Old Colony Riding Vocational Title into MIAA Tourney

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            Both Old Colony boys and girls basketball teams head into MIAA tournament play coming off of state Vocational Small School-division championships.

            The boys team punched its ticket to the finals by knocking off Franklin County Tech, 62-50, in the semifinals. Hunter Soares led the Cougars with 17 points in the win. Jarrett Taylor was right behind Soares, scoring 16 points. Caden Letendre (12 points) also finished in double figures against Franklin County Tech.

            Things only got tougher for Old Colony in the championship game against Minuteman High School. The final was a nail-biter, but the Cougars won, 59-55. Jojo Cortes and Cooper Howell both had strong showings and scored 14 points apiece, though it was, once again, Soares who led the Cougars on offense. The senior finished with 19 points.

            The state Vocational Small School championship is Old Colony’s third under head coach Matt Trahan.

            Old Colony girls basketball reached the title game by winning a tightly contested, semifinal matchup of its own, knocking off South Shore, 42-39. Savanna Halle and Hailey Hathaway each drained three 3-pointers in the win, though Halle had the slight scoring edge by the end of the night. She finished with 15 points to Hathaway’s 13.

            But when it came to the state Vocational Small School championship game, Hathaway was the one who took control for the Cougars. The freshman scored 17 points in their 52-44 win over Franklin County Tech. Halle scored nine for Old Colony, as did Olivia Perry.

            Looking toward the MIAA Division 4 South sectional tournament, both Old Colony’s boys and girls basketball teams will open up at home in the first round.

            Sixth-seeded Old Colony girls (15-5) will play host to No. 11 Sturgis East (9-7) on Thursday, February 27, at 6:30 pm. The third-seeded Old Colony boys (16-4) were scheduled to host No. 14 Atlantis Charter (9-8) on February 26 and, with a win, would host the winner of the First Round match between West Bridgewater and Cape Cod Academy (date TBA).

Old Rochester

            Old Rochester girls basketball earned the second seed in the MIAA Division 2 South tournament after going 17-3 on the year. The Bulldogs were scheduled to host No. 14 Canton (13-9) on February 26. A victory would put them into a quarterfinal home game against the winner between New Mission and Westwood at a date to be announced.

            ORR brought postseason experience between Meg Hughes and Mary Butler, along with a deep team. Although ORR’s leading scorer, Cadence Johnson, only averaged 10.5 points per game this season, the Bulldogs experienced continued success because they have a well-balanced offense and an in-your-face approach on defense.

            ORR boys, at 10-10, entered the Division 3 South tournament as one of five .500 teams in the bracket, but the Bulldogs drew the shortest straw and faced a stiff challenge in the First Round at No. 3 Monomoy (16-4) on February 26. The top two seeds received First Round byes.

            Furthermore, ORR entered the fray without Ryon Thomas, having already lost Nick Johnson, the Bulldogs’ best player.

By Nick Friar

The Bike Path’s Long Journey Continues

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            On February 21, the Mattapoisett Bike Path Committee held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting, something it has been doing for nearly 30 years. And the work continues, work that includes pursuing easements, rights-of-way, working with state and federal entities, meetings with attorneys or with local department heads as well as abutters. The committee volunteers are Chairman Steve Kelleher and members Rob Price and Ray Rose.

            The committee’s efforts have been supported by the Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path as well as taxpayers who have spent many thousands of dollars in the effort to bring a bike path from the town line with Fairhaven to the town line with Marion. As work on Phase 1b has been taking place, the committee rolls on looking ahead to Phase 2a and 2b.

            Before discussing those phases, Kelleher said that he had met with the Mattapoisett Tree Committee to discuss landscaping and tree planting along parts of Phase 1b. He shared that the pathway at the edge of Mattapoisett Neck Road had required more leveling and widening than originally planned in order to create a smooth transition from the tarred public street to the path. “… Landscaping was part of the contract,” he said of the agreement with the Acushnet-based construction company D.W. White. But, he continued, “We have a 10-percent contingency ($670,000) so we can plan for a change order and have them do the planting work before they wrap up.”

