Mattapoisett Republican Town Committee

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The Mattapoisett Republican Town Committee (MRTC) welcomes members, guests and community members to join us on Thursday, February 20 for Pizza & Movie Night. Socializing from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm with Pizza, cash bar, and light snacks available. At 6:30 pm the MRTC will commence the meeting to discuss upcoming town elections and the importance of supporting our candidates. At 7:00 pm we are excited to present a screening of “Am I a Racist.” The movie is a 2024 American satirical documentary comedy film starring conservative political commentator Matt Walsh. Walsh goes deep undercover in the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion exposing the grift and uncovering the absurdities through hidden social experiments. Please join us to challenge the mainstream narrative and engage in meaningful conversation. The location is at the Niemad Facility, 57 Fairhaven Rd., Mattapoisett.

            If you have any questions, contact Paul Criscuolo, Chairperson PCMattyGOP@proton.me

MAC Fiber Fusion

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The Marion Art Center is pleased to present its newest exhibition, Fiber Fusion, featuring five artists working in mixed media textile and fiber materials. Techniques include quilting, tapestry and loom weaving, collage and assemblage, surface application, design and embellishment, and more. Artists include Christine Anderson, Carol Flax, Lorraine Gentile Haynes, and Toni Newhall. The exhibit runs February 22 through March 28, with an artists’ reception on Saturday, February 22 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the MAC, located at 80 Pleasant Street, Marion.

            Christine Anderson, a weaver and fiber artist, finds the intersection of threads, both basic and centering to her life and creative work. Her work includes intricate tapestries of local landscapes and mixed media pieces. To develop an idea, she uses a fusion of materials including delicate threads, fabric, scanned images, handmade paper, and beads. The scanned images, from nature, leaves, petals from flowers, insect wings are incorporated and can be duplicated and manipulated. Her pieces make a connection to the natural world and our place in it. Combining the life cycles of insects, birds, and plants with ideas of femininity, the work explores innocence, passages of life, aging and death.

            Carol Flax moved to Cape Cod in 2013 and revived a technique of representational collage that she originally developed in her twenties. Her medium is entirely cut (reclaimed/recycled) paper. Best described as “painting with paper,” she pulls her “palette” of colors and textures from magazines, calendars, catalogs and other paper that tends to be a slightly heavier, glossy stock. She uses craft scissors to cut shapes that when applied with an archival glue stick onto a collage board backing, the layers, strongly resemble almost brush-like-strokes. Her “upcycled” artwork is inspired by favorite views from her travels, but especially the beautiful variety of landscapes, flora and fauna particular to Cape Cod.

            Lorraine Gentile Haynes has always used her hands to create craft and art, including precious metal work, collage and printmaking. In 2015 she moved to Cape Cod and it was here that her love of combining line, shape form texture, space, value and color came together in the creation of her fiber art quilts. Because her mother was a tailor and clothing designer, she spent her early years in fabric houses where she learned to love textiles, She found that her background in layering and joining done in metal work, and the layering used in printmaking techniques, influenced and translated well into her fiber arts quilt projects.

            Lisa Horton’s motto is the phrase: “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure”. To create her mixed media/collages, she most often combines castoff items and organic materials. She fabricates her pieces using various buttons and beads, threads, wire and scraps of paper, as well as other found objects. A bit of silk from an old scarf, a piece of lace from a friend’s blouse, bits and pieces of old jewelry – all find their way onto her canvas. The pieces she creates are of an abstract nature, yet each one is meant to evoke a meaning, a message or a memory.

            Toni Newhall is a fiber/mixed media artist who likes to celebrate what has traditionally been considered “women’s work” by expanding these techniques into textured pieces of art. She uses fibers in combination with a variety of materials to create two- and three-dimensional pieces. She is drawn to the idea of multiples, expressed either as a series of works or as repeat motifs in a single piece. Her inspiration often comes from nature, by observing the smaller parts of a whole and expanding on or abstracting the details of an object.

            More information on the exhibit can be found at marionartcenter.org/on-exhibit

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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My grandparents’ house on Snipatuit Rd. (one of Rochester’s older houses) was a rambling structure with an added-on addition and an upstairs with two bedrooms and several attics. When we visited on school vacations, there was often something interesting retrieved from an attic that we could play with.

            A short aside, my grandmother, Marion Hartley, taught school for many years and she was always happy to have my sister, brother and myself spend spend school vacations with her on her school vacations. I think that used to be called a “busman’s holiday”.

