Meet New Board of Health Agent, Kayla Davis

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            Mattapoisett’s new Board of Health Agent, Kayla Davis, said she is “excited and eager” to not only sustain the busy department’s programs and services, but also to help the community in understanding the many roles the Board of Health ensures regulations are being met.

            Davis is a Wareham native, and until recently, was the Bourne Health Inspector. When the director’s job was posted for Mattapoisett, Davis sought the position and, at age 24, said she may be the youngest health agent in the state. That aside, her credentials are many.

            Davis holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health from Rivier University in Nashua, New Hampshire. She said she began her education in nursing but along the way found that she could serve many more people if she pursued public service. After researching municipal public health, she changed majors.

            Considering that the role of the Board of Health agent covers an expansive list of areas of responsibility, including everything from trash and recycling collection to inspecting restaurants and residences, emergency preparedness and septic systems to name a few, certification in specialized areas is mandatory. 

            Davis has completed a number of courses securing certifications in first aid, OSHA standards, soil evaluations, recreational pools and Serve Safe. She has also completed certifications provided by FEMA, training in housing inspections by the Massachusetts Public Health, and Public Health Institute certifications in, bed bugs, hoarding, mold, tanning facilities, food safety for food establishments and food protection programs.

            Davis said that given the current concerns over the spread of viruses, Mattapoisett’s response team is ready. She said that the public health nurse Amanda Stone has provided expert guidance and assistance for some time and has been instrumental in helping her during these first few weeks on the job. She briefly explained that a network approach from private physicians to hospital protocols coupled with public health staff is in place, should someone be diagnosed with a dangerous communicable pathogen. 

            For Mattapoisett, having a new Board of Health agent after 30 years is a big change, Davis acknowledged. She credited an active and involved Board of Health team for not only helping her but in preserving the town’s overall health and well-being. That team is comprised of Ken Dawicki, Russell Bailey, and Carmelo Nicolosi.

            As the summer season emerges from the winter gloom, Davis will be tasked with ensuring that the town’s beaches are safe for swimming, that rental units meet code, and that restaurants and eateries are clean and serving food stored appropriately. 

            On the issue of trash and recycling, Davis said that the town has done a good job educating the residents about the right materials to recycle but that the global issue is far from resolved. 

            Over at the transfer station located at the end of Tinkham Hill Road, Davis said that new scales will help in collecting the right fees. She noted that the new equipment should generate additional revenue for the town.

            While she confided that becoming a public servant in the role of board of health agent “…isn’t that popular,” for her it was the right fit. “It really spoke to me.”

            Davis can be reached by email at bdofhealth@mattapoisett.net.

Mattapoisett Board of Health

By Marilou Newell

Sippican Woman’s Club

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Everyone needs to be “Savvy Online, In Line and Beyond”! The Sippican Woman’s Club’s February meeting will address those issues on February 14, at 12:30 pm.

            Robin Putnam from the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will make a return visit to SWC. She will be joined by Amy Schram from the Better Business Bureau. The duo will touch upon: spotting and avoiding identity theft, online safety, credit card skimming devices. We will be left with information on how to avoid being targeted victims of scams, how to respond or not, and possible solutions if we are victims of fraud.

            The program is preceded by a finger food luncheon at 12:30 pm at Handy’s Tavern, 152 Front Street Marion. If you would like to attend as a guest or possible new member, call Jeanne Lake at 508-748-0619. Parking is at Island Wharf, across the street.

SLT Valentine’s Day Walk

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Everyone is welcome to join Sippican Lands Trust (SLT) for its second annual Valentine’s Day Walk on Saturday, February 15 at 1:00 pm from the end of Parlowtown Road in Marion. Bring your sweetie, or not, and celebrate the fact that research indicates that exercise, like walks, might just be the key to finding satisfying long-term relationships.

