Eat Local Southcoast Challenge

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Do you care about eating healthful foods? If so, check-out the Eat Local Southcoast Challenge. Brought to you by the Marion Institute, this challenge is a fun way to support healthful eating habits by consuming foods that come from a 200-mile radius of where you live. By participating in the challenge you’re signing up to eat as much local food as possible during the month of August. It’s not too late to join. Sign up here to learn more: bit.ly/eatlocalsouthcoast.

            Eating local food may sound trendy, but more and more it is becoming a priority to strengthen our local economies, increase access to healthy food and reduce harmful environmental impacts. Further, eating local is critical to build a region that is resilient to climate change, reflects the local farm landscape we love and value and provides a more reliable food supply chain.

            Community education about the benefits of eating local and supporting a regional food system is the foundational work of the Marion Institute’s Southcoast Food Policy Council. “We all have a general sense of the benefits of eating local – healthier diet, nutrient dense foods, social responsibility and local impact – but often the ease of running to the nearest grocery can overshadow these positive benefits, regardless of our best intentions,” said Liz Wiley, Executive Director of the Marion Institute. “Our Eat Local Southcoast Challenge aims to help those of us along the Southcoast learn more about our local food system as we form new, local purchasing and eating habits,” continued Wiley.

            How it works – when you register for the Eat Local Southcoast Challenge you will receive weekly emails full of tips and resources, including:

            -Where to find local food and how to cook it.

            -Information on “The Journey of Food in the Southcoast” through suggested resources.

            -Volunteer opportunities within our local food system.

To sign up for the challenge go to: bit.ly/eatlocalsouthcoast

Names and Places

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If you happen to be driving along Route 6 toward Marion just before the crest of the hill at Prospect Road, you might have noticed a small cemetery on your left. That would be the Pine Island Cemetery. If you are riding your bike to Crescent Beach from the village, you’re likely to be on Pine Island Road.

            Since neither is anywhere near an island, you might have wondered where Pine Island is. You would not be alone. Even some old townies have asked that question. Well, there is a Pine Island. It lies between Crescent Beach and Strawberry Point. (Don’t ask … I don’t know if there are strawberries on Strawberry Point.)

            Some say it only shows up at low tide, but a careful perusal of some maps and Google Earth show there is clearly an island just west of Cove Street near, appropriately named, Pine Island Pond.

            Old timers will tell you that many a person has ventured onto the island at low tide and was stranded when the tide came in. Why the road and the cemetery, both a good distance from the illusive island, bear its name is a mystery lost to history. You could try asking Charles H. Adams, the oldest person who was interred in the cemetery on April 3, 1817, but I doubt he’d answer.

            Pine Island is not the only island of mystery within our boundaries. Anybody know where Wolf Island is? Oh sure, you’ve heard of Wolf Island Road north of the village just above Tinkhamtown, but there is no island in the vicinity.

            Folklore suggests that there was an island in a bend in the middle of the Mattapoisett River. They say a family of wolves lived there. Others say an old recluse who camped on the island said there were wolves there to scare people away. Who knows? There is some speculation that Wolf Island is not an island at all but a piece of land between the river and tiny Branch Brook. Isn’t that an island?

            By the way, U.S. Geological Maps indicated there is a Wolf Island Pond in the area just north of the road, but there is no evidence of such. I’m too lazy to investigate but you’re free to do so; just remember that Wolf Island Road is known to be haunted. Check it out at your own risk.

            There are a couple of islands in town that are not haunted. Brandt Island Road leads to an actual island, and there is another in the village we are all familiar with … Barlow Island, by Barlow Beach, adjacent to Barlow Pond.

            What do you say? You’ve never heard of it? Perhaps you know it as Goodspeed Island and the Eel Pond. Yup, the area was once owned by Moses Barlow, an early settler, who I believe currently resides in Barlow Cemetery on Barlow Lane north of Acushnet Road. Old Moses must have been pretty important to have had so many things named after him.

            For a time, Goodspeed Island ceased to be one. The railroad filled in the inlet that connected the harbor to the Eel Pond. When I was a boy, I could walk the beach to Reservation Road without getting my feet wet. When the railroad left, Mother Nature gradually reclaimed access to the Eel Pond, cutting a new, wider channel that has grown to what it is today flowing under the new rail trail.

            Moses Barlow is not the only one whose legacy has been lost to history. Samuel Sturtevant, a noted businessman and a descendant of the Mayflower Sturtevants, was important enough to have a street named after him. Sturtevant Street ran from Barstow Street to North Street. It is now known as the east end of Hammond Street.

            At the 1883 Town Meeting, an article proposed changing the name of Pearl Street because there were no “pearls in the vicinity.” Thomas Nelson stood to suggest that, if that change was to pass, the town should also change the name of Baptist Street because “there were no Baptists left in the area.”

            Maybe they were all buried in the Pine Island Cemetery.

            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

Liquor License Goes to Route 28 Project

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            The Town of Rochester was approved for another liquor license, and it will be used only at the incoming Route 28 Cranberry Highway Smart Growth Overlay District, according to Town Administrator Glenn Cannon.

