Church of The Good Shepherd, 74 High Street, Wareham is having its annual fall rummage sale on Saturday, October 26from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Items include clothing, coats, shoes, books, puzzles, games, toys, small furnishings, domestic and white elephant items. All proceeds to benefit the many outreach programs for the community and beyond.
It won’t be long now before the large-scale solar farm proposed for the large open space on Marion Road owned by Craig Canning, Rochester Farms, LLC, is approved.
The Rochester Planning Board on October 8 gave a nod to Sarah Rosenblat of SWEB Development USA, LLC before wrapping up the public hearing and bringing it to a close.
Since the last meeting in September, SWEB had managed to work closely with the board’s peer review engineer Ken Motta and address his list of concerns one by one in time for Tuesday’s meeting.
Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson kept himself up to date as the information was submitted to the town planner over the past week or so, and Motta stated that SWEB has indeed worked out all the remaining technical issues now, with the exception of one minor change that can be completed just prior to the board members signing the Mylars.
Johnson read the list of waivers before the board approved them all, which included one pertaining to gross floor area of buildings, of which there are none proposed, one for screening details for trash containers (none proposed beyond construction), a lighting waiver (no outdoor lighting proposed), and one to waive any pre-treatment of stormwater runoff since there will be no impervious surfaces.
The board also approved waiving a traffic study since no additional traffic will result form the solar farm, and one for common open space requirements since there is no ‘open space’ proposed.
“The farm will still be there,” said Johnson, “so that’s open space.
“I would probably say that we can close the public hearing on this and move forward with it,” said Johnson.
The board will vote for final approval on the project during a special meeting it scheduled for October 31.
“Thank you very much,” Canning said from the back of the meeting room. “I appreciate everyone’s efforts.”
Now, as Johnson put it, “We can get this out of the way.”
Also during the meeting, the board voted in favor of an Approval Not Required application for 565 and 0 Rounseville Road, which is associated with the Special Residential Development Special Permit application filed by REpurpose Properties, LLC, for an age-restricted residential development off Rounseville Road next to Plumb Corner.
REpurpose requested a continuance until the next meeting, but Johnson had some questions and comments for Brian Wallace of JC Engineering regarding some information still missing from the submittal.
In particular, Johnson was interested in some updated architectural drawings and a schedule for construction. He also asked Wallace for a larger-print edition of the plan to save Johnson a trip to the pharmacy for a stronger set of cheaters.
The hearing was continued until October 22 at the request of the applicant.
Also during the meeting, the board viewed some photos from the Snipatuit Road solar farm, displaying various landscaping no-nos the board had repeatedly asked solar developer IGS Solar to rectify.
During the last meeting, the board voted to call in the developer’s landscaping bond, an escrow account the town required to ensure compliance in landscaping, and chose to put Requests for Proposals out to bid and get the work done itself.
Although some mowing had been done as requested and some trash and metal debris has been removed, there are still 15 dead trees and shrubs and 12 trees tipped over that still need to be addressed. About 100 feet of barbed wire fence still needs to be mended and tightened.
Town Planner Steve Starrett said he thought the developer had been responsive and asked the board if it wanted to still pursue the bond taking and issue the RFP.
“Keep working on the RFP,” Johnson said. “Keep their feet to the fire.”
The total of the landscaping bond is $75,000, Starrett said. “We won’t use anything near that.”
The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for October 22 at 7:00 pm at Rochester Town Hall.
Rochester Planning Board
By Jean Perry
Abel M. Grace, 95, a lifelong resident of Mattapoisett died unexpectedly on Wednesday October 9, 2019.
A World War II Marine Corps veteran, Abel Grace was a part of Montford Point’s first black Marine regiment and saw combat in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, including Guam, Saipan, and Okinawa.
Abel returned from the Marines to work with his father in the family garbage disposal business in Mattapoisett and then was employed by Revere Copper and Brass for 35 years as a crane operator. He also owned a fishing boat the Seldon2 that he used for ground fishing for 20 years. He worked for many local cranberry companies before and after his retirement.
In the 1960’s, Abel was a renowned golfer, winning multiple trophies throughout the area and in Connecticut.
Abel is survived by his wife of 71 years, Libania Grace, his son, Abel Grace Jr. and his wife Lauren, two grandchildren, Sara and Spencer Grace, and a great-grandson, Dexter Bowman.
His visitation will be held on Wednesday October 16, 2019 from 2-6 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Route 6, Mattapoisett, followed by his Funeral Service at 6 PM. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
The full monthly newsletter and calendar are available at www.rochestermaseniorcenter.com. Events and photographs are also posted on the library Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Rochestercoa.
