This April vacation, try out Mattapoisett Land Trust’s Staycation Scavenger Hunts to get outdoors and have some fun. Created by MLT’s Education Committee, there are three scavenger hunt locations to choose from: Dunseith Gardens, Tub Mill and Grace Meadow. See the Family Activities page on the MLT website to download the instructions and checklists for printing. Good luck. Remember to post your photos with #MLTscavengerhunt so we see how well you do.
Samantha LeBlanc, of Mattapoisett and formerly of Falmouth, passed away on April 3, 2023.
Born on April 27, 1989 to Ronald and Mary (Botelho) LeBlanc. She was the mother of Adam O. Smith of Bourne. In addition to her parents and son, she is survived by her grandmother Cynthia Botelho of Falmouth, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Visitation will take place on Monday April 10, 2023 from 4 – 7 pm at Chapman Funerals & Cremations, Falmouth. A Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 10 am at St. Anthony’s Church, 167 East Falmouth Highway, East Falmouth. Burial will follow at St. Anthony’s Cemetery.
The Marion Select Board voted during Monday night’s public meeting to approve the Warrant for the May 8 Annual Town Meeting.
Hearing mainly from Finance Director Judy Mooney and also from Town Administrator Geoff Gorman, the board reviewed the Warrant with a focus on financial articles. Gorman explained that the town decided to pull the Codification Committee-authored articles based on Select Board approval.
Estimated revenues for Fiscal Year 2024 are $21,353,967 (compared to $20,711,514 in FY23.) Mooney told the Select Board that Marion is top heavy on the tax levy with almost 80% of the town’s operating budget funded via the tax budget.
Adding $533,849 via Proposition 2-1/2 and $100,000 in new growth, the FY24 Tax Levy is $21,722,816 (79% of the budget.) State aid, Mooney said, comes in at $1,406,414 (5%.) With local receipts at $1,951,255 (7%), Marion plans to raise and appropriate $26,000,722 in FY24. Transfers including local receipts such as revenue from excise taxes ($1,184,305), “free cash” ($329,893) and debt exclusion ($871,952) account for a total General Fund revenue of $27,516,635 in a level-services budget.
Mooney said Marion is trying to get away from dipping into the free-cash account.
Mooney reported that “a little bit” of debt remains on the Police Station and the schools. The fire truck is almost paid off in an amount ($665,298 counting interest) that takes the new DPW building into account.
While the General Fund budget is up 4.6% from FY23, the $2,444,655 Water budget represents a 2.98% increase, and the $3,620,404 Sewer budget represents a 2.79% increase over FY23.
All of Marion’s unions are up for negotiation next year.
While elected officials have been level-funded for FY24, other increases can be traced to a $159,400 salary for the town administrator, supplies, support and software for the Assessors, an “uptick” in the treasurer’s billing work, professional development for the town clerk, town planner and members of the Planning Board.
A $141,042 increase in the FY24 Police budget reflects the new student-resource officer being budgeted for Sippican School. In the 2022-23 academic year, the town has been running a PILOT program.
“What they’re doing right now is the police officer that’s over there doing their reports over there. This SRO is a true SRO,” said Mooney.
Cruisers purchased by the Police Department are lasting a little longer, according to Mooney.
Among the other articles, Schools increased by 18%, some of which is due to putting five students into Upper Cape Tech next school year as opposed to just one this year.
The Select Board praised the work that Facilities Director Shaun Cormier has done with the $50,000 allotted him for in-house work. Mooney speculated that Cormier might even have $2,000 remaining in FY23 funds.
For the second year, all proposed Capital Improvements Planning Committee-related project will be contained in one article. One item has seen a sharp increase: the police-security camera upgrade originally priced at $13,000 is now estimated to cost $27,000.
Like the $1,200,000 for the ladder truck, Mooney explained that, “All of these (projects) will be funded through the free cash, (but) … we are not utilizing all of our free cash. … It’s going to get harder down the road.”
Town Administrator Geoff Gorman credited Mooney for managing a budget that allows paying $1,000 into OPEB.
Marion has three different stabilization funds: its regular fund at $3,000,000, a schools fund at $355,796 and a capital fund at $227,603. The town’s policy is to maintain 10% in the budget. Right now those total to 13%.
No. 28, the final article of the Warrant, would give every adjudicatory board in Marion the authority to use the Mullin Rule, which allows voting members to miss one public hearing and still vote. Previously, only the Zoning Board of Appeals could invoke the Mullin Rule.
In other business, the board approved collection on new, opioid-related settlements with Teva, Allergan, Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS and authorized Gorman to handle the paperwork. To date, Marion has received $30,000 in prior settlements from Jansen and distributors.
