Jewelry Making Workshop Part II

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Sign up for a second jewelry making session at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library to be held on Saturday, February 1 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm lead by jewelry designer Robin Ragle-Davis. This workshop will focus on techniques used to make bead bracelets and earrings and will cover a number of different string and cord options as well as a variety of closures and how to attach properly and securely.

            Tools, closures and basic and beads will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring any special beads they would like to use. The workshop is limited to the first twelve people who register. No drop-ins, please. Call the library at 508-758-4171 to register. This workshop is sponsored by the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library.

Academic Achievements

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Erin M. Costa was named to the President’s List at Bentley University for the Fall 2019 semester. To be named to the President’s List, a full-time student must have a grade point average of 3.7 or higher with no course grade below 3.0 during the term.

            Johnson & Wales University (JWU) student Dylan Villa of Marion, an Entrepreneurship major in the College of Business, has been named to the dean’s list for the Fall 2019 term. To receive dean’s list commendation, students must earn a grade point average of 3.4 or above. Villa, a first-year student, is the son of Terry Villa and Sherman Briggs and a 2019 graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School.

Paul Anthony Frangos

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Beloved father and husband, Paul Anthony Frangos died Friday, January 24th at home after a long and valiant battle with Multiple Myeloma. Paul leaves behind his wife of 36 years, Elise Manley Frangos of Marion, MA and his children, Christina Mary Frangos of Marion, MA, Evan Paul Frangos of St. Petersburg, FL, and Lydia Dorothy Frangos Norris and her husband David Angelo Norris of Franklin, MA, and his loving brother, Thomas Anthony Frangos of Portsmouth, NH along with his in-laws, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that he loved so much.  Paul was predeceased by his sister, Dorothea, and his parents, Mary Christos Frangos and Anthony W. Frangos.

Paul was a 1973 graduate of Dartmouth College and earned an MBA at the University of Virginia. An avid runner, weightlifter and athlete, Paul served his country as a Marine at the end of the Vietnam War.  He worked in International Marketing for Parker Brothers and for Verizon as a Director of International Marketing for 25 years where he trained sales forces and brought yellow pages advertising to Mediterranean countries as well as, Asian and former Soviet Bloc countries.  A skilled linguist and writer, Paul enjoyed building cultural bridges with leaders of all sorts. In the final decade of his career, Paul taught mathematics and financial literacy to urban high school students in the Lawrence and Lynn Public Schools to honor those who had positively shaped his own development. 

He and Elise raised their children in Boxford where he fundraised for several new playgrounds and built nature trails with the Boxford Athletic Association. Paul was a Boy Scout leader helping dozens of young men achieve their Eagle Scout Rank, including his own son, Evan. 

After moving to Marion, he enjoyed the beauty of the South Coast, having the time to bike, kayak, walk his dogs, and practice carpentry to help his children with their homes.  The consummate gentleman and friend, Paul will be dearly remembered for his love of animals, family and friends, his kindness, wit, intelligence and support for all who knew him.

A celebration of Paul’s life for visitors will take place from 8 to 9:30 on January 28 at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy. (Rt. 28), Wareham followed by a 10 o’clock Mass at St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High St., Wareham. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Paul’s name to the MSPCA at https://www.mspca.org/donate-now/

For directions or to leave a message of condolence, visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com

40R Stormwater Plan Needs Further Analysis

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The Rochester Conservation Commission on January 21 revisited the Notice of Intent filed by Steen Realty and Development Corporation, Inc., developer of the 40R affordable housing development known as Rochester Crossroads at 22 Cranberry Highway.

            The proposed work that includes stormwater management systems to accommodate the 208-unit housing complex falls entirely within the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone, with some work occurring within the 25-foot no-touch zone.

            Engineer Phil Cordeiro told the commission that he had only a few updates to present this week, but nothing pertaining to the project’s design.

            The commission attended a site visit over the prior weekend to familiarize itself with the location, and Cordeiro said he also discussed the findings from Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon’s own separate walk of the site and its wetlands lines.

            “Nothing has transpired from our side, and we haven’t made any modifications to the plan at this point,” Cordeiro said, adding that Farinon only had a few comments about two wetland flags that needed to be revisited by the developer’s wetlands scientist and a request that the developer remove some old PVC piping and debris from two sites left behind by a nursery that was once located there.

            Cordeiro said he would prefer that the two cleanups be included in the Order of Conditions as special conditions. 

            Assisting the commission is environmental consultant Henry Nover, who provided the commission with his comments on the stormwater management system plan. He recommended two additional test pit sites and a groundwater mounding analysis be performed to test the stormwater management system’s calculations against a 100-year storm.