The Rochester Council on Aging Board of Directors is seeking a few Rochester seniors to serve on its Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is responsible for the implementation and evaluation of programs offered at the Rochester Senior Center. If you are interested in volunteering for the Advisory Council, please contact Director Cheryl Randall-Mach. Ms. Mach can be reached by phone: 508-763-8723, or by email: Crandall-mach@townofrochester.com.
The Rochester Senior Center is now offering trips to Fieldstone’s Farm Market in Marion every Wednesday at 10:00 am starting October 16. You will receive a 10 percent discount when you show your COA scan card. Please call the Senior Center in advance to reserve a seat on the van.
The monthly Senior Book Club will meet on Tuesday, October 15at 10:15 am. This group is lead by the library director and is held at the Senior Center. October’s book is The Woman in the Window, written by A.J. Finn.
The Friend’s of the Rochester Senior Center are holding a fundraising event on Thursday, October 24at 5:30 pm at the Senior Center. This event is a meatloaf supper and is $10 per adult and $5 per child. Please contact Lorraine Thompson in advance, at 508-763-8723 to purchase a ticket for this event. Proceeds will be used for the future construction of the Adult Day Center.
Hear author Jane Healey discuss the little-known but fascinating story of the Red Cross Clubmobile program in WWII and how she created the narrative that became the historical novel The Beantown Girls, all based on the true stories of the women who were part of the program. The author’s talk and book signing, free and open to the public, is at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Sunday, October 20from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The book offers a glimpse of the “Greatest Generation” and the sacrifices of war from a female perspective, bringing to light their breathtaking courage, compassion, and sacrifice during one of the most volatile times in our history. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
The Library is located at 7 Barstow Street and is handicapped accessible.
What do you get when you mix perfect weather with kids and dogs dressed up in Halloween costumes, food sizzling on the grill, games, raffles, artisan booths, and – oh, yes, a purrfect setting? You get It’s All About The Animals’ fifth annual Octopurr Fest fundraiser.
The no-kill feline shelter has been holding this event each October for the last five years and this year was the biggest yet, much to the satisfaction of the delightful and dedicated founder, Pam Robinson.
Robinson and her husband, Oren, have sculpted out a quaint looking village on their 103 Marion Road, Rochester property for the purpose of sheltering cats.
“About eleven years ago, we got a tip that a cat needed to be rescued,” she explained. Horrified by the cat’s living conditions in a run-down house, that cat’s rescue set the Robinsons on a path they could not have imagined at the time.
It’s All About The Animals receives 100 percent of its funding from grants and private donations. But the 24/7, 365 care of the dozens of cats at a time – hundreds that move through the shelter every year – is no small task, and this fundraiser, the shelter’s largest of the year, is crucial to the shelter’s basic operation.
Walking around the grounds where cat cottages dot the immaculate forested pathways, one is struck first by the peaceful calm environment the rescued felines get to enjoy. Then, one can only imagine the amount of work it takes to pull off such a massive undertaking.
But Robinson is energy personified, and on this day, she was clearly enjoying the festive atmosphere. As the DJ pumped out the latest dance music, families, and animal-loving supporters roamed the grounds enjoying games, face painting, and raffles. The smell of food wafted through the pines, and the craft booths held interesting must-have items.
From animal-themed wall art to plush beds and blankets for fur-babies of all sizes to earrings with charming, dangling kitty faces, the breadth of craft items was supurr.
A small dinosaur wandered the festival, delighting young and old alike, while dogs dressed up in creative costumes trotted beside their owners. It might have been an event to raise money for cats, but dog owners were out in number. After all, Robinson is an equal opportunity lover of animals.
Robinson said that local town boards have granted her permission to have up to 50 cats, but would only allow four dogs, making a dog rescue economically unfeasible.
The shelter is run by a seven-member board of directors and, several times Robinson attested, “No one gets paid.” She said that all monies donated to the shelter are used to care for the cats.
“We don’t get any money from the state or the town,” she said, saying that only through donations can they carry on the mission of rescuing cats in need for the purpose for rehabilitating them and then rehoming them.
Medical care is an enormous part of the operating budget, and there is a kitty medical cottage on the property. When cats first arrive, they are isolated and evaluated to determine their medical status and needs as well as their social conditioning.
“We have very dedicated volunteers,” Robinson said of the more than two-dozen year-around team of what she called “Feline Warriors.” Their mission covers a very large geographical area, which adds to the overall depth of commitment the Robinson have for the cats of the region.
“We cover from Boston to Cape Cod,” she proudly stated.
The October event produces a significant sum that will help offset the rising costs of caring for the cats. But the shelter also accepts donations of supplies, such as food and, of course, the essential kitty litter.
