Upcoming Events at the Elizabeth Taber Library

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Book sale and Book Worm’s Bake Shop and Café Friday and Saturday May 19 and 20, 10-3 – Support the Elizabeth Taber Library by visiting our outdoor book shop. Find books in all genres in great (and giftable) condition. $4 for hardcovers, $2 for paperbacks. Find puzzles, games, DVDs, audio books, T-shirts and library merchandise, and more. Treat yourself to coffee and homemade snacks at the Book Worm’s bakeshop and café. All proceeds benefit the library.

            Banned Book Club Tuesday May 23 at 6:30 – Join us for a special presentation from the ETL’s Banned Book Club to discuss the noir suspense novella “The Postman Always Rings Twice” by James Cain, and the notorious history of censorship efforts in New England, from the moral crusades of the Watch and Ward Society who banned modern classics by Hemingway, Faulkner, Walt Whitman and more, to current attempts at banning books. Learn about James Cain’s obscenity trial in Boston and why Upton Sinclair once said “When you are banned in Boston, you are read everywhere else.”

            Discover Shanghai and Hong Kong Tuesday May 30 at 6:30 – Join Librarian Marie Yang to share photos and travel tales from visits to Hong Kong and Shanghai. Explore local food, hidden gems, and cultural highlights.

            For more information on the Elizabeth Taber Library, visit us at www.ElizabethTaberLibrary.org or call us at 508-748-1252.

Academic Achievements

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Abigail Rose DaCosta, of Mattapoisett, BBA Finance Graduated from the University of Georgia during Commencement exercises this week.

A Rail Trail of Ideas

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            The missus and I ventured down to the finally opened “Shining Tides Mile” section of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail. As an original skeptic, the curmudgeon in me wants to say something critical about it, such as the peace and quiet we once experienced walking along the dirt railroad bed communing with nature in peace and quiet is no more.

            The views are beautiful, though I remain saddened that the gigantic steel superstructure dominates the perimeter of the beach. If one stays on the boardwalk and ignores the speeding cyclists whizzing by your ear – they ought to be required to ring a bell as they approach from the rear – sharing the spectacular vistas with the cyclists, joggers and walkers is an afternoon is well spent.

            A walk along the trail is a great place to get away from the incessant talk about the 2024 presidential election, which the media is already dominating the news cycle by reporting early polls. I trust you will also agree that it is much too early to talk about Christmas, though I expect stores will be putting out holiday merchandise in the next month or two. But, is it too early to talk about New Years Eve? Hear me out.

            I suspect people are already dreaming of cross-country skiing or snowshoeing on the trail … assuming we ever get snow again. I have an idea that can make the boardwalk an idea venue to celebrate the New Year. Boston has its First Night, New Bedford has its own celebration and Newport has its Water Fire. Why not Mattapoisett? We could call it “First Night Mattapoisett.”

Imagine the whole community … families, mom, dads, kids, grandparents, seniors walking the trail on New Year’s Eve. Town organizations could sponsor sections setting up hot chocolate or cider stations along the boardwalk. Restaurants could offer food as they do at the “Taste of the Town,” or food trucks might provide refreshments.

            A deejay or the Old Hammondtown School Band could supply music. (Auld Lang Syne at midnight might be a nice touch, wouldn’t you agree?) Generators could be placed under the boardwalk to provide power. Temporary lighting could be set up. (Solar lights embedded in the railings for nighttime walks wouldn’t be a bad idea anyway.)

            A New Year celebration along the Rail Trail is not unprecedented. One town that I am familiar with has been doing it for several years. (Ya, I confess I stole the idea.) They set up fire pits along the trail for roasting marshmallows. Instead of firepits, we could have the Fire Department start mini-bonfires along the beach for warming.

            At midnight, all the revelers could stand at the railing and watch a laser show or better yet, a gigantic fireworks display over the west harbor. (Like they did over the town beach when I was a boy.) You’ve got to think big.

            Now you may ask, how do we pay for all this? I don’t know. I’m just the idea guy. That town I mentioned, they use volunteers, private citizens, civic organizations and a few deep-pocketed benefactors.

            Here is one idea, we could have a footrace in the fall along the Rail Trail from Fairhaven to the village, entry fees to pay some expenses, for example. We could call it the “Boardwalk Blister Mini Marathon.” Well, we can work on that.

            Perhaps some group could “sell” boardwalk planks like the engraved bricks at Shipyard Park. The buyer would get a small brass plaque with their name engraved attached to their plank. Well, that’s all I have. Do you expect me to think of everything?