            That item was one of the few discussed during a quick 10-minute meeting of the Rochester Select Board on Tuesday. The board did go into executive session but had little business to discuss during open session.

            Cannon said one more liquor license is available, and the Select Board petitioned State Senator Michael Rodrigues. Now that will be used for the Route 28 development, which is a 40R project.

            According to the state website, these projects encourage communities to create dense residential or mixed-use smart growth zoning districts, “including a high percentage of affordable housing units, to be located near transit stations, in areas of concentrated development.”

            In other business, Select Board member Adam Murphy asked Cannon to look into some issues with the town website (townofrochesterma.com.)

            Some developers and builders were able to complete applications online, but that feature has had issues lately. An online process makes it easier for both businesses and residents to complete applications at home to save time.

            Murphy also encouraged Cannon to review the town’s social media and Facebook policy.

            The board learned that RMS Solar would like to renegotiate pricing for an approved project to develop a solar canopy at the Rochester Memorial School parking lot. The company cited rising construction costs, officials say.

            The Select Board agreed to return to its Monday night meeting schedule at the end of the month.

Rochester Select Board

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Faith, Hope, and Love

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To the Editor:

            It takes a special form of bigotry to claim that a peaceful, family-centered gathering of Christians and other like-minded people at a local library for an event of “Faith, Hope, and Love” should be seen as something “troublesome” or sinister.

            I have never heard anyone in this town speak disparagingly toward anyone because of their skin color or sexual orientation. What I have repeatedly witnessed myself, however, are unapologetic attacks by members of our community towards faithful Christians that would make the heart of any bloodthirsty Marxist swell with pride.

            Make no mistake. It is not paranoid to plainly recognize that the message from many in our town is one of anti-Christian hate, and their ultimate goal is to eradicate anyone who dares to promote or exhibit faithful Christian values in the public arena.

            If Massachusetts began rounding up Christians into camps and chained the doors of St. Anthony’s Church shut tomorrow, I imagine Beverly Baccelli and others like her would likely react, “Well, that’s a good start.”

            Mattapoisett is a wonderful town, and we need to reject the division, bigotry, and dishonesty being spewed by Baccelli and recognize the Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee as the hate group of bullies that it actually is.

David F. Pierre, Jr., 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.

Mattapoisett Library Hosts Disability Discussion

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The Mattapoisett Free Public Library, 7 Barstow Street invites you to hear from disability researcher Chuck McIntyre on Saturday, August 19 at 2:00 pm. Talking from the perspective of someone who has a learning disability, Chuck will cover many facets of the disabled community in his presentation. Topics will include types of disabilities, ableism, allyship and more. Discussion to follow the presentation. Registration is not required to attend. Questions can be directed to the library by phone at 508-758-4171 or email to mpfl@sailsinc.org.

Rochester Historical Society

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There’s a lot going on this month. First, thanks to all those who donated to, shopped at and helped out at our yard sale. It was a big success. We should be able to pay for two tanks of oil this winter.

            The meeting on the 16th is a potluck dinner and will start at 6:00 not 7. I don’t need to know what you’re bringing (it will be interesting to see what everyone brings), but if you could call or email and let me know how many will be attending, we’ll know how many places to set. Call: 617 750 2818 or email: eshbach2@aol.com. Dinner will be downstairs so come in on the cemetery side of the building.

            August 26 will be our Minifair with a Historic Flair. It will run from 10:00-3:00. There will be a bake sale, activities for young and old, Rochester clothing, books, maps, hats, etc. for sale. You will be able to bring in your town scavenger hunt to redeem your prize. There is a correction for the scavenger hunt- the house number for question 9 is 389. More info on activities coming soon.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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Years ago, when the First Congregational Church held its annual Labor Day Flea Market, an older gentleman who was perusing the items for sale at the Rochester Historical Society tent said to me, “You know, Rochester is still a nice town to live in, but it’s grown so. It used to be at an event like this I would know everyone, and today, I haven’t recognized a soul”.

            Anna White expressed a similar sentiment at one of the Waterman School reunions. She was remembering that growing up in town, everyone not only pretty much knew everyone, but they also knew what was going on in each other’s lives. This was in part, because most people belonged to the same town organizations, like 4-H, the Women’s Club, the Grange, the Boy Scouts or the Men’s Brotherhood, among others.

            However, another reason for this communal knowledge were the articles written by Georgia Chamberlain who among many other of her activities was the Standard Times Rochester correspondent for many years. This job made her the eyes and ears of Rochester. Her stories covered family milestones, the successes of Rochester students, the activities of the various social organizations, as well as items about interesting residents.

            One such story was about Mrs. Philip Jordanais of Mendall Rd. and her hobby. Mrs. Jordanais’s hobby was canaries. She started off with a pair of birds and after educating herself through reading and observation, she successfully bred the pair. At the time of the article, she had an orchestra of nine singing canaries. She said that “four are good singers, one exceptionally fine and one can dance.” It would seem that all nine created a joyful noise and looking at the picture, you can tell that her hobby brought her great enjoyment.

