Coalition Safeguards Water Supply

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This past May, the Buzzards Bay Coalition acquired 33 acres of land in the Mattapoisett River Valley. The plot at 84 New Bedford Road, Rochester sits off the intersection of Cushman Road and Perry Hill Road and stretches inland near Branch Brook and is neighbor to the Mattapoisett Land Trust’s Mattapoisett River Wildlife Management Area. According to Buzzards Bay Coalition Communications Director Scott Lajoie, this land is near several town wells, including 3,000 feet from Marion Town Well #5.

            Not far south of the acquired land is another Marion well, located on Tinkham Lane. On June 12, the Town of Marion put out a warning stating, “On 06/11/2025, we were notified by the Town of Fairhaven that a fecal indicator (E. coli) was detected in a raw water (untreated) sample collected on 06/10/2025 from the Tinkham lane Well.” Following this, five extra samples were tested with none containing E. Coli. bacteria. The town added, “This is not an emergency; you do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions.”

            Though there is no emergency, it does highlight the fragility of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester’s water supplies.

            Following the purchase of the New Bedford Road plot, the coalition assisted in the approval of a state grant for $350,000, allowing Marion to purchase a Conservation Restriction on the land. This prevents development of the land, disturbing and endangering the water supply of surrounding aquifers.

            Buzzards Bay Coalition recently acquired 436 acres in Dartmouth’s Paskamansett River Valley for similar initiatives. In the past weeks, it has also finalized the purchase of 1,652 acres on the border of Rochester and Middleboro for natural conservation.

            For an interactive and detailed map of all registered wells in the state of Massachusetts, you can view the Massachusetts Well Location Viewer by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection at: www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=660e5b4cb7af4f4e932c9d5a7b7e82f2.

By Sam Bishop

Shakespeare for Scaredy Cats

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Shakespeare isn’t as scary as you may think, so say the folks who attend the Shakespeare for Scaredy Cats sessions Dr. Karrie Szatek leads on Thursdays at the Mattapoisett COA. This Thursday, however, the group gathered instead at the Shipyard Inn because the COA was closed for the Juneteenth holiday. While socializing, these attendees, many of whom have been coming to explore Shakespeare for two years, read and chatted about the bard’s The Winter’s Tale. These budding Shakespeareans have formed a wonderful community that also extends beyond the COA and the Inn. In the past and again this summer they will be audience members at the Cape Cod Shakespeare Festival in Chatham, MA. Seniors interested in giving Shakespeare one more chance, you may contact the Mattapoisett COA at 508-758-4110. All are welcome to become part of this little community as well as join us at Gould Park in Chatham to see The Taming of the Shrew and Othello.

Marion Concert Band to Begin Season

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Continuing a tradition it established in 1878, the Marion Concert Band will present weekly concerts in July and August.

            On Friday, July 4, the Marion Concert Band will open its 2025 concert season with a program of patriotic music in celebration of Independence Day. The program is as follows:

            National Emblem March – E. E. Bagley

            Star Spangled Spectacular – G. M. Cohan

            American Pageant – T. Knox

            God Bless America – I. Berlin

            Our Glorious Land – J. Olivadoti

            Battle Hymn of the Republic – arr. Peter Wilhousky

            The Homefront: Musical Memories from World War II – arr. J. Christensen

            American Legion – C. Parker

            Armed Forces Salute – arr. B. Lowden

            Americans We – H. Fillmore

            America, the Beautiful – S. Ward

            The Stars and Stripes Forever – J. P. Sousa

            The concert, under the direction of guest conductor Philip Sanborn, will be held at the Robert O. Broomhead Bandstand at Island Wharf and will start at 7:00 pm.

            The Marion Concert Band’s Friday evening concert series will include concerts every Friday evening in July and August. All concerts are free and open to the public. “Like” us on Facebook at “Marion Town Band” for up-to-date announcements and rain cancellation notices.

Academic Achievements

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Katherine Solowey of Mattapoisett received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College on Sunday, May 25. Solowey, an economics major, graduated with departmental honors in economics.

