There will be a Dog Walk-A-Thon on Saturday August 24 at Center School, Barstow Street in Mattapoisett. Come strut your pup. Water station provided along walk. Come walk at your leisure anytime: 8 am to noon. Half mile or One mile marked village stroll. $20 donation. All proceeds go to building of Dog Park. Poochies entered into contest could win prizes. 2019 Tee Shirts and Dog Calendars available.
To the Editor:
The School Committees and Superintendent are in overdrive. September’s Town tax bill should be a pause for reflecting on increasing taxes.
Escalating ORR school costs 4.72% FY’20 and 3.29% FY’19 significantly above the State’s Prop 2.5 limit materially impacts tax increases. ORR is the largest line item in the Town’s Budget followed by Sippican with 3.24% FY’20 increase.
Marion taxpayers are close to spending $.60 of each tax dollar on educating 15% of the Town’s aging population. The remaining $.40 of each tax dollar is available for funding all other municipal budgets providing necessary municipal services such as health, welfare, and public safety.
State Prop 2.5 limits Town budget increases to 2.5% plus new growth from the prior year without taxpayer approved overrides. The ORR and Sippican School Committees and Superintendent of Schools cannot constantly spend more than the allowed 2.5% annual increase without squeezing and adversely impacting all other Town budgets.
Sippican is operating from a very high fixed cost basis due to excessive compensation and benefits, low enrolment trends, and the over built school building operating at about 75% capacity for less the half of the year. ORR costs are increasing faster than Sippican.
Department of Education “DOE” ranks ORR as an underperforming school “Only Partially Meeting Targets” scoring 41% of targets meet. This compares to New Bedford at 40% and Boston 58% of target.
DOE data show the state average salary is $76,502 compared to the national average of $59,661. Sippican is $86,151 ranked 50th highest in the state ORR’s is $83,437 ranked 74th. ORR and Sippican teacher compensation are in the top 25% of the third most expensive state in the country for education just behind New York and California.
Pension costs are increasing at an average annual rate of 6.21%. Long term teaches “max” their pension at 80% of the final average 3 years of compensation plus generous retirement medical benefits; costs ultimately paid by taxpayers.
To accurately annualize teacher compensation with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act “full-time” 52-week base, Sippican average compensation is equivalent to $172,302 annually; ORR’s equivalent is $166,874. The highest paid Sippican teacher makes $95,344 and 14 staff make $90,000 or more for the statutory required 26-week school year. This is $1.3 million or 20% of Sippican’s budget
Marion’s demographics, stagnant economic base, and flat school enrollment trends shown in the DOE data do not justify the current upward trends of school spending. It’s time for the School Committees and Superintendent to consider the taxpayers.
Ted North, Marion
The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wandererwill 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 Wandererreserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderermay choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wandererhas the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wandereralso reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.
On Friday, August 23, the Marion Concert Band continues its Friday evening concert series, indoors at the Sippican School, with a program of music from the Broadway stage. The program, which includes highlights from some of Broadway’s most memorable shows, is as follows:
The Showman – H. Akers
Lohengrin (Introduction to Act III) – R. Wagner
Broadway Show-Stoppers Overture – arr. W. Barker
Highlights from Camelot – F. Loewe
Concertino for Clarinet – C. M. von Weber / arr. M.L. Lake
Daniel Moniz, clarinet
Selections from Into the Woods – S. Sondheim
Selections from My Fair Lady – F. Loewe
Opening Night on Broadway – arr. M. Brown
Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) – L. Bernstein
Selections from Les Misérables – C.M. Schonberg
Them Basses – G. H. Huffine
Daniel Moniz, clarinet soloist, performs regularly with several local ensembles. He is the principal clarinetist of the UMass Dartmouth Wind Ensemble and a member of the Swansea Community Musicians. He performs regularly with the St. Cecilia Philharmonic Band from Fall River and has been a member of the Marion Concert Band since 2005.
The concert, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Sippican School 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.
The threat of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) continues in Plymouth County prompting state officials to conduct a second round of aerial mosquito spraying that was slated to begin Wednesday night, August 21, and continue over the next several nights.
The first round of aerial spraying was completed between August 8-11 during nighttime hours and covered a wide section of southeastern Massachusetts, including all three of the Tri-Town communities.
This next round of spraying comes after a second human case of EEE was confirmed, this time in Worcester County, and closer to home in Bristol County, a young goat tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus.
