Carl A. Correia

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Carl A. Correia, 70, of Marion, died Wednesday June 24, 2026 at Boston Medical Center after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the devoted husband of Karen J. Correia for 48 years.

            Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the son of the late Rosalie Ouellette and Arnold Correia, he lived in the greater New Bedford area until moving to Marion in 1981.

            Mr. Correia was a dedicated special education teacher for New Bedford Public Schools for 39 years, and spent most of his career at Thomas R. Rodman School until his retirement in 2016. He also enjoyed working in the Food & Nutrition Department at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, delivering dinner trays to patients until he fully retired in 2025.

            He was a hard worker, and a great man, husband, and father. He was patient, kind, and concerned about everyone he knew, and was always willing to help anyone who needed it.

            Family was very important to him, and he loved spending time with his family and his dog Olly. He enjoyed gardening, woodworking, traveling, and doing projects around the house.

            He was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Marion. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Retired State, County & Municipal Employees Association.

            Survivors include his wife, a daughter, Mikki L. Correia, and her spouse MJ Boomer, of Fortuna, CA, a son, Finnick C. Morrison, and his wife Ashley of Forestdale, MA, a sister, Bonnie L. Bowers and her spouse Darlene Robertson of Thorndike, ME, a nephew, Ryan W. Bowers of Jackson, ME, and other family members in Ohio. He was predeceased by his father, his sister, Roxanne “Rocky” D. Chartier, and his mother.

            His memorial service will be on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 3 pm in the First Congregational Church of Marion, 28 Main Street, Marion, MA. A private burial service will be held in Evergreen Cemetery. Visiting hours are omitted. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Southcoast Health Cancer Center online at https://www.southcoast.org/giving/tribute-giving or the First Congregational Church of Marion, P.O. Box 326, Marion, MA 02738. For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

The British Return; A Declaration is Signed

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This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in the Thirteen Colonies. Last week, the Secret Committee’s investigations led to numerous arrests and the thwarting of an assassination attempt on George Washignbton, the Continental Congress provided a long-awaited review of the military campaign in Canada, and 10,000 troops led by British General William Howe near New York Harbor.

            On June 28, 1776, British ships assault Fort Sullivan near Charlston, South Carolina. British General Henry Clinton and Admiral Sir Peter Parker sailed 9 ships and 2200 troops to besiege Sullivan’s Island where the American Colonel William Moultrie maintained control of a partially-constructed wooden fort, which had been hastily constructed using local palmetto logs.

            Due to poor weather and abysmal landing conditions, the battle would prove a disaster for invading forces. A frigate would be grounded, and the naval bombardment would prove useless against the damp, sponge-like soil. That, as well as the fort, meant the amphibious landing was also thwarted, leading to the wounding of 170 and death of 91 British. 12 Americans were killed, and in remembrance of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina’s flag today hosts a palmetto tree in its center, highlighting the importance of the log fort that guarded Charlton.

            The next day, the naval Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet took place off the southern coast of New Jersey. Two British ships held a blockade of Delaware Bay and thus, Philadelphia. Four ships of the Continental Navy under Commodore John Barry led an attempt to break through. The battle was hectic, and towards the end, the American brig, the Nancy, would run aground. The crew lit a fuse for the remaining powder aboard and lowered the ship’s flag. The British, believing the ship had surrendered, attempted to board the ship before a massive explosion heard for miles around the bay obliterated the ship and killed seven British. The British would move their blockade further out to sea, making this costly victory, but a victory, nonetheless.

            Also on June 29, a fateful day has arrived. Washington writes to John Hancock, noting that from a lookout on Staten Island, 45 British ships are nearing. This included General William Howe aboard the flagship the HMS Greyhound.

            On July 1, the Continental Congress convenes for lengthy discussions on American Independence from the Crown. Each and every delegate from across the Thirteen Colonies is called upon to participate. Talks end with a vote: 9 colonies vote in favor of independence, 2 against (Pennsylvania and South Carolina), 1 abstaining (New York), and 1 in deadlock, unable to arrive at a consensus (Delaware). Due to this disagreement, talks are pushed to the following day.

            The next day, discussions continue and another vote is held: 12 colonies in favor of independence, one against (New York). Congress declares the Lee Resolution, originally proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on June 7 and also known as “The Resolution for Independence,” is in effect. This passage effectively formed the United States, a wholly separate government declared from Britian. Now all there is left is an official declaration… Congress would begin reading, debating, and editing Thomas Jefferson and the Committee of Five’s Declaration of Independence that day.

