Mattapoisett Free Public Library

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David Mello’s Family Program, “Tales Best told in the Dark” will be presented at the Mattapoisett Library. Let storyteller David Mello chill, thrill and thoroughly entertain you with a diverse collection of stories, poems, and songs from around the world using masks and shadow puppetry.  On Wednesday, October 23 at 6:30 pm at the Mattapoisett Public Library. Recommended for ages 5 and up.  No registration necessary.

            On Thursday, October 17 at 3:15 pm, sign up for our flashlight craft. Find out about positive and negative currents and make your own flashlight. For ages 8 and up. Registration required.

            On Saturday, October 19 at 10:30 am, we’ll be celebrating author David Shannon’s birthday with books, activities, crafts and birthday cake. Registration required. All ages welcome.

            Finally, on Thursday, October 24 at 3:00 pm, our monthly STEAM session will be about bats. Learn about echolocation with games and activities. Includes craft and snack. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Registration required.

            Don’t forget to visit us on Tuesday or Friday mornings at 10:30 am for our ongoing story times. This month for Halloween we’ll be having a costume parade on Friday, October 25 and Tuesday, October 29 with small treats – costumes encouraged but not required. 

            We also have “Read to Breton”, our library dog on every other Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 pm; Chess Lessons with Coach Jim on Wednesday nights from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and Sunday afternoons, 1:00 to 3:00 pm. All of these programs require registration, so please contact the library to sign up. 

            All programs are free and open to the public. If special accommodations are needed, please contact the library at 508-758-4171 for assistance. For more information on up-coming children’s programs, please visit our website at www.mattapoisettlibrary.org/childrens.

Tabor Academy Shares Tenbrook House Decision

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After many years of ownership and study, Tabor Academy has decided to remove the structure at 192 Front Street, a property commonly referred to as the Tenbrook House. According to John Quirk, Head of School, the school purchased the house in 2008 and almost three acres of land, extending from the harbor to Spring Street, in order to consolidate the campus and provide options for growth in facilities, as has come to pass. After the purchase, the trustees began to assess the home on the property, holding many discussions about its possible use over the years. The home has been used most recently as a faculty residence for some years as ideas were considered. 

            Quirk said, “Since Tabor Academy took possession of the Tenbrook property a little more than a decade ago, there has been ample consideration of the viability of renovation or restoration of the house on the site. These efforts have been conducted by balancing the competing interests of the home’s historical value, its extremely poor condition at acquisition, the manner in which the original building has been altered over the years, its physical presence along Front Street, and a wish shared by all to mesh the building’s past with the school’s discovery of a suitable purpose for it within its program. At one point, the school developed preliminary plans to incorporate some part of a renovation of Tenbrook House into what eventually became a free-standing dormitory nearby. This idea was set aside, however, when it became clear that a disproportionate part of the cost would be tied up in the renovation portion of the project, as opposed to the dormitory space that was to be the focus of the building.”

            “As it has become sadly evident that a renovation of the building is feasible neither from a fiscal nor physical standpoint – meaning that it would be quite costly to restore the building and would result in a building of only very modest programmatic value to Tabor – the school has recently determined that it is most appropriate to take the building down. The Sippican Historical Society has been a major proponent of saving the building given its cultural value as the product of famed American architect H.H. Richardson. Members of that group have also recently explored alternative options, such as moving the building to a different site. Regrettably, no feasible alternative options have been discovered at this time.”

            With no alternative solutions in sight, the school has decided to take the building down, and the permitting and scheduling of this process are underway.  While firm timelines have not been established, it is expected that the project could be completed in the early winter.

            “I know some members of the Town will be sad to see the building go, especially as Mrs. Tenbrook and her family were such valued members of the community. I am saddened by this, too, and aware that the loss of Tenbrook House will feel for many like the loss of a friend along Front Street. That said, the sensibility and practicality of other options are severely limited, and it feels appropriate to make this difficult decision and move forward before further deterioration of the structure makes the building truly unsafe,” said Quirk. 

