Mattapoisett Congregational Church Yard Sale

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On Saturday, September 9 from 9 am to 1 pm, the Mattapoisett Congregational Church will once again host their annual yard sale in Reynard Hall, rain or shine.

            Lots of great items will be available, including small antiques, collectibles, home furnishings, housewares, sports equipment, books, small furniture, toys and games as well as new handmade crafts, baked goods and so many more treasures. Cash and checks accepted.

            All proceeds will benefit the ministries of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church.

Rochester Women’s Club

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The first meeting for the 2023-2024 season of the Rochester Women’s Club will be held on Wednesday September 13 at 6:30 pm. The Rochester Women’s Club is located at 37 Marion Road in Rochester.

            The mission of this club is support our objective of promoting civic, educational, intellectual and social interest among our members and in our community, as well as to seek out other areas in need of support.

            We have an excited community of dedicated ladies that work very hard to support our clubhouse and our community.

            Women from all towns are invited to join our club, or just stop by on a meeting night for a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Being a resident of Rochester is not a requirement.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

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The 139th Summer Season at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church concludes on Sunday, September 3. The Rev. Jeffrey Paull Cave, Retired Diocese of Atlanta, GA will conduct services at 8:00 am and 10:00 am using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

            Then at 4:00 pm, the Rev. Cave and the Rev. Benjamin Straley, Rector St. Stephen’s Church, Providence, RI will lead the congregation in an old-fashioned Hymn Sing. Hymns are introduced along with their history and background, and requests for favorites are encouraged. The Rev. Straley, prior to becoming a clergyman, was the organist and choirmaster at The National Cathedral, Washington, DC.

            Three priests will be honored at the Hymn Sing for their 40 years each of service to St. Philip’s: the Rev. Cave, the Rev. Robert Malm, and the Rev. Philip Jacobs. A reception follows the Hymn Sing in the side yard. All are welcome to St. Philip’s located at 34 Water Street, next to the Mattapoisett Town Beach.

MATTREC New Fall Offerings

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Mattapoisett Recreation has added new fall offerings as many programs have filled. We now have Podcast Club at Old Hammondtown School on Mondays and Girls Free Basketball Clinics on Wednesday evenings. We also have spots available in Running/Track Clubs, Flag Football. Youth and Adult Pickleball, Finger Knitting and Robotics. Sign up online today at www.mattrec.net.

A Harvest of Local Art

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            The diversity of local talent able to produce outstanding works of art in a vast variety of mediums is, in a word, stunning. That reality was on full display at the Rochester Council on Aging, as the members held their first Beachside Art Show on August 24.

            Although not a juried exhibit, attendees could vote for their favorite art with three winners announced at the closing of the event. Not only did the artists come out in numbers, the types of artwork spanned fine art to crafts, all executed to perfection.

            We were stopped in our tracks by the precision work displayed in wooden pieces crafted by Bob Francis, a carpenter most of his life, he shared, with finish carpentry being his foray. Francis exhibited a serving tray, a serving bowl and a vase, demonstrating the exactitude needed in wood selection and placement to achieve three-dimensional patterns. His entry came in third place.

            Bee Bettencourt brought her appliqued quilt. A snow-white field with appliqued quilt stitching over which she patterned a sea of florals. She said it took her two years to complete the enormous quilt and that she had two others in various stages of construction. A labor of love indeed. Bettencourt was awarded second place.

            Lynette Torres is a graduate of Vesper George School of Art in Boston. Her still life of a wreath demonstrates her highly honed talent for realistic depiction. She commented in her artist statement that she enjoys working in pen and ink as well as pastel and watercolor. Now that her family is grown, she can fully immerse her energy into what she loves – creating art. Torres tied for first place with Betty Beaulieu.

            Beaulieu has been painting “representational” style works of art for many years, primarily in that unforgiving medium of watercolor. Her stated themes are Rochester’s countryside, pastural spaces, homes and barns and images with historical reference to the community.

            The festive, evening event was well attended and fun with decorations featuring a beach theme, and there were plenty of hors d’oeuvres and beverages, primarily of the tame type.

