Hannah Welcomed Home

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            Red and purple hearts, respective colors of Tabor Academy and College of The Holy Cross, decorated an overpass on I-195 and were held up by family, friends, and supporters all the way down Front Street past Tabor and beyond Marion village down to Pitcher Street for Hannah Strom’s June 3 homecoming.

            Strom had been recovering away from home since a January 15 collision with a pickup truck in Vero Beach, Florida, took the life of her teammate Grace Rett, injured several others on the Holy Cross women’s rowing team, and left her with a lengthy and complicated road back that began in Florida and saw her continue at Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. On June 3, she returned home with a police escort and was cheered by hundreds as she passed through the Tabor campus and the village.

            Those in attendance know the Stroms in many ways, be it from starting every spring season with a ceremonial trip to Kool-Kone, the family-owned, ice cream drive-in on Route 6 in Wareham, or from sports or even through their golden doodle Shannon.

            Across from the general store, Deb, Lara, and Pam were among attendees representing the Friends of Marion Dogs. It turns out their dogs play a significant role in their relationship with the Strom family, as Tom Strom, Hannah’s father, is a member of the group that congregates at Silvershell Beach and Washburn Park. Shannon is a popular dog and even visited Hannah during her stint at MGH.

            The love shown to the Strom family on this day is a reflection on what the family has meant to the community. “Their whole family does a lot for all the communities, not just Marion. They give 110 percent all the time, like anytime anybody asks,” said Jessica Kelly, who supported from the Front Street sidewalk with her two children. “(The Stroms) donate to the school; they’re just such a great family… They support everybody, every chance they get.”

By Mick Colageo

Rochester Council on Aging

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The full monthly newsletter is available on our website, www.rochestermaseniorcenter.com. Events and information is also on our Facebook page.  www.facebook.com/rochestercoa.

            The Rochester Senior Center is working with the AARP Foundation to finalize tax preparations for the seniors who are still waiting for assistance. If you are waiting for tax assistance from AARP, they will be contacting you directly in the near future.

            The Rochester Senior Center will host in-person town elections on Wednesday, June 17.  The screening for illness guidance set-forth by the MA Department of Public Health will be followed. If you are not feeling well or have cold-like symptoms, you are encouraged to vote via mail.  

            Phase 2 of the re-opening in MA will bring the return of some activities and meals held at the Rochester Senior Center with restrictions. Seniors are asked to take their personal health status into consideration when deciding whether or not to visit the Rochester Senior Center.  

            There are currently puzzles and books available for lend. Call the Senior Center to make a request. Items can be picked up and returned curbside.

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 Senior Will Gauvin of Mattapoisett for being selected as Student of the Month for April by the Old Rochester Regional High School Faculty and Staff.

            We congratulate Senior Zoe Kelley of Marion for being selected as Student of the Month for May by the Old Rochester Regional High School Faculty and Staff.

Mattapoisett Candidates Make their Pitches

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            Editor’s Note: The Wanderer invited candidates for contested seats on elected boards and committees in the tri-towns to submit up to 350 words stating their case to the voters. This week we hear from candidates in Mattapoisett and Rochester. The respective elections in these towns are scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, and Wednesday, June 17. Marion’s election is set for Friday, June 26. The Southeastern Massachusetts League of Women Voters supplied the following seven questions for candidates’ consideration in this presentation:

1. What office are you running for and what inspired you to run in this election?

2. What experience and expertise do you bring to the table and how does that qualify you for this position?

3. What initiatives would you create to prioritize the Town’s goals of being more supportive to Seniors “Aging in Place?”

4. If you could change one thing in the Town’s Zoning Ordinance, what would it be?

5. How would you generate more interest in people serving in public office?

6. If elected, what would be your first priority in improving the Town’s financial standing?

7. If the Town received a $1 million grant to use any way you wanted, how would you allocate it and why?

Board of Selectmen: John DeCosta

            My name is John DeCosta and I am seeking a seat on the Board of Selectmen. My inspiration to run comes from my family’s service to the community, especially my dad’s 21-year run as a selectman. I chose this year to run because I am in a position in my personal life to dedicate the time and energy needed to the job.

            I feel I am qualified for the job because of my own town service, which includes 40 years as a town meeting member, having served on the Fire Department, been a employee of the Water Department, served on the Capital Planning, Community Preservation, Open Space and Town Administrator Screening committees. I also have a history of commitment to the community that goes from helping my dad with the Memorial Day parade as a boy to today, volunteering at Harbor Days and Christmas in the park.

