Upcoming Events at the Elizabeth Taber Library

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Join Miss Macy for family story time for ages 0-5 on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am.

            Kids grades K-4 are invited to join us for Afternoon Activities on Tuesdays from 3 to 4 pm. We’ll do a different activity every week ranging from STEM activities to crafts and nature exploration. On Tuesday, September 2 we’ll be making slime.

            Tuesday evenings at 6:00 pm is our parachute play-date for infants and their caregivers. Meet and socialize with other families with babies and get ready for sensory parachute play

            Thursday mornings are time to get messy for toddlers and preschoolers. Messy Morning is at 10:30 am and will be held outdoors in September. Dress for mess and get ready for messy art and sensory play.

            It’s also time to call the library and sign up for our fall kids book clubs. Our three clubs will meet on Thursday afternoons from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Nonfiction Nerds, a club for fact lovers, meets September 11, Chapter Book Champions, for emerging readers in grades 1-3, meets on September 18, and our Fantastic Fiction club for strong readers in grades 4-6 is on September 25. Each club reads a new book each month and then does an activity based on the book. Registration is required and space is limited.

            Join us for a special Banned Book Club on Tuesday, September 9 at 6:00 pm. Read any chapter or passage from A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn and join us at the library to discuss. All are invited, pick up a copy of this month’s title at the library.

            For more information on the Elizabeth Taber Library visit us at www.ElizabethTaberLibrary.org or email the library at ETLibrary@sailsinc.org.

What’s Up There?

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Summer vacation is over, and autumn is nearing. This month, be prepared to see some stars, planets, and meteors as the cool air chases away the humidity (hopefully).

            The Aurigids Meteor Shower is ongoing from August 28 to September 5. Its peak will fall on September 1, producing around six meteors per hour. The comet of origin, C/1911 N1 (Kiess), passed by the Sun in 1911 and was discovered in 1935. It will pass again around the year 4400 with a 2,490-year orbital period.

            This month’s full moon, the “Corn Moon,” will be on September 7. That is the same day as a lunar eclipse visible for most of the world’s population – but not us. A total lunar eclipse will be visible over most of Asia and Oceania with a partial eclipse being visible across Africa and Europe. However, no luck for the Americas this time, with no visibility of the event for us (we’re also missing out on a solar eclipse that will be partially visible across the Pacific on September 21).

            Another! The Epsilon Perseids Meteor Shower, not to be confused with last month’s Perseid Meteor Shower, will take place September 5 to September 21. It peaks on September 9, and due to it falling two days after the full moon, meteor visibility will likely be hampered a bit by lunar light. The shower is unrelated from last month’s Perseid, with the origin of these meteors not being wholly confirmed. Like the Aurigids, this shower won’t be nearly as intense as the greats, with only around five meteors per minute.

            On September 18 in Nevada, on the opposite end of the state as the ongoing Burning Man, the Great Basin Astronomy Festival starts on September 18 at Great Basin National Park. Be prepared to see some great pics on your feeds!

            This month yields good views of Saturn, with September 21 proving the best. Saturn and its rings are in an abnormal position, meaning we’re viewing it head-on. When seen, the rings look like a line bisecting the planet, rather than a circular ring.

            On September 22, fall begins with the autumnal or September equinox.

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

Astronomy Update for September

By Sam Bishop

To Rent or Buy? Harvesting Milfoil

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The water-choking, invasive, plant species milfoil or water milfoils (Myriophyllum) was recently found growing in four of Rochester’s ponds: Snipatuit; Snows; Leonard; and Hathaway. The Rochester Water Commission may have a unique solution to the problem by buying its own weed-harvesting equipment.

            The Water Commission met on August 13 to discuss this and other concerns regarding the town’s 900-acre pond system. Chair Fred Underhill said the notice about the milfoil problem originally arrived in an email from the Conservation Commission. “It’s a problem we’ve been dealing with for a couple of months,” he said. Underhill also said commission member Rick Charon has been studying the problem and has more data on it. Charon was unable to attend the August 13 meeting.

            Water Commission member David Hughes noted the Town of Acushnet has started a clean-up program on Lake Street in that town with rented weed-harvesting equipment. That’s when Underhill and Town Administrator Cameron Durant offered an alternative solution. Both men said they have reached out to State Representative Mark Sylvia for funding to buy a piece of milfoil weed-harvesting equipment for the town’s regular use.

