Anthony Joseph Almeida Jr.

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Anthony Joseph Almeida Jr., “Tony”, of Mattapoisett passed away peacefully Monday, February 3rd, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband to Karen Almeida (Bailey), and father to Gillian Almeida and her wife April Almeida, Gayle Almeida Murphy and her husband JP Murphy and Gabrielle Almeida.

            Born on February 8th, 1961 in Melrose, MA son of Anthony Joseph Almeida Sr. and Gail Almeida (Kilgore). Tony was a wonderful son in law to Russell and his late wife Elizabeth (Betty) Bailey. He was brother to Michael Almeida, Dawna Almeida and Natalie Normand.

            Tony grew up in Fairhaven, graduating from Fairhaven High School, class of 1979. Tony received a Bachelor’s Degree from Northeastern University of Engineering and went on to work at Sippican Inc. later becoming Lockheed Martin. Tony’s dedication and commitment led him to work for the organization for 42 years.

            Tony and Karen married on September 11th, 1982. They enjoyed traveling, long walks, especially on Horseneck Beach and the Cliffwalk (Newport, RI), beach days, and gardening. They both always agreed that their greatest accomplishment was having their three daughters, Gillian, Gayle and Gabrielle.

            “Good Time Tony” was a nickname quickly established after his inability to say no to his grandchildren that he adored, Leah Murphy, Jack Murphy, Cameron Almeida, Caleb Almeida and Cali Tribou. He cherished every moment spent with them. Their laughter and love brought him joy, comfort and pride.

            Tony was a man of tireless work ethic and determination, always giving his best to provide for his family and accomplished whatever he set his mind to. He enjoyed swimming, music, dancing and staying active. He was a competitive person who loved participating in any and all sports. Outside of his primary job Tony always had a project in building and renovating homes. Tony was one of a kind and will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

            Funeral services were private. Donations can be made in Tony’s memory at psp.org. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com

James E. Barrett

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James E. Barrett, 80, of Mattapoisett died Monday, February 10, 2025 at St. Luke’s Hospital after a period of declining health. He was the husband of Nancy E. (Breton) Barrett, with whom he shared 54 years of marriage.

            Born in New Bedford, son of the late Edward and Yvonne (Masse) Barrett, he lived in New Bedford for many years before moving to Mattapoisett.

            Jim was a graduate of New Bedford Vocational High School, class of 1963, where he was in the carpentry shop.

            He was the proprietor of Barrett Custom Cabinetry for many years. Prior to that, he was employed by Brownell Boat Yard and Wayne Walega of New Design Kitchens.

            Jim was a member of The Wampanoag Kennel Club, Pilgrim Doberman Pinscher Club, and The Doberman Pinscher Club of America.

            A longtime Doberman Pinscher breeder, his dogs were like children to him. He enjoyed traveling to dog shows with Nancy in their RV, attending family parties, and cooking.

            He is survived by his wife, Nancy; 3 brothers, Rene Barrett and his wife Dawne of Easton, Edward Barrett and his wife Evelyn of Lakeville, and Charles Barrett and his wife Cheryl of Dartmouth; 3 sisters, Jeanine Sasseville and her husband Gene of New Bedford, Claire Tellier and her husband John of Norwich, CT, and Celeste Paleologos and her husband Phil of New Bedford; his sisters-in-law, Patti Barrett of Milford and Patricia Nicholson of Mattapoisett; 3 Godchildren, Christine Penny of Milford, Paul Cormier of Acushnet, and Michael Dube of California; Glenn Silva, who was like a son to Jim and Nancy; and many nieces and nephews.

            He was predeceased by his brothers, Marc, Richard, and Roland Barrett.

            His Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 11 am at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 121 Mt. Pleasant St., New Bedford. His family will receive guests at Church from 10-11 am, prior to the Mass. Burial will be held privately at a later date. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Going Over The Waterfront

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A virtual meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board (MAB) was held Thursday, January 30 through Zoom. The board began by approving minutes from the last meeting and then discussed the archival of data and previous plans read by and presented to the board. It was argued, rather than storing this information in a home, they should be stored in a central location. Board Chair Carlos DeSousa said this would be decided and approved by the clerk’s office. The discussion of how old the held information should be was also held, with discussion of whether the plans should be kept from projects from 2009 and before – those now being over 15 years old.

