Steven J. Krol

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Steven J. Krol, 36, passed away Friday, May 9, 2025 peacefully at home after a courageous 3 year battle with brain cancer. He was the beloved husband of Sara B. (Schwanke) Krol of Marion, MA. Born in Attleboro, MA, he was a son of Jozef and Bogumila “Nila” (Fura) Krol of Smithfield, RI.

Steven was the owner of Krol Installs and was proud of establishing his own company within the last year. He grew up in Smithfield, RI and has lived in Marion, MA for over 4 years. Steven received his Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Design from New England Institute of Technology. He was an avid lover of brewing his own beer under the label of Krolski Brewing. He enjoyed the outdoors hiking, running, and biking. Steven was someone who could fix anything and loved his blue truck.

Steven had the most contagious smile and was a devoted father, husband, son, brother and friend. He loved his family and children deeply. He relied on his faith in God to sustain him at all times.

In addition to his wife Sara and his parents he is survived by his children Noelle (4), Penelope (2), and Quintin (5 months). He was the brother of Julie DeCosta and Michelle Martins. He was the son-in-law of Bryan and Sharon Schwanke of Duxbury, MA. He was the brother-in-law to Janelle and Corey Morris, Kayla and Daniel Abunaw, Noah Schwanke, Ariana Schwanke, Damien Schwanke, Arthur DeCosta and Matthew Martins. He was the beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 16, 2025 from 4-7 pm in the Tucker-Quinn Funeral Chapel of Patrick Quinn Funerals & Cremations, 643 Putnam Pike, Greenville. Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 10 am in St. Michael Church, 80 Farnum Pike, Smithfield. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute The Adult Brain Tumor Fund c/o Dr. Patrick Wen 450 Brookline Ave, Boston MA 02215.

Kindly visit PatrickQuinnFuneralsandCremations.com for online condolences.

“Summer is Here!”

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On Thursday, May 1, the Marion Board of Health met to discuss various correspondences and hold two public hearings for variances. The Chair, John Howard, was absent, but the meeting carried on as usual due to the board’s scheduled appointments.

            Following the approval of the minutes from the board’s March 6 and April 17 meetings, Member Edward Hoffer began the Variance Request Public Hearing for 2 Edwards Bridge Road. The request was made in order to install a Title V septic system without a denitrification system. The argument made against a denitrification system was the property’s far distance from the bay. It was also stated there are no well or water resources within 200 feet of the site, though there is a cranberry bog uphill from the property.

            Some concern was levied against the property’s proximity to Mary’s Pond by board members, though it was stated the pond lies half a mile away. The two present board members, Hoffer and Johnson, were concerned over making decisions without their fellow member and Chair and whether starting to omit denitrification systems may “start a slippery slope” according to Co-Chair Johnson. Following this, Chair John Howard arrived stating “Cape Cod traffic” delayed his arrival. “Summer is here!” he added. After the board discussed among themselves, the board asked for a continuance in order to meet with the Town Administrator to ascertain whether the Board of Health has a case-by-case authority to decide themselves whether a property needs a denitrification system. This hearing was continued to May 15.

            The next hearing began, also for a Variance Request, for Register Road. The request would allow two Title V percolation tests at 34 minutes per inch and 40 minutes per inch respectively, rather than what is stated in Marion’s sanitation code, being 38 minutes per inch. The land in question is vacant and undeveloped. The current owners have owned the property for 50 years, since 1975. They seek the percolation tests in order to develop the property some time in the future. The board was concerned with development, as it is a “water sensitive area” as Hoffer said. The Variance Request was approved unanimously, with much discussion as to whether Marion would eventually change its current regulations or match that of the state in terms of percolation tests.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for May 15 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Board of Health

By Sam Bishop

What’s Up There?

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May has some… interesting developments astronomically. Aside from the 50-year-old satellite crashing back down to Earth, it’s fairly ordinary though.

            The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is ongoing (April 21 through May 20) but reaches its peak May 5-6. This meteor shower is the result of the Earth passing the trail of the tail of Halley’s Comet.

            This month’s one and only full moon will be on May 12. It is called the “Flower Moon.” This is due to the spring-time flowers in bloom. Also, it is the day after Mother’s Day, which is a flowery time as well. There are plenty of livestreams you can view should you not be able to see a clear dark sky, such as Hawaii’s Subaru Telescope on the Big Island.

            For planets, Jupiter and Mars will be visible in the early night, with Saturn and Mars becoming visible just before sunrise. On May 31, Venus will be at its “greatest elongation.” This means, from our view, it will be furthest from the Sun, allowing us to see it more easily and clearly.

