Rochester Cultural Council

on

Starting September 2, the Rochester Cultural Council (RCC) will be accepting online applications from organizations, schools, and individuals for grants to support community-oriented arts, humanities, and science programs.

            The RCC is composed of volunteers appointed by the Rochester Select Board. Using funding provided by the Mass Cultural Council, each year the RCC awards money to arts, humanities, and sciences projects put forth by local groups to enhance the quality of life in the Rochester community.

            Proposals may include programs such as school field trips, afterschool programs, concerts, festivals, lectures, theater, dance, music, film and STEM projects. In 2025 the RCC awarded $5,800 to seventeen organizations including the Rochester Council On Aging, RMS PTO, Old Colony PTO, Marion Art Center, New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance and the Mattapoisett Historical Society. A full list of 2025 grantees can be found at our MCC page at massculturalcouncil.org/local-council/rochester/.

            If you have a great idea for bringing culturally enriching programming to the Rochester area and need funding to make it a reality, We can help. All those who have questions regarding the RCC or the application process are invited to join us for an Applicant Support Workshop on Thursday, September 11 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library in Rochester, as well as via Zoom at Meeting ID: 756 2867 5077, Passcode: 7hEwjA. Quick links to tips for grant writing and the application process can also be found at bit.ly/RCCTips. The online application window will be open from September 2 to October 16.

            Finally, the RCC is always looking to welcome new members. To find out more about us, check us out at www.facebook.com/rochestermaculturalcouncil, feel free to attend one of our open meetings, or email us directly at rochesterculturalcouncil@gmail.com. We would love to have you join us.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

on

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church located next to the Town Beach in Mattapoisett concludes its summer only season of visiting clergy with services at 8:00 am and 10:00 am on August 31. Each service uses the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

            The Rev. Jeffrey Paull Cave, retired from the Diocese of Atlanta, Georgia and now living in Northern California, will conduct the services. The Rev. Cave has been a visiting clergy at St. Philip’s for 50 years and this will be his last visit.

            Then at 4:00 pm the Rev. Cave, accompanied by the organist of St. Stephen’s Church in Providence, will lead the congregation in an informal, old-fashioned Hymn Sing. Hymns are introduced along with their history and the congregation are encouraged to request their favorites.

            All are welcome to attend both functions.

September Events at the Mattapoisett Library

on

The Mattapoisett Free Public Library, 7 Barstow Street, celebrates Library Card Sign-up Month all September long with an exciting raffle for adults and children. To earn a ticket, library users must present their library card or their barcode on the SAILS app at checkout. Staff will draw the winners from each pool of raffle tickets at the end of the month and notify the lucky winners.

            Did you know your SAILS library card grants you access to more than just books and magazines? At the MFPL, you can borrow discounted museum passes, Wi-Fi hotspots, musical instruments, various household items, and more. Your library card also allows access to eContent, such as Libby, Hoopla, Mango Languages, Niche Academy, and GALE Databases. A library card has something to offer everyone in the family. Library card sign-up is easy and can be done online or in person. Ask a librarian for more information.

            The library will resume Sunday hours from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm beginning on Sunday, September 7.

            The next meeting of the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10, 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.

            Our four-week Fall Yoga Series begins on Thursday, September 18, at 11:00 am and concludes on Thursday, October 9. Stretch, unwind, and relax with a beginner-friendly yoga flow series. This adaptable experience suits all ability levels. Class will be held outside, weather permitting – please dress accordingly – no registration required.

            Gather your family and join us for Family Jeopardy on Saturday, September 20 at 11:00 am. Enjoy some friendly competition as your family competes against others for an exciting grand prize. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. While you’re here, don’t forget to use your library card and get entered into the Library Card Sign-Up Month raffle.

            Join Dr. Edward Hoffer at the library on Tuesday, September 23 at 6:30 pm as he discusses Navigating Dementia: what it is, when to suspect it, the tests your doctor should perform to investigate it, the available therapies, and how to prevent it. No registration required.

