William “ Bill” H. Brennan

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William “ Bill” H. Brennan, 91, of Rochester, MA (formerly of Longmeadow, MA) went home to be with his Lord and Savior on July 6, 2024 after a brief battle with Leukemia. William, also known as ”Poppy” was born in Waterbury, Connecticut on December 9th, 1932. He was the son of William Brennan and Mary Blanchard.

            Growing up in greater Waterbury CT, Bill was known for his dedicated work ethic, shoveling walkways, selling newspapers, doing odd jobs, excelling at football and track, and serving as an altar boy. Upon graduating from Sacred Heart HS in 1950, Bill worked as a toolmaker at Scoville Company’s local brass mill where he showed an aptitude for mechanical design. Having found his lifelong vocation, Bill entered the University of Connecticut’s Engineering Program and, still working at the mill, earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bridgeport University.

            Bill met the love of his life Kathleen Dressell on a blind date and soon after they married in 1952 and celebrated 69 years of a Christ-centered marriage.

Recruited by Mathews Conveyor Belt Company , Bill moved his family to Elwood City, PA.

            Missing the East Coast, Bill accepted a position with Rex Chainbelt (Rexnord) Company in Springfield, MA, and settled his family in the picturesque town of Longmeadow, MA for 53 wonderful years. Bill, in his diligent and determined efforts became President of the American Society of Quality Control (Western MA), and later retired in 2000 as the manager of capability studies for Milton Bradley (Hasbro).

            Poppy’s greatest memories were the times spent with family and friends at their “lake house” in the Berkshires. He also enjoyed socializing, dining out, going to the symphony as well as theater and most of all traveling and taking cruises with Kathy. Bill was an avid runner and set a goal to run the NYC Marathon which he did successfully with a competitive time. After relocating to Rochester, MA in 2016, Bill remained active in his church, the Council on Aging center and theater productions at the Marion Art Center.

            The most important part of Poppy’s life was his faith. In all the churches Bill attended, he loved being involved in Bible study, leading field trips to religious events and sharing the gospel message. Bill knew that God was personally active in his life and not only did he have the assurance of heaven, but a joyous anticipation for what he called “home”. Even in his final days, he shared his faith enthusiastically with everyone he encountered. A humble, loving man, Bill said he was “deeply encouraged that Christ saves us even as we are sinners.” Bill was a patient, gentle caregiver to his wife in her years long battle with dementia, which sadly ended in 2022. Poppy knew with certainty that he would be reunited with “Nanny” again. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, and will be deeply missed.

            He is survived by his half-brother James Christopher Brennan, his three children William J Brennan (and his wife Melissa) of Manassas VA, Sheila Martin of Mattapoisett, Ma and Barbara Lochte of Seguin, Texas, his nine grandchildren Patrick, F. Charles, Conor, Kelly Kathryn, John Ryan, Kathleen Ann, Liam, Erin, Aidan and three great grandchildren James, Benjamin and Scott. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Kathleen of Rochester, his sister Mary Beth Denehy of Harwinton, Connecticut, his son-in-law John Martin of Mattapoisett and his son-in-law F Scott Lochte of Seguin, Texas.

            A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Rochester in Rochester, MA on August 16th, 2024 at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, William asked for donations to be made to Nativity Preparatory School of New Bedford,166 Spring St. New Bedford, MA 02740.

Diana J. Pacheco

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Diana J. Pacheco, 84, of Fairhaven, MA, passed away peacefully on July 13th surrounded by her loving family.

            The only child of Ethel Seifert and Vivian Fielding and step-daughter of beloved step-father, August Seifert, Diana grew up and lived her early adulthood in New Bedford, MA. After raising two children to adulthood with college degrees, she was determined to obtain her own college degree. She went back to school and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth with a Bachelor’s degree in Education at the age of 53.

            Diana was a dedicated and passionate educator. With her kind, patient and gentle nature, she left a positive, lasting impression on the many children who were in her classroom. Her love of education permeated her life. She loved our natural environment and through hikes in the mountains, walks by the ocean or time spent at family cottages, she would point out the flora and fauna, the birds, the marine life, the sky and the beauty of it all. She shared all that she took in and learned with those around her. She forged lifetime friendships with her teaching colleagues, and loved spending quality time with them in Martha’s Vineyard.