            The next discussion was on the Long Wharf project update. It was discussed that designs have the wharf being able to hold a 20-ton crane, with the board feeling the crane should be a 50-ton, being able to support larger workloads and hold heavier boats without collapsing.

            The next item was the Waterfront Management Plan. The conversation revolved around public water access and parking, particularly along Ship Street, Cove Street, and other waterfront locations. Concerns were raised about public access to the water and whether there are clear records or regulations regarding these spaces. Some paths have become overgrown, and others are restricted by private properties. The board stressed the need to formalize plans to ensure proper access and property access.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board will be Thursday, February 27 at 7:00 pm in Town Hall.

Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board

By: Sam Bishop

What do we know about Bird Flu?

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There are many influenza viruses. A and B are the main causes of seasonal flu outbreaks and while B only infects humans, influenza A can infect many bird and animal species.

            A given influenza virus is identified by two proteins found on its surface, H and N. The common viruses causing winter influenzas are H1N1 and H3N2. The “bird flu” is H5N1.

            When bird flu first appeared, it was thought to be a risk primarily to birds and was felt unlikely to infect people. Infecting birds is bad enough: the current outbreak among chickens has been a major cause of diminishing supply and increasing price of eggs. The infected flock must be slaughtered, so chicken also becomes scarcer and more expensive.

            The story has gotten worse. H5N1 can clearly spread readily to dairy cattle; there have been major herd outbreaks around the U.S. It can also spread to cats, both wild and domestic and other animals.

            From cattle, there has been spread to humans, so far rare and sporadic. Since 1997, there have been about 1000 proven human cases world-wide, reported from 23 countries. More than half of these have died, and this number is clearly an undercount, since testing for H5N1 is not routinely done.

            In the U.S. since the start of 2024 there have been 66 proven cases of bird flu, most in dairy workers, and one death. One 13-year-old girl required life support but recovered.

            So far, no human-to-human spread has been seen, but as we have learned, viruses mutate, and it would not be a shock for a mutation to appear that would allow this to happen.

            Oseltamivir (“Tamiflu”) has been approved to treat H5N1 based on very little data. This drug has been available since 1999 to treat seasonal flu but is not that effective for most patients. Studies have shown that it shortens symptoms of influenza by a day. It does have benefit in very sick influenza patients, reducing the death rate by almost half.

            A vaccine is available, but there are only a few million doses stockpiled and if the H5N1 mutates to spread human-to-human, the vaccine may need to be modified.

            What should you do?

            Avoid raw milk, which transmits H5N1 (as well as many other nasty infections!) and raw meat, and do not feed raw meat to your pets. Pasteurized milk is safe, as is properly-cooked meat.

            Do not touch sick birds; call your animal control officer, who will know how to safely handle them.

            Edward Hoffer MD is Associate Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard.

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Edward Hoffer

February School Vacation Workshops at the MAC

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The MAC will once again host school vacation workshops Monday February 17th through Thursday February 20 for ages 5-8 years old. The cost for each workshop is $35 for MAC members and $40 for nonmembers. Instructors Benares Angeley and Aylin Cetik will guide your child through the following activities:

            Circus Camp – Monday, February 17, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm: Tumbling trapeze artists, roaring lions, and so much more at this fun and engaging circus-themed camp

            Science & Art – Tuesday, February 18 10:00 am to 12:00 pm: Students will make their own robot that really draws, experiment with exploding paint colors, and build glow-in-the-dark sculptures.

            Playful Prints – Tuesday, February 18 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Students will explore the art of monoprinting and will create handmade cars, original works of frame-worthy art and more.

            Mixed Up & Messy. – Wednesday, February 19 10:00 am to 12:00 pm: Students will get really hands-on and a little messy through experiments with paint, clay paper collage, glue, string and more.