            Cordeiro said that the project would be appearing before the Planning Board in the following week for its first formal hearing and that they would be presenting a plan that he believes “already captures what is likely to be their comments.”

            “I hope that we’ve checked the boxes, but we’re not quite there,” said Cordeiro.

            The hearing was continued until February 4.

            In other matters, the public hearing for the Request for Determination of Applicability, continued from December 17, for the Town of Rochester for work at the Leonard’s Pond recreation area was again continued until February 4.

            With one recusal leading to a lack of a quorum, the public hearing for Pedro Rodriguez of Solar MA Project Management, LLC was continued until February 4.

            The Notice of Intent for REpurpose Properties, LLC for an age-restricted residential development on Rounseville Road beside Plumb Corner Mall was continued until February 4.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for February 4 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Jean Perry

Balanced Budget Rests on ORR Assessment

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            The Marion Finance Committee met with Town Administrator Jay McGrail on January 15 for an update on progress toward a balanced fiscal year 2021 budget, which McGrail said is still off by roughly $100,000-$150,000.

            McGrail said a prior shortfall of $300,000 in December is “pretty common for that time of year” in the preliminary stages of the budget-building process, but reducing the rest of the deficit “[depends] on how ORR swings,” he said.

            The budget timeline McGrail set weeks ago has so far been on track, said McGrail, after having met with all department heads to review their preliminary budget requests with just the library and the fire department remaining.

            McGrail has asked each department to submit a level-service budget for FY21 with any additional requests listed separately.

            “To be honest, it’s been a good process,” said McGrail. “We’ve cut already significantly from department… budgets to be able to get where we’re at today,” which included a number of eliminations in requests for additional staff, overtime, new programs, and some one-time funding requests.

            “We combed through requests to get down to what can afford,” said McGrail. “We’re not too far off from being able to submit a balanced budget to you guys.”

            McGrail reported that the town has $1.9 million in certified free cash at this time, an amount that Finance Committee Chairman Peter Winters said was “about average;” however, the town has been striving to rely less on free cash to fund the budget each year.

            “The last piece is really dealing with these last few departments and getting a final ORR number and that would complete our side of it (the budget preparation),” said McGrail.

            McGrail said he would submit the FY21 budget to the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen on January 30 and publically present it to the selectmen during their February 4 meeting with a February 5 FinCom meeting to follow. Soon after, McGrail said department heads from the Fire, Police, and Facilities Departments would make their presentations to the Board of Selectmen and the FinCom, hopefully during one meeting rather than two.

            McGrail was most excited about not having to propose any overrides to voters at this year’s Annual Town Meeting.

            “That’s pretty dramatically different than last year,” said McGrail. “I think that residents should be happy to hear that.”

            “We certainly want to see a growth rate of 2 percent – or under would be better,” said Winters. “Just because we can afford it doesn’t mean we should spend the money.”

            McGrail said the budget was currently at about 3 percent.

            “The final [ORR] assessment number will determine where that goes,” said McGrail.

            The next meeting of the Marion Finance Committee is scheduled for February 5 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Finance Committee

By Jean Perry

AARP Marion Town Survey Results

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There will be an AARP Marion Town Survey Results Focus Group Presentation on Thursday, February 13 at 6:00 pm and Saturday, February 15 at 10:00 am at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, 465 Mill Street, Route 6, Marion

            Attend one of two public focus group presentations on the AARP survey results by Marion’s 55 and older respondents. Last fall, yellow AARP surveys were mailed to all Marion’s 55 and older adults. 

This forum will be an opportunity to hear survey feedback by respondents and for participants to provide additional input. Information gleaned from both survey and focus group responses will assist the Town in future planning. This is the time to speak about important issues to make the Town of Marion more age-friendly for current and future residents. 

            Following the presentation and discussion of survey results, attendees are invited to enjoy refreshments provided through a grant to the Town. The Friends of the Council on Aging is organizing both evening and morning focus group presentations.

ORRJH Students of the Month

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Silas D. Coellner, Principal of Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, announces the following Students of the Month for December 2019:

Green Team: Murray Callahan and Grady Daniels        

Orange Team: Emerson Femino and George Psichopaidas

Blue Team: Caitlin O’Donnell and Wesner Archelus

Red Team: Mia Figueiredo and Varunyu “Peter” Phimolmas

Special Areas: Jenna Lynch and Erick Dawson

Sippican Woman’s Club Holiday House Tour

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To the Editor;

            The Sippican Woman’s Club of Marion celebrated another exciting Holiday House Tour on December 14. This year’s annual event titled A Simple Christmas in Marion, raised more than $13,000. These funds will be awarded as 2020 scholarships to Marion graduating and continuing education students.