            Several abutters had come forward once Phase 1b clearing had begun and asked for screening to buffer their properties. Kelleher said that he had received an email from Ted Nolte, 9 Locust Street, regarding this matter. Kelleher said that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the funding source for this phase, was aware of abutters’ requests for more screening and that they, along with the Town Administrator, needed to sign-off on those improvements before work could take place. In the meantime, he stated that a planting plan would be created. “We are ahead of schedule,” he said regarding Phase 1b, which is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2021.

            Regarding Phases 2a and 2b, Kelleher said that he would be meeting with Town Counsel Matt Thomas, who had been working on behalf of the community on all phases of the bike path nearly since the beginning. He also said that wetlands scientist John Rockwell had begun surveying wetlands along the railroad right-of-way running through the Park Street neighborhood. However, Rockwell’s work has been temporarily halted due to a broken storm-water pipe. Railroad easements have been and will continue to be the main artery used for the bike path, he said.

            And on the matter of conceptual designs for these later phases, drawings have not been officially drafted, Kelleher said. Town Meeting has supported Phase 2a and 2b with monies for design engineering. He thought that a meeting with Highway Surveyor Barry Denham, the Town Administrator, Nick Nelson, the town’s GIS coordinator, and possibly members of the Mass-DOT team would plan to hash out preliminary designs.

            Phase 2a will begin at the end of Goodspeed Island Road heading north across Route 6 and eventually ending at the fence line adjacent to the park-and-ride parking lot along North Street. Phase 2b is planned to cross North Street entering onto Industrial Drive to the end of the paved roadway. A short, one-mile piece that continues on along the railroad easement is being planned by the Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path, which has been raising funds and seeking grants. This final mile will connect to Marion’s bike path. Marion’s bike path has been listed on the Mass-DOT TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) for 2022 funding, although confirmation has not yet been received.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Bike Path Committee is scheduled for March 19 at 5:30 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Bike Path Committee

By Marilou Newell

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club

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The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is pleased to have Diane Gilbert of the Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust as a speaker at our meeting on Thursday, March 19. Our meetings are held at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church’s Renyard Hall, located at the corner of Church and Mechanic Streets, beginning at 11:00 am. An informal luncheon is provided by our members. The MWC welcomes anyone who wishes to hear our speaker or attend our meetings.

            In “The Little House with a Big Story to Tell,” Diane Gilbert, who possesses a clear vision, courage, integrity, and humility, takes a leadership role in assisting the Town of Dartmouth to attain its community preservation goals. In November 2018, Preservation Massachusetts awarded Diane the K. Julie McCarthy Community Spirit Award for her work. 

            Ms. Gilbert will do a PowerPoint presentation showcasing a restoration project of the Elihu Akin House from the foundation up, a project that is listed on the State Register of Historic Places and deemed eligible for listing on the National Register. The Elihu Akin House, one of the oldest houses in the Town of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, was built in 1762 by housewright Job Mosher and purchased by Elihu Akin in 1769; the Akin House is older than America. The age of the house alone would give the house architectural importance; however, the house also has historical significance. The Akins were one of Dartmouth’s founding families, were instrumental in the development of the town, and the homestead remained in the Akin family for 234 years.

            The Akin House was one of a few houses that survived the invasion of the British and the subsequent burning of much of Dartmouth, New Bedford, and Acushnet during the American Revolution. As the direct result of the raid, the Akin family lost everything except the house on Potter’s Hill and surrounding land. Elihu moved his wife and children there.

            To quote Diane Gilbert, “Every time an important historic house or structure is lost or demolished, we lose another connection to our history, the people who settled our coastal areas over the centuries and their culture. We have already lost too many architecturally significant buildings and structures, and as a result, the special character shaped by our history has been diminished.” And to put it pragmatically, preservation is a tool for stabilization of property values, economic development, and sustainability.