As the festival revelers enjoyed the fun and games, the cats watching from their perches inside their screened free-range ‘catios’ looked unimpressed for the most part. But, clearly, their serene attitudes speak to their comfort level in the kitty village as they wait to find their forever families.
To learn more about It’s All About The Animals you can visit www.itsallabouttheanimals.org.
By Marilou Newell
The Mattapoisett Lions Club presents the fourth annual Fall Free Family Fun Festival on Saturday, October 19from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Shipyard Park, Mattapoisett. Hay rides, goody bags (one per child), pin-the-nose-on-the-pumpkin, pumpkin bowling, corn hole, face painting, coloring station, snacks, Halloween music and more. Kids can each select one pumpkin from the pumpkin patch to take home. Wear your (non scary) costumes. Parents: Learn about the Mattapoisett Lions Club and all we do for the local community and beyond. Stop by the membership table while at the festival for more information. *Rain date: October 26, same times and location. Snacks, goody bags and pumpkins while they last.
No registration or charge. Donations accepted to help fund MA Lions Eye Research, Diabetes awareness and local residents in need.
For more information, visit us on Facebook: Mattapoisett Lions Club or our website: www.mattapoisettlionsclub.org
Coastline Elderly Services, Inc. is providing assistance to elders in Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester who are need help with paying the heat or electric bills. The funds will pay for gas, electric, propane, wood, or other heating needs, to help reduce the financial burden for many elders who have difficulty with these purchases. Funding for this project was made possible by the George E. Curtis Charitable Trust. Please contact the Council on Aging in each town to complete a simple application. Each qualifying elder will receive a one-time assistance of $350. For the councils on aging in Marion, please call 508-748-3570; Mattapoisett, 508-758-4110, and Rochester at 508-763-8723.
Meg Hughes continues to pace Old Rochester Regional girls soccer with her unrelenting offensive production. But that’s nothing new for the Providence College-bound senior. Hughes has been at the center of ORR’s offense year in and year out, to the point where she’s now the most successful scorer in the program’s history.
Hughes now has 102 goals to her names, along with 53 assists, having already scored 26 goals and logged 13 assists through the Bulldogs’ first 12 games – all of which they’ve won (nine of which were South Coast Conference games).
In fact, Hughes has outscored the Bulldogs’ opposition on her own throughout the 12 matches. The ORR defense, which is led by Grace Greaney and Rachel Fantoni, has only surrendered 10 goals throughout the season as opposed to the Bulldogs offense’s 60 goals. The team’s stingy defense has helped ORR goalkeeper Skylar Cardwell already log five shutouts on the year.
Each of Cam Brezinski’s three touchdowns was vital in ORR football’s matchup against Dighton-Rehoboth. He caught two passes from Ryon Thomas and pounded one touchdown in on the ground in the Bulldogs’ 28-27 win over the Falcons.
The one ORR touchdown that wasn’t scored by Brezinski came on the ground, courtesy of Dylan DeWolfe.
In addition to connecting with Brezinski for two scores through the air, Thomas was 4-for-4 on point after tries – each of which was essential in the one-point win.
Jackson Cote was all over the place on the ground for ORR. He had 23 carries and rushed for 152 yards.
Old Rochester Regional is now 3-1 (2-1 SCC) and will host Somerset Berkley on Saturday at noon.
Old Colony
Old Colony football remains undefeated after winning another low-scoring affair, improving to 4–0 on the season. This time, the Cougars were able to knock off Blue Hills 16-8.
Old Colony has now won two games in which they scored over 40 points and two in which they only logged two touchdowns or less.
Thomas Stanton scored another touchdown on the ground for the Cougars. He came in the third quarter and proved to be the game-winner. He now has seven touchdowns on the year and has scored in each game. Stanton also averaged 7.4 yards per carry, finishing with 96 yards on three attempts.
Blake Dennison was Old Colony’s leading rusher. He logged 124 yards on 12 rushing attempts (10.3 yards per carry. Dennison also punched in both of Old Colony’s two-point attempts.
Matt Bumpus scored Old Colony’s first touchdown, which also came in the third quarter with the Cougars down 8-0.
Old Colony volleyball suffered only its second loss of the season on Monday, falling to Tri-County in three sets (25-19,25-19 and 26-24).
Kat Kirby finished with nine kills, and Jordyn Dexter had 10 assists.
Tabor Academy
Cat Barry scored yet another goal for Tabor Academy, but it came in a losing effort against Thayer Academy, with the Seawolves dropping to 5-2 following the 2-1 loss. Brooke Ingemi had the assist on Barry’s goal.
