Bike Safety

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To the Editor

            Bikes are tools for freedom and fun; They are not toys. Like downhill skis they are designed equipment for particular “courses.” They must be used responsibly or people get hurt. The Mattapoisett Rail Trail is a SHARED use path: Please be aware of the numerous pedestrians.

            I’m writing this out of a) the concerning anecdotes emerging from the pedestrian users on the recently opened bike path b) a profound sadness after learning about another tragic cyclist death: A 14 year old boy out with his friends at the end of a glorious spring day was buried last week after a collision with a car.

            In general cycling for sport and transport is safe because our caution leads us to protect ourselves with the right equipment and solid practice of the rules of the road. Regardless our caution, though, sometimes errors of judgement and conditions on the road are hurtful and even deadly. The rules exist to help avoid hurtful collisions. If we all behave responsibly, we minimize harm to ourselves and others.

            If you are an adult rider or a parent please make sure that you or your kids have skills, rules, judgment needed to use a bike. Including a helmet that is properly adjusted to protect their forehead. Take responsibility for your child’s knowledge of how to ride a bike. The freedom that comes with a bike can be intoxicating to kids and adults. But as with all freedom, bike riding comes with responsibilities to look out for yourself and others.

            The most important rules for everyone staying safe are those that help us avoid errors and minimize conflicts.

            1) Keep to the right on the roads and on the bike path. Do not ride against traffic. The drivers aren’t looking for you there. 2) Use a speed that is not alarming to the pedestrians around you. 3) Use your voice or a bell to warn pedestrians up ahead that you are going to pass them. Older walkers may not hear well from behind. 4) Stop at the stop signs and look for the driver who may not be looking for you. 5) Use lights at night, and please know a front headlight and a rear red light is the law for nighttime riding. The dark comes quickly after the sun goes down. Equip your bike properly to be seen. While you are at it dress to be seen. Visibility is critical.

            Finally, most of the roads leading to the bike path don’t have sidewalks. Drivers, give pedestrians and on-road riders a safe distance when passing. 4′ is the new law.

Bonne DeSousa, 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. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.

Jonathan Lee McGowan

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Jonathan Lee McGowan passed away on December 23, 2022 in Venice FL after a long illness.

            Jon was born in 1972 Pusan, South Korea.

            He is survived by his parents Sandy and Bob McGowan of Venice, FL (formally of Mattapoisett) and his birth mother, Sook Lee of Ilsan, South Korea. Also survived by sisters Kelly McGowan Ochoa and her daughters Nicole and Daniela of Fairhaven, MA, Heather McGowan and her wife Pat Coryell of Roslindale, MA and Melissa McGowan King and her husband Will, and their daughters Isabella and Chloe and son, Liam of Cumming, GA.

            A Memorial will be held on June 10 at 2 pm at the United Church of Christ, Congregational 460 Main St., Norwell, MA.

            Donations in his memory may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215 or Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave W, Venice, FL 34285.

Collins Report: Consolidation Won’t Save Money

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On May 15, the Mattapoisett Select Board, along with the Mattapoisett School Committee, met with members of the UMass Boston Collins Center for Public Management to hear their report regarding options for Center and Old Hammondtown elementary schools with respect to potential school consolidation.

            Speaking for the Collins Center was Heather Michaud, Public Services manager who has navigated the data-collection process and public-engagement sessions on behalf of the town for nearly a year. She explained the data-collection process, which included both public-engagement meetings where residents were given the opportunity to express their opinions on a wide variety of topics that collectively helped to inform whether or not school consolidation is a direction the town should consider. She said that an online survey also gave residents a voice in the process by sharing their answers to a number of questions geared towards learning just what people valued the most and if school consolidation was viable in their minds. Michaud said that population growth, aging trends and school populations were important data points.

            All the data was sifted and studied as options were developed by the center to give the town possible pathways to a solution on the question, should Mattapoisett consolidate schools and reuse its public spaces.

            The short answers came towards the end of the hour-long presentation in which Michaud delved into such matters as how Mattapoisett fared when compared to similar school districts in terms of quality of education, program spending, condition of facilities and those all-important population and enrollment trends.

            Michaud said that Mattapoisett’s schools were rated as in excellent condition, but that neither Center School nor Old Hammondtown School is large enough to serve a combined K-6 population.

            Predictions are for flat school enrollment for the next 10 years, but there still would not be enough room to put all the classes into one facility; expansion would be required. Costs ranged from $4,000,000 for partial consolidation to as much as $80,000,000 to build a completely new school campus.