            SLT will keep the walk at a relaxed pace and please wear clothes and boots with traction for an adventurous stroll as there could be ice, wet or muddy patches along the walk. Depending on conditions the walk will be between 1.5 and 3 miles in length and will take approximately an hour.

            The walk is free for SLT members with a suggested $5 donation for non-members. If the Valentine’s Day Walk is canceled due to inclement weather, then information will be posted to SLT’s website and Facebook page. For directions or further information visit sippicanlandstrust.org or call Sippican Lands Trust at 508-748-3080.

Tabor’s Mamma Mia! Opens Feb. 13

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            Carey McCollester has a lifetime of experience in theater, but she expected more nerves for the dress rehearsal of Tabor Academy’s Winter Musical production of Mamma Mia! than what she expects when the curtain is raised for real at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 13, at Hoyt Hall on the Marion campus.

            “For me personally, I find that the dress rehearsal is more (nerve-wracking) because we have an open dress rehearsal so people are coming, but you don’t feel like it’s really happening yet,” explained the Rochester native. “But as soon as it’s the real opening night, you have to whole excited energy of the entire cast because they know it’s opening night. And you also have a much larger audience so you get the energy from that.”

            In the story of a soon-to-be-married girl who, unbeknown to her single mother, invites to her wedding the three men who could be her father, McCollester plays one of the bride’s best friends. Her classmate and real-life friend Sydney DaSilva plays one of the mother’s best friends and former bandmates.

            DaSilva, a Marion native, has less theater experience than McCollester, but shares all of the passion, earning a place in the ensemble of last year’s production of Heathers.

            “Right from the moment I stepped in I knew I wanted to keep doing it,” DaSilva said. “I had a couple of lines singing here and there and that was it, but just from that point of view I just knew.”

            The two 16-year-old juniors are among 30 cast members and 15 more students doing the behind-the-scenes work of stage and costume crews.

            Junior Amelia Rolighed of Winnetka, Illinois, and senior Mia Vaughn of New Bedford play the mother-daughter roles of Donna and Sophie.

            Seniors Jack LeBrun of Mattapoisett, Adam Mendes of Marion and Brian Nam of Seoul, Korea play candidates for Sophie’s potential father. Andrew Mottur of Rumford, Rhode Island, plays Sophie’s fiance, and senior Emma Quirk of Marion joins DaSilva in Donna’s circle of trust.

            Director Jesse Hawley left a career working with professional actors in New York City to come to Tabor, where she sees more variety of experience and more potential.

            “It’s awesome. These kids have so much positive energy to give,” said Hawley, who has been at Tabor for four years. “It’s a challenge, but people tend to go really far in the process; whereas, if you’re working with professionals, they kind of show up and you know what they have. Here it’s like a student can come a really long way over the course of the process and it’s really fun.”

            The setting for Mamma Mia! is a hotel on a Greek island, and the title comes out of the songbook of the iconic ’70s Swedish dance band ABBA, setting the entire play in motion to a dialogue and sing-along of the group’s greatest hits.

            The theater production at Tabor is an official activity and asks for just as much time from the students as playing a varsity sport, even more in the crunch-time of preparation.

            “Some of the students have never been in a show before,” said Hawley. “We have a lot of girls; we don’t have a lot of guys so we recruit some guys.”

            Among the recruited is senior Adam Mendes, who would have been wrestling this winter had the 18-year-old from Marion not sprained all of the ligaments in his right knee late in the Seawolves’ football season. Nine weeks on crutches ruled out winter sports, but despite his participation last year in Heathers, Mendes was reluctant about an encore stage performance.

            “Mr. (Mark) Howland, who taught me (English) in my freshman and junior year, as soon as I tore (my knee), he was like, ‘We’re going to get you in the musical.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, okay, I’m not going to do it,” said Mendes. But more goading from the since-retired Howland and an insistent mother changed his mind.

            Mendes, who would have wrestled at 195 pounds, weighed 220 before surgery and now tips the scales at 212.