            In 1921, the Akin House became a part of film history as a location for Down to the Sea in Ships. The silent film classic contains rare footage of a whaling voyage filmed on the Wanderer and the Charles W. Morgan, and clearly shows the condition of the Akin house in 1921.

Sippican Historical Society

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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. In 1998, the Sippican Historical Society commissioned an architectural survey of Marion’s historic homes and buildings. Over 100 were cataloged and photographed. SHS will feature one building a week so that the residents of Marion can understand more about its unique historical architecture.

            This installment features 17 Hiller Street. The cottage located at 17 Hiller Street was built in 1880 for Robert B. Hiller in the late Italianate style. This house is located next to the former Robert B. Hiller Livery Sable, Coal, and Lumberyard. Beginning in the 1890s, the Hiller Brothers provided horse-drawn vehicles to summer visitors registered at the Sippican Hotel and ferried the guests between the hotel and depot. By 1916, Hiller’s livery stable had been converted into a garage, and later the Hillers became pioneers in the local cranberry industry.

Solar Sun Shining in Rochester

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With a light agenda for its February 25 meeting, the Rochester Planning Board was able to informally discuss a number of projects in various stages of permitting including six solar-array development projects. 

            Chairman Arnold Johnson said that Seaboard Solar was still submitting revisions to the plan of record even though the project’s hearing had been closed. He said that peer review consultant Ken Motta of Field Engineering had suggested some minor plan modifications that the developer included as plan revisions after the hearing closed. Johnson stated, “We’ll have to reopen the hearing at our next meeting.” He said that the project had not completed permitting with the Conservation Commission, therefore reopening the hearing would not change a construction start date.

            Sunray Solar has five solar arrays planned for Rochester. The developer asked Town Planner Steve Starrett if technical reviews prior to opening hearings could be grouped together. Starrett thought this was possible, given earlier discussions with the developer which brought to light the manner in which the Planning Board would be conducting hearings and the documentation required.

            Sunray Solar’s projects are planned for Featherbed Lane, Braley Hill Road, Snipatuit Pond Road, and Cushman Road, Johnson said.

            Rounding out the solar-array projects was the mention of Clean Energy, which plans to construct its project on Sarah Sherman Road. Johnson said that informal technical reviews and a site visit were in the queue.

            Earlier in the evening, the Planning Board met with Nancy Steidle, 0 Walnut Plain Road, who filed an Approval Not Required request.

            Steidle explained that she had purchased more than 13 acres along Walnut Plain Road and planned to sell the lion’s share, some 11 acres, to the Buzzards Bay Coalition. She said two acres would be held as a house lot.

            Commissioner Ben Bailey cautioned Steidle to make sure the BBC did not plan to have a large parking lot or access roadway into the acreage that she planned to sell to them. He warned her that public access to BBC lands might be a requirement of their non-profit status. If that were the case, he said she could end-up with the public impacting the peaceful enjoyment of her home. Bailey asked her if she wished to proceed with the Approval Not Required application, noting that once the land was separated it would have to stay that way, or if she wanted to discuss matters further with the BBC. Steidle said she would go ahead and talk to the non-profit before the closing.

            Continued until March 10 was the hearing for a proposed 40B housing project planned for Route 28 near the intersection with Route 58, the current location of Seasons convenience store and gas station. Starrett said that developer Steen Realty and Development and the Seasons management team had not yet been able to begin discussions on access and egress locations needed for the residential subdivision. He said that Seasons had not responded to calls placed by Steen. At the developer’s request, the hearing was continued.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for March 10 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall meeting room.

Rochester Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

Magnan’s “Marvel-ous” Exhibit

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            During the Marion Art Center’s 2020 Winter Members Art Exhibit that ended on February 15, art lovers got a small taste of what John Magnan was capable of doing with wood. On February 21 in a nearly solo show titled ‘Thor’s Hammer’, 16 of Magnan’s social-commentary pieces boldly engaged the visitor.

