ORR Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund

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Some of the most valuable tools Anne Realini picked up at the high-energy teaching conference held in the desert were related to phonics strategies – making learning to read and write in the classroom more fun for all her students, allowing them to master skills without even realizing it.

            “I think my favorite practice I brought back with me from the conference is the ‘Phonics Teacher Center,'” Realini said. “In small groups, each student gets a turn to be the teacher and leads their group mates through a phonics drill utilizing the Promethean board – manipulating the sounds and letters in words. The students love being in charge and teaching their friends. They’re all practicing critical phonics skills in a fun and very engaging way.”

            But perhaps the greatest result from her three-day trip – made possible by an $849 grant from the Old Rochester Regional Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund – was that the Rochester Memorial School educator underwent a mindset shift.

            She became more positive, focused and on fire for teaching. And she acquired skills that helped her foster a happier, more productive classroom environment for her students.

            “My colleagues loved hearing about the conference and were so happy with all of the strategies I shared with them,” Realini said. “The students were always very excited when I specifically told them we would be trying something I learned at the conference. They were always eager to give it a go. Sometimes, I would put practices into place without telling them it was from the conference, but I could see the positive changes and was motivated to keep them going.”

            The Old Rochester Regional School District and Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55 are pleased to share this story and the outcome of a total of more than $9,400 in private grants provided by the nonprofit Old Rochester Regional Tri-Town Education Foundation for the 2024-25 school year.

            The Old Rochester Regional Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund is a growing endowment under the umbrella of the SouthCoast Community Foundation. Supported by community donors, the fund helps educators pursue innovative, high-quality learning experiences for students throughout Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester.

            This is the third in a series of articles describing the impact of grants awarded by the Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund to support innovative teaching and student enrichment across the Old Rochester Regional School District and Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55.

            The $849 grant was awarded by the Tri-Town Education Foundation to Realini after she applied to the fund last year to attend the three-day Get Your Teach On (GYTO) conference that was held in January 2025, featuring hands-on workshops, networking and expert speakers.

            The goal of the annual GYTO conference is to provide Pre-K through sixth grade educators with high-impact, research-backed, evidence-based, best instructional practices, together with a boost of lasting inspiration and motivation, helping participants level up their teaching abilities, elevate classroom culture, and increase student engagement.

            The main theme of this year’s event was forming relationships with students, encouraging teachers to focus on issues that matter and that they can control. One of the messages delivered by GYTO conference co-founder Hope King was “don’t mistake busy for successful,” to instead “do less but better.” Teachers were encouraged to focus on action, consistency, tracking, reflection and making changes. They were told to avoid excuses and the blame game. And they were urged to remember that students deserve 180 days of their best teacher every school year.

            “Every teacher can be effective,” Realini said. “You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You have to do the key things that make a difference and do them better – and with consistency.”

            Early Childhood Coordinator Doreen Lopes said the Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund’s support of best teaching practices and professional development is ultimately a benefit for the students and their learning experience.

            “Investing in our educators means investing in our students,” Lopes said. “This professional development is empowering Anne to bring fresh, research-based strategies back to Rochester Memorial School, further strengthening the learning environment for all students.”

            Superintendent Michael S. Nelson said the Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund’s support reflects a shared commitment to excellence in teaching.

            “We are grateful to the Tri-Town Education Foundation for their support and for recognizing the importance of ongoing professional growth,” Superintendent Nelson said. “This opportunity will help support teacher innovation, collaboration, and the joyful learning experiences we want for every student.”

            To support future grant-funded programs like this one, community members are encouraged to donate to the Old Rochester Regional Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund.

Marion Art Center

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DATMA joins the Marion Art Center as they host the third installation of Being Seen: Celebrating Pride in the SouthCoast.  Being Seen is a monumental community tapestry created by over 100 SouthCoast residents from Fall River to Wareham. Over an 18-month period, this work travels throughout the region, concluding in November 2026. The indoor exhibition expands on the public art installation with additional context, honoring the LGBTQIA+ community through stories, archival materials, and recognition of local advocates. The exhibition features the legacy of figures such as David B. Boyce (1949–2014), memorialized in George Segal’s renowned sculpture The Gay Liberation Monument, as well as SouthCoast residents whose advocacy for Massachusetts’s Marriage Equality Act helped shape national progress.