            Now back to the attics and their contents. I was reminded of the marionettes and stage that she had stored in one by the Punch and Judy set that is now in our current exhibit at the Rochester Historical Museum. The set pictured here is on loan from the Mattapoisett Historical Museum and has more characters than the one of my childhood. The picture shows Punch. He’s the one dressed as a jester. Then there is Judy, a clown, a crocodile, and either the doctor or the lawyer. The set we played with had Punch, Judy, a baby and maybe a policeman. To be honest, I found both Punch and Judy to be kind of creepy.

            Punch and Judy go way back, but puppet shows go back even further. Herodotus, a Greek historian, wrote about figures operated by strings (marionettes) as far back as the 5th century B.C. Another Greek historian, Xenophon of Athens, mentions a traveling puppet show. In Italy, theaters as early as the 16th century, had puppet shows that used comedy to make fun of authority figures and life’s injustices.

            Punch and Judy appeared in England for the first time in 1662. After years of Puritan control, Britain was primed for the puppet show’s outrageous comedy. A traditional Punch and Judy show had Mr. Punch and his wife Judy in a series of scenes where the two interacted, often ending with someone the victim of a “slapstick”. These shows became a staple of English seaside entertainment.

            By the end of the 18th century, Mr. Punch and his sidekicks had arrived in the British American colonies where they were very popular. One fan was George Washington who was known to have purchased tickets.

            The puppet shows were put on by one puppeteer hidden by the stage. Punch had a very distinctive squawking voice. The puppeteer would get this tone by wearing a “swazle” in his mouth. A typical show might have Judy asking Punch to babysit while she left to shop. In the oldest days, Punch would do evil things to the baby like beating it with a stick or putting it in a sausage-making machine. As time passed, he dropped those behaviors, but Judy would come back to find him sitting on the baby (baby sitting). She would then go get a stick and the two would do battle. Other characters also fell victim to the stick, including the Constable, Joey the Clown and during WWII, a Hitler puppet. When Punch tried to do battle with the Crocodile, he usually lost.

            By the late Victorian era, the shows which had been adult entertainment became children’s entertainment while continuing to let Mr. Punch bully and beat on other characters. This always made him happy, and he would be “pleased as punch.” The marionettes also gave way to gloved puppets which made the shows cheaper to mount and to transport.

            Punch and Judy, who do not seem to be ready for today’s prime time, have appeared as henchmen of Batman’s enemy, the Joker, both on TV and in the comics. In 2024, at a major London festival, a modern version of a Punch and Judy show debuted. I found no info on what that show was like or what characters were added, but I’m sure the baby was better treated.

By Connie Eshbach

Discover MLT Preserves during February StayCation

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No need to travel far and away this February school vacation. The Mattapoisett Land Trust has many activities and events to keep you busy on your StayCation. We have over 10 miles of trails and 900 acres of protected open space here in our town – go explore your backyard.

            You may want to take a walk through one of our properties and read a story: visit Dunseith Gardens, Munro Park, or Grace Pond Preserve to enjoy a Storywalk, which will be up all month. If your children are explorers, go wander at Tub Mill or Dunseith for a scavenger hunt, discovering the wintertime treasures in nature. Or pick up a Trail Passport book at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library children’s section (just ask a librarian) to hunt for stamp stations located along some of our trails. Complete all 11 stamps and win a gift certificate for a summertime treat at Oxford Creamery.

            On Wednesday February 19 at 11:00 am join us at the Munn Preserve for “Tracks and Traces”, a walk led by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Finishing out the week, at 11:00 am on Saturday February 22, please join us as we honor Black History month hosting a reception with Tri-Town Against Racism at Munro Park. Bring the kids to follow the Storywalk to read, “There was a Party for Langston” celebrating the brilliant writer Langston Hughes and finish with some light refreshments. To find these StayCation Activities, visit the Mattapoisett Land Trust website mattlandtrust.org and explore the Family Activities link. Check out our events calendar as well. Look for our StayCation Banner hanging on the corner of North St. and Route 6 at Dunseith Gardens.

Matthew J. Higgins

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Matthew J. Higgins, 56, died unexpectedly on January 24, 2025 at his home in Pacifica California.

            He was predeceased by his parents, Helen R. Higgins and Leonard C. Higgins.

