Unplugged: Matt Richard & Dino Govoni

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The Marion Art Center is pleased to present our second Unplugged event of the year, featuring Matt Richard & Dino Govoni on June 6 playing two sets. This is saxophonist Dino Govoni’s first time playing an Unplugged gig at the MAC.

            Seating times for the popular show are 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm and 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The cost for members is $15 and for non-members is $20. The MAC is located at 80 Pleasant St. in Marion. Tickets can be purchased at marionartcenter.org/events

            Dino Govoni learned from two of Boston’s tenor saxophone greats, Jerry Bergonzi and George Garzone, and furthered his studies by attending Berklee College of Music, studying with the late great Joe Viola.

            Dino has played and/or recording with such diverse artists as Grover Washington, Jr., Randy Brecker, Nick Brignola, Claudio Roditi, Queen Latifah, Ben Folds, Melinda Doolittle, Terence Trent D’Arby, Robben Ford, Mel Tormé, the Manhattan Transfer, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Frankie Valli, among others. Dino is a regular guest soloist with the Boston Pops.

            May of 2000 saw Govoni participating in Arista Records’ star-studded 25th anniversary concert, playing with Aretha Franklin in New York City.

            Dino has released 3 solo projects on the Whaling City Sound label, “Breakin’ Out” and “In The Library” and his newest solo project, “Hiding In Plain Sight”, featuring the great Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums, Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Henry Hey on piano and Mike Pope on bass.

            In 2016, ”Chance Meeting”, a collaboration of friends as the makeup of the band eventually called “A.G.N.Z”, the first letters of each player’s last names, featuring drum great Adam Nussbaum, guitarist Jay Azzolina and bassist Dave Zinno, was released, also on the Whaling City Sound label.

Dino is currently on the faculty at Berklee College of Music.

            Matt Richard studied classical piano with Ken Manzer and jazz piano with Dr. Billy Taylor. Workshops and performance master classes included jazz legends Max Roach, Marian McPartland, and Michael Brecker. A native of Fairhaven and a graduate of Westfield State College with a degree in piano performance, Matt taught choral music at Fairhaven High School and at Tabor Academy. Matt was a vocal coach and accompanist for the nationally recognized Jazz In July Workshops at UMASS, Amherst from 1985-2006.

            Matt has performed throughout the New England area for the past thirty years as a soloist, an accompanist, and with many different ensembles including jazz vocal legend Sheila Jordan and Dick Johnson and The Artie Shaw Orchestra.

            Matt played solo piano at The Roadhouse Cafe in Hyannis, Massachusetts from 1997-2008 as well as joining with Lou Colombo and Dick Johnson on the famous Monday Night Jazz Series from 2002-2008.

            Self-produced jazz recordings have included; Hawthorne Street Connection, The Art of the Duo (Jim Robitaille), Talking To Myself (solo piano), OFF SEASON (Gary Johnson and bassist Dave Zinno). In The Sky (Rick Britto), The Jazz Club (Greg Conway and Gerry Wilfong) and All The Colors (Chris Poudrier and Dave Zinno). In 2004, Matt also played a supporting role on Jim Robitaille’s CD, To Music, which features saxophonist Dave Liebman.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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In an earlier article I mentioned that my grandmother, Marion Hartley, taught for almost 50 years in Rochester and surrounding towns. When she started teaching, Rochester had many one room schoolhouses and at one time she taught grades 1-8 at a school in North Rochester (I think the Stuart School). Some of the other schools that she taught at were the Pierceville School, upstairs in the Academy, the Waterman School (she’s here in the picture with her class at the Waterman School in 1944), and at Rochester Memorial.

            Grandma also worked as a music teacher and did a stint as principal of the Long Plain School (now a museum) in Acushnet. She always said that she liked teaching first grade best because she got the children before they had a chance to develop too many dislikes of school. I always thought that at 4 ft. 11 in., she knew that with first graders she would be the tallest person in the room.

            Grandma did a lot of substitute teaching in later years and almost any classroom in Rochester contained one child or more to whom she was related. When she was a substitute teacher, the first thing she would do on entering the classroom was to write her name on the blackboard. However, in one instance, she was called in late, arrived with the children and didn’t have a chance to put her name on the board.

            In the class, there were quite a few nieces and nephews, and the day went smoothly as most of her teaching days did. A mother of one of the students told her that her son (not a Hartley relative) came home from school and said that “school had been wonderful”. When she asked why, he said, “because Aunt Marion was our teacher”.

