Weweantic River Bridge Construction

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MassDOT estimates that bridge construction over the Weweantic River will begin on February 23 and run through the end of the year. Hours of work are 7:00 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays. Work will start with tree clearing and erosion control in February, followed by bridge demolition and replacement through the remainder of the year.

            The contractor will use advanced warning signs, truck-mounted attenuators, arrow boards, traffic cones or reflectorized drums, temporary barriers, and police details for typical lane and shoulder closures. Drivers should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution. All work is weather-dependent and may be impacted by emergency situations. For any questions, please contact the District 5 Construction Office at 857-368-5104.

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club Scholarships

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The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club has announced two $2,500 scholarships available to Mattapoisett residents who are high school seniors planning to continue full-time studies at the college level.

            Scholarships applications are available in the guidance offices at Old Rochester Regional High School, Bishop Stang High School, Tabor Academy, Old Colony Vocational Technical High School, Bristol County Agricultural High School, and online at www.mattapoisettwomansclub.org (see Scholarships). Applications must be postmarked on or before March 31. Incomplete submissions or those received after the deadline will not be considered.

            The scholarships are made possible by fundraising events in our community. Membership in the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is open to any woman interested in furthering and supporting the philanthropic, academic, civic, and social goals of the organization.

Island Wharf Is a Trust, Not a Parking Lot.

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Dear Editor,

            Island Wharf Is a Trust, Not a Parking Lot. This article appeared in the February 5, 2026, edition of The Wanderer. At a recent meeting, the Marion Select Board discussed future regulation of Island Wharf, focusing on parking and use of the green space between the Music Hall and the Maritime Center.

            Island Wharf was given to Marion in 1901 “exclusively for a public purpose, not commercial.” That language is unambiguous, and it carries moral weight. The Select Board is not the owner of Island Wharf; it is its trustee. Trustees do not trade away a public inheritance for convenience.

            Garrett Hardin warned that commons are not destroyed by bad actors, but by reasonable people making small exceptions. One truck becomes another, one weekend becomes a season, and the damage becomes permanent. Grass compacted by heavy vehicles does not heal. The loss is quiet, incremental, and irreversible.

            To permit commercial vehicles, equipment, or boat storage on the green is to choose short-term accommodation over long-term responsibility. It is to spend down a shared asset that does not belong to any one business, visitor, or board, but to the entire town, including those not yet here to speak for it.

            Concern for local business is understandable. But Marion’s economy depends on its character, not its convenience. Once Island Wharf is scarred, no regulation will restore what was lost.

            Alternatives exist. The Sippican School, nearby church lots, and street parking can meet seasonal demand without sacrificing the green. The moral choice before the Select Board is simple: protect the commons now, or be remembered as the board that allowed it to be slowly erased.

            The Select Board’s Duty: Protect the Commons at Island Wharf.

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.

Art Speaks Volumes

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            February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate and a time to remember sacrifices made as well as challenges overcome and those still pending.

            It has been said that, when something bad happens, oftentimes something good can come out of that negative experience. No experience amplifies that point more clearly than the experience that John Excellent suffered through. On February 8, Excellent gave opening remarks at Tri-Town Against Racism’s Black History Month Creative Expressions Contest 2026. He told of a brutal attack he suffered and the subsequent search to find meaning in that horrific moment.

            Sometime later he found TTAR. He shared that, rather than dwell on that horror, he sought a venue of likeminded citizens coming together for positive change.

            TTAR began with a group of mothers whose children had experienced racism. They strove towards bringing such issues to a wider audience in the hope that all people, all races, all genders and gender identifications would have a voice. From their website, “Tri-Town Against Racism is dedicated to defending our community against racism through education, positive communication, and amplifying the voices of those impacted.”

            One of the many programs developed by TTAR is an annual art contest, now in its sixth year. Art produced by school-aged children (from first grade to 12th) shared their vision of inclusivity, positivity, and the power of art. The Mattapoisett Free Public Library hosted the exhibit, which includes art from some 30 junior and senior students from Old Rochester Regional Junior High School and ORRHS who submitted meaningful works.

            The older students used a collage-style format to blend art with examples of what specific leaders have accomplished in their lifetime.

            Many of the young artists selected civil-rights leaders focusing on the impact of these leaders for what has become a monumental movement for equality and inclusivity in our nation. The young artists also understand the struggle is not over as was evident in their artworks.

