William O. Simpson, III

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William O. Simpson, III, 69, of Mattapoisett passed away November 28, 2023 unexpectedly at Tufts Medical Center.

            Born in Quincy, son of the late Bertha T. (Southerland) Simpson and William O. Simpson, Jr., he lived in Mattapoisett all of his life. He was the proprietor of Seven Seas Marine and subcontractor for Triad Boatworks, of Mattapoisett for 25 years.

            More than anything Bill enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He will be best remembered for smuggling them cookies.

            Survivors include his son, William O. Simpson, IV and his wife Quinn of East Sandwich; 2 brothers, Jamie Simpson and his husband Bob Dumas of Eustis, FL and Thomas Simpson of Mattapoisett; a sister, Priscilla McDonald and her husband Kenneth of Braintree; 4 grandchildren, Brayden, Emilia, William V, and Jackson; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

            He was the brother of the late Evelyn Ellis.

            His visiting hours will be held on Friday, December 15th from 4-7 pm in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. His Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 16th 11:30 am at funeral home, followed by a celebration of life. Details will be announced at the service.

Patricia D. (Davis) Figueiredo

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Patricia D. (Davis) Figueiredo, 87, of Marion passed away at home on December 1, 2023. She was the former wife of Edward J. Figueiredo and the daughter of the late Ferman C. and Dorothy R. (Robertson) Davis.

            She was born in New Bedford and lived in Marion for all of her life. She graduated from Wareham High School and raised four children with her husband and was a Brownie Leader, Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother and a Softball Coach. She also enjoyed having holidays and cookouts at her home for family and friends.

            Mrs. Figueiredo worked as a town clerk administrator for the Town of Marion for several years and loved working as a Crossing Guard for Sippican School in her retirement.

            Pat was a lifelong member of the First Congregational Church of Marion and sung in the Choir and presided over many Christenings in her role as a Deacon and was on many committees.  Pat also sung in the Sippican Choral Society for many years.

            Pat could always be seen walking in the Village of Marion with friends and her dogs, Yogi and Maggie, respectively as well as playing tennis and riding her bike. Pat was an avid Volunteer having worked storms as a Red Cross Volunteer. She was a member of Penny Pinchers for many years as well as a member of the Tobey Guild where she volunteered at the Gift Shop at Tobey Hospital. Pat also enjoyed traveling to locations such as England, Scotland, Ireland, the Caribbean, Italy, Greece and Egypt to name a few with friends through her retirement.

            Pat was known for her sense of fun and was always a good sport. She had many friends with whom she stayed in touch with, whether it be from years ago or more recently. She had an open door policy and was never more happy as having someone stop by for an unexpected visit.

            Her Grandchildren were always welcome at her house and enjoyed many a “Sundae” after school at Grammy’s house and many, many sleepovers. The yearly summer vacation with her children and grandchildren in New Hampshire and Maine was always her highlight for the summer. Pat could also be seen relaxing at her beloved Silver Shell or Planting Island Beach.

            Survivors include her children, Steven E. Figueiredo and his wife Tania of Wareham, Stephanie (Figueiredo) Harding and her husband Richard of Marion, Thomas J. Figueiredo of Marion and Linda L. (Figueiredo) Dronet and her husband Mark of Biloxi, MS; 10 grandchildren, Steven, Jr., Brandon, Kelsey and Shelby Figueiredo, Timothy Harding, Rebecca Andresen, Sophie Harding, Ruby and Nina Figueiredo and Dakota Dronet; a step granddaughter, Ava Reise and several Great Grandchildren.

            Pat was predeceased by her brother, Charles R. Davis and his wife, Lucia of Marion and survived by her sister, Barbara D. Hiller and her husband, Ira R. Hiller, III. of Mattapoisett.

            Her graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at Evergreen Cemetery, Rte. 6 & Converse Rd., Marion.

            The Family would like to thank her Caregivers, Sandra and Teresa for their great care and compassion.