            Faces & Places – Wednesday, February 19 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Students will explore the art of the self-portrait in this cool class. They will learn the best artistic techniques for drawing faces, learn to mix shades and tints of paints, and add collage details with paper cut-outs.

            Who Let the Bugs Out?. – Thursday, February 20 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Students will crawl, flutter, and buzz their way into a world of whimsical insect creations. The kids will unleash their imaginations to design and construct colorful cardboard insects, create stunning, one-of-a-kind dye-dipped beetles using vibrant colors and unique folding techniques. Learn more and register online at marionartcenter.org/events.

            MAC Dance Academy offers Winter sessions on Mondays for Preschool ages (2.5-5): 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm; Beginner (5-8): 5:00 pm to 5:45 pm and Intermediate (8-10): 5:45 pm to 6:30 pm. These sessions run from January 27-March 3 with no class on February 17. $105-$150 for MAC members $120-$175 for non-members, depending on age, as the length of each level differs. Classes can be joined at any time with classes pro-rated. This low-key, low-cost program provides extraordinary dance instruction in ballet, tap, and jazz, and also touches on contemporary, hip-hop, and gymnastics, all in a safe, fun learning environment. The Spring Sessions start Monday, March 4th-June 9 with no classes on April 21 and May 6. The cost for the 10 classes ranges $205-$295 for MAC members and $235-$345 for non-members. marionartcenter.org/mac-dance-academy

            Guitar, Piano, & More All Ages and Levels (Adults too.) The MAC and Instructor Colin Bradley have added availability for music instruction for adults and children. The Winter session (5 weeks) runs from January 21-February 27th (Tue, Wed, or Thurs) with no lessons February 18-20. Classes can be enrolled at any time and pro-rated to actual attendance. Spring Session One (5 weeks) runs March 18 – April 17, and Spring Session Two (5 weeks) runs from April 29-May 29. The cost for each 5 week period is $175 for MAC members and $195 for non-members.

            Half hour lessons are scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-7:00pm in the MAC’s upstairs gallery space. Students attend one day per week. Find more information at: marionartcenter.org/kids-music-lessons, or for adults: marionartcenter.org/adult-music-dance.

Mattapoisett Annual Census

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Annual Census Forms have been mailed out to all households in Mattapoisett. If you did not receive one, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-758-4100 X 2. Please return them as promptly as possible, as failure to respond to the census may result in removal from the voting list. Dog license applications are on the bottom of the census form. If you send in a check for the appropriate fee, we would be happy to mail the license out to you. Licenses are $12, or $9 if your pet is spayed or neutered. Remember, we must have a copy of a current rabies certificate on file to issue a 2025 license. Payments may be made online through our town website at www.mattapoisett.net. Census responses may be placed in the blue drop box in front of town hall or mailed using the return envelope which was included.

Caroline Rose Friedman

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Caroline Rose Friedman of Barrington Rhode Island passed away unexpectedly on February 4th, 2025, after a joy-filled but very challenging life complicated by her many medical issues. Make no mistake, Caroline packed a lot of fun into her short life. Caroline was a true warrior and a gift to all she met.

            Caroline is survived by her loving parents Theodore “Ted” and Elizabeth “Betsy” Friedman; younger sister Addison “Addy”; dogs Daisy and Piper; grandmothers Shari Friedman of Barrington, RI and Kathy McGowan of Mattapoisett, Mass and Venice, Fla; Grandfather Robert (Deborah) Friedman of New York City; aunts Katie Emche (James) of Ocean Pines, Md; Marya Dunham (John) of Mattapoisett, Mass; and Kerry McNulty (Brian) of Duxbury, Mass; uncles Dan (Robyn) Friedman of Maplewood, NJ and Eric (Kate) Friedman of Washington DC; Caroline was predeceased by her paternal grandfather Charles McGowan and uncle Peter McGowan. Additionally, Caroline had a host of loving and adored cousins; Jake (Gabby), Phoebe, Elizabeth, Matthew, Kathleen, Kate, Izzy, Oliver (Jane), Carsyn, Owen, Grayson and Finley. Family was the center of Caroline’s world and she showered them all with her unlimited love.

