Elks Student of the Month

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The Elks of Wareham/New Bedford Lodge No. 1548 sponsors the Elks Student of the Month and Student of the Year Awards for students enrolled in local area high schools. The criteria used in nominating a student includes a student who excels in scholarship, citizenship, performing arts, fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school and community service, industry and farming.

            We congratulate Sophomore Isabelle Kelly of Marion for being selected as Student of the Month for March by the Old Rochester Regional High School Faculty and Staff. Kelly is a caring student who has formed friendships with many of the students in the inclusion classroom. The kindness and patience Kelly shows towards other students is exceptional. Kelly is a three sport athlete, dedicated student, and an Ambassador. She gives 100% in all that she does. Her kind spirit and bright smile makes everyone feel welcomed and happy. Isabelle Kelly deserves to be student of the month for all these reasons and many more.

Eleanor May Clark-Lopes

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The family of Eleanor May Clark-Lopes would like to announce her memorial service will be held at The First Congregational Church in Fairhaven, located at 34 Center Street. The service will be on Saturday, May 11th, 2019 at 11:00 am.

            In loving memory of Eleanor May Clark-Lopes

            February 10, 1932 – November 8, 2018

            After Glow

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, of happy and laughing times

and bright sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave when life is done.

FinCom Makes No Recommendation on TURF Article

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            The Rochester Board of Selectmen voted on April 22 to recommend a Town Meeting article to approve borrowing $2 million to upgrade the athletic complex at Old Rochester Regional High School, but the Finance Committee refrained from making any recommendation at all.

            It is customary for the selectmen and the Finance Committee to inform voters whether each group recommends or does not recommend adoption of the article, and these recommendations are printed in the town meeting warrant.

            Article 19 would allow the ORR School District to borrow $2 million to pay the cost of the design and construction of artificial turf for the main field, renovate the running track, and make lighting system upgrades to the auditorium.

            The proposed $2 million project is a scaled down version of the original $5 million total renovation proposal. The Old Rochester Regional School Committee voted last month to prioritize the list of repairs into phases as a result of a series of conversations it had with the tri-towns.

            The article must first pass at Town Meeting on May 20, and then Rochester would hold a special election to see if voters will approve a debt exclusion to cover Rochester’s roughly one-third share of the project.

            All three of the tri-towns must pass the article at their town meetings and then subsequently on the ballot in order for the project to receive the funding and move ahead. Although Rochester has already held its annual election, Marion’s and Mattapoisett’s are not until after their annual town meetings, on May 17 and May 21, respectively.

            Also during the meeting, selectmen and the FinCom both recommended adoption of the $22,086,913 fiscal year 2020 town budget, Article 4, and quickly ran through each of the 24 articles with Town Moderator Kirby Gilmore while making recommendations only on articles that involve money expenditures.

            Selectmen and the Finance Committee agreed on most of their recommendations, but differed in opinion on Article 10 submitted by the Board of Assessors.

            Article 10 requests $10,000 to fund certain Mass Department of Revenue mandates, as the article states, mandates currently carried out by Principal Assessor Chuck Shea. In anticipation of his imminent retirement, the Board of Assessors wished to start saving money now so it can outsource specific duties related to tax recertification.

            According to Assessor Diana Knapp, the five-year recertification will not affect the town financially until fiscal year 2022. 

            “It’s hard to say,” said Knapp in response to the question, “Would payroll expenses go down, then?”

            “That was the question that caused it to not be funded last year,” commented Selectman Brad Morse.

            The Board of Assessors proposed a similar article last year, which selectmen chose to exclude from the town meeting warrant entirely.

            The Board of Selectmen voted to recommend adopting the article this year, but the Finance Committee’s vote was to not recommend adoption of the article.

            Selectmen and FinCom also voted not to recommend Article 24, a citizen’s petition asking for $20,000 to support the Old Rochester Athletic Booster Club, Inc. “in their services to Old Rochester Regional High School.”

