Mattapoisett Complete Streets Award

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The Town of Mattapoisett has received a $260,000 award from the State’s Complete Street Funding Program.

            The Town will be working with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in spending these funds to address the following needs:

            Brandt Island Road: Safety Improvements— This would include the installation of advance signage and radar speed feedback signs along Brandt Island Road in the vicinity of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail. It also includes updates at the rail trail to improve intersection visibility and the installation of compliant curb ramps and crosswalks.

            North Street: Safety Enhancement— This would include the installation of multiple radar speed feedback signs for traffic calming measures in locations north of I-195. It also includes signage and crosswalks to establish visibility of typical walking routes used by residents.

            Pearl Street: Sidewalk Extension— Work would include the construction of new sidewalks to eliminate the pedestrian network gap between Route 6 and Hammond Street.

            The Town would like to thank the efforts of the Bike Ped Committee, the Town’s Highway & Police Department, and William Mertz from World Tech Engineering for their assistance on the grant submission.

            These funds will go a long way in providing safe and accessible travel options for residents and visitors in the Mattapoisett community.

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen Press Release

Marion Septic Plan

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To the Editor;

            Marion septic system owners and developers planning new projects are in for a shock when they see the cost of new septic regulations adopted by the Marion’s Board of Health. The nub of this Board of Health regulation is to control nitrogen emissions from septic systems. This regulation applies to new systems, expanding capacity, and failed system replacements. The new requirement based on junk science developed to promote a special interest political agenda regarding Buzzards Bay water quality is significant, expensive, and burdensome. There are no federal or state requirements or mandates that septic systems meet the new Board of Health nitrogen regulation. The Board of Health responsibility is to the Marion community public health and not the Buzzards Bay Coalition, the province of federal and state regulatory authority. The Board of Health-adopted regulation was clearly a politically motivated event. Simply stated, it was a cram-down for Marion septic owners. The decision was made without broad-based community input. The Marion community did not have effective opportunity to voice opinions or vet the substance of this regulation. This regulation was opportunistically railroaded through by the Board of Health during the time of significant adverse national issues and conditions of a quarantine pandemic, and political and racial disorder. There was no emergency requiring urgent action here. The pandemic should have been the sole focus of the Board of Health, not unnecessary septic regulation. The Board of Health would have been better used in learning and meeting with sewer commissioners as to locations of sewer lines and extensions. The remote Zoom public meeting was a sham – nothing more than a Board of Health politically motivated technical public meeting “blow-by” for a nonessential regulation. This regulation is expensive, significantly increasing costs for new, modified, or replacement of failed systems. The cost estimates for the new systems can be expected to range from $18,000 to $20,000. Annual operating, including electrical and biannual inspections for new systems, are additional costs added to the periodic “Honey Wagon” pump-out costs estimated at $1,200 to $1,500 per year. The nitrogen systems are mechanical, requiring repair, maintenance, and periodic replacement. These systems are noisy when they kick into operation. When town sewer availability is extended, homeowners will be required to abandon their substantial septic investment, incur costly sewer hookup fees, and sewer usage payments. The Board of Health does not have a good record of picking political health issues to fight. The poster child was the Board of Health opposition to the Elizabeth Taber Statue holding a pipe, which the Board of Health considered as an encouragement promoting juvenile smoking.

            Respectfully,

Sherman E. Briggs, Marion

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.

Bertha Mae (Costa) Folger

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Bertha Mae (Costa) Folger, 81, a person with a beautiful soul inside and out, passed away on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at The Oaks Rehab in New Bedford. She was the former wife of the late Joseph G. Folger.

            Born in Mattapoisett, daughter of the late Antone F. and Thelma (Ellis) Costa, she grew up in Mattapoisett, and had resided in New Bedford and Acushnet for many years.

            She was a graduate of Fairhaven High School and Kinyon Campbell Business School.

            Ms. Folger had worked as an Account Manager for the Department of Employment and Training for 25 years until her retirement in 2002. She had previously worked as a secretary at Aerovox for 25 years.

            Bertha enjoyed working in her yard which she meticulously maintained. She loved family gatherings. She was dedicated to her family, and was also known for being a generous friend to all who knew her.

            She is survived by her sisters, Muriel Shepherd of Taunton, Bernice Clark of E. Providence, RI, and Lois Augustine of Acushnet, many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly, cousins Delia and John Parker, whom devotedly visited weekly. She was predeceased by her sister Charlene M. Cabral and her brother Antone F. Costa Jr.

            In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association MA Chapter, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452.