            Here the artist utilized primary colors, dystopian themes and, yes, Marvel Comic heroes to express his thoughts, fears, and hopes for humankind. “I always wanted to do Thor’s Hammer,” Magnan shared. That piece he believes speaks to the power inherent in judicial appointments. The metaphor of the hammer and the power of the wooden sculpture is an example of how Magnan uses familiar materials, turning them into art objects that give voice to complex societal issues.

            The first-floor gallery also features a painting of Stan Lee, the creative force behind Marvel Comics for decades. The work is ink on canvas and is a seemingly simple, line-drawing portrait of Lee. That is until closer inspection reveals the truth. The face is comprised of Lee’s quotes, his words. Lee believed that writing in and of itself was the reward for the author. Here Magnan has taken Lee’s own words to create his portrait.

            Lee once said, “…the most important thing is you’ve got to care about is the characters… if the characters are interesting, you’re halfway home.“ Magnan has used Marvel Comic characters and other imagery to convey his inner thoughts in spectacularly diverse ways, driving home beauty, message and the care he has given to his creations.

            There, in a first-floor gallery corner, is the ‘Sword of Damocles’, a lighted blade suspended above a pair of work boots crafted from purple heartwood and maple. Its location in a corner seems appropriate, as Magnan explains why he created the piece, “…to symbolize the situation of those who have barely enough resources to get by and could be financially devastated at any moment…” or, one could surmise, painted into a corner by poverty.

            Magnan’s art employs not only wood that has been chiseled, scraped, molded and otherwise converted from organic material into just about anything, but he also uses lights, dressmaker pins, glittering objects, leather, and beads.

            On the second floor mounted on slender stands are five female busts, once again inspired by Marvel characters. Here we find Gamora and Nebula, trained warrior assassins, Okoye, a general and head of intelligence for Wakandan, the powerful Scarlet Witch and, last but not least, Captain Marvel herself. The busts are polished glimmering objects of maple, cherry, poplar, and walnut decorated with beads, stones, and necklaces. Breathtaking. Positioned in a group above the busts is the message, “She’s Not Alone.” While the descriptor reads in part, “…one by one the women of the Marvel Comics universe materialize and unite to have Captain Marvel’s back…” one could easily interpret this as commentary on the “#MeToo” movement. 

            Adding to the energy of the exhibit are three paintings done by two emerging artists, Sarah Swible and Andre Olivier. Swible is a sophomore studying business at UMass Dartmouth and Olivier is a UMass graduate now working in accounting. 

            Swible’s painting, titled ‘Tee Time’, places an enormous Hulk fist in the center of the canvas, under which she has placed silhouetted people holding it up trying not to be crushed, while above standing on a level golf course is a player about to swing. Swible said that the golfer represents the one-percent living well as others struggle under the fist.

            Olivier has two paintings in the exhibit, one titled ‘The End’ and another entitled ‘Ice Cold’. ‘The End’ is a very clear message about the end of the world. A surfer stands alone; he is surrounded by darkness and destruction, and a black sky shows no signs of life. Olivier’s other painting, ‘Ice Cold’, is full of color but little movement with the exception of the gigantic hand poised about to snap its fingers. Once snapped everything is gone. He said that he was thinking about the immigrant populations his mother works with, their challenges and attempts to stay in the U.S., and how easily their dreams can vanish, in the snap of a finger.

            Themes presented in ‘Thor’s Hammer’ are indeed thought-provoking. As for the art; it is visually stimulating, thrilling, absolutely beautiful and a rapturous one-of-a-kind journey.

            ‘Thor’s Hammer’ runs through March 28, www.marionartcenter.org. To learn more about Magnan visit www.johnmagnan.com.