            Other artists present and happy to discuss their individual artistic pursuits were Jane Egan – she’ll be noted again in this article – Helen Johnson, Doreen Grover, Betty Devincent, Bunny Mogilnicki, Jeri Howland, Wayne Therrien, Millie Morrison, Barbara Allen, Julia Victorino, Sheila Martin, Janet Smith-Flaherty, David Morrison and Theresa Laspesa.

            And yet there was still more ripe art to harvest!

            Over at the Marion Council on Aging, a show titled Three Friends was simply gorgeous (closing as of August 30.) This show featured the creative work done by long time friends and artists Jane (Fitzgerald) Egan (who seems to have been everywhere this season), Charles “Chas” Wood and Jennifer Cipriano.

            Wood brought out his whimsical carousel horses, owl and landscape works. Of the carousel horses, he said he has traveled around the northeast taking photographs of carousel horses and giving them a life of their own. The paintings included horses once spinning, young and old alike at Lincoln Park.

            Cipriano, who has been friends with Egan for some 40 years, said that today painting gives her a meditative outlet, that when she is painting everything else going on in her life melts away, and she is free to create. Beauty we might add is the byproduct.

            As for Egan, her beachside pastels speak to the variety of inspirational scenes that ignite her imagination. Although not really part of her exhibited pieces, we found her orangutan delightful in its realism and playful appeal.

            Want to stay tuned for more arts and crafts? Follow local councils of aging on Facebook or read their newsletters. Better yet, just pop in and find out what’s going on. There’s always something that can bring a bit of joy into your life.

By Marilou Newell

Variance Request Continued

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            Rochester’s Zoning Board of Appeals still hasn’t changed its mind about a requested variance of the town’s 40-foot minimum setback requirement for an existing pool shed at 2 Bishop Road that it had previously cast doubts about approving. On August 24, the board ended up repeating the same message, leading to a further continuance to September 28.

            Consulting engineer John Romanelli had said at the previous ZBA meeting that the 12×16-foot shed at 2 Bishop Street is less than 40 feet from 0 Bishop Street because he made a mathematical error when drawing the lot lines. Now the owner of 0 Bishop, Mark Wilson, wants to sell his vacant lot and needs his parcel to be a legally conforming size. But the pool shed owned by his client, Logan Smith, 2 Bishop Road, is massive, filled with electrical and plumbing infrastructure and would be difficult to move to make the lots conform.

            On August 24, Romanelli proposed as a solution moving the lot lines of 2 Bishop Road by 10.1 feet to make the lot less nonconforming. He speculated that he would have to gain Planning Board approval first if that is the solution the Zoning panel would endorse.

            Board members replied they were not ready to endorse anything. ZBA Chairman David Arancio said the problem remains that it is a self-created hardship and that the board would find it hard to grant a variance for such a case.

            ZBA member Richard Cutler asked if anything on the 2 Bishop Street lot besides the pool infrastructure would prevent the property owner from moving the shed from its current location. The property owner’s wife, Rebecca Smith, said the shed is on a concrete slab that covers underground plumbing for the pool. “It would be extremely difficult and inconvenient to move it,” she said.

            Cutler explained that to qualify for a variance, there would have to be something on the lot that would help or hinder a plan from happening. Board member Jeffrey Costa said he has sympathy for the petitioners, but the analytical side of him tells him something different. “It’s not my problem,” he said. “It’s self-created. I can’t vote on (a lot-line problem) that doesn’t exist yet.”

            Board member Thomas Flynn put it more bluntly. “State law is harsh toward granting a variance if you caused the problem yourself,” he said.

            Romanelli then requested the continuance, and the board granted it unanimously.

            Earlier on the agenda, Arancio noted it appears Town Planner Nancy Durfee’s recent proposal to create an informal bylaw review study group will not happen, according to input from Town Counsel. As a result, the ZBA agreed to form its own bylaw review subcommittee.

            Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson then described starting the type of bylaw study work that Durfee had wanted to see her own proposed group take on. Johnson said he, Building Commissioner Paul Boucher and Durfee have already begun discussion on Zoning Bylaw revisions regarding “in-law accessory apartments” and “back-lot development” regulations. He said he will share these revisions with the Zoning panel as the new subcommittee begins its bylaw review work. He noted all the town boards need to work together on such an important undertaking. “And keep the flow of information going,” he said.

            The Zoning panel agreed to form the subcommittee when all board members are present on September 28.

            The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals’ next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 28, starting at 7:15 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals

By Michael J. DeCicco

Scott D. Gauvin

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Scott D. Gauvin, 55, of Rochester passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 30th 2023, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Janet M. (Plaud) Gauvin.

            Born in New Bedford, the son of Bernard and Nancy (Hawes) Gauvin, Scott grew up in Mattapoisett having graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School in 1986. Scott moved to Rochester in 1994, where he raised his family and remained for the duration of his life. Scott retired from the Town of Mattapoisett Water Department after more than 20 years of service. His hard work, dedication, humor and all-around good spirit brought smiles to his hometown extended family. Scott truly enjoyed making others laugh and will be remembered for always having a joke to tell. He will also be remembered for having a huge heart and genuine desire to help others.

            Scott enjoyed spending time with his family and was happiest when outdoors or working with his son in the garage. He was a skilled mechanic and could often fix things that no one else could. Scott was a devoted listener to Sunday Mornings Over Easy and Acoustic Sunrise. Many Sunday mornings were spent with his wife drinking coffee while listening to his old school twelve-speaker stereo system and looking out over his backyard as deer, woodchucks, turkeys, and an occasional coyote passed by. Scott also enjoyed taking his family for rides on his tricked-out golf cart as well as riding his scooter “around town” and into Mattapoisett with his wife. He was most proud of his John Deere tractor and how fast it could mow his lawn and out run his neighbors. Time spent with his three grandchildren provided him great joy, always bringing a smile to his face.

            Survivors include his wife of 33 years; his daughter, Chelsey Frey and her husband Marc of New Bedford and their two children Mia and Leo; his son, Brett Gauvin and his wife April of Mattapoisett and their daughter Charlotte; his parents; his brother, Mark Gauvin and his wife Kathy of Mattapoisett; his sister, Joann Price and her husband Jim of Mattapoisett; brother-in-law, Steve Calise of Mattapoisett; mother-in-law Joan Plaud of Rochester; brother-in-law, Stephen Plaud and his wife Susan of Tiverton; brother-in-law, Howard Plaud and his wife Linda of Rochester; sister-in-law, Vanessa Martins and her husband Joe of Rochester; sister-in-law, Paris Worthington and her husband Kevin of Acushnet; sister-in-law, Jennifer Viera and her husband Kenny of Rochester; brother-in-law, Lawrence Plaud and his wife Lydia of Fall River; dear cousin, Lorry Barry Wolski and her husband Pete of Mattapoisett; along with many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

            Scott was predeceased by his beautiful sister Colleen Calise.

            His wake will be held at Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals on Monday September 4th, 2023 from 2PM-7PM. His Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 5th, at 10AM at St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett. Please meet directly at church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, otherwise known as ASPCA www.aspca.org. Scott had a true love of animals, especially elephants, and would be so happy to know. 

            For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com. 

Upcoming Programs at the MNHM

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On Saturday September 9 at 10:00 there will be a Butterfly Walk with the Marion Natural History Museum. Andrew Griffith of the Massachusetts Butterfly Association will be leading a walk at Nasketucket State Park in Mattapoisett. We will be looking for local butterflies and moths while examining their habitat requirements. Let’s have some fun looking for our late summer residents. We will be meeting at the park and please plan to wear appropriate clothing for walking through vegetation. Event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at www.marionmuseum.org.