            No one seated at the table could tell exactly what the money request was for. Town Counsel Blair Bailey offered some explanation as best he could, saying it might possibly be for a handicap accessible ramp somewhere at ORR, but had no specific information.

            “We don’t have anything official. I don’t think we should guess,” said Selectman Greenwood “Woody” Hartley. “I did ask the School Committee what they knew about this … and [the committee] had no other information.”

            Neither group made recommendations for Article 12 because it does not include the spending of money, but the selectmen agreed that Veterans Agent Barry Denham should prepare answers to the likely questions that will be asked on the Town Meeting floor.

            The article stems from recent changed in Mass General Law that would allow municipalities to waive the property taxes for Gold Star parents and guardians of soldiers who died as a result of injuries sustained during active duty.

            The waived property taxes as of January 1, 2020 would not, however, be reimbursed by the state.

            “How much money could that represent?” Hartley asked.

            “We’ll have the answers,” said Morse, as a Veterans Council member.

            The other money-related articles recommended for adoption by both the selectmen and the FinCom: Article 2, elected officials salaries; Article 3, classification and compensation plan personnel bylaw amendment; Article 6, $300 for shellfish planting in Marion; Article 7 to expend Chapter 90 funds; Article 8 to transfer $15,000 into the OPEB (other post employment benefits) fund; Article 9, capital planning projects totaling $98,703 broken down as follows: $28,650 for extrication tools for the Fire Department, $48,000 for a standby generator for the Highway Department barn and fire station 3, $30,773 for a Go Math! three-year digital contract at Rochester Memorial School, and $4,280 for new public use computers at the Plumb Library; Article 20 to transfer $100,000 into the Capital Improvements Fund; Article 21 to transfer $50,000 into the Road Improvements Stabilization Fund; Article 22 to transfer $100,000 into the School Assessment Stabilization Fund; and Article 23 to transfer $100,000 into the Town’s general Stabilization Fund.

            The other non-finance related articles appearing on the warrant are as follows: Article 1 to accept the annual reports of Town officers and committees; Article 5 to cap the spending limits of various revolving funds within each fiscal year; Article 11 to join a municipal electricity aggregation; Article 13 to extend the veterans’ property tax exemption to veterans whose property has been conveyed to a trust; Article 14 to impose a 3 percent municipal tax on the sales of adult-use recreational cannabis; Article 15 to adopt the Cranberry Highway Smart Growth Overlay District bylaw amendment; Article 16 to amend the current Medical Marijuana bylaw to include the siting of recreational marijuana establishments; Article 17 to adopt an updated Old Colony regional agreement; and Article 18 to allow a ballot question to change the town clerk position from an elected position to an appointed position.

            The 2019 Annual Town Meeting is May 20 at 7:00 pm in the Rochester Memorial School cafetorium.

            In other business, the board approved four liquor licenses for the Rochester Country Fair Committee, including one for a new fundraiser on July 13, “Bands, BBQ, and Beer.” This year beer will be sold at the Rochester Country Fair, and consumption will not be limited to a cordoned off “beer garden” as it was last year. The Rochester Country Fair is scheduled for August 8 – 11. The board approved the licenses pending final approval from the police chief.

            The Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board will hold a public forum on Wednesday, May 8, at 7:00 pm inside Fellowship Hall at the First Congregational Church of Rochester to answer questions about the Cranberry Highway residential project and the results of the financial impact study.

            David Hughes was appointed to the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for May 6 at 6:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Jean Perry

Events for Kids and Families during ArtWeek

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The Marion Art Center (MAC) hosts ArtWeek 2019 with several FREE events for kids and families. Come to the MAC on Saturday, April 27, 10:00 am – 11:30 am for the Process Art Party: Found Object Instruments with instructor Benares Angeley from Children’s Art Lab in Mattapoisett. In this instrument-making workshop, we’ll use recyclable materials to create working instruments along with festive masks and banners. At the end of class, there will be a joyful parade around the MAC! Benares is an enthusiastic “artistic guide” for kids, giving them the tools and space to explore the creative process. 

