Come to a concert at the Mattapoisett Museum (5 Church Street) featuring Putnam Murdock on Saturday, December 7 at 7:00 pm! Enjoy a special evening of original music by seasoned singer/songwriter Putnam Murdock and up and coming Sage Petrocelli. Featuring Barry Gross on the upright bass, and Colin Bradley on pedal steel guitar. Purchase tickets at https://www.mattapoisettmuseum.org/events. For more information call 508-758-2844 or email director@mattapoisettmuseum.org.
In 1998, the Sippican Historical Society commissioned an architectural survey of Marion’s historic homes and buildings. The survey was funded half by the Sippican Historical Society and half by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Due to the limits of funding, not all of the historic buildings were surveyed, but over 100 were cataloged and photographed. The results of the survey are in digital form on the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s website and in four binders in the Sippican Historical Society’s office (and at the Marion Town Clerk’s office).
Marion (Old Rochester) is one of the oldest towns in the United States, and the Sippican Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of documentation on its historic buildings. The Sippican Historical Society will preview one building a week so that the residents of Marion can understand more about its unique historical architecture.
This installment features 6 Main Street. The charming cape at 6 Main Street was built in 1790. Its earliest known owner is “ships caulker” Lucius L. Kelley. According to the 1873 Rochester directory, Lucius and Henry Kelley were the town’s only practitioners of this trade. Later owners included W. Pomeroy (1879) and M. Cushing (early 1900s).
On November 23 and 24, the South Coast Chamber Music Series (SCCMS) presents two enormous piano quintets that probe the boundaries of Romantic: Johannes Brahms’s Piano Quintet in F Minor and Mrs. H. H. A. Beach’s Piano Quintet. Pianist and SCCMS Artistic Director Janice Weber will be joined by New Bedford Symphony Orchestra musicians Jesse Holstein, violin; EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin; Anna Griffis, viola; and Leo Eguchi, cello.
The remarkable Mrs. H. H. A. Beach was not only a virtuoso pianist (performing dozens of times with the Boston Symphony), but a prolific composer of symphonic, chamber, piano, and vocal works. Her Piano Quintet of 1907, unabashedly romantic, demonstrates why she became the most successful woman composer of her generation. And Brahms’s passionate Quintet proves men can be romantics, too!
On Saturday, November 23, the concert will take place at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, 124 Front Street in Marion, while on Sunday, November 24, the concert will take place at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 351 Elm Street, South Dartmouth. Both concerts are at 4:00 pm, and admission is $20 at the door or pre-purchase tickets online at www.nbsymphony.org/chamber-series-season-subscriptions/
The SCCMS, which merged with the NBSO in 2014, presents an annual five-concert classical chamber music series in Marion and South Dartmouth. This season, musicians from the NBSO will perform in all of the chamber concerts, bringing their unique artistry and energy to the popular series. Visit www.nbsymphony.org to learn more.
In its quest to reduce and perhaps eliminate tobacco and nicotine use among its constituents, the Marion Board of Health met on November 5 to consider capping the number of tobacco sales licenses in town, which was followed by a discussion on why the board may act to take the ban on e-cigarette and vaping products further than the governor’s four-month ban.
Health Agent Karen Walega said Marion currently has six tobacco licenses, but it doesn’t have to be that many. She said the board could simply decrease the number of licenses, “Or cap the number of permits that we would be giving out.”
If one business “drops out,” she said, then the board could refrain from transferring it to another business. If another business sought a license, Walega said, they would have to wait until another business relinquishes theirs.
“It’s a way to reduce the number of vendors, so that’s being reviewed,” said Walega.
Walega said she would update the board after she receives some legal input and guidance on the proper language for moving this forward.
After, board member Dr. Edward Hopper shared the research he has done on the available data on the dangers of vaping and e-cigarette use and blamed e-cigarette manufacturers like Juul for spreading misinformation about the supposed safety of vaping.
“The Juul people are recreating a lot of what Big Tobacco did 40 or 50 years ago, presenting [vaping] as a healthful alternative,” said Hopper. “But at the same time they’re presenting it this way, they’re also using social media and athletes and young people to market it to kids. The flavored ones… are the big draw for kids just starting…”
Some of the sources Hopper cites in his handout include a September 19 study printed in JAMA Network Open, which is published by the American Medical Association, analyzing the risk for the carcinogen pulegone in mint and menthol-flavored e-cigarettes. Another of his sources included an October 7 study linking e-cigarette smoke to lung and bladder cancer in mice.
