Mr. Aardvark Goes to Washington

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I’ve spent most of my life in the Tri-Town, bumping between burrows in Rochester, a sandy beach hole in Marion, or in The Wanderer’s office in Mattapoisett (don’t tell my boss I live there). I spend my days drinking iced coffee, walking the streets in search of cool goings-on, or looking for myself in pages of The Wanderer. For some reason, last week, I got the itch to travel.

            I packed up all my belongings and put them in my duffle bag. Some snacks (mostly ants and cheese crackers), my Red Sox hat, the latest edition of The Wanderer (not product placement, I did bring it with me), and boarded one bus of many on my long trip south.

            From the moment I stepped off the bus 14 hours later (public transport in the country needs some help), I knew I was in for an adventure – and a sweat! Did the bus dump me off in a bowl of hot soup? I was too busy fanning myself with a map of the National Mall to figure out where to go and get a reprieve from the heat. I guess the swamp hasn’t been drained yet. So, I pressed on!

            I began by walking towards what resembled that thing on the back of a penny. It was! Squinting up at Abe’s enormous stone face, I decided to take a selfie. I also stayed under the shade with him for a moment, or ten, to get away from the blistering heat.

            From there, I trotted down the Mall, occasionally stopping to take a sip of the reflecting pond. I did get an iced coffee here, but it just wasn’t the same. It didn’t help that all the ice melted after about 30 seconds.

            I ran into the Air and Space Museum, where I was told I apparently mistook a moon rock for a termite mound. It won’t happen again! I also saw a ton of planes, old and new. How did the Wright brothers get that thing off the ground?

            In another embarrassment, I was shushed in the Library of Congress. I only Whispered “way too loudly” how nice the carpet felt under my claws. It’s true! It was marvelous and may I just add, again, the air conditioning is marvelous and necessary there. The books from Jefferson’s personal collection would surely have melted otherwise.

            It was all a lot to take in, and I really didn’t have the time to take it in since every moment spent looking up at the huge white buildings and monuments was also spent under the brutal yellow sun. The Capitol did make me wonder how anyone got anything done in a building so fancy. Nearby, some people wearing blue buttons were near some others wearing red buttons. They were trying to talk to me about Medicaid this and immigration that. Unfortunately for them, they do not have my vote. I am I staunch voter of the unrepresented, single-issue AFAP, or Aardvarks for America Party. Passing some protests near the white house I told both sides to great applause “If I ran this country, there’d be a national holiday for naps.”

            The Washington Monument made me dizzy just looking up at it at night. I finally realized it was time to go home. After a long, sticky day and many, many miles walked, I can say confidently it was a great visit but next time, I’m going in October.

By The Aardvark

‘Cruising with the Cops’ Boat Tour

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Superintendent Michael S. Nelson is excited to share that a group of Old Rochester Regional’s SAIL summer program students successfully embarked on a “Cruising with the Cops” boat tour with officers from the Marion, Rochester, and Mattapoisett police departments.

            “We met at the Marion Maritime Center where students were given a safety tutorial, life jackets, and then went into the boats,” said Old Rochester Special Education Teacher Danielle Dore. “The Harbormasters and officers took us to Bird Island, toured the light house, walked the beach, and more. The smiles of all the students were unforgettable, and on the way back to campus they voted that it was the best community outing of all time.”

            Officers from each department participated in the event on Wednesday, July 23.

            “As always, the efforts of our community police went above and beyond yet again and we appreciate all they do to support our students in the community,” Dore added.

            “Thank you to all of the Tri-Town Officers involved for providing the kids with this experience,” said Marion Police Chief Richard Nighelli. “We remain committed to our strong partnership with the Old Rochester Regional School District and this program is another example of that commitment.”

            The students who took the cruise are enrolled in the Summer Adventures in Learning (SAIL) program, which is open to both Tri-Town residents and non-residents.

            “I am always saying how fortunate we are to have the partnerships that we do with our three local police departments,” said Superintendent Nelson. “What an incredible opportunity and what a memorable day for all involved.”

            Rochester Police Chief Michael A. Assad Jr. shared words of gratitude for the law enforcement professionals who helped make Wednesday’s cruise possible.

            “I want to extend my sincere thanks to Marion Harbormaster Adam Murphy, the Mattapoisett Police Department, and the Rochester Police Department’s incredible Community Engagement Team for making our Cruising with Cops Boat Tour a huge success,” said Chief Assad. “We were able to take some amazing young adults out on the high seas today. Not sure who had a more enjoyable time, the cops or the kids.”