            Diana also loved to travel with her beloved husband, Robert “Bob”, her true love of 63 years in marriage. Together they went on safari, climbed glaciers and learned about different cultures all over the world. Above all, Diana’s greatest love and devotion was to her family. Diana loved being with her husband, son, daughter, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and nieces and nephews every opportunity she had. She would shower them with kindness and love through her warm smile, touch and cooking for family gatherings at home and at the family cottages.

            Diana is survived by her husband, Robert, of Fairhaven, MA, her son, Glenn and his wife Wendy of North Attleboro, MA, her daughter, Lisa and her wife Barbara of Mattapoisett, MA, her grandson, Ryan, and her granddaughter, Melanie, both of North Attleboro, MA. She will be dearly missed, but her loving nature and many gifts to all who had the honor of knowing her will live on in our hearts forever.

            Her Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, July 18th at 11 am in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. Her family will receive guests from 9 – 11 am prior to her service in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Flowers are welcome, or you can make a donation to Buzzards Bay Coalition at https://www.savebuzzardsbay.org/take-action/donate/ For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Martin Hudis

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Martin Hudis, 81, of Mattapoisett, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, July 15, 2024. He was the husband of Diane (Bohnert) Hudis.

            Born in Los Angeles, son of the late Sam and Janet Hudis, he was raised in Southern California before living in Milwaukee and then settling in Mattapoisett.

            Martin loved woodworking, photography, and spending time with his grandchildren. He was formerly a board member of the Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Mattapoisett Free Public Library. Martin received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UCLA, his MBA from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. in Applied Plasma Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and later served as an advisor for students from both UCLA and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

            Survivors include his wife, Diane; his children, Scott Stuessi and his wife Robin of Fairhaven, Hillary Madge and her husband Lou of Wellesley, and Jacob Hudis of Tyngsborough; his brother, Phillip Hudis; his sister Gale Hubert; his brothers-in-law Gary Bohnert, Steve Omolecki and his wife Jean; his grandchildren, Alexandra Stuessi, Colin Stuessi, and Spencer Madge; and his dog Simba.

            At Martin’s request, funeral services will be private. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com

RHS Yard Sale

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The annual Rochester Historical Society yard sale will be held on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4. Saturday hours are 9-3 and Sunday is 10-2. As always, we will be at the museum at 355 County Road, Rochester.

            All items must be clean and ready for sale. We are a small nonprofit with limited staff and it isn’t any easier for us to get rid of soiled, broken or unusable items. When dropping off, drive completely around the museum to the door on the cemetery side. The driveway goes completely around the building.

            These are the dates for drop-off: July 19, 11-1; July 20, 9:30-11:30; July 23, 1-3 and lastly, July 30, 10:30-1. If none of these dates work for you, call me at 617-750-2818 to arrange an alternate time, I won’t be available July 25-29.

            Please, do not drop off items when no one is at the museum. We will have to then call you to come and retrieve them.

            We appreciate everyone who donates saleable items that help us to pay for our winter heating bill.

Marion Roads, Bridges Receive Additional $89,779

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            The Commission offers two program awards: certification and accreditation, with the latter being the higher of the two.

            Marion Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman is pleased to announce that Marion will receive an additional $88,779 in state funds that can be used to improve the town’s roads, sidewalks and bridges.

            The money is in addition to funding the town receives annually through the commonwealth’s Chapter 90 program, which provides funding to municipalities for capital improvements on local public ways. In Fiscal Year 2024, Marion received $168,493.69 Chapter 90 funds.

            This supplemental allocation is part of $100,000,000 in FY24 Fair Share Amendment funds distributed by the commonwealth that can be used to improve local infrastructure. The revenue comes from the new state surtax on incomes greater than $1,000,000.

            Half of the $100,000,000 appropriation is distributed using the traditional Chapter 90 funding formula, which takes into consideration the number of miles of public roadways in a community (58.33%), the community’s population (20.83%) and the number of people employed in that community (20.83%). The other half is distributed using a formula based solely on the number of miles of public roadways in a community.

            Marion is receiving $47,656 based on road miles and $42,123 based on the Chapter 90 formula.