Marion Art Center

By Marilou Newell

Oars for Scholars

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The Sippican Woman’s Club has had a yearly focus on raising money for scholarships since 1947. The Holiday House Tour is always the main event to raise funds. However, this summer, the Sippican Woman’s Club will have “Oars for Scholars”, where students and local artists will paint their oars or paddles to create individual artistic creations. In the summer, these oars will be displayed around Marion, and a silent auction will ensue.

            To begin this project, the students of the Art Club of ORRHS, under the enthusiastic direction of art teacher Kate Butler, have chosen their oar or paddle. Each student is excited to begin to transform their oar/paddle into a unique, distinctive piece of art.

            The Sippican Woman’s Club still needs oars or paddles donated to the project. If you have any, please contact info@sippicanwomansclub.org, and we will pick it up.

Love Overcomes Fear

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Need a spiritual boost before you start your week?  A way to disconnect from the frenzied, fearful world, and a time and place to re-connect with your best self? An experience of unconditional love? 

            During Lent, Mattapoisett Congregational Church is inviting the community to a Sunday evening Vespers service, from 5:00 to 5:30 pm in the Sanctuary. This simple, nourishing service is called “Love Overcomes Fear.” Its focus is on connecting with God in the company of fellow travelers. We will be drawing on many spiritual traditions including Christian, Buddhism, Judaism, Confucianism, Native Americans and others. Following a short spiritual reading, we will enjoy 10 minutes of quiet meditation, and a time of blessing.   

            Starting March 1, we will gather around each Sunday evening with the following themes: Love, Peace, Healing, Miracle, and Hope. Everybody is welcome. Front sanctuary doors will be open. Please invite a friend or neighbor, or pass along this information to someone who is hungering for more love and less fear. For more information, contact the church office: 508-758-2671 or mattcongchurch@gmail.com.  

Thomas Lingelbach

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Thomas Lingelbach, age 80, of Raynham, MA, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on February 21, 2020. He ended this life in the embrace of his loving wife Deborah Dower, whom he adored. Tom was born in Atlantic City, son of the late Lucille (Winchester) and Louis Lingelbach. He was raised and educated in New Jersey. Mr. Lingelbach graduated from St. Mary’s College and earned his Masters Degree from Lesley College. He was a teacher at Old Rochester Regional High School in Mattapoisett until his retirement in 2005.

            Anyone who knew Tom recognized his kindness, intelligence and passion for righteousness. He never stopped reading, writing and pursuing a deeper understanding of humankind. Tom was the epitome of a gentle man who passionately loved his family.

            In addition to his wife Debbie, Thomas is survived by his daughters Lisa Hankerson of Fall River, Kristen Dower and Keith Bassett of West Bridgewater, Nancy Lingelbach and her husband Paul Stefanik of Taunton, and Rebecca Sheridan and her husband Neil of New Bedford. Tom was the brother of Daniel Lingelbach and his wife Bette of Delaware and the late Lucille and Louis Jennis. He was the endearing PopPop to 12 grandchildren Theo, Thaddeus, and Benjamin Hankerson, Zoe Stefanik, Dylan Bagley, Teagan, Brielle, Christian, and Delaney Bassett, Cassie Dicker, and Curt and Caleigh Sheridan.

            Visiting hours will be held at the East Bridgewater location of Prophett-Chapman Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 35 Spring Street on Friday, February 28th from 5-8 pm.

            A funeral service will be held at The First Congregational Church (The Stone Church), 785 South Main Street, Raynham, MA, on Saturday, February 29th, at 11:00 am.

            Burial at the Pleasant Street Cemetery in Raynham will immediately follow the service.

            In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Tom’s memory with a donation to The First Congregational Church Memorial Fund, 785 South Main Street, Raynham, MA 02767 or Doctors Without Borders, www.donate.doctorswithoutborders

Guinen Shines in ORR Girls Hockey Coop

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Madison Guinen’s senior hockey season ended before she wanted it to, but the senior forward enjoyed a nice sendoff before the Bulldogs’ Senior Day game against Nauset Regional on February 17 with a Judy Gormley Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $750.