            Chief Assad credited the successful cruise to a combined Tri-Town effort. He said Marion Police Chief Richard Nighelli and Mattapoisett Police Chief Jason King “were instrumental in making it happen.”

            “This event would not have been possible without the dedication, coordination, and teamwork displayed by everyone involved,” said Chief Assad. “The support on the water by the Marion Harbormaster, Mattapoisett Harbormaster and the hard work of our Community Engagement Team onshore and behind the scenes turned a vision into reality – and brought our community together in a truly unforgettable way. Thank you all for showing what partnership and public service can accomplish when we work together. Here’s to many more successful cruises ahead.”

            Chief King praised the “ongoing dedication” of Mattapoisett Police Department’s Marine Resource Officer Isaac Perry and Marion Harbormaster Adam Murphy, “whose commitment has been instrumental to the continued success of this important program.”

            “Their unwavering focus on youth outreach and community engagement reflects the highest standards of public service,” said Chief King. “Equally vital is the strong and effective partnership among the Rochester, Marion, and Mattapoisett Police Departments. This collaborative effort continues to serve as the foundation for making programs like this possible, strengthening public safety and deepening community trust across the Tri-Town area. We hope all our boaters had a safe and enjoyable day on the water.”

            “A program like this requires a lot of cooperation from our community partners in law enforcement,” said Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Jaime Curley. “Thanks to their dedication and willingness to help us enrich our students’ SAIL experience, these children will likely never forget the day they first set sail.”

Marion Department of Public Works

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To the Editor;

            I would like to publicly thank Mr. Jody Dickerson, Director of the Marion DPW, and the entire Marion Department of Public Works crew for their prompt response in carefully removing two dead trees that posed a significant hazard along the busy Mill Street roadway. We understand and appreciate the importance of prioritizing public safety – especially in high-traffic areas.

            Mr. Dickerson, your proactive work ethic not only helps prevent potential hazards but also shows a commitment to the well-being of both our environment and our community. Again, the residents of Marconi Village are grateful for the care you and the entire team take in making these tough decisions and for your ongoing efforts to keep Marion safe and beautiful.

            With deep appreciation,

Eileen J. Marum and the entire Marconi Village community

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.

A Latin-American Festival

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The Marion Concert Band will present a Latin-American “Festival” of music on Friday, August 8. The diverse program includes music from Mexico, Spain, Brazil, and the Caribbean, as well as familiar music that demonstrates the influence that Latin-American musical styles have had on American popular music. To add to the festive atmosphere of the evening, the audience is encouraged to wear tropical or Latin-American attire. The program is as follows:

            Commandante (Marche Espagnole) – G. Guentzel

            España Cañi (Paso Doble) – P. Marquina

            Iberian Escapades – R. Sheldon

            Brazilian Festival – A. C. Jobim

            Cantico – A. Grayson

            Tijuana Brass in Concert – arr. T. Ricketts

            Mas Que Nada – J. Ben

            Granada – A. Lara

            Montego Bay (samba) – S. Nestico

            Serenata – L. Anderson

            Blue Mambo – M. Sweeney

            Malagueña – E. Lecuona

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

Mattapoisett Yacht Club

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July 2025 Racing Series is in the books. Ensigns Series – Odyssey wins both races Tuesday night and captures the hard-fought battle with Black Ice and Brou Ha Ha for the July series. Black Ice got a 2nd and 3rd which finished them second for July. Brou Ha Ha finished 3rd and 2nd, placing them 2nd for the night in a tie breaker over Black Ice but third overall in the July series. Rounding out the rest of the fleet were Brass Monkey with a 4th and 5th, Uncle Fester with a 5th and 6th, and Hamburglar with a 6th and 4th. Recess broke a shroud in the first race and had to retire.

            Brou Ha Ha will be traveling to Cleveland, OH this weekend to compete in the Ensign Nationals. Best of luck.

            Also on Tuesday night, the ORR Sail Team showed off their skills in a four-race series. Lots of action and close racing in these windward-leeward courses with all boats vying for bragging rights for the night.

            Wednesday Night PHRF Series – Kindred Spirits; Fir Na Tine claim July Series in their respective fleets.

            After being disqualified in last weeks’ race, Kindred Spirits showed the A fleet they were still number one by winning the last July race in a 6-mile contest.

