Rochester Democratic Town Committee Caucus

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The Rochester Democratic Town Committee will be hosting its 2026 Caucus on Monday March 9 at 6pm. Early registration will start at 5:30 pm. The 2026 Massachusetts Nominating State Democratic Convention will take place at the DCU Center in Worcester on Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30.  The RDTC caucus will take place at the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library 17 Constitution Way in the community conference room. Registered Rochester Democrats will elect three delegates and three alternates to attend and participate in the Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention for the purpose of voting for and endorsing candidates for election in November.  The final convention schedule will be announced in the Final “Call to Convention”, which will be published in the coming month. Delegates and alternates apportioned to each town must be gender balanced. Committee Chairs shall be ex-officio delegates who shall not be included in the total number of delegates allocated for the caucus. Only registered and pre-registered Democrats from Rochester shall be allowed to vote at the local caucus. Pre-registered Democrats must be 16 years-old and must be pre-registered by the time of the caucus. Citizens interested participating in the RDTC caucus can register to vote as a Democrat during early registration at the caucus from 5:30 to 6:15 on the day of the caucus.

Desroches Appointed New Town Clerk

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            The Marion Select Board met on Wednesday, February 18 in the Marion Police Station. Chair Randy Parker noted a joint session with the Planning Board has been delayed. The two boards have yet to select an alternative date. The joint meeting will include the interview of applicants to fill the vacant seat on the Planning Board, with the temporary term being from March 2 to May 15.

            Jumping down the action-item list, the Select Board first tackled the discussion of the vacant harbormaster job description. Currently, there is an open harbormaster position with Marion Police Chief Richard Nighelli saying they have been working to formulate a job description for the open position. Confusion comes between civilian versus law enforcement classifications. The chief said, “we need to cast a wide net,” and mentioned looking at all training requirements for the position, which include those recommended by the Harbormaster Training Council as well as the completion of Police Academy, or equivalent.

            The chief said a new harbormaster will be given the power to arrest, adding, “I’m not comfortable giving someone the powers to arrest if they’re not properly trained.” The chief recommended that the town not necessarily strictly look for a police officer, but “we look for the best candidate, and if we so happen to get a police officer that has experience – it provides the town some flexibility to go in that direction.”

            Vice Chair John Hoagland said he had met with the chief recently and stated, “we may have gone too far in the pendulum of law enforcement at the cost of the community.” He clarified by saying he believes the sailing community and boaters may not be well represented if someone with little experience on the sea is appointed. “I’d like to have a candidate that’s truly a water dog,” he said.

            Next, following the approval of minutes from February 3, the Select Board moved to discuss the Town Clerk position finalist. Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman said the town received over 30 applicants for the position. They screened 10 of those applicants and interviewed four. Katrina Desroches was selected from among the finalists and was appointed as Marion Town Clerk with a unanimous vote of approval. Her first day will be Wednesday, March 4.

            The board moved to a discussion regarding the fortune teller license process. The prospective applicant was not present, and so a short discussion moved ahead without them. Chair Parker stated, “We don’t have any rules or regulations on this,” referring to fortune teller businesses. There is a separate license category for fortune tellers, hence the confusion of the process. The discussion was closed, as further progress will have to wait until the applicant is present.

            The board then opened a discussion regarding the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) grant application to prepare a historic preservation plan. Members of the Marion Historical Commission were present, with Chair Meg Steinberg and member Will Tifft coming forward to speak. Steinberg stated the town received an invitation from the SRPEDD to apply for the organization to complete a historic preservation plan for the town at their expense.

            Select Board member Norm Hills mentioned the many existing preservation initiatives already held by the town but said this endeavor by SRPEDD “falls in line with helping us understand what’s going on.” Hills also articulated appreciation of the fact it is a non-committal agreement, meaning the town wouldn’t be bound into approving any recommendations. Parker pushed back, saying he believed the town had voted against such measures (i.e. creation of an historic district). Tifft said this plan proposition is merely a list of recommendations, not a historic district or by any measure bound by law. SRPEDD would look at the entirety of Marion and not just the village.

            SRPEDD’s proposition is the beginning of a larger Southeast plan, using Marion as a starting point to test this initiative. “We don’t get opportunities like this very often,” said Hills. The vote was split but still passed, with Hoagland and Hills voting for and Parker against.

            Also at this meeting, the board approved some additional articles of the March 23 Special Town Meeting Warrant. One of the warrant articles refers to 13.4 acres off Parlor Town Road that would be transferred from Select Board control to the Open Space Acquisition Commission. This article was approved. The board approved the articles with a unanimous vote. Citizens petitions for the Special Town Meeting may be submitted until Friday, March 6.