            When I first joined the Historical Society and Betty Beaulieu would introduce me to people, she would always say that I was Mrs. Hartley’s granddaughter. In just about every instance the response would be, “Oh, she was my favorite teacher”.

            One day a woman stopped me at Plumb Corner. She said that she had to tell me a story. As a first grader she found her teacher pretty terrifying and mean and she dreaded school. Partway through the year, the teacher left, and my grandmother came in to teach the class for the rest of the year. She went on to say that Mrs. Hartley was like an angel from heaven and saved her life.

            I felt lucky to hear her story and impressed at how strongly she felt so many years later. Toward the end of my teaching career there was an ongoing debate as to whether teaching was an art or a science. There was a move to develop teachers based on scientific principes. I’ve always believed that good teaching is an art, and I think my grandmother proved my point.

By Connie Eshbach

Hoagland Elected to Select Board in Big Lead

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Marion held its annual town election on Friday, May 16, with early and mail-in voting also taking place leading up to the final tally. During a long day of voting, candidates gathered at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center off Route 6 to hold signs and do some last-minute campaigning to win over undecided voters. Cynthia Callow held campaign signs with her mother. John Hoagland and company held signs nearby to Sean Sweeney and family. George “TJ” Walker held a sign in support of his Citizen’s Petition, Article 51 of the Town Meeting Warrant while supporting Question 2 on the election ballot, both pertaining to road and sidewalk maintenance.

            The candidates all stressed their eagerness to get to work following the vote, and all stated varying levels of confidence. Hoagland made comments about the weather and their appreciating for being outside, with Hoagland saying “It’s a lovely day. Nice weather for this. We have some extremely friendly people.” Hoagland boasted excitedly at his social media strategy’s success, “Have you seen the videos? – there was the one of me driving on Front Street, 17,000 views!” he exclaimed. He then added, “The one with the Sherman Briggs outhouse, 16,000 views.” He then talked of his most recent video, being posted the day prior and garnering 3,000 views in a single day.

            Later, referring to the cars still coming in to vote, he touched on his surprise to the number of EVs present, saying “I was amazed at the number of electric cars. I was amazed by that.” He also told The Wanderer that his priority would be climate change and environmental-related issues. He also expressed his displeasure with certain things in town governance, such as the Citizen’s Petition to re-separate the Harbormaster and Police Departments, though stressed he would speak more on his grievances following the election. Nearing 8 o’clock, Hoagland paced anxiously, clearing wanting the results to appear in his hands.

            Callow also was delighted by the weather, and sitting with her mother, said “I’m feeling good. It was a great day and overall, the experience of running was great. It was a really good, magnificent experience for me.”

            Sean Sweeney, candidate for the open seat on the Select Board, declined to make a comment before or after the results were announced

            At 8:00 pm, voting ceased and the candidates, their families, town workers, and other members of the public made their way inside to await the results.

            Most candidates sat around a circular table to chat while they waited. Town Clerk Lissa Magauran and other staff members cycled the 945 paper ballots through a counter that printed a long receipt-like print of the results. Tallying mail-in and early voting results into these, Lissa then read the results to the crowded room that fell to silence.

            Hoagland won the hotly contested Select Board seat, with his first meeting on May 20, the Tuesday after. Cindy Callow, when asked for a comment, told The Wanderer, “Well, obviously I’m disappointed. But the town is very lucky to have beautiful people running. – I’m not going anywhere. So, I’m going to run until I get in. So, there we go. It’s been a good experience.”

Marion 2025 Annual Town Election

By Sam Bishop

Spring Flora Beckons

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Nature’s first blush has passed. Daffodils and forsythia have receded, and catkins have dropped off trees, making way for tender new leaves. The bright pastels that piqued our interest in early spring are fading away, being replaced by delicious shades of green.

            If you look at the grass and the leaves of certain deciduous trees, you will notice the special color that is unfolding. This “prima vera,” first true green in Latin, announced that summer is not far off. Along with the natural world, humans awaken at this time, making more of an effort to be outdoors.

            Spring never gets old… no matter how many times we go through the seasonal shift it is like the first time… hearing the chorus of birds and peepers announce the beginning and end of day; feeling the warm rays of the sun against bare skin and the cool green grass underfoot; smelling the heady blend of earthy aromas that punctuate the long stagnant air, seeing the kaleidoscope of green, yellow, and pink dotting the landscape.

            The simple wonders of spring bring simple pleasures. The joyful rediscovery can be found in the ordinary and even more profoundly in the unusual flowers that point the land. The parade begins in March as the snowdrops emerge, leading onward to the winsome crocus and perky daffodils coinciding with elegant tulips cascading across gardens public and private like a well-choreographed gymnastics ensemble. And the repeat performers – that come thereafter – the bleeding heart and vibrant phlox and passionate poppy add to the cavalcade that never seems to end.

