The Marion Natural History Museum will be hosting the Manomet Bird Observatory on February 15. Students will explore local birds that overwinter in Massachusetts. They will be given model birds to identify and information about behavior and diet during the winter months. Students will determine the best locations and types of food for their bird feeders. To register for this program and the many other future programs, please go to the museum’s website: www.marionmuseum.org.
Harvard’s Oldest A Cappella Group, the Harvard Krokodiloes, will be making an appearance for their first show in Southcoast Massachusetts to benefit the ORR AmbassadORs. The “Kroks” as they go by, will be performing in the Old Rochester Regional High School Auditorium on Saturday, February 4 at 7 pm. To purchase tickets, please call 508-264-9831 and leave a message of how many tickets you would like, or fill out this online form: tinyurl.com/orrkroks. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students.
The Kroks are an internationally renowned group and embark on an 80-day world tour each year, performing songs from the Great American Songbook. Throughout their 75-year history, they have performed for many celebrities, including Julie Andrews, Ella Fitzgerald, Anne Hathaway, Johnny Carson, Bill Clinton, Ryan Reynolds, the U.S. Congress and many more.
One of their current members, Eddie Gonet IV, is an alum of Old Rochester and wanted to bring the group to sing for the area. Working with the ORR Ambassadors, all profits of the event will go to support them and their activities they do building community and leadership.
The Kroks recently finished up their three-week winter tour where they went to New York City, Kansas City, Iowa, Los Angeles, San Diego and Jamaica. They are very excited to perform at Old Rochester and give people a taste of some jazz A Cappella.
On January 27, the Rochester Select Board convened primarily for a Tax Classification Hearing to determine if a single tax rate would stay in place for FY23. After completing that work, the board heard from Blair Bailey, the town’s legal counselor for more than 20 years.
Bailey said he was saddened to announce he would be withdrawing from the work of town counsel, citing increasing personal and professional demands on his time.
The Select Board noted Bailey’s unlimited access, his willingness to take calls and work on issues over and above billable hours.
“His are big shoes to fill,” said Select Board Chairman Woody Hartley, later emphasizing that Bailey’s institutional knowledge cannot be overstated as it has enhanced his work on behalf of the community and the strong relationships he established over time with departmental heads, union negotiators and townspeople. Those sentiments were echoed during the meeting by board members Brad Morse and Paul Ciaburri.
Bailey has also assisted the town in finding Mead, Talerman & Costa, LLC as a suitable replacement for services. The eastern-Massachusetts firm has offices in Millis, New Bedford and Newburyport. Town Administrator Glenn Cannon said that the group is experienced in municipal matters and that a meeting would be set up with the firm and Select Board to discuss a possible partnership.
Cannon said with this change, the time is right for establishing guidelines for those boards and committees seeking legal guidance. Cannon will work with Morse to draft a document that sets up management of legal time used and will present to the full board on Monday, February 6. Hartley said in a follow-up that a new contract for legal services would set number of hours within a given timeframe, “This way we can track the hours.”
Bailey’s personal relationship to the community will also be missed, but Cannon said two members of the New Bedford law firm are also Rochester residents.
The board thanked Bailey for his service and commitment over the last two decades.
Earlier in the meeting, the board met with Principal Assessor Karen Trudeau to review property values and tax rates. As found in other Tri-Town communities, the amount of taxable commercial and/or personal property is a fraction of the taxable private property in the town. As such, Rochester, like Marion and Mattapoisett, has held to a single tax rate. The Select Board determined it remains in the best interest of the town to maintain a single rate.
In her report, Trudeau stated that residential property in Rochester is valued at $1,145,956,316, commercial at $42,508,682, industrial $74,033,682 and personal property $65,445,200. Real estate and personal property total value is $1,327,962,080, she reported.
The average single-family home stands at an assessed value of $521,872 with an average tax bill of $6,194. The board voted to keep a single tax rate. A printout of the entire Assessors valuation is available from the Assessor’s office.
The board also reviewed a letter drafted by Cannon to the Massachusetts Department of Environment Protection regarding the agency’s plan to decrease nitrogen discharge into wetlands and other environmental sensitive areas such as the Mattapoisett River Valley by requiring new septic systems that use new technology for neutralizing nitrogen and the impact on Rochester.
Hartley said he recently attended a conference on the matter and that the lieutenant governor was also involved in helping cities and towns impacted by the proposed new regulations.