            In his Town Administrator’s Report, Gorman highlighted the successful ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new Department of Public Works Operations Building the week prior. On a minor update for the Town House, sheetrock installation continues. There have also been two interested artists in the mural contest so far.

            The next meeting of the Marion Select Board has been rescheduled due to the weather to Tuesday, March 3 at 6:00 pm in the Marion Police Station.

Marion Select Board

By Sam Bishop

ORR Girls Dominate Senior Night

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It was Senior Night for the Old Rochester Regional High School girls basketball team, and it was the seniors that set the tone, according to Head Coach Rick Regan.

            ORR defeated a good New Bedford High School team, 63-31, on February 19. Regan credited the sound victory to the attitude set by the seniors. ORR’s gymnasium was decorated with signs and posters of the seniors, who begin MIAA Division 3 state tournament competition on Friday, February 27, in a 5:00 pm home game that will be the first of a doubleheader followed by ORR’s boys team playing its tournament opener at 7:00 pm.

            Senior Emma Johnson led the team in scoring with 20 points, followed by 12 from sophomore Sadie Hartley-Matteson.

            The varsity ladies played at a fast pace throughout the contest and showed no break in their pace, even during the last minutes of the fourth quarter, when they held on to a 20-point lead. The Bulldogs played tenacious defense and moved the ball well on offense, leading to some wide-open three-pointers that had the ORR gymnasium roaring.

            Regan said some of the seniors started playing in Grade 8 due to the regional league setup and for five years have set a tone of leadership, determination, and efficiency.

            After the game, seniors had baskets with parting gifts on their bench, and many family members stopped to take pictures with the posters of senior players.

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Machacam Club

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The next meeting of the Machacam Club is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4. We meet at the American Legion Hall on Depot Street. Social time begins at 5pm followed by dinner at 6pm. Our speaker will be introduced at 6:40 pm. Chef Colby is planning another satisfying meal. Callers, please send your counts by 9:00 pm Monday, March 2. Please submit inquiries to cwmccullough@comcast.net.

ORRHS Second Term Honor Roll

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The following students have achieved honors for the second term at Old Rochester Regional High School:

            Highest Honors: Phoebe Cowles, Quin DeMello, Ava Dzerkacz, Ava Figueiredo, Alexandra LeColst, Lucy Lombard, Neva Matos, Faelyn McCarthy, Benjamin Meighan, Annalise Milhench, Jiya Patel, Isabella Perez-Dormitzer, Noah Santos, Chelsey Soltau, Amanda Tomasso, and Nathaniel Tse