            “That was going to be a miserable weight cut, and now I don’t have to worry about it anymore,” he laughed.

            The linebacker plans to play NCAA Division III football at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he will study Arabic, and maybe participate in theater.

            “I might, if I have the opportunity to do it,” he said. “It really depends on the amount of time I have.”

            Musical director Dr. Tian Zhou will conduct a live orchestra, and Tabor Dance Team faculty coach Kimberlee Williams will choreograph the dance numbers.

            Mamma Mia! runs February 13 to 15 and is free and open to the public with 7:30 pm shows in the Fireman Center for the Performing Arts in Hoyt Hall, 245 Front Street, Marion. Tickets are not required.

By Mick Colageo

High Winds and Waves

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On February 7, rain and high winds hit Southeastern Massachusetts, resulting in thousands of electrical outages. The hardest hit in the Tri-Town area was Rochester with more than 500 Eversource customers reporting wires down and service interruptions from mid-afternoon into the night. Gusts of over 70 miles per hour were reported by the National Weather Service. Rochester’s Highway Department was on the job for approximately 24 hours removing trees. “We finished around 10 (pm) last night and all roads are currently open,” stated Rochester Highway Surveyor Jeff Eldridge late afternoon on February 8. Marion and Mattapoisett fared far better during the service interruption with only around 20 customers each reporting no electrical service. Photos by Marilou Newell & Bertram Zarins 

Mattapoisett Democratic Caucus

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The Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee will be holding its annual caucus on Saturday, February 29, to elect delegates to the State Democratic Convention. The caucus will be held at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, on Barstow Street, with doors opening at 10:00 am and the caucus beginning at 10:30.

            The Committee welcomes everyone, but only Mattapoisett residents who are registered Democrats can vote or run for delegate.

ORRHS Term 2 Honor Roll

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            The following students have achieved honors for the third term at Old Rochester Regional High School:

            Highest Honors, Grade 9; Rudy Arsenault, Theodore Carroll, Domenic Fringuelli, Paige Fuller, Mason Hanks, Elizabeth Higgins, Landon Maxwell, Reagan Rock, Samuel Williamson, Sarah Wyman, Grade 10; Amanda Armanetti, Claudie Bellanger, Erin Besancon, Brendan Burke, Hannah Furtado, Thomas Galavotti, Colby Gross, Michael Holmes, Isabella Hunter, John Kassabian, Amaya McLeod, Lukas Michaelis, Drew Miranda, Maggie Nailor, Tavish Nunes, Stephen Old, Marc Pothier, Charles Richards, Julia Sheridan, Savannah Teixeira, Emma Thorell, Autumn Tilley, Cameran Weaver, Mackenzie Wilson, Emma Wyman, Grade 11; Alexander Craig, Katelyn Luong, Bessie Pierre, Kennedy Serpa, Sophia Sousa, Kathleen Tenerowicz, Emma Williamson, Samantha Winters, Grade 12; Colby Alves, Emmanuelle Bailly, Dante Cusolito, Michelina Ditata, Emma Gabriel, Taylor Gardner, Grace Greany, Meg Hughes, Kate Marsden, Stephen Marston, Ian McCann, Meghan McCullough, Alexa McLeod, Aidan Michaud, Luke Mullen, Natalie Nilson, Danielle Nutter, Rachel Perry, Alyssa Quaintance, Mackenzie Riley, Sofia Sudofsky,