            On July 3, General William Howe’s men make landfall on Staten Island, landing unopposed. Many of the Redcoats landing had previously fled Boston with Howe roughly three-and-a-half months prior. With the British is the accompanying Hessians, German mercenaries. Howe’s landing would see 10,000 men sprawl out over the island, capturing it and awaiting the arrival of thousands more.

            Now, the moment you’ve been waiting for: July 4. In the prior days, Congress had spent hours in-session mulling over Jefferson’s draft. In the end, they would remove nearly 1/4 of the original text and changed various wording across the document. The final draft was approved by the congress on July 4 and signed by congressional delegates, writing, “Resolved, That the Declaration passed on the 4th, be fairly engrossed on parchment, with the title and stile of ‘The unanimous* [this word was added to the paper a few weeks later] declaration of the thirteen United States of America,’ and that the same, when engrossed, be signed by every member of Congress.”

            And thus, a new sovereign nation was born: The United States of America. The preamble to its declaration showcased a groundbreaking vision to the world, “”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

            A way of revolution no more. Now, it was officially a war for independence. Congress ordered 200 copies of the declaration to be printed in Philadelphia by John Dunlap that day, with 15% of them surviving to this day.

This Week in Revolutionary War History

By Sam Bishop

Rep Mark Sylvia at Mattapoisett Museum

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Please join us as we welcome our Massachusetts Representative Mark D. Sylvia, 10th Bristol District for his first visit to our Mattapoisett Museum, Friday July 17 at 1pm. The Museum will be open Friday as well as Saturday July 18 during Harbor Days weekend with Free lemonade and Free Air Conditioning. Please join us to celebrate our 250th Anniversary of the United States and explore our own local history. The Museum is located on 5 Church Street, Mattapoisett, right up the old trolley track route next to Town Hall.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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I’m recapping in part (before our July 4th bell ringing) facts about our bell at the Rochester Historical Society/ East Rochester Congregational Church. The church building which houses the bell as well as the next-door cemetery are on the National Register of Historical Places thanks to hard work by Betty Beaulieu.

            The church building built in 1857 is a great example of the Greek Revival style which was popular in new England at the time. Over the years a variety of updates and repairs were done and many of them were paid for with money raised by the Ladies Sewing Circle. In 1936, it was reported at the Annual Meeting that the belfry had sunk two inches into the roof necessitating some major repairs.

            The belfry contains the bell cast in 1872 by William Blake and Co. of Boston, Mass. An interesting note is that William Blake was a partner along with Paul Revere III and John W. Sullivan in the Boston Copper Co.

            The bell is reached by climbing a wooden ladder in the vestibule and climbing through a small trapdoor into the belfry. The bell operates by a pulley in the floor and a sidewheel. The rope comes down through the trapdoor next to the ladder.

            The bell (like other church bells) was used to call the East Rochester community together for church but also for important events, most notably the end of World War II. The bell was rung to call the neighborhood together to celebrate the end of the war.

            We hope some of you will join the Historical Society at 355 County Rd. on July 4 between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. The bell will toll 13 times beginning at noon. Anyone there before noon may take a try at ringing the bell. We’re also suggesting that anyone who has any kind of bell to bring it along to ring out Freedom Bells. After the bell ringing, there will be ice cream cups and a free copy of the Declaration of Independence.

By Connie Eshbach

Judith C. (Akins) Arne

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Judith C. (Akins) Arne age 84 died peacefully at home in Marion on June 28, 2026. Judy was born in Wareham; the daughter of the late Clyde and Edith (Morse) Akins. Judy spent most of her life living in Marion where she raised her three children. She loved spending summers at Silvershell Beach getting a tan while watching her grandchildren play. She was a great cook, an avid tennis player, loved bird watching and had a very green thumb.

            Throughout her life, she was an active member of the Marion Tennis Club as well as the Marion Mothers Club. She had a successful career as a CNA, working for many years at Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion and Forestview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Wareham.

            Judy was smart, strong-willed, and determined. She was a woman of dignity and strength of character with a side of sarcasm and wit. She was also kind, caring, and loved deeply; especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She made a good home often filled with family, had a knack for coordinating the perfect outfit and never left the house without her lipstick. If you knew her, you will miss her.