            It was through articles like this that Rochester residents kept up with the activities and interests of friends and neighbors. The stories Mrs. Chamberlain contributed to the newspaper provided townspeople with a social network long before Facebook and Twitter.

By Connie Eshbach

Health Collaborative Has Tri-Towns

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Rochester’s Board of Health on August 2 signed on to a Southcoast Public Health Collaborative Inter-Municipal Agreement that will allow Rochester to share healthcare resources with five other area towns: Westport, Mattapoisett, Marion, Lakeville and Freetown.

            The vote to join, however, came after board members asked critical questions about what autonomy the town might lose by becoming part of the pact.

            Board of Health Chairperson Sarah Tisdale Eby asked the first question: When will the collaborative’s grant funding run out? Board member Glenn Lawrence said the town entered into a similar cooperative agreement years ago, and in that case, promises didn’t come through. “I’m just very nervous about a ‘collaborative’ like this,” he said, asking for assurance that wouldn’t be the case this time.

            Matt Armendo, director of Public Health for the Town of Westport, assured the board that no control will be lost because the collaborative will remain locally controlled. Westport will be the lead community, not any state entity. “You are autonomous,” he emphasized. “You may withdraw at any time.”

            Armendo said the pact and its grant funding will last until at least 2033. The initial grant last year was $300,000, he said, and another $300,000 was received this year. A total of $132,000 will be added to that amount for 2024. A Shared Services coordinator, an administrative position, has already been hired. Shared inspectors will also be hired. The grant will fund salaries and other expenses. Each town will send a primary representative and an alternate to the collaborative board that will have public, posted meetings.

            Armendo said before the final approval vote that there will be no cost to the town to withdraw, except not being able to share its grant resources anymore.

            “The positive is we will get backup with our workload, our heavy workload,” Rochester Health Director Karen Walega said. “Knowing that I will have backup resources is worth its weight in gold.”

            In a recent meeting in which the Select Board agreed to the pact, Walega said her department would be able to hire a food inspector to replace one who is retiring.

            Next, the Board of Health met with state Tobacco and Marijuana Program Director Megan DaCosta to tweak the preferred version of state regulations regarding retail tobacco sales that the town will adopt.

            Highlights include deleting the regulations regarding blunt wrap cigarette wrappers as a way to discourage their sale in Rochester. DaCosta and the board also agreed that there shall be no more than seven tobacco-product sales permits in town at one time. New permits shall not be allowed within 500 feet of an existing tobacco retailer, nor within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school. Cigar bars, flavored tobacco and electronic, nicotine-delivery-system products will be prohibited. A tobacco-sales permit shall be suspended for seven days upon a second violation of regulations; 30-day suspension for a third violation.

            DaCosta said she will have a final draft of the regulations in time for the board’s September 6 meeting.

            The Rochester Board of Health scheduled its next two meetings for Wednesday, September 6, and Wednesday, October 4, at 4:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Board of Health

By Michael J. DeCicco

Survey Favors Historic District

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            Approximately 90% of survey respondents would like the Town of Marion to preserve its historic character, the Historic District Study Committee concluded at its August 4 public meeting.

            While the committee will host a public meeting on September 12 to further discuss what a bylaw and related regulations would entail, members said the responses were not as positive in connection to some of the detailed questions regarding demolition or other proposed regulations.

             The committee hopes to further gauge public opinion at the September 12 meeting, and Chairman Will Tifft plans on meeting with members of the Select Board to discuss the findings.

            “It will be an opportunity to engage public input with the results,” according to member Eric Dray. Although only 80 people responded to the mailed survey, that volume represents a high number for a public survey of that kind, according to Dray.

            “No survey (in town government) has gotten this response rate,” Tifft said.

            In addition to the September 12 meeting, the study committee also plans on an ambitious schedule that could lead to a bylaw and official historic district by next spring’s Town Meeting. Members said that the Warrant for the annual Town Meeting closes by March 1.

            The committee would plan on involving the Planning Board and then conducting some public hearings by March 1.

            The real challenge is getting more people involved and learning about the proposal before Town Meeting, study committee members say, noting that sometimes people do not learn about a new bylaw proposal and a proposed change until Town Meeting.

            Members hope to avoid that trend and that whatever change is proposed represents the interests of many people who want to preserve historic structures and areas in town.

Marion Historic District Study Committee

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Tri-Town Against Racism

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TTAR announces book selection for the September Community Read celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at the Elizabeth Taber Library in Marion on Saturday, September 23, at 10 am.

            The book Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo tells the story of one Dominican-American family told through the voices of its women as they await a gathering that will forever change their lives. Told with Elizabeth Acevedo’s inimitable and incandescent voice, this is an unforgettable portrait of sisters and cousins, aunts and nieces—one family’s journey through their history, helping them better navigate all that is to come.

            Tri-Town Against Racism is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to defending against racism within the community by providing education, promoting positive communication and listening to the voices of those affected.

            For more information or to RSVP, please visit www.tritownagainstracism.org. Refreshments will be served.