            Born in Providence, RI, Caroline raced into this world two months early and had medical challenges from day one. She spent her first four months surrounded by her parents, family, and exceptional caregivers at Women & Infants NICU & Boston Children’s Hospital as she underwent open heart surgery and a host of other procedures. It was a very rocky first decade, but she persevered. Immediately Caroline captured everyone’s attention with her fierce determination that defied all the odds.

            Caroline’s pure and generous spirit, coupled with her willingness to share herself with you, was truly captivating. Time with Caroline was a joyous, full-sensory experience. She would tell you a story, lock in on you to hold your attention, get up in your space, share her photos, ask you questions, share laughs and wave others away. It always felt like an honor to be singled out of the pack as the object of her affection. For Caroline, time spent at the beach in Mattapoisett with friends and family was time well spent. The beach was her happy place. Caroline thrived in social gatherings, large or small with those closest to her. She  connected her large extended family daily through her two group texts: “Family Funhouse” and “Friedmans are bomb.” A popular message on the Funhouse group chat from Caroline was, “Good afternoon, everyone, how is your day going?” She brightened our days with her kind words, thoughts on life and questions to the family. Facetime was the preferred way of communication because she always wanted the full experience of seeing you if you were not lucky enough to be together. A social media maven at heart, Caroline also enjoyed managing multiple accounts chronicling her adventures and her pets.

            Life for this remarkable woman was not without complications. The 21 years we had with Caroline were only possible through miracles of modern medical science. We nearly lost her a few times, especially in her early years. For her first 12 years, Betsy & Ted had to mix lifesaving medication every 24 hours, which was then pumped into a central line, straight into her heart. That medication had to be on ice, dispensed from a very small backpack to keep this courageous and special child alive. The backpack that she wore with confidence every day was her first fashion statement. She learned to crawl, sit up and then to walk, all while hooked up to oxygen and her backpack.

            Her doctors in Rhode Island and Boston were passionate about her care and gave her their very best treatment, time and attention. They too were captivated by her charm and irresistible personality. Caroline’s ability to personally connect with all the specialists she saw regularly, whether checking her in at a doctor’s appointment or trying to draw blood from her in the hospital, was unbelievable. Once when she was at Boston Children’s Hospital for an especially long time, Caroline decided she would brighten people’s days by decorating stethoscopes – wrapping them in crazy patterns of duct tape. Doctors & nurses came from all over the hospital to drop theirs off at the foot of her bed and come back to pick it up later! She was always a force to be reckoned with whenever she discovered a new interest!

            Caroline never allowed her limitations to dampen her spirit. She demanded to swim like everyone else – so her first bathing suit was a custom-made drysuit to keep her backpack dry. A couple of years ago, she wanted to work at Oxford Creamery – her favorite ice cream spot in Mattapoisett, so she asked the owners for a job. Like everyone else, they quickly fell under her spell, and she enjoyed two incredible summers working for the best bosses around. The added benefit of the possibility of a lobster roll at the end of her shift, was always a perk!

            We will always remember Caroline’s love for ice cream, lobster rolls (at any time and any price), singing and dancing to music (Taylor Swift, Queen, Mylie Cyrus, Katy Perry and Chappell Roan), saying “Music is my life” and then laughing because she knew it would make others laugh too. She loved eating sushi, building the perfect charcuterie board, planning parties and trips, playing Unified Basketball (“Can’t Miss Caroline” was her nickname), participating in Unified Theater at Barrington High School, watching Jimmy Fallon, and drinking as many French Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffees from Dunkin (or Pink Drinks… or another from a rotating list of drinks at Starbucks) as she could convince anyone to buy for her. She was always taking pictures of her family and friends, making funny videos, crafting homemade ice cream, sending out endless sunset and cute dog pictures and documenting her quest to add to her large and small kitchen gadget collection.

            Caroline’s strength, perseverance and enthusiasm for life were legendary. She was a beacon of light and beamed positivity. Her radiant smile and warm presence revealed the love she had for everyone around her. She brought out the best in everyone and simply made you a better human just by being in her orbit. Sunshine, joy, laughter and so much kindness all wrapped up in one small person.