            If “First Night Mattapoisett” comes to pass, I might just stay up past my 9:00 pm bedtime.

            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.

Thoughts on…

By Dick Morgado

Stricter Agenda for Agendas

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            Rochester’s Board of Selectmen won’t find it as easy anymore to bring up topics on the spur of the moment in its meetings.

            Town Administrator Glenn Cannon informed the board Monday that the new Town Counsel has said that from now on, every meeting topic must be on the agenda, no exceptions.

            To adhere to the state’s Open Meeting Law, the Old Business and New Business items on a meeting agenda must never be blank. Board members must call the town administrator before the closing of the agenda to have a topic placed on the warrant. The selectmen can no longer include “Any Topics the Chairman did not reasonably anticipate would be discussed” on its agendas.

            Of the latter requirement, Cannon explained that anything important enough to be a last-minute topic should require an emergency meeting instead.

            Select Board Chairman Woody Hartley and member Paul Ciaburri, who attended the meeting in person, and member Brad Morse, who was attending on Zoom, seemed happy with this change.

            In answer to Hartley’s question seeking clarification, Cannon told the board that should a member request that the town administrator put an issue on the meeting agenda, “I’ll be glad to do it.”

            Cannon was also upbeat in acknowledging that next Monday, May 22, is the date of the Annual Town Meeting, to be held at 7:00 pm at Rochester Memorial School, 16 Pine Street.

            “We’re excited for it,” he said. “It’s a big warrant, 32 articles. But we hope to get it done in one night.”

            The warrant features a $25,000,000 FY24 budget and a move to cease the town’s participation in the Green Communities program and rescind its adoption of the Stretch energy codes that tighten the base building codes in the name of more energy-efficient construction. Proponents of the exit strategy assert that the Stretch Code makes Green Communities participation too expensive, especially for a town studying potential expansion of its public-safety facilities. Other articles will include a move to change the town clerk’s position from elected to appointed.

            In other business on May 15, the board approved a draft letter to the regional planning agency SRPEDD, requesting assistance for collecting data for a study of Route 28. “This study will make way for a better corridor,” Cannon said, noting the review will also affect, positively, Lakeville and Middleboro.

            The board reappointed Stanley Moszczenski to the Historical Commission, after he noted in a letter that he had failed to reapply for the seat in time for the last appointment cycle.

            The board appointed Rochester Police officers Don Kemmett and Steve Reimer to provide police details during the Wednesday, May 24, Town Election to be held from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Senior Center on Dexter Lane.

            The board voted to not exercise its right to purchase 2.45 acres of Mary’s Pond Road under 61A regulations. The board had to revote this action after the property owner’s attorney had reported the previous vote did not specify only a portion of a larger parcel.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, June 5, at 6:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Select Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

Mattapoisett Library Leave No Trace Workshop

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Bob Sirhal, Rhode Island’s Leave No Trace State Advocate, will provide a free orientation on Tuesday, May 23 at 6:00 pm in the Community Room of the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, 7 Barstow Street. This program is a joint effort of the Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Mattapoisett Sustainability Partnership. Registration is necessary to participate and is available on the library’s events calendar at mattapoisettlibrary.org. Sirhal will present the seven principles of the Leave No Trace philosophy and discuss how to lessen human impacts on the environment and nature trails. Materials and handouts will be provided.

            The Mattapoisett Land Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving natural resources and wildlife areas in Mattapoisett for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations, educating the public about the wise use of natural resources and collaborating with other organizations that have similar goals. Learn more about the Land Trust at mattlandtrust.org.

            The Mattapoisett Sustainability Partnership is a group dedicated to promoting sustainable living in the community. Meetings are typically the first Saturday of the month at 10 am; schedules are subject to change so check the library’s events calendar for updated information. To be a part of this group, stop in for a meeting or email mfpl@sailsinc.org to get details.

            For more information about this event or to register, call the library at 508.758.4171 or email to jjones@sailsinc.org. Check the library’s events calendar at mattapoisettlibrary.org for more upcoming programs and book discussions.

Marion Community Preservation Committee

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To the Editor;

            I have been a member of the Marion Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for the past 9 years, its Chair for the past 6 years. I understand that there was a great deal of discussion regarding the CPA articles and process at our recent Annual Town Meeting. Unfortunately, I was traveling on business and unable to attend the May 8 meeting and would like to provide some additional detail.