Before adjournment, Hartley urged the public to familiarize themselves with the proposed Rochester Community Electricity Program. Details of the program can be found on the town’s website, townofrochestermass.com, and include the following statement, “Rochester Community Electricity (RCE) is a program offered by the Town of Rochester to provide new electricity supply options and more renewable energy to Rochester residents and businesses. … Rochester Community Electricity does not replace Eversource as our electric utility. The utility continues to deliver electricity, repair outages and manage all billing. The program offers alternatives for the Supply portion of your bill.”
On the Rochester Community Electricity website, electricity.townofrochestermass.com, residents can learn more details about the program and follow the program development timeline. There is also a form to get in touch with the program organizers and offer feedback.
Before program launch, the Town of Rochester will conduct an extensive public outreach and education campaign to ensure that the community is aware of the program.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, February 6, at 6:00 pm at Town Hall, also accessible live via Zoom.
Rochester Select Board
By Marilou Newell
Come celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day by visiting Plumb Library on Saturday, February 4. We’ll be showcasing some of our amazing, free resources for kids and families. Did you know we have a telescope and snowshoes you can borrow with your library card? We’ll have a special library-themed Scrambled Word just for the day and we invite you to explore our space through a fun scavenger hunt. Come find out what else you can borrow and what activities we have.
The new Writers Group will be holding its first meeting on Thursday, February 16 at the library. The group plans to meet every third Thursday (except in November and December.) The meeting will start with a writing prompt, followed by 10 minutes of writing and then group discussion. If you wish to zoom in, please contact us at info@plumblibrary.com with your email.
Books & Babble, the Plumb Library book group, will meet on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 pm at the library. We will be discussing “Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune”, by Roselle Lim. Copies are available for checkout at the front desk. Light refreshments will be served.
In February, stop in to pick up a pretty Tissue Paper Flower Take and Make Kit (while supplies last.) One per child, please. If you enjoy this craft, please consider making more and sharing with us for display in the children’s area bay window.
Now through February 25, a February themed scrambled word (aka the password) will be available to unscramble each week. A picture clue is available for prereaders. Ask for the scrambled word at the front desk. Quietly, share your answer with a librarian. If you are correct, you earn a small prize.
How many hearts on a stick can you find hiding in the library? Search the library for the hearts on a stick and count them. Quietly tell a librarian your count. If your answer is correct, you earn a prize from the Treasure Chest. The hearts will be in the same place throughout the month of February.
The library will be closed on Monday, February 20 for President’s Day.
For more information, please follow us on Facebook, email info@plumblibrary.com, or call the library at 508-763-8600.
To the Editor:
After hearing Joe Pires speak at the end of the Joint School Committee meeting on 1/19 and reading his statement in the Facebook group, Tri-Town Buzz on 1/24, I feel compelled to respond.
My name is Alison Noyce, I am a founding member and the president of Tri-Town against Racism (TTAR.)
TTAR is not a special interest group. A special interest group is a group of people or an organization seeking or receiving special advantages, typically through political lobbying. TTAR is 501c3 registered nonprofit. We are a community group working hard to create a more inclusive community.
The mission of TTAR is: We seek to defend against racism within the community by providing education, promoting positive communication and listening to the voices of those affected. We foster an environment of inclusion and acceptance for all. We create an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect to ensure that all community members are respected and valued.
Joe Pires speaks as a minority. His experiences and the experience of his children are just that, the experiences of one family, told by one member of that family.
Joe speaks of his kids’ experience with racism and said at the JSC meeting that it has “never affected them long term.” I sincerely hope that is the case for his family, but there are numerous studies showing that racism can have long term and lasting impact on a person’s mental and physical health.
According to Academy of American Pediatrics, “Racism is a social determinant of health that has a profound impact on the health status of children, adolescents, emerging adults, and their families. Although progress has been made toward racial equality and equity, the evidence to support the continued negative impact of racism on health and well-being through implicit and explicit biases, institutional structures, and interpersonal relationships is clear.”
Joe talked about raising his kids to be strong and confident, not to be vulnerable and not to be victims. If only protecting our kids from racism or the pain it causes were so simple. Confident, strong kids, who don’t see themselves as vulnerable or as victims can be hurt by racism. And what of the kid who is not confident or strong? Are they to blame for the racism they experience or the negative impact it has on them? Neither good parenting nor confident children can prevent our BIPOC kids from the harm caused by racism.