            Durant said renting such equipment would cost $5,000 a day. However, to buy this equipment outright, it would cost roughly $105,000. He is reaching out to Sylvia’s office to apply for an Environmental Bond Bill grant to fund all or part of that purchase. He noted what rented equipment will return again in the future. “In a couple of years, we’ll have to do it again,” he said. The town would have that equipment to use on a regular basis.

            He cautioned, however, that the clean-up won’t happen until next summer, especially since Town Meeting action in May 2026 will probably be needed to fund part of the purchase. The Water Commission, nonetheless, signaled its full support of the plan.

            In other action, the commission approved 19 County Road’s request to access Wareham municipal water to the level of 900 gallons per day. Commission members elaborated that the property owner is now subdividing this lot.

            Commission consultant and former Town Planner Nancy Durfee initiated discussion of a report that the commission received regarding water flowing north (leaving in the wrong direction) from Snipatuit Brook and Snipatuit Pond and the Mattapoisett River watershed. The goal, the report states, is to “explore ways to keep more water in the Mattapoisett River System.” Durant elaborated, “Water is flowing in the wrong direction to benefit other communities.”

            The report proposes several solutions such as adding or repairing stop logs or installing a bulkhead with a relief valve. Underhill determined that, because the report was only received on August 13, discussion should be deferred to the commission’s next meeting.

            The Rochester Water Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10 at 4:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Water Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco

Woodland Walk for Mushrooms

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Join the Marion Natural History Museum for an early autumn hike looking for what mushrooms are fruiting on Saturday September 13, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. We will chat about basic anatomy and diagnostic features for identifying mushrooms as well as how to identify a few beginner edible mushrooms and their closest non-edible look-alikes. Some potential species of fungi we may see at this time of the year include chicken of the woods, hen of the woods, shrimp of the woods, old man of the woods, various coral and ramaria spp, oysters, honey mushrooms, and the iconic fly agaric.

            Adam Korejwa studied math at UMass Dartmouth where he focused on complex systems and networks before studying Ecological Engineering at Oregon State University where he studied coupled human and natural systems under climate change. He is a biophile, amateur naturalist, enthusiastic teacher, and proud father.

            We will be meeting at the Shoolman Preserve, located near 204 New Bedford Road, Rochester, just west of Captain Bonney’s Ice Cream. Off-street parking is available in the area marked with a Rochester Land Trust/Mattapoisett Land Trust sign. The kiosk is at the parking area. Please RSVP at www.marionmuseum.org to enroll.

Mattapoisett Congregational Church Yard Sale

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On Saturday, September 6 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm the Mattapoisett Congregational Church will once again host their annual yard sale in Reynard Hall, rain or shine.

            Lots of great items will be available including home furnishings, housewares, collectibles, beautiful handbags, sports equipment, books, small furniture, toys and games as well as new hand knit items, handmade jewelry and yummy baked goods. You are sure to find so many more treasures.

            Cash and checks accepted. All proceeds will benefit the ministries of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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On August 20 at the Rochester Historical Museum, there was a joint meeting of the Rochester Historical Society and the Rochester Historical Commission. The purpose of the meeting was to kick off a project that will culminate in 2026 for the nation’s 250th anniversary. For a rainy evening, the meeting was pretty well attended.

            The project is to gain information about the many Rochester men who participated in the Revolutionary War and hopefully, to document their final resting place with a photo. We handed out lists of the Rochester soldiers and sailors from the rolls of the state archives. The lists that can be found in the back of the book “Mattapoisett and Old Rochester” were compiled in a joint effort by James L. Hammond and Mary Hall Leonard. The names are presented with the caveat that there may well be more added with the passage of time.

            One way to participate in our project, “The Search to Find and Honor Rochester’s Revolutionary Veterans,” would be to pick a name or names from the list and then to look for a grave to match. Because the same names were used over and over (fathers, sons, nephews, etc.), you want to make sure that the birth/death dates coincide with an age that would fit with being a soldier between 1775 and 1783.

            Once you have a name, there are quite a few ways that you can find information. Being less of a “techie” and more of a “bookie” (not the taking bets kind), I started at Plumb Library. The library has a collection of encyclopedia type books where the names of Massachusetts Revolutionary veterans are listed in alphabetical order with their town, rank, company and service. The same name may appear 2 or 3 times in a row as men signed up, served days or months, went home and then signed up again.

            For example, Levi Gurney, Rochester, Private, was in Capt. Seth Briggs’ Company which marched “on the Alarm of April 19, 1776.” His service was for 4 days. However, he served again with Capt. Edward Sparrow’s Co., Capt. John Gibbs’ Co. and Capt. Elijah Baker’s Co. This can all be found in the books at the library.