            Later in the day on Saturday, April 27, from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm, there will be Irish Step Dancing hosted by O’Riley Irish Dance (OID) on the MAC Stage. Join us for an afternoon of traditional performance and participatory dancing with live music! OID is a non-competitive program for kids and teens and is located in Boston. They will perform a selection of dances from their show “In Harmony,” plus some new pieces. After the performance, the audience will be invited up for a family ceili! All dances will be easy, inclusive, and taught for kids and families to enjoy. 

            The Council on Aging will co-host the Seniors & Children: Create & Connect workshop at The Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, 465 Mill Street in Marion (just up the street from the MAC) on Saturday, May 4, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Instructor Barbara Greenspan will guide the group in making this unique project using a small wooden tray, modge-podge, tissue, and decorative papers. These trays can be for personal use or given as a gift. This is an easy and creative way for seniors and children to connect in a relaxed and friendly environment! 

            To wrap up ArtWeek, the MAC will offer a day of fun for all ages – it’s the MAC Sidewalk “Sale-abration” on Sunday, May 5, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Shop the treasures unearthed while cleaning out the MAC from attic to basement – and participate in a community art project led by artist Tracy Silva Barbosa. Using water-based chalk paint, we’ll decorate the surface of Main Street in front of the MAC with designs based on the famous blue and white tiles known as “Azulejos” in Portugal. Adults and children are welcome to participate. There will also be a food truck, face-painting, a balloon artist, and bargains galore on everything from theater props to art supplies. Note: The Azulejos street painting with Tracy Silva Barbosa will take place from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Balloon art is scheduled from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm, and face painting will occur between 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm.

            All of these events are free! Please note that registration is required for all events except the “sale-abration.” Children must be accompanied by an adult for all activities – bring the entire family! Register online at www.marionartcenter.org/artweek.

Machacam Club Meeting

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The Machacam Club will hold its’ May meeting on Wednesday, May 1. The meeting will be held at the 3 Depot Street Legion Hall. Social time begins at 5:30 pm with dinner beginning at 6:00 pm. Our own Chef Colby is offering a diner style meat loaf dinner. Our guest speaker is member Dick Langhoff: his presentation – “What’s out there – the unimaginable magnitude of the Universe” – is sure to be enlightening and fun. We promise a filling and delicious meal and an informative meeting.

            Callers please report your lists by noon Monday, April 29 to 508-758-1326 or cwmccullough@comcast.net.

Sippican Historical Society

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In 1998, the Sippican Historical Society commissioned an architectural survey of Marion’s historic homes and buildings. The survey was funded one-half by the Sippican Historical Society and one-half by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Due to the limits of funding, not all of the historic buildings were surveyed, but over 100 were catalogued and photographed. The results of the survey are in digital form on the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s website and in four binders in the Sippican Historical Society’s office (and at the Marion Town Clerk’s office).

            Marion (Old Rochester) is one of the oldest towns in the United States, and the Sippican Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of documentation on its historic buildings. The Sippican Historical Society will preview one building a week so that the residents of Marion can understand more about its unique historical architecture.

            This installment features 12 Main Street. Built in 1820 by a member of the Blankinship family, the home at 12 Main Street represents a small, shingled ten-footer common in the early 19th century. At the turn of the century, Richard Harding Davis, the famous war correspondent, rented this home and used it as a club (the Fin de Siecle Club), where some of the men in town could meet.

