Donation Days

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The Friends of the Elizabeth Taber Library will be hosting a “Donation Day” at the library at 8 Spring Street in Marion on Saturday, July 26, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

            The “Donation Days” are in anticipation of the annual Summer Book Sale on Friday and Saturday, August 8 & 9, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Music Hall in Marion located at 164 Front Street.

            In addition to the July “Donation Days,” the Friends will accept donations on Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Music Hall.

            Please do not bring donations to the Elizabeth Taber Library outside of the Friends’ hosted “Donation Days” as volunteers will not be available to accept and sort items.

            For the event, books in good condition (no textbooks) are requested, as well as items like DVDs, puzzles, games, and Legos. If you wouldn’t give it to a friend, please don’t donate it to the library. All proceeds support programming at the library.

            On the days of the Book Sale, please feel free to bring non-perishable food, the Friends will have a table at the event to accept these donations. Donated food and unsold items will be brought to Damien’s Food Pantry in Wareham.

Senior Center Receives Big Check

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            The Rochester Select Board Monday focused on important police appointments, Council on Aging donations, and accepting a plaque honoring the town’s long list of Eagle scouts.

            The board emerged from contract negotiations in executive session to sign the contract for and appoint Zachary Dupere as a Police Department lieutenant. Dupere is being promoted from the position of sergeant. Then, as relatives and loved ones stood in the back of the meeting room to observe, the board appointed Ms. Cailin White, formerly a resident of Barnstable, as a new full-time Rochester Police Department officer, and, as with Dupere, she was immediately sworn in by Town Clerk Marjorie Barrows.

            The Select Board’s next center of attention came from a $150,000 check. COA Board of Directors member Mike Daniel presented the board with a poster-sized facsimile of the check, as he announced the council has now raised that amount through its public fundraising effort toward building an addition to the town’s Senior Center on Dexter Lane. Daniel said such a plan has been a COA priority for years, and many volunteers have made it all possible; proceeds from the daily Senior Center breakfasts are a major contributor to that fund. He said the goal is to raise more, but this is the first such donation the COA wanted deposited in its town account.

            Without hesitation, the board accepted the check “with gratitude.” Town Administrator Cameron Durant told board members that what remains from what is raised for the renovations will be set aside for a partition wall for that addition.

            After the vote, Durant noted the breakfasts are continuing and more public donations are welcome.

            Next, the board approved Scout Troop 31 leader Kevin Thompson’s proposal to post plaques listing those in town who have earned their Eagle Scout badge on the walls at Town Hall.

            Thompson held two of these plaques. He said one honors Calvin Taggart, who started the local troop in 1961, for his Eagle Scout mentorship. Another lists town scouts who have earned their Eagle badge up to the year 2009. Thompson said, until now, the plaques were in a box at scout headquarters and that he would like to see them hung on the bare wall by the Treasurer’s office. “There’s a lot of success here for the children of Rochester,” he said. “And it was just sitting in a box.”

            Thompson told The Wanderer after the vote that he has yet to complete research on how many total Eagle Scouts Rochester has produced, but there have been a lot of them. “I expect as many as six more plaques,” he said, “and we’ll keep adding to them.”

            In other action, the board appointed Gayle Lawrence to the COA Board of Directors and noted remembrance of late COA Board of Directors member Dr. Andrew Revell, who recently passed away.

            The Select Board did not set a future meeting before adjourning.

Rochester Select Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

‘Sold!’

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            This year’s Harbor Days was held with some sporadic, less-than-optimal weather patterns. However, as per usual, it was a success. Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and July 20, Shipyard Park packed in artisan stands like sardines, accompanied by the huge foodie-tent and patrons from across the Tri-Towns and beyond.

            The event is regularly hosted by the Mattapoisett Lions Club and its 16 members and takes place the third weekend of July (this past weekend, sorry if you missed it). Nearly 100 different vendors put up what they had. This year, some vendors had totally sold out all their stock, leaving a “Sold” sign in place of items. From t-shirts, to earrings, to scarves, to carved wooden cutting boards and furniture, the wide variety of items were snatched up. Some goods screamed “summer” and complemented the heat, while others, like the aforementioned scarves or even Christmas tree ornaments, are better used in a few months.