            Arrangements are by Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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It seems that any article about area taverns that I have come across at the museum ends with the admonishment that many a farmer or worker ended up in the alms house after spending all his money on liquor. Perhaps it was this philosophy that was behind the temperance movement in the towns of old Rochester that started long before the 18th Amendment ushered in Prohibition and the banning of all alcohol in the United States which lasted from 1920-1933.

            The temperance movement was alive and well in our area as early as the 1830’s. At that time, the town meeting sent a petition to the state legislature to pass a new law that would give either the county commissioners or the Selectmen the power to license tavern keepers to run their taverns as usual but a ban would be put on the selling of “spiritous liquor”.

            A second petition was later sent, and it contained more emotional language pleading the case of the “wife’s streaming eyes over her naked and supperless children” whose husband’s drinking was ruining their lives.

            In Mattapoisett, feelings were strong. Ship captains tired of drunken crews involved themselves in town affairs and began working to ban liquor at events like town picnics and clambakes. For many years Rochester was known as a dry town.

            Rochester’s various villages formed what was known as “cold water armies” made up primarily of women and children. By the 1840’s, Total Abstinence Societies were being formed. Dr. Robbins of Mattapoisett became a strong proponent of abstinence.

            The picture with this article is of the cover of a small book I found at the museum. It is “The New Temperance Melodies”. Inside are “Glees, Songs, & Pieces” that were composed to be used by temperance organizations in the United States and Canada. They were written by Stephen Eubbard and published by Oliver Ditson & Co. in 1859. In the preface, the author states his belief that music which “soothes, subdues and inspires” can influence the “great reformation of the day, the temperance reformation”.

            Several of the songs and their titles extol the value of cold water and urge all to come together to fight for temperance. However, my favorite song is titled “I’m not to Blame”.

            I want to thank Barbara Keohane for her list of ‘kid westerns” some of which I had forgotten, like Cisco Kid and Range Ryder. I have a feeling this list will show up in our next exhibit.

By Connie Eshbach

Machacam Club

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The next meeting of the Machacam Club is scheduled for Wednesday, December 6. Chief Colby is planning another wholesome meal for us. We meet at the American Legion Eastman Post on Depot Street. Doors open at 5 pm for social time followed by dinner at 6 pm. Our speaker program begins at 6:45. New members are always welcome. Please contact Chuck at cwmccullough@comcast.net with questions.

Senior Thanksgiving Dinner

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To the Editor;

            I had the pleasure of attending the senior thanksgiving dinner at the junior high school last Sunday. I wish to compliment the students who served the dinners and passed out the door prizes. And, the door greeters who guided us into the door dining area. The smiles on their faces and attentiveness to the seniors surely brought a ray of sunshine to our faces. I also want to thank the school staff, who in large part, made this possible by choosing the best of the students who were there. The coordinators were top notch and the training of these young folks and the precision in which they served the dinners was out standing. So, a big thanks to Orr for making a lovely day for myself and the other seniors of the tri town area See you next year.

Stephanie Mitchell, Mattapoisett

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.

EMC Pushing for Solar atop Police Station

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            A not-your-everyday feature on Monday’s Marion Energy Management Committee agenda was the Town Administrator’s Energy Reduction Plan.

            Only without agenda author Christian Ingerslev – the chairman was away and unable to attend the November 27 meeting – the committee was at a loss to define the item. However, rather than bypass it, a lively banter ensued as to whether this might mean the Energy Reduction Plan submitted to the state when the Town of Marion first joined Green Communities or a new one to be composed now that Marion has reached the state-prescribed, 20% energy-reduction goal.

            “We have gone from top to bottom with just a few exceptions that didn’t seem like the right thing to do, and we’ve done new (initiatives) … We’re eligible for more grant money,” said EMC member Bill Saltonstall, further noting that he and Marion Facilities Manager Shaun Cormier recently met with Energy Source to discuss the utility company’s involvement in energy upgrades to the town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Those will include heat pumps and new computer/operating systems. “I expect them to write a proposal similar to the one in the (original) paperwork.”