            At the family’s request, burial will be private. Arrangements are in the care of Waring-Sullivan Home at Fairlawn, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven. For online tributes, please visit: www.waring-sullivan

Lorenco Discusses COVID-19’s Financial Impact

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            With Mattapoisett now placed in the red category of communities that are considered high risk for COVID-19 transmission, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco spoke to the need for everyone to stay the course. “This has to be taken seriously,” he said at the October 27 meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen.

            Lorenco said wearing masks, keeping distance, and other safety measures are necessary. Last week the Mattapoisett Council on Aging shut down all programing except those dealing with providing food or medical rides to residents because of the risk faced by senior citizens if exposed to the disease.

            Town Hall will most likely return to earlier restrictions, Lorenco said, “once early voting is finished on Friday.” He said that Town Hall hours of operation may also be trimmed back. He expressed his desire for the town to “get out of the red,” soon.

            Related to the impact of COVID-19 are revenues both local and state. Lorenco reported that he is presently leveraging Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and economic Security (CARES) Act funding to cover unplanned expenses resulting from the pandemic and cautioned that local revenues may slide. He also cautioned that the state has reported the use of $1,300 billion in “rainy day funding” from an estimated $3 billion, saying, “They’ve used a third.” In wrapping up his financial comments, Lorenco said, “No one knows where we are going to be, and if it goes ’til 2022…” He didn’t finish the thought.

            Selectman Paul Silva suggested Lorenco look at capital plan requests for any items that might be needed on an emergency basis. While the board members had concurred earlier in the meeting that a Fall Town Meeting would not be scheduled, Silva thought it was prudent to be prepared just in case something had to be taken care of over the winter months.

            Continuing on the theme of finances, Lorenco said that the town employees were working to stay within departmental budgets. “We’ll work with what we have.” Finance Committee meetings and other budgetary planning meetings, he said, would begin soon in preparation for the Spring Annual Town Meeting.

            On a brighter note, Lorenco said that the town has recently been awarded $240,000 in Complete Street Grant monies that will be earmarked for improvement to the bike path intersection on Brandt Island Road, sidewalks from the bike path intersection on Mattapoisett Neck Road to Route 6, sidewalks at the intersection of Pearl Street and Route 6 heading south on Pearl, and signage aimed at slowing traffic along North Street north of the Route 195 overpass.

            The selectmen met with Ken Motta and Bob Field of Field Engineering, along with Highway Surveyor Barry Denham to discuss a number of roadway projects in the early planning process. Denham also reported on the state of existing roadways.

            In total, the town has 34.19 miles of dirt roads that require annual grading. Denham reported putting in a capital expense plug for a grading machine for the Highway Department, a piece of equipment that has been on the department’s wish list for a few years. He also said that, of paved roads, 26.7 miles were rated as in good condition, 10.07 miles in fair condition, and 9 miles were rated poor.

            Village street roadway projects were discussed, and Silva was disappointed to learn that state funding known as T.I.P. placed Mattapoisett on a list for 2025 instead of 2021. Denham said, “It was to have been sooner rather than later, but things got switched around and the plans didn’t get to the DOT,” he said. “If we had kept to the plan, it would have been sooner.”

            However, Field added that it had taken longer than expected to get waivers approved, which slowed the final design’s completion.

            Field said that underground drainage systems currently beneath private property are to be rerouted under public roadways. This element added to the complex nature of prioritizing which roadways in the village will be completed first. He said that if drainage systems are relocated Baptiste Street would rise to the top for completion in order to reroute the pipes under the roadway.

            This discussion spun into ways that new revenue sources could be locally raised versus waiting for state funding in these uncertain times. Silva said that the selling off of town-owned properties to raise revenue for roadways had been discussed in prior years. Collyer added that the town owned 24 acres that could be subdivided and sold off.

            In another matter, Denham talked about the need to put policies in place when utilities and outside construction companies have to open up a roadway for underground work. He said that presently the town “didn’t have a mechanism” that would alert the Highway Department when roadway work was taking place, nor was there any mechanism to require bonding for such work. Lorenco said he would work with Motta, who helped to craft such policy for the Town of Rochester.

            Before leaving the meeting, Denham, who is also the Tri-Town veterans’ agent, said there weren’t any plans in place for commemorating Veterans’ Day this year.

            Earlier in the evening, the board voted to appoint Drew Weaver, Aidan Ridings, Rebecca Longworth, and Angelene Petty as probationary firefighters.

            Seth Asser was appointed to the South Coast Bikeway Alliance as the town’s representative, and Mattapoisett’s Treasurer/Tax Collector Kristie Costa was appointed as Tax Title Custodian.

            It was announced that early voting ends on Friday, October 30 at 4:00 pm.