            Call for Art: Answering Our Ancestors – The MAC announces an open call for art & ephemera that honors the joy, hopes, struggles, lives, and stories of the LGBTQIA+ community. Artists and members of the community are invited to submit work that answers the questions: How do we honor the queer ancestors who came before us to pave our path? When the world turns toward darkness, how do we let our joy shine? We are also seeking historical LGBTQIA+ ephemera and memorabilia specific to the SouthCoast region. Do you have any posters, pins, bar coasters, clothing, photographs, and artifacts that celebrate the stories and joy of the Queer community?

            The MAC will host the traveling indoor exhibition supporting Being Seen: Celebrating South Coast Pride from February 13 through March 13, with an opening celebration on Saturday, February 14, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the MAC, 80 Pleasant St. Marion. Artists may submit up to two pieces each; 2D and 3D are welcome. Video work will also be considered, but artists must provide their own AV equipment. Artists may choose to have their work travel to future exhibition sites in collaboration with DATMA’s Being Seen project. More information at marionartcenter.org.

                        MAC Movies will be screening Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt on Wednesday, February 11 at 7:00 pm at the MAC – 80 Pleasant St, Marion. The cost is $5 per person, Recommended for ages 13 and up. A tremendous, handmade monument to lives lost to AIDS, the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt demonstrated that grief and activism together could forge a powerful symbol of resilience. Winner of the Academy Award for best documentary feature, this moving film – buoyed by an original all-vocal score by Bobby McFerrin – explores the human stories obscured by statistics, examining the cross section of identities affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as efforts to combat the stigma, misinformation, and political obstruction that deepened the crisis.

            For more information and to book tickets: marionartcenter.org/events

Judith R. (Kelsey) Anthony

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Judith R. (Kelsey) Anthony, 86, of Mattapoisett passed away at home on Tuesday January 20, 2026 after a brief illness.

            Born and raised in Natick, the daughter of the late Edward and Rose (Gareau) Kelsey, she was a longtime resident of Mattapoisett.  She was a graduate of Natick High School, Class of 1957 and attended Mount Ida Junior College in Newton.

            Throughout her career, Judy worked in retail sales for various companies, including Jordan Marsh, Dutchmaid, Silverstein’s, The Cottage, and the Opulent Owl.  She had also been employed in food services at the Harbor Beach Club and Joseph’s Restaurant. She had later been the activities director for the Mattapoisett Council on Aging until her retirement.

            Active in local community activities, she served as an election registrar for the Town of Mattapoisett, as a board member of the Pine Island Cemetery, and participated in the Senior Work-off Program through the Mattapoisett Assessors Office.

            She was a very kind and caring person who was loved by all who met her.  She will be remembered by many by her favorite saying that she often shared, “I hope your day is as special as you are.”

            She is survived by her daughter, Diane R. Correia and her significant other, John Duffy of Carver; her granddaughter, Stephanie R. Correia of Wells, Maine; her sister-in-law, Mary Kelsey of Pennsylvania; her nephew, Andrew Kelsey; two nieces, Donna Beers and Kimberly Kelsey; and two great-nephews.

            She was predeceased by her husband, Charles Anthony, her stillborn son, Charles Edward Vosseler; her former husband and longtime friend, Charles Vosseler; and her brother, Richard Kelsey.

            Her family would like to give a special thank you to the staff of Community Nurse for the care and compassion provided to Judy during her illness.

            A private family burial service will take place in Pine Island Cemetery. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to American Cancer Society or National Celiac Foundation. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett.

William Edmund Riseley III

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William Edmund Riseley III, 75, passed away on January 11, 2026 after an extended illness at his home in Marion, MA. His wife, Kyle, was at his side. True to character, he took his lumps honorably and with optimism. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, “Trip,” as he was known to all, was always ready with a quip and a smile.