            High Honors, Grade 9; Ava Barrows, Ryan Blanchette, Caitlin Collier, David Costa, Kate Feeney, Liam Geraghty, Sakurako Huynh-Aoyama, Philip le Gassick, Aidan O’Donnell, William O’Shaughnessy, Norah Schiappa, Grade 10; Nathaniel Bangs, Sally Butler, Matthew Curry, Anna Dube, Edward Gonet, Mia Hall, Faith Humphrey, Jake Louden, Ethan McElroy, Cole Meehan, Madeline Wright, Grade 11; Taylor Amaral, Stephen Arne, Rebecca Milde, Christian Noble Shriver, Serena O’Connell, Jonathan Pereira, Daphne Poirier, William Stark, Mason Tucker, Emma Vivino, Grade 12; Erika Albert, Peyton Blood, Camden Brezinski, Tova Brickley, Charlotte Cole, Molly Finnegan, Ruth Harris, Andrew Hiller, Lucas Ketchie, Max Marcial, Ella McIntire, Alexandra Moniz, Cecilia Prefontaine, Nathan Przybyszewski, Alexi Smead, Hannah Stallings

            Honors, Grade 9; Sylvie Benson, Gabriella Berg, Torsten Brickley, Elizabeth Bumpus, Bennett Chase, Ryan Cordeiro, Brady Dias, Kathleen Dunn, Matthew Eby, Failenn Fitzpatrick, Sawyer Fox, Julia Foye, Lila Galavotti, Nolan Gibbons, Alexander Harrigan, Braden Hayward, Derek Hiralall, Sofia Irish, Emily Kilpatrick, Aiden Lamontagne, Brady LaPierre, Jillian LeBlanc, James LeClair, Brady Lee, Mackenzie Luong, Alexander Marsden, Jacksen Martin, Gabriela Matthews, Kyle McCullough, Emma Mullen, Jordan Nguyen, Ava Noone, Camryn Nye, Quinn O’Brien-Nichols, Samuel Ortega, Abigail Paulette, Emma Petersen, Paul Petronelli, Grace Picewick, Andrew Poulin, Jaxon Resendes, Henry Richards, Corinne Robert, Kira Sarkarati, Makenna Servais, Haralambos Sivvianakis, Jacob Smith, Noah Sommers, Cooper Studley, Gio Theodore, Emma Van Ness, Isabella Vanderpol, Delaney Veilleux, Mackenzie Vigeant, Arianna Vinagre, Emma Welter, Summer Williams, Grade 10; Jasmine Andrade, William Baltz, George Barry, Magdalena Brogioli, Breigh Christopher, Erin Craig, Jake Cronin, Sabrina Cunningham, Meredith Davignon, Quinn Davignon, Emily DellaCioppa, Benjamin DeMoranville, Caleb DeVoe, David Ditata, Christopher Feeney, Logan Fernandes, Jillian Ferreira, Adam Forrest, Isabel Friedrichs, Jenna Gamache, Brody Garber, Keira Gleasure, Taylor Green, Ava Hall, Lila Hall, Brooke Hammond, Mia Hemphill, Lauren Higgins, Harry Hunt, Wai Wai Athena Ip, Cadence Johnson, Amelia Joseph, Lauryn Lent, Sean Lund, Sofia Martins, Isabelle McCarthy, Lucas McElroy, Spencer Merolla, Caroline Milam, Ariana Miranda, Lucas Morrell, Steven Morrell, Elijah Motta, Emily Murphy, Katherine Nilson, Ethan Perez-Dormitzer, Victoria Perry, Sawichaya Phimolmas, Benjamin Preece-Santos, Zachary Proffit, Maria Psichopaidas, Natalya Rivera, Isabella Romig, Tess Roznoy, Ethan Scully, Desmond Sinnott, Carson Spencer, Brooke Steed, Callie Tavares, Hannah Teixeira, Maxwell Tucker, Michael Valerio, Angelina Vaughan, Maxwell Vivino, Allison Ward, Jennifer Williams, Nathan Yurof, Joseph Ziino, Grade 11;Novalye Arruda, Benjamin Austin, Alexia Blais, Curtis Briggi, Elizabeth Bungert, Shelby Carmichael, Emma Carroll, Margaret Carroll, Steven Carvalho, Jillian Craig, Tessa DeMaggio, Mariana Ditata, Carly Drew, Meaghan Dufresne, Joseph Dumas, Katherine Dwyer, Rachael Fantoni, Sydney Feeney, Reign Fernandes, Zachary Fitzpatrick, Austin Fleming, Abigail Forcier, Rachel Foye, Bianca Frazier, Prosser Friedman, Maeve Geraghty, Charles Hartley-Matteson, Lindsay Holick, Meghan Horan, Stefan Hulsebosch, Mia Hurley, Molly Janicki, Isabelle Kelly, Colin Kulak, Jhett Labonte, Jillian Langlais, Olivia LaPierre, Griffin Lawrence, Colin Mackin, Eva Angeline McCann, Grace McCarthy, Abigail McFadyen, Samuel Noblet, Tucker Nugent, Lindsey O’Donnell, David Oliver, Faith Oliver, Rachel Pina, Ryan Quinlan, Emma Schwabe, Evan Smith, Paige Sommers, Cameron Spencer, Madison Tavares, William Thomas, Jessica Vance, Grade 12; Felicia Aguiar, Abby Aldworth, Cole Ashley, Jacqueline Barrett, Gabrielle Bold, Jonathan Borsari, Mary Butler, Lucas Costa, Shawn Cote, Luke Couto, Jacob Demoranville, Jonah DePina, Evan DeSousa, Dylan DeWolfe, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Madison Guinen, Hunter Hanks, Luke Hanson, Madison Hayward, Jillian Higgins, Patrick Igoe, Zoe Kelley, Audrey Knox, Grayson Lord, Emma Mastovsky, Martina Montorio, Hunter Moreau, Noah Motta, Lauren O’Malley, Alexandra Old, Rebecca Pacheco, Allison Paim, Mason Pina, Hannah Pires, Robert Ramsay, Erin Scott, Byanca Silva, Nicholas Snow, Jendell Teixeira, Gracey Weedall, Brandon Wilbur