            A Simple Christmas was truly a town holiday celebration which hosted over 600 visitors. Highlights included five beautiful homes indicative of Marion’s history and location, the Marion Garden Group’s annual holiday event, the newly renovated Marion Art Center, the Elizabeth Tabor Library, and the historic Beverly Yacht Club.

            The women of SWC wish to express sincere gratitude to all who contributed: the wonderful families who graciously decorated and opened their homes to the public were amazing; the florists and homeowners who provided exquisite décor, the student volunteers who provided tremendous help guiding visitors through homes or serving at the traditional Sugar Plum Tea.

            Thanks to the staff and members of the Beverly Yacht Club for providing complimentary coffee and tea and welcoming visitors with a historical account of this gathering place for sailors near and far.

            Finally, what would we do without our cheerful town Department of Public Works who so faithfully take care of our banner? Thank you all for your patience and support.

            As always, every lady of the SWC pitched in throughout the year-long planning and executing of the Holiday House Tour. We thank everyone for the many compliments of our wonderfully decorated clubhouse, Handy’s Tavern. We hope to see you all again December 12, 2020.

            Best wishes for a Happy New Year.

Janet Reinhart, President

Sippican Woman’s Club

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will 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 Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.

ZBA Denies Special Permit and Variance

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            After a short delay to the start of the January 16 meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals, as hurried outgoing calls were made to alternate members in an effort to make a quorum, the first meeting of the evening was eventually and quickly dispatched.

            Richard and Carol Allen, 7 Highland Avenue, represented by John Panzarella of East Coast Homes, saw their request for a Special Permit to build a new residence on a previously approved undersized lot approved.

            The previous owner had secured a permit to build; however, the Allens failed to act in a timely manner causing that permit to expire. With no objections or questions from those in attendance or the board members, the request was approved.

            Things did not go quite so quickly when an application for a Special Permit and a Variance filed by 13 Shipyard Lane, LLC, and Atkinson, LLC for properties located at 13 Shipyard Lane and 18 Atkinson Way was heard. Represented by engineer Doug Schneider of Schneider, Davignon and Leone, the applicant sought the board’s approval to divide properties not contiguous to one another.

            As was described by Schneider, his client, Sam Waterston, owns both properties; parcels that were once a much larger holding owned by his ancestors. The lot located at 13 Shipyard Lane currently includes a pathway or easement to a beach area, a small undersized lot, and exclusive rights and ownership of a stone pier. And while the plans, Schneider said, would not change deeded easements for beach access, it would convey to the parcel located at 18 Atkinson Way those exclusive rights and ownership to the pier.

            ZBA Chairman Susan Akin and ZBA member Mary Anne Brogan appeared flummoxed and questioned why the applicant wished to have the pier conveyed to the Atkinson Way property when, as things stood now, he owns everything.

            Schneider said that although there are not currently any plans to sell any properties, the applicant wanted “flexibility” for any future decisions. He also pointed out that all along Mattapoisett’s extensive coastline there exist piers absent any “primary structure”, making what Waterston requests not unusual based on precedent.

            Schneider also said that the applicant had conferred with a real estate agent who seemed to indicate that the Atkinson Way property would have more value if the pier off Shipyard Lane could be attached to it.

            “Why does he have to own it, he has an easement,” said Brogan, but Schneider pointed out that the easement to the beach did not include rights to use the pier.

            “Why does he have to do this?” asked Akin.

            “He’s looking to protect the pier and keep it with the ancestral home,” responded Schneider.

            Schneider further clarified that Waterston having to own two properties in order to keep the ancestral pier constituted the hardship. 

            “He should just keep the house (on Shipyard Lane),” said Brogan. “Granny shouldn’t have sold it.”

            In the end, the majority ruled that the filing could not meet hardship standards and the stated hardship had been “self-created.” Akin, Brogan and member Norman Lyonnais voted ‘no’ with members Tony Tranfaglia and Colby Rottler voting to approve.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for February 20 at 6:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Town Hall if there are hearings scheduled.

Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals

By Marilou Newell

Local LWV Expands, Tackles Census

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The League of Women Voters, conceived and chaired by the leading suffragette Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920, has evolved over the decades. Supporting women and helping to register many thousands, campaigning for the creation of the United Nations, sponsoring the first televised presidential debates and, more recently, focusing on issues that negatively impact minorities, students, the elderly, and rural voters, the LWV remains a vital nonpartisan organization.

            While there is a national LWV, its strength comes from grassroots hometown advocacy. On that theme, the former Marion-Mattapoisett-Rochester LWV is becoming the South Coast LWV.

            “We received state authorization to change our name and expand the range of our territory,” LWV member Luana Josvold recently told The Wanderer.