            There are also several web sites that provide good information and go into greater detail. We have a list of them at the Historical Society. One that I used without much difficulty was the MA, Rev War Index Cards to Muster Rolls, 1775-1783. This also connected me to Family Tree which gave me information on parents, siblings, wives and children. It asks for a birth date. but when I didn’t have one, I put in a possible year (I picked 1745) and a name that matched my search came up with the correct year.

            For anyone interested, we have packets that contain the lists, websites and likely cemeteries. They will be available at our next meeting on September 17 at the Museum, 355 County Road at 7:00 pm. Bruce Bassett will be our speaker and will share how he found his Revolutionary War ancestor in the Rochester Center Cemetery (originally called the 1st Parish Cemetery). Remember that until the middle of the 1800’s, Marion and Mattapoisett were sections of the town of Rochester, so some of our veterans may well be buried in cemeteries that are in either of those towns.

            If you would like to get started on a search before September 17, you can contact me at eshbach2@aol.com or call 617-750-2818 or 508-763-4932. If you have already researched and found a Revolutionary War ancestor of your own, I hope you will share your findings with us.

By Connie Eshbach

Dora Kate (Vollgraff) Doubrava

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Dora Kate (Vollgraff) Doubrava, 96 of Mattapoisett, MA, died peacefully at her home on August 25, 2025. Dora Kate was born in then-rural Lake Grove, New York. Depending on whether she or her twin brother was telling the story, she was the fourth or fifth of the six Vollgraff children. She grew up in the house adjacent to her grandparent’s farm on Hawkins Avenue, the street named for her extended family.

            As she would say, Dora Kate was a lot of name for a little girl and she was called DK by her father, which became Dukie to her siblings and friends. Dukie met and married Joseph Doubrava of Bohemia, NY in 1953. The couple shared almost 67 years of marriage, living in Bellport, Lake Grove and Mattituck, NY before moving to Mattapoisett, MA in 2013. Together they raised four children, witnessed the birth and growth of five grandchildren as well as the birth of four great-grandchildren.

            Following the path of her mother, older sister, grandfather, aunt and uncle, Dora Kate became an elementary school teacher, and taught until the birth of her first child. After spending thirty years raising her family, she became a realtor working in the Hamptons for her third career.

            Dora Kate was known for her love of animals, starting from the time on her grandparent’s farm. She helped raise or host a series of animals including chickens, cows, horses, a donkey and a long series of dogs and cats. As an adult she always had several cats, all of whom adopted her, showing up on her back deck and staying for the party. She also loved the water, beginning with long road trips to Florida as a child (6 children in one car, driving 1,500 miles on Route 1!) and continuing during her time in Mattituck and Mattapoisett.

            Dora Kate was predeceased by her husband Joe in 2020. She is survived by her four children: Tim Doubrava and his wife Christina of Riverhead, NY, Jeff Doubrava and his wife Beth of Marion, MA, Derrick Doubrava and his wife Debbie of Clintondale, NY and Tracey Doubrava of Newport, RI; five grandchildren Andrew Doubrava and his wife Tiffani Ortiz, Alex Doubrava and his wife Renata, Erin Buboltz and her husband Billy, Matthew Doubrava and his wife Hailey, and Emma Finnerty; and four great grandchildren Isabella Doubrava, Alexander Doubrava, Riley Buboltz and Carson Buboltz. Dora Kate was also predeceased by her five siblings and their spouses – she was the last of her generation.

            The family would like to express its thanks to the caregivers who helped Dora Kate remain comfortable and independent in her last years: Darlene Oliveria; Erin Spooner; the Community Nurse hospice team – most notably Sandi Diaz; and the FCP team – most particularly Valura Robinson.

            A joint memorial service for Dora Kate and Joseph Doubrava will be held on Sunday, November 2, 2025 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals at 50 County Road, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

EMC Shifts Focus to Education on Green Energy

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                  If all goes as planned, author David Green will be coming to town with tips on how homeowners can save energy. This topic was one of many energy-saving ideas discussed via Zoom at the August 24 Marion Energy Management Committee.

            Green is a graduate of Oxford University and Harvard Business School and is the author of Zero Carbon Home, which touches upon how heat pumps, triple-paned windows, and solar panels can help save money for homeowners.

            Green has been in contact with one EMC member and would be willing to conduct a talk, according to committee members on Monday. If approved by Select Board members and a location is secured, the EMC is hoping to secure a talk by Green, a name fitting to the green initiatives he would talk about.