“And they’re no safer for the heart,” said Hopper. “And, if you do both as some people do, you actually have a much higher risk.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been over a thousand people diagnosed with a vaping-related illness, and 37 confirmed vaping-related deaths this year in 24 states, including two in Massachusetts. At least 12 deaths have been linked directly to vaping THC products sold on the black market.
“It’s not just people who vape cannabis products,” said Hopper, “it’s also people who vape plain nicotine products.”
Hopper had been leading the board’s movement toward banning e-cigarette and vaping products in Marion, but Governor Charlie Baker’s September 14 four-month ban on the sale of e-cigarettes “took some of the heat off us,” said Hopper.
“Until we know a lot more about it we should support that and consider extending it,” said Hopper.
The board has taken no official stance on what measures, if any, it will take on furthering the ban, but Hopper said he will be monitoring how the state handles the matter if and when further data is released linking e-cigarettes and vaping to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, which Hopper described a “bad pneumonia.”
At that point, if the state does not take action to address the matter, “Then we will revisit the issue,” Hopper said.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health will be on November 19 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House.
Marion Board of Health
By Jean Perry
George J. Schneider, Jr., 91, of Wareham, died November 9, 2019 at Tobey Hospital. He was the husband of the late Cemantha A. (Treible) Schneider and the son of the late George J. Schneider, Sr. and Bertha (Dukiet) Schneider.
He was born in Irvington, NJ and lived in Rochester and Cuttyhunk before moving to Wareham 12 years ago. He graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ.
He was a Marine Corps Veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He received a Purple Heart. He loved his country and was very patriotic.
Mr. Schneider was a Federal Agent for the National Marine Fisheries for several years before retiring. After retiring, he worked as a commercial fisherman alongside his two sons.
He was a member of the NRA, VFW and American Legion.
Survivors include his children, Kenneth Schneider and his wife Nina of Rochester, Roy Schneider of Wareham, Nancy Schneider of Wareham, Diane Sweeney of East Freetown, Carol Schneider of Fairhaven. a sister, Cathryn Burke of Seagirt, NJ; 7 grandchildren; a great grandson. He was the father of the late George J. Schneider, III and brother of the late Marjorie Campisi.
A celebration of his life will be held at later date.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Audubon Society, 225 Varick St., 7th Floor, NY, NY 10014.
The Mattapoisett Community Preservation Committee is currently accepting project funding applications for inclusion in the Spring Annual Town Meeting. The project application is available on the Town website (www.Mattapoisett.net) and in paper from the Selectmen’s office.
Applications must be received by November 30 to be considered for recommendation at the Spring Annual Town Meeting. Applications shall be submitted to the following address: Mattapoisett Community Preservation Committee, C/O the Board of Selectmen’s Office, 16 Main Street, Mattapoisett, MA 02739
Each project must be submitted to the Community Preservation Committee using the project submission form as the cover sheet. Requests must include a statement of need and be documented with appropriate support information.
All are welcome to the fourth annual Thanksgiving Fellowship Dinner that will be held in the Fellowship Hall of First Congregational Church of Rochester, 11 Constitution Way, on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28. Doors open at noon for fellowship and a free, traditional, homemade dinner will be served at 1:00 pm. No matter how big or small your family or group may be, we hope no one is alone on Thanksgiving. There is a limit of 100 seats, so make your reservation early by calling the church office at 508-763-4314. Tickets are absolutely free! We just ask that you bring a smile and warm heart to share.
The home that sustained fire damage at 91 Sarah Sherman Road will be reconstructed with the support of the Rochester Conservation Commission.
The Commission met on November 5 with property owner Ryan Correia, who was represented by Nyles Zager of Zenith Consulting Engineers of Lakeville. The applicant filed a Notice of Intent for the reconstruction of the home, which will include a second story and a new septic system.
A report from a structural engineer on the worthiness of the existing concrete foundation was submitted.
Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon distributed photographs of the site in question and said she had confirmed the wetlands flagging. She also confirmed that no work was planned with the 100-foot buffer zone.
