On Wednesday March 18, at 6:30 pm, the Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee will convene in the downstairs public meeting room of the Mattapoisett Free Public Library to hold its local caucus to elect five (5) Delegates and four (4) Alternates to represent Mattapoisett at the Massachusetts State Democratic Convention, to be held Friday and Saturday May 29 and May 30 in Worcester at the DCU Center. This year is a nominating convention for the Senate seat Edward Markey currently holds.

            Registered and pre-registered Democrats in the Town of Mattapoisett may be elected as delegates or alternates during the caucus. Pre-registered Democrats must be 16 years old by the start of the caucus window (February 19, 2026) and must be pre-registered by the time of the caucus.

            Those interested in getting involved with the Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee or for more information pertaining to the caucuses, please email Chairperson Nicki Demakis at ndemakis@tidhlaw.com.

Ready to put a chill into the coldest winter’s day? Jeff Belanger will be at the library on February 19 at 6:00 pm to explore the haunts, legends, and monsters associated with winter. From frozen people to abominable snow beasts, from icy haunts to strange creatures who adapt to freezing temperatures, the Dead of Winter will give you something to shiver about. You’ve seen Jeff Belanger on television series such as William Shatner’s UnXplained on the History Channel, Shock Docs on Discovery, Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel, and New England Legends on PBS and Amazon Prime… now see him LIVE in person. For more than 25 years, Jeff has been exploring the weird and unexplained. He’s one of the world’s foremost storytellers and researchers of lore and legends. This will be an event you won’t forget. Open to ages 12+ please RSVP by calling the library or by following the tickets link above.

            On Saturday, February 14, join clinical psychology doctoral student Morgan Browning for a special valentine’s themed Fun with Feelings storytime at 11:00 am. This program is designed for kids ages 4-8 and features a craft after storytime.

            If you’re planning ahead for February Vacation week – we’ve got a week full of activities. We’ll be hosting Tri-Town Against Racism and the Excellent family for Black History Month storytime on Tuesday, February 17 at 10:30 am for kids of all ages. Kids of all ages can drop in anytime between 10 AM and 5 PM on Thursday, February 19 for crafting.

            For more information on the Elizabeth Taber Library visit us at www.ElizabethTaberLibrary.org or email the library at ETLibrary@sailsinc.org. 8 Spring Street Marion, MA 02738. 508-748-1252.

We know from reading local history that Rochester’s militia were called up in response to alarms in a variety of places. We also know from Abraham Holmes’ memoirs that he was part of a militia that engaged with the British as close to Rochester as Fairhaven. However, we rarely think about British soldiers actually being here in Rochester.

            Reading through the “PAL” books (created during an architectural survey of some of our oldest houses), I came across an interesting property, a residence known as “Bonney Doone.” This house was once located at 86 Dexter Lane. It was named after George Bonney, Jr., an ancestor of the George Bonney who lived at 7 Marion Rd.

            History doesn’t tell us the name of the first person who lived in the house (possibly Joseph Doty), but it does tell us that there were British troops in town. It was said that the house and outbuildings were used as a “refuge” for British soldiers during the war. According to local legend, a small group of said soldiers asked for one night of shelter in one of the outbuildings. They were gone when the sun came up but left “a brooch as a gift to the lady of the house for her hospitality.”

            It would seem that Rochester was fortunate to be a town the troops passed through rather than one in which they created an encampment. However, I want to know more. Why did they have a “brooch” and what happened to it. Did the lady of the house have Tory leanings and was that why the soldiers were so polite. Chances are those questions won’t get answered, but it’s interesting to think about.

            Bonney Doone didn’t make it to a map until 1865, but the maps do show that it belonged to the Bonney family through 1879. By 1916, it was owned by E. LeBaron Bowen, a plumber, until 1941. It remained in the Bowen family until 1969.

            As Susan La Fleur wrote as part of the house’s narrative in the survey, the house “stood empty for some time and was in a state of disrepair”. It was finally sold and the new owner dismantled it and took it to Mattapoisett, leaving an empty lot behind.

By Connie Eshbach

Turning a clean energy idea into a working ocean technology is harder than it sounds. Before new tidal turbines, wave energy devices, or marine sensors can be used to power homes or protect coastal waters, they must be tested in real ocean conditions with strong currents, waves, saltwater, and changing weather.

            The Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative of New England (MRECo) is helping make that possible by developing and improving two ocean testing sites in Massachusetts: the Bourne Tidal Test Site (BTTS) in the Cape Cod Canal and the Cuttyhunk Test Range (CTR) off Cuttyhunk Island.

            Together, these sites give innovators a safe, affordable, and permitted way to put new ocean technologies into the water bridging the gap between lab experiments and real-world use.

            The Bourne Tidal Test Site, located in the Cape Cod Canal, is a sturdy platform built specifically for testing tidal energy devices and marine sensors in fast-moving water. The site allows engineers and researchers to see how their technology performs in strong tidal currents, while still being close to shore and easy to access. Because the site is already fully permitted, companies can focus on improving their technology instead of spending years navigating regulatory hurdles.

            Planned upgrades to the Bourne site will allow for faster testing, real-time data sharing, and improved safety, which makes it even easier for new ideas to move forward.

            Off the coast of Cuttyhunk Island, MRECo is also developing the Cuttyhunk Test Range, a location designed for testing floating devices and wave energy systems. This area experiences ocean waves similar to those found near offshore wind farms along Massachusetts’ South Coast. The site will include permanent moorings, power access, and monitoring equipment to help developers understand how their technologies perform in open-water conditions.

            These efforts are part of a larger push to grow Massachusetts’ ocean technology economy through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) Ocean Innovation Network, a statewide initiative that connects startups, researchers, and businesses with the facilities, mentorship, and resources they need to bring new clean energy solutions to market. By investing in shared testing infrastructure like BTTS and CTR, MassCEC and its partners are helping ensure that promising ideas don’t stall in the lab, and that Massachusetts remains a national leader in ocean-based climate and energy innovation.

            “These test sites are about helping good ideas succeed,” said John Miller, Executive Director of MRECo. “Many promising ocean technologies never make it past the drawing board because testing in the ocean is expensive and complicated. We’re removing those barriers so innovators can safely test, learn, and improve.”

            MRECo is the only organization in Massachusetts focused on developing open-water test sites for tidal and wave energy and marine sensors. With decades of combined experience in ocean engineering and testing, MRECo works with startups, universities, and established companies to help new technologies reach the water faster and more affordably.

            By supporting hands-on testing and innovation, the Bourne and Cuttyhunk sites are expected to attract companies from across the U.S. and beyond, create local economic opportunities, and strengthen Massachusetts’ leadership in clean energy and ocean technology.

            To learn more about the Bourne Tidal Test Site, the Cuttyhunk Test Range, or how MRECo helps bring ocean technology to life, visit www.mreconewengland.org.