Alzheimer’s Advocacy

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To the Editor:

            Recently I had the honor of attending my 6th Alzheimer’s Advocacy Forum in Washington, DC. There were 1,200 advocates in attendance representing every state in the Union. When I use the term Alzheimer’s, it encompasses all related dementias. As Alzheimer’s Ambassador to Congressman William Keating, I was able to talk to the Congressman about the current Alzheimer’s requests from the federal government. Alzheimer’s is a health crisis of epic proportions and we all need to be concerned about the future. It is the 6th leading cause of death and over 5.5 million have been diagnosed in the U.S (130,000 in MA). It is also the most expensive illness to treat, and in 2018 sixteen million family members provided 18.5 billion hours of unpaid care to those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias (an economic value of approximately $234 billion). There is no cure, no prevention, and no effective treatment for Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

            With these facts in mind, the advocates in Washington met with their senators and representatives to make four requests. The first is an additional 350 million for the NIH (National Institute of Health) research. The second is 20 million to implement the BOLD act passed last year. BOLD directs the CDC to strengthen the public health infrastructure by instituting effective Alzheimer’s interventions. The third is a bill to support educating physicians and the public to the Medicare coverage authorized to cover comprehensive care planning when a dementia diagnosis is determined. The last request is to have the Older Americans Act (OAA), which passed in 1965, benefits available to any person receiving a dementia diagnosis regardless of age. Currently the OAA only applies to those age 60 and over. Personally, I consider this last request extremely important. I have many friends who have received a younger-onset diagnosis. The impact on a family in this age group is devastating. These are families with young children who now face the possibility of losing an income, the emotional support of a spouse or partner, and a future that becomes increasingly challenging.

            I am writing this letter to implore you to contact your senators and representatives and tell them how important these issues are. We have the good fortune to live in a state whose elected officials are very supportive of Alzheimer’s legislation. However, I believe it is critical we remind them of our concern. It is too easy for an issue to get lost in the demands of federal issues.

            If you have not been touched by Alzheimer’s or another dementia, you will be in the not too distant future. I was a caregiver for my partner who was diagnosed at age 67. Her journey ended in 2015, but mine has not. I will continue to advocate until there is an end to the heartbreak of a dementia diagnosis.

            Respectfully submitted,

Barbara A. Meehan

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.

Joan F. Healy

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Joan F. Healy, 85, of Marion, died Sunday, April 21, 2019 at her home in Marion with her family by her side. She was the wife of the late Richard L. Healy. They were happily married for over forty years and she never stopped missing or loving him.

Born in Lowell, she was the daughter of the late Francis and Julia (Murphy) Mullen. She graduated from Lowell State Teacher’s College, now UMass Lowell, and received her M.Ed. from Boston College. Joan taught elementary education in various towns in the Greater Boston area, The Loft School in Marion and retired from the Bourne Public School system.  She also taught overseas in Japan on an American military base where she realized her love of sushi, Ikebana and Sogetsu floral design.

Joan was a former member of the Kittansett Club where she loved to play golf with her friends, the Beverly Yacht Club where she “raced” her Bull’s Eye and enjoyed time with Rich on the Curmudgeon as well as the Piney Point Beach Club where she looked forward to Tuesday night dinners. Joan loved floral design and was a member of both the Marion and the Wareham Garden Clubs. She was a National Flower Show Judge, a member of Judges Council and the Design Study Group. She could also be found playing Bridge with various group of friends whenever asked. She loved to travel – the planning in advance of her trip, the trip itself and the reminiscing after. There are many wonderful memories from adventures with Rich, with Clare and with friends.

With a passion for books and libraries, in the 1980’s it was her great honor to serve as the board president of the Elizabeth Taber Library when two wings were added to provide much needed stack space. She and Rich were long time committee members of the Marion to Bermuda Race through which they made many friends and discovered a deep love of Bermuda. They returned again and again. Joan served as a board member for Community Nurse Home Care and, in return, the Community Nurse team took exceptional care of her over the years.

Deep gratitude and eternal appreciation go to three special women who comprised “Team Joan.” With love and laughter Cathy, Becky and Rita made it possible for Joan to enjoy her home until the end. When they first met they were caregivers, they become friends and will forever be considered family.