Brooke Elizabeth Sweet

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Brooke Elizabeth Sweet, 20, of Mattapoisett passed away Wednesday February 5, 2020 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Marion.

            Born in New Bedford, the loving daughter of Jodi L. Travers and David P. Sweet, she lived in Mattapoisett all of her life.

            Brooke loved spending time with her family and going to Ned’s Point with her best friend Audrey Eastwine. Everywhere Brooke went she brought life and laughter with her infectious smile and personality. Her family meant everything to her, her sisters were her best friends and she will forever live in our hearts.

            It brings great comfort to her family that Brooke is now reunited with the love of her life, Damen J. Hooper. The family would also like to thank Anthony Esposito for being so kind and loving to Brooke.

            She is survived by her parents, Jodi and David; her siblings, Christopher R. Serra and his girlfriend Alexis Lopes, Heather DeCosta and her husband Scotty, Derek P. Sweet and his wife Rachael, and Kaelyn M. Olivier and her husband Zack; her grandparents, Terry and Dennis Monty, Richard and Catherine Travers, Joan and Paul Leclair, and David Sweet; her uncles, Kevin Sweet, Eric Sweet, Christopher Travers and his spouse Al, Jonathan Travers and his wife Ana, and Daniel Travers; her niece, Alanna DeCosta; her nephews, Coleton Serra, Logan Serra, Colin Sweet, Travis Sweet, and Weston Lopes; her cousins, Dylan Sweet, Maison Sweet, and Noah Travers; her best friend since childhood, Leann Lomba; and all who loved her.

            Her visiting hours will be held on Thursday February 13th from 4-8 pm at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Route 6, Mattapoisett. Her Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday February 14th at 10 am at St. Joseph’s Church, Fairhaven. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saunderdwyer.com.

Richard A. Fluegel

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Richard A. Fluegel, 87, of Mattapoisett passed away on Monday February 3, 2020 at Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion.

            He was the beloved husband of the late Margery Susan (Macomber) Fluegel.

            Born in Fairhaven, Ma he was the son of the late Adam Christian Fluegel and the late Mildred May (Astin) Fluegel.

