Doris Ann Moore Gray

on

Doris Ann Moore Gray, age 93, of Trumbull,CT passed away January 25, 2025 surrounded by family. She was born on October 23, 1931 in New Rochelle, NY to the late Harvey and Olga Moore. She graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 1949. She worked at Blair Company, married John T. Gray at Huguenot Memorial Church in Pelham Manor, NY on December 4, 1954. She was a secretary in the guidance office at PMHS from 1974-1987.

            Doris was a former Deacon, Elder and Sunday school teacher at Hugeunot Memorial Church. She was also a member of Mattapoisett Congregational Church in Mattapoisett, MA.

            Doris enjoyed going to church, daily devotions, cooking, gardening, golfing, playing Bridge and spending time with her family. Her pride and joy were her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

            In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her daughter Susan Leslie Gray Cmejla, her grandson Craig S. Lancaster and her sister Lillian Graham.

            Survivors include her beloved husband John T. Gray; her devoted children William Alexander Gray (Lynnette Cubeta Gray), Linda Gray Connolly (Jay Connolly), Karen H. Gray (Tracy Djerf), loving grandchildren, William, John and Lauren Gray, Kelsey Connolly Crawford (Ben Crawford), Ian William Connolly, Keith Lancaster ,Jenny Cmejla Herbst (Gregg Herbst) and Jeff Cmejla, her cherished great grandchildren Charlotte and Jack Crawford, and Caylin and Ashlyn Herbst and her granddogs Lincoln and Silas.

            There will be a celebration of life for her on Saturday, February 1st at 11:00 am at Mattapoisett Congregational Church, 27 Church Street Mattapoisett, MA 02739.

            Interment in the Spring at Huguenot Memorial Church, 901 Pelhamdale Ave. Pelham Manor, NY.

            Memorial contributions may be made to ASPCA (secure.aspca.org) or Moby Kit Rescue (Mobykitrescue.org)

            Arrangements in care of the Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Rd. Trumbull, CT. For more information or to leave an online condolence please visit www.mullinsfh.com.

Not An ADU

on

Coming before the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals on January 16 was architect Charles Rose representing clients Paul and Bettina Henderson, 2 Shipyard Lane. Requesting a Variance to retrofit a garage into additional living space to accommodate a growing family, Rose said the changes would not include a kitchen.

            Rose said that two bays of the three bay garage are not utilized presently and that the conversion would give the family two more bedrooms. The main home building, which is not part of the plan, would maintain its historic façade, the board was told. Rose said the Variance was required primarily because the garage sits on the lot line.

            Member Aaron Goldberg objected to the plan as presented saying it could potentially set the town up for shed conversions. He said that given the number of sheds on lot lines, approving this plan could set the town up for many more structures on small lots, “We’d be setting a precedent.” He warned that with ADUs coming more and more smaller lots could find stand-alone structures being requested on undersized lots. But Chairman Susan Akin said to date no applications for ADUs had been filed. Goldberg held fast to his stated concerns.

            Akin, along with members Colby Rottler and Tony Tranfaglia disagreed with Goldberg stating that cases are taken on their individual merits not precedents.

            Further discussion found the board approving the Variance with the stipulation that no kitchen facilities would be included. The vote was three for granting the variance and one opposed.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals was not scheduled at adjournment.

Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals

By Marilou Newell

Respiratory Illness Season is upon Us

on

COVID-19, Flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are respiratory viruses that can cause severe disease resulting in hospitalization and sometimes death. Everyone 6 months and older should get a seasonal flu vaccine and an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against infection, serious illness, and hospitalization. To reduce the risk of becoming sick with a respiratory virus and keep our community healthy, it is important to take precautions, especially if you or someone in your household is at higher risk for severe disease.

            Protect yourself and others by taking these steps to help stop the spread of illnesses like COVID-19, Flu, and RSV:

            -Get Vaccinated

            -Wash Your Hands

            -Cover Your Coughs and Sneezes

            -Mask up if you need to

            -Get Tested

            -Get Treatment

            -Stay at Home

            The Board of Health Office has free COVID-19 tests available for pick up during regular business hours.

            If you have not received your Flu or COVID-19 vaccine yet, please call the Board of Health at 508-748-3530 to schedule an appointment. We have both vaccines available.

Capital Planning Looks at Highway Needs

on

The discussion was wide-ranging from drainage systems to the highway department headquarters, from culverts to snowplowing and grass cutting when the Mattapoisett Capital Planning Committee met with Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer on January 21.

            Bauer brought the committee up to speed on repairs and renovations that have been taking place at the department’s headquarters on 5 Mendell Road. He said that exhaust fans, a new sprinkler system, and floor drains, had been completed on a project that is estimated to cost $3,200,000 when complete.