                  Honors: Caroline Achilles, Elizabeth Achilles, Henry Achilles, Sophia Anesti, Penelope Angeley, Seraphina Arruda, Georgia Bailey, Chloe Bairos, Mia Balestracci, Benjamin Bartholomew, Riley Barton, Claire Bates, Malcolm Bean, Kensi Bearce, Gavin Bellanger, Henry Berry, Adam Berube, Nolan Blanchette, Allison Bodeau, Charles Bonney, Sydney Bosma, Jonathan Botelho, Rose Bouley, Sophie Bozzo, Samuel Brown, Rileigh Brundage, Nathanael Bushnell, Drew Butler, Aiden Cabral, Brianna Cabral, Ethan Cabral, Lucas Cabral, Bobby Calder, Sophia Campione, Keira Canto, Cassidy Carroll, Sibley Casi, Liam Cassidy, Wyatt Churchill, Rosemary Clark, Gavin Coffey, Sophia Cole, Belle Comorosky, Abigail Conley, Morgan Conner, Gabriel Connors, Ashton Cook, Charlotte Cook, Tucker Cook, Owen Cooney, Bridget Coryer, Emma Costa, Nina Costa, Olivia Crowley, Rylee Cusick, Grace Custadio, Sophia D’Italia, Alexander Dai, Jackson Daniel, Charlotte Dargelis, Emma Debonise, Gianna DeMarco-Poyant, Reis DeMello, Averee Depina, Chloe Desrosiers, Balin Donnelly, Sara Duane, Rafael Duarte, Gisele Duchaine, Sage Elia, Mason Fagan, John Ferreira, Riley Ferreira, Alexandra Fiano, Connor Foley, William Fortier, Bryce Fortin, Brendan Foster, Molly Franco, Phoenix Froh, Brendan Fuller, John Galavotti, Caroline Gallagher, Giada Gandolfi, Jacob Gear, Madeleine Gendreau, Daniel Giandomenico, Caden Gonsalves, Clara Gouveia-Silva, Harrison Govoni, Isabel Govoni, Zadie Goyette, Aubrey Griffith, Katherine Guevara, Lucas Hadley, Sadie Hartley-Matteson, Madalyn Haverty, Laney Hayes, Genevieve Hebert, Grace Hebert, Logan Henicke, Logan Hiles, Caroline Hilton, Estella Holbrook, Isabella Hollis, Hunter Horsey, Grace Horta, Caroline Houdelette, Olive Huggins, Elin Humenuk, Emma Iappini, Jacob Iappini, Taryn Jackson, Emma Johnson, Frances Kakley, Chase Karo, Lanie Kazen, Jazmin Kearns, Kierra Keegan, Genevieve Kelly, Hazel Kelly, Bentley Killion, Elizabeth Kilpatrick, Leighton King, Olivia Kinney, Hadley Kuppens, Violet LaFountain, Austin Lassiter, Alexis LeBlanc, Morgan LeBlanc, Bree LeFavor, Griffin Leverone, Trystan Lienkamp, Samuel Long, William Lucy, Caitlyn Lund, Aiden MacLeod, Addison Mahar, Paige Mailloux, Abigail Mansfield, Joshua Marcolini, Kenley Masse, Tiera McCarthy, Ryleigh McGlinn, Kennedy McKay, Carly Mello, Elise Modracek, Xavier Monteiro, Maya Morrison, Miah Motta, Caillaigh Mullen, Desmond Murphy, Padraig Murphy, Liam Nelson, Piper Newell, Ella Normandin, Max Ohrenberger, Grady Oliveira, Isabelle Ortega, Mollie Osetkowski, Morgan Paiva, Zoe Papadakis, Morgan Patraiko, Reilly Patraiko, Avery Paulo, Fiona Payne, Marley Perry, Quinn Perry, Nicholas Peter, Benino Petrone, Luke Pierre, Nina Pierre, Eva Pinhancos, Juliana Pinhancos, Tyler Porto, Delilah Post, Elsa Pothier, Jasmyn Pumphery, Dimitri Raposo, John Redler, Zackaria Rezendes, Tessa Ripley, Bentley Robohm, Sebastian Romig, Erin Root, Grace Rousseau, Addison Roy, Emerson Roy, Maxwell Roy, Julian Sanchez, Rebecca Schaefer, Austin Scully, Ian Shultz, Benjamin Silva, Ella Silva, Chase Silvia, Eve Skomal, Kaelie Smalley, Esther Smith, Brendan Spenard, Marie Spenard, Addyson Spencer, Aden Spry, Claudia Surace, Catherine Sylvia-Everett, Blair Thomas, Olivia Thompson, Katherine Thomsen, Hannah Thorell, Noah Thorell, Piper Tobia, Nathan Tobin, Bella Tourinho, Owen Travers, Richard Troy, Rachel Tse, Thomas Tseki, Claire Vergoni, Grace Victoria, Nicholas Victorino, Nolin Vieira, Montana Virgadamo, Burkley Vlaco, Oliver Ward, Benjamin Welter, Avery White, Linden White, Matthew Williams, Molly Wronski, Katherine Young, Jocelyn Yurof, Westgate Zell, and Kennedy Zussy

The Blizzard of ’26

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Exactly four weeks after the last big storm that brought a foot and a half of snow to the Tri-Town, the Northeast has again gotten hammered, this time by a Blizzard on February 22 that tops the famous Blizzard of 1978 in many areas.

            Though in the lead-up to the storm, much of the focus was on the Jersey Shore, New York and Long Island, the South Coast and Rhode Island took the brunt of it. Records have been smashed, with the National Weather Service reporting a blanket over the Tri-Town of over 31 inches. In Providence, the record for snowfall was originally held by 1978 at 28.6 inches, with this week’s storm coming in at over 3 feet, between 36 and 37 inches.

            Tree limbs succumbing to the weight of snow caused many prolonged power outages. Eversource sent notices to customers saying, if they lost power, “restoration could take 3-5 days.” Following the storm, Eversource reported around 18% of customers in Eastern Massachusetts had experienced outages, or around 250,000 homes. Nearly all of Marion experienced outages, with 3,111 households affected. Mattapoisett and Rochester fared slightly better, with 1,164 household outages in Mattapoisett and 1,446 in Rochester.

            Marion Village was without power, along with homes to the East around Point Road and Delano Road while power along Converse Road was maintained. In Mattapoisett, power in the center had been restored, while work on Ned’s Point Road continued with most of that section still without power at press time. Rochester was sporadic, but most homes in the center of town remained without power through Tuesday. Many businesses remained closed through the early part of the week.