            Saltonstall reported that Cormier would also like to install heat pumps at the Police Department instead of gas heat. “I expect they will come up with a request for money for that,” he said.

            The committee also revisited solar projects, but Saltonstall said there is no grant money forthcoming for those. He expects Energy Source to write up information on the projects that would be eligible for grant funding over the next three or four months.

            EMC member Eileen Marum asked if the town administrator is thinking about going through buildings the town has renovated in order to “get them tighter.” She also identified the Town House elevator and shaft as energy-leaking areas.

            “Whenever Shaun’s got time, they’re taking on another room or two (in the Town House) for interior modifications … right now, most of the rooms in the building are uninsulated,” said Saltonstall, estimating that the town paid between $300,000 and $400,000 for window work at the Town House. “I think it’s a lot better than it was.”

            EMC member Alanna Nelson, presiding over the meeting in Ingerslev’s absence, said that an endowment to the Music Hall paid for an audit of that building’s energy profile performed by DG Services. She said they produced a good idea of what an energy-reduction plan should look like.

            The Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC) is representing Marion in negotiations to establish the long-planned, capped-landfill, solar project at Benson Brook, but the EMC membership that has worked so long in trying to make this happen is ironically sitting outside the information highway where it concerns hard financial figures for a power-purchase agreement on a lease program and the project’s current status.

            In an update on the Department of Public Works operations center, Saltonstall, whose son Will Saltonstall is the lead designer of the new approved for Benson Brook, told the committee that while he has heard a little about the project, he thinks “they’re still haggling out budget problems.”

            The EMC would dearly love to see a solar array on the new DPW’s roof, and the designed is meant to make that possible. Solar, however, is not in the construction budget and is not funded via the state’s Green Communities program.

            DPW funding was approved in a May 9, 2022, vote to authorize the town to borrow $3,000,000 toward a $4,500,000, three-building headquarters that would include repair bays and office space in one building, covered parking in another and the salt shed in a third. That plan has since been consolidated to one building for operations and storage and a second structure for the salt shed.

            According to Saltonstall, solar projects below a 15kw capacity, which includes most single-family homes, move with far greater ease through the bureaucratic process and get a grid connection. Therefore, the EMC has directed its attention toward smaller projects first, and the best of those is the Police Department building off Route 6 across from Benson Brook Road.

            Police headquarters was described as “a nice, clean building” with ample “dead space” that would make a solar array “easy to wire” and with “enough roof space to go up to (the 15kw) limit.”

            The committee is still looking at the Cushing Community Center roof and obviously, the DPW roof, as places for solar panels.

            “PowerOptions wanted to make a proposal on all of these things … I’d love to see some proposals, but the first one is the Police Department,” said Saltonstall. “How much further we can go, I don’t know. We’re going to have to get a lease agreement.”

            Saltonstall is working with EMC member Tom Friedman on the lease agreement, and Nelson agreed that the Police Department “is the hot spot.”

            Nelson senses more progress with CVEC than Saltonstall has had with PowerOptions and Friedman with Blue Skies. The members want meetings and information that would inform their next steps.

            Nelson said the town would give the CVEC a list of Marion projects and dimensions, and in turn the CVEC would come up with estimates so Marion could put work into producing bid documents.

            “Because interconnection pricing is already taken care of, they should be ready to roll,” said Nelson, who added that the costs are frequently absorbed by the CVEC before it rolls around and comes back to the town. The immediate objective is to learn what the town would have to pay and when. When Nelson acquires that information, she will report back to the EMC.

            As for the solar array at the Benson Brook landfill, remaining delays can be traced to lease agreements. Nelson and Saltonstall agree that for the town to approve a lease agreement, the committee needs to know more information. The town is waiting on others.

            What the committee would really like is for Maria Marasco of CVEC, Lisa Sullivan of Green Communities and Town Administrator Geoff Gorman to meet with the committee and help the members tie up loose ends.