            Survivors include his brother James Higgins, his wife Kristen and their children Emma, Jillian, Lauren and John. His brother Daniel, his wife Rachael and their children Anna, Joseph and Helen. He was also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of the family.

            Matt was raised in Mattapoisett and graduated from Bishop Stang High School in 1986. After graduating he spent some time in the Army National Guard and as a student at Southeastern Massachusetts University. He eventually relocated to California in the early 90s where he worked for The North Face and The San Francisco Bay Authority.

            Matt loved music and played the saxophone and the drums. He loved the Grateful Dead and saw them in concert many times. He was an avid camper and he loved the outdoors. Though he lived most of his life in California, he still rooted for the Boston teams, especially the Red Sox and the Patriots.

            His funeral services will be private. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Lorraine F. (Souza) Grant

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Lorraine F. (Souza) Grant, 85, of Fairhaven, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, February 7, 2025. She was the wife of the late Kenneth Grant.

            Born in New Bedford, daughter of the late Antone and Rose (Francis) Souza, she lived in Fairhaven most of her life before retiring to Dartmouth.

            Lorraine was a loving mother to her children. She enjoyed shopping with her daughters and socializing with others. She loved spending time with her companion Andy.

            Survivors include her companion Andrew Hubbard of Dartmouth; her children, Edward Fleurent and his partner Catherine Burton of Fairhaven, Carolyn A. Fleurent and her partner Gregory Wood of Fairhaven, and David Fleurent and his wife Kim of Rochester; her son in law Dennis Denison; 6 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and her former husband Leonard G. Fleurent.

            She is predeceased by her daughter, Jane Denison; her son, Leonard “Butch” Fleurent; and her brothers, Edward and Kenneth.

            According to her wishes a private family service and burial will be held. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com

Avian Flu and Oil Spill

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            The Marion Board of Health met Thursday, February 6 to go over various updates including a Public Health Director update.

            The meeting began with an overview of the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project for 2024. Data from the project in Marion showed the following:

            -366 spray requests, up from 324 the previous year.

            -17 still water treatment requests (to evaluate water for larvae).

            -292 larvae site inspections.

            -658 storm drains treated.

            -2,245 feet of drainage ditches cleaned.

Chair John B. Howard MD stated the project is “very responsive to resident’s requests.”

            Talk then moved to the recent oil spill at Tabor Academy’s Lillard Hall. The spill saw a leak of greater than 10 gallons. The chair said the spill was likely caused by an underground tank the school “didn’t even know they had.” Thermal scanning attempted to pinpoint the location of the tank but was unsuccessful due to the cement and rebar infrastructure surrounding the structure. The exact location of the tank is still unknown. Plans are currently in place to break in through the floor during the school’s March break and both locate and remove the tank. It was concluded that the tank was buried decades ago, likely before the current building was constructed on top of it.

            The board said the health risk of the spill remains minimal, though the area is continually monitored. They also confirmed no oil had leaked into the harbor. Residents are urged to report any odors or other concerns to local authorities.

            Talks then moved to more routine matters, including the re-plumbing proposed for 15 West Avenue on Planting Island. The property currently has a three-bedroom septic system though after renovations, the property may require an upgrade to this. Pushback from an abutter emerged when it was questioned whether or not the current owner would be moving in due to the property being rented out shortly after being bought. The owner said the house was rented awaiting work being done on the property. The owner assured her neighbor and the board they were not planning on renting the property and that the owners’ kids were registered to start school in the Tri-town in the fall.

            Next, a vaccine/disease update was given. There is currently a seasonal oral rabies vaccine baited around the area due to concerns from animals testing positive. In terms of Avian Influenza, there have been a few geese and duck euthanized in the town due to fears of their infection. It was warned to keep cats and dogs away from geese and on a leash. There has also been an increase in the last few weeks in Influenza A cases couples with flu vaccine rates having declines in recent years to 37.6% vaccinated. Increases in Norovirus in schools were also detected.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health will be in the Town House conference room Thursday, February 20 at 4:30 pm.

Marion Board of Health

By Sam Bishop

Open Meeting Law

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Dear Editor:

            In the February 6, 2025, edition of The Wanderer, the article “Aquifer Protection and Short-Term Rentals” stated that the Office of the Attorney General found no wrongdoing or violations of the Commonwealth’s Open Meeting Law (OML). That determination ineffectively addressed the profound concern raised by a board member.