            There are normal issues facing the town and as always new challenges coming up. Case in point is the COVID-19 pandemic. It is bringing a whole new set of issues to the town that will require dedicated leadership to solve. How to open schools, operate town services, support our vulnerable populations, maintain our traditions and provide support for our affected business community and organizations are just a few of these challenges.

            I see some of our contemporary issues as affording the major capital needs of Town Hall, the wharfs and outstanding road repairs. A lack of affordable housing for seniors and young families. Understanding the complete financial and regulatory issues involved before continuing construction of the multi-use path, and zoning issues around the increasing number of solar arrays in town. I want to ensure that any growth in a town department or the town’s equipment fleet is truly needed and benefits the taxpayers.

            I would like to bring my experience and my commitment to the Board of Selectmen. I wish to be a new voice who brings some new and some traditional ideas to the way we run our town.

            I ask for your vote on Election day.

            Respectfully, John DeCosta

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen: Tyler Macallister

            Many ask, “What does a selectman do?”  The Selectmen are charged with many things, but the most important task for the Selectmen is to act upon the will of Town Meeting. Every spring, long hours are spent with the town administrator, Finance Committee, department heads and superintendent of schools, developing a budget that fits within revenue forecasts and work with the town administrator to prepare for Town Meeting.

            I graduated with an MBA from Isenberg School of Management, a B.S. in Marine Biology, an advanced degree in Education, and Master Captains License. I founded or co-founded several successful businesses and have fished commercially for 35 years.

            I often visited Mattapoisett while in college for Nick’s Pizza or adult beverages and entertainment at the Mattapoisett Inn. My wife and I settled in Mattapoisett in 2001. I joined the Conservation Commission in 2005 and then ran for Selectman in 2011. My wife Cindy, daughter Alex and I volunteer annually to serve food at the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Shipyard Park.

            Over the last nine years, the selectmen, town administrator, employees, department heads, and finance committee have worked hard to improve the fiscal health of Mattapoisett. Mattapoisett’s bond rating was raised to the highest attainable by establishing stabilization funds to smooth the impact of highly variable costs and addressing future unfunded liabilities. Maintaining this premier fiscal status requires a solid understanding of municipal finance to prepare balanced budgets and accurate revenue forecasts.

            Representing the town, I negotiated contracts with the Patrolman’s and Local Teachers’ unions three times. I was fortunate to work with professionals from both unions.

            One of the issues important to me while selectman is supporting the aging population in Mattapoisett and the Council on Aging.  I am looking forward to continuing that work with Jackie and the COA.

            I consider the waterfront to be the focal point of the town. Hiring Jamie McIntosh as full-time harbormaster was pivotal to improving the waterfront and its facilities. I will continue supporting all efforts to improve and upgrade Mattapoisett’s waterfront resources.

            Thank you for your support on June 16.

            Tyler Macallister

Town Meeting Postponed – for Now

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            “We don’t know where local revenues are going to fall or what the state budget will be,” said Town Administrator Mike Lorenco during the June 8 meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen. Selectman Paul Silva opened the financial discussion wondering aloud if Town Meeting should be postponed at least until August to give the town time to adjust budgets prior to holding the annual meeting. Lorenco said he agreed with waiting to see where local revenues landed and with moving forward using the one-twelfth formula allowed by the state to continue conducting business until a new FY21 budget could be approved by the voters.

            Governor Baker granted authority to cities and towns throughout the commonwealth to use one-twelfth of their FY20 town meeting-approved operating budgets to sustain business transactions the town needed, and pay salaries and other fixed costs. This fiscal process, although not new, became relevant to many communities trying to find safe ways to hold town meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

            Silva asked Selectman Jordan Collyer his thoughts on whether to try and hold a town meeting sooner rather than later. Collyer responded, “I’m not sure we know how the revenues are going. If we go with one-twelfth, we can rule Town Meeting out until we have some level of comfort (regarding local and state revenues) and then we can look at budgets again.”

            Silva agreed, saying, “I don’t want to cut things out of the budget if we don’t have to. By August or September we’ll have a better idea, let’s not come up with a date now.”

            There was some discussion about reopening the warrant, but the board determined that if allowed to do so they were in agreement that waiting was prudent. Silva, Collyer, and Lorenco also agreed that, given the economic ramifications of the pandemic on the state’s revenue sources, financial outcomes might be dire.

            Lorenco said, “We’ve already started to make a one-twelfth budget to use in place of a town meeting,” anticipating the necessity to postpone Town Meeting. He also said that he, along with town clerk Catherine Heuberger, met at Old Rochester Regional High School to talk to the facility manager Gene Jones regarding how best to prepare the auditorium for a town meeting that needed to provide distancing.