            “We used to have people come all the time. I think we should overtly invite them,” said EMC member Jennifer Francis, attending the meeting remotely.

            Friedman suggested that this may extend beyond draggy processes but include pullbacks and attempts to renegotiate.

            “I wouldn’t be surprised if this is falling into that same black hole as offshore wind … approved by the state at a certain rate, then withdrawn as unacceptable because of the perception that they can do better,” he said.

            Saltonstall said it has become easier to track the status of township vehicles because the vehicle identification number for every registered vehicle has become more accessible. Even if a vehicle is moved to another department, it has to be more energy-efficient than the one it replaces.

            Saltonstall told the committee he was ready to give the Green Communities report by Tuesday, the day after the EMC’s public meeting. Friedman suggested linking to the report via the committee’s page on marionma.gov and said he would inquire on the matter with Town Clerk Lissa Magauran.

            The committee will hear from Arnie Johnson, the proprietor of the Fieldstone store on Route 6. Johnson will attend the EMC’s January 22 meeting and talk about his expansion plan. Marum suggested that Ingerslev, Saltonstall, Friedman and Francis can make recommendations, given they all have solar panels on their houses.

            The next meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee is scheduled for Monday, January 22, 2024, at 6:00 pm at the Police Station on Route 6.

Marion Energy Management Committee

By Mick Colageo

School Mascots … Indians, Devils and Bulldogs

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As you drive by Old Rochester High School, you will see a flashing sign that says, “Home of the Bulldogs.”

            The Bulldog has been the nickname of the school for 62 years, over a half a century. Hard to believe for an old fella like me who graduated in the third class. The origin of the nickname is a great story and one worth repeating, so I will.

            Charles Jefferson, a standout member of the first ORR football team, was the inspiration for the name. Coach Frank Almeida, who heard someone in the crowd say Charlie “played like a bulldog” for his fearless play, suggested the team adopt the nickname “Bulldogs.” And so a nickname was born, soon to be followed by a real, live bulldog mascot named “Trouble.”

            Coach Almeida confirmed the story years later. Soon after that first year, I was called upon to paint the original Bulldog logo on the center circle of the gymnasium floor. I was rewarded with a “lifetime” pass to all ORR athletic events. The pass was lost long ago, but I’m still here. (Hmmm … wonder if it still is valid?)

            The ORR community is lucky to have a mascot which has existed without controversy for so long. This is not always the case. Not long-ago, nearby Dartmouth had their own dispute over their Indian mascot. After a four-year-long debate, their school board voted to keep the “Chief” logo. It is estimated that until recently there were over 300 high schools in the U.S. and Canada with indigenous-imagery-inspired mascots. I taught at two of them.

            No one ever considered the head-dressed Chief’s profile at Grafton High School anything but distinguished. It never occurred to anyone that the school’s logo was racist. Of course, there weren’t any Native Americans in the school. We didn’t have any students costumed as feathered warriors or painted cheerleaders doing the “tomahawk chop” at football games. The consensus was that the school was honoring the Native Americans who founded the town. Still, I recalled that the school’s student newspaper was the “War Path,” and the Superintendent’s monthly newsletter was called “Smoke Signals.”

            In 2020, they changed their name to the Gators, though I don’t recall any alligators in Lake Ripple upon whose shores the school rested.

            At my next teaching assignment, the school’s nickname was the “Tomahawks.” In 2021, it became clear that it was time to retire the name, and the letter “T” became the school’s temporary logo. After 10 months, the students voted to become the “Titans.”

            Sometimes a nickname change is in order just to avoid controversy. Natick High School changed its nickname from “Redmen,” even though the term originally referred to the football team’s red jerseys (not Native Americans), to “Redhawks.” To the best of my knowledge, no hawks protested.

            The concern over school mascots is not new. Fairhaven High had their own issue many years ago when a group of parents protested the nickname “Blue Devils.” They were concerned that the school was advocating devil worship. Suffice it to say, the Blue Devils are alive and well to this day. Some schools have mascots that would surely create controversy in today’s “woke” world, yet they carry on.