            In a first for the long-running event, “Yoga in the Park” was also held the week before by the organizers in the park, as well as “Taste of the Town,” which also made use of the organization’s large white catering tent. That brings us to food, where Saturday afternoon saw a Lobster Fest and Sunday had a cookout; strawberry shortcake was available both days, and both days there was a line to get some first thing in the morning.

            Similar to many Harbor Days of the past, this was a hot one. Not nearly as hot as the blistering heat of the prior week though at a high of 81 degrees. Sunday saw some waves of rain, though not enough to put a halt on, or even really impact, the event at all.

            Harbor Days is anticipated and hyped up every year as soon as the first warm breeze of summer crests the shore. As I was once, outsiders are afforded the opportunity to go “what is Harbor Days?” before mingling with locals and getting a taste of the best the Tri-Town has to offer. For its 44th year, Harbor Days has delivered again.

Mattapoisett Harbor Days 2025

By Sam Bishop

Article 34

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To the Editor;

            On May 12, Mattapoisett voters approved Article 34, which would expand the Select Board from three to five members. That open-floor decision is the purest form of local democracy. Yet at their July 17 meeting, the Mattapoisett Republican Town Committee circulated a handout urging residents to reverse the will of Town Meeting. Every talking point on their flyer has an answer.

            “Efficiency and agility / Lower cost to taxpayers” Adding two stipends runs about $15,000 a year, less than 0.05 % of the town’s $35 million budget. That’s roughly the cost of one police-cruiser tire change, hardly a drag on efficiency.

            “Stronger accountability / Stronger community ties” Five seats give more neighborhoods a voice and voters more choices. With only three seats, one uncontested election can lock the board for six years. A larger board keeps everyone on their toes and broadens accountability.

            “Maintains proven structure / No evidence of dysfunction” Mattapoisett’s population has nearly doubled since the three-seat structure was adopted. Of the 292 Massachusetts towns with Select Boards, the majority already use five members. Five is now the norm, not an experiment.

            “Active engagement / Easier candidate recruitment” A larger board lowers the barrier to entry. Prospective candidates don’t have to wait for a rare vacancy or challenge an entrenched incumbent head-on. Fresh talent is invited in rather than crowded out.

            “Avoids over-complication / Prevents fractionalism” Five members diffuse, rather than magnify, factional power. A 2-to-1 stalemate is far harder to break than a 3-to-2 majority. Broader quorums encourage collaboration over trench warfare.

            “Committees share workload” Town committees have repeatedly asked for more Select Board liaisons because three people can’t cover every assignment. Two extra members mean lighter workloads and timelier follow-through.

            “Simpler Open Meeting compliance” A three-member board is the least flexible: any two members are a quorum and can’t confer outside a posted meeting. With five members, two can research an issue together without violating the law, making compliance easier, not harder.

            “Peer-town comparison” Among Massachusetts communities of similar size (10,000–20,000 residents), the overwhelming majority operate with five-member boards. Mattapoisett is swimming against the current, not setting an example.

            The committee’s flyer frames “three” as cheaper, simpler, and more accountable. The facts show the opposite: the cost is negligible, transparency improves with more voices, and five seats better reflect 2025 Mattapoisett than a model designed for a much smaller town.

            Town Meeting spoke. Let’s respect that vote and let our petition to Beacon Hill proceed without delay. Our community deserves representation as broad and forward-looking as the challenges we face.

            Jeanne Hopkins, 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.

Marion Town House Renovations

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The Marion Town House will undergo renovations starting September 1.

            Town House functions will move to the Town House Annex, 14 Barnabas Road at Sippican Office Park.

            Specific dates are:

            August 11 to 15 -Town House closed for routine business (limited access to emails and phones).

            August 18 – Town House Annex opens for normal business.