            Cities and towns are able to access and use these funds immediately without needing project approval. However, expenditures must comply with Chapter 90 and applicable local, state or federal regulations.

Designer Officially on Board

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Rochester’s Public Safety Building Committee Monday approved hiring Yarmouth Port-based Catalyst Architecture to design plans for a new main Fire Station on Pine Street, utilizing $28,000 of unused funds from the town’s Feasibility Study account.

            A Feasibility Study Committee organized last year by the Select Board looked into a potentially three-pronged upgrade to the town’s public-safety facilities consisting of a new main Fire Station, a significant renovation/expansion of the Police Department’s headquarters on Dexter Lane and, if it could be funded, a Fire Department substation on the east side of town to shorten response times to a Route 28 area experiencing impact business and residential growth.

            Post-COVID-related cost increases, however, have forced officials to whittle these plans down to a single project, building a new fire station on the former Rochester Country Fair, Pine Street property. To that end, Rochester Select Board and Building Committee member (and Marion Harbormaster) Adam Murphy invited the same architect that designed the new Marion Harbormaster headquarters now under construction to speak to Rochester officials about providing the same service for the new Pine Street fire station design.

            Monday, committee Chairman Arnold Johnson began the discussion that led to hiring Catalyst by noting the committee recently met with Catalyst officials Tim Sawyer and Kurt Raber and toured both the new Marion Harbormaster building and the current cramped quarters of the current Rochester Fire Station at Pine Street and Hartley Road.

            “We need some professional help to take us to the next steps,” Johnson said. “And they’ve said they can do it rather cheaply.”

            The next steps, the committee revealed, will be meeting with the Select Board on July 15 to gain its approval of Catalyst’s hire, then finalizing detailed design drawings, then seeking Town Meeting approval to fund the engineering and construction process.

            Murphy said what he likes about Catalyst is they are willing to build to what the town is willing to spend. Johnson noted Catalyst will not have to rehash the feasibility study. “They can use the feasibility study to get a lot of data,” he said. “They won’t be looking to redo it.”

            Before the vote to hire Catalyst, committee member David Arancio said it’s important to build a timeline that works backwards from the date of a 2025 Town Meeting to include when other steps along the way will be met. This will help both the project planners and the public, he said.

            Johnson agreed. “There will have to be a big education program too,” he said. “That will take time too.”

            The committee then settled on a plan to share the feasibility-study results with the public, addressing complaints the committee had received from residents. Arancio reported the study file is too large to post on the town website. Murphy suggested posting the first pages then directing them to Town Hall to view the full hard copy. The committee agreed.

            The Rochester Public Safety Building Committee meets situationally and did not set another meeting date before adjourning.

Rochester Public Safety Building Committee

By Michael J. DeCicco

MWC Pie & Bake Sale

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On Saturday, July 20, as part of the Mattapoisett Lions Club’s annual Harbor Days Festival, the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club’s will offer its annual homemade Pie and Pastry Sale under the Lions Club’s Big White Tent. The event runs from 9 am until all the items are sold.

            You are guaranteed to find that a delicious selection of homemade pies, breads, muffins, and cookies is available to take home with you, all of which will tickle your taste buds.

            The Pie and Bake Sale is a rain or shine event with all proceeds benefitting the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club’s Scholarship Fund, public programs and community outreach. For questions, more information, or a membership application, please go to www.mattapoisettwomansclub.org.

ORR Puts Money Where Its Math Is

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Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning Dr. Shari Fedorowicz had to move quickly to prepare a presentation to the June 12 public meeting of the ORR School Committee.

            The resultant FY24 vote enacted approval of a $105,000 grant for investment in the Amplify Desmos Math Curriculum. The grant was accepted by the committee in February, but ORR had to choose between English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics.

            “We determined the highest need to be math,” said Fedorowicz, whose focus is on algebra materials. A collaborative effort involving demonstration, review and feedback led to the approval of the Amplify Desmos Math Curriculum for Grades 7 and 8 Algebra.

            The School Committee approved the Student Handbook for the 2024-25 school year. Before the vote, respective ORRHS and ORRJH Assistant Principals Vanessa Harvey and Kelly Chouinard summarized changes for the handbook, which will henceforth discipline plagiarism related to artificial intelligence.