            Next up the committee heard of vehicle needs over the next few years with it clearly noted that new vehicles are taking more than a year to be delivered with long supply chain wait times. It was also clear that Bauer looks to get as much use as possible out of the existing fleet including adding an aluminum liner to one truck to make it more serviceable.

            The importance of repairing and updating north to south running village street drainage systems was touched on. Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said it was imperative to complete some culvert repairs and replacements prior to the beginning of the village street reconstruction project. He said that the Pearl Street drainage project which is currently out for bids will eventually connect to underground storm water systems and that the federally mandated treatment systems of storm water before being discharged into the harbor had to be completed.

            There are four culverts on the plan as well. They are Molly’s Cove, Water Street, Acushnet Road (the Manny Nunes culvert), and Pine Island. Some grant monies are being sought specifically for Molly’s Cove through the Coastal Zone Management process offered by the state Lorenco noted.

            Currently, town departments are fine tuning their FY26 Capital Plans for the spring Town Meeting. The Highway Departments spreadsheet lists the following for FY26; $300,000 annual roadway improvements, $1,300,000 Oakland Street drainage project, $3,200,000 building renovations, $75,000 John Deere Gator (roadside mowing), and an aluminum flatbed for 2015 F-250 sander for a total of $4,895,000.

            Chairman Mike Dahill said that although the committee was not responsible for school capital plans, it was incumbent that the committee include those capital plans so that the public can have the full picture. He asked the committee to avail themselves of a report by the school district that outlined the needs at Old Rochester Junior and Senior High School, an estimated $53,000,000.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Capital Planning Committee to be announced.

Mattapoisett Capital Planning

By Marilou Newell

It is OK to “Talk Dirty” to Your Doctor

on

As toddlers, nothing is off-limits. We are fascinated by the whole world, including our bodies and the things that come out from them.

            As we get older, we are socialized to regard many topics as not to be discussed, and this often colors the way we present ourselves to doctors and nurses, sometimes to our detriment.

            It is said that 70% of the information a doctor needs to make a diagnosis comes from the history. This assumes the history given is accurate.

            One good example is our bowels. While I agree that discussing one’s bowel habits at a dinner party would not be appropriate, the same does not hold true in the doctor’s office. If there has been a change in your frequency or the appearance of your movements, this may indicate disease and so should not be kept secret.

            Ditto urination. Increased frequency of urination, loss of bladder control or change in urine color may all need to be addressed, but this will only happen if you tell your doctor about these things.

            Your sexual habits may put you at higher risk for certain illnesses and may suggest certain tests be done, but these will only be ordered if the doctor is aware of the need.

            Do you drink more than you let on? Do you use injectable drugs? These habits clearly increase your risk of liver disease and other conditions, and it is important that your doctor know about these behaviors.

            Just as a Catholic going to confession feels safe in admitting their behaviors to the priest, a patient seeing their doctor should feel safe in discussing topics they would never bring up in any other situation.

            Unless your doctor has limited their practice to convents, you will not be telling them anything they have not heard before, so there is no reason to be embarrassed. Knowing these behaviors and habits will get you more effective care than will keeping them secret.

            While there is doctor-patient confidentiality, in an era of electronic medical records you may justifiably worry about privacy. If this is a concern, you can ask the doctor specifically not to put what you are telling them in their note. Since, in the U.S., you are entitled to see your medical visit notes, you can verify they have followed your request.

            A well-informed doctor will give you better care. Nothing you say will shock them, so be open!

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

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Edward Hoffer

Hello from Plumb Library

on

Do you have a kiddo who loves to read and wants to share their favorite books with other bookworms? We invite you to join BookBuds, our book clubs for kids! The BookBuds meet monthly to discuss their favorite reads, tell jokes, and share the “good news of the day”! There are three age levels (ages 6-8, 9-12, and 12+) that meet at the Library. The upcoming dates are Saturday February 1 at 10:30 am for ages 6-8 years, Thursday February 6 at 4:30 pm.for ages 9-12 years, and Thursday February 6 at 6:00 pm for ages 12 years and up. Come with a book you’re currently reading and would like to share with the group. Registration is required via the Library’s website, under the BookBuds tab. Refreshments are served. Feel free to call the Library at 508-763-8600 or email Ms. Lisa (lfuller@sailsinc.org) with any questions.

            Plumb Library also has two book clubs for adults that run monthly and are open to anyone aged 18+. The COA Book Group meets the third Tuesday of the month at 1 pm at the Rochester Council on Aging. The February book is “Weyward” by Emilia Hart on February 18. Books and Babble Bookclub meets the last Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm at the Library. The January book is “Chocolat” by Joanne Harris on January 30 and “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant on February 27. Books are available for pick-up at the Library and may also be available via the Libby or Hoopla apps. The complete lists of titles for 2025 are also available at the desk.