            Vermont State University is proud to congratulate Noah Lapointe of Rochester for being named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2025 semester.

            Emily Kilpatrick of Marion has earned a place on the President’s List for the Spring 2025 semester at Dean College. Students named to the President’s List have demonstrated a serious commitment to their studies while at Dean College.

Cats, Bees and Politics

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            Once upon a time, our quiet little hamlet ran smoothly. Most citizens didn’t know or care about what transpired in the Town Hall’s halls. Registering to vote and attending the Town Meeting, which was held upstairs in the auditorium, was about the only time they entered the place. Elected officials, most part-time, went about their business with ne’er a mention of controversy.

            Unlike today, nobody assumed elected officials were corrupt, up to no good, scoundrels, or were scheming to feather their nest. I can promise you that when I was an elected official, I was not a crook. It appears that is not the case anymore … er, not me, I am still not a crook.

            Unlike state and federal elections, no one runs for office be it selectperson, herring inspector, or fence viewer (do we still have a fence viewer?) on a party platform. No Democrats, no Republicans, no Libertarians, Green Party, or any other label. Just citizen.

            There is a buzz around town that a new controversy is brewing in our seat of government, a regular bee-gate so to speak. It may be a sign of the times but according to published reports one local political party committee has a bee in their bonnet because one town official allegedly utilized the fire department to remove a bee’s nest from high up on a tree on their own property.

            Back when the town was that quiet little hamlet, this would not have sparked a hornet’s nest of debate. The political party committee has suggested that this action was “a misuse and abuse of public funds and resources,” and is illegal according to the state’s “Standards of Conduct” statute.

            I wonder if the furry animal were a pussy cat, would there be any uproar. Just recently a resident reported on our local social-network page that their pretty kitty had climbed a tall tree and refused to come down. They called the fire department. Alas, the fuzzball was too high to be rescued. Presumably it climbed down on its own.

            Just where does a bee stand on the hierarchy of the animal kingdom. Is a bee not worthy of the same consideration of a cat? Bees provide valuable service to mankind. They pollinate our plants. Where would we be without bees? What does a cat do? Nothing. They just lay around and pose for all those cat videos on YouTube. As a friend pointed out to me, a dog, for example, has a master, a cat has staff. Where does a bee stand?

            If your precious feline climbed a tree and wouldn’t come down, who would you call? Ghostbusters won’t come. Cat removal from trees has traditionally been a service of the fire department because they have long ladders. According to firedeptfamily.com, some departments carry pet oxygen masks in case the tree is on fire, which I expect is rare. Should bees not get the same courtesy?

            If a town official’s dog went missing (lost dogs seem to be a frequent occurrence in town), would it be an abuse to call animal control and ask for the dog officer to be on the lookout? They’re a town department, too.

            I know what you are thinking. I should buzz off. It is none of my beeswax!

            Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and happily retired writer. His newspaper columns appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.

Thoughts on…

By Dick Morgado

July Events at the Mattapoisett Library

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The Mattapoisett Free Public Library Artist Series presents Paintings and Prints by Jim Parker. The exhibition, entitled “Ships and Shipbuilding from Mattapoisett and the SouthCoast,” begins on July 1 and is free and open to the public.

            Our six-week Summer Yoga Series continues on Thursday, July 3 at 10:30 am on the library’s lawn. Grab your mat and mark your calendars for the remaining classes on Thursday, July 10, 17, 24, and 31 at 10:30 am. Stretch, unwind, and relax with a beginner-friendly yoga flow series. This adaptable experience suits all ability levels and is recommended for ages 12 and up. Class will be held outside, weather permitting—please dress accordingly. No registration required.

            Join us on Thursday, July 3, at 11:00 am for an Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum presentation hosted by Bob Ainsworth, author of DUPED, a fictional account of the theft. In his library presentation, Bob will review the details of the real-life 1990 robbery at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the suspects, and the motives behind the world’s most valuable art theft, totaling $500 million. This program is recommended for ages 12 and up. Come by and see if you can solve this decades-old mystery. No registration required.

