250-Year-Old Mystery Solved at Last!

Captain James Cook’s legendary ship, the HMS Endeavor, was confirmed to be located at the bottom of Newport Harbor in Rhode Island this past week. Underwater exploration of the harbor has been conducted since the early 90s, with the Australian National Maritime Museum having performed underwater archeological analysis for over 25 years. Though it was […] Read more »

Plant Secrets and Other Truths

With a crew of eager third graders, Don Cuddy along with other members of the Mattapoisett Land Trust education committee planted sunflowers at Dunseith Park located at the corner of North Street and Route 6 recently. This is a continuation of a major goal by the land trust: educating children about our natural environment.             […] Read more »

Success Comes in Small Choices

Editor’s note: The Wanderer has invited student keynote speakers for local high school graduation ceremonies to share their speeches for publication. Below is the speech given by Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School 2025 Valedictorian Madison Burnham during last Thursday night’s Commencement held on the school’s North Rochester campus.             Good evening everyone, family, friends, […] Read more »

Annual Expectations

            If you are among those whose preconceived ideas equate annuals with novices, think again. I used to believe that annuals began with alyssum and ended with zinnias, with impatiens and marigolds scattered in between. Thirty years as a gardener has shifted such narrow views. In fact, annuals occupy an ever-widening realm of the plant […] Read more »

Wickenden Chapel Steeple to Undergo Repairs

A familiar feature of the Marion skyline, the Wickenden Chapel steeple will be undergoing repairs this summer. On June 16, the steeple will be carefully dismantled and removed from the top of the chapel by Ashmont Iron Works. It will be transferred off-site to repair structural members and connection points that have weakened naturally over […] Read more »

Burgers on The Grill

            Most schools in the Tri-Town are out and graduations have wrapped up. The weather is getting warmer, and window rattlers have been installed. Spring rains are still here (seemingly nailing every weekend with calculated precision), but Memorial Day weekend heralds in the unofficial beginning of the summer season. Festivals and celebrations have already begun […] Read more »

ORRJH Students Showcase Civics Action Projects

Superintendent Michael S. Nelson and Principal Silas Coellner are proud to share that more than 130 student projects exploring important issues facing society were on display at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School during the Civics Action Project Showcase held on Tuesday, May 27.             Eighth grade students who completed civics action projects over the […] Read more »

Radon – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

            Radon is a breakdown product of uranium, which is found naturally in soil and rocks everywhere. Radon is a gas, and it is odorless, colorless and tasteless.             Radon can seep into your house from the ground on which it is built and, particularly if your house is tightly-sealed, can build up.             Some […] Read more »

Hartley Leaves Impactful Legacy

            Former Rochester Memorial School teacher and soon-to-be former Rochester and Old Rochester School Committee Chair Sharon Hartley is retiring from education after more than 50 years jam-packed with accomplishments that took her far beyond her local roots.             The Mattapoisett native is soft-spoken and humble, yet obviously proud of achievements that include becoming principal […] Read more »

School Wellness Champions

Superintendent Michael S. Nelson is pleased to share that Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55 were recognized for achieving Massachusetts School Wellness Champion status for meeting the requirements of the School Wellness Initiative for Thriving Community Health (SWITCH).             The SWITCH program is a statewide initiative for supporting and advancing wellness […] Read more »