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club

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The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is meeting on October 17at Reynard Hall of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church (27 Church Street) beginning at 11:00 am. MWC members arrive for a social half-hour, after which there is a short meeting if there is a matter requiring a vote. Around noon, there is a luncheon provided by the monthly tea committee, and guest speakers present after the lunch.

            Ms. Susan Pizzolato of the Mattapoisett Library is this month’s speaker. Her presentation is “Steer Clear of Clickbait or How to Wade Through All the Information That’s Thrown at You on a Daily Basis”.  She will discuss how to make sure that you know what these websites are and understand that all media has a different frame and has different standards for newsworthiness.  The creation of fake news continues to generate a lot of discussion and it’s no surprise that “post-truth” was Oxford English Dictionary’s 2016 Word of the Year.

            Please consider joining MWC.  You are welcome to come to any of our meetings.  If you would like additional information or want to let us know that you are planning to come, please contact Christine Voss at 508-758-3348.

Church of The Good Shepherd Rummage Sale

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Church of The Good Shepherd, 74 High Street, Wareham is having its annual fall rummage sale on Saturday, October 26from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Items include clothing, coats, shoes, books, puzzles, games, toys, small furnishings, domestic and white elephant items. All proceeds to benefit the many outreach programs for the community and beyond.

Rochester Farms Solar Set for Approval

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            It won’t be long now before the large-scale solar farm proposed for the large open space on Marion Road owned by Craig Canning, Rochester Farms, LLC, is approved.

            The Rochester Planning Board on October 8 gave a nod to Sarah Rosenblat of SWEB Development USA, LLC before wrapping up the public hearing and bringing it to a close.

            Since the last meeting in September, SWEB had managed to work closely with the board’s peer review engineer Ken Motta and address his list of concerns one by one in time for Tuesday’s meeting.

            Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson kept himself up to date as the information was submitted to the town planner over the past week or so, and Motta stated that SWEB has indeed worked out all the remaining technical issues now, with the exception of one minor change that can be completed just prior to the board members signing the Mylars.

            Johnson read the list of waivers before the board approved them all, which included one pertaining to gross floor area of buildings, of which there are none proposed, one for screening details for trash containers (none proposed beyond construction), a lighting waiver (no outdoor lighting proposed), and one to waive any pre-treatment of stormwater runoff since there will be no impervious surfaces.

            The board also approved waiving a traffic study since no additional traffic will result form the solar farm, and one for common open space requirements since there is no ‘open space’ proposed.

            “The farm will still be there,” said Johnson, “so that’s open space.

            “I would probably say that we can close the public hearing on this and move forward with it,” said Johnson.

            The board will vote for final approval on the project during a special meeting it scheduled for October 31.

            “Thank you very much,” Canning said from the back of the meeting room. “I appreciate everyone’s efforts.”

            Now, as Johnson put it, “We can get this out of the way.”

            Also during the meeting, the board voted in favor of an Approval Not Required application for 565 and 0 Rounseville Road, which is associated with the Special Residential Development Special Permit application filed by REpurpose Properties, LLC, for an age-restricted residential development off Rounseville Road next to Plumb Corner.

            REpurpose requested a continuance until the next meeting, but Johnson had some questions and comments for Brian Wallace of JC Engineering regarding some information still missing from the submittal.

            In particular, Johnson was interested in some updated architectural drawings and a schedule for construction. He also asked Wallace for a larger-print edition of the plan to save Johnson a trip to the pharmacy for a stronger set of cheaters.

            The hearing was continued until October 22 at the request of the applicant.

            Also during the meeting, the board viewed some photos from the Snipatuit Road solar farm, displaying various landscaping no-nos the board had repeatedly asked solar developer IGS Solar to rectify.

            During the last meeting, the board voted to call in the developer’s landscaping bond, an escrow account the town required to ensure compliance in landscaping, and chose to put Requests for Proposals out to bid and get the work done itself.