            No Quarter Given finished 2nd in the race and 2nd for the series. Restless finished 3rd in the race and 3rd for the series. Rounding out the night were Surprise in 4th and Coconuts in 5th.

            Fir Na Tine, with a 2 second win over Kinsail took first place for the night and also locked up first place for the July series in B fleet. Chickadee, which finished 3rd in the race placed 2nd with a one-point advantage over Kinsail in July. Lindisfarne finished 4th and Big Dipper 5th for the night.

What’s Up There?

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We are well past the halfway point of 2025. So far, there’s been a good number of cosmic events to gaze up at. There are many more in the months ahead as well.

            On August 1, the moon reaches its “apogee,” meaning it is at its furthest distance from Earth in its orbit. Also during the early parts of the month, both Venus and Jupiter will be near each other in the sky and be visible early in the morning, around 4:00 am~. Saturn will be visible come sunset, however. There will be a 6-planet alignment on August 10: Mercury-Jupiter-Venus-Uranus-Neptune-Saturn-and the moon. Again, Jupiter and Venus will almost be “touching” with their proximity. Most planets will be visible to the naked eye, though all with a powerful-enough telescope.

            Ongoing is the Perseid Meteor Shower, which will peak on Tuesday, August 12. At its peak, it will produce about one meteor-per-minute. The meteors are a result of the comet Swift-Tuttle, being discovered at the same time by two astronomers (two Americans, Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle) in 1862. The comet last passed the sun in 1995, and we are now receiving some debris from its tail.

            August’s full moon is on August 9. It is known as the “Sturgeon Moon” due to the fish’s prevalence at this time of year in the Great Lakes region. It also has various crop-related names, such as the “Green Corn” or “Grain” moon.

            August 19 is the date of Mercury’s “greatest elongation,” making it the best time to see the normally-difficult to spot dot. The temperature of the surface sits comfortably between -290-degrees and 800-degrees Fahrenheit, depending on light/dark side.

            August 23 is this month’s full moon. The moon will be below the horizon, making perfect conditions for a dark sky and star watching.

            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 August

By Sam Bishop

Marion to Hold Re-Dedication Ceremony

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Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman is pleased to share that the Town of Marion, the Department of Public Works, the Marion Historical Commission, the Council on Aging, and the Friends of Marion Recreation are holding a re-dedication ceremony for DePina Landing at 4:00 pm on Thursday, August 14, to celebrate improvements made at the public park and kayak launch site during a revitalization project this summer.

            The re-dedication ceremony at the 29 River Road site is the culmination of planning by the Marion Historical Commission over the past two years and on-site work throughout this summer by the Department of Public Works, including the installation of three new benches, two picnic tables, signage, and a memorial garden.

            The riverfront property, owned by the town, was also cleaned out this summer and last year in preparation for the new installations.

            The revitalization of DePina Landing, a popular launch site on the Sippican River, is a $5,000 project being funded by the Friends of Marion Recreation.

            In addition, the project will bring a dogwood tree and a historic plaque to DePina Landing, to be placed on a large rock at the site as part of the new memorial garden. The plaque, which dates back to the 1950s, was previously located at the site of the Marion Harbormaster Building. The plaque and tree are dedicated to Mary DePina and her husband John DePina, a Cape Verdean community leader and businessman from Marion, who donated the riverfront property to the Town in 1953.

            Originally, the one-acre property was known as DePina Beach, where local kids once took swimming lessons. More recently, it has been used as a kayak launch and public park, becoming known as DePina Landing.

            A sign describing the history of the site is being installed at DePina Landing with funds provided by the Friends of Marion Recreation.

            The plans to revitalize DePina Landing resulted from a series of public forums at the Marion Council on Aging, where members of the Cape Verdean community reminisced about their childhood memories of the park as the focal point of their summertime recreational activities. The Marion Historical Commission then assembled a large group of town residents and members of the DePina family at the riverside park in August 2023 to consider the past and future of the site, leading to a push to revitalize the property.

            After that, the Marion Historical Commission and the Marion Department of Public Works joined forces to upgrade the DePina Landing, leading up to the improvement project undertaken this summer and the August 14 re-dedication ceremony.

            “Before all of this, not many people knew that this park existed, except for some from the Cape Verdean community. They knew about it, but haven’t used it much lately,” said Meg Steinberg, chairperson of the Marion Historical Commission. “When we held our forums at the Council on Aging, we had community members share stories of being little kids who ran down to this swimming hole once their morning chores were done, getting swim lessons and hanging out on the dock. It was like a summer camp atmosphere for kids. Now, we’ve revitalized DePina Landing, bringing it back so everyone in the Town of Marion can enjoy this amazing community resource.”