“While aerial spraying is an important tool to help us reduce the public health risk of EEE, it’s critically important that everyone in high risk areas continue to take personal precautions against mosquito bites,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH in a press release. “These steps include using EPA-approved bug spray, wearing long sleeves and pants to cover exposed skin, and cancelling outdoor activities which take place during the hours from dusk to dawn when mosquito activity is at its highest.”
While aerial spraying can result in a significant decrease in the mosquito population, the Department of Public Health cautions that spraying alone cannot completely eliminate the risk of further EEE cases in humans.
Residents can keep track of scheduled sprayings for their area by visitingwww.mass.gov/guides/aerial-mosquito-control-summer-2019.
There are currently 37 cities and towns currently at either a “critical” or “high” risk for the EEE virus.
Residents with questions about the aerial spraying may contact the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Crop and Pest Services directly at 617-626-1700.
By Jean Perry
It’s All About the Animals, a 501c3 Cat Shelter in Rochester, is looking for donations and vendors for their largest fundraiser of the year, Octopurr Fest taking place on Sunday, October 6at the Shelter, located at 103 Marion Road in Rochester, MA. Donations could include gift baskets, restaurant certificates, food items, trips, events, or simply monetary, and every type of donation is welcome. Your items can either be dropped off to our shelter, on weekends between 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, which are also our adoption hours, or we can arrange to have your donation picked up by one of our enthusiastic volunteers. Just email us at ohnokitty1@gmail.com and we will contact you.
It’s All About the Animals, Inc. is a cage free, no kill 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal shelter. Our shelter operates solely on your generous donations. Please consider helping our cause. 100% of your donation will provide food, supplies, and medical care. We don’t have any paid employees, only amazing volunteers! We give abused and abandoned animals the opportunity to receive the love, care, and shelter they need until they find furrever homes. Our cats have space to run, play, and explore safe enclosed outdoor areas. All cats available for adoption have been spayed/neutered and have received all vaccines for distemper and rabies. Each cat is given a microchip and registered with a professionally managed database. Adoptions range from $200-$225 depending on the cat’s age.
Constance Olaussen Pallatroni, wife of the late Henry F. Pallatroni Jr., and late Frank M. Suzan, passed away peacefully at Langdon Place in Exeter, NH on August 18th surrounded by her loving family. She was born to Henry and Marie Olaussen, January 13th, 1934, sister to the late Henry and Swen Olaussen and Elizabeth Chase. She is survived by her children: Nancy Keating and her husband Chris of Milton, MA, Jane Chandler and her husband Chris of Edgartown, MA, Sarah Pallatroni and her partner, David Schuster of Chilmark, MA and Dr. Henry F. Pallatroni III and his wife, Justine of North Hampton NH. She leaves behind 10 grandchildren and was eagerly awaiting the birth of her first great granddaughter in September.
Connie was a long time beloved kindergarten teacher at Center School in Mattapoisett. She was an active member, supporter and trustee of the Mattapoisett Public Library, a long time member and former Deacon of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, and spent many years as a Samaritan’s Crisis Line Volunteer in Fall River, MA. She was an avid gardener, baker, voracious reader and loved playing her piano each day.
For 53 years, she lovingly raised her family at 3 Lebaron Way in Mattapoisett, the home built by her husband and his partner, Robert Gingrass. Mattapoisett was her beloved town, woven into the fabric of her daily life: daily walks to Ned’s Point; teaching her children to swim and sail on its shores; and showing her grandchildren the value of salt air at “Rock Beach,” the family beach on Seamarsh Way. She travelled the world with her children and grandchildren, always to return to her beloved Mattapoisett and her home, an endless beacon of happiness, unconditional love and comfort for her and her family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made on her behalf to the Mattapoisett Congregational Church.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Mattapoisett Congregation Church on Thursday, August 22rd at 10 am. Her burial will follow at the Pine Island Cemetery. Visiting hours are omitted. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
With the OK from the police chief, the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals on August 8 approved the special permit for a tactical training and shooting range sought by Steven Morrell, owner of a secluded property off County Road.
During the July 25 meeting, the ZBA found no problem with the proposal but held out until Police Chief Robert Small was given the chance to visit the site and provide the board feedback.
Small said on August 8 that he had never met Morrell before he visited him at the property, but found Morrell’s resume of past experience in the field to be extensive and the site appropriate for a commercial shooting range.