            We will celebrate Caroline’s remarkable life and tremendous legacy with a party fit for the ultimate party planner herself at the beach next summer – exactly as she would have loved. The family would like to say a very special thank you to her unbelievable pediatrician Dr Kevin Clegg of Barrington Pediatrics and her Cardiologist/Pulmonary Hypertension Specialist Dr Mary Mullen of Boston Children’s Hospital who helped guide all of Caroline’s tremendous and very complicated care so lovingly for over 21 years.

            In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Caroline’s name to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

            “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it is the life in your years” – Abraham Lincoln.

            Please visit www.smithmason.com for online condolences.

Farm Conservation Plan Review Required for Wetland Project

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Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday said “not so fast” to the withdrawal of a Notice of Intent application to convert a wetlands swamp at 224 North Avenue into a wildlife and aquatic habitat, agricultural drainage area, and fire emergency pond.

            The petition was axed just prior to the board’s February 4 meeting after Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly consulted with the DEP and concluded the work was exempted from wetlands bylaw restrictions because it is 61A agricultural land. During the meeting, the board declared that applicant and farmer Cody Wood still has to seek its permission to do this work.

            Commission member Ben Bailey said his research reveals that Wood must submit a Farm Conservation Plan that the board must review and approve. He said exemptions from wetlands bylaw restrictions do not include the creation of a pond, only the expansion or reconstruction of an existing one. “It’s not something he can just do on his own,” Bailey said.

            The other board members agreed. Commission Chair Christopher Gerrior said review of such a conservation plan would then need to be followed by a Notice of Intent application. He added that the pond creation needs to be an integral part of the kind of farming the applicant is planning. “He needs to describe what he wants to do there,” Gerrior said.

            “He has to go through those hoops,” Bailey added.

            Gerrior instructed Kelly and administrative assistant Danielle Craig to immediately inform Wood in writing of what he must do and find out if he already has a written farm plan.

            In other action, the board issued a Certificate of Compliance marking the successful completion of the Order of Conditions for the construction of a new storage shed and yard improvements at 129 Dexter Lane.

            The board issued a Certificate of Compliance endorsing the successful completion of the Order of Conditions for the construction of a new residence and associated work for property owned by Joel C. Sullivan on High Street.

            The board learned state engineering consultants will be studying the railroad track embankment near SEMASS as part of a project to detect why a recent track embankment failure and collapse occurred. Engineering consultant Ellen Douglas explained via Zoom that a serious embankment failure occurred in Sandwich on October 27, 2020. The study will assess whether climate change is affecting Massachusetts rail infrastructure this way. Drought conditions may have caused the 2020 collapse. This Cape Cod Rail Resilience Research project will be funded totally by state funds, she said. Two other Cape Cod locations are also being studied.

            The next Conservation Commission meeting will be on February 18 at 7:00 pm, at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By: Michael J. DeCicco

Clowns, Trains and Monkeys

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As I was saying…

            Since the new year began, I have made every effort to ignore the world around me, locally and nationally. I have attempted to just chill out and relax sitting by the fire catching up on reading my collection of last year’s Christmas gift books. It hasn’t been easy.

            If I glance at my phone to check the weather, I find out that the polar vortex has caused dangerous cold (as if I hadn’t noticed). There are endless alerts to an egg-shortage due to bird flu; that the world’s largest iceberg is about to collide with an island in Britain and wipe out the penguins and seals; and that the doomsday clock is getting closer to twelve.

            I’m reminded there are wars in the east or terrible wildfires in the west. It has been especially hard to avoid the shenanigans in Washington, D.C. It seems the usual circus has expanded down there. The clown car appears to have a new coat of bright red paint and brand-new tires ready to spin its wheels around the beltway and beyond.

            Congress of course…well let us not talk about that anymore, although I have already heard one pundit suggest that a “monkey could do their job.”

            Well, maybe one can. Meet Mr. Wide and Jack.