            For those who can’t make it to a book club meeting, but are still looking for a reading activity, check out the Massachusetts Center for the Book Reading Challenge. Each month brings a new theme to keep you reading outside the box! The January theme is “a book published in or about the year you were born.” Stop by for more info or check out their website www.massbook.org/readingchallenge. If you’d like to log your reading with the MA Center for the Book, you will need to create an account. All readers are eligible to win raffle prizes during the Challenge.

            Library hours are: Monday/Thursday 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm; Tuesday/Wednesday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. We are closed on Sundays and holidays. The library can be contacted by phone at 508-763-8600 or email at info@plumblibrary.com. We are unable to respond to email, voicemail, or Messenger outside of normal operating hours.

Academic Achievements

on

Bree Killion of Rochester, Brady Lee of Mattapoisett, Drew Mastovsky of Marion, Gracie McCarthy of Marion, George Psichopaidas of Mattapoisett, and Zachary Zutaut of Rochester have been named to the Fall 2024 Dean’s List at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. Full-time students who complete 12 or more credits per semester and earn a GPA of 3.4 or higher are placed on the Dean’s List that semester.

            Dean College is pleased to announce that Emily Kilpatrick of Marion has earned a place on the Dean’s List for the Fall 2024 semester. Students named to the Dean’s List have demonstrated a serious commitment to their studies while at Dean College.

            Annabell Nestler of Kottmar (Walddorf) excelled during the fall 2024 semester at Hofstra, achieving a GPA of at least 3.5 to earn a spot on the Dean’s List. Annabell’s major is Pre-Health.

            Stonehill College proudly recognizes Maxwell Brulport of Rochester, Samuel Parks of Marion, Matthew Curry of Mattapoisett, Amelia Joseph of Mattapoisett, Hannah Squires of Mattapoisett, Andrew Poulin of Rochester, Martha Savage of Mattapoisett, Ella Caesar of Marion, and Allison Winters of Rochester, who were named to the Fall 2024 Dean’s List. To qualify for this recognition, students must achieve a semester grade point average of 3.50 or better. They must also have successfully completed all courses for which they were registered during the term.

            Plymouth State University recognizes Summer Williams, a Psychology major of Rochester and Olivia Lapierre, a Criminology major of Rochester who made the Dean’s List for the Fall 2024 semester.

Firearm Safety Messages and Resolutions

on

The Rochester School Committee on January 16 adopted a resolution directing Superintendent Michael Nelson and Police Chief Michael Assad to craft a communication to parents and guardians on the safe storage of firearms in their home.

            The resolution stems from an incident a week before at Rochester Memorial School, said committee member Kate Duggan. A Rochester Memorial School student brought an unloaded BB gun to school. The Rochester Police Department responded promptly to the situation and the matter was quickly resolved, she said. The result was a resolution proposed by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, of which Duggan is a member, to put adults on notice about safer, secure storage of firearms away from the reach of children. “This will be our way to assure families that our school is safe,” she said.

            The only push back before the vote came from committee member Josh Trombly, who objected to some of the language in the resolution. He said he loves the resolution and its point at the end. But he noted statistics within the preamble that might not be accurate and wanted them stricken from the RMS resolution.

            “I have some concerns about some of the statements here,” he said. He noted one of the 12 preambles where-as statements declare 5.6 million children live in homes with loaded, unlocked firearms. “I looked into that statistic, and it’s based on a small sample size,” he said. In reaction to another section, he noted Massachusetts actually has a lower incidence level of gun violence compared to other parts of the country. “Can we get rid of the preamble?” he asked and added, “It would get us the same plan without a whole lot of the extra stuff. Some of it gets political. We are here to represent 100-percent of our community.”

            Other board members agreed to revise the final language before issuing the resolution to Superintendent Nelson to implement in cooperation with Assad. The resulting vote to approve supporting the resolution was unanimous.

            In other action, the committee honored RMS fourth grade student Maggie Sommers, age nine, as winner of a Feinstein Foundation Golden Ticket, which earned her a $500 check that she will donate to the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. The honor also earned Rochester Memorial School a $5,000 grant from the Feinstein foundation, an organization based in Cranston, RI whose Leadership School program has attracted over 60,000 young participants for promising “to do good deeds and the make the world a better place.” Five student Golden Tickets are randomly selected by drawings held on WPRI Channel 12 each week. Sommers was also awarded certificates of congratulation from the Feinstein organization and RMS.

            The committee recognized the recent retirement of Lisa Mazzuca after 17 years of service at Rochester Memorial School and awarded her the book “The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read” by Curtis Manley and Kate Berube. Also, the committee was introduced to Rochester Memorial School’s new secretary, Alison Rotella.

            The committee accepted the following grants: a $7,800 openSciEd grant that supports a pilot science program at RMS and $2,244.33 from Shutterfly for fall school pictures.