            Another wrinkle is the policy affecting Grade 8 students who earn spots on high school sports teams. Because fundraising is conducted at the high school level, eighth graders are by statewide policy not allowed to play varsity sports, except in the case where there is no junior-varsity team (ORRHS Principal Mike Devoll listed softball as an example). In that case, a Grade 8 student who makes the squad becomes eligible to play varsity as the lowest available level, per the MIAA, Devoll confirmed.

            Committee member Frances-Feliz Kearns brought to the committee’s attention a potential problem in a Student Handbook section addressing bullying that as written could indicate that the school committee (as well as the student) would receive counseling. Chouinard said she would research the matter and report back to the committee.

            In her Chairperson’s Report, Michelle Smith stressed everyone’s part in the team effort it takes to have a successful school year. In recalling a letter she wrote as a high school student that was published in her local newspaper, Smith talked about what she learned about different funding sources and told the committee it’s important to continue working toward grant funding and that all students have a voice.

            The ORR School Committee voted to approve the request from the Old Rochester Youth Football to use the main field on four Sundays across September and October with five games on each day.

            “We love having Bulldogs on campus of all ages, they are great and respectful neighbors,” said Devoll, who characterized ORYF leadership as “super responsive” to cancelations for weather reasons, which is the district’s main concern. He even suggested a five-year deal so the league wouldn’t have to apply on an annual basis. Member April Nye echoed Devoll’s sentiments in recommending ongoing approval.

            Member Jim Muse sought and received clarification that weather-related cancellation decisions rest with ORR Administration and not the youth football league.

            The vote approved ORYF to use the main field on four Sundays for the 2024-25 academic year.

            Late in the meeting during subcommittee reports, Nelson updated the committee on a $750,000 approval received from the state Department of Education for ORR’s athletic fields. Nelson recognized Representative Bill Straus’ advocacy in securing the funds.

            The ORR School Committee heard an update on the School Improvement Plans from Devoll and ORRJH Principal Silas Coellner. As principals, they also delivered end-of-year thoughts on the growth and achievement of their students.

            The School Committee approved the following donations: $500 from the Emma Whittaker Fund for the ORR swim team, one 2×7-foot Best Communities for Music Education banner from Denise Conton to the ORRJH Music Department, 12 250-milliliter Erlenmeyer flasks, seven 250-milliliter beakers and eight, 150-milliliter beakers from Mattapoisett resident and registered medical technologist Stephen Likos, a cornet and a Flugelhorn from the Symphony Music Shop to the ORRJH Music Department, 15 copies of “The Odyssey” and 15 copies of “Romeo and Juliet” from parents Michelle and Michael Kelly for the high school, and OpenSciEd kits (6.2 Thermal Energy for Grade 7, 7.3 Metabolic Reactions for Grade 8, and general classroom supplies for Grades 7 and 8 from OpenSciEd).

            The committee approved the following grants: Vacation Acceleration Academies Grant of $66,000, from the Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund $2,000 to Andrew Apperson, ORRHS (Intra-school) for ORRHS Disc Golf Course, $3,000 to Richard Laprise, ORRJH (Intra-School and Cross Curriculum) for Sounds of the Tri-Town (Guest Artist Collaboration for Original Composition and Performances) and $897.65 to Kelly Ochoa, ORRHS for World Language Curriculum Enhancement.

            The committee approved the 2024-25 School Committee meeting schedule based on Thursdays: September 5, October 10, 2024, (Tuesday) November 5, December 12, February 27, 2025, March 27, 2025 and May 22, 2025.

            The committee voted to approve the SMEC lease for the 2024-25 School Year but will add two spaces to accommodate secondary-level education.

            There was no Food Service report, but Nelson publicly recognized Jill Henesey for her work during the school year.

            Books were donated to the school libraries honoring retiring faculty, including Junior High Severe Disabilities teacher Mary Caine, paraprofessional Shirley O’Connor and Junior High physical education teacher Karen Horan.

            Early in the meeting, Devoll announced that Student Representative Jamison Gunschel (Class of 2024) and rising senior Emerson Gonet were sworn into Governor Maura Healey’s Advisory Committee.

            “No surprise to me, we have the outgoing senior class president and the rising senior class president. Both are doing great things at the school and now at the state level,” said Devoll, who said their accomplishment is a first for ORR students.

