneralhome.com A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to the Sippican Historical Society, 141 Front Street, Box 541, Marion, MA 02738, 508-748-1116, info@sippicanhistoricalsociety.org Arrangements by Wareham Village Funeral Home 5 Center Street Wareham, MA 02571
The long-tailed weasel species is classified as the least weasel because it is the smallest member of other elongated fury animals, about the size of a domestic ferret, and, turning from brown to white in winter, it becomes an ermine to decorate the collars of ladies’ coats.
As illustrated in my drawing, they have elongated tubular bodies with flattened ears and heads. They have a reputation as bold, aggressive predators able to chase rodents down rat holes and flush them out to be caught on the other side. They generally hunt alone to also catch mice, voles, frogs, rabbits, and birds.
Because they need to accumulate large amounts of fat to feed their extensive activity of energy, they are best known for raiding hen houses to total destruction, often killing everything in sight.
The female weasel, with three kits shown, is totally responsible for their upbringing, including a delayed implantation after breeding in early spring by stopping development of the eggs in her reproductive system for several months so they can be born into the warm season of summer to facilitate their growth and development.
Weasels and their families are found wherever their prey is abundant, in young brushy forests, shrub country, edges of wetlands, and in rock and wood piles. Although they themselves are highly effective predators, they are not anywhere near the top of the food chain. They are hunted by bobcats, foxes, hawks, and owls.
The weasel is just one member of a much larger family of a similar but larger group of ornery predators that includes the nasty-minded mink, the mean-tempered fisher, and the raging, destructive wolverine. However, the weasel, despite playing a key role in a dangerous habitat of survival of the fittest, has a much more humorous character identity when portrayed in ancient stories and fables of the creation of the animal world. At the children’s section of the Mattapoisett Library, the weasel is a prominent participant in songs that are sung to musical instruments, such as the piano.
Among traditional country classics of children’s books are “Home on the Range,” “Over the Hills and Far Away,” and “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain.” To conclude my metaphor of comparison, the most memorable youthful tune titled “Pop Goes the Weasel” is a much more colorful finish to end my animation of this long-tailed wildlife image.
By George B. Emmons
The Rochester Conservation Commission meeting was over before it began on August 3 because the commission was unable to conduct any business due to a lack of a quorum.
Although the commission had two brand new members in attendance – both appointed by the Board of Selectmen the night before – neither of them had been sworn in yet by the town clerk.
One of the new members, Bendrix Bailey, was listed on the agenda for a Notice of Intent for 0 Gerrish Road. Bailey is also a member of the Rochester Planning Board.
All of the public hearings listed on the agenda remained unopened and will be addressed at the commission’s next meeting on August 17.
Those include: Bendrix Bailey, 0 Gerrish Road, Notice of Intent; a request for a Certificate of Compliance filed by Rochester, MA 2, LLC, 268 Mattapoisett Road, for a ground-mounted solar array; the Notice of Intent filed by A.D. Makepeace, 0 County Road, located at the Morse Swamp Reservoir, in response to an Enforcement Order issued in December to restore and replicate wetlands; and a
NOI filed by Carl and Jennifer Achorn, 150 Snipatuit Road, to build a single-family home.
The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission will be held on Tuesday, August 17, at 7:00 pm via Zoom.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Jean Perry