            “We look forward to our re-dedication ceremony for DePina Landing, to celebrate an amazing revitalization and all the hard work that’s been done to bring it back to its former glory,” said Town Administrator Gorman. “This has been a great community effort, bringing together so many Marion residents to help make this possible. DePina Landing will now continue be a great resource for the town, as a cherished, shared space for community building and recreation.”

New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus

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Please join the Mattapoisett Museum, 5 Church Street, on Saturday, August 23, at 3:00 pm for a free concert by the New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus.

            The New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus is one of the most harmonious crews to come ashore. Their repertoire of work songs of the Yankee sailor and whaler reflects the region’s rich maritime heritage. This 24-voice group sings ballads and ditties of global mariners and coastwise fisherfolk in North America, the Cape Verde Islands, and the British Isles. Be ready to have fun and learn how to “rant and roll like a true-born sailor!” Also performing with the chorus will be Butlers Flats, a group of chorus members who will also sing sea chanties.

            The New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus is a volunteer group of the Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey. This event is free, but donations are gladly accepted.

Diane R. (Lemieux) Kinney

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Diane R. (Lemieux) Kinney, 68, of Mattapoisett passed away Friday August 1, 2025. She was the wife of Samuel W. Kinney, Jr.

            Born in Acushnet, the daughter of the late Raymond A. Lemieux, Sr. and Claire (Fleurent) Lemieux, she lived in Marion and Mattapoisett for most of her life.

            Diane was formerly employed as a food service worker at the Sippican School and later worked for Advanced Auto Parts.

            She is survived by her husband Sam; her children, Louis Ouellette, Jr. and his wife Sandra, and Jaime Oliveira and her husband Chris; her stepdaughter, Heidi Kilpatrick and her husband Andrew; six grandchildren, Owen, Olivia, Emily, Elizabeth, Ryleigh, and Briella; her cousins, Gail and Rocky Fleurent; and several nieces and nephews.

            Private arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Pina Family Property Granted Variance

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Some neighbors had concerns about a construction company once used by applicant David Pina to build a single-family home on Point Road. However, at a July 24 public hearing, the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals granted Pina a Variance and said some of those issues are not within the board’s jurisdiction.

            The hearing took place at the police station conference room and was the only item on the ZBA’s agenda.

            Pina has 11 acres on Point Road, but the property in question does not meet frontage requirements and he needed a variance from the ZBA, which was granted unanimously. The property has been in Pina’s family for generations, and neighbors noted that David Pina has been a good resident in town, donating to different organizations.

            Neighbor Kimberly Branco also noted the latter but added that Pina once hired a construction company to do renovations on a property nearby. She said the construction company was hostile toward neighbors, damaged her driveway and did not repair the damage. She said debris was not cleaned up properly and some was left in the middle of the road where cars were damaged. She also said that Pina has proposed an access roadway that will likely cross her property line, as well as create more traffic where kids often play.

            Branco and others also raised concerns about the property’s proximity to cranberry bogs and other conservation land. Pina’s attorney Thomas Ryan said the access road would be a utility easement and is designed to mitigate any boundary issues with neighbors.

            Ryan noted how the Pina property was in the family for generations and might be grandfathered from some of the new zoning restrictions. He said he and Pina could not dispute the altercations between a construction company and the neighbors.

            Pina noted that he has spoken to the neighbors about some of those issues and said that, once the variance is granted, those disputes will not happen again. Pina said the access road will not be close to the nearby conservation area or the cranberry bogs.

            Building Commissioner Bob Grillo disputed whether the property is grandfathered.

            “It is a gray area,” he said, adding that only an attorney could make that determination.

Grillo warned the ZBA against placing restrictions on the project based on issues between neighbors and an outside construction company once utilized by Pina.

            “It is not in our purview,” Grillo said. “That is not our position.”

            The Planning Board and Conservation Commission recently weighed in on the project and had no issue with Pina’s proposal. The Board of Health still must weigh in on Pina’s sewer tie-in plan.

            A vote of the membership supported Cindy Callow remaining as ZBA chair for another term.

            The next meeting of the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals was not announced upon adjournment.

Marion Zoning Board of Appeals

By Jeffrey D. Wagner