She is survived by her daughter, Clare Healy Foley, who loves her more than words can express and her husband Paul of Marion. She leaves behind a much beloved Springer Spaniel “Lola”. She is also survived by an inspiring group of family and friends who made life worth living until the last breath.

Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at St. Anthony’s Church, Barstow St., Mattapoisett at 11 am. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Community Nurse Home Care, 62 Center St., Fairhaven, MA 02719 OR the Elizabeth Taber Library, 8 Spring St., Marion, MA 02738 OR Friends of the Marion COA, P.O. Box 937, Marion, MA 02738. If a donation is not your thing, please read a book, arrange some flowers or tell a friend how much they mean to you; all fitting tributes to Joan.

Arrangements by Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Wareham. For directions or to leave a message of condolence, visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com

Support Mounts to Defund Town Clerk Salary

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            There is an apparent movement to decrease the town clerk’s salary from $19,493 to $1 for fiscal year 2020 via a motion on the floor of the Annual Town Meeting.

            Marion Selectman John Waterman told the Marion Finance Committee on April 17 that the “buzz” among some residents on the street and on social media is to defund Town Clerk Ray Pickles’ salary in light of his recent felony charges of Larceny over $250 pertaining to his former position as executive director of the Carver, Marion, Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District.

            Pickles is accused of stealing over $600,000 from 2012 to 2018.

            The Town of Marion has no legal recall option for the elected position, and Pickles has shown no sign of resigning as town clerk, despite an official request from the Board of Selectmen.

            As the Finance Committee made their recommendations on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant articles, the topic was raised as the committee reviewed Article 2, the FY20 operating budget.

            “I’m not going there,” said Finance Director Judy Mooney.

            “I’m not going there either,” Finance Committee Chairman Peter Winters commented.

            Waterman explained that the Town’s hands are essentially tied, and so a motion to amend the town clerk salary line item was the only viable option to impact Pickles in his position.

            “Is that even legal?” Finance Committee member Alan Minard asked.

            “Yeah,” said Waterman. “[Pickles is] an elected official, so …”

            The committee pondered how this motion would best be executed given that, should Pickles resign as a result of defunding his salary, someone else would likely be appointed to perform his duties.

            Mooney suggested that if one were to move to amend Article 2, the motion to reduce Pickles’ salary to $1 should be accompanied with language that would transfer the remaining $19,492 to the Reserve Fund.

            “You want to be able to have that availability if you need to appoint someone,” said Mooney. “You’ll want that ability to move it quickly.”

            “So you need a motion to reduce and transfer,” said Winters.

            “If that’s your intention,” Mooney said.

            “All I know is what the buzz is,” said Waterman.

            “We need to be prepared,” said Winters. “If there is a resignation then we need to have money to cover somebody else.”

            The committee voted to recommend adopting Article 2 as presented, with the understanding that it could happen that someone might make the aforementioned motion on May 21.

            “The buzz isn’t good enough,” said Minard. “It should happen,” he stated.

            “People are motivated,” said Waterman.

            In other business, the Annual Town Meeting Warrant this year is a lengthy one, featuring 61 articles – some involving spending money, others unrelated to finances. The FinCom makes recommendations only on the finance-related articles, but since the warrant has already printed, these recommendations will not appear in print for voters the night of Town Meeting. The committee spent the evening going through the articles one by one – recommending most, recommending one with a “sigh”, holding off on making a recommendation until later for some, and “not” recommending two.

            The FinCom voted “not to recommend” adoption of Article 22, a new $325,000 ambulance for the Fire Department, and Article 31, the $2 million Old Rochester Regional “TURF” project.

            The committee acknowledged Fire Chief Brian Jackvony’s prior explanation for this article to replace a 2008 ambulance that has broken down this year multiple times, but the FinCom preferred to take a different approach – “If it breaks down, you fix it,” as Minard put it.