            Although some mowing had been done as requested and some trash and metal debris has been removed, there are still 15 dead trees and shrubs and 12 trees tipped over that still need to be addressed. About 100 feet of barbed wire fence still needs to be mended and tightened.

            Town Planner Steve Starrett said he thought the developer had been responsive and asked the board if it wanted to still pursue the bond taking and issue the RFP.

            “Keep working on the RFP,” Johnson said. “Keep their feet to the fire.”

            The total of the landscaping bond is $75,000, Starrett said. “We won’t use anything near that.”

            The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for October 22 at 7:00 pm at Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Planning Board

By Jean Perry

Abel M. Grace

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Abel M. Grace, 95, a lifelong resident of Mattapoisett died unexpectedly on Wednesday October 9, 2019. 

            A World War II Marine Corps veteran, Abel Grace was a part of Montford Point’s first black Marine regiment and saw combat in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, including Guam, Saipan, and Okinawa. 

            Abel returned from the Marines to work with his father in the family garbage disposal business in Mattapoisett and then was employed by Revere Copper and Brass for 35 years as a crane operator. He also owned a fishing boat the Seldon2 that he used for ground fishing for 20 years. He worked for many local cranberry companies before and after his retirement. 

            In the 1960’s, Abel was a renowned golfer, winning multiple trophies throughout the area and in Connecticut. 

            Abel is survived by his wife of 71 years, Libania Grace, his son, Abel Grace Jr. and his wife Lauren, two grandchildren, Sara and Spencer Grace, and a great-grandson, Dexter Bowman. 

            His visitation will be held on Wednesday October 16, 2019 from 2-6 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Route 6, Mattapoisett, followed by his Funeral Service at 6 PM. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Rochester Council on Aging

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The full monthly newsletter and calendar are available at www.rochestermaseniorcenter.com. Events and photographs are also posted on the library Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Rochestercoa. 

            The Rochester Council on Aging Board of Directors is seeking a few Rochester seniors to serve on its Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is responsible for the implementation and evaluation of programs offered at the Rochester Senior Center. If you are interested in volunteering for the Advisory Council, please contact Director Cheryl Randall-Mach. Ms. Mach can be reached by phone: 508-763-8723, or by email: Crandall-mach@townofrochester.com.

            The Rochester Senior Center is now offering trips to Fieldstone’s Farm Market in Marion every Wednesday at 10:00 am starting October 16. You will receive a 10 percent discount when you show your COA scan card. Please call the Senior Center in advance to reserve a seat on the van. 

            The monthly Senior Book Club will meet on Tuesday, October 15at 10:15 am. This group is lead by the library director and is held at the Senior Center. October’s book is The Woman in the Window, written by A.J. Finn. 

            The Friend’s of the Rochester Senior Center are holding a fundraising event on Thursday, October 24at 5:30 pm at the Senior Center. This event is a meatloaf supper and is $10 per adult and $5 per child. Please contact Lorraine Thompson in advance, at 508-763-8723 to purchase a ticket for this event. Proceeds will be used for the future construction of the Adult Day Center.

Author Talk at the Mattapoisett Library

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Hear author Jane Healey discuss the little-known but fascinating story of the Red Cross Clubmobile program in WWII and how she created the narrative that became the historical novel The Beantown Girls, all based on the true stories of the women who were part of the program. The author’s talk and book signing, free and open to the public, is at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Sunday, October 20from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The book offers a glimpse of the “Greatest Generation” and the sacrifices of war from a female perspective, bringing to light their breathtaking courage, compassion, and sacrifice during one of the most volatile times in our history. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

            The Library is located at 7 Barstow Street and is handicapped accessible.

Purrfect Day For Octopurr Fest

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            What do you get when you mix perfect weather with kids and dogs dressed up in Halloween costumes, food sizzling on the grill, games, raffles, artisan booths, and – oh, yes, a purrfect setting? You get It’s All About The Animals’ fifth annual Octopurr Fest fundraiser.