With no debate, an Order of Conditions was approved with the condition that debris on the site be removed to the satisfaction of the commission.
Also during the meeting, the commission accepted the five Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation filed by Joe Harrison, SunRaise Investments, LLC, represented by Julie Goodwin of Prime Engineering.
The commission accepted the ANRAD filed for property located at 0 Braley Road owned by Lisa Holden and Ann Poland, but the other four were all continued.
The one filed for 0 Featherbed Lane, owned by Bradford and Ruth Correia, was continued until December 3. Goodwin said she and Farinon have taken to referring to the site as the “Bermuda Triangle”, given the terrain’s difficulties. She said that a soil expert had been engaged to provide assistance in determining soil types and previously disturbed areas.
The remaining three ANRADs filed by Harrison for 0 Featherbed Lane owned by Judith Dupont, 0 Cushman Road owned by Holden, and 0 Snipatuit Road owned by Holden and Kevin and Cassandra Cassidy, were continued until November 19.
Also continued was a Notice of Intent filed by REpurpose Properties for the construction of an age-restricted housing development planned for Rounseville Road, represented by Brian Wallace of JC Engineering. Wallace felt confident that, after the November 12 meeting with the Planning Board, the project will be ready for conditioning by the Conservation Commission.
The hearing was continued until December 3.
The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for November 19 at 7:00 pm in the Rochester Town Hall meeting room.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Marilou Newell
Children’s book author and naturalist, Rosemary Mosco, will speak to the Nasketucket Bird Club on Thursday, November 21 at the Mattapoisett Public Library at 7:00 pm. (This meeting was moved up because of Thanksgiving.)
Rosemary creates the science-based comic Bird and Moon. She also writes books for kids and adults, including the Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid and Birding Is My Favorite Video Game, and has written about birds for Audubon, Mass Audubon, and other groups. She’s passionate about sharing her love of birds and the natural world. Check out her website at rosemarymosco.com.
The Bird Club meetings, open to the public and handicapped accessible, are held at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, located at the south door entrance on Barstow Street in Mattapoisett.
Check our website at massbird.org/Nasketucket/ or email our President Justin Barrett at jmbarrett426@gmail.com
The full monthly newsletter and calendar are available on the Rochester COA website: www.rochestermaseniorcenter.com. Like the Rochester COA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/rochestercouncilonaging
The Rochester Senior Center is looking for volunteers to help make and serve breakfast at “Ye Olde Breakfast Shoppe” weekday mornings. In addition, the Senior Center is also looking for part-time van drivers. Please contact the Senior Center for details.
The Rochester COA Board of Directors meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 13 at 9:00 am at Rochester Town Hall. All Rochester residents are welcome to attend this meeting. The COA Board of Directors is accepting applications for new board members. Applicants should be Rochester residents, and active Senior Center participants. Board members advocate and serve the needs and interests of Rochester’s older adults. This commitment is usually a few hours each month. Interested parties are welcomed and encouraged to apply. Please send letters of interest to Rochester Council on Aging Board of Directors at 67 Dexter Lane, Rochester, MA 02770.
The COA Board is also looking for volunteers for the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is responsible for implementing the COA’s ongoing Program Evaluation Plan via evaluations and recommendations. Applications for the Advisory Council are available at the Senior Center.
The Greater Boston Food Bank Free Commodity Food monthly distribution at the Rochester Senior Center is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. If you participate in this program, please note that you must pick up your items in person unless other arrangements have been previously made. All items must be picked up on November 13. Food items will not remain at the Senior Center after this date. If you are interested in becoming a participant, or want to know if you qualify, please contact the Director or the Outreach Worker at the Senior Center.
Upcoming Trips:
Thursday, November 14 the Senior Center has a trip to Casselberry Faire at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, MA.
Thursday, November 21 the Senior Center has a trip to Pheasant Lane Mall and Merrimack Valley Premium Outlets.
Sunday, November 24 the Senior Center has a trip to Old Rochester Regional Junior High School for a Thanksgiving Dinner.
Rides: We provide free transportation for Rochester residents. Please call for a ride with one of our friendly drivers at least 24 hours in advance so we can schedule a driver. Please contact the Senior Center at 508-763-8723 for more information or to make reservations for rides and/or events.