            The library will be closed on Friday, July 4, in honor of Independence Day. We will reopen on Saturday, July 5, at 10:00 am.

            The next meeting of the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, at 6:00 pm. All are welcome to attend. A Zoom link to the meeting is available upon request. If you have any questions, please contact the library at mfpl@sailsinc.org. We can pass along your message to the Friends.

            The Friends are also still accepting jewelry donations. If you have gently used or unworn jewelry or accessories you’d like to donate, the Friends would love to take them off your hands. Please drop these items off at the circulation desk. Thank you. Your contributions are appreciated and will help support future library events.

            Well-Read Wednesday meets on Wednesday, July 23, at 6:30 pm in the Marine room. The club will discuss Autocracy, Inc. The Dictators Who Want to Rule the World, by Anne Applebaum. Copies of the book are available for pickup at the library. New members are welcome.

            ZMakesBeads will be at the library on Tuesday, July 29, at 12:00 pm for an expressive arts workshop that teaches participants the basics of making beaded jewelry. Semi-precious stones and other natural jewelry materials will be used. The workshop atmosphere is a tranquil, meditative, interactive space that encourages participants to be present and at ease while creating. This event is intended for ages 12 and up. Space is limited and registration is required. Please see the library website to sign up.

            Drop by the library on Tuesday, July 29, at 6:00 pm for the next Sippizine writing group. Meredith is stepping up to lead this summer’s sessions in the Marine Room while Alanna Nelson is away. Bring your favorite writing accessories (e.g., paper, pen, computer) and get ready for the spark as ideas pop up in this creative writing session. No registration required.

            Please note that a library card is required at checkout. If your card is missing, we can replace it. To avoid losing it again, download the SAILS mobile app. It’s an excellent alternative to carrying your physical library card. Please see a librarian if you need help or have questions. Your privacy is important to us. Let’s protect it together.

            As always, library events and activities are free and open to all. Visit our website for more information and updates. If you have any questions, please email mfpl@sailsinc.org or call us at 508-758-4171.

St. Philip’s Summer Season

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St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, next to the Town Beach in Mattapoisett, hosts visiting clergy each week through the summer concluding on August 31. All are welcome to attend the 8:00 am and 10 am services which use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Service dates include:

            June 29 The Rev. Jay James, Assisting Rector, The Church of the Advent,

Boston, MA.

            July 6 The Rev. Robert Malm, Interim Rector, St. Peter’s on the Canal,

Buzzards Bay, MA.

            July 13 The Rev. John Kennedy, Associate Rector, St. Mark’s Church, New

Cannon, CT.

            July 20 The Rev. Marc Eames, Priest-in-Charge, St. John’s Church, Vernon,

CT.

            July 27 The Rev. Nathan Humphrey, Rector, St. Thomas’s Church, Toronto,

Canada.

            August 3 The Rev. Marc Eames.

            August 10 The Rev. Robert Malm.

            August 17 The Rev. Michael Pearson, Assisting Priest, St. Stephen’s Church,

Providence, RI.

            August 24 The Rev. Jeffrey Paull Cave, Retired, Diocese of Atlanta, GA.

            August 31 The Rev. Jeffrey Paull Cave.

            August 31 Hymn Sing Evening.

Mattapoisett Museum

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The Mattapoisett Museum at 5 Church Street is open for the 2025 summer season. Please drop by on Friday and Saturday afternoons from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. You can also visit by appointment (contact info@mattapoisettmuseum.org) from now to September 27.

            Currently on display is “Wanderer100: The Legacy and Afterlife of Mattapoisett’s Last Whaler” – an exploration of the last century that has seen the Wanderer grow from a shipwreck to an unofficial town mascot for Mattapoisett. Also on display is a new mini-exhibit display, “This Just In: Recent Acquisitions of the Mattapoisett Museum,” featuring a selection of artifacts and documents donated over the last year or two that have not yet been shared with the public. Among the artifacts are local property deeds, letters postmarked in Mattapoisett, Troop 53 memorabilia, a 19th century oil painting portrait, and much more.