            Jones shared his concern that, if the town waited and held its town meeting in either August or September, sanitation procedures would be more difficult as students would be returning to the school by then. But Silva thought the possibility of holding Town Meeting outdoors in one of the athletic fields under a tent was feasible. Heuberger supported holding Town Meeting, while students were out of the school building, but Lorenco, while appreciative of her concerns, said, “…financially I’m in favor of postponing; losses from the state will be significant.” The selectmen moved to set no date for Town Meeting at this time.

            In other business, the selectmen discussed restaurant reopening plans but quickly heard from Lorenco that, while the town and Board of Health have been in discussions with local restaurants, none have provided a fully executed outdoor eating plan to date.

            Lorenco said that he along with consultant Mike Gagne had discussed outdoor seating with Turks, Pandolfi’s Diner, Taste Buds, Captain and Walrus, the Inn at Shipyard Park, and Rustico. He said that, while each was in the process of figuring out how to offer outdoor dining, none had provided a plot plan that could be reviewed by the Board of Health. Lorenco said that he was hopeful that by next week all plans could be finalized and ready to implement. Silva said, “We want to do everything we can to help these businesses.” He told Lorenco, “As soon as you get those (plans), schedule a meeting so this can get done.” Lorenco said the board did not need to meet to approve the plans, prompting Silva to say, “Let’s go then as soon as they come in.”

            Regarding town elections, it is all systems go for Tuesday, June 16, as Heuberger explained the plans and preparation she has been making. She said that she had participated in an election in Plymouth and was able to see “what worked and what didn’t work.” She said she would have a minimum number of poll workers, and masks would be required as well as distancing. “People can bring their own black ballpoint pen, but we’ll be cleaning pens and disinfecting throughout the day,” she stated. Absentee ballots are still available for those wishing to vote in a truly remote fashion.

            Ryan Fraine came before the selectmen with a proposal for his Eagle Scout project, construction of a volleyball court at Aucoot public beach. Silva wanted to ensure that the court would not take up any available sunbathing area and that, given that contact sports are not currently allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions, there isn’t any urgency. Fraine said he was seeking permission from the board to set-up a meeting with the Conservation Commission as the first step in what will be a months-long process. Collyer asked Fraine to provide the board with a plot plan and, after meeting with ConCom, return to the board for further discussion.

            On the theme of all things beaches, Lorenco said that public beaches were opening with lifeguards on June 29. He said that restrictions and beach-use guidelines are available on the town’s website and included such things as mandatory wearing of masks, distancing, no group over 10 people, no day passes in an effort to keep number of beachgoers down, and no one closer than 12-feet from the lifeguard stands.

            “Lifeguards will not be enforcing distancing,” Lorenco said, but they would be charged with monitoring to ensure guidelines are being followed. “The beach house and showers will be closed,” he added, but portable toilets will be made available. No beach games will be allowed such as volleyball, and he said people should plan on “carry in – carry out” policies. Lorenco stated that seasonal beach passes can be obtained at the outdoor service windows open between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm daily at town hall. Access to the interior of town hall is by appointment only at this time, he said.

            The Lions Club sought and received permission to display a banner attached to the gazebo at Shipyard Park from July 10-19 that will illustrate their service programs and membership drive.

            Earlier in the meeting, the selectmen approved the application for funding from Plymouth County CARES program to overset COVID-19 expenses.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen will be posted at mattapoisett.net when scheduled.

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell

The Bugs that Bug You

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The Mattapoisett Free Public Library has arranged for Blake Dinius from Plymouth County Extension to speak about ticks and mosquitoes to residents of our local area towns. This will be a free Zoom presentation that will take place on Monday, June 29 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Registration is required for this free presentation. Please email bdinius@plymouthcountyma.gov

            For as long as people have been alive on this earth, ticks and mosquitoes have existed. More than just annoying, the bite from one of these can pass on germs with life-altering consequences. Most people know something about mosquitoes and ticks such as to wear long sleeves and pants or use DEET. But what they DON’T know may leave them vulnerable. Understanding mosquito and tick biology holds the key to preventing disease. In this workshop, we will bust myths and discuss both chemical and non-chemical protection methods. With the right knowledge and tools, all vector-borne diseases are preventable.

            Blake graduated with a degree in Biology from UMass Boston. After six years with hundreds of insect research studies under his belt, Blake began working for Plymouth County Extension as the Entomologist Educator. Currently, Blake’s focus is on vector-borne disease prevention. As an avid angler, camper, and hiker, he believes New Englanders should enjoy the outdoors with the right knowledge.