            Richard is survived by his children; Steven Richard Fluegel and his wife Susan of East Wareham, and Janice Karen (Fluegel) White and her husband Randall of Lakeville. Richard was predeceased by his son, the late Paul W. Fluegel.

            Richard is also survived by his siblings; Kenneth A. Fluegel of Dartmouth, Robert P. Fluegel of North Carolina, Diane M. (Irwin) of Dartmouth and Nancy E. Ferreira of Springfield, Ma. Richard was also the proud grandfather of Nathan S. Fluegel and his wife Jessica of Wareham, Jason White and his wife Andrea of Missouri, Rachel (White) Deane and her husband Adam of Lakeville, Jacob Fluegel and Alexandra Fluegel of Mattapoisett and Zachary Cosgrove and Angelina Cosgrove along with seven great grandchildren. He is also survived by his daughter in law Heather Coggshall-Fluegel and Lois Cosgrove-Fluegel.

            Richard worked for years in appliance repair and owned his own shop, Masse Appliance in New Bedford. He also served his Country proudly in the United States Coast Guard, and is a veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Richard also enjoyed watching the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.

            A Memorial Service is planned for 10:00 am on February 29, 2020. To be held at South Coast Chapel Mortuary 158 Middleboro Rd (Rt.18) East Freetown, Ma 02717. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.

            Burial to follow the service in Riverside Cemetery, 274 Main Street, Fairhaven, Ma 02719.

            In lieu of flowers donations in Richard’s memory can be made to Dana Faber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave. Boston, Ma 02215.

Inclusionary Housing Discussion

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Members of Marion’s Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, and Affordable Housing Trust all met on Thursday, January 30, to discuss the future of the town’s affordable housing strategy.

Resident Sherman Briggs had previously raised a concern with the Planning Board, noting that the town would be missing out on valuable income if the town continues to enforce the bylaw after reaching the 10-percent affordable-housing requirement mandated by the state.

            A multi-unit development currently planned for Wareham Road would push Marion beyond the 10-percent affordable-housing requirement when and if it is completed. However, affordable housing generally has a limited date; it becomes “regular” housing after a set number of years (generally 15 to 20), which could trigger Marion to fall back below the minimum affordable-housing requirement in the future. 

            Marion’s current affordable housing bylaw requires that any development of six or more units must ensure that 10 percent of the units are affordable — or developers will pay a fine of $200,000. While the bylaw is on the books, it was pointed out at the meeting that the bylaw has ended up being highly ineffectual and has never actually been enforced.

            “The financial requirements are punitive,” noted Selectman John Waterman, “and they aren’t in proportion with a developer’s potential profits. There’s no regard to the risk a developer takes on to sell a project and make a profit. A developer would need to sink any initial profit he or she made into that penalty if they chose that route.”

            Waterman suggested a short-term fix, what he called a “stopgap” that would allow town officials more time to deliberate a thoughtful and effective long-term plan. He proposed lowering the affordable housing requirements for a development of six or more units to five percent affordable housing, or requiring a $75,000 in lieu of the affordable housing. 

“Those are more affordable to developers, and they’re more likely to comply with them,” he explained. In the meantime, he added that the town should form a task force to investigate, develop and recommend a new inclusionary zoning bylaw — one that he said will actually result in some new affordable housing being built every year or two. 

            Representatives of the Affordable Housing Trust agreed with this plan, noting that the idea of a task force was appealing. They did point out, however, that they would prefer to wait on amending the bylaw until the 10-percent requirement has actually been met. 

            Planning Board member Eileen Marum said that she had done research on cases where the state had been asked to extend the leases on affordable housing — in effect, keeping the classes as “affordable” for a longer period of time. 

“I think it’s certainly something to think about here,” she added. 

            The selectmen and members of the Planning Board agreed to continue discussing ideas into the future, including at the next meetings of both boards.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Andrea Ray