            The selectmen also invited the community to participate in the Mattapoisett Police Department Halloween Drive-by Celebration at Old Hammondtown School on Saturday, October 31 between 4:00 and 6:00 pm. Facemasks must be worn to attend.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10 at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell

Sippican School Hits the Big Screen

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            A critical aspect of making the hybrid learning model work is achieved when the students start drawing connections between what they learn in the classroom with what they learn at home.

            With that in mind, the Marion Scholarship and Education Committee continued a busy fall season by raising funds that any day now will place a large, portable touchscreen in Sippican School to be used for both in-person and remote learning.

            Working with Sippican School Principal Marla Sirois and Assistant Principal Sean Persico, committee members Marthe Soden, Steve Cook, Julie LeFavor, and Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson will be able to provide Sippican School with the item not covered by the school budget.

            All of the teachers at Sippican School will access the new screen estimated to measure in excess of 40 inches. It will have sturdy Gorilla Glass fortifying its durability, allowing children to participate in its use.

            The Marion Scholarship and Education Committee administers two funds: The Education Fund, which provides Sippican School with items such as the new touchscreen, and the Scholarship Fund, which provides monetary awards to applying Marion students entering college for the first time. Both funds are supported entirely by donations from generous Marion residents.

            To make a donation, please send a check in any amount to “The Marion Scholarship and Education Fund”, Marion Town House, 2 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738.

By Mick Colageo

Plumb Library in Rochester Reopening

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The Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library in Rochester is open to the public by appointment only. The library will be available for browsing and computer use only. Appointments are for 30 minutes each, and a maximum of 10 people can be in the library building at one time. Facemasks are required in the library.  Curbside pickup will still be available. The hours will be Mondays and Thursdays, 1:30 pm – 7:30 pm; Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm; Fridays, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm, and Saturdays, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm. Books can be returned in the Book Drop, and will be quarantined for three days before being checked in. All programs are virtual or outside until further notice.

Red Status Heightens Caution in Mattapoisett, Rochester

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            Nearly a year since the first warning that COVID-19, the disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus, was advancing across the globe, two of the three towns that make up the Tri-Town area have slipped into the ‘red’ zone, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. With state and federal agency modeling indicating the United States is in for a long difficult slog through winter, local governments have begun to cancel popular programs in the name of safety, while public schools stay the course for now.

            Mattapoisett received notification of its upgraded infectious status on October 23, prompting Town Administrator Mike Lorenco to immediately send out a press release informing the public of the change to a red community.

            “The Town would like to inform the public that Mattapoisett has been upgraded to a RED community on the State’s COVID risk assessment map,” Lorenco wrote. The message goes on to say the change establishes the town’s high risk for disease transmission and that overall the there are now 77 communities in the Commonwealth with increased rates of confirmed infections.

            According to Lorenco, the status change “highlights the need for residents to be vigilant in everyday measures to curb the spread of the virus, [such as] wearing face coverings properly (over the nose and enclosing the mouth) and practicing safe social distancing.” He said that business owners also need to remain in compliance with State orders.

            In a follow-up, Lorenco said that after early voting it appears likely that access to the interior of the Town Hall will return to the March levels, with the public allowed inside by appointment only. Municipal employees could also be rotating schedules, allowing for stay-at-home working arrangements, he said.

            The Mattapoisett Public Library sent out a notification on October 25 that a planned Mindfulness Meditation program that would have required masks, distancing, and a designated number of attendees was canceled due to the category change of the town. The library remains closed to the public, offering remote services only.

            Also closed were both outdoor and indoor activities planned by the Mattapoisett Council on Aging, essentially closing that portion of the historic Center School building used by the COA as its headquarters. Exercise classes that had recently begun inside the Mattapoisett Congregational Church hall in a partnership with the COA were also halted, leaving many senior citizens searching for ways to keep up healthy movement on their own.

            On October 21, Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson sent an email to the entire district. In it he wrote that a fourth case within the Tri-Town school districts, at Center School, had been confirmed. It was the first case for this elementary school and the fourth case reported in a Tri-Town school. Nelson wrote that the person had not been in the school since October 19. Contact tracing had been implemented and no close contacts had yet been identified. Barring any further confirmed cases, “The Board of Health is not recommending that we make any changes to our current hybrid learning model and we will be following their recommendation,” Nelson wrote, acknowledging that confirmed cases had been anticipated as the school year advanced towards the winter months.

            October 25 brought a fresh press release from ORR when a fifth Tri-Town school district case was confirmed on the Old Rochester Regional campus. That individual’s status was confirmed on October 24 and the person had not been in the school since October 23. Contact tracing identified one close contact, the release noted. That contact is now in self-quarantine. Nelson stated that all junior and senior high schools are cleaned every day at the close of school and throughout the day as needed.