            Marion adopted the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in May 2005, replacing a historical 2% tax surcharge that was used to fund the Land Bank with a 2% surcharge funding the CPA. The CPA surcharge includes an exemption for the first $100,000 of assessed value. In the 19 years since Marion’s adoption of the CPA, tax surcharges have totaled $5.15M and Marion received a total of $1.83M in state matching funds. The state match varies and has ranged from 100% to 17%.

            The CPC is composed of representatives of 7 Town boards: Conservation, Planning, Select Board, Open Space, Affordable Housing, Historical and Recreation. The CPC, coordinates the applications process and makes recommendations at Town Meeting, with voters making the final funding decision. For the season just completed we held five open meetings, the last a public hearing. The articles were also reviewed at the Select Board’s May 2 meeting.

            Town meetings have funded 77 CPA projects with a total value of $6.53M. The remaining CPA balance is $478k. I have grouped these 77 awards into 11 categories:

-Restore Town Buildings – 13 projects, $2.57M

-Restore Private Buildings – 6 projects, $311k

-Land Acquisition – 3 projects, $507k

-Open Space Planning – 3 projects, $16k

-Watershed Protection – 3 projects, $170k

-Pathways – 3 projects, $636k

-Recreation – 19 projects, $511k

-Veterans’ Graves – 3 projects, $21k

-Document/Artifact Catalog, Preserve – 12 projects, $399k

-Affordable Housing – 8 projects, $1.23M

-Other – 4 projects, $152k

            Marion’s exit from CPA is a complex question. While a CPA exit would eliminate the 2% tax surcharge, this action would also end the state match – $1.83M over the past 19 years. If Marion exits the CPA how would the projects funded by the CPA be financed? More than 93% of CPA monies were used to fund Town properties and projects ($6.1M). These projects would have to be included in the Town’s conventional operating or capital budgets, wait for the generosity of outside groups, or be deferred for later decision. Unless one argues that most CPA projects are unnecessary, exiting the CPA would likely increase taxes because of the loss of the State match. If projects proposed for CPA funding are not worthwhile, they should be voted down at Town Meeting. During the last 10 years I recall only one project that was rejected with few articles generating any questions.

            My opinion, and I am speaking as a citizen, not on behalf of the CPC, is that the CPA is a valued resource that provides an alternative funding process, supported partially by State funds, that remains in full control of the voters. The Town House provides an example of the value of CPA funding. The Town House was the victim of 50 years of deferred maintenance, and recent failed attempts to restore or replace the building through conventional funding. CPA monies, with some supplemental private funds, restored at least the outside of the building and made it an asset to the Town.

            My suggestion is that we retain the CPA and that interested townspeople become active in the entire funding process. We would welcome the participation of interested citizens throughout the process.

Jeff Doubrava, 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.

Tour de Crème Set for Sunday

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            Ice cream and bike rides aren’t usually a common partnership, but Mattapoisett has found a way to pair the two.

            The Tour de Creme, a once annual event that encourages bike riding and free ice cream, was shut down thanks to Covid-19. But now, the local land trust and bike committee will be serving up this fun again on Sunday, May 21.

            The Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Friends of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail are teaming up for this bike-ride fundraiser that will generate funding for more outdoor recreational opportunities.

            MLT Community Engagement and Stewardship Manager Colleen Andrews said (as of Monday, May 15) there are more than 400 bike riders registered. Some will ride a 40-mile route at 10:00 am, some will take a 24-mile trek at 11:00 am and some will take a 9-mile ride at 12:00 pm.

            Riders will leave from Mattapoisett Town Beach and should be back at 1:00 pm at nearby Munro Preserve for a community event that will feature a food truck and cart, live music, beer and – of course – ice cream.

            The event is named appropriately – riders are encouraged to stop by local creameries while riding and enjoy a free scoop or two. Creameries are offering up these scoops for the riders.

            Depending on the route, riders will be going through Rochester, Acushnet, Freetown and Marion along the way.

            “We’re doing the same sort of thing we’ve done before,” Andrews said.

            Andrews said that the two groups worked together for consecutive years but have not held this event since 2019. With the new bike path open, the land trust and bike committee hope to continue hosting this annual event after the four-year hiatus.

            All proceeds go toward Mattapoisett Land Trust and bike-path initiatives, such as improving the safety of the path, as well as building and placing benches along the routes.

            “We have similar goals between the two organizations – providing outdoor space and recreation,” Andrews said.

            According to the Mattapoisett Rail Trail website, the partially completed, 4.5-mile bike path runs along Buzzards Bay and through Mattapoisett. It then runs into some of the neighboring South Coast communities, providing riders with scenic waterfronts and quaint, wooded views.