            Summer 2026 – estimated time for project completion.

            The drop-off boxes for payments will be available at the Town House at 2 Spring Street until September 1. At that time, the drop-off boxes will be relocated to the Annex.

            If you need emergency assistance during the week of August 11th, please call 508-748-3540 and leave a message for the department you need to contact. Messages will be answered in a timely manner. Emails will be replied to as soon as possible.

            We appreciate your patience during this transition.

A Night at the Movies That’s Out of This World

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On Friday, July 25, the Marion Concert Band continues its Friday evening concert series with a program of music based on two themes. The first half of the program will feature soundtrack music from a variety of motion pictures and TV shows. The second half of the program will feature movie music with a “space” theme. The program is as follows:

            American Legion March – C. Parker

            Parade of the Charioteers (from Ben Hur) – M. Rozsa

            The Sounds of Hollywood – J. Higgins

            Cinema Paradiso – E. Morricone

            Toby Monte, euphonium

            Jurassic Park Soundtrack Highlights – J. Williams

            Prime Time Toon Revue – arr. T. Ricketts

            Hooray for Hollywood – arr. W. Barker

            Bond…James Bond – arr. S. Bulla

            Star Trek Through the Years – J. Moss

            Themes from Lost in Space – J. Williams

            Theme from E.T. – J. Williams

            The Trombone King – K. L. King

            Toby Monte, euphonium soloist, has performed with the Massachusetts All-State Band, the New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestra, the UMass Dartmouth Wind Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra, St. Cecilia Philharmonic Band, and the Tri-County Symphonic Band. He has been a member of the Marion Concert Band since 2011.

            The concert will be held at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf off Front Street in Marion. The program, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00 pm. 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.

MAC Theater presents “Miss Witherspoon”

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The MAC Theater Presents the darkly funny Christopher Durang classic, Miss Witherspoon, directed by Kate Fishman. Performances are held at the MAC’s Anne Braitmayer Webb Theater, located at 80 Pleasant Street, Marion.

            The cast includes: Maura Van Voris, Laura Stevens (Sunday Matinees), Natalya Carreiro, Ben Freeman, Rachel Richardson, Cynthia Johnson

            Director: Kate Fishman

            Shadow Director: Phoebe Van Inwegen

            Stage Manager: Andrea Audette

            Light/Sound: Steve McManus

            The performances will be on August 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24 with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 pm and Sunday shows at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $20 for MAC members and $23 for nonmembers. More information and tickets: marionartcenter.org/events Tickets are on sale now for members and will go on sale to the general public on July 18.

            Miss Witherspoon is a hilariously thought-provoking comedy about a woman’s reluctant journey through reincarnation and the afterlife. The title character, Miss Witherspoon, has given up on life but finds herself caught in the “Bardo,” a cosmic waiting room. Guided – or rather prodded – by Maryamma, an unwavering yet kind South Asian woman, Miss Witherspoon confronts her resistance to reincarnation and learns unexpected lessons through her short-lived lives on earth. With biting wit and poignant moments, this play explores themes of mortality, growth, and redemption with a humorous touch.

“This Just In!”

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Today, should one want to figure out what’s going on, there are plenty of sources to turn to, from The Wanderer, for local goings-on, to The Boston Globe for more state-wide news, to the big APs, NBCs, and Foxs focusing national/international coverage. However, at the time of the nation’s founding, how would we have figured out what is going on and how long after the fact would we be hearing about it?

            Firstly, as is the case with Paul Revere’s famous ride, word of mouth was crucial and generally the first means by which revolutionary Yankees would hear about what was going on. Word traveled fast, for the time, but electronic (radio and telegraph) means for information transfer were a ways off, so news could only travel as quickly as a horse; for international news, as quickly as an English frigate.

            When the fields of the Battles of Concord and Lexington settled north of us here in the Tri-Town, the information had to travel about 70 miles until it reached us. This means it was about a day’s ride, so it’s likely the locals in the area probably started hearing about it a couple days later.