            The Well-Read Wednesdays Nonfiction Book Group meets on the Fourth Wednesday of every month at 6:00 pm in the Marine Room. The next meeting is scheduled for September 24. We will discuss The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen. New members welcome. No registration required.

            Drop by the library on Tuesday, September 30, at 6:00 pm for the next Sippizine writing group. 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.

            Get Ready for a spine-tingling good time with our Frightfully Fun Film Fest kick-off on Tuesday, September 30. Our opening night premiere is Disney’s beloved Hocus Pocus. This free, outdoor screening will be held on the library’s lawn, weather permitting. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and spooky spirit as we welcome the Sanderson Sisters back to the big screen for a night of witchy fun and a little 90s nostalgia. The movie starts at 6:00 pm, but feel free to come early and get comfortable. All ages welcome – no registration required. Stay tuned for the October lineup. Full schedule available soon.

            Please remember 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, our programs and events are free and open to everyone. For more information, please visit us at 7 Barstow Street, online at www.mattapoisettlibrary.org, or call the library at 508-758-4171.

Four New Eagle Scouts in Rochester

on

            On Monday night, August 25, Rochester’s Boy Scout Troop 31 gathered at Grange Hall with their families to celebrate and conduct an Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony. Four boys were rising the ranks to become Eagle Scouts: Logan, Noah, Quinn, and Reece.

            The boys had achieved their medals over the last few months, but all agreed to wait until they had all finished so they could hold a ceremony together, having spent years together in the Boy Scouts program, as said by Assistant Scoutmaster Kevin Gretton.

            The Grand Hall was packed, with family members, fellow Boy Scouts, other Eagle Scouts both young and old, state government representatives, and Troop 31 leadership, who conducted the ceremony.

            The event began with the boys seeking promotion coming in and sitting at the opposite end of their peers, with one of the four boys, Quinn, choosing to sit out the ceremony and instead work on his truck for an upcoming road trip as said by his father, Dave Andrews. The ceremony was conducted by Scout Leader Kevin Gretton and Chaplain Dave Andews, who went through the script and itinerary of Eagle Court of Honors held across the country.

            Following the scouts saying the Scout Oath, twelve current scouts rose and lit twelve candles, reciting the “12 points” of Scout Laws, those being: trust, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thriftiness, bravery, cleanliness, and reverence. Then, the three boys received their Eagle Scout Badge, placed an Eagle Mother Pin on their mothers’ collars, and placed a pin on their individual mentors for their now completed Eagle Projects.

            The event concluded with the Boy Scouts and new Eagle Scouts cutting into a cake that bore their four names.

Rochester Troop 31 Eagle Court of Honor

By Sam Bishop

RMS Solar Array To Be Complete by December

on

                  Rochester’s Planning Board Tuesday approved a modification of the Site Plan Review and Special Permit for a large-scale solar photovoltaic array at Rochester Memorial School which will allow construction to happen during the school year.

            The plan in question is to construct a canopy-mounted 250KW AC solar array system over a portion of the school’s rear paved parking lot. Planning Board Chair Arnold Johnson said Tuesday one of the conditions of the permit was that construction was to take place over the summer vacation when no children would be around and the space would not be so busy. Circumstances around that plan have changed, he said. Now the contractor, Solect Energy Development, Hopkinton, is looking to start construction in September and finish work by the end of December.

            Johnson began discussion by noting board members have visited the site and reviewed details such as the necessary performance bond for the work. He then asked if the work would impede student drop-off in the morning and pick-up in the afternoon and faculty parking.

            RMS Principal Heidi Letendre answered that parents will be asked to extend their “que” line for drop-off and pick-up further around the front of the school and the time students will be allowed in the school will be altered. Solect consultant Clint Shuckel assured the board the contractor will not do heavy work between seven and eight a.m. (when students arrive for the school day) or 2:30-3:30 (student pick-up time), and sub-contractors are being instructed to not make deliveries during those times. He said work hours will be 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday to Friday, and no Saturday work hours.