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Burr Takes Chair

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            The Marion Select Board shuffled the deck during Tuesday night’s public meeting, reorganizing to elect Toby Burr as the new chairman, with Randy Parker becoming vice chairman and Norm Hills clerk. The members’ liaison assignments have not changed and will be posted at marionma.gov.

            The brief meeting featured many action items and a short report from Town Administrator Geoff Gorman.

            In his report, Gorman updated the Select Board on progress with irrigation at the Cushing Community Center. He reported that the Community Center Working Group is contacting a vendor to add irrigation to the front lawn and to add pavilion items.

            It was noted that “the living wall” (plantings) look beautiful. Harry Norweb, who was in attendance, told the board the group had money to install pipes and connected to a hose to get water to the plantings.

            In an update on Wells Road, Gorman said he was working with Town Counsel and learned that a portion of the road in question is owned by the state. Representative William Straus is working with the state to provide for discontinuance. Gorman will work with Town Counsel to get an easement process started.

            In an update on American Tower Asset Sub LLC to lease a Benson Brook parcel for a cell-phone tower, Gorman said that procurement law will require a bidding process. The lease on the parcel ran out in September 2022. Gorman said the best-case scenario will be to miss a month or two of payments. There is no transition period between contracts.

            Gorman publicly thanked Facilities Manager Shaun Cormier for his department’s work using an ADA Improvement Grant to build a walkway at Silvershell Beach. Parker noted that crushed gravel is in place and compacted, making the project ready for concrete.

            “It still amazes me every day how much those three gentlemen do,” said Gorman. Parker noted that the beach building and sign have been painted.

            Thanks to the DPW, Old Landing curb stops are in place, reported Gorman.

            The town is also asking for bids by June 2 for the July 1 Fireworks event (rain date July 7.) Tabor Academy was publicly thanked for a donation of $10,000 toward the event.

            Noting the recommendation of Chairperson Margie Baldwin, the Select Board approved the appointment of Ellen Bruzelius to the Parks and Tree Committee.

            The board approved road closures for two events: the Monday, May 29, 9:00 am Memorial Day Remembrance ceremony (Front Street from the Music Hall to Old Landing) in which U.S. Air Force Major Christopher A. Bonzagni will be the keynote speaker, and the Saturday, July 8, Arts in the (Bicentennial) Park event (Main Street and Spring Street) from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (rain date July 9.)

            The board approved Tabor Academy’s request for a performance extension of 30 minutes for its Saturday, June 10, reunion weekend dinner, meaning the music could run until 11:30 pm.

            A special, one-day alcohol-beverage license was approved for the Tri-County Music Association at Tabor Academy on Sunday, June 11, from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, as was a special, one-day alcohol-beverage license for The Bartending Service of New England on Saturday, July 22, from 2:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Silvershell Beach.

            Discussion items tabled included a letter to Eversource regarding support of the Southeastern Massachusetts Clean Grid Concept and Cemetery Commission fee increases. Both decisions were due to a lack of backup information.

            After being told that Department of Public Works Director Becky Tilden would like to meet with Water Department supervisors, annual water restrictions were also tabled.

            Two of four seats in the Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization are up for election in August. SMMPO develops plans for 27 communities in the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD.) Parker asked if the incumbents whose terms are up wish to continue to serve. If a Marion Select Board member becomes interested, he will notify Gorman for application information.

            The board approved Water/Sewer commitments of $11,031 (new service on May 3); $155 (sewer reconnection on May 9); $11,000 (new service on May 5); and $659.36 (final readings May 11.)

            Upon DPW recommendation, the board approved a Water/Sewer abatement of $2,439.93 at 929 Point Road but voted against another abatement request for $2,000 at 34 Pine Hill Lane after it was learned that a plumber found a crack in the discharge mechanism.

            Discussion of the Marion Housing Production Plan 2022 will appear as a New Business item on the board’s next agenda.

            The Open Space & Recreation Plan, measuring over 200 pages is available.

            The board reviewed a first read of the Public Comment Policy drafted in response to Open Meeting Law. A new policy would provide a way for the board to control the tempo in a public meeting. Burr said he would like such one-off policies all to be accessible in one location.

            Parker noted the importance of knowledge management and being up to date, and Hills asked that the policy be posted at marionma.gov.

            The next meeting of the Marion Select Board will be held on Tuesday, June 6, at 6:00 pm at the Police Station.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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            Previously, I wrote about Rochester’s Bicentennial which was commemorated on July 22, 1879. This date was chosen because it was 200 yrs. from the signing of the “Sepecan Purchase” in Plymouth. The 200th was a one-day celebration which according to reports of the day was attended by 6000 people.