The location abuts the SEMASS solid waste processing plant, and cranberry bogs owned by Brad Morse, a Rochester selectman, who spoke at the prior meeting in favor of the application. He also said he would be granting Morrell an easement for access to his property that will be filed at the Registry of Deeds.
There are no residences abutting the property.
Morrell served as a U.S. Marines sniper during the ‘90s, has 29 years of military law enforcement and counter terrorism experience under his belt. He has also been a firearms and tactical shooting instructor for 15 years and holds various relevant certifications.
“It appears to be a pretty safe property to run a firearms range,” said Small. The backstop, he said, appeared to be adequate. “I think, physically, [it’s a] pretty safe physical layout to run a firearms training program. He certainly has the background for it.”
Small compiled his observations into written form and submitted it to the board and agreed that an annual visit to the property would be sufficient.
“[Morrell] seems to be very conscious and obviously very knowledgeable of safety being a priority,” Small said. “After going there … I don’t have any reservations about his ability to safely conduct a firearms training at that facility.”
ZBA Chairman David Arancio said the board also received input from retired Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee endorsing Morrell’s shooting range.
With no further concerns about the appropriateness of the site, the board turned its attention to some proposed conditions on the special permit, with much of the conversation focused on hours of operation, specifically for Sundays.
ZBA associate member Jeffrey Costa didn’t agree with the Sunday hours proposed for the range, 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm, saying he felt Morrell should be able to start earlier in the morning, perhaps at 10:00 am. The rest of the days of the week, Monday through Saturday, can operate from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm.
“Well, I’d kind of like to get church out of the way first,” said ZBA member Richard Cutler. He later proposed allowing Morrell to start at 11:00 am on Sundays and federal holidays for silent instruction only, with an option to petition the police chief and the board of Selectmen to start earlier on specific intermittent dates, which the board ultimately approved.
Other conditions placed on the special permit were that the permit was non-transferable, the Board of Selectmen would have to issue a range permit, the police chief must inspect the site annually, no ammunition or firearms may be stored at the site, no signage indicating the use of the property may be displayed on any public way, and all training sessions must be attended by at least one trained facilitator with their names given ahead of time to the police chief.
The special permit was approved, pending the filing of the access easement.
The next meeting of the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for August 22 at 7:15 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals
By Jean Perry
The Friends of the Mattapoisett Council on Aging are hosting their Fall Luncheon on Thursday, September 12starting at noon. Seniors and members of the Friends of Mattapoisett COA, will dine on hamburgers, hot dogs, and french fries, with ice cream for dessert. There will be door prizes and a 50/50 raffle! You are asked to please bring a canned good or other non-perishable item for the local food pantries and/or school supplies to donate to the Mattapoisett schools. There will be a Guest Speaker from the Health Department, who will go over recycling. Bring in a sample of an item that you may find questionable. Reserve your meal by calling the COA at 508-758-4110.
The 4th Annual Fair Way Golf Tournament put on by The Church of the Good Shepherd will be held on Saturday, September 7at Little Harbor Country Club. Shotgun start at 8:00 am. $80.00 per golfer/$320.00 a team. All proceeds benefit homeless, hunger, substance abuse programs, and other outreach ministries in Wareham and beyond. For more information or to RSVP call Natecia at 774-260-1924 or email natecia17@gmail.com.
Christine J. (DeCoff) Felix, age 67 of Marion, passed away on Saturday August 17, 2019 in Hope Hospice and Palliative Care RI with her loving family at her side. She was the longtime companion of Philip Stanley.
Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of Irene (Duchaineau) and the late Edmund DeCoff and was a longtime area resident. She attended New Bedford High School and was employed as a loan officer for 31 years at St. Anne Credit Union, New Bedford, retiring in 2017.
Christine loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed the beach, trips to Florida and Jamaica. Christine also loved music, especially Bruce Springsteen and Bob Marley. She was also an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan and loved chickens. In addition to her companion Phil, she is survived by a daughter, Caren Carvalho of ME; two sisters, Joyce Winnett and her husband Mark of GA and Marilyn Nelson of Dartmouth; four grandchildren, Cayla Greenwood, Marisa Carvalho, Owen Carvalho and Kendal Carvalho all of New Bedford; two great-grandchildren, Cayden and Chase Boardman and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are in the care of Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA 02745. To leave a note of condolence: www.rock-funeralhom