            It’s an exciting time of the year for the garden-lover and for those who tend gardens, it’s the most important season, filled with tasks that always lead to more.

            Orchestrating the flowers for continuous show can take finesse, but it is worth the energy and effort to plan and map your garden. Bulbs are a good way to start. Spring isn’t really spring without them, coloring the land with vibrant strokes – sometimes planted in clusters or drifts to jumpstart a garden border or section of a yard or simply placed higgledy-piggledy into a bed designated for cutting.

            It’s exciting to grow tulips – their sheer variation in form and color lend all kinds of character to the garden – ranging from tiny fritillaria to parrot tulips with their lovely striations of color and feathered petals. Tulips are fun to grow and require a bit of imagination when planting varieties together as you can’t always predict their peaking together. Of course, planting the bulbs must be done in fall – so it behooves us to think of siting them now – on paper. It’s handy to photograph the site in question – which will inform the color and bloom time of the type you choose to grow, as well as the combination of plants installed.

            After flowering, it is advisable to snap off the seed pods and allow the green stem and leaves to die back naturally so that the bulb is nourished. Similarly, transplanting should be done with as little interruption as possible with foliage intact and as much soil adhered to the roots as possible, inserting the bulb five inches below the surface. The dying foliage is unsightly but this may be disguised by inter-planting a successor to the bed to prosper in the tulips’ wake.

            This is an important detail, for you can have an eye-popping display of tulips but once they fade, things can look desolate. For this reason be strategic in planting spring perennials so they can swathe the dying foliage. A well-placed hosta can lend cover as can a carpet of phlox or sweet woodruff – basically anything that succeeds the tulip’s bloom time can effectively disguise the rotting aftermath.

            Sometimes you realize that the real-estate mantra “location, location, location” can serve the garden industry too. Installing a whole bunch of crocus bulbs in a location that is not used in spring is a mistake. You won’t get to enjoy it. Remember too that many small bulbs will naturalize and can revive a section of garden (or lawn before the mowing ensues) before many of the perennials are up. Tiny bulbs such as scilla and pushkinia are advancing among the early foliage of lady’s mantle and the shoots of daylilies, bleeding heart and iris, who will then carry on the flowering.

            The daffodil (more accurately narcissus) immortalized by the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, is a good stand-alone flower. It looks good anywhere – “beside the lake, beneath the trees…” adding a stroke that mimics sunshine to the landscape. It’s extremely moving when grown in drifts and when found solo. But it can be used in design whether leaning across a path, against a wall, or in a wood, daffodils add radiance to the spring landscape.

            Closer to home than Wordsworth’s haunts of England’s Lake District you can enjoy a dazzling display of daffs at Parsons Reserve off Horseneck Road in Dartmouth. I did just that on a recent spring day with my friend Cecile who suggested we make it a yearly event. I had not been for more than 20 years and found many others taking in the scene of golden radiance. According to local lore, the daffodils were planted by Raymond Pettey in the 1940s to sell during WWII when the U.S. was unable to get bulbs from Holland. The war ended and the flowers remained. Be sure to put that on your calendar for next spring. It makes for a good hike and includes a vernal pool and lovely views of Destruction Brook as it trickles toward the Slocums River.

            A cutting garden is a good way to satisfy a love of whimsy. It is a place where flowers can run riot. It accepts all types and design doesn’t matter here. The color itself is what speaks and flowers are grown for a good cause: namely for displaying in a vase within your home. It’s a place for all flowers, but having one dedicated to a type of bulb is a good idea. Or extras – tulips and daffs – blooming together.

            “The flowers that bloom in the spring Tra la, Breathe promise of merry sunshine” -from The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan.

By Laura McLean

ORRHS Earns New Innovation Career Pathways Designations

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Superintendent Michael S. Nelson, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Shari Fedorowicz, Principal Michael Devoll and Assistant Principal Lauren Millette are excited to announce that Old Rochester Regional High School has been awarded an Innovation Career Pathway (ICP) designation for Business & Finance and Advanced Manufacturing (Architecture) programs from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

            DESE announced Old Rochester Regional High School’s new ICP designations during the 2025 Massachusetts STEM Summit at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, May 7. The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced new Innovation Career Pathway designations for 37 high schools, including 20 districts receiving a designated pathway for the first time.