The award was bestowed by former director of MIAA high school hockey Jim Gormley and Canal Cup tournament director Fred Carbone.

In its inaugural season as host of the girls hockey coop program previously hosted by Bourne, Old Rochester Regional High School went through a period of several adjustments and, despite being highly competitive, fell short of the MIAA state tournament.

“I wasn’t too bummed about it, but I still wish we made states for our senior year. (That) would have been great,” said Guinen, who was slotted at center this season between junior wingers Amanda Orchuck and Amanda Wheeler. 

Averaging 2 goals per game while allowing 2.5, ORR finished 5-13-2 and 3-5-0 in the final season of the Southeastern Massachusetts Girls Hockey League (SEMGHL), the Bulldogs were solid defensively but lacked the firepower to win enough one-goal games to tip the scales.

“It’s not what we wanted, but we lost eight one-goal games (and tied two others),” said first-year head coach Ted Drew, who had years of experience coaching some of the same players in youth hockey. “We only laid an egg a couple of times. We played a lot of good teams this year; a lot of them are in the (Division 1 state) tournament.

“We just couldn’t put the puck in the net. We hit the post quite a bit and just didn’t have the puck luck this year.”

Due to a situation at Tabor Academy, ORR had no practice ice at the start of the season. Together with a new host school and the arrival of new uniforms delayed from Pakistan, and it made for a challenging start to the new era of girls high school hockey in the Tri-Town area.

“I think it was an adjustment for everyone, myself included,” said Drew. “A lot of nights we weren’t on the ice until (9:45 pm). I’m going to try to get some better ice time for us next year. I’m just glad they get to play.” 

First and foremost, among hosting challenges was making sure that the six players from Bourne and those from fellow affiliated school districts Apponequet, Mashpee and Upper Cape Tech would feel welcome in the ORR-led era. (Wareham left the coop, its only girl a goaltender opting instead to fill a needed roster spot on the school’s boys team). 

“We actually did a lot of team-bonding exercises at the beginning of the season,” said Guinen. “We did name games and all this other stuff to get to know each other, and we did spaghetti suppers so we could come together as a team.”

Guinen, an 18-year-old student from Rochester, will attend Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, and study forensic investigation, an interest that while sparked by the weekly course she attended at Curry College in Milton, goes back to “all the crime shows I’ve been watching. 

“I took a forensic sciences class last year (at Curry) so I have a general idea of it, and I took a (crime-scene investigation) course over the summer… I loved it,” she said.

A right shot, Guinen wears No. 4 in honor of her father Scott, who played high school hockey at ORR and was coached by Drew, then an assistant. “And it was my softball number and just Bobby Orr in general,” she said.

Guinen still has her final high school softball season ahead, where she starts at catcher and shortstop.

Guinen isn’t big by girls hockey standards, but she will bring her hockey gear to Florida where Lynn has a boys club hockey team to which she hopes to hitch her hockey wagon.

Meantime, she was happy in 2019-20 to enjoy a shorter ride to home games.

“We love red. I wasn’t really a fan of the purple,” said the senior, one of many girls happy to play now under the Bulldog banner. 

Purple made it onto the ice this season in one situation, when ORR girls took the ice in their old purple uniforms representing Bourne at John Gallo Arena for the Canal Cup, where goaltender Megan Nolan was named ORR’s MVP. Drew even participated.

“I wore a purple shirt and purple tie. We tried to do a few fun things to break it up,” he said, proud of all they accomplished in a year of adjustments. 

The Bulldogs will only lose three players to graduation: Guinen, Nolan and forward Meghan Berg. Many are back next year, including Drew’s niece Carly Drew on defense.

“They played hard,” said Ted Drew, noting he and assistant coaches Braly Hiller and Kami Medeiros are eager for next season. “As long as the school wants us back.”

By Mick Colageo