The board approved a two-week permit for Sheila Mitchell to house visitors in a 39-foot motor home at her 507 Delano Road residence.
Since the DPW verified a burst pipe on the property, the board approved a Water/Sewer Abatement request for $16,640.87 at 120 Bullivant Farm Road. The board also approved a Water/Sewer commitment of $11,031 for new water and sewer service effective March 23.
William Washburn and his son Chris Washburn presented two historic items to the board, one a board listing the life members of VFW Post 2425, the other a memorial of Boy Scouts who served in World War II.
The elder Washburn explained that the family business Washburn Electric is in the process of being sold and that the items belong to the town but only wound up in his workplace for safe keeping.
“They’ve probably been in every building in town and booted out of every building in town,” said William Washburn, who hopes the board can find a proper place for each item.
After discussion, the board agreed to table an approval of the American Tower contract renewal.
During his report, Gorman said that the “Pre-Town Meeting” meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 2, at 6:45 pm at the Music Hall, preceded by the regular public meeting of the Select Board at 6:00 pm. The Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 8, at 6:45 pm inside Sippican School’s Multipurpose Room.
The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Wednesday, April 19, at 6:00 pm.
Marion Select Board
By Mick Colageo
The ideological divide that permeates social media and national politics has intensified election season in the Tri-Towns with a particular focus on local and regional school committees.
In Rochester, Joe Pires, whose term on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is up this year, is running for reelection against challenger James O’Brien, who unsuccessfully ran for a school committee seat last year. Anne Fernandes’ and Katherine Duggan’s terms are up on the Rochester School Committee. Both are running for reelection against challengers David Sylvia, Sydney Teixeira and Gregory Hardy.
David Pierre is running against Mattapoisett School Committee Chairperson Carly Lavin for her seat on the committee. Pierre had pulled papers to run against incumbent Frances-Feliz Kearns for her seat on the ORR School Committee but withdrew that candidacy. Kearns still faces the challenge of Richard Reilly for the ORR seat.
In Marion, incumbents Mary Beauregard and Nichole Nye McGaffey are running for reelection to the Marion School Committee against challenger Mirian Nawoichik, and Margaret McSweeny is running for reelection to the ORR School Committee against challenger Jennifer Marie-Zora Stewart.
There are Select Board seats up for grabs in the Tri-Towns.
In Mattapoisett, Brian Connelly is running against incumbent Tyler Mcallister for the latter’s Select Board seat. Brad Hathaway pulled out of the race on Monday, and Catherine Heuberger, who also pulled nomination papers for the seat, did not return them but is running unopposed to retain her seat as town clerk.
Adam Murphy, who lost by one vote last year to incumbent Brad Morse, is running again for Rochester Select Board, this time against incumbent Woody Hartley, the current chairman. Murphy also ran unsuccessfully against Hartley in 2020.
Marion Planning Board Chairman Norm Hills is retiring from his seat on that board but is running for reelection to the Marion Select Board. Hills has no declared opponent for his Select Board seat.
Elsewhere in Mattapoisett, Arlene Fidalgo is not seeking reelection to the Planning Board, opening the door for William Wennerberg as the lone declared candidate for her seat.
Ruth Oliver Jolliffe is seeking reelection to the Trustees of the Mattapoisett Public Library, while fellow incumbent Jennifer Russell is not. With two open seats, Jolliffe faces challenges from Paul Criscoulo and William Coquillette.
In addition to Heuberger (town clerk), Carmelo Nicolosi is running unopposed to retain his seat on the Mattapoisett Board of Health, while Raymond Andrews is unopposed in his bid for reelection to the Board of Assessors, John Vaughn likewise with the Housing Authority, and also Michelle Hughes and Chuck McCullough for their seats on the Community Preservation Act Committee.
Mattapoisett has two single-seat vacancies without declared candidates: moderator and Water/Sewer commissioner.
In Rochester, Ben Bailey and John DeMaggio are running for reelection to the Planning Board against the challenge of Dennis McCarthy.
Marjorie Barrows is running to replace Paul Dawson, who is retiring from his post as Rochester’s town clerk, and Frederick Underhill is running unopposed to remain on the Water Commission. Others running unopposed are: William David Watling (Herring inspector), Suzanne Szyndlar (Assessors), Dale Barrows (Board of Health) and Beatrice Renauld (tax collector.)
Heather Alford, Jane Taylor and Sarah Verbyla are running for open seats on the Trustees of the Plumb Public Library.
In Marion, Chris Collings’ and Eileen Marum’s Planning Board terms are expiring in synch with Hills’ term. While Marum is seeking reelection, Collings is not, leaving two open seats for challengers William Dale Jones and Ryan Burke.