            “We want to transform the high school experience, and expanding Innovation Career Pathways is one crucial way we are working to do just that,” said Massachusetts Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “I am excited that the program will reach nearly 30 percent of high schools across Massachusetts as we work to reimagine High School, increasing student engagement for thousands of students and creating new opportunities for them to find their own paths to successful futures.”

            ICPs are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as information technology, engineering, health care, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. They are designed to create strong partnerships with employers in order to expose students to career options and help them develop knowledge and skills related to their chosen field of study before they graduate high school.

            “We are incredibly thankful and proud to have earned the Innovation Career Pathway designation,” said Assistant Principal Millette. “This recognition affirms our commitment to providing our students with meaningful, career-connected learning experiences that prepare them for success beyond high school.”

            ICP programs give students the opportunity to participate in work-based learning in high-demand industries and also bolster workforce pipelines to meet employers’ needs.

            “Assistant Principal Lauren Millette led the effort to secure these new Innovation Career Pathway designations for Business & Finance and Advanced Manufacturing programs,” said Assistant Superintendent Fedorowicz. “Lauren led our team through an arduous, very competitive, multi-phase application process. Their hard work will pay off over the next year and greatly benefit Old Rochester’s current and future students.”

            Old Rochester Regional High School’s new ICP programs will be implemented during the 2025-26 school year. This is Old Rochester’s first ICP designation.

            “We owe our new Innovation Career Pathways designations to Assistant Principal Lauren Millette and her dedicated team,” said Superintendent Michael S. Nelson. “These new offerings at Old Rochester Regional High School will enable our educators to prepare our students for competitive careers in the region’s most rewarding and in-demand fields.”

            “Innovation Career Pathways have a positive impact for our high school students and for the future of our workforce,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “By expanding access to applied learning in fields like clean energy, life sciences, and information technology, we’re preparing young people for successful careers in some of the fastest-growing industries in our state. Our administration will keep investing in pathways that empower students to discover their passions and build a strong, equitable economy for Massachusetts.”

Historic District

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To the Editor;

            A sincere thank you to everyone who supported the Historic District bylaw and especially to all of you who attended Town Meeting and voted Yes for its enactment. The Study Committee dedicated over two years to creating a proposal sensitive to the needs of all Marion residents. I am so appreciative of their efforts. Our consultant, Eric Dray, provided invaluable insights and guidance throughout the process. The collegiality that developed amongst this team was quite remarkable and continues to reaffirm that something special almost came to pass.

            Thank you as well to the many community members who eagerly wrote letters to the local press and to those of you who stepped up and spoke at Town Meeting. Each of you presented another facet of our rationale. Thank you too to town staff, Donna, Lissa, and Geoff, for helping us implement our public information efforts. Together we presented a solid, logical case for a historic district, a preservation planning tool with a proven track record of ensuring that history and architectural character continue to play a role in a community’s vibrant and sustainable future.

            I thank you all for your best efforts.

Meg Steinberg,

Chair, Marion Historical Commission

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.

June in Bloom

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The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is pleased to announce its biennial garden tour, “June in Bloom,” for Saturday, June 28, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, rain or shine. Be inspired by unique and beautiful gardens while spending an unforgettable day with friends and nature.   For security purposes, the location of the gardens remains secret until the day of the tour.

            Tickets are available just in time for a special Mother’s Day gift. Advance tickets are $35 and available at the following Mattapoisett locations: Pen & Pendulum, Isabelle’s, Ying Dynasty, and the Town Wharf General Store. In Fairhaven, they can be purchased at Periwinkles and Gotta Have It. Marion has three locations: Always in Bloom, Fieldstones, and Eden Florist. Tickets are also available online at www.mattapoisettwomansclub.org.

            On June 28, tickets will be available at the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club tent in the parking lot next to Ying’s Dynasty on Route 6 in Mattapoisett for $40/each.

            This fundraiser directly supports the scholarships, programs, and community outreach of the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club.

            The Club is open to new members from the Southcoast area. For more information and a membership application, please visit our website at www.mattapoisettwomansclub.org.

Discover Stories from the Soldiers and Sailors Monument

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If you’ve been to Marion Village, you may have noticed the monument next to the Marion Music Hall. But do you know its stories? This Memorial Day, the Sippican Historical Society invites you to discover the life and times of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at a special pop-up exhibit hosted at the Music Hall on May 26 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

            Dedicated in 1894, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument stands as a tribute to those who answered the call during the Civil War. It is a landmark and a silent witness and reminder of bravery, sacrifice, and resilience.

            Come learn about Marion’s role in the Civil War, learn about the battles listed on the monument and view historic photographs and artifacts.