            Born in 1950 in Englewood, NJ to William Edmund Riseley Jr. and Jean (Legg) Riseley, Trip was raised in nearby Tenafly and spent summers at his grandfather’s farm in Shandaken, NY. He graduated from Ithaca College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. When he married his college sweetheart, Kyle, in 1974, they drove a green Volkswagen bug onto the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and began the first of thirty summers in Aquinnah and fifty-one years of marriage.

            His career was in finance and commercial lending. He spent 30 years as a banker in Fairfield County, Connecticut before moving to Massachusetts. At Cape and Coast Bank (formerly Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod) he helmed the commercial lending operations and retired in 2015 as Senior VP and Chief Commercial Lending Officer. He took great pride in helping businesses get on their feet, and his warm, good-humored and ethical approach served him well in his career.

            A Jersey boy who raised his family in Ridgefield, CT and retired to his beloved coastal Massachusetts, Trip could not shake his love for the New York Yankees. Even after years in Marion, he rooted for his beloved Yanks and insisted that anyone who truly loved the game would understand his loyalty. He was a gifted athlete himself all his life and he nurtured an appreciation for sports when he coached countless kids in baseball, basketball and eventually soccer. With his own kids, to one he passed on a love of sports; to the other, he recognized and encouraged an affinity for the arts.

            A lifelong lover of music, the house or car was always alive with sound. He listened closely across genres. His sense of humor was renowned and he had an easy way with people. He carried around a handful of alter egos and was known variously as Ace, Carmine, Almond Joy or Pops. His Donald Duck impression was stellar.

            He is survived by his wife, Kyle Wilhelmy Riseley; son, Will and wife Tara Worley Riseley of Boulder, CO, son, Ned and partner Ethan Philbrick of Brooklyn, NY; three grandchildren, Harriet, Louise, and Finn of Boulder, CO; sister, Barbara Schmeelk of Marietta, GA; brother-in-laws, Bob Wilhelmy and his wife Debbie of Midway, UT, Brad Wilhelmy of Raleigh, NC; sister-in-law Ginny Bloomquist and her husband Craig of Newtown, CT, sister-in-law Shirley Wilhelmy of Cary, NC, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. His brother, Robert A. Riseley, of Marietta, GA, predeceased him by two weeks.

            A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Sippican Land Trust, PO Box 848, Marion, MA 02738. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Richard A. Rucker

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Richard A. Rucker, 87, of Rochester passed away peacefully at home on Thursday January 15, 2026. He was the beloved husband of Gloria (Smith) Rucker for 60 years.

            Born and raised in New Bedford, the son of the late Charles E. and Alice (Cooper) Rucker, he lived in Rochester for the past 50 years.

            Richard was formerly employed as a stationary fireman for the Acushnet Company until his retirement.

            He served in the Army National Guard.

            He is survived by his wife Gloria; his children, Richard A. Rucker, Jr. and his companion Kathy Lutz, and Robin LaRose; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

            He was predeceased by his brothers, Charles and John Rucker.

            Private funeral arrangements are by Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett.

House Fire in Mattapoisett

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On Thursday morning, a fire broke out at the house on 5 North Street in Mattapoisett. At the three-story house subdivided into four apartments, one victim was rescued from the building and brought to the hospital with another being treated for smoke inhalation on-site. Other building residents evacuated or weren’t present but were accounted for.

            Firefighters climbed to a lower roof and used their water hose running from Marion’s ladder truck Engine 3 and an axe to break in through the wall.

            The Mattapoisett Fire Department stopped the fire with mutual aid from Acushnet, Fairhaven, Marion, Rochester, and Wareham.

            The resident at the hospital was said not to be in serious condition.

                  This is a developing story. The Wanderer is following it closely and will report updates when they are presented.

Town Meeting and Election Dates Set

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            Rochester’s Select Board on Tuesday approved the request from Bristol Asphalt, Co., Inc. for a Flammable Fluid License to store liquid asphalt at 99 Kings Highway that crowded the hearing room with concerned abutters in late December.