            Town Planner Michaela Shoemaker said Police Michael Assad has indicated concern over unauthorized personnel entering the school building. ORR District Facilities Manager Gene Jones responded that all personnel working in the school area have been CORI-checked (Criminal Offender Record Information).

            Discussion ended with a decision that this was a minor rather than a major permit change. A major change would have required a public hearing. The approval vote was 4-1, with member Marc Rousseau voting against.

            The board’s next motions were continuations. The panel continued to its next meeting the Definitive Subdivision application hearing on turning an 8.67-acre parcel at 19 County Road into three lots after a lengthy discussion over the expensive road bond the petitioners are being asked to post.

            The plan here is to retain the existing house lot and create two new lots for additional four-bedroom residential housing. Patrick Mulvahill, representing the petitioners Robert and Christine Murphy, said he had questions for the town’s consulting engineer, Ken Motta, in response to the lengthy peer review letter with permit requirements that Motta recently issued. He wanted to know if covenant language in the permit waivers could address the high cost of the road performance bond. “This is money the Murphys did not foresee having to pay,” Milvahill said.

            Johnson explained a road performance bond protects the town and future residents of the homes should the contractor go belly-up before finishing the road. Consulting engineer Robert Espisito, appearing on Zoom, requested the continuance after concluding he will first speak with Motta on the details of the peer review and the road bond issue.

            The board also continued to its next meeting the Special Permit and Site Plan Review hearing for the proposal from Logging Swamp Solar dba ReWild Renewables to install a ground-mounted, large scale solar panel array with associated site work on 49 acres in the area of 600 Snipatuit Road.

            The board then continued to the same date its other large-scale solar project hearing: the Site Plan Review application for the construction of a floating and ground-mounted solar array with associated battery energy storage system at 53 Dexter Lane.

            In other action, Johnson announced that long-time member Ben Bailey has resigned. But Bailey has agreed to stay on until the conclusion of the Logging Swamp Solar project, he said. The board needs a supermajority of its members to be present to legally vote on such a permit and Bailey has been involved in the hearings since the beginning. The board then elevated member Michael Murphy to Board Clerk to replace Bailey in that role and appointed Matt Bache as Assistant Clerk.

            The board tentatively set September 3 as the date for its site visit of the Dexter Lane floating solar array project.

            The Rochester Planning Board’s next meeting will be Tuesday, September 9 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Planning Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

Summer Reading Program

on

To the Editor;

            Everyone at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library would like to thank all of you who participated in the Children’s Department’s 2025 Summer Reading Program.

            This was a very busy summer for us in the Children’s Department. Across all of our story times, community reader events, activities, crafts, Camp Seahorse visits, and more, we had just shy of 1,000 attendees, which is a 61% increase over last summer. This doesn’t include all of the folks who came in to check out books, backpacks, items from our Library of Things, or just enjoy the air conditioning. We also saw a significant increase in Summer Reading registrations, from 118 in 2024 to 162 this summer – a 37% increase.

            None of this would have been possible without our sponsors and supporters. From the Mattapoisett Library Trust, the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library, the Mattapoisett Cultural Council, and, of course, all of our wonderful patrons, volunteers, and librarians.

            We are already working hard to make next year’s Summer Reading program an even bigger success and have some fun events planned for Library Card Sign-up Month, as well as programs and activities heading into the Fall. We hope to see you in the library soon. Until then, keep reading.

            Kevin Thompson

            Head Children’s Librarian

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.

Mattapoisett Museum

on

Please join the Mattapoisett Museum, 5 Church Street, on September 4, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm for its Annual Meeting. After a brief business meeting, noted historian and author, and member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag, Linda Coombs, will speak on the subject of historical erasure – the systematic reduction or elimination of the presence of a people when history is being related by their colonizers of the original people. She will also discuss the Mattapoisett Museum’s upcoming permanent exhibit about the Wampanoag, of which she was the primary author.