            James Edwin Wide…a man…and his friend Jack…a monkey lived in South Africa in the 1800’s. Jack, to be precise, was a baboon (but let’s not quibble).

            Mr. Wide was a signalman for the local railroad. When the trains announced their arrival at the station with a series of whistles, Mr. Wide’s job was to push and pull assorted levers changing the direction of the tracks, ensuring the train would arrive at the proper spot safely. It was a very important job.

            One day at the market Mr. Wide spotted the baboon pulling an oxcart. Impressed, he purchased the monkey, named him Jack, and proceeded to train it to clean his house, wake him up in the morning, and wheel him to the train station in a small trolley. Did I mention Mr. Wide had no legs thanks to an accident on the job? This made Mr. Wide’s life much easier.

            One day Jack failed to wake Mr. Wide. Being a very smart monkey, he arrived at the station alone and performed Mr. Wide’s job of pushing and pulling levers without incident. No one seemed to notice and after a few days of this Mr. Wide, discovering what Jack was up to, let him continue to guide the train safely into the station…until a passenger complained.

            Investigators from the railroad company arrived to witness Jack’s amazing ability and decided to keep him on the job. Mr. Wide would continue to receive his pay as Jack’s “supervisor.” Jack would also get paid in beer plus 20 cents per week.

            Yes, this is a true story! You can’t make this stuff up.

            Jack continued to do his job for nearly 10 years without any mistakes (thankfully!) while Mr. Wide would pursue his hobby of taxidermy. (Maybe Jack noticed early on what Mr. Wide’s hobby was).

            Jack passed away in 1890 of tuberculosis. His skull now resides in the Albany Museum in Grahamstown, South America.

            Perhaps the clowns in Washington ought to take heed.

            Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and happily retired writer. His newspaper columns appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.

Thoughts on…

By Dick Morgado

Summer Programs at the MAC

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The MAC has opened registration to members for the ArtStart 2025. ArtStart is the MAC’s summer art program for children ages 4 1/2 to 9 years, offered in June and July each year. ArtStart teachers are specialists in music, dance, theater, and art, most of whom teach throughout the year and are professionals in their fields. Activities include arts and crafts, theater, music, games, and storytelling.

            The schedule for 2025 is Session 1: Monday, June 23 – Friday, June 27;

Session 2: Monday, June 30 – Thursday, July 3 (4 days, no camp July 4);

Session 3: Monday, July 7 – Friday, July 11;

Session 4: Monday, July 14 – Friday, July 18;

Session 5: Monday, July 21 – Friday, July 25. The cost for the 5-day session: MAC Members: $255, Non-members: $295; cost for the 4-day session is: MAC Members: $205, Non-members: $240. Registration for non-members will begin on February 18. More information is available at: marionartcenter.org/artstart.

            Dungeons & Dragons: Our participants are immersed in a week-long journey of creative storytelling and thrilling improvisation with the Guild of Imagination’s five-day Dungeons & Dragons program. Players will craft their own unique hero and embark on a fantastical adventure. With a focus on encouraging creativity, teamwork, and problem solving, Dungeons & Dragons ignites imaginations and nurtures storytelling skills. This unforgettable experience will forge friendships in a safe and supportive environment and create memories that will last a lifetime. Session 1: July 28 – August 1; Session 2: August 4 – August 8 MAC. Members: $250, Non-members: $285. More information at: marionartcenter.org/d-and-d.

            All Things Art is an immersive weeklong program which takes place in late summer and is geared toward young artists ages 10-15. During their time in the Art Studio, young artists will experiment with a number of practices, techniques and media such as drawing, sculpting, printmaking, fiber arts, working with clay, and more. Learn how to talk about art making and what inspires one’s creative choices.

            The All Things Art Schedule for 2025: Session 1 – Monday, July 28 – Friday, August 1; Session 2 – Monday, August 4 – Friday, August 8; Session 3 – Monday, August 11 – Friday, August 15. Cost: MAC Members: $250, Non-members: $290, plus a $55 materials fee per student each week. For more information and to register: marionartcenter.org/all-things-art