            Sippican Elementary School in Marion represents two of the five cases now confirmed. As Nelson had stated in all five confirmed cases, schools were being cleaned according to established standards on a daily basis, and he continued to urge everyone to practice good hygiene, wear face coverings, and practice social distancing.

            Rochester joined Mattapoisett on the same day, entering the red zone as designated by the DPH.

            During the Tri-town selectmen’s meeting held on October 22, Rochester Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar said that Rochester would be reviewing the flow of persons entering the Town Hall and other municipal buildings and implementing more opportunities for town employees to work from home, including the installation of new telecommunications systems. On October 27, Szyndlar told The Wanderer, “Even though we are currently red according to the state formula, … we only have two cases in town. No new restrictions have been implemented for Town Hall/Annex as we are still open by appointment only. The intercom systems have been installed in both Town Hall and Annex.”

            There is a slice of good news for those wishing to utilize more services from their local library, as the Joseph H. Plumb Library located in Rochester has opened, if but a crack. According to Library Director Gail Roberts and Szyndlar, plans to open the library by appointment were moving forward. Up to eight people are allowed inside at one time, and each appointment may last up to 30 minutes. “We sanitize the computer after each use,” Roberts stated.

            While Marion is still listed in the gray category for low transmission rates, it was discussed at the last Board of Health meeting that there were concerns over youngsters gathering together without masks and congregating in close-knit groups. Health Agent Dave Flaherty said during the October 20 meeting of the Marion Board of Health that he was following up with the Police Department. One complaint of masks not being worn in a restaurant was also under investigation.

            Public Health Nurse Lori Desmarais reported that Marion had reached 22 confirmed cases, two of which were still active.

            Marion Council on Aging Director Karen Gregory told The Wanderer that the COA is offering some senior movement classes inside the building, but that masks are required along with distancing. Participants must pre-register and the number of people participating is limited, depending on the type of class being offered.

By Marilou Newell

More Fall Classes at the MAC

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The Marion Art Center has added a second fall session of “Art in the Afternoon” for ages 7-10. The Children’s Art Lab class runs Fridays from 3:00 – 4:00 pm in the MAC studio. Fall Session 2 (4 classes) will run November 6, 13, 20, and December 4. Cost is $80 for MAC members, $95 for non-members. Description: Sculpture Art Lab— Students will explore 3-D projects in this fun and creative class! We’ll use cardboard, tape, clay, paint, and paper to make innovative sculptural artwork! Class will be held outdoors on the MAC lawn if at all possible. Otherwise, students will be indoors in the MAC studio. Students must wear masks and will be asked to wash and sanitize hands before beginning class. Class size will be limited to maintain adequate social distancing in compliance with state regulations. Sippican School students can come directly to the MAC for Art Lab. Parents must provide release forms to Sippican School for children to be walked over by a MAC volunteer or staff member. All other students may be dropped off at 3:00 pm at the MAC. Parent pickup is at 4:00 pm. For more information, or to register, please visit marionartcenter.org/art-lab.

            Instructor Catherine Carter will lead another session of her 5-week course, Botanical Drawing for Adults, on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm, November 10 – December 8. In this class for beginners or intermediates, students will use colored pencils to explore the complex shapes and intricate surfaces of botanical subject matter with a focus on value, color, and composition. The cost is $145 for MAC members and $165 for non-members, including the $10 materials fee (to cover cost of fresh arrangements weekly). Students must wear a mask while inside the building. Number of students will be limited to allow adequate physical space in compliance with Massachusetts safety guidelines. For more information, visit marionartcenter.org/adult-classes. Spots are filling quickly – register soon!

SLT Self-Guided Halloween Walk

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Come visit Sippican Lands Trust’s Brainard Marsh property for a self-guided Halloween Walk during Halloween Weekend from Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1. See spooky decorations along the trail and read along to our Halloween StoryWalk titled “The Ghost-Eye Tree” written by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault and illustrated by Ted Rand. There is limited parking here so please carpool with close family or friends and, as always, respect social distancing guidelines! Even incorporate your facemask into your Halloween costume. We hope to see you there!

            Parking for Brainard Marsh is located near the corner of Bass Point Road and Delano Road (look for the Sippican Lands Trust’s Brainard Marsh sign).

            The self-guided Halloween Walk at Brainard Marsh will be open from sunrise to sunset. For directions or further information visit www.sippicanlandstrust.org or call Sippican Lands Trust at 508-748-3080.

Thank You

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To the Editor;

            I would like to thank the Police Department for their expeditious and very professional manner in transporting my wife to the hospital on two recent occasions. Not only were they medically knowledgeable, they had a very calming effect on my wife. We are fortunate to have such a team that we can depend on.

Bill Mansfield, Mattapoisett

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.