            The component triggering the OML violation complaint was the Board Chairman’s independent decision to remove the Town Planner’s assertions that ” We provided you with the people (experts) to run this up against, (to) ask the hard questions [about the MS4 bylaw]. I don’t know what more we could do.” Mr. Guey-Lee warned Board members against creating their versions of a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) bylaw, as “it could be a waste of effort if the state deems it insufficient, lacking the experience of other towns like West Bridgewater.” More importantly, the Board rejected the meritorious MS4 bylaw drafted and presented to the Board by DPW engineer Meghan Davis.

            The Office of the Attorney General said, “We find the content of the revised language is substantially similar to the complainant’s draft, and in fact includes additional detail regarding the matters discussed…” The important issue is not the “additional detail.” It is the quality of the overall information, that is, the erasure of Mr. Guey-Lee’s statement and its replacement with the negligible value of the Chair’s “additional detail.”

            When board members attend meetings seemingly unprepared and lack knowledge, insight, and understanding of the topics discussed, their joint venture of “winging it” can be detrimental to the Town, and that is what happened, I believe, with the rejection of the MS4 bylaw drafted and presented to the Board by DPW engineer Meghan Davis.

            Sincerely,

Eileen J. Marum

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.

Blanche B. Perry Scholarship

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The Mattapoisett Land Trust is seeking applicants for its $1000 Blanche B. Perry Scholarship. This award is available to a Mattapoisett resident graduating from Old Rochester Regional High School, Bishop Stang High School, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, or Tabor Academy by June 2025, and pursuing education in the sciences and/or environmental studies or a related field.

            The scholarship is made available through the Edith Glick Shoolman Fund, a bequest left to provide support for children in the community.

            Application forms are available in the guidance offices of participating schools listed above and at the Mattapoisett Land Trust website: mattlandtrust.org/education/grants-and-scholarships/

            The deadline for submitting the complete application and accompanying materials is April 21. The recipient will be notified by mail by May 14.

            The actual award will be disbursed after the student submits an official college transcript

documenting a successful completion of the first semester in college to the Mattapoisett Land Trust.

Doris Eleanor (Taber) Grant

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            Doris Eleanor (Taber) Grant, 93, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2025 at her home in Marion, MA, surrounded by all three of her children. Doris was born in New Bedford to Lloyd and Helen (Hathaway) Taber on April 8, 1931. She and her husband Robert “Bob” Grant raised their family in Peabody, MA, before returning to the South Coast for their retirement in Marion.

            Doris received her undergraduate degree from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College. While living in Boston during her college years, she met her lifelong friend Pauline Schiel and the two traveled across the U.S. and Canada — shaping her independent spirit and desire for adventure and travel.

            Doris began her career as a high school librarian at Silver Lake Regional High School in Pembroke, MA, where she met her husband. She then spent a few years at Melrose High School before settling into her role as lead librarian at Marblehead High School, where she spent the duration of her career. In 1968, Doris, with her husband and young family, chaperoned a group of students living a year abroad in Barcelona, Spain. She was a no-nonsense, but compassionate, guide to many students over the course of her 40-year career.

            Doris lived a life full of love and dedication to her family. She and Bob cherished their children and grandchildren and never missed a family milestone, often traveling between Massachusetts and Montana to celebrate events. Family values and traditions were important to Doris and now become her legacy as her family continues those traditions.

            Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Robert T. Grant, and her brother, Donald E. Taber.

            She is survived by her children, Steven (Karen) Grant of Marion, MA, David (Kiyomi) Grant of Livingston, MT, and Laurie (Tom) Hurley of Mattapoisett, MA. She is also survived by her sister, Ruth (Jim) Taber Bohannon of Needham, MA; nieces, Beth (James) Lee of Dublin, Ireland, and Julie Bohannon of Port Charlotte, FL; and nephew Jay (Kim) Bohannon of Norwich NY. She is further survived by her grandchildren, Katharine T. Grant of Dedham, MA, Ian H. and Kai T. Grant of Bozeman, MT, and Mia H. and Chloe M. Hurley of Mattapoisett, MA, and her great nieces and nephew, Tricia, Ronan, and Saoirse.

            Doris will forever be in our hearts and her memory will continue to be a guiding light for her family and friends.

            A private family memorial service was held at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals on Wednesday February 12th. Doris was laid to rest next to her late husband in the Evergreen Cemetery in Marion. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.