            A chunk of an old Soviet satellite is descending back to its origin. Kosmos 482 was launched on March 31, 1972 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The probe was on its way to land on Venus but due to critical failures in setting the setting a booster’s timer (really), it was unable to break away from the Earth’s orbit. Two pieces of the original craft expect a fiery return home between May 9 and May 11, more than 50 years after their launch. Probably estimates have it hitting somewhere* near the United Kingdom.

            There is plenty to see and plenty of apps, websites, and other resources to aid in identifying. NASA is always great for events (like the meteor shower) and flyovers. Happy and lucky stargazing to you.

Astronomy Update for May

By Sam Bishop

Events at Rochester Historical Society

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We have our calendar of events set for 2025. In May, we’ve changed things up a bit and will be having our annual Ice Cream Social with music by Tom and Sheila Perry assisted of course with those in attendance singing along. This will be at the RHS Museum at 355 County Rd. in Rochester at 7:00 pm on May 21.

            June will be a program presented by Connor Gaudet, curator of the Mattapoisett Historical Museum. This will be at our museum at 7:00 pm on June 18.

            Usually, our meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of the month from April to December and always followed by refreshments and good conversation, but our July meeting will deviate from that as we will be having a Strawberry/Blueberry Bake Sale and as a kick-off for our upcoming exhibit: The Tools and Industries That Made Rochester, we will be at the site of the Church Home on Mattapoisett Rd. More on that later.

            In August we will forgo a meeting, as we will be holding our annual yard sale on August 2 and August 3. Once that is done and cleaned up, we will be setting up our new exhibit that will open in the Fall.

            September 17 at 7:00 pm, Bruce Bassett will talk about how his search for ancestors and his family tree led him from New Jersey to Rochester and to the Sons of the American Revolution organization.

            October 15 at 7:00 pm, Mack Phinney will do a presentation on Cranberry Screenhouses.

            November 19 will be the Thankful Supper. This dinner begins at 6:00 pm.

Marion Memorial Day Remembrances and Procession

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The 2024 Memorial Day Remembrances and Procession will take place on Monday, May 26 starting at 9:00 am in front of the Music Hall at 164 Front St, Marion. In the event of rain, the event will be relocated to the Multipurpose Room of Sippican Elementary School.

            The procession and remembrances will follow same route as in past years, stepping off from the Music Hall northbound on Front Street, marching 0.6 miles up Front Street to the Veterans’ Memorial at Old Landing. Upon arrival at the Veterans’ Memorial the town will pay tribute to our military’s “honored dead” who “gave the last full measure of devotion”.

            The procession and remembrances will feature the Sippican School Marching Band led by director Hannah Moore as well as The Portuguese American Band. The ceremony will conclude with members of the Select Board laying a wreath at the Veterans’ Memorial. The master of ceremonies for the event will be Technical Sergeant Mandy Givens of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.

            Residents are encouraged to attend the remembrances as well as stand along the parade route on Front Street between Cottage Street and Ryder Lane.

Joseph Patrick Keogh III

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Joseph Patrick Keogh III, age 82, passed away on May 8, 2025, at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, Mass., after a brief illness.

            Joe was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1942 to Joseph Patrick Keogh (Sr.) and Mary Louise Bierkamp. In 1962, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and there began his love affair with the sea. After service, he settled in Woods Hole, where he met and married Ellen Christian.  Together they had two sons, Sean and Timothy, whom they raised in Marion. Until his retirement from Edy & Duff boat yard, Joe helped build many of the boats dotting Buzzards Bay. Joe was an active member of the town and served on multiple committees, including the Marion Open Space Committee, the Marine Resource Committee, and the Circulation Committee all of which were responsible for giving residents easier access to natural resources.

            Joe was a man of many passions: sailing, Tai Chi, genealogy and scale collecting, to name just a few. Joe loved nature and spent his retirement organizing and leading local kayaking and hiking expeditions and keeping tabs on the ospreys of Marion.

            He was known for the indomitable spirit that lay behind his laconic demeanor. When he was forbidden from cycling for health reasons, he took up a recumbent bike without a second thought. When his knees made it hard to skipper a regular sailboat, he built himself a trimaran he could sail seated.

            He is survived by his sons, Sean and his wife Nicole and Tim and his wife Teah; his grandchildren, Olive, Martin and Cecelia; his sister, Kathy; and his good friend and partner, Deb Giokas.

            Services will be held on Thursday, May 15th at 4PM at St. Gabriel’s Church, 124 Front St., Marion. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Sippican Lands Trust, an organization working to protect the Ospreys that Joe loved so dearly.

            Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Gary James Ramos

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Gary James Ramos, 66, of Wareham, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 9, 2025. He was the husband of Deborah (Lopes) Ramos for many years.

            Born in Milford, CT, son of Irene (Fortes) Ramos and the late James Ramos, he lived in Mattapoisett most of his life.