            Open during and after the parade and ceremonies at Old Wharf, this event is a can’t-miss chance to connect to Marion’s history and honor those soldiers.

            The Sippican Historical Society, founded in 1963, is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of Marion, MA. Through its museum, education, and preservation work, the Society celebrates Marion’s unique past for residents and visitors alike. For more details on the event, contact info@sippicanhistoricalsociety.org.

All Approved

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Rochester’s Annual Town Meeting held Monday passed its 25 articles, including a zoning amendment, several high-priced capital expenditures, and a Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget exceeding $27,000,000, without much of a fight.

            A quorum of 108 residents took just over an hour to approve, with no serious push back. Priorities starting with a $27,022,457 budget for the next fiscal year, which is roughly $1,000,000 over FY25 (budgeted at $26,022,613).

            Finance Committee Chair James Austin reported education is once again the town’s largest expense, with a line item of $15,300,000. He said total general, non-school government expense for FY26 is $11,700,000, an increase of $324,374 or 2.85%, and the school budget is a 4.6% increase. Nonetheless, no debate or questions from attendees preceded this approval vote.

            The next serious budgetary approval vote came with Article 9, a transfer of $364,000 from the town’s Capital Improvement Fund for needs that ranged from $125,000 for a new Highway Department roadside mower to $40,000 for audio-video enhancements at Rochester Memorial School.

            Starting a series of transfers from free cash, the highlights then included $200,000 for the Rochester Memorial School Special Education budget, another $200,000 to replace the Highway Barn roof, $25,000 to digitize paper records at the Town Hall Annex building, $150,000 for information-technology upgrades for the town, establishing a Facilities Management reserve account with $20,000, paying off the debt of the new ambulance and fire truck, $50,000 to hire consultants, and $75,000 for a matching grant fund.

            Turning to non-money articles, the meeting endorsed a new personnel bylaw military leave policy. Town employees who also serve in the armed forces will have their rights protected to not lose their seniority or pay.

            The meeting approved submitting a home-rule petition to the state that will allow Fire Chief Scott Weigel, 65, to work past his mandatory retirement age to age 70, provided he passes a yearly physical and mental exam.

            The meeting endorsed a new personnel bylaw policy that allows town employees to opt out of the town-offered health insurance plan. An employee must commit to the opt-out option for a full fiscal year.

            Lastly, again without debate or audience questions, meeting members approved a zoning change to the Cranberry Highway Smart Growth Overlay District, site of a 40R residential/mixed-use project being proposed for Cranberry Highway and County Road.

            Planning Board Chair Arnold Johnson explained before the vote that this move simply adds another parcel to this district. He said the developer of this project, Ken Steen, had asked for this change to open up financing opportunities for the project. The Planning Board had approved this project four years ago. Since then, economic conditions have made the original 208-unit plan less financially feasible, so Steen is adding townhouses to the mix. The advantage to the town is that, when the project is built, Rochester will still reach the state-mandated goal of having 10% of its housing stock affordable, Johnson said.

            Steen explained to the Town Meeting that the plan for the 32.9-acre site will now be 212 multi-family units. There will be an additional subdivision for townhouses with four more multi-family units.

Rochester Annual Town Meeting

By Michael J. DeCicco

“Secret Gardens of Marion” Tour

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The Marion Garden Group is delighted to present the 3rd biennial “Secret Gardens of Marion” tour, set to take place on Friday, June 20 from 10:00 am to 3:00pm. This walking tour offers a unique opportunity to explore 11 private gardens nestled throughout the historic village of Marion, a picturesque harbor town on the Southcoast of Massachusetts on Buzzards Bay.

            Attendees will experience a diverse array of coastal gardens, each showcasing the creativity and passion of local gardeners. From vibrant botanical displays and flourishing perennial beds to productive vegetable plots and serene ocean vistas, these hidden gems are sure to inspire and delight garden enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.

The Event is on Friday, June 20 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and will be held in Various private gardens throughout Marion. Tickets are $35 and available online at www.mariongardengroup.org, or $40 on June 19 and 20. Lunch available. Please note that the tour is not handicapped accessible.

            Additional Information: The event will proceed rain or shine. Pets are not permitted. Photography is welcome.

            The “Secret Gardens of Marion” tour not only celebrates the beauty and diversity of local gardens but also fosters community spirit. Proceeds from the event will support ongoing town beautification, community gardening initiatives and educational programs.

            The Marion Garden Group wishes to thank their sponsors and partners. These incredible sponsors make this beloved event possible.