            Kelly Quinlan was also recognized for her rare feat of a 200-goal, lacrosse career at the high school. Devoll noted Quinlan’s comeback from a serious knee injury. “It didn’t stop her from being a great teammate, leader, player.”

            ORR recognized another district first in that lacrosse goaltender Tessa Winslow became the first ORR student to serve on the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (MIAA) Advisory Committee.

            “She represented not only Old Rochester but our part of the state at the MIAA on a monthly basis,” said Devoll. Winslow has 600 career saves heading into her senior year.

            Caroline Brogioli was also recognized as the multisport athlete brings 100 goals into her senior year.

            Gunschel said all the events related to the senior class were successful, and he recommended that graduation exercises maintain the briefer format adopted for 2024. Smith thanked Gunschel for his work on the committee.

            Smith recognized outgoing member Jason Chisholm of Rochester for his three-year term serving on the committee.

            The next meeting of the ORR School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 5, at 6:30 pm in the ORRJH Music room and accessible via remote.

ORR School Committee

By Mick Colageo

How Much Water Do You Need?

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It depends!

            Water truly is life – we can go without eating for weeks and survive but get very sick if we do not get adequate water for a few days.

            You are doubtless familiar with “rules” such as the need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. The problem with relying on such simple rules is that the real answer truly is “it depends.”

            A man who is 6-foot-5 and weighs 205 pounds needs more water than a woman who is 5-4 and weighs 110.

            It is currently sunny and pushing 90 degrees F. Walking up to get the mail left me sweating. We clearly need more water under these conditions than we do when it is 65 and shady.

            People doing physical work outdoors in the heat need more water than those sitting at desks in air-conditioned offices.

            “Water” includes most other liquids such as herbal tea and fruit juice – but not caffeinated drinks or alcohol, which tend to pull water out of the body.

            Finally, and perhaps less obvious, we do not get water only by drinking. Many foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, contain significant amounts of water. Our habitual diet will change the amount of water we need.

            Then how do you know how much water to drink? A simple, reliable way to assess this is to look at your urine. If your urine is dilute – clear to pale yellow in color – you are adequately hydrated. If your urine is closer to apple juice than lemonade in color, you are dehydrated and need to drink more.

            If your urine is very dark, you ought to seek medical attention, as you may need intravenous fluids.

            Do not depend on thirst as your sole indicator. If you are thirsty, you are probably somewhat dehydrated, but lack of thirst is not as reliable as the color of your urine.

            So: drink up!

            Edward Hoffer MD is Associate Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard.

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Edward Hoffer

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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Some of the earliest toys in colonial New England, including Rochester, were dolls. The three dolls shown in the picture would have been home made using readily available material. The yarn doll on the right could be put together quickly with leftover yarn. This would not be one of the earliest dolls as it first required sheep or some other source of wool and a spinning wheel.

            The doll on the left is made of corn husks. These dolls were first seen by settlers in the hands of young girls who were part of the few remaining clusters of Native Americans, still in the lands that the proprietors purchased in 1679. These dolls are fashioned out of actual corn husks that have been soaked in water to make them easier to work with.

            Cathy Phinney, one of our living history reenactors, at the Historic Fair in June, made this doll and others in the manner of a colonial housewife.

            The middle doll answers a question from an earlier article. That article had an accompanying picture of a house decorated for Halloween. Among the decorations were cloth ghosts. The doll in our exhibit is not a ghost, but a “church doll”. The making of both the ghosts and the church dolls is similar, though the dolls often had more detail.

            Colonial Sabbath services were all-day affairs with a break in the middle of the day for a chance to eat and do a bit of socializing. There were no special Sunday schools for children who were expected to sit quietly through the long hours. Some mothers made small dolls out of a triangle of cloth (the size of a handkerchief) to provide a quiet diversion, hence the name “church doll”.

            If you haven’t yet had a chance to visit our new exhibit, I hope you watch for an opportunity to do so. You can always get in touch with us (sash48@ comcast.net or eshbach2@aol.com) to schedule a visit for yourself or a group. I want to belatedly thank the Rochester Scouts and the Wareham Minutemen Militia for their part in making our Historic Fair with a Colonial Flair a success.

By Connie Eshbach