            The upcoming exhibit, titled “From the Land to the Shore: The Wampanoag of Mattapoisett” will explore the history and culture of the Wampanoag People who have continuously inhabited this part of New England for at least 12,000 years. Told from the Wampanoag perspective, in Coombs voice, it follows the story of the Early Contact Period and Colonization through King Philip’s War and its outcomes to the Wampanoag culture and community as they exist today. The exhibit weaves in local, Tri-Town-Area-related examples of broader historical narratives whenever possible. However, the scarcity of these examples may actually be pointed to as an example, in and of itself, of the thorough nature of historical erasure.

            Coombs began her museum career in an internship at the Boston Children’s Museum, and later worked there in the Native American Program. Coombs also worked for 30 years in the Wampanoag Indigenous Program (WIP) of Plimoth Plantation, now called Plimoth Patuxet, including 15 years as WIP’s Associate Director; and 9 years at the Aquinnah Cultural Center. Presently she does independent museum consulting and cultural presentations.

            In her latest book, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story, Coombs aims to educate students about the Wampanoag perspective of the European colonization of New England. It was published in September of 2023, as one of five titles in Penguin Random House’s Race to the Truth series of similarly themed stories intended for middle grades. She is also co-author (with Mark Skipworth) of The Massachusetts Chronicles: The History of Massachusetts from Earliest Times to the Present Day, published in 2020 in partnership with Plymouth 400. It aims to provide a new way of looking at Massachusetts history, incorporating perspectives from both the English settlers and the Indigenous peoples.

Fall Music at the MAC

on

The MAC has a fantastic fall music lineup, including the hugely popular Unplugged series, with 3 dates left for 2025. Join us upstairs in the MAC’s Patsy Francis Gallery for an evening of unplugged music featuring Nina Ott and Chris Lopes on Friday, October 3. Don’t miss Unplugged on November 21 with Jack Coleman and Donn Legge performing. There will be two seatings for the October and November events – the first from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm and the second from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Tickets are for one seating and are $15 for MAC members and $20 for nonmembers.

            The MAC Unplugged series will feature a very special holiday event to wrap up the year on December 19 at 7:00 pm, with a full concert including three performers on the MAC stage. Matt Richard (piano), Donn Legge (guitar), and Dori Rubbicco (vocalist), friends for over forty years and all graduates of the Westfield State College music program, will weave a collection of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs, reimagined into jazz, Latin, and pop styles. The performance, 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm, will include a break for intermission. Tickets for the concert are $20 for MAC members and $25 for nonmembers.

            All Unplugged events are held at the MAC, located at 80 Pleasant St., Marion. More information and tickets can be found at marionartcenter.org/events.

            Music at the MAC: Matt York – The Songs & Stories of Willie Nelson – Matt York will join the MAC with the Songs & Stories of Willie Nelson on Saturday, September 13 at 7:00 pm in the MAC’s Anne Braitmayer Webb Theater. General admission tickets are $20 for MAC members and $25 for nonmembers. To purchase tickets and for more information please head to our website at marionartcenter.org/events.

            York will perform songs and tell stories about the great Willie Nelson, while accompanied by fiddle player Angelica Vendetti. He will focus on Willie’s long and illustrious music career that has spanned over seven decades and also talk a bit about his recent book The Words and Wisdom of Willie.

            In both 2022 and 2023, York was nominated for the Boston Music Award for Best Country Artist and last year, his album, Gently Used, was named one of the top albums by Patriot Ledger. In both 2022 and 2023 the Boston Music Awards have nominated Matt York as a “Best Country Artist” nominee.

            Music at the MAC: Putnam Murdock & Friends – On Saturday, November 8, Putnam Murdock returns to the MAC for what has become a highly anticipated annual event. Joined by an ever-changing array of friends and collaborators, Putnam’s shows always feel fresh and new. The performance will start at 7:00 pm in the MAC’s Anne Braitmayer Webb Theater, located at 80 Pleasant St. Marion. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. More information and tickets at marionartcenter.org/events.

Susan Braley Drake

on

Susan Braley Drake, 84, of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts and Largo, Florida, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025, following a courageous and tumultuous battle with heart disease.