            Returning to points made by Excellent previously, he urged local citizens to start change “where you live.” From its 2020 start, TTAR has been doing just that with programs geared towards the youth in the communities.

            Winners were selected from the junior and senior classes. The 2026 winners are Noah Santos, Kenna Thompson, Jacoby Santos, Alex Amaral, and honorable mention, Mathew Crain.

            The exhibit featuring creative works may be viewed through March 1 at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library. To learn more about TTAR, you can visit tritownagainstracism.org.

Tri-Town Against Racism

By Marilou Newell

Rochester Historical Society News

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A reminder that we’re looking for membership dues from new, former or current members. This is a slow time of year for us, at least in terms of meetings (we are diligently working behind the scenes and always available), but that doesn’t stop some of our bigger bills from coming in. Think oil and insurance. That means any dues money would come in handy.

            Dues should be sent to: Rochester Historical Society, PO Box 322, Rochester, MA 02770. Individual is $20, Family is $20, Curator $50, Patron $75, Preservationist $100 and supporter $-.00.

            Please include name, address, phone number and if possible, email address. Thanks, and I hope everyone is staying warm.

Tri-County Symphonic Band

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On Sunday, February 15 at 3:00 pm, the Tri-County Symphonic Band, under the direction of Philip Sanborn, will offer a salute to the English composer Gustav Holst. Holst’s compositions for symphonic band have made him a cornerstone of the genre. His band music is celebrated for its rich orchestrations and use of English folk tunes. The concert will feature Holst’s iconic “First Suite in E-flat for Military Band”, “Second Suite in F for Military Band”, and “A Moorside Suite,” which are fundamental works for concert bands, showcasing vibrant harmonies and distinctive movements like marches, intermezzos, and folk song fantasias. There will be a suite of Christmas Carols written by Holt and arranged by Robert W. Smith. Holst’s tone poem “Hammersmith”, the last piece he composed for band, will also be performed.

            The concert will be held at the Keith Middle School Auditorium, 225 Hathaway Boulevard, New Bedford, MA 02740. Adult tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Children aged 12 and under admitted free. Tickets may be purchased in advance at The Symphony Music Shop in Dartmouth, The Marion General Store in Marion or online at https://tricountysymphonicband.org.

            Please visit tricountysymphonicband.org for more detailed information.

Rochester Women’s Club Scholarship Fundraiser

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On Saturday February 21, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm the Rochester Women’s Club will again be hosting its Left Right Center Scholarship Fundraiser. Join us at the American Legion Hall, 3 Depot Street in Mattapoisett.

            Join us for a fun afternoon of games, raffles and snacks. A $20.00 entrance fee will get you in the door. Winners keep all their cash.

            We will have $1.00 Games and $5.00 games. All proceeds from the entrance fee will go to our scholarship fund. Each year we award three Rochester graduating high school seniors with a $1,000.00 scholarship.

            Space is limited so get there on time to grab your table. Bring your own snacks and drinks or enjoy the ones we will be providing. The legion does not supply alcohol. This is a bring your own event.

ORRHS Drama Club to Perform ‘The Proposal’ for METG Festival

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Superintendent Michael S. Nelson and Principal Michael Devoll are proud to announce that the Old Rochester Regional High School Drama Club will present a modern adaptation of “The Proposal,” Anton Chekhov’s famous one-act comedy about complications and absurdities surrounding the business of love.

            The Old Rochester Regional High School Drama Club will first perform its modern adaptation of “The Proposal” in the preliminary round of the 2026 Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) High School Drama Festival on February 28 at Joseph Case High School, located at 70 School St. in Swansea.

            Then, the Drama Club is bringing it home to Old Rochester Regional High School to present “The Proposal” at 7:00 pm on March 6. Tickets will be on sale at the door for $5 each.

            “We’d like to wish our performing arts students the best of luck as they compete in the METG High School Drama Festival,” said Principal Devoll. “We also look forward to getting a chance to support the Drama Club on March 6 for its performance back at home.”

            “We always look forward to seeing the sets, the production and the performances of our ORR Drama Club students,” said Superintendent Nelson. “I’d like to offer my support as they continue to prepare for the METG Festival and the upcoming show at Old Rochester Regional High School on March 6.”

            Brayden Fanti, who became theater director at ORR last school year, wrote an “absurdist adaptation” of Chekhov’s “The Proposal” for his students to perform.