Mattapoisett Road Race Goes Virtual 2020

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Although there will be no in-person race this year, the Mattapoisett Road Race committee encourages you to get out and exercise while supporting the class of 2020. Funds raised by the road race normally go towards members of the graduating class as stipends for college. We would like to continue supporting the seniors this year, especially with all of the current uncertainty caused by COVID-19. That is why we will be hosting a virtual road race! Participants can register online, and then run five miles between June 26 to July 2. The five miles can be run at any location you like. The registration donation fee will be $25. If you sign up by July 1 and would like a Mattapoisett Road Race t-shirt, you can pay an extra $15, and it will be mailed or delivered to you. Please take a photo of yourself during the run and we will put it on the website. To register or learn more information, please visit our website at www.mattapoisettroadrace.com/

Sentinels

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To the Editor:

            Last November a Special Town Meeting was held at ORRHS to address whether we wanted to change the zoning by-laws thereby allowing Mattapoisett to be the Southeastern Massachusetts wholesale cultivation and distribution HUB for the marijuana industry. 

            We work hard every day along with the police, schools, churches and others to create a safe environment for our children.  How ironic would it have been if, while telling our children on one hand not to bully, steal, cheat, smoke, be promiscuous, or do alcohol or other drugs, we returned home that night and told them “Oh, by the way, we just voted to make Mattapoisett the cultivation and distribution HUB for the marijuana industry.”

            What an example we would have set and “yes” it’s by example they learn … by watching what we do … not by what we say.

            We are our children’s Sentinels…teaching them what’s right and wrong.  This won’t ensure success in life, but it will give them the best chance to be happy in a World fraught with harmful temptations.

            I was lucky enough to have parents that led by example. My Father was a revered member of the Mattapoisett Police Department and my Mother a beloved teacher.  The older people in Town tell me they remember them well.  These same people created the Town we know today…a Town that could have been the model for the saying “it takes a village.”  

            Now, while we are home with our children during the pandemic we have a great opportunity to help them make sense of the World.  We may never have the chance again to impart the virtues, skills, knowledge and culture of our individual families to them. 

            You know that night at ORRHS the proponents’ attorney gave a polished presentation urging us to use a “thoughtful approach” and pass the Article while also claiming the Town stood to make a lot of money.

            Then the Town Meeting Members spoke.  Maybe they weren’t quite as practiced as the attorney, but they spoke with common sense and “yes”… spoke thoughtfully too. 

            One man told us his daughter said she did “not want to even drive by Industrial Drive again” if we voted to allow this drug center to be built there.

            Another Member questioned the accuracy of the figures comprising the projected financial windfall the Town would realize as he methodically dismantled their whole financial argument.

A young man spoke last… enthusiastically supporting the Article and use of marijuana in general saying that whatever our generation thought was really “irrelevant” … marijuana was here to stay.

            I wanted to tell him, “No, actually we’re all relevant and will be so long after we’re gone … to our families, communities and country.   The fabric of our lives is woven from the fine threads of all our acts and deeds, past and present.  They’re the same notes comprising the songs that play in the background of our daily lives.  Families move here to contribute and enjoy these songs.”

            No one argued with him because we knew that when he has his own children he’ll see things differently and he will be their Sentinel too as he tries to make sense of the World for them and steel them against other harmful temptations not yet imagined.

            After all our discussions the vote was taken.  The Members resoundingly voted to defeat the Article thereby sending the clear message that we did understand the negative effect it would have had on Mattapoisett, that we were completely aware our children were watching this vote and just as importantly … our Town was not for sale.

            They get their values from us.  Stay the course.

Bob Moore, Mattapoisett

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.

Fieldstone Looking Good for License to Sell Beer and Wine

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Fieldstone Farm Market’s application for a license to sell beer and wine was discussed in a favorable light during Tuesday night’s public hearing, Marion’s first since the coronavirus pandemic forced public meetings out of municipal buildings and onto remote-access platforms.

            Owner Arnie Johnson, known to some in the tri-towns as chairman of Rochester’s Planning Board, did his own planning for Fieldstone with an abiding desire “to promote regional agriculture whenever possible.

            “We’ve greatly expanded our cheese department since we opened three years ago,” he told the Board of Selectmen, which hosted the hearing as a dry run of sorts while other Marion boards anticipate holding necessary public hearings in advance of the June 22 Town Meeting.

            Town Administrator Jay McGrail and Board of Selectmen Randy Parker were safely spaced apart operating on a dedicated phone line at the Police Station, while Johnson, selectmen Norm Hills and John Waterman and any other attendees participated via Zoom.

            Facing no controversy, the town did not see through the full operating function of the continued hearing, as no one accepted the invitation to the public for comment on the matter. Johnson told the board that a license to sell beer and wine would augment Fieldstone’s developing assortment of fine cheeses and meats.