            Born on July 27, 1940, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Susan was the daughter of Helen F. Patasin (Braley) and Warren G. Pierce. She was a proud graduate of Fairhaven High School and went on to earn her RN degree from Truesdale Hospital School of Nursing, beginning a lifelong career devoted to the care and well-being of others.

            In 1961, Susan married the love of her life, Bradley “Stet” Drake. Together they shared 64 extraordinary years of marriage filled with love, laughter, and unwavering companionship.

            Sue dedicated her professional life to community health nursing, with a special focus on elder care. She served both the town of Mattapoisett and the state of Massachusetts through her work with Coastline Elderly Services. Her compassion and commitment touched the lives of many and left a lasting impact on the communities she served.

            Above all else, Sue cherished her family and friends. She found great joy in being surrounded by loved ones and was the heart of her family—always supportive, deeply kind, and endlessly generous.

            She is survived by her beloved husband, Bradley “Stet” Drake; her devoted daughters, Deborah Raposo (Joseph) and Pamela Besse (Kevin); her grandchildren, Michael Raposo (Crystalyn), Kelly Puryear (Preston), Christopher Besse (Sara), and Matthew Besse (Hana); and seven adored great-grandchildren: Kinsley Raposo, Pierce, Jackson and Reese Puryear, Madeline and Kevin Besse, and Zoey Besse.

            A graveside service will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven, Massachusetts on September 27th, 2025 at 2:00 pm. All who knew and loved her are welcome to attend and share in the remembrance of a life beautifully lived.

            She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Jean (Lawrence) LaPointe

on

Jean (Lawrence) LaPointe 76, July 13, 1949 – August 21, 2025

            It is with great love and sadness the family of Jean (Lawrence) LaPointe announces her peaceful passing at home in Rochester, Massachusetts. Surrounded by her family, Jean left this world in the same loving spirit with which she lived her life.

            Jean grew up on her family’s farm in Rochester, Massachusetts. She was a proud graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School, where she built the foundation of values- hard work, dedication, and kindness, that would guide her throughout her life.

            Jean began her working life cleaning eggs at Lawrence’s Egg Farm. In 1969, she embraced her most treasured role as a mother. In the late 1970s she entered the auto parts industry, stepping in to watch over her husband’s business, Corsini Truck & Auto Parts. With determination and skill, she managed every aspect of operations, from bookkeeping and staff management to customer relations. Under her leadership, the business flourished, eventually requiring a larger location in Middleboro MA.

            Jean was not only known for her business acumen but also for her warm and generous spirit. Jean’s heart always belonged to her family. She loved hosting every holiday and family gathering, ensuring that no occasion went uncelebrated. Jean enjoyed collecting old beer steins, searching for treasures at yard sales and flea markets. She took great pride in her restored 1954 Chevrolet Corvette, painted in French banner blue.

            In retirement, Jean cherished her time on the Old Fart Tractor Farm in upstate New York, where she delighted in feeding cows and calves and enjoying the quiet rhythms of country life.

            Jean was the beloved daughter of the late Maxwell M. Lawrence and Florence (Merrill) Lawrence. She is survived by her devoted husband of 57 years, Brian LaPointe, her daughters, Christine LaPointe and Pauline Bonneau. Her grandchildren Andrew and James Caswell, and Madeline Bonneau were her true pride and joy.

            She also leaves behind her loving siblings Geraldine Dudley of Norway, Maine, and Maxwell M. Lawrence Jr and his wife Polly of Rochester MA.

            She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

            Jean will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Her legacy lives on, not only in her family and friends, but also in the warmth of her traditions, her boundless generosity and the joy she brought to every gathering. Certainly, for those lucky enough to have enjoyed them, her famous whoopie pies will never be forgotten.

            Family and friends are warmly invited to join in a celebration of life that will be held on Sunday September 7th 2025 11:00 – 4:00 at Arch at the Meadow 332 Mendell Road, Rochester MA.