            Gary was a jazz drummer, avid music lover and enjoyed going to the Newport Jazz Festival. He was the percussionist for his family tradition of Canta Reis. Gary loved spending time with his daughter and grandchildren. He had a great sense of humor and was the life of every get together. Gary worked on the water for most of his life, first as a longshoreman and then as a first mate on the Portuguese Princess.  He most recently worked at Turk’s Seafood in Mattapoisett and Cast Seaside Bites & Bar in Marion.

            Survivors include his wife; his mother Irene Ramos; his daughter, Rosemary Williams and her husband Whynton of Mattapoisett; his siblings, David Ramos (Jill), Jeffrey Ramos (Jen), Marie Elena Almeida (Jay), Stephanie Ramos, and Mikela Riley; his precious grandchildren, Kymani, Kaimari, and Kamila Williams; several aunts, uncles and many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members that he loved very much.

            His Funeral will be held Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, followed by his Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church at 10 AM. Burial will take place privately at a later date. Visiting hours will be Wednesday from 4-8 PM in the Funeral Home. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com

Finance Committee Votes to Not Support Article 17

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 The Marion Finance Committee met on Wednesday, April 30 to discuss Marion Town Meeting Warrant Article 17, to be voted on by the people on May 12. By the end of the meeting, the Finance Committee would all find themselves on the same page and vote accordingly.

            Article 17 goes as follows:

            To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $3,276,722 to be used for the renovation of the Marion Town House to provide accessibility, fire suppression, building code and HVAC compliance, including final design and all other costs incidental and related thereto; and to meet this appropriation to see if the Town will vote to transfer from available funds in the Treasury (Free Cash) the sum of $300,000 and to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, to borrow $2,976,722 under the provisions of M.G.L. c.44, §7(1) or any other appropriate enabling authority, and to issue bonds and notes of the Town therefor; provided, however, that the appropriation authorized hereunder shall be contingent upon approval by the voters of a ballot question to exclude the amounts to pay for the bonds or notes authorized for this purpose from the provisions of Proposition 2½, so called; and further that the Select Board be authorized to enter into such contracts and agreements as shall in its judgement be necessary to effectuate the intent of this article; or take any other action thereon.

            The Finance Committee, helmed by Chair Shay Assad, felt the different proposed works on the Town House should be split into multiple articles and not be lumped into one. That being, separate votes on accessibility and compliance versus HVAC instillation. At the end of the meeting, the Finance Committee voted unanimously to not support Article 17 as shown and push to make an amendment.

            Most Finance Committee members would be at the Select Board meeting the following Tuesday to plead their case.

            The next Marion Finance Committee meeting was not scheduled at adjournment but will take place after Town Meeting and the election.

Marion Finance Committee

By Sam Bishop

Blanche B. Perry Scholarship

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The Mattapoisett Land Trust is extending its deadline for its $1000 Blanche B. Perry Scholarship to May 19. This award is available to a Mattapoisett resident graduating from Old Rochester Regional High School, Bishop Stang High School, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, or Tabor Academy by June 2025, and pursuing education in the sciences and/or environmental studies or a related field.

            The scholarship is made available through the Edith Glick Shoolman Fund, a bequest left to provide support for children in the community.

            Application forms are available in the guidance offices of participating schools listed above and at the Mattapoisett Land Trust website: mattlandtrust.org/education/grants-and-scholarships.

            The deadline for submitting the complete application and accompanying materials is May 19, 2025. The awardee will be notified on the week of May 27.

            The actual award will be disbursed after the student submits an official college transcript documenting a successful completion of the first semester in college to the Mattapoisett Land Trust.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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There is what appears to be a small plot of land on Rte.105 with a for-sale sign. Though the land for sale looks small in size, its history is very large. The store shown in the first picture was originally a barn and stable built in 1710 and belonging to Minister Timothy Ruggles. The photograph was taken in 1934 when the store building was 294 yrs. old. In this picture, it is the John Alden General Store. In later years it became the Rochester General Store and has had several owners.

            Over the years, the buildings to the left and right have been home to a variety of businesses. In the late 1940’s, the building on the right became Rochester’s Post Office until the new one was built in the 1980’s. On the left there was a grocery store and beginning in the 1950’s George Kirby II operated a garage followed by one owned by Buster Locke.

            In later years there was a bar and restaurant and a lunch counter which was a community gathering place where you were sure to get caught up on local news and gossip. These businesses closed and the buildings were sold. Their last occupants were a bakery cafe with two apartments above and a commercial bakery behind. Once again, people gathered to eat, talk and catch up on community happenings.

            Unfortunately, on July 28, 2011, a massive fire consumed much of the building. The second picture shows the demolishment of what was left. That fire ended 310 years of this small Rochester center of commerce.

By Connie Eshbach