            “This would be an extension to go with that,” said Johnson, who plans to major on locally produced wine. “My intention is to only have a couple of local wineries that would be in line with our (land-use) goals … and possibly some craft microbrews.”

            Johnson reported that two cheese-tasting events held last year at Fieldstone drew approximately 150 customers. “That got the thoughts brewing toward maybe expanding like this,” he said. Johnson told the selectmen he will attend the board’s next meeting on Tuesday, June 16, at 4:15 pm that will close out the hearing.

            Waterman asked the other members if anyone saw a negative side to the issuance of the license, prefacing the question by admitting he regularly does business at Fieldstone. There were no dissenting comments, and the hearing was officially continued and Johnson left the meeting.

            McGrail had one action item for the board’s consideration, seeking authorization to approve requests from Marion restaurants for outdoor seating in keeping with Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan that went into effect on June 8.

            The expedited process does not require the approval of the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) or appearance before the Board of Selectmen, but it is a temporary order (through November 1) and subject to any pending orders of the governor.

            McGrail will work with Building Commissioner/Zoning Officer Scott Shippee to “make sure we’re doing it safely,” he said. “Honestly, for me it’s a way to reach out to local businesses to get them up and running.”

            This authorization will not apply to new licenses, only to existing ones in order to take the drag out of Phase 2. The board approved.

            McGrail told the meeting that so far Marion has 60 residents signed up to attend Town Meeting.

            The Marion Board of Selectmen next meets on Tuesday, June 16, at 4:15 pm.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo

Dragon Drives in the Fast Lane

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            Kathy Massey had an unusual encounter on June 4, capturing a “tegu” dragon along Route 6 just over the Marion line.

            “This is a first for me. This thing is wild – wild. I can’t get over the head,” said Massey, who has been Mattapoisett’s Animal Control Officer the past 23 years with 30 years total experience.

            She has seen plenty over three decades but ranked this adventure among the wildest.

            “That’s my first time picking one of these suckers up… oh my God,” said Massey. “This is one of the top – especially the guy that called 911, said it was a Komodo dragon. That (would have been) bad, they eat everything… They are huge, but when they bite something they disburse this very slow venom into it. They sit around and wait. This thing is unbelievable, though, prehistoric like a dinosaur.”

            Late on Thursday morning, a motorcyclist spotted the animal while riding along Route 6 and made a 9-1-1 emergency call that a Komodo dragon was on the loose. Turns out it was a tegu dragon, and by noon the tegu dragon was being treated for a wound and hydrating in a tub of water at Mattapoisett Animal Hospital.

            Once the animal was in safe custody, Massey did some reading and quickly learned that the dragons hibernate and wondered aloud, “Who knows how long this thing has been around?”

            It took 15 minutes to secure the animal, which had made it across town line into Marion, where Massey put her lead around its neck. The dragon “got a little squirmy so I put its legs through” so that the loop was around the animal’s midsection. Meanwhile, Massey explained that the Marion animal control officer held the net so that the tegu dragon would step into it.

            Massey didn’t know the dragon was not a Komodo but a tegu until she had delivered it to Mattapoisett Animal Hospital for its evaluation and spa treatment. After having a wound treated, the dragon spent its afternoon soaking. The plan was to transport the animal to an undisclosed location so it can be nursed back to health. “Not my house!” specified Massey, who keeps chickens.

            Native to Central and South America, no one knew on the day the tegu dragon was captured how long it had been in the wild. The possibility that it was released by a private owner was not dismissed. As of Monday, the animal had not been claimed.

            “We have a tendency to be the cruelest species out there,” said Massey.

            Exotic and sometimes inappropriate pet keeping has inched its way into society, as the hit TV show “Tiger King” and several other programs have recently illustrated.

            “We had an iguana one time that used to get loose every two years when it was in heat. Somebody said they had a dinosaur in their bushes. As far as that kind of stuff, not often (do we see it), but I’m thinking somebody else is going to be missing this thing,” said Massey, noting that tegu dragons do not require a registration. “They’re not illegal; you can have them. The only problem – I personally wouldn’t have anything like that because their mouths are filthy, and if they bite you you’re going to get a heck of an infection.”

            Still, capturing and holding a tegu dragon in her arms was exciting enough. Massey last felt this far out of her comfort zone about 15 years ago when she captured a rabid otter. “Nowhere near water,” she said of the animal that was sent to Connecticut where it tested positive, leaving a lingering caution to the public.

            “Any mammal can get rabies,” said Massey, “any mammal. The only one that’s not top of the list (for rabies) is a possum.”

By Mick Colageo