            Josvold explained that the local LWV sought to expand their territory and, in so doing, provide meaningful support to historically underserved populations.

            The interim leadership team includes, along with Josvold, Mattapoisett residents LWV Facilitator Kris Eastman, Secretary Betty Hill, and Cathy Martens; and Marion residents Deborah Bush, Margie Baldwin, Margot Stone, and Nan Johnson.

            The newly expanded LWV will encompass Acushnet, New Bedford, Fairhaven, Wareham, and the three tri-towns. In the South Coast region, they will not only be able to increase their membership base, but they will also be reaching out to people, neighborhoods, families that might be unaware of the LWV and the services it can provide. All that is about to change.

            The SCLWV is taking on the immense task of helping to count every single person living in the area as the 2020 Federal Census is rolled out.

            Since 1790 and every 10 years since then, the federal government undertakes population counts and data collection on numbers of people in the country and how the population is comprised – every man, woman, and child.

            As Eastman put it, “After we received state approval for the name change and expanded region we thought, ‘What can we do now?’” She said that while continuing the work to help people with voter registration, the LWV also understands the importance of supporting those working on the census. “How could we help make the uncounted counted?”

            First and foremost the LWV wants people to understand how the Federal Census impacts their daily lives. As people, especially young families, go about their busy days working, getting the kids off to school, managing the household, possibly taking care of older family members or just getting through each day and its challenges, the import of what the Federal government is doing with tax dollars can get lost.

            “Between 6 and 8 billion dollars in federal money is impacted by the census,” Eastman said. Where that money is spent and on what programs trickles down to everyone living in the country regardless of their residency status, she said.

            The SCLWV has partnered with town clerks and librarians in an effort to get everyone counted and to help assuage concerns that “big brother” is watching and using collected census data in ways that threaten rather than support society as a whole.

            Mattapoisett Town Clerk Catherine Heuberger explained, “The LWV will mobilize volunteers to help people complete the census.” While the Federal Census Bureau will direct people to complete the form online, “Many people will hesitate to do that. People may worry about hacking; they can go to the library and use those computers,” she said.

            LWV volunteers will supplement library staffing to help people navigate the website and answer any questions they might have, she said.

            “The Federal Census isn’t shared with anybody,” Heuberger added. While some of the questions are quite personal, she said, such as ethnicity, financial information, and who lives in the residence, their ages, and gender, “Many people may not want to disclose this information.” But Heuberger stated that the Census Bureau is bound by law not to share any details with other agencies and that all individual data is encrypted. She assured that the data collected does not include bank accounts numbers or passwords.

            So what is the point of the census? Simply put, how to spend federal tax dollars.

            Susan Pizzolato, Mattapoisett Public Library director, said, “Programs that impact children such as food stamps, WIC milk programs, classroom sizes, where schools should be built… If we don’t have the right numbers these programs can’t help.

            “Issues of trust are challenging,” she continued, “but that’s where the libraries can help.”

            Pizzolato said that libraries are trusted places, places where everyone can come in and get the information they need or complete the census online. She said getting people to understand that even if they don’t have a green card, being counted – especially the children – is critical to how and where funds will be allocated.

            All the census advocates interviewed for this story made the same point: a concerted effort on the part of the Federal Census Bureau will be made to get the count as complete as possible starting in March.

            Based on addresses supplied by town clerks throughout the country, a postcard will be sent to households. That card will direct the recipient to go online to complete the census. If that goes unanswered, a second postcard, followed by a paper census form, followed by a knock on the door, will be the progression taken by the federal government to secure the data.

            “April 1 will be Census Day,” said Josvold. That is the official day to get the census completed. She circled back to the importance of the census, saying, “This impacts government representation.” And for those who have been historically undercounted, a lack of representation is possible.

            In the larger cities such as New Bedford, Heuberger said that religious leaders may be asked to help get the word out to their parishioners.

            Pizzolato said that library staff alone couldn’t provide sufficient support for those wishing to complete the form online at libraries, “But the League will deploy volunteers when I need them.”

            And the LWV is looking to supplement their membership with volunteers for this effort.

            “We are looking for people who are familiar with their community,” said Eastman. She said that the census has “far-reaching ramifications” so that being “positive about the census, making people feel comfortable,” is critical. And not to put too fine a point on it, “The census is looking at where you’re living; it has nothing to do with who you are or whether you are a citizen or not.”

            To learn more about the 2020 Federal Census go to www.2020census.gov. You may also reach out to the local 2020 Federal Census representative Jose Dacunha at jose.m.dacunha@2020census.gov.

To learn more about the South Coast League of Women Voters you may contact Kris Eastman at kriseastman@gmail.com.

By Marilou Newell