            As far as school mascots go, panthers, bears, bulldogs and other innocent animals seem to be popular. Even devils seem pretty innocuous compared to one high school in Idaho. Orofino High School are the “Maniacs.” The mascot is a maniac in a straitjacket. Orofino is near the state mental hospital.

            A number of local, mental-health support groups protested the name, but the school board voted to retain the mascot because it had “nothing to do with the hospital,” rather it was chosen because fans at a football game many years ago said the team played like maniacs. (They should have played like bulldogs.) Supporters claim the crazed, electric haired, jumping mascot is merely a fan. Oh sure.

            Richland (Washington) High School claims the “Bombers” and proudly sports a mushroom cloud on their athletic jerseys. The nickname honors the Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress,” which dropped more bombs during World War II than any other aircraft. You can’t make this up.

            Yuma (Arizona) High School are the “Criminals.” Soon after its founding, it moved to the abandoned Yuma Territorial Prison, where classes were taught in the cell-block area, and assemblies were held in the prison hospital. They beat the Phoenix football team, who naturally claimed Yuma “stole” the game. The school store is named the “Cell Block” – or is it the “Sell Block” – I forget.

            And finally, there is the Freeport (Illinois) High School “Pretzels.” The legend is that the school board members were sitting around one day drinking beer and eating pretzels and “Walla!” a new nickname was born.

            Go Bulldogs!

            Editor’s note: Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and retired newspaper columnist whose musings are, after some years, back in The Wanderer under the subtitle “Thoughts on ….” Morgado’s opinions have also appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.

By Dick Morgado

SHS Speaker Series

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Travel to 18th Century Paris by joining Robert Darnton on December 6, at the Marion Music Hall.

            Darton’s new release, The Revolutionary Temper, looks at the French Revolution with the perspective of the Parisian public. After reviewing pamphlets, art, underground newsletters and other primary documents, he leads us through the controversies, motivations and hopes for a new governing paradigm.

            Kirkus Reviews said in its starred review, “The run-up to the French Revolution in expert hands.”

            Robert Darnton is a chevalier in the Legion d’honneur and winner of the Nation Humanities Award. The Pforzheimer University Professor and University Librarian, emeritus at Harvard University is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Sippican Historical Society.

            No need to bring your suitcase for Parisian ambiance, just come to the Marion Music Hall on December 6, at 6:30 pm for the Sippican Historical Society’s (SHS) final Speaker Series event of 2023.

            The SHS fosters interest in the history of Marion and encourages historical research and writing. Its museum, which is free and open to the public, displays artifacts, documents and artwork. For more information, go to www.sippicanhistoricalsociety.org

Christmas at the Knights of Columbus

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All are welcome to join the Mattapoisett Knights for their Annual Christmas Event at 57 Fairhaven Rd, Mattapoisett, on December 8 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. This free Celebration will feature Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving by fire truck at 7:00, and will include a bonfire, live music, cookies, cocoa, cider and friends. All are welcome.

Rochester Women’s Club

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The Elks of Wareham/New Bedford Lodge No. 73 sponsors the Elks Student of the Month and Student of the Year Awards for students enrolled in local area high schools. The criteria used in nominating a student includes a student who excels in scholarship, citizenship, performing arts, fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school and community service, industry and farming.

            We congratulate Sophomore Zachary Mendes, of Rochester for being selected as Student of the Month for November by the Old Rochester Regional High School Faculty and Staff.

            Over the summer, Zach had a traumatic accident that required extensive recovery time. Since his return, he has been a model student. He has strived to catch up with his academics and has worked extremely hard this term to get solid grades. Zach brings energy to each class and does not hesitate to help others when needed. He also volunteers as the team manager for the school’s unified basketball team and is a member of the football team. Although he cannot play due to his injury, he is always at each game cheering and encouraging his teammates to be the best they can be. Zach has worked very hard to overcome the obstacles he encountered due to his injury and tries each day to be his very best.