            As years passed, it was once again time to plan a birthday celebration; this time for the town’s 250th. There are many interesting differences between the two celebrations. The first being that the 250th anniversary in 1936 was actually 57 years after the 200th. This was because the planners used the date of incorporation, June 4, 1686.This was only one of the differences. Rather than a one-day celebration, there were events on June 4, as well as, July 4 and 5.

            While the 200th’s activities (speeches and a clam bake) took place in Marion, the events of the 250th were spread throughout Rochester, Marion and Mattapoisett. Also, this time more of the key pieces took place in Rochester Center.

            In 1935, as the 250th drew close, Town Meeting’s moderator, George Cowen, appointed a five-member committee to prepare a “suitable programme of commemoration”. As with the Bicentennial, Wareham, Marion and Mattapoisett (Rochester’s “daughter towns”) also formed committees. Unlike in 1879, there women were given a place on some of the committees. Both Wareham’s and Rochester’s committees included two women.

            The appointed Rochester committee was made up of Mrs. Louise Westgate, Mrs. Marion N. Peirce, Mr. Louis C. LeBaron, Rev. Harry L. Coole and Mr. Sanford Robinson. Planning began in 1935 and originally, there was talk of marching militia and cannons for June 4, but by 1936, the activity for that day was an Antique Exhibit. Pictured here are Mrs. Minnie Fuller, chairman, and Mrs. Alberta H. Gerrish. Many of the items on display dated from the early days of Rochester as did many of the ladies’ colonial gowns. There was also a Colonial Tea in the First Congregational vestry put on by the First Congregational Sewing Circle.

            At various times during the day, school children dressed in colonial clothing “sang songs of the early days” under the direction of Mrs. Arthur G. Webber and Mrs. Andrew H. MacGregor. The children also danced the Minuet on the grass in front of Town Hall. By the end of the afternoon’s festivities, over 400 people had signed the “Guest Register”.

            On the evening of the 4th, a banquet was held at the Rochester Women’s Club. There was music by the Marion and Mattapoisett bands and speeches representing Wareham, Marion and Mattapoisett were given.

            The next rounds of birthday events happened on the weekend of July 4th and 5th. On the 4th, there was a parade in Mattapoisett. It began at 9:30 am. There were many floats of all kinds, representing area businesses and organizations and several, bands. Prizes were awarded in different categories.

            At 1:00 following the parade, it was back to Rochester’s Women’s Club for a clambake. Then it was on to Marion for 2:00 swimming and running races at the “Marion Public Bathing Beach”. There was also a baseball game between the Wareham and Rochester town teams.

            Back in Rochester at 6:00 pm in the field behind Town Hall, an historic pageant was presented jointly by the four towns. There was a cast of 175, an orchestra and a male chorus. The pageant highlighted important events, beginning with Capt. John Church’s meeting with the Native American, Queen Awashanks, and moved on to scenes from the arrival of the first settlers, the first meeting in the church, the start of the Revolutionary War, arrival of the stagecoach running between New Bedford and Plymouth, the division of the town and a grand finale with birthday greetings and floral tributes from Wareham, Marion and Mattapoisett. It was said that the audience numbered between 3500 and 4000.

            The end of the pageant was not the end of the day’s events. It was back to Marion for the 8:15 awarding of prizes for all of the contests. These were given out at the Marion Bandstand before a band concert and the “largest display of fireworks ever seen.”

            On Sunday, July 5, there was a service at the First Congregational Church of Rochester with seating both in and outside of the church. Following the service, tea and refreshments were provided by the “ladies” of the North Rochester, East Rochester and First Congregational churches.

            This is truly just an outline of events. There is even more information in the exhibit at the Rochester Historical Museum. My favorite quotation from the Anniversary Record is how they dealt with the possibility of inclement weather, “They just proceeded to vote, unanimously, that there should be no storm allowed here at all during the celebration of the Rochester Bicentennial.”

            The sun shone all three days.

By Connie Eshbach

ORRJHS Students of the Month

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Silas D. Coellner, Principal of Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, announces the following Students of the Month for April, 2023

            Green Team: Toby N. McNulty & Reilly B. Patraiko

            Orange Team: Isabel J. Marujo & Belle O. Comorosky

            Blue Team: Caden J. Gonsalves & Nathan J. Tobin

            Red Team: Nathanael K. Bushnell & Bridget G. Coryer

            Exploratory Team: Benjamin A. Graham & Luke C. Pierre