Since TTAR began in April of 2020, we have been told numerous stories by BIPOC members of the Tri-Town about racism in our community. The experiences shared have been from OR alumni, current students and adult community members. This is why TTAR started and why we continue work toward a community where everyone feels valued and included.
Joe said, “There cannot be shaming, there can not be smearing, and certainly cannot be going after a family because a child made a mistake. The outcome should be positive on both sides.” He said it must be a win-win.
Winning in racism? The victim of racism is never in a position of winning. You can create an outcome where a student who does or says something racist receives the benefit of education around the incident. And that is what TTAR advocates for. We care about all children, even when they say or do things that hurt their peers. We want to lead with compassion, care and the opportunity to learn and grow. But to indicate that a racist incident can lead to a win for the victim is preposterous, ignorant and dangerous.
Also problematic is the statement, “When situations of racism occur, we should not condemn, we need to help everyone involved.” Actually, we absolutely always need to condemn racism. Every time. As stated above, how we respond to a student is another matter. Yes, we want what is best for all involved. But I am really struggling with a school committee member, who is a member of the Equity subcommittee that does not believe that racism should be condemned.
Joe takes issue that a member of the school committee is also a part of TTAR. He considers it a conflict of interest. Aren’t school committee members also community members? And as community members aren’t they allowed to be part of community groups? Can they be scout leaders? Can they be coaches? TTAR is a community group, a nonprofit, a group committed to an inclusive community. How is this considered a conflict rather than an asset?
Joe’s post on Tri-Town Buzz was meant to provide clarity as to where he stands. For me, it left more concern than clarity, more questions than answers.
If you have not listened to Joe Pire’s remarks at JSC or read his statement on Tri-Town Buzz, I encourage you to do so.
I strongly encourage anyone with questions about TTAR to check out our website to see who we are, what we are doing in the community and why our work matters. tritownagainstracism.org. You can contact us through the website as well. We’d be happy to talk to you.
Alison Noyce, Rochester
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.
Kari Beth Sgourakes passed away peacefully at her home in Rochester, MA on January 22nd, 2023. She was with her daughter and her husband of 42 years.
Kari was born in Grand Forks, ND. She was the first of six children of Gene and Violet Halvorson. Kari loved growing up with her large family, especially when her dad took the school superintendent job in the small town of Lake Park, MN. The town was such a perfect spot for the young family. Surrounded by farms, and with the school across the street from their home, Kari and her siblings were a fixture in the small community. Kari’s high school graduating class of 1976 had a total of 52 students, who remain close to this day.
After high school graduation, Kari enrolled at St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Duluth, MN. She graduated in 1979, and then moved to Galveston, TX to work at the University of Texas Medical Branch. In 1991, having just become a new mom, she earned a master’s degree in nursing at, what was then, Southeastern Massachusetts University. Her thesis, as with so much of Kari’s professional life, centered on elderly care.
Like her own mom, Kari was a dedicated nurse throughout her career. She worked in hospitals, at a doctor’s office as the Head Nurse, at various nursing homes as the Assistant Director and Director of Nursing, and at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as an adjunct professor where she taught and provided mentorship to aspiring healthcare professionals.
Although born in the Midwest, Kari considered herself a true New Englander because of her beloved husband, Steve, and their many adventures. Kari and Steve met in 1979 when he was visiting a friend – her neighbor – in Texas. They became pen pals for months until Kari moved to Massachusetts in 1980. They married in 1981. Shortly thereafter, with the support of family and friends, they built a house and a life together, laughing their way throughout life’s journey. The two truly adored being in each other’s company. They especially loved traveling to their favorite spots throughout New England, including the many hiking trails up north. Their goal was to always find the perfect waterfall.
Kari was a beloved “mom” and friend to many, including her coworkers and daughter’s friends (“the kids”). Kari’s infectious smile was always the biggest when with her loved ones. One of her many joys was watching her daughter, Samantha, grow up. Kari was so proud that her daughter’s life, like her own, has been focused on helping others.
Kari is survived by her husband Steve; daughter Samantha; sisters Marthe (husband Randy), Pauli, Heidi, and Vicky (husband Jeff); sisters-in-law Paula and Diane; and many other beloved family members and friends. She is predeceased by her parents, Violet and Gene, and brother Jim.
Services will be private.
In lieu of flowers to the family, donations may be made in Kari’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association: Alzheimer’s Association | Donate to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease.