The following Marion incumbents are running to retain their seats unopposed: Assessors Patricia DeCosta and Peter Winters (appointee) and Board of Health member Albin Johnson (appointee.) Johnson is a founder of the Marion Board of Health.
Amanda Chace is not seeking reelection to Marion’s Open Space Acquisition Commission, leaving the commission with a vacancy.
By Mick Colageo
The Friends of the Mattapoisett Council on Aging will be holding an Easter Bake Sale on Saturday, April 8, from 9 am to noon. The sale is taking place at the Mattapoisett Knights of Columbus Hall located at 57 Fairhaven Road.
Come purchase some special homemade goodies for the Holiday. Any food donations are appreciated (such as pies, cakes, cupcakes, cookies and homemade breads.)
If you’re interested in supporting this event with baked goods, please contact Denise at 617-957-2278. Hoping to see you there.
The Marion Art Center (the MAC) is pleased to announce its spring series of Music at the MAC with generous support through a Festivals & Projects grant provided by the Mass Cultural Council. View all concerts and register online at marionartcenter.org/music.
Only a few tickets remain for the MAC’s first Unplugged in the MAC Gallery event with pianist Matt Richard and guitarist Donn Legge on Friday, April 14 (second seating scheduled at 8:45pm). The cost is $12 for MAC members and $15 for nonmembers. Find a spot at a cabaret table to listen to a mix of jazz standards and original compositions by both artists. Guests will enjoy a refreshing atmosphere at this unplugged performance featuring mainly acoustic sound, without the volume and density of bass and drums often experienced during larger concerts in the MAC Theater. Guests may bring their own beverages and snacks to enjoy in this intimate setting.
Experience a night of original music performed by four talented singer/songwriters on the MAC stage on Saturday, April 22 at 7:30 pm. The MAC’s first edition of Songwriters in the Round will feature local musicians Richard Lewis, Molly O’Leary, Ric Allendorf and John Fernandes. Musicians will share the stage, taking turns performing original songs. During the first hour, guests will hear up to three songs per artist, followed by a 15-20 minute intermission where guests can meet and greet the artists. Finish off the night with two more songs from each artist and an informal Q&A opportunity after the show. Tickets are just $20 for MAC members and $25 for nonmembers.
Don’t miss the Buttonwood Brass Prohibition Party on Saturday, May 13 from 6:30-9:00 pm, just one of many events during SouthCoast Spring Arts at the MAC. Put together your 1920’s attire and bring your favorite “bootleg” beverage of choice. Enjoy the MAC’s speakeasy-cabaret atmosphere while listening to Buttonwood Brass, a versatile ensemble performing Jazz Standards, Classical, New Orleans, Roaring Twenties and the Great American Songbook from the Prohibition Era. Guests are encouraged to dress the part. Light snacks will be provided by the MAC. Tickets are just $15 per person for this low cost Spring Arts event.
See New York-based band Hawthorne perform at the MAC on Friday, May 19 at 7:30 pm (tickets are $20 for MAC members and $25 for nonmembers.) Musicians Nat Osborn and Aimee Bayles form this Folk-Americana band with a modern edge. Hawthorne’s music weaves intricate vocal harmonies with contemporary folk melodies and arresting instrumentation. Their sound draws inspiration from folk legends Paul Simon, Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin and Alison Krauss as well as contemporary artists Fleet Foxes, Glen Hansard and Dawes. With Nat and Aimee’s original songs taking center stage, the band includes long-time collaborator and cellist Karna Ray and a rotating cast of talented multi-instrumentalists.
Putnam Murdock & Friends return to the MAC stage on Saturday, May 27 at 7:30 pm, with musician Merrick Brannigan as the opening act. Along with Colin Bradley on pedal steel, Kyle Spark on bass and Mark Purrington on drums, Murdock’s tunes are realized in a new way. There is a sensitivity and touch where the players listen and create in the moment to create a solid sonic foundation but one that is malleable and patient. These players do not rely on their rehearsals to create repetition but to create the trust it takes to approach every song like it is brand new every time they perform. Merrick Brannigan is a 15-year-old singer/songwriter with a passion for all things music. He is an accomplished guitarist, pianist and vocalist. A former Nantucket resident, his music career began when he won Nantucket’s Got Talent in 2019.
View all concerts and register online at marionartcenter.org/music.