            In the last meeting of 2025, the plan to place two 15,000-gallon liquid asphalt tanks at the site drew abutters and their attorney, environmental lawyer George F. Hailer, who took issue with how much of a nuisance and fire hazard these tanks would impose on their residential neighborhood and asked the state fire marshal to get more involved. Town Administrator Cameron Durant began the January 20 hearing by informing them the permitting procedure does not start that way. It is the town’s responsibility to issue the permit, he said. Then the state fire marshal will be responsible for inspecting what is constructed and making sure the installation complies with safety and other regulations.

            Attorneys for the abutters continued to say the tanks are too close to some residences and should be inspected before being permitted. Fire Chief Scott Weigel assured attendees the tanks that will be installed are double-walled and in full compliance with regulations. “It can’t be inspected until it has a license,” Chair Adam Murphy added. Murphy noted questions on the design of the operation should have been addressed in the Planning Board and Conservation Commission approval stage, which the project has already been through.

            Next, the board decided against exercising the town’s right to purchase two lots covering High Street, County Road, Cross Road and Forbes Road and five acres off of Pierce St. Durant explained the Buzzards Bay Coalition was in the middle of negotiating with the landowner to transfer these properties to that land conservation group until the deal was recently called off. This freed the board to make its own decision, leading it to waive its rights to purchase the land.

            The meeting concluded with the board setting the town’s two most important 2026 dates. The Annual Town Meeting was set for May 18 and the Annual Town Election for May 27. The board also agreed that the deadline for submitting citizen petition articles for the annual meeting will be March 6. Durant added some stark budget news for FY2027 that the town meeting will have to tackle. He reported that as currently projected the town is looking at $600,000 budget deficit for the next fiscal year. “This is going to be a challenging year,” he said. “We’ll have to see how many wants we will need to set aside.” He noted FY2027 school budget numbers have yet to be received or accounted for.

            In other action, the board endorsed the Rochester Land Trust’s plan to seek funding for Americans With Disabilities Act related upgrades to one of the town’s walking trails, specifically widening the trail for wheelchairs and adding signage and benches.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, February 2 at 6:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Select Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

‘Poetry Became My Outlet’

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            ​Last month, we reported on a local poet, Isabel Friedrichs of Rochester, who had just self-published her first collection. We caught up with Isabel, following the release of The Blue Series: Poems on Love, Loss, and Learning to Heal and her having returned to Worcester Polytechnic Institute for her final semester before graduating with a degree in Environmental Engineering.

            Friedrichs’ story is not dissimilar to many others, but her usage of her art as a coping mechanism and outlet for her feeling show that even analytical fields, seemingly devoid of art from the outside, still contain those expressive individuals who yearn to create. It is also telling the power of local teachers, notably Nathan Orie, Michael Beson, and Merrideth Wickman were all called out for their inspiration to Friedrichs and their honing of her interest in English Arts, which still persists even with her dedication to STEM and Environmental Science.

            The following are the words direct from The Wanderer’s interview with Friedrichs, as any alteration of such seems a disservice to her and her work.

            Q: “What was your inspiration to release the book, to actually take your poetry and put it out there?”

            A: “It has been a long time coming, but it was almost impulsive to just pull the trigger to publish. I had told myself that I would publish it once I graduate, but then one day this fall I just had the thought, why not now? I had looked into the publishing process and Amazon said, ‘72 hours after you submit your manuscript, your book will be ready to purchase.’ So, I decided now is as good a time as any. I was basically done staying quiet, I was done being scared, I was done being embarrassed of the things that had happened to me, and I was ready to do that in as loud of a way as I could.

            “I have been through a lot between now and in middle school when I started writing, and for a while I thought that being quiet, not causing any trouble, not saying anything about my experiences would be best. I spent years, through to the first couple years of college submitting myself to the stigma around mental health and sexual assault and grief and all of those heavy topics, and I did not talk about it with anyone – so my poetry became my outlet.”