Arrangements by Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham. To leave a message of condolence visit: www.chapmanfuneral.com
The Marion Natural History Museum after-school program for February 15 will be Bird Feeders and Winter Bird Exploration with Manomet bird observatory. Students will explore local birds that overwinter in Massachusetts. They will be given model birds to identify and information about their overwintering behaviors and diet. Students will have to determine what would be the best food source for their bird based on options provided: mixed seed, sunflower seeds, acorns, etc. and then will be given the task of creating an ideal bird feeder for their birds, given materials provided. We can also go outside to look for natural materials if the space/time allows. Students will find locations to put their bird feeders where they can be checked on to see what types of animals visited their feeders, if they were successful, and if there were any modifications students would make in the future. Program fee is $8.00/members and $10.00 nonmembers. Please register online at www.marionmuseum.org.
Bill Saltonstall has an idea for that ugly patch of land across the parking lot from Marion’s Wastewater Treatment Plant that had been briefly considered but quickly scrapped as a potential site for the town’s new Department of Public Works operations center: a solar farm.
In sharing with Monday night’s regular public meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee, Saltonstall noted that the town is not permitted to generate and net-meter any more electricity than the total used by the plant.
“There’s a lot more than 2 acres across the driveway from the Wastewater Treatment Plant. It used to be a leaf dump, now there’s some old vehicles,” said Saltonstall, who estimates a 4-acre site that should work out for Marion’s generating capacity and grow in step with the town’s power requirements.
Saltonstall reported that DPW Interim Director Becky Tilden said there are no set plans for that area, making it potentially available to the MRC. With a wetland area in the next lot toward Route 6, Saltonstall sees no possibility for an abutting residential development.
“It looks to me as though that might be a pretty good spot for the solar array,” he said.
In FY19, Saltonstall said, 99.3% of Marion’s power went through Future Generation Wind. In FY20, that figure dropped to 91% and in FY21 down to 75.9% before recovering to 80%. Saltonstall figures that minus power from Future Generation Wind, 463,970 kilowatt hours could be legally contributed from some other source.
“So I’d like to see if we could add solar totaling up to the allowed amount,” he said, noting annual (Wastewater Treatment Plant) power usage at 717,000 kilowatt hours per year. “Within 2 acres, we could generate 500,000 kilowatt hours … or simply build that solar field and tie it directly into the (Wastewater Treatment Plant) behind the meter, because the total power, say 500,000 kilowatt hours, would easily fit inside of the 717,000 it takes to run the plant.”
He compared the model to what homeowners are doing.
Saltonstall acknowledged that some soil on the site could need a survey for contamination but still would not discount a solar installation based on other projects built on contaminated land. He suggested a lease agreement with a solar company to avoid paying up front with a bond.
According to Saltonstall, Marion will not be in the next round of Green Communities grant funding.
EMC member Alanna Nelson suggested addressing the topic with the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC), focusing on a lease arrangement that could bring Marion another $100,000 a year.
EMC Chairman Christian Ingerslev said that as soon as the Marine Center, Town House and new DPW projects are completed, “They’re all going to use more power than they have in the past.”
As for the capped-landfill solar project across Benson Brook Road, Ingerslev reported that negotiations are in process with the contractor Distributed Solar Development (DSD) and that Meghan Davis and Judy Mooney are working the Marion side of it.
Nelson said that while the matter of getting power into the grid is in an appeal period, Eversource’s commitment is to go ahead. The cost is going up, she said, but the Inflation Reduction Act is creating opportunities for grant funding.
Opportunities for photovoltaics (solar) including DPW roof estimates depend on potential modifications to bylaws to allow ground-mounted and roof-mounted solar, and Ingerslev told the EMC he sent a letter to Marion Building Commissioner Bob Grillo regarding the process.
The answer is the Bylaw Codification Committee, a subcommittee of the Marion Planning Board, both of which EMC member Eileen Marum is also a member. The Codification Committee, led by Norm Hills, has been amidst a giant project of revision of hundreds of bylaw corrections and updates.
“We are a bit busy getting ready for Town Meeting, but … perhaps we can take that up at one of our sessions,” said Marum, who recommended Ingerslev seek a conversation with Hills on the projects’ purposes and goals. “It doesn’t look very onerous to me.”
Even if the project had to go to site-plan review, it would not be a reason to delay a project from moving ahead,” said Nelson. “It’s not like site-plan review is an insurmountable barrier to getting any project done.”