High School Sports Update
By Nick Friar
Mattapoisett Planning Board Chairman Tom Tucker made no attempt on October 7 to disguise his distaste in having amendments to the current Marijuana Zoning Bylaws be heard in a public meeting. As the petitioner, Stuart Bronstein, explained why the amendments were being put before the public, Tucker maintained a controlled but clearly displeased countenance.
Before the hearing was underway, Tucker asked Bronstein if he was back because “you didn’t get what you wanted at the last town meeting.” Bronstein responded in the affirmative.
Bronstein, flanked by marijuana industry consultants Jason Dick and James Sullivan, said that allowing him to grow recreational cannabis alongside his medical plants in his facility would make the plan, simply put, economically feasible.
Bronstein said that the investment requires a state-of-the-art marijuana growing facility that would not be cost justifiable for just medical use.
“We need the recreational piece,” said Bronstein. “[It’s] the only way to make it a worthy investment, and in order to get financing we need recreational cultivation.”
Bronstein said that the town would benefit by receiving 3 percent of the profits and that “good- paying” full-time and part-time jobs with convenient hours for parents, and could employ anywhere between 75 to 100 people.
When public participation was called, Breck Eagle, a Bay Club resident who had submitted a multi-page letter against the amendments, claimed that his brother in Santa Barbara, California experienced first-hand the odor he finds offensive created by marijuana cultivation, “Especially when the plant is flowering,” said Eagle.
Bronstein said facilities like those use systems designed for flower cultivation, not for odor mitigation. He said that his 140,000-square-foot Industrial Drive warehouse would be fitted with state-of-the-art air quality and filtration systems. According to Bronstein, the designs and plans he first forwarded when the medical marijuana zoning bylaws were adopted have not changed, except that now, if these new amendments are granted, more growing could take place.
Dick added his voice, saying, “The market in Massachusetts for recreational marijuana is huge.”
He said that although pricing for marijuana had softened on the medical side, demand was growing on the recreational side. Dick said the inclusion of recreational cannabis would result in a substantial financial gain for the town, but he hesitated to put a number on what the town’s portion could be in terms of dollars.
That sentiment was echoed by Bronstein, who said that the town’s portion of what he described as upwards of $100 million in sales could help pay for new schools, the fire station bond, and other large public works projects.
“It would be a shame for the town to not take advantage of this opportunity,” Bronstein said.
Tucker’s reaction was, “We’ve heard it all before.”
Resident Christine Cowles was concerned that the bylaw did not include input from the community and questioned why the community had not been involved in the crafting of marijuana bylaws. But there have been public hearings, said Planning Board member Janice Robins, and an exhaustive amount of work had gone into writing the bylaw currently in place, she said. But Cowles maintained that the current bylaw and the proposed amendments are weak and conform to the industry’s interests. “The devil’s in the details,” said Cowles, details she believes are lacking.
Robins assured Cowles that the Planning Board could write rules and regulations governing the operation of the grow facility.
Tucker said that the Planning Board was not there that night to take any vote on the article, and that the board was simply the vehicle by which zoning bylaw changes are publicly vetted. “We are not voting on anything tonight.”
Tucker’s statement, however, proved incorrect.
While the Planning Board could have opted to make no recommendation, Planning Board Administrator Mary Crain said a vote was needed.
The ensuing vote resembled what the board members had voted during the previous spring: three votes to recommend, one vote opposed. In the spring vote it was 3-2 with member Karen Field and Tucker opposed. On this night, Tucker stood alone.
Crain explained in a follow-up that planning boards have a duty to express their support or to make no comment, but generally an ‘up or down’ vote is the rule. In the case of the amendments coming before the voters, she said that because the Planning Board majority voted to recommend the article last spring, further amendments could be sought now. Had the Planning Board voted to oppose the article last spring, then a two-year cooling off period would have prevented Bronstein’s petition at this time, according to Crain.
The Special Town Meeting scheduled for November 4 will feature a very short warrant. Town Administrator Michael Gagne confirmed that the only articles voters will be asked to consider are amendments to the Zoning Bylaw for the cultivation of both recreational and medical marijuana in the industrial zone.
This November 4 Special Town Meeting is in addition to the October 21 Special Town Meeting.
In other business, Tree Warden Roland Cote received permission to remove a locust tree located at 6 Prospect Road due to root damage on private property.
MA Homes LLC, 56 Church Street, received acceptance for a Form A: Approval Not Required.
Another filing for an ANR sought by the Town of Mattapoisett for property located on Reservation Road was continued due to a lack of representation.
An ANR filed by Scott Snow for property located at 6 and 8 Prospect Road, Eldridge Estates, was accepted.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for October 29 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.
Mattapoisett Planning Board
By Marilou Newell