            She passed surrounded with love and is survived by her children, Carla (Arne) Edwards of Mattapoisett, Cheryl Arne of Marion, James Arne and wife Felicity (Ashworth) Arne of Marion. Her grandchildren, Alyssa Arne and partner Francois Ralet of Boston; Catherine (Duncan)VanGilder and husband, Micah VanGilder, of Marion; Holly (Duncan) Langlois and her husband Andrew Langlois of Mattapoisett; Sarah Edwards of Torrance, California; Elijah Arne and wife, Lauren (Eldridge) Arne of Marion; James Arne of Marion; and Stephen Arne of Marion. Her great grandchildren Payson Langlois, Jeffrey Arne, and Aurelia Ralet.

            The family will celebrate her life privately. Please honor your memories of her by doing something you love, or take a page from her book and go to the beach, play some tennis or go out for a lobster roll and ice cream.

David M. Albert

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Fried Clams in Heaven!

            David M. Albert of Marion MA, passed away peacefully on June 29th with loved ones at his side. He was 84 years old. He lived an extraordinary life interspersed with laughter, family love, and many close friends who appreciated his humor, kindness and wit.

            Meg, his wife of 34 years, enjoyed traveling the world with him, sharing his light spirit, benefiting from his kindness, and parenting their 5 children.

            One of his happiest places was on the tennis court, and if he wasn’t playing with his father, brothers, son or friends, he was watching a tournament on TV.

            David was a distribution manager for the Boston Globe for 10 years, during which he endured a 2am delivery schedule with a smile on his face. He also worked for Marion landscapers for many years, keeping a close eye on his younger co-workers and making close friends with every customer – always a people person!

            David spent much of his life in retail, opening 12 different women’s clothing stores over the course of 50 plus years. His generosity and love of people made him the perfect shop keeper.  His last store was in Onset, MA, which he ran for 20 years.

            Meg and David owned and ran The Cranberry Gardens Inn, in Wareham MA, for 21 years. His personality and work ethic was the perfect combination to entertain and service guests from all over the world.

            His best friends were his four brothers, Jim, Dick, Bernie and Alan, who passed before him. Their camaraderie and love were the most important part of their lives growing up. His parents Sam and Phyllis Albert instilled a strong appreciation of family and adventure.

            His three children Janet Albert, Jill Celik and Michael Albert were the love of his life. Their spouses, Jonas, Feyzi and Cindy added to the special aura of the Albert close-knit clan. Mark Seely and Erin Seely Duggan, and their spouses, Heidi Seely and JK Duggan were a special addition to the Albert household when Meg and David wed in 1993 on Quonnochontaug Beach in Rhode Island. The love from his children had no bounds.

            He also leaves behind nine grandchildren, Ayla, Isabel, Benji, Julia, Harry, Alex, Ellie, Siena and Maggie, all of whom he entertained with endless antics and loving advice.

            David only wanted to go to heaven if he was guaranteed there would be fried clams to eat! There will never be another individual so caring, humble and delightfully funny as David Albert.

            A celebration of his life will be held later this summer.

Quick Work for Con Com

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            The Marion Conservation Commission met on Wednesday, June 24, and while their agenda was filled with many individual action items, they still managed to keep the meeting under one hour.

            The commission began with a Public Hearing for James A. Arne at 340 Converse Road for a Request for Determination of Applicability for sewer and water mains and their connections. David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon and Leone, Inc. represented his client and stated he wanted to bring water and sewer connections to his business on Converse Road. The project would begin with the installation of a sewer force main down the road and its connection to the front entrance of the site. From there, a grinder pump would be installed near the site entrance and the existing two buildings on site would have gravity pipes to ruin their sewage into the pump.

            There weren’t any questions on the project, and the hearing was closed. This Determination of Applicability was granted at the end of the meeting with a unanimous vote.

            Next began the Public Hearing for Elizabeth and Robert Alln of 10 Doran Way for a Notice of Intent for a single-family home demolition and reconstruction. Davignon was also representative here, and explained the current house was built in the 1960s and the new construction, though present in wetlands, would be FEMA compliant.

            The project would see the removal of the dwelling, deck, concrete walkway, and to replace the existing home components with a Cape-style house over roughly the same location. There were no major questions from the commission who closed the hearing. This Notice of Intent was approved at the end of the meeting with a unanimous vote.

            The third and final Public Hearing was for Erica M. Larner of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for a Request for Determination of Applicability for the milling and resurfacing of the mainline and ramps on both the east-bound and west-bound corridors of Interstate I-195. The proposed interstate resurfacing project would see work from Wareham down through Mattapoisett. Larner from MassDOT stated bidding on the project would likely open up in the fall, meaning would begin next year. The hearing was closed without major questioning. The commission approved a negative determination of applicability for the work at the end of the meeting with a unanimous vote.

            Following the hearings, the board made three quick votes for Certificates of Compliances and a permit extension. One for 52 West Avenue was granted, followed by another for 47 West Avenue with unanimous votes. There was then a Permit Extension Request for 468 Point Road. Currently, their permit would end on July 1, and the extension, which was approved, extended the permit three years to 2029.

            The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, June 8 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Police Station.

Marion Conservation Commission

By Sam Bishop

What’s Up There?

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This is the continuing monthly column for the astronomer in all of us, or the aspiring

astro-physicist. Compared to areas near Boston or New Bedford, generally speaking, the Tri-

Town has pretty good dark skies and thus are very fortunate in that regard.

            This month, aside from fireworks, there plenty to see if you look up at night. Interestingly, July 2 is Halfway Day, meaning we are now in the second half of 2026.

            On the morning of July 4, you can see Mars near the horizon and above it, the Pleiades star clusters.

            On July 6, Earth reaches its “aphelion,” or the point in its orbit it lies furthest from the Sun.

            On July 14, there will be a New Moon. As always, this is the best time to look at faint astronomical objects.

            July 29 will see this month’s Full Moon, called the “Buck Moon,” with male deer shedding their antlers this time of year. It’s also referred to as the “Hay Moon” in Europe due wheat harvesting season or the “Thunder Moon,” with aptly no shortage of thunderstorms in our forecast.

            On July 30, the Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower hits its peak. Running a whole month-and-a-half from July 12 to August 23, the peak will yield roughly 16-meteors-per hour. The aforementioned Full Moon will blind sight of many meteors, however. Meteors are visible near the constellation Aquarius, which lies low in the sky to the southeast.

Astronomy Update for July

By Sam Bishop

OCRVTHS Withdraws School Building Project

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Following the outcome of the district-wide ballot vote held on Saturday, June 20, the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School District has formally notified the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) that it will withdraw its proposed school building project from the MSBA pipeline.

            The vote marked the second time voters in the district’s five member communities were asked to consider the proposed project. While the project received significant support throughout the district, it did not achieve the approval necessary to move forward.

            As a result, Old Colony has informed the MSBA that it will discontinue pursuit of the current project and exit the Authority’s funding pipeline.

            “We respect the decision of the voters and are grateful to the thousands of residents who took the time to participate in this important process,” said Superintendent-Director Aaron Polansky. “We would like to sincerely thank our member communities, elected officials, Building Committee members, School Committee members, staff, students, families, and community supporters who dedicated countless hours to studying, discussing, and advocating for this project.”

            The proposed project was developed through years of collaboration with the MSBA and was intended to address significant facility needs while expanding educational opportunities for students across the district’s member towns of Acushnet, Carver, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, and Rochester.

            Despite the project’s withdrawal, Old Colony remains committed to providing high-quality career and technical education opportunities for current and future students.

            “Our mission remains unchanged,” Polansky said. “Old Colony will continue to deliver exceptional educational experiences, prepare students for successful careers and post-secondary opportunities, and serve the workforce needs of our region. We will now evaluate future options for addressing the district’s long-term facility challenges while maintaining our focus on student success.”

            District officials will continue discussions with the School Committee, member communities, and state partners regarding the next steps for maintaining and improving the school’s aging facilities.

            For additional information, please contact Aaron L. Polansky, Superintendent-Director, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, 476 North Avenue, Rochester, MA 02770, 508-763-8011.

Free Parking Shuttle for Buzzards Bay Musicfest

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If you have ever had to park a great distance away from the Fireman Performing Arts Center to attend a Buzzards Bay Musicfest concert, your experience has just become easier. The Buzzards Bay Musicfest will be offering free shuttle service for the Wednesday, July 15, Friday, July 17 and Sunday, July 19 concerts. Parking will be at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center (465 Mill St, Marion, MA 02738). From there, a Tabor Academy shuttle van will deliver you directly to the Fireman Performing Arts Center and back to the Community Center after the concert.

            Shuttle service begins one hour before the concert. The shuttle will loop back repeatedly until the concert begins. After the concert, meet the shuttle right outside the venue. The shuttle will run continuously until all passengers are cleared from the hall.

Please let your driver know as you board the shuttle if you prefer to use the accessible entrance to the Fireman Performing Arts Center. The accessible entrance offers a “same level” entrance to the auditorium, avoiding the main lobby stairs.

            A special thank you to Tabor Academy for providing the vehicles and drivers and to the Town of Marion for permission to use the Community Center parking lot. For more information about the Buzzards Bay Musicfest, please visit buzzardsbaymusicfest.com.