            Q: “When you started writing poetry in high school (or was it earlier?), did you foresee yourself eventually publishing it?”

            A: “I started writing in middle school, actually. My English teacher, Mr. Orie at ORR (Old Rochester Regional), encouraged us to explore and study different aspects of our creativity with writing. Back then I would never have predicted that I would write a whole book.

            “I think I wrote a few poems throughout middle school and high school for assignments and for various creative writing courses, but when I got to college, I didn’t have any assignments that were poetry based, so I continued on my own. I think I just used poetry as an outlet for all of my big, scary emotions that I was feeling and never would have thought myself brave enough to share with the whole world. I barely shared my poetry with anyone, even up until publication, but now, anyone that wants to can read my words, and I have found it to be freeing. I spent so many years writing and keeping quiet that it feels like a weight off my shoulders to finally have the words out there.”

            Q: “Another inspiration question: What do you see as main inspirations in writing? I’m sure life has changed between high school and college. How did that change things?”

            A: “I love poetry so much because it takes those big, scary feelings and thoughts and just puts them on the page, right out front for everyone to see them. I think those emotions and thoughts as well as nature and the beauty in everyday life are my main inspirations.

            “Growing up, I have always been ‘sensitive’ and I cry easily, but I’ve learned to love my big feelings and emotions. Just the act of publishing this book is showing that it takes strength to be soft. Another big inspiration of mine is other poetry authors like Courtney Peppernell and Whitney Hanson, who have written books that deeply impacted my writing. My education as I mentioned earlier also shaped me to be more comfortable in exploring my creativity; Mr. Orie in middle school and Mr. Beson and Ms. Wickman in high school really pushed me to want to keep writing.

            “I am attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute, studying Environmental Engineering. So, going away to college is a continuous struggle between my yearning for the art world and my studies in STEM. I definitely felt like I didn’t belong, but I soon learned to use my artwork as a coping mechanism at the school that seems to never rest. All the things that change when people grow up came with my high-school-to-college transition, as I’m sure I will get hit with another wave in my post-college transition, and I hope that other young people like me can feel a little less alone after reading my book.”

            Isabel’s book, The Blue Series: Poems on Love, Loss, and Learning to Heal, is available on Amazon.

Local Poet Isabel Friedrichs Interview

By Sam Bishop

Rochester Historical Society Membership Drive

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It’s that time of year when we reach out to current members and the community to either renew memberships or perhaps join for the first time. We’re planning a busy and historic 2026 season, including events at the Museum on County Rd. and in conjunction with Plumb Library and other community members. Our 1st Wednesday night meeting will be on April 15th at 7:00 at the Historical Museum at 355 County Rd.

            Membership forms can be sent to Rochester Historical Society Box # 322 Rochester, MA 02770. Your check should be made out to the Rochester Historical Society.

            The levels of membership are:         Individual   $12.00, Family $20.00, Donation: Curator     $50.00, Patron $75.00, Preservationist $100.00, Supporter $__.00

            Please, include your name, address, and if possible, an email.

Richard A. Gamache

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Richard A. Gamache, 81, of Mattapoisett died January 9, 2026 peacefully at St. Luke’s Hospital.
He was the husband of Sharon A. (Santos) Gamache.
Born in New Bedford, son of the late Maurice and Janet (Galloway) Gamache, he lived in Mattapoisett most of his life.
He was formerly employed as the CFO of Julius Koch for over 30 years until his retirement.
Mr. Gamache served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
He enjoyed sailing and racing his boat, golfing and coaching youth sports.
Survivors include his wife Sharon; a son, Kevin Gamache and his wife Kate of Holliston; a daughter-in-law, Christine Gamache of Milton; 4 grandchildren, Emma, Lily, Christian and Tyler Gamache; and several cousins.
He was the father of the late Scott Gamache.
His visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, January 28th from 4-7 pm in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Southcoast Health Cancer Care 206 Mill Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719. For online guestbook please visit www.saundersdwyer.com