Ride with South Coast Bikeway

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On Sunday, October 5, the South Coast Bikeway Team will participate in the Buzzards Bay Watershed Ride to raise money for clean water and a completed South Coast Bikeway. We are looking for more team members. If you have ridden as an individual in the past or are taking on the challenge for the first time, please join the South Coast Bikeway Team (SouthCoastBikeway.com). Use code SCBIKEWAY for $20 off registration. The SCBA has been permitted to “piggyback” on the Watershed Ride fundraising. Whatever you raise for Buzzards Bay will be matched by (still-to-be-determined) donors to the SCBA. If you don’t ride, please consider donating to the SCBA team or the South Coast Bikeway Alliance. Funds raised will be used as matching funds for design, engineering, and build grants to complete the South Coast Bikeway, a planned cycling route from Rhode Island to the Cape Cod Canal. The Goal for team SCBA is $20,000. SCBA is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to assist our member communities in completing their portion of the South Coast Bikeway. In 2024, we raised over $43,000 for clean water and $2800 for the South Coast Bikeway, for over $90,893 for the Buzzards Bay Coalition over the last 9 years.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

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The Rev. Jeffrey Paull Cave, Retired from Diocese of Atlanta, GA, will return from his home in Northern California to lead services on Sunday, August 24. Historic St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, located next to the Town Beach in Mattapoisett, invites clergy from near and far during the summer only season. Services using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer will be at 8:00 am and 10:00 am. All are welcome.

Eleanor Bradford (Luther) Johansen

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Eleanor Bradford (Luther) Johansen, 94, of Mattapoisett, died peacefully on Friday, August 8, 2025. Eleanor was born in New Bedford on December 29, 1930, the daughter of the late Bradford Wheeler Luther and Elva Woodworth (Fairbairn) Luther. Eleanor grew up in Fairhaven and graduated from Fairhaven High School in 1948. She married the late Robert Garner Johansen in September 1951, and subsequently moved to Mattapoisett, which became her home for over seventy years.

            Her life’s passion was her handwork. She enjoyed painting, knitting, weaving and embroidery. But her true love was making quilts, and she devoted most of her time to designing and creating exquisitely beautiful, unique quilts.

            She is survived by her son, Jon Benjamin Johansen and his wife, Ann, of Winterport, Maine; her daughter, Donna Goldman and her husband, Ted, of Bethesda, Maryland; four grandchildren: Jessica Alexandria Whynot, Andrew Silva, Molly Goldman and Kara Young; and four great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Donahue, Brody Donahue, Nathan Young and Jacob Young.

            She was the mother of the late Susan Johansen-Silva, the grandmother of the late Jeremiah Johansen-Silva, and the sister of the late Bradford Wheeler Luther, Jr.

            Her graveside service will be held on Friday, September 19, at 2:00 pm in Cushing Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Richard Weston Straffin

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Richard Weston Straffin, 85, of Rochester passed away peacefully on August 12, 2025. He had been married for 48 years to the late Lois Carol Phillips Straffin. He was the son of the late Weston and Irene (Reeves) Straffin.

            Born in Brockton, he raised a family of 8 in Middleboro, where he was a volunteer fireman. Richard built the home that he and his wife shared in Rochester for 39 years.

            Richard retired from Sears at the age of 54 after 35 years of service, but he was far from retiring. He spent some time as a pipe insulation inspector, he and a friend/partner opened an Orvis store “Henry Weston Outfitters”, and he worked for the Town of Rochester for many years – mowing lawns and driving the recycle truck.

            Richard was a family man. He spent “quality” time with each and every one of us. He was the strong silent type – never the center of attention but always there in quiet support. He loved camping, bird watching, organic gardening, wood crafting, fishing, and grilling – pig roasts and meat on a stick anybody?! Each of Richard’s grandchildren have experienced the “crusher” handshake.

            Survivors include his children: Donna Nichols of West Bridgewater, Patricia DeNardo and her husband Marc of Mashpee, Glenn Jutras of Middleboro, Michael Straffin of Sarasota, and Eric Jutras of Utah, 12 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. Also, his sister Virginia Conefrey of Pocasset. He was the father of the late Scott Jutras, and brother of the late Lennie Lee.

            A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on September 27, 2025 at the First Congregational Church of Rochester, 11 Constitution Way, Rochester.

            Donations in his memory can be made to The Wounded Warrior Project or Damien’s Place Food Pantry of Wareham.

            Arrangements are by Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham.