            Maintaining the current status is estimated to cost $566,000 with a 3% per-year increase. To renovate Center School, the estimate is $7,000,000, and to renovate Old Hammondtown, the estimate was $6,700,000. In all cases Michaud said, “There are no rapid solutions … more study may be needed … you can consider the options for long-term planning.”

            Issues such as parking limitations at Center School, the public’s desire to maintain Center School as a school versus town offices, quality of services provided and the flood-plain issues at Center School were all touched on.

            Michaud said takeaways from the presentation were: Student population will remain stable; Population trends in the general public and schools will not reverse. The town is not spending too much on student services (earlier in the presentation Michaud noted that Mattapoisett was slightly behind its peers on spending); No significant cost savings will be realized through school consolidation; the schools are in excellent condition; and Town Hall’s future needs to be studied.

            The full report is available now on the town’s website, mattapoisett.net.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell

Lowe Poster Tops in State

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            Freshly out of a special meeting held in concert with the Select Board to hear the UMass Boston Collins Center’s conclusion that the economic benefit of school consolidation would be offset by the resultant expansion of Center or Old Hammondtown Elementary School, the Mattapoisett School Committee focused Monday night’s regular meeting on causes for celebration.

            And there were others, beginning with Old Hammondtown fifth grader Emma Lowe, whose “It’s Time for Trees” Arbor Day contest poster was recognized by the state Department of Conservation & Recreation as first among 2,300 entries statewide.

            Old Hammondtown Principal Kevin Tavares told the committee that the school will receive a tree. It was the only scheduled vote on the May 15 agenda that was tabled, as stakeholders need time to determine details.

            In her Chairperson’s Report later in the meeting, Carly Lavin cited that success and noted that “two things can be true at the same time …”

            Lavin, who was running for reelection to the committee on Tuesday, also cited Town Meeting approval of Old Rochester Regional’s Operations and Capital budget as signs that Mattapoisett residents value education. She thanked ORR staff, the PTA and paraprofessionals and discussed an exciting May and June full of field trips and student activities.

            As if she was offering parting words, Lavin told the members that they need to push for more. “We should continue to ask all the hard questions” on literacy, etc. and “advocate for our children,” she said, stressing the importance of accessible financial information. “My hope is this body continues to make sure the interests of the community are communicated in a transparent manner.”

            Lavin publicly thanked the ORR Administration and Budget Subcommittee, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco for working with the Mattapoisett School Committee and the UMass Collins Center for engaging the committee during its study.

            The Mattapoisett School Committee voted to approve what amounts to a general move to Thursday as meeting night with the following dates for the 2023-24 academic year: September 21, October 26, December 7, January 11, February 15, March 21, May 2 and June 13.

            The committee also voted to approve two grants as introduced by ORR Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Shari Fedorowicz: an Early Literacy Universal Screening Grant of $5,076 to purchase the DESE-approved Early Literacy Screening Assessment DIBELS 8th Edition for grades K-3 and a $152,000 Accelerating Literacy grant to cover 50% of the cost of new core instructional materials for Mattapoisett Public Schools.

            The $152,000 Accelerating Literacy grant covers up to the entire cost of the initial professional development for educators to implement the materials. Fedorowicz told the committee it was an “extremely competitive grant” and that she reached out for quotes. She noted that $1,000,000 was awarded statewide, and ORR received three to serve all three district towns.

            “Oftentimes, we’re not identified as a community with a certain poverty threshold,” said ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson, noting that ORR’s needs-assessment program turned out to be “really a great decision that we made,” as it revealed the needs that prompted the award. “We’re very excited to bring this forward.”

            The committee also discussed before and after-school program options that would necessitate the moving of a Kindergarten class from its regular space.

            In his Principal’s Report, Kevin Tavares said there were 22 school days left as of Monday and discussed visits that sixth-grade students would make to ORR Junior High and a visit that third-graders will make to Old Hammondtown. A podcast interviewed sixth-grade students on what fifth-grade students should expect.

            Tavares also thanked the Mattapoisett Land Trust for funding the upcoming Cuttyhunk trip for Grade 6 students. “It’s really cool that the island embraces this visit. We’ve been going every year,” he said. Grade 5 students will make a walking trip through Mattapoisett village, and a concert will be held on June 12.

            In her Principal’s Report, Dr. Linda Ashley discussed the June 7 concert and graduation.

            Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber reported that there was slightly over $310,000 remaining in the FY23 operation budget.

            The committee entered executive session and only returned to adjourn.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for Monday, June 12, at Center School, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Monday, June 8, at the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School media room. Both meetings start at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett School Committee

By Mick Colageo

Rochester Historical Society Event

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We’re busy planning our next event. Last year, we did a tour of the oldest third of Rochester Center Cemetery. This year on June 11 at 1:00, Sue LaFleur and Connie Eshbach will be leading a tour that picks up where we left off last year. We will be meeting people in the middle of the cemetery. We hope to see you there.

ORRHS Senior Class Events

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            The Old Rochester Regional High School Senior Class Events Schedule is as follows:

            May 30: Senior Prom 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm

            June 1: Senior Awards Night 6:30 pm

            June 3: Senior Assembly 9:00 am

            June 3: Senior parade 6:15 pm

            June 4: Graduation 12:00 pm

Students Seeking Solutions

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            A group comprised of 31 Old Rochester Regional Marine Biology students from the junior and sophomore classes converged on Nantucket Monday morning to get a taste of the fieldwork being done by scientists working to find solutions for ecological problems threatening marine life.

            What the students are already being taught is that the rubber of those problems is meeting the road of their world. Monday’s field trip provided an opportunity to get an up-close and personal look at what a career in Marine Biology looks, sounds and feels like.

            “It’s really cool and interesting how they can clean the water, filter the sand, as well as making algae, and being able to understand which algae is best for their (shellfish),” said Selena Pratt, a 16-year-old ORR sophomore from Marion who had already visited the oyster hatchery on Martha’s Vineyard. “They’re still learning because we don’t know everything about the ocean.”

            The trip, arranged by the Mattapoisett Land Trust and attended by representatives Ellen Flynn, Mary Cabral, Colleen Andrews and Cindy Turse, was accompanied by ORR staff, including ORR Marine Biology teacher Lynn Connor, staff Paul Gilbeault, Lindsay Deignan and Jill Grant and parent chaperones Erin Braman and Tom Friedman.

            “We live by the ocean, so it’s nice to see that we’re exploring our surroundings a little bit more and digging deeper into those problems like the algae blooming,” said Reese Souza, a 17-year-old ORR junior from Rochester. “I think it’s important to educate the public on the problems with the ocean that are occurring right now … while they’re still in that infancy stage before they take out other populations of fish.”

            Shellfish Hatchery, while the other half of the students worked under the supervision of Yvonne Valencourt, director of the UMass Boston Field Station located across town.

            Upon visiting a crowded room full of tanks with adult scallops, Freeman told the group, “Anything in science, you need to be okay with being uncomfortable in nature,” and, “You need to get used to bad smells.” She also advised the group visiting the hatchery to get scuba certified, estimating 60 planned dives this year, including 20 over the next two weeks.

            Students in the field-station group explored trails, arriving at the beach where they collected water samples and then examined them under microscopes.

            “We took water samples from a little pond, a stream and the ocean, and then we measured the ocean for salinity,” said ORR junior Connie Friedman, 17, of Marion. “Everybody got a different sample from the three areas that we went to.”

            The point of the closer look was to identify bugs. “There were bugs that could survive pollution and there were ones that couldn’t… I found some of the ones that couldn’t survive the pollution, which was a good sign,” said Friedman, who is looking to attend the University of New Hampshire and has been interested in Marine Biology since she worked with Terrapin turtles as a child.

            Connor, who accompanied students visiting the Field Station, said those students took a watershed hike through a stream area before reaching a swamp area with a small vernal pool. After water samples were taken at each location, the walk continued to the beach where Valencourt took a plankton sample.

            “It’s good, it’s real good. There are other solutions, but this is definitely a viable one,” said Elijah Batty, a SMEC student from Lakeville who is taking math and Marine Biology at ORR.

            While the three hours spent on Nantucket afforded the students a little downtime to walk the town and find some ice cream or pizza, the trip reinforced Pratt’s appetite for more knowledge of the ocean.

            “Even if you’re out of school, you’re still learning about the world,” she said. “I would enjoy learning about the ocean, trying to figure out a way to stop human – not just human problems, what we’re causing to the ocean such as adding too much carbon dioxide – and if the algae blooms aren’t growing, they can’t do photosynthesis, therefore they can’t take out the carbon dioxide. … So the (potential hydrogen) levels are higher, and I would find it fascinating to be able to fix that.”