            The adaptation is a modern take on “The Proposal,” which starts off with a man named Lomov who asks for his neighbor’s hand in marriage, leading to a series of heated arguments and over-the-top meltdowns about trivial matters, such as pet ownership, property, pride and personal grievances.

            The ORR Drama Club’s performance of “The Proposal” in the preliminary round on February 28 will be judged by an expert panel on acting and technical design. Of 112 one-act plays that enter the festival, 14 will move on to the State Finals held on March 26 through March 28, with three ultimately named as winners of the competition. Two schools chosen from the METG State Finals will then go on to represent Massachusetts in the New England Drama Festival, a regional showcase of secondary school theatre.

            Fanti urged the community to come support the ORR Drama Club students at the March 6 performance and enjoy a night of hilarious comedic escapades.

            “The METG Festival is a wonderful experience for our students, and bringing the show back to ORR makes it even more special,” said Director Fanti. “Our students have been working hard preparing for this show, and they’ve done an incredible job embracing the style of acting needed to make this play work. They’re excited to share it with the community and to represent ORR at the METG Festival.”

Margaret A. Ferreira

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Margaret A. Ferreira, 81, of Mattapoisett, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2026, following her courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Born on January 5, 1945, Margaret was raised in New Bedford, the daughter of Clinton Rimmer and Anita (Rogers) Rimmer. She was the devoted wife of Thomas Ferreira for nearly 60 years.

Margaret grew up on Mount Pleasant Lane in New Bedford with her four sisters, with whom she shared cherished holidays, birthdays, date nights, and vacations throughout her lifetime. Her childhood home became the center of Rimmer family celebrations for decades as the sisterhood’s families grew.

A proud 1960 graduate of Holy Family High School, Margaret later attended Cape Cod Community College, where she met her future husband, Tom. They soon married and began their own family story. Margaret loved the charm of Cape Cod in both summer and winter and developed a deep appreciation for the ocean and the serenity of Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. She also enjoyed spending time at the lake in New Hampshire. She shared this love through many family outings to Cape beaches and restaurants, encouraging her children and grandchildren to explore and enjoy the region she held so dear.

Friendship was something Margaret truly treasured. Her friends meant a great deal to her, and she had a beautiful way of remembering shared moments, laughter, and meaningful conversations.

Margaret’s career was focused in the utility industry, where she worked for both New England Telephone and Eversource Energy. She valued the relationships and opportunities this work provided, including the chance to continue her education. In 1998, while working full time and attending night classes at Stonehill College, Margaret earned her Bachelor of Arts, a milestone achievement and a special moment for her.

Our mum was extraordinary in countless ways, with a spirit and energy that seemed to know no limits. She could sing, play the piano, be an artisan baker, prepare gourmet meals, play tennis, run road races, and cheer us on, both on and off the field. She was our closest confidant, our spiritual pillar, and often the one who simply listened without judgment. She was the person you wanted beside you for every meaningful moment in life, and someone of whom we are incredibly proud. She loved skiing at Mt. Sutton in Canada and found great joy in hosting dinners where family and friends felt truly welcomed. She was immensely proud of her grandchildren and cherished every moment spent with them. She always looked forward to lunches at The Pasta House with her sisters, traditions filled with laughter and connection. She embraced life fully and, above all, treasured being with her family, which was always closest to her heart.

Margaret faced Parkinson’s disease with strength and grace. Though the disease progressed, her spirit continued to shine through her bright blue eyes and her enduring love for family and friends. She was the light in our lives and will be missed dearly.

Margaret is survived by her four children: Mark and his wife Darlene of Winthrop; Jane Connolly of Sandwich; Kristen Ferreira of New Bedford; and Matthew and his wife Marisa of Richmond, Virginia. She was the proud and loving grandmother of seven grandchildren: Patrick, Sean, and Jack Connolly; Meghan Seguin-Ferreira; and Ben, Beau, and Brooke Ferreira. Margaret was predeceased by her son-in-law, Sean Connolly, whose memory remains a cherished part of the family.Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 13th at 11:00 AM in St. Anthony’s Church, 26 Hammond St. Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Marion Town Sticker Purchases

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Beginning on Wednesday, February 4, the following permits will be available for purchase in the Town Clerk’s Office at the Marion Town House Annex, 14 Barnabas Road:

-Marion Resident Beach/Parking Permits

-Marion Resident Transfer Station Permits

-Marion Resident Guest Passes

-Marion Shellfish Licenses

            These stickers will no longer be available at the Harbormaster Building.