            Though Tri-Town school and Old Rochester Regional had Winter Break last week, schools remained closed through Wednesday.

            As of writing, there was one confirmed death from the storm, a 21-year-old student at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey confirmed the travel ban across the South Coast would remain in effect until road conditions were improved.

By Sam Bishop

Theodore Reed Lorentzen

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Theodore Reed Lorentzen, 81, passed away peacefully at his home in Fairhaven, MA on February 5, 2026 after a long neurological illness. He was married to his beloved wife Barbara (Mee) Lorentzen for fifty-three years and was a devoted son, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend.

            Born on January 4, 1945, in Boston, MA, to Clathie (Mitchell) and Eric R. Lorentzen, Ted grew up in Hull, MA and graduated from Hull High School and Drew University in Madison, NJ. At Drew he ran for the cross-country team and earned a B.A in Political Science and Sociology. After graduation in 1967, he served in the Army National Guard.

            Ted worked as a truck driver for his family’s trucking business for thirty-eight years. From 1974, after his father’s death, he managed the business and hauled produce from ports in Newark, NJ, Albany, NY, Wilmington DE, and Bridgeport, CT for Tropical Banana Company and Stop & Shop. Upon retiring in 2006, he worked part-time as a driver and shipper for BMI Surplus in Hanover, MA until 2009.

            Ted and his family lived in Hopkinton, MA for twenty-seven years and moved to Fairhaven in 2002. He joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 65, and bought and restored a 17-foot catboat that he enjoyed sailing in Buzzards Bay. Fascinated by the history of Fairhaven and town politics, Ted served on what became the Marine Resources Committee for eight years and also as a Board member on the Fairhaven Improvement Committee.

            Ted found great pleasure in helping many friends in his retirement, assisting in the restoration of a wooden sailboat and in building an outdoor pizza oven and kitchen, tagging along as crew on a sailing trip, and driving elderly friends to appointments. He loved making something old feel new again, be it an old house, an antique truck, a piece of furniture, or an abandoned boat. He lived his life with a spirit of generosity, kindness, good humor, and hard work.

            Ted is survived by his wife, Barbara, his son Christian Lorentzen and daughter Allison Lorentzen, both of Brooklyn, NY, his sisters, Katherine Gallagher of Northport FL, and Ann Marie Richards and her husband Ricky of Hopkinton, MA, his brothers and their spouses Paul and Mary Ann Lorentzen of Hopkinton, MA, and Eric and Deborah Lorentzen of Hull, MA, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

            A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 25th at the Unitarian Church, 102 Green Street, Fairhaven at 11am and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Millicent Library, 45 Center Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719.

For the Love of Democracy

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Dear Editor,

            This past Valentine’s Day, a group of determined women from Marion boldly chose to celebrate more than just flowers and chocolates. They embraced the profound power of community, championed fairness, and reaffirmed their commitment to democracy.

            The leitmotif, “For the Love of Democracy,” invited women to consider running for local office; it felt timely and long overdue.

            Currently, Marion’s boards, committees, and commissions are predominantly male. Although the contributions of these men have been valuable, our town government does not yet mirror the full diversity of our community, those who live, work, raise families, and run businesses here. When women take on leadership roles, communities gain from a wider range of perspectives, collaborative problem-solving approaches, and real-life experiences that influence decisions regarding schools, public safety, economic development, recreation, and long-term planning.

            Local government is where decisions directly touch daily life. It determines the safety of sidewalks, the quality of classrooms, the preservation of green space, and the vitality of small businesses. Women, especially mothers, bring invaluable insight into how policies affect families. They understand firsthand the juggling of schedules, the needs of children, the care of aging parents, and the importance of creating neighborhoods where everyone can thrive.

            There is also something quietly transformative about children seeing their mom, or any woman they know, serving on a town board or commission. It expands what they believe is possible. When girls see women leading, they learn that their voices matter. When boys see women in positions of authority, they grow up understanding that leadership is not defined by gender but by commitment and capability. That kind of example shapes a town’s culture for generations.

            The initiative “For the Love of Democracy” transcends partisan divides; it emphasizes the importance of civic engagement. This initiative seeks to invite knowledgeable and capable women to contribute their expertise and insights. By elevating Marion’s voice, we can ensure that every decision reflects the diverse perspectives inherent in our community. Collectively, we have the opportunity to shape a future that accurately represents us all.

            On Valentine’s Day 2026, we proudly celebrated not only romantic love but also the powerful expression of civic love. This type of love is about taking action, stepping up, and ensuring that all voices are heard and included at the table. It’s a commitment to community that strengthens our bonds and fosters a vibrant society.

