About 78% of U.S. adults, including 68% of adults under 45, reported seeing a doctor in the last year for a wellness check.

            Is this a good use of your and your doctor’s time?

            Academic studies of the value of the annual physical exam (APE) have focused on whether doing this saves lives. Here the evidence is mixed. An analysis of many large observational studies reported an impressive 45% reduction in mortality