Down to the Sea in Ships

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The Marion Concert Band continues its Friday evening concert series on August 22, with a program of music inspired by the sea. The program includes two soloists and is as follows:

            Hands Across the Sea – J. P. Sousa

            Parade of the Tall Ships – J. Chattaway

            Fantasy on American Sailing Songs – C. Grundman

            Trumpet in the Night – H. Simeone

            John Smialek, trumpet

            Sea Songs – R. Vaughan Williams

            Selections from South Pacific – R. Rodgers

            Montego Bay – S. Nestico

            La Tourterelle – E. Damaré

            Wendy Rolfe, piccolo

            Highlights from Victory at Sea – R. Rodgers

            Under the Sea (from The Little Mermaid) – A. Menken

            Martinique – R. Washburn

            From Tropic to Tropic March – R. Alexander

            John Smialek, trumpet soloist, holds a master’s degree in music from Northwestern University. He has performed with the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. He is also a founding member of the New England Brass Quartet and was the band director at Seekonk High School for 16 years. He has been a member of the Marion Concert Band since 1989.

            Marion resident Wendy Rolfe earned her bachelor’s degree from the Oberlin Conservatory and earned her master’s and doctor of musical arts degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. She is Professor of Flute at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and performs regularly with the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Baroque, and the Cape Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Rolfe has been a member of the Marion Concert Band since 1999.

            The concert, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00 pm at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf 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.

Island Wharf

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Dear Editor,

            The poem below is dedicated to Island Wharf, a treasure in the middle of a vibrant town center.

Breathe.

Unwind.

Belong.

Step onto sunlit blades –

an emerald carpet unfurling

beneath your feet, each blade

a gentle hand, guiding you

to move, to rest, to inhale

the warmth of Island Wharf.

Here, green isn’t a luxury

but a lifeline: leaves murmur

soft lullabies, sunlight dances

on open lawns, and stress

slips away like morning mist.

Gather beneath rustling branches,

where laughter threads through boughs,

and even the town’s hum

melts into a distant murmur.

Deadlines blur into the breeze,

homework drifts off with drifting clouds,

to-do lists fade into the grass –

this common ground becomes

our sanctuary.

In this shared backyard,

roots of community deepen,

joy and renewal sprout side by side,

and civic life takes fragrant flight.

Island Wharf: where every breath

is an invitation, every step

a return, and together we find

our place to belong.

By Eileen J. Marum

Grand Rededication Ceremony Held for DePina Landing in Marion

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The Town of Marion is pleased to announce the grand rededication of DePina Landing on River Road, celebrated with an open house on Wednesday, August 14.

            On a beautiful afternoon, Town officials, community members, and members of the DePina family gathered to honor the site’s history and legacy.

            Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman welcomed attendees, while Select Board Chair Randy Parker expressed gratitude to the DePina family for their parents’ longstanding commitment to the Town of Marion.

            Meg Steinberg, Chair of the Marion Historical Commission, shared the history of the property, which served as a popular neighborhood swimming hole beginning in the 1940s.

            Stories collected through Council on Aging programs revealed fond memories from members of Marion’s Cape Verdean neighborhood, who spent summer days swimming at DePina Landing during the 1950s and 1960s. Seeking to provide a safer alternative to jumping off the Wareham Bridge, the DePina family donated the one-acre site to the Town in 1953.

            The site now features new benches, picnic tables, a celebratory tree and garden, a commemorative plaque, and an interpretive historical sign. A kayak rack will also be installed in the near future.

            The project was spearheaded by Nancy McFadden, Department of Public Works Director Jody Dickerson, and Marion Historical Commission Chair Meg Steinberg, who recognized the importance of preserving the site’s history while honoring the DePina family’s enduring legacy.

Mattapoisett’s Town Meeting

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To the Editor;

            On May 12, Mattapoisett’s Town Meeting voted to expand the Select Board from three to five members. That decision – made in public, after debate – is now in the Home Rule process as H.4245. Calling a “do-over” because some dislike the outcome isn’t more democratic; it’s undoing a lawful vote.

            Let’s clear up a few points.

            1. Signature count isn’t a merit test. Yes, state law allows 200 signatures to call a Special Town Meeting. That says nothing about the wisdom of reversing a vote already taken. Town Meeting is our legislature. It acted. Respecting that outcome is part of stable governance.

            2. Strong finances and good audits are not the issue. We can be proud of our fiscal health – and still see the need to modernize our structure. A five-member board improves coverage, accountability, and compliance with Open Meeting Law. That’s about workload and representation, not party politics.

            3. The Main Street (TIP) project cost claim is misleading. MassDOT and SRPEDD have programmed the project for 2028 construction using state/federal funds. Local taxpayers are not being handed an $18 million bill. Community advisory input helps resolve design issues early and keep projects on track.

            4. Public records requests are democracy at work. Residents have every right to request documents. It’s about transparency, not “name-calling.”

            5. Town Meeting procedure matters. If critics wanted a counted vote or ballot, the time to request it was during the meeting. The remedy for low turnout is more engagement before the vote – not re-voting until a different result appears.

            Bottom line: Let the decision we made stand. Evaluate a five-member board on its performance – committee coverage, responsiveness, and follow-through – rather than rhetoric and repeat votes.