Mattapoisett Land Trust

By Mick Colageo

Macallister Reelected to Select Board

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The May 16 Mattapoisett Town Election found incumbent Tyler Macallister winning a three-year term to remain a Select Board member, defeating first-time opponent Catherine Heuberger.

            Macallister received 1,252 votes to Heuberger’s 408. Word on the street was the race would be much tighter, given the third candidate, Brian Connelly, might split the vote, making it possible for Heuberger to win without getting a majority of all who cast votes on this night. With Macallister’s vote advantage, Connelly’s 245 votes did not factor in the outcome.

            After the results were announced, Heuberger congratulated Macallister. She shared with The Wanderer, “I’m a bit relieved … it was a lot of work.” When asked if she would try again in the future, she responded with a smile and chuckle saying, “I wouldn’t put my family or coworkers through that again.” Heuberger said it was a good experience, one that she’ll remember for a long time.

            Macallister expressed his appreciation at being reelected this way: “I’ll have a chance to continue working on projects such as the wharf,” an improvement project that has been brewing for nearly 10 years. He also said that now that the UMass Boston Collins Center report on school-consolidation options have been released, the material contained therein will be helpful as the Select Board and Mattapoisett School Committee continue to study ways to keep school costs from pushing a tax burden on the residents.

            During a 27-hour period that began with the Collins Center’s conclusion that school consolidation won’t save money and concluding with Tuesday night’s successful reelection campaign, Mattapoisett School Committee Chairperson Carly Lavin hasn’t broken stride.

            “We have a lot of work (to do) in town. Aging infrastructure is something that doesn’t just affect the non-school community. It affects us in making sure that we have a thriving community so I’m excited about helping continue that work,” said Lavin after garnering 1,270 votes to 657 for challenger David Pierre Jr., who was gracious in defeat.

            “Congratulations to Carly … I wish everybody the best. I know that she is dedicated to the students and families in the community,” said Pierre.

            Lavin was pleased to learn more than 1,500 registered voters visited Old Hammondtown School to cast ballots.

            “To have this large of a voting turnout today tells me that our town is engaged. I think that’s great,” said Lavin. “We don’t all think alike; we don’t all have the same opinions, but I think we all have a love and a care for the town, and I think if we can center around that and try and move forward. I’m hopeful that we can do what’s right to make sure Mattapoisett is as wonderful a place for the future as it is now.”

            Comparably, ORR School Committee incumbent Frances-Feliz Kearns won with a 1,169-791 margin over challenger Richard Reilly.

            In the only other contested race, incumbent Ruth Oliver Jolliffe maintained her seat on the Trustees of the Public Library with 1,366 votes. William Coquillette, who ran unsuccessfully last year, garnered 996 votes to take the other open seat. Paul Criscuolo received 427 votes, while 1,189 ballots were left blank.

            In other races not related to schools, Heuberger will return as the town clerk for another three years, receiving 1,507 votes. Raymond Andrews held his position as assessor for another three years in an uncontested race with 1,527 votes.

            Water/Sewer Commissioner Daniel Chase was reelected in his uncontested race, receiving 1,498 votes, and unopposed Board of Health incumbent Carmelo Nicolosi was reelected for another three years with 1,489 votes.

            A vacant five-year position on the Planning Board went to William Wennerberg, III, uncontested with 1,354 votes. The Mattapoisett Housing Authority kept John Vaughn for another five-year term with 1,451 votes and Community Preservation Committee members Michelle Hughes and Chuck McCullough won their uncontested bids with 1,422 and 1,348 votes, respectively.

            With no one on the ballot for town moderator, the winner among 289 write-in votes was not determined on Tuesday night.

            The one question on the ballot asked the voters to provide exemption from proposition two and a half, the amount required to pay for the bond issued in order to pay costs of road reconstruction for the Pearl and Oakland streets roadway, including incidental expenses. The vote was 993 yes to 635 no.

Mattapoisett Town Election

By Marilou Newell and Mick Colageo

Coastline Meals Programs Earn Support

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Local town leadership threw their support behind Coastline for Older Americans Month, helping deliver meals to older adults in Marion, Fairhaven and Dartmouth. Like Coastline’s regular drivers, they greeted adults on their route by name and handed meals to recipients with a hello and friendly conversation.

            After being given her meal by Marion Select Board members Randy Parker and Toby Burr, Marion nonagenarian Marian Treichler, a retired teacher, chatted with the men about the well-being of several town residents and the shops and businesses they operate. Nonagenarian Gabe Ditata also used the delivery opportunity to discuss local issues with the two selectmen, including the motor vehicle traffic near his home.