            For a bit more concise information, beginning in Boston in 1772 were the formation of “Committees of Correspondence.” Samuel Adams and others in the Sons of Liberty organized these committees from Faneuil Hall, which would become present in many towns across first the state, and then the Thirteen Colonies. These committees, made up of town representatives, sought out information of injustice or exploitation by the hand of the British and distributed it to their local government bodies and town peoples. Nearing the start of the war itself, there was a network of nearly 100 towns across Massachusetts with such committees especially around Boston and on the South Coast.

            Finally, is the distribution of printed news in the form of pamphlets, posters, and newspapers. The first regularly printed newspaper in America was The Boston News-Letter, first printed and circulated by Postmaster John Campbell in 1704. There had been others before it, but it was the first that resembles what we expect to see as a regular flow of news.

            The big newspapers of the time were based out of Boston, Cambridge, Salem, and Worcester. There was the Boston Gazette, The Massachusetts Spy, The New England Chronicle, and dozens of others. The Providence Gazette was also nearby and began printing in 1762. The proliferation of these newspapers would prove to be instrumental in the spread of information and drumming up support for revolutionary causes, especially militia recruitment.

            Of course, there was also The Royal Gazette, published and printed out of New York City from 1777 to 1783. The city was held by the British for most of the war and was a staging post to spread pro-British leaflets and papers.

            Unlike today, it was generally a small operation handled by the printer and some apprentices without much monetary feedback to be gained. Often, the Continental Congress or Officers’ after-action reports would be sent directly to newspapers to be circulated. Speaking of, the town of Rochester, then including the lands of Marion and Mattapoisett, voted to uphold and grant powers to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775. It is also said to have sent a larger-than-average number of volunteers from the Plymouth area to serve in the army.

            All in all, there were many ways in which the average American would get their news. Literacy was exceptionally high, being well over 90% for adults during the time (at least in New England), meaning there was no setback in picking up a paper or pamphlet as one may suspect. Generally, it would take a while for the information to trickle in from across the colonies, there was immense effort from Congress to expedite information. If you had read a number of troops were in a standoff in Virginia (i.e. Boston, New York, Yorktown) you would have to anxiously wait a number of days to hear the final results. Did newspapers win the war? They certainly helped.

Revolutionary News

By Sam Bishop

Music From Land’s End

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Music From Land’s End Wareham announces its 2025 Summer Concerts. On July 26 and August 8 at 7:00 pm, concert musicians will perform two programs at St. Gabriel’s Church in Marion. In July, enjoy songs by Beethoven, Schubert, Theodorakis and others. In August, Iconic Piano Trios with Pianist Gideon Rubin will complete the series. Entrance is by donation with free seating.

Ruth J. (Dvorak) Souza

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Ruth J. (Dvorak) Souza, 99, of Mattapoisett died July 16, 2025 at St. Luke’s Hospital.

            She was the wife of the late Winfield F. Jenney and Frank E. Souza.

            Born in New Bedford on October 13, 1925, daughter of the late Rudolph and Olive M. (Pardee) Dvorak, she lived in Mattapoisett most of her life.

            She was a graduate of New Bedford High School, class of 1943. Upon graduating from high school, she was employed at the Merchants Bank for 6 years then worked for the law firm of Walsh & Bently. Her last and final employment was at Old Rochester Regional High School in the Superintendent’s office and a bookkeeper.

            Her many hobbies were knitting, basket weaving, needlepoint and square dancing on the Mattapoisett wharf in the summer with her husband Win.

            She was a member of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, Mattapoisett Women’s Club, Mattapoisett Historical Society and Agawam Chapter O.E.S.

            She is survived by her step-son, Paul Souza and his wife MaryLou; her stepdaughter-in-law, Janet Jenney; many step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren and cousins.

            She was the step-mother of the late David Jenney.

            Her Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, July 24th at 10 am in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Visiting hours are omitted. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, Post Office Box 284 Mattapoisett, MA 02739. For online guestbook. please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.