Elizabeth Magauran, Town Clerk of Marion recently qualified for the Massachusetts Town Clerks’ Association’s (MTCA) prestigious CMMC (Certified Massachusetts Municipal Clerk) designation and will receive her commemorative pin and certificate at the MTCA Spring Conference in Plymouth, MA on June 8. Currently, only 121 of the Commonwealth’s 301 active town clerks hold this designation.
The CMMC designation is achieved by attending MTCA-sponsored educational courses and passing a 250 question aptitude test measuring the municipal clerk’s knowledge of Massachusetts.
General Laws in categories such as elections and election procedures, vital records, campaign & political finance, town meetings, Chapter 40A (planning), Chapter 41 (zoning), ethics and public records. Elizabeth has served as Marion’s appointed Town Clerk for three years. Prior to that, she served as Assistant.
Town Clerk from 2017 to 2019 and was a member of the Board of Registrars from 2015 to 2017. In addition, she served as Administrative Assistant for the Conservation Commission from 2017 to 2019. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree in Accounting from the University of Richmond, VA.
In addition to the MTCA, she is a member of the Plymouth County Clerks Association, the New England Association of City and Town Clerks and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC.)
In addition, she continues her professional development through courses sponsored by the MTCA and the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Elections Division.
He’s not even a high school graduate, but Old Regional Rochester senior Joseph “Jed” Dupree is being mentioned in the same sentence as Stephen King, Andy Warhol and Sylvia Plath.
Dupree, an artist since Kindergarten, submitted paintings to the prestigious Scholastic Art Awards at Tufts University. Two of his paintings received top honors — the Gold Key Award. There were more than 7,000 entries, but only 5% received the Gold Key honor, according to a written release.
Dupree said when his dad first showed him a comic book in Kindergarten, he began drawing Daredevil pictures and found his passion for art shortly thereafter. By Grade 6, Dupree had begun working with private art tutor Andy Anderson. One of Dupree’s pieces was created at Anderson’s studio.
The first, a painting of a ribcage, was made in teacher Kate Butler’s Advanced Placement Art class. The other, an oil painting of a sickle hanging above a goat, was made in Anderson’s studio.
Both Dupree and Butler were thinking of entering the Emerging Artists contest, but they chose the more prestigious Scholastic Art Awards, which honor creative teens — including King, Warhol, Plath and Truman Capote when they were in high school.
Dupree and Butler talked about this rare honor.
“It was a treat to have him as a student in class and see him grow as an artist and creative thinker,” said Butler, who described Dupree’s achievement as a David and Goliath type battle.
Dupree comes from a small school district with a small art department. Some school art departments, especially in Boston and surrounding suburbs, are bigger and draw more funding. Butler, who lives in the Tri-Town area, has known Jed for many years before he entered high school.
Butler and Dupree were recently interviewed together, and Dupree remained humble about the honor. He raved about his peers, all members of an advanced art class that requires prerequisite work before entry. He touched upon how he still wants to grow as an artist and how his art can be formulated within this digital and computer age.
“I want to get better at that (computer art) and market my work through the digital age I’m in and maybe learn some graphic design,” he said.
Dupree plans to attend the MASS College of Art in the fall.
By Jeffrey D. Wagner
The FY24 Marion School Budget Hearing took place on March 8 with full approval of the Marion School Committee.
Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson introduced the public hearing and handed off the presentation to Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber.
Based on figures shared at Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting, the total proposed FY24 Marion Schools Budget is $12,648,709, including $4,569,544 (altogether $6,666,193) for Sippican School, $5,274,891 for Marion’s share of the Old Rochester Regional District operating budget, a $466,078 assessment for Upper Cape Tech’s operating budget and $189,999 for debt service (ORR.)
The net percentage increase over FY23 is 2.74%.
Barber explained his zero-based budgetary method in terms of recognition of necessary modifications, interviews with Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Shari Fedorowicz, Principal Marla Sirois and department heads.
Barber identified funding sources outside the operating budget such as Bristol County Agricultural School and other offsets such as federal Entitlement grants, a Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursement and Revolving Funds such as Project GROW (preschool) tuitions.
Because there are no Marion students attending Bristol Aggie, Barber said the FY24 cost of the relationship will be zero.
At the conclusion of Barber’s budget presentation, Nelson publicly thanked Marion Finance Committee Chairman Shea Assad for his work attending meetings and acting as liaison between ORR and the town.
The public hearing was closed, and the vote that followed was unanimously in favor of the FY24 budget as presented by Barber.
The committee heard a presentation from Darci Burns, the executive director of Hill for Literacy, Inc. The needs assessment focused on literacy across all the ORR District schools that began in the fall yielded information that Burns shared with the School Committee. Focus-group interviews and a ratings survey were held, along with classroom walk-throughs.
Burns recapped a report with 57 assessments indicating a need for consistent oral-language, spelling and writing assessment across all grade levels.
Sirois explained that staff will implement the recommendations of the assessment including Kindergarten.
The School Committee heard a presentation from Adam Davenport of the Marion Institute regarding the Grow Farm-to-School Program. Davenport explained that 19 gardens have been built in New Bedford elementary schools, beginning with third-grade teachers and expanding out from there.
The Marion Institute is committed to raise funds to support a two-year program at Sippican. The Marion School Committee was to write a letter of support to the town’s Community Preservation Committee.
The committee reviewed Open Meeting Law complaints filed in February by Kathleen Leclair of Mattapoisett, including an updated complaint addressed to the Marion School Committee. Nelson explained that actions were taken as outlined by the instructions in the complaint. Marion’s was the last of the Tri-Town school committees to vote to authorize to legal counsel as arranged by the superintendent.
In her Chairperson’s Report, April Nye publicly thanked fellow committee members, Nichole Daniel, Nichole Nye McGaffey, Mary Beauregard and Michelle Smith for their commitment to the committee’s work supporting Sippican and ORR District students, staff members, administration and the community.
“I want to recognize that we come from different backgrounds; we have taken very different career paths in our lives; we are of different age groups; and do I dare say it – are even from different political parties,” said Nye. “We have many differences, yet these differences have not divided us here at this table. It is my belief that these differences are actually what have balanced this committee and is what has made us a truly successful, functioning board.
“Our ability to communicate and work together for the good of all is what makes us well-rounded and I appreciate our differences. I appreciate that we are able to leave any baggage and personal agendas at the door and come to this table to get the job done that we were elected to do.”
The School Committee approved the School Health Unit application through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as submitted by School Nurse Meagan Morais.
The committee voted to approve a donation from MassCUE to faculty Jessica Barrett in the amount of $2,250. The committee approved the donation of the following books from Free Spirit Publishing: “I Love You All the Time,” “You Wonder All the Time,” You are Growing All the Time,” and “You have Feelings All the Time.”
The committee approved a $10,000 Safe and Supportive Schools Grant.
The committee approved revisions to the Student Handbook on student absences and excuses. As explained by Sirois, inclement weather as to endanger a child has been added to approved excuses. Efforts are also being made to check on absences of three or more days.
At the start of the meeting, Marion Town Administrator Geoff Gorman introduced himself to the committee. Nelson publicly thanked Gorman for reaching out and meeting with Nelson upon his hire.
The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12, at 6:30 pm.
Marion School Committee
By Mick Colageo
The COA Book Group will meet at the Rochester Council on Aging on Tuesday, April 18 at 1:00 pm. We will be discussing The Maid by Nita Prose. The next book will be This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub and copies will be available at the meeting to borrow. Please bring your library card.
Books & Babble Book Club will meet Thursday, April 27 at 6:30 pm to discuss The Second-Worst Restaurant in France by Alexander McCall Smith. Copies are available for checkout at the front desk.
All are invited to an Earth Day Family Story and Activity Hour with Rochester residents Sydney Teixeira and Kate Duggan. They will read two Earth Day themed books, lead a craft and provide resources for ways everyone can enjoy our local natural environment and help our Earth thrive. Please visit the library’s Events Calendar to register.
I am Autistic, I am Fantastic – The Musical is being presented by the MUSIC Dance.edu youth performing arts company on Tuesday, April 18 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. This program is brought to you by a grant from the Rochester Cultural Council, a local agency, funded by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Using musical instruments, creative movement, poetry and problem solving activities, this presentation will inspire, uplift and educate autistic children, families and the community at-large. The musical selections in this presentation are inspirational and include contemporary jazz songs, 70’s music, soft rock, hip hop and selections from popular Broadway musicals. The presentation is about an hour and includes a 10-minute intermission. Registration is not required.
A new Scrambled Word is available every Monday, just ask at the Front Desk. Starting April 1 (while supplies last) stop in to pick up a beautiful “Take and Make” frog kit. One per child, please. Please consider sharing your creation for display in the children’s area bay window.
Can you find mother hen’s 5 missing chicks? Visit the library to search for 5 chicks (stickers) hiding throughout the library. When you find all 5, quietly tell a librarian where the chicks can be found to earn a prize from the Treasure Chest. The chick stickers will be in the same place for the month of April. This is not an activity that changes weekly.
We will be closing at 2:00 pm on Friday, April 7 and open our normal hours from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 8. We will be closed Monday, April 17 for Patriots’ Day. For more information, please follow us on Facebook, email us at info@plumblibrary.com, or call the library at 508-763-8600.