            EMC members proposed that the Music Hall or the police station meeting room could be good candidates for this discussion. Committee members also said copies of his book would be available.

            Seeing the town’s strategy as short-sighted, the EMC unsuccessfully recommended against the May 12 Town Meeting vote that revoked Marion’s participation in the state’s Stretch Code, the building code that exceeds state law, prioritizing electric energy over fossil fuels. The vote rescinded Marion’s membership in the commonwealth’s Green Communities program, which awards grant funding to compliant municipalities based on incentives. The Town of Rochester had preceded Marion by becoming the first municipality to reject Massachusetts’ Stretch Code and membership in Green Communities.

            Another outreach opportunity was also discussed by the EMC. A video is in the works that highlights all the green initiatives in Marion from 2018 to 2024. The EMC is looking to master this product and release it on Old Rochester Community Television (ORCTV) and through other platforms.

            Also revealed on Monday was that the town has received a feasibility grant through the state to assess potential locations to set up vehicle charging stations.

            The EMC is looking to contact the ORR School District to assess school buildings and how the schools can save on energy costs and initiate other green strategies. According to EMC members, there is $5,000,000 available for Massachusetts public schools.

            The committee then set up a meeting with the Select Board about the potential for solar energy that could be used by the town. The EMC said that tax rebates and other incentives will be drying up at the end of this year.

            Members said homeowners looking to procure solar panels or other energy savings through Mass Save should begin seeking out those plans before the end of the calendar year.

            The next meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee is scheduled for Monday, September 22, at 6:00 pm.

Marion Energy Management Committee

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Ribbon Cut at 1 Island Wharf Road

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At long last, Marion’s new Maritime Center is officially opened as of Tuesday, August 26. This momentous feat has been years in the making, and those present at the event signify its importance. The ribbon cutting took place about six months after February’s open house, with the new $3.5 million facility now fully operational.

            At the event were Executive Office of Economic Development Interim Secretary Ashley Stolba, State Senator Kelly A. Dooner, State Representative Mark D. Sylvia, Select Board Chair Randy L. Parker, Seaport Economic Council Director Ellen Cebula, Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman, Police Chief Richard B. Nighelli, Harbormaster Adam Murphy, Marine Resources Commission Chair Vin Malkoski, and many others from the community.

            Gorman spoke first and talked about the incredible feats completed in order to get through about five years of planning and roughly 10 months of actual construction. Both state representatives then spoke, followed by Stolba, who said this was her final event as Interim Secretary. She stated she was happy it could be in such a beautiful location. $1.9 million of the final price tag came from a Seaport Economic Council grant through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development.

            Finally, Select Board Chair Randy Parker spoke, detailing his and the board’s collaboration with everyone present to finish the build. “I’d be two times a day” he said, detailing his walks around the construction site and on-the-fly problem solving as issues arose. Following his speech, he grabbed his big scissors and headed up the stairs with other representatives to officially cut the ribbon.

            Ashley Stolba with Kelly Dooner cut the ribbon, thus ending the long project and officially beginning the new site at 1 Island Wharf Road’s projected long history of managing Marion Harbor.

Marion Maritime Center Ribbon Cutting

By Sam Bishop

ORRSD Welcomes New Human Resources Manager

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Superintendent Michael S. Nelson is pleased to announce that Sarah George has been appointed as the new Human Resources Manager for the Old Rochester Regional School District and the MA Superintendency Union #55, effective August 25.

            George graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management and has spent the past several years working in human resources with a focus on hospitality on Cape Cod.

            “In previous roles, I’ve been focusing on recruitment, employee relations, and building positive workplace cultures,” George said. “I’ve had the opportunity to lead hiring efforts for hundreds of employees, both local and international, and truly enjoy creating welcoming, supportive environments where people can thrive.”

            In her spare time, George is an avid traveler and passionate hiker, especially in U.S. National Parks.

            “My favorite is Zion National Park, in Utah,” George said. “I’ve also explored 27 countries in Europe alone, and I’m always looking forward to my next adventure.”

            George, a Sandwich resident, is eager to get started.

            “I’m looking forward to getting to know the staff and community and working together to support the District’s mission, our students, and our team,” she said.

            “Join me in welcoming Sarah George to the Old Rochester Regional School District community,” said Superintendent Nelson. “Her passion for recruitment and cultivating a healthy and enjoyable workplace environment will be invaluable skills as she takes on this challenging new role.”