            On Friday September 29 at 3:30 pm the Afterschool Program with the Marion Natural History Museum will take a tour into the history of Marion’s Bird Island Lighthouse. Let’s learn a little about the history of the Bird Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse lamps were first lit in September 1819, and the structure has had quite a history since then. Its history includes multiple devastating storms, a ghost story involving the first lighthouse keeper and the long list of previous owners before the Town of Marion purchased the island in 1966. The lighthouse is maintained by the Marion Harbormaster’s office, who will be providing entrance to the structure and hosting the tour. Time is 3:30 to 4:30 and drop off and pickup will be at the Harbormaster’s office at Island Wharf. Sippican School children may request the museum’s staff to retrieve your child at 3:00 and walk them down the Island Wharf. Please register for this program at www.marionmuseum.org.

Fall into These Fun Events at Plumb Library

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On Wednesday, September 13 at 3:00 pm, come listen to a presentation on mosquitos by Erin Morrill, Community Liaison for the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project. Learn about the life cycle of a mosquito, services provided by the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project to the Community, and using effective repellents along with eliminating stagnant water and disease risk.

            The Savers Truck will be at Plumb Library on Friday, September 22 from 2:00-6:00 pm and Saturday, September 23 from 8:30-10:30 am to pick up donated clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, handbags and linens. Please use standard kitchen-size bags only. Every pound of items collected earns money for the Friends of Plumb Library.

            The Friends of Plumb Library will be holding a 2-day book sale in the library’s program space downstairs on Friday, September 29 from 10:30 am-4:00 pm and Saturday, September 30 from 10:30 am-1:30 pm. We will accept donations for the sale starting the first week of September.

            The scrambled word is back. A new word is available at the start of each week. Stop by each week in September to find the hidden little yellow school bus inside of the library. The bus will drive to a different hiding spot each Monday and park there for the week. Quietly tell a librarian where it is to win a small prize.

            We will be closed Monday, September 4 for Labor Day. For more information, please follow us on Facebook, email us at info@plumblibrary.com, or call the library at 508-763-8600.

Historical Home Gains New Resident

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            Henry Huttleston Rogers and Mark Twain were good friends and kindred spirits in many ways. They both were fond of theater, poker, billiards, practical jokes, the good-natured spoof, literature and architecture.

            Mr. Rogers was a very successful American industrialist and financier. He made his fortune in the oil-refining business, becoming a leader at Standard Oil. He also played a major role in numerous corporations and business enterprises in the gas industry, railroads and copper.

            When the United Memorial Church was being built in Fairhaven, Mr. Twain told Mr. Rogers, “This church will attract hundreds of sightseers. There ought to be a place they can stay.”

            Mr. Rogers agreed and built the Elizabethan-style inn, just two blocks away from the church. While the inn was being built, the initials “T.I.” were carved in a stone shield over the entrance to the front door. After the inn was finished being built, Mr. Rogers reveled in what the mysterious letters meant. The new inn would be named “Tabitha Inn” in memory of his beloved, great-grandmother, Tabitha Crowell.

            Unlike the grammar school, town hall, masonic building, Unitarian Memorial Church and other buildings, the Tabitha Inn was not a gift to the town. Instead, Mr. Rogers leased the building to Mrs. Catherine Price of Cambridge. She rented out the lovely rooms to tourists and Fairhaven teachers who came from out of town.

            During World War II, the Navy took over the inn, and the Coast Guard trainees who were studying at New Bedford Vocational School were stationed there for two years. The Tabitha Inn was sold to the Catholic Church in 1944. The name was changed to Our Lady’s Haven, and it became a skilled nursing and rehabilitation home for the elderly.

            I recently moved to Our Lady’s Haven. I enjoy eating in the beautiful dining room there that was used a long time ago for weddings, parties and ballroom-dancing classes for local teenagers. The stain-glass windows throughout the building are beautiful, especially in the chapel where I attend Mass every day.

            I feel very blessed to be living there, as the staff are all wonderful and knowing I am living in a building that Mr. Twain and other notable friends of Mr. Rogers also stayed. Apparently, Mr. Twain favored a room in the front corner with a beautiful fireplace.

            In my illustration of Mr. Twain and Mr. Rogers, I included Tom Sawyer as well. Although Mr. Twain was a successful author, he had great financial struggles. Mr. Rogers stood by Mr. Twain over the course of his career and gave him the financial assistance that he so desperately needed.

By George B. Emmons