Eileen J. Marum, Marion

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.

Boating Safety Certification Classes

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The Marion Police Department and Harbormaster’s Office are offering two free sessions of boating safety certification courses in accordance with new laws impacting recreational boating.

            The Massachusetts Legislature passed a law, The Hanson Milone Act of 2024, requiring anyone operating a motorized vessel in Massachusetts to possess a Boater Safety Certificate. Starting April 1, 2026, all motorboat operators born after Jan. 1, 1989, must complete a boating safety course to operate motorized vessels or personal watercraft such as a jet ski. Anyone born before January 1, 1989, will have until April 1, 2028, to obtain their boater safety certificate.

            In response, the Marion Police Department and Harbormaster’s Office are offering Boating Safety Courses to anyone ages 12 and older during March and April. The classes are being offered at no cost at the Marion Police Department, 550 Mill Street.

            Session dates are:

            March session: 8:30 am – 2:30 pm, Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22

            April session: 8:30 am – 2:30 pm, Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12

            Attendance is required on both days of the session to receive certification.

            Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers certify instructors, provide classroom materials and additional support.

            The courses are nationally approved. Course completion will allow anyone to operate a boat in states requiring Basic Boating Safety courses.

            “Education is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent boating tragedies,” said Police Chief Richard B. Nighelli. “We’re proud to offer this free course to help our community meet the new education requirement while gaining the knowledge that keeps everyone safer on the water. I also want to thank our staff for their commitment to providing this important instruction.”

            Community members can register for the March session here or the April session here. Registration is open for the March class and opens on March 11 at 1:30 am for the April class.

NASA Astronaut Speaks from International Space Station to Students at OHS

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While orbiting the Earth aboard the International Space Station, NASA Astronaut Dr. Chris Williams spoke live with students at Old Hammondtown School during a video conference held on the Wednesday afternoon before February vacation.

            The entire school gathered in the cafetorium for the virtual event, which was organized by Old Hammondtown Reading Specialist Katie Samost, who is Dr. Williams’ sister-in-law. Students submitted questions in advance, and during the call Dr. Williams answered several of them, personally addressing students by name and generating excitement throughout the room.

            Students asked thoughtful and wide-ranging questions, including what it felt like to see Earth from space for the first time, whether moving in microgravity feels like swimming or floating, how astronauts shower in space, and whether it’ll be difficult to walk again upon returning to Earth.

            During the live connection, Dr. Williams provided a virtual tour of portions of the International Space Station and demonstrated how water behaves in microgravity, allowing droplets to float freely before capturing them midair. Students watched as he moved effortlessly through the station’s modules and even demonstrated how astronauts eat by enjoying a floating candy.

            Dr. Williams described daily life aboard the station, explaining how astronauts secure their sleeping bags to the wall, maintain hygiene without traditional showers, and balance advanced scientific research with routine maintenance. Dr. Williams also shared what it’s like to work collaboratively with astronauts from multiple countries and experiencing foods from around the world during his mission in outer space.

            “I think I speak for all staff and students at OHS when I say that we are grateful to Dr. Chris Williams for taking the time to talk to us from the International Space Station,” said Samost. “Some of the highlights from the video call were being able to see the Earth outside the space station window, watching Dr. Williams float through the modules of the ISS, and even watching him eat a floating M&M. OHS students demonstrated their scientific inquisitiveness with the questions they submitted to Dr. Williams. It was a wonderfully enriching experience for our students.”

            Dr. Williams is currently serving as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 74. He launched on Nov. 27, 2025, aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft for a long-duration mission expected to last approximately eight months.

            Selected by NASA in 2021 as part of the agency’s 23rd astronaut candidate class, Dr. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Stanford University and a doctorate in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to joining NASA, he worked as a clinical physicist and researcher at Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

            While in orbit, Dr. Williams is contributing to scientific investigations and technology demonstrations that advance understanding of living and working in microgravity, research that has applications both in space exploration and on Earth.

            “We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to connect our students directly with a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station,” said Principal Stephanie Wells. “Experiences like this ignite curiosity and show students that science, exploration, and big dreams are within reach.”

            Superintendent Michael S. Nelson also expressed appreciation to Dr. Williams and to the staff who helped organize the event, noting that opportunities like this reinforce the district’s commitment to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

            “We are grateful to NASA and to Astronaut Williams for taking the time to connect with our students while serving aboard the International Space Station,” said Superintendent Nelson. “Opportunities like this spark curiosity, reinforce the value of STEM education, and encourage students to think beyond the classroom.”