            Later in the summer, the Museum will proudly unveil a new, permanent exhibit about the Wampanoag, who inhabited Mattapoisett for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. Consultant Linda Coombs is the primary curator and writer of this new exhibit. She is an author of books illustrating Native American culture from a Native American perspective, and a historian from the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). This exhibit is expected to open in mid-July. Details will be forthcoming.

Applicants Plan Waterfront Improvements

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 It’s a seaside community, and with the beauty comes the issues associated with coastal erosion. The June 23 meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission found the commissioners exploring the technicalities of waterfront modifications along oceanfront and barrier-beach locations.

            Coming before the commission was Dave Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone Inc., representing property owners for four properties on Good Speed Island and 1 Wendell Road in the Crescent Beach area.

            Both Notice of Intent filings were requests to make significant improvement along oceanfront areas to repair damages from storm and wave action that has severely damaged beaches and sea walls.

            At the Wendell Avenue location lots listed as 142, 152, 153, 157, and 999, there are plans to have a continuous sea wall replacing the badly damaged and crumbling remains of earlier repairs.

            At the Good Speed Island site, “cor-logs” (made of recycled coconut fibers) will be buried along the high-water mark to assist in limiting ongoing beach erosion. The barrier beach at Good Speed Island will also have a fence installed in the effort to limit wave action and erosion due to storms. Both projects received orders of conditions with grass planting at Good Speed and careful use of equipment and fuel storage at Wendell Street.

            A substantial amount of time was spent with a Notice of Intent filing by Eversource for the substation expansion planned for the Crystral Spring solar array. Representatives from Burns and McDonald, the engineering firm working on behalf of Eversource, detailed the mitigation plans required due to both permanent and temporary disturbances created by the expansion. It was noted that Massachusetts Natural Heritage identified the Eastern Box Turtle as species in the area.

            The project encompasses parcels located in Acushnet. The project has yet to be reviewed by that town’s conservation commission. The Mattapoisett ConCom hearing was continued to July 14.

            In other business, George Luber, 3 Waterman Street, received conditioning for the installation of septic tie-in with the municipal system. It was explained that this will allow for the removal of fill originally used to build up the earlier system.

            A request for Determination of Applicability was granted to the Pothier Family Trust, 7 North Street, for the construction of a utility shed on the edge of a mapped flood zone.

            Another Request for Determination of Applicability filed by James Bradshaw, 20 Tara Road, for a new sceptic system received a negative decision, and an Order of Conditions was approved for 39 Mattapoisett Neck Road for a revised plan for tree removal. The project received a commission site visit and sign-off on clearing activities taken by Bradshaw.

            Robert Field of Field Engineering, representing himself for property located at 100R Mattapoisett Neck Road, filed a Determination of Applicability and received a Negative Determination for the digging of a test observation trench for a possible agricultural pond in the future. The trench will allow the monitoring of water levels for suitability as a pond.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is planned for Monday, July 14, at 6:30 pm at Town Hall, 16 Main Street.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

Recreation Director Candidate Selected

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The June 24 meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board included the board members meeting with the two finalists, Marissa Hughes and Sandra Soutter, who were vying for the soon-to-be-vacated position of Recreation Director. Each candidate was given the opportunity to share their professional and relevant backgrounds as well as asking the board any questions that might be lingering in their minds.

            Hughes’ background includes her current position as a teacher at Center School. She pointed to her years working as a soccer coach for the Mariner organization as well as organizing Rochester Youth Baseball, and Old Rochester Regional lacrosse.

            The board asked how she would handle conflict resolution with Hughes saying she would listen to the grievous party with an open mind.

            The candidates pointed to a lack of dedicated Recreation Department space as a possible hinderance to the growth of programing.

            Candidate Soutter was given equal time with responses that landed favorably but, in the end, Hughes came out as the candidate of choice.

            In other business, Ray Hanks came before the board requesting that the title of the advisory committee in which he chairs be changed. He said a name change, from Cemetery and Monuments to Advisory Committee for Town Cemeteries, Memorials and Veteran Recognition gave clarity to the committee’s charge. The board agreed.

            The next meeting of the Select Board was not announced at adjournment.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell