Plumb Library Kicks Off 50th Anniversary Celebration

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At Town Meeting on April 12, 1976, the residents of Rochester voted unanimously to accept “a proposed deed of gift from Dorothy B. Plumb in memory of her late husband Joseph H. Plumb conveying to the Town for the use of Rochester Free Public Library also parcel of land at Rochester Common” (Article 22, Town of Rochester Annual Report 1976, page 13). The following day, the Board of Selectmen sent a letter to Mrs. Plumb at her home on Mendell Road with a message of thanks, a copy of which we have in our archives at Plumb Library: “Dear Mrs. Plumb: The members of the Board of Selectmen wish to take this opportunity to express for themselves, personally, and for all the people of our community, their extreme gratitude and thanks for the magnificent gift to the Town of the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library. The joy of using this extraordinary facility will be shared by young and old alike, and generations yet to come will reap the benefits of your thoughtful generosity.”

            Fifty years later, the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library continues to be a cherished local institution here in the center of Town. We are excited to kick off our 50th anniversary celebrations with a special limited edition library card featuring a drawing of Plumb Library on the front! If you already have a card, you can trade it in for a new card at the front desk for no charge. Please note we cannot distribute or sell cards as souvenirs. Each card must be entered into our system as an active library card. If you’ve never gotten a library card or lost yours, now is the time to come pick one up and learn about all the great things you can do with a library card! You can borrow books, movies, a telescope, hotspots, museum and zoo passes, listen to audiobooks online, and much more. While you’re here, grab a copy of this month’s events calendar and keep an eye out for our upcoming Summer Reading Program and more 50th anniversary events.

Toll Brothers Hearing Continued Again

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            The Marion Zoning Board of Appeals met on March 26 in the Police Station’s conference room for two action items: one previously continued and one for a new construction.

            Due to Chair Cynthia Callow’s absence, Member Dana Nelson took up the mantle and led the meeting, joking, “I am filling in for our fearless leader.” First, Nelson announced one of the items had been continued to April 9; that of Toll Brothers Northeast V. Corp. of 78 Wareham Road. And then there was one.

            After the minutes of the last ZBA meeting were accepted, there was the Public Hearing for Carol C Amick and William Moonan of 14 Quelle Lane. David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone, Inc. in Mattapoisett represented the applicants, who were seeking a Special Permit for the demolition of an old cottage and its subsequent replacement. The new structure would be built in accordance with FEMA and state guidelines, due to its presence in a flood zone. The original cottage is nearly 100-years-old, being constructed in 1928.

            It was noted that the Board of Health requested demolition for this project would require a Clean Asbestos Report be filed.

            The current plan, as laid out by Davignon, would be for a two-story, Cape-style cottage with a total living space of 1,848 square feet. The project also includes the addition of a covered porch and an attached 352 square foot garage. The construction of the new buildings could increase total lot coverage from 11.2% to 19.3%, Davignon cited. He also stated the new build would be connected to town water and sewer.

            Finally, it was noted no abutters within 300 feet oppose the construction. The board had no further questions to offer the party, and thus, the hearing was closed and the ZBA gave a unanimous vote of approval.

            The next meeting of the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for Thursday, April 9 at 6:30 pm in the Marion Police Station and on Zoom.

Marion Zoning Board of Appeals

By Sam Bishop

Looking Ahead

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            March slipped away gently like the proverbial lamb and here we are in April, which writer T.S. Eliot branded the “cruelest month,” thanks to its fickle weather. Despite its unpredictability, it’s a time of optimism and day-by-day progress in the garden. As the temperature rises in the soil and the air outdoors, we’re limbering up.

            Gardeners are appearing again all through the towns of our SouthCoast, along with the forthright robins and other assorted feathered friends. It is a joyful time, especially if you take it in slowly.

            Pleasures are simple. We can close our eyes and smell the earthy aroma. Loll in the sun, baring arms and hatless head… Earthworms are moving about (I saw one today!) and the soil has returned to life. At dusk comes the delightful strains of peepers drowning out all human sound. Crack open the window to hear their concert. Then you know spring is in full swing.

            The reality check comes when you take a hard look at your flower borders. No matter how carefully you put it to bed last fall, things have turned out shabby. Beds are clogged with dead leaves, soil has been washed away and erosion has exposed roots. Some shrubs have succumbed to winter kill and there are tattered perennials that look like they’ve been through the mill. Well, they have.

            I look out the window to find the landscape still stark and exposed, the trees lining our neighbor’s yard standing bare, their branches stripped of leaves. Our hedge is just a long smudge of tangled, brownish sticks and beneath the framework of rhodies and other shrubs that will flower later in spring, there are tiny splotches of green – bulbs planted in the fall – that are steadily emerging to bring May bloom. While it is an uplifting time of year, spring is also the busiest time in the gardening calendar.

            I try to pace myself, so I don’t end up at the chiropractor. It’s a workout for sure and best if done in moderation. For the past few weeks as the snow retreated, I’ve been scurrying about the garden anxious to uncover emerging bulbs – and remove the debris of winter, with lots of raking and trimming and pruning. With each section (or piece of a section) complete I sigh with satisfaction. This is the time of reacquaintance and renewal – a sacred time between garden and gardener.

            But I must say emphatically that I look forward to my time in the garden. I have a portable speaker that I carry with me about the garden and while weeding or pruning or whatever I get absorbed in stories. So, in a way, it’s a two fer. When not listening to a book I will have my portable radio (gifted to me from my husband for just this purpose) that I can tune into.

            I pause my audio book to run another wheelbarrow load back to the compost pile. Audible and my cat are two constant companions in the garden. I’m not telling you how to garden but I recommend pacing yourself. The weekend warrior routine is folly.  You know you’re never going to achieve what you want to – and once you accept that it rests easier on the soul. Coming in and having rosy cheeks and a placid feeling of well-being; nothing can beat it.

            My three main tools are a hand rake, pruners and garden shears along with a rubber container and wheelbarrow. Progress is slow but it’s steady and visible. I inspect the ground for dead or rotted plants but resist pulling them out (they may revive later) and move soil away from the base of roses.

            If you haven’t pruned the deadwood from roses and shrubs you can do it now. When pruning roses, cut out any dead, diseased, weak or unwanted stems and crossed twigs. Now is a good time to schedule tree work with nurseries that specialize in that.

            It is also time to price mulch and order it for delivery. Spring is the optimal time to replenish decorative mulch (wood chips, shredded bark, or cocoa beans) to prevent damage to emerging vegetation and cover the bare spots. It will help reduce weed growth and retain moisture and will gradually mix with the soil improving the texture. Avoid direct contact with stems and trunks that will choke and eventually kill the plant.

            Now is an optimal time to get aged manure and seaweed to incorporate into your plots. Also, you will want to run your composted soil and screen it for use. There is no point in cultivating the soil until it’s dry and mixable.

            April is also time to:

            -Dethatch lawn and overseed with a starter fertilizer.

            -Continue planting vegetable seeds indoors.

            -Ditto for annual flowers (cleome, morning glory and zinnea).

            -Begin laying out and planning new beds.

            -Plant cold weather crops.

            -Transplant sod on bare spots of lawn.

            -Plant dormant trees and shrubs.

            -Repot overgrown houseplants.

            Spring is not just about cleaning up garden beds or feeding lawns. It’s about the return of life. Savor it!

“Whan that aprill with his shoures soote

The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,

And bathed every veyne in switch liquor

Of which vertu engendred is the flour…”

-The Canterbury Tales Prologue by Geoffrey Chaucer.

The Seaside Gardener

By Laura McLean

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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As weather warms and snow melts, our museum will be reopening and our current exhibit, “The Tools and Industries that Made Rochester” will be up for at least another month. It can be viewed before our April 15 meeting at 6:00 pm and by calling Connie at 617-750-2818 or emailing eshbach2aol.com.

            Some of the tools on display, like the scythes, come in many sizes and have many uses. Others have a very specific use, like the cranberry scoops and the wide shovel from the Hartley sawmill designed for shoveling sawdust.

            What almost all of these tools have in common is that they are made of wood and/or iron. This means that they (particularly the larger ones) are very heavy. One example, the broad axe was used to remove bark from the sides of a felled tree. The logger would walk down the log swinging it one-handed along the side. When I say that I found just lifting it with two hands was difficult, that’s an understatement.

            Another large and heavy tool was the Peavey or “Persuader”. As you can see in the picture, a peavey is a very large wooden mallet. This tool was used in the building of “timber framed ” houses or barns. It was raised into the air and then brought down to “nudge” or push timbers into the proper position in the building’s frame.  In other words, it was used to persuade the timbers to take their place in the construction. The peavey was used rather than a sledgehammer or similar tool to avoid damaging the timbers. Stop by the museum and try hefting it and you’ll appreciate both the strength and balance needed to work with it. Like all the tools of the past, the user needed well- muscled arms, a strong back and a straight eye to complete a day’s work.

By Connie Eshbach

Four Bridges at the Mattapoisett Museum

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Four Bridges, a New England-based bluegrass band, will be returning to the Mattapoisett Museum on Saturday, April 11 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Tickets are $18.00 for Museum Members and $20 for the general public. They can be ordered from the Museum’s website www.mattapoisettmuseum.org/events or will be available at the door if available.

            Four Bridges Bluegrass Band has performed together since 2013. From fast-paced, hard-hitting bluegrass to sultry and down-home country music, they encompass a wide range of traditional sounds that burn with their own vibe. They’ll have you dancing, crying, hootin’, and hollerin’. After years of performing together at countless venues, weddings, celebrations, and tours. They are well-seasoned musicians and know how to bring it. On top of that, they absolutely love to play, and it shows. Last year’s show sold out, so purchase your tickets now.

Mattapoisett Road Race College Stipends

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July 4 will be here before we know it and so will the 54th running of the Mattapoisett Road Race, “4 on the 4th”! Begun in 1971 by Bob and Doris Gardner, 15 runners raced from Point Connett to Shipyard Park. Since then, the route has changed a few times, and now, over 1000 runners start at Shipyard Park, run through the village and around Ned’s Point Lighthouse, and finish at Shipyard Park. Townspeople line the course and cheer on their friends and family.

            Proceeds from the race are used to fund awards for college-bound senior athletes from Old Rochester Regional High School. Over the years, more than $200,000 has been given to deserving students. The online application can be accessed via a QR code available at the high school guidance office. The application deadline is May 18.

Town Meeting Warrant Closed

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            The Marion Select Board met on Tuesday for three action items, though the most notable was the closing of the Town Meeting Warrant.

            First, the board moved to approve the appointment of an Election Warden. As recommended by Town Clerk Katrina Desroches, Elisabeth Horan received a unanimous vote of approval by the board. She gratefully shook hands with municipal workers in the room, with her work beginning on the town’s election day, May 15.

            Next, the board quickly approved the 53G Fund Regulations for the Department of Public Works’ Sewer & Warer Division without discussion.

            Finally, the Select Board was on to close the draft Town Meeting Warrant. Up for discussion were 47 total articles, one being a Citizens Petition and the final two being Special Articles.

            Chair Randy Parker noted he had paused discussion on the budgetary articles of the warrant at the last meeting to allow other board members to further look them over. He then said he had already approved the finance articles last time and had no questions. Article 1 was approved with no members nor audience having anything to say or questions. That began a theme, as Articles 2-31 were rapidly approved next, with unanimous votes and no discussion.

            Vice Chair John Hoagland would move to accept, Member Norm Hills would second, and Parker would call the vote, being all “aye.”

            When the board got to Article 31, Hoagland said, “let’s talk about this one for a minute.” Hills made note of the article as being the transfer of land from the Marine Resource Commission to the Select Board. He stated the land had been transferred to the MRC in 2009, but they have little use for it. Hills stated he hoped the decision to bring the land under the Select Board would allow them to give the land to a proposed Parks Department. Parker immediately said, “I don’t support that,” and with short discussion between the three, Parker made motion to remove the article with only Hills voting to support it.

            Article 32 was a flip of the previous, with only Hills voting “no.” The article deals with eligibility to hold public office as well as limiting the holding of the title of Chair of any board, committee, or commission to no more than three years.

            Article 33 focuses on the relationship between pet owners and tenants and received little discussion other than to point to the reasoning of the article as aligning with the state’s Ollie Law, passed in 2024. Statewide, its official name is “Act to Increase Kennel Safety” and mainly focuses on regulations for commercial boarding and training kennels. It was approved unanimously.

            Article 34 pertains to the Attorney General requirements for the MS4 Bylaw, recently passed in the Fall Special Town Meeting. It grants authority to the town to handle abatements in relation to MS4. It was approved unanimously.

            Quickly, the board then approved Articles 35-45. 45 being a Citizens Petition.

            The two Special Articles were then approved with little discussion. Article S1: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from available funds in the Treasury (Free Cash) a sum not to exceed $219,869.19 to supplement the Fiscal Year 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works to pay expenses associated with the removal of snow and ice from public ways during said Fiscal Year; or take any other action relative thereto. Article S2: To see if the Town will vote to transfer any remaining balance in the Fiscal Year 2026 Group Insurance budget, after all obligations for said accounts have been satisfied, to the Town’s General Stabilization Fund, established pursuant to M.G.L.c.40, §5B, or take any other action relative thereto.

            Following the short 21-minute meeting, the Town Meeting Warrant was officially closed. The Select Board will hold a Town Meeting Warrant Review at the Marion Music Hall on Wednesday, April 22 at 6:00 pm. Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 11 at 6:45 pm in Sippican School. The Town Election is on Friday, May 15, 2026, but in person early voting is Thursday, May 7 through Thursday, May 14.

            The next regular meeting of the Mation Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7 at 6:00 pm in the Marion Police Station.

Marion Select Board

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 year has already brought with it some great stellar sights as we eye with anticipation humanity’s return to the Moon.

            First up, on April 1, the scheduled launch of the long-delayed and long-awaited Artemis II mission from Kennedy Space Center. The 9-day-long flight will see four astronauts, three Americans and one Canadian, return to lunar orbit for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. Not spoken of often, this mission also breaks the record for the most astronauts in deep space (out of Earth orbit) at one time, with the previous record from the Apollo missions at three.

            The crew is Commander Reid Weismann from Maryland, Pilot Victor Glover from California, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Koch from Michigan, and Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen from Ontario.

            After liftoff and competing one orbit around the Earth, the Orion capsule begins its four-day, 240,000-mile dart to the moon, which it reaches on day 6 of the journey. After nine days, the capsule crashes back to the blue planet and lands in the Pacific. If the April 1 launch date is unfavorable, NASA is targeting the first six days of the month more generally as alternatives.

            For cosmic events this month, we stick with the moon at first. On April 2, the month’s full moon will occur. Being the first full moon in spring, this one is referred to as the “Pink Moon” due to the colors of flowers in bloom, not the color of the Moon’s glow itself.

            The new moon will be on April 17, making this the best time to hunt for galaxies, nebulae, and other dimmer stellar masses.

            On April 18, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune (if you have a capable telescope) are all near each other in the early-morning sky just near the horizon. Venus is also visible, though it is at night and near the moon.

            The Lyrid Meteor Shower occurs this year between April 15 and April 29, peaking on April 24 with about 18 meteors per hour. It is named after and seen near the constellation Lyra, or near the star Vega. The star Vega is where the aliens in Carl Sagan’s Contact were from, if you were wondering.

            Taking the spot of Venus nearest the Moon in the night sky is Jupiter, that closes in on our moon on April 22 in a “conjecture.” Around this time, Venus will be visible near Uranus (also requiring a telescope) as the two are just off from the Pleiades star cluster, known as the Seven Sisters.

Astronomy Update for April

By Sam Bishop

Sippizine Call for Submissions for “Lucky” Issue

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Southeastern Massachusetts creatives are invited to bring prose, poetry, and visual art centered on the theme of “Lucky” to the community literary magazine Sippizine.

            Open to poetry, prose (under 1,000 words), visual art and video, submissions are accepted through April 4. Sippizine provides a welcoming platform for both established and emerging voices to share their stories. Contributors from Onset to Fall River have contributed to the six previous issues of this community literary project.

            “As Sippizine begins its fourth year, I appreciate the range of voices we’ve shared,” says editor and publisher Alanna Nelson. “Each creative brings a new angle to life in our neck of the woods.”

            Visit sippizine.art to read past issues, find fresh inspiration, and submit to the next issue. Bring us your prose, poetry and art, and celebrate life in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Spring Hike with MLT at Old Aucoot

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On Saturday, April 4 at 10:00 am, the Mattapoisett Land Trust is excited to bring you a dog hiking Adventure. This is the first in a year-long series every other first Saturday of the month (next walk in June!).

            We can’t think of a better way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning than hiking with friends and dogs in the woods! Bring your own dog or meet new ones on this Adventure Hike. We will meet at the new Grace Pond parking lot (please continue down Bowman Rd. to the new lot) for a walk through Old Aucoot District. The Old Aucoot District is a collection of properties making up roughly 397 acres of protected land and trails. Don’t have a dog to bring? No problem – there will be plenty of dogs to share! We will begin by heading down the red trail towards the water, then loop back and meander up Old Slough Road to the parking lot for an approximately 1 1/2-hour walk. What a great way to start the weekend! This event is free and will happen rain or shine! Wear sturdy shoes, and your dog should be on leash. Questions? Email manager@mattlandtrust.org.