            Both enjoyed the visits and the chance to share and receive local news.

            Meals on Wheels is a core Coastline program that supports older adults in living independently by providing nutritious weekday meals and well-being checks. In 2022, Coastline delivered 434,000 meals in seven South Coast communities.

            In the past decade, the number of meals Coastline serves has increased 56 percent even as food costs grew by 53 percent. In contrast, federal funding decreased by 2 percent over the same 10-year period from 2013 to 2023. Increases in state funding, while helpful, cover a smaller percentage of program costs and therefore do not make up the financial difference.

            Despite the gap, Coastline has made the decision to seek alternative program funding, including fundraising, in order to meet the demand for every older adult who needs meals. Meals are delivered free to recipients with a request for a $2 per meal donation. While some recipients can afford this donation, most cannot.

            “Coastline remains committed to serving meals to those who need them, especially those who are unable to leave their home without difficulty,” said Justin Lees, CEO. “We continue to work with the South Coast legislative delegation and other opportunities to improve funding support for this important program.”

            “This is such a great program to ensure our seniors get nutritional meals with a safety check in,” said Murphy. “As a Select Board member and president of M.O. Life, I applaud the continuous great work that Coastline is doing.”

            Murphy praised program drivers for the relationships they create with recipients and the safety checks they make as part of their deliveries. Drivers are not allowed to leave meals on doorsteps or at neighbors’ homes and must give them directly to the individual recipient for that reason.

            “Even that two minutes of saying hello means, ‘Ok, they’ve come to the door, they’re ok,’” Murphy said about that moment of contact.

            May is Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and gifts of older Americans. This year’s theme is Aging Unbound, a topic designed to encourage increased flexibility in thinking about aging and about the benefits when older adults remain engaged, independent, and included, according to the federal Administration for Community Living.

            To find out more or to request meal delivery, call Coastline at 508-999-6400.

26 County Road

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To Mattapoisett Select Board,

            On December 1, 2022, Sky Development Ltd. submitted a proposal per the requirements of the RFP#22-26 to develop the former fire station at 26 County Road into a full scale grocery store.

            Pursuant to the RPF a Purchase and Sale should have been provided by January 31, 2023. On February 27, 2023 I was finally provided a draft Purchase and Sale for review. I sent said Purchase and Sale to my Attorney for review. Per section 10 of the RPF we were already a month past the time to have a mutually agreeable Purchase and Sale Agreement executed. After review I instructed my attorney to send back the Agreement with proposed changes. During this time, I had a hold on my bid funds as I was unsure what was supposed to happen with the funds.

            Also while reviewing the Purchase and Sale, several terms were included that were not disclosed in the RPF, which could have caused a issue with financing.

            While reviewing the P&S I was informed that the Town tried to cash by bid deposit check and the Town was informed there was a hold. I instructed my Attorney to tell Town counsel the proper deposit would be tendered on the execution of a mutually agreeable P&S. I was informed that unless I tendered a good check for the bid deposit that the Town could cash my proposal would now be deemed non responsive.

            Rather than proceed to negotiate the terms of the P&S, Mattapoisett Town Counsel in fact deemed by proposal ‘Non-Responsive’ and has been attempting to sell the building to the next bidder for less than 50% of my proposed offer.

            According to M.G.L chapter 30B Section 16, referenced in the RFP the Town of Mattapoisett will need to publish its decision with the state as to why it has decided to sell this property a price less than the value set per the RFP.

            For anyone interested in what could have been created with the help and partnership of the Town of Mattapoisett, I am listing here the simple, thoughtful, sensible requests made within the P&S:

-Approve the market buildout.

-Waive the permitting fees.

-Grandfather the existing bathrooms.

-Approve our drawn expanded parking.

-Remediate or accept any mentioned lead paint.

-Approve exterior layout including dining and child play area.

            As a commercial Business Taxpayer and property owner in Mattapoisett I am taken aback at how flippant Town Counsel was with the Purchase and Sale negotiation and disregard for a proposal which is netting the Town more than twice the second proposal. I am sure that other taxpayers in Town will not take this information lightly.

            As productive member of our community, I am extremely disappointed with the speed at which Town Council has kicked aside a ‘we the people’ project, avoided the opportunity to work with someone clearly interested in citizen oriented development, and has forced the Town into accepting far less for their asset.

            Michael Sudofsky

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. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.