            Jeanne Hopkins, Mattapoisett

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.

Select Board Receives $32,000 Check

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            Rochester’s Select Board began its busy meeting Monday by hosting Plymouth County Treasurer Thomas O’Brien’s presentation of over $32,000 of ARPA funds to the town.

            O’Brien explained before posing with the oversize facsimile of the check with Select Board members that the $32,382.71 the town is receiving actually combines two checks responding to recent town applications for the funds. He noted with pride that this is actually the second ARPA fund check the county has been able to award the town since the program began last year.

            The Plymouth County Commissioners awarded the town $62,226.33 in August of 2024 to fulfill two funding requests last year, $218,000 for revenue replacement and $384,800 for a new ambulance. This year’s money will be used for a power lift for the town ambulance crew and an emergency generator for the Council on Aging.

            Selectman Paul Ciaburri thank the Plymouth County Commission for its help with the town applications. “With all the help you gave us you made it easy.” “This was a good way to chop down our list of needs,” Chair Adam Murphy added. “Thank you.”

            Next, the board reviewed but would not immediately agree to a request from the developer of the plan to construct a new Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School to waive a portion of the building fees that will be required. Chad Crittenden and Walter Hartley of PMA Consultants pointed out that the recent Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational-Technical High School construction project received such waivers from district member towns. They said the next budget meeting on the project will be on September 3 at Old Colony. Their request for permit waivers was in anticipation of that meeting. Permit waivers would keep the overall cost of the project down.

            The Select Board tabled a decision, saying they need the input of Town Counsil first. “We have to represent and protect our residents first,” Member Brad Morse said. Old Colony Superintendent Aaron Polansky elaborated that interested officials from relevant departments of all the member towns are invited to attend the September 3 meeting, and he will reach out to the member towns for their input as the planning process continues.

            Following this agenda item, the selectmen approved the appointment of two new, highly experienced Rochester Police Department reserve officers, Garry Turgiss and Todd Bazarewsky. Before they were sworn in by Town Clerk Marjorie Barrows, Police Chief Michael Assad announced that Turgiss is a retired Massachusetts State Trooper after 20 years of service. He has served with Yarmouth, Dennis and Rochester police departments and is a Gulf War veteran. Bazarewsky is a retired police lieutenant. His career began in 1988 with the Wareham Police Department, followed by service on the Middleboro Police Department. “It is an honor to welcome you both to Team RPD,” Assad said.

            In other action, the Select Board reviewed complaints from neighbors of 0 Walnut Plain Road who say squatters who are not the property owners of that address are residing in campers and being a neighborhood nuisance. Abutter Mike Reed said this has been an on-going problem for over 20 years and police and town inspectors have not been effective in helping them. Durant said the main complication is that the town does not know who the owner is. Murphy said the town is taking steps through the court system to resolve the issue. He advised the abutters to lodge formal complaints that town police and inspectors can follow-up on.

            The board approved New England Rodeo’s request to extend its season at 65 Pine St. into the first and third Saturdays of October. The board gave Town Administrator Cameron Durant the go-ahead to draft the extension language into the town’s agreement with the rodeo organization. Durant encouraged the move, saying the rodeos have been “am overwhelming success. No concerns with safety. Police and fire chiefs report no problems.”

            The board approved the CRW Cranberry Century Club Cycling event’s route through town on October 12.

            The board approved a request to close town hall at 11:00 am on September 12 for the Employee Appreciation Luncheon.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2 at 6:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Select Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

Michael “Mike” Vining

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Michael “Mike” Vining passed away on July 21, 2025, at Tobey Hospital in Wareham after a short and courageous battle with cancer. He was 58 years old.

            Mike will be remembered for his unwavering positive attitude, his warm heart, and his deep love for family, friends, and the simple joys of life. He was a devoted son, a caring husband, and a loyal friend to many.

            Born and raised in Massachusetts, Mike graduated from Old Colony Regional Technical High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth. He worked alongside his father for many years at The Vining Press and most recently was employed as the Graphic Production Specialist for Bristol County at The Bristol County Print Shop.

            Mike had a deep love for the outdoors — he found peace in hiking and snowshoeing, and could often be found exploring local trails, no matter the season. A passionate sports fan, he faithfully followed the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Bruins, cheering them on through every season. He had a lifelong affection for animals, and those who knew him best remember how gently and lovingly he treated every creature he encountered. As a young adult, one of his proudest passions was his 1975 Pontiac Ventura Sprint a car he cherished and talked about with a smile for years.

            Mike is survived by his loving parents, Bill and Ginny Vining, and his wife, Stephanie Vining. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

            A private service will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mike’s memory to an animal shelter or cancer foundation.

            Arrangements are by the Fairhaven Funeral Home, 117 Main Street, Fairhaven. For memorial register please visit, www.hathawayfunerals.com.