            The no-kill feline shelter has been holding this event each October for the last five years and this year was the biggest yet, much to the satisfaction of the delightful and dedicated founder, Pam Robinson.

            Robinson and her husband, Oren, have sculpted out a quaint looking village on their 103 Marion Road, Rochester property for the purpose of sheltering cats.

            “About eleven years ago, we got a tip that a cat needed to be rescued,” she explained. Horrified by the cat’s living conditions in a run-down house, that cat’s rescue set the Robinsons on a path they could not have imagined at the time.

            It’s All About The Animals receives 100 percent of its funding from grants and private donations. But the 24/7, 365 care of the dozens of cats at a time – hundreds that move through the shelter every year – is no small task, and this fundraiser, the shelter’s largest of the year, is crucial to the shelter’s basic operation.

            Walking around the grounds where cat cottages dot the immaculate forested pathways, one is struck first by the peaceful calm environment the rescued felines get to enjoy. Then, one can only imagine the amount of work it takes to pull off such a massive undertaking.

            But Robinson is energy personified, and on this day, she was clearly enjoying the festive atmosphere. As the DJ pumped out the latest dance music, families, and animal-loving supporters roamed the grounds enjoying games, face painting, and raffles. The smell of food wafted through the pines, and the craft booths held interesting must-have items.

            From animal-themed wall art to plush beds and blankets for fur-babies of all sizes to earrings with charming, dangling kitty faces, the breadth of craft items was supurr.

            A small dinosaur wandered the festival, delighting young and old alike, while dogs dressed up in creative costumes trotted beside their owners. It might have been an event to raise money for cats, but dog owners were out in number. After all, Robinson is an equal opportunity lover of animals.

            Robinson said that local town boards have granted her permission to have up to 50 cats, but would only allow four dogs, making a dog rescue economically unfeasible.

            The shelter is run by a seven-member board of directors and, several times Robinson attested, “No one gets paid.” She said that all monies donated to the shelter are used to care for the cats.

            “We don’t get any money from the state or the town,” she said, saying that only through donations can they carry on the mission of rescuing cats in need for the purpose for rehabilitating them and then rehoming them.

            Medical care is an enormous part of the operating budget, and there is a kitty medical cottage on the property. When cats first arrive, they are isolated and evaluated to determine their medical status and needs as well as their social conditioning.

            “We have very dedicated volunteers,” Robinson said of the more than two-dozen year-around team of what she called “Feline Warriors.” Their mission covers a very large geographical area, which adds to the overall depth of commitment the Robinson have for the cats of the region.

            “We cover from Boston to Cape Cod,” she proudly stated.

            The October event produces a significant sum that will help offset the rising costs of caring for the cats. But the shelter also accepts donations of supplies, such as food and, of course, the essential kitty litter.

            As the festival revelers enjoyed the fun and games, the cats watching from their perches inside their screened free-range ‘catios’ looked unimpressed for the most part. But, clearly, their serene attitudes speak to their comfort level in the kitty village as they wait to find their forever families.

            To learn more about It’s All About The Animals you can visit www.itsallabouttheanimals.org.

By Marilou Newell

Mattapoisett Lions Fall Free Family Fun Festival

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The Mattapoisett Lions Club presents the fourth annual Fall Free Family Fun Festival on Saturday, October 19from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Shipyard Park, Mattapoisett. Hay rides, goody bags (one per child), pin-the-nose-on-the-pumpkin, pumpkin bowling, corn hole, face painting, coloring station, snacks, Halloween music and more. Kids can each select one pumpkin from the pumpkin patch to take home. Wear your (non scary) costumes. Parents: Learn about the Mattapoisett Lions Club and all we do for the local community and beyond. Stop by the membership table while at the festival for more information. *Rain date: October 26, same times and location. Snacks, goody bags and pumpkins while they last.

            No registration or charge. Donations accepted to help fund MA Lions Eye Research, Diabetes awareness and local residents in need.

            For more information, visit us on Facebook: Mattapoisett Lions Club or our website: www.mattapoisettlionsclub.org