            “Everybody needs a shiny new vehicle,” Minard commented.

            But Waterman pointed out that not only did the ambulance break down more than once, it broke down while en route to the hospital with a patient on board.

            Still, the vote to not recommend adoption of the article was unanimous.

            As for TURF, “It’s up to the voters on this one,” said FinCom member Margie Baldwin.

            “We can’t afford it at this point,” said Minard.

            The committee refrained from making recommendations on the following articles in order to receive further information: Article 11, $2.8 million to replace the water main pipe on Mill Road; Article 17, $105,000 for the design of the Point Road-Delano Road water main replacement project; Article 23, $30,000 for the Fire Department to replace the water tank of its brush breaker; and Articles 25 and 26 that pertain to the Town either outsourcing its trash collection, or buying a new trash truck. The bids for the cost of those two proposals will not be available until after April 26.

            The next meeting of the Marion Finance Committee is scheduled for April 24 at 6:00 pm at the Marion Police Station.

Marion Finance Committee

By Jean Perry

Elizabeth Taber Free Lending Public Library

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            On Spring Street in Marion, the Elizabeth Taber Library has stood since the year 1872. It is an historic landmark of Victorian architecture and houses both the library and the Natural History Museum.

            The building was donated by Elizabeth Sprague Pitcher Taber (1791-1888). She had grown up here to become a schoolteacher and eventually marry a New Bedford clockmaker named Stephan Taber. Their three children all died before they reached the age of five. During the Civil War in 1862, her husband died, leaving her a childless but wealthy widow by her own astute financial investment in railroads.

            At the age of 79, she returned to Marion with resources and the determination to buy ten acres of land on Spring Street from Captain Allen. Then she donated $4,000 for the library building, as well as $15,000 for its endowment. The building served its dual purpose well, and, in the 1980s, two wings were added to expand the children’s area with meeting rooms for educational programs.

            According to the present children’s librarian of 15 years’ experience, Rosemary Gray, the emphasis on children’s programs, books, and activities has always been a main library objective from its very founding. Last year, children’s books and related materials added up to more than one-fifth of all lending.

            The Library recently hired a very well qualified new director, Elisabeth Sherry, from the Mattapoisett Library. She was highly recommended for her record of eight and a half years as the adult services and reference librarian. She had been trained and actively instrumental in handling the electronic and technical advancement of the Sails Library network. This network allows patrons to checkout and return books at some 50 other member public libraries, as well as 36 academic libraries. In one year with this access, 16,904 books were received from other libraries, and Mattapoisett provided 38,904 to other libraries as part of the service agreement.

            To show my own appreciation to Ms. Sherry for her expert and willing electronic research, as well as e-mail transmission of my articles and illustrations to The Wanderer, both she and Elizabeth Taber are rendered in my illustration. From my previous research on my articles on the Mattapoisett and Fairhaven Libraries, Taber’s contribution to Marion is no less than that of George Purrington and Henry Huttleston Rogers to Mattapoisett and Fairhaven, respectively. They all were motivated by a remarkably profound literary insight into the future of the written word for the future, especially now in modern times for children. Their contribution to their community, in my opinion, earns them the esteem of worthy members of a class of benefactors that I regard as the greatest generation of late 19th century industrial benefactors, alongside Rockefeller and Carnegie, better known to all. Each of them wanted to give back to the public what they had achieved. To quote from Rogers’ friend Mark Twain’s address at the Fairhaven Library dedication, “A public library is the most enduring of memorials, and the truest monument for preserving the language of books, that will always speak in a lost tongue to our posterity.”

            In Marion, a statue will be dedicated to Elizabeth Taber on the edge of Bicentennial Park on Spring Street facing the buildings she created. And inside her library, her husband’s grandfather clock is still a working timepiece. It is wound by hand and key weekly, and ticks on into the future like the sound of a living heartbeat for the wellbeing of the library.

By George B. Emmons