            The committee approved accepting book donations from the RMS PTO: “Because of Mr. Terupt” by Rob Buyeas, “Zinnia and the Bees” by Danielle Davis and “The Last Mapmaker” by Christina Soontornvat.

            The committee approved Robin Rounsville as its representative on the new Health and Wellness Committee.

            The committee announced its next meeting will be March 20. The next district Joint School Committee will be January 23 at ORR Jr. High School, Mattapoisett.

            The Rochester School Committee will meet next on March 20 at 6:00 pm in the Rochester Memorial School band room, 16 Pine St., Rochester.

Rochester School Committee

By Michael J. DeCicco

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Museum

on

As you may know I always like a good history mystery. A while ago I found a poster that presented me with one. Given that I found a poster at the museum asking the question at the heart of this mystery, I know it has been looked into before, but there was nothing to show if any answers had been forthcoming.

            The question in question is “Did you know that there was once a Wild Animal Farm in Rochester?” Now, here is what I do know about the “farm”. Its location was on Donald George’s property near Mary’s Pond Rd. When asked about it, Donald said that his family moved onto the property when he was a child and that he remembered finding a variety of small structures and wire cages there.

            The wild animal farm would have been open in the early half of the 1900’s (think 1930’s) as both George Church and Maurice Fuller remembered that they went there as children, but that’s where their memories ended. Barbara King Besse remembered seeing a sign for the farm hanging on a fence in the area where the entrance had probably been located.

            Eydie Johnson did some research that showed that prior to the George family, there were many owners of the property, but no mention of a wild animal farm was found. I wonder if anyone has ever seen any pictures of such a place when going through family photos or come across an advertisement or remember an older family member or acquaintance reminiscing about a visit there.

            Of course, at first, mention of wild animals conjures images of lions. tigers and bears (oh, my). I’m thinking more realistically that the animals would have been smaller (to fit into the cages that Donald George remembered) and probably native to the area. They could have been weasels or fishers or raccoons and hopefully, something a bit more exotic. I’ll look forward to seeing if anyone can shed some light on this local mystery.

By Connie Eshbach

Rochester Firefighters Association

on

To the Editor:

            The Rochester Firefighters Association wants to keep town residents safe, but we need your help.

            As a Rochester resident for over 50 years and as a member of the Rochester Firefighters Association, I want to share an urgent matter that affects the safety and well-being of our entire community. Rochester residents, we need your support!

            On Monday, January 27, at 7:00 pm, the Town of Rochester will hold a Special Town Meeting at the Rochester Memorial School to discuss Article #7, which seeks funding for engineering costs for a proposed new fire station. This is a critical step toward modernizing and expanding our fire and EMS facilities to meet the growing needs of our town.

            Our current fire station, built in 1883, has served us for generations. However, despite multiple additions and modifications, it no longer meets the demands of modern emergency services. The existing station and its location are insufficient for the expansion needed to meet current and future demands.

            Why Do We Need a New Fire Station?

            1.Outdated and Insufficient Space:

            -The current station cannot accommodate modern fire apparatus due to limited garage space and the door size limits the apparatus we can purchase. Due to lack of storage, we are forced to store some equipment outdoors, leading to increased wear and tear and slower response times.

            -There are no dedicated decontamination bays for cleaning gear, increasing the risk of hazardous exposure to carcinogens embedded in fire gear. As well as a lack of space for EMS supplies and essential training spaces.

            2. Ventilation Issues:

            -The ventilation system is not up to code, allowing exhaust fumes from vehicles to permeate the bays, living quarters, and sleeping areas. This creates unsafe working conditions for our staff.

            3. Inadequate Facilities for Staff:

            -The station lacks proper living and sleeping quarters to accommodate our personnel.

            -It is not ADA compliant, making it inaccessible for community training and other vital uses.

            A Growing Need for Advanced Services. In 2014, we transitioned from a Basic Life Support (BLS) to an Advanced Life Support (ALS) system, providing 24/7 ambulance services. Over the years our emergency call volume has increased significantly, putting additional pressure on an already outdated facility.

            What’s at Stake? Neighboring towns like Mattapoisett, Carver, and Onset have recently constructed modern fire stations with features such as larger garage bays, advanced ventilation systems, and ample storage. Rochester cannot afford to fall further behind. Funding the engineering costs for a new fire station is a vital first step toward creating a facility that meets our community’s current and future needs. Without this investment, it affects the safety of our firefighters, EMS personnel and the well-being of our entire community

            Your Voice Matters. We urge all residents to attend the Special Town Meeting on January 27th to learn more about the challenges we face and the solutions we propose. For more details, visit the Rochester Fire Department Facebook page at facebook.com/RochesterFireDepartment to watch a video explaining the project.

            Together, we can build a safer and stronger future for Rochester.

            Sincerely,

Daniel Ferreira

50 Year Rochester Resident

Member of the Rochester Firefighters Association

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.