The EMC is looking to appear before the Select Board prior to March 7.
The next meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee is scheduled for Monday, February 27, at 5:00 pm.
Marion Energy Management Committee
By Mick Colageo
On Sunday, February 5 at 3:00 pm, the Tri-County Symphonic Band, under the direction of Philip Sanborn, will combine with the Our Lady of Light Band, under the direction of Scott P. Lopes, to present a Winter Festival Celebration. Each band will play from their repertoire separately and then combine at the end to form a group of 80+ musicians! The Tri-County Symphonic Band is proud to collaborate one of the finest bands from Southeastern Massachusetts as we collectively work to strengthen the musical community with this harmonious offering.
The event (concert and dinner) will be held at the Our Lady of Light Band Banquet Hall
664 Quarry Street, Fall River, MA 02723. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. The ticket price includes a family style dinner. Doors open at 12:00 noon; dinner is served at 1:00 PM and the concert begins at 3:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased online at brownpapertickets.com
Please visit tricountysymphonicband.org for more detailed information.
A public meeting was held by the Mattapoisett Select Board on Tuesday night to hear residents’ comments regarding the proposed improvements to Old Slough Road on Angelica Point.
Coming before the board was Mike Huguenin of the Mattapoisett Land Trust to share the trust’s position regarding the importance of the ancient way. He said the MLT owns some 400 acres on the west side of the roadway and additional acreage on the east side. Having the roadway improved for walkers and bicyclists would be a benefit to the community and make the Land Trust property more accessible to the public.
Huguenin said that 130 homes are located in the Point Connett and Angelica Point area, that the location is highly vulnerable to storm damage and sea-level rise with the lowest point a mere 1 foot above maximum high tides. As a secondary access for these communities during emergencies, Huguenin stated the Old Slough Road project is critical. He closed his comments by saying that up until 1985, the roadway had been maintained and “viewed as a good alternative,” but in more recent decades, it had been abandoned.
The town’s engineer, Ken Motta of Field Engineering, said the roadway planned for reconstruction is 3,000 feet long, following a path that terminates at Bowman Road. He said there are presently two wet crossings and that it would be 12 feet wide. Motta said the project would be primarily funded through a grant secured from Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management agency and that the town’s portion would come from use of the Highway Department staff and equipment. Motta hoped for a spring bidding of the project estimated at $600,000.
David Park, 48 Hollywoods Road, offered his suggestion to the roadway layout. He said that with some reconfiguration, the road could be placed where it will do the least damage and the most good for the neighborhood, but he also stressed that the old forest is susceptible. His main concern for the concept of using the road as an emergency access was the number of trees that will come down during a storm, basically rendering the road impassable. He also voiced his concern that once the road is improved, it will be used by dirt bikes and other motorized vehicles.
Select Board Chairman Tyler Macallister assured Park and others that the roadway will have a gate at either end to secure it from motorized vehicles. But he also noted, “We’ve talked a lot about trees and not the road.” Macallister said that numerous trees have been damaged by moths and other insects making them weak. “Trees are going to come down.” But he said, by the time the winds pick up during a storm, residents should have evacuated. “After that, all bets are off.” He said the point of having this access road is to relieve traffic tie-ups and should Angelica Avenue become blocked, create another way to get out.
“We’ve received some new information tonight,” Macallister stated. “We’ll review this again with the engineer and legal counsel and put it on the February 14 agenda.”
In other business, a group presented the board with a list of some 38 signatures requesting that the town restrict beach access to residents only. Spokesperson for the group, Debra Molloy, said that people were disturbed by large groups who were not residents but had walk-on access to the beach. She asked the board to put restrictions in place that would curtail nonresidents from gaining access to the beach.
The group and board members discussed the matter at length with Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, pointing out that public beaches are “public” in the commonwealth dating back to the 1600s, and therefore anyone can use them. He and the Select Board, however, said they would look into ways of managing walk-on beach goers.
Presently a beach sticker is needed to park at the town beaches. The group was also informed that the beach located at the end of Reservation Road is not public, has never been public and requires a golf-club-membership sticker to park in that location.
The board also briefly discussed with Lorenco the timing of budget reviews in advance of the May 8 Spring Town Meeting. They selected April 25 as the opening day for the warrant and May 1 as the closing date. Lorenco said that department budget drafts are being received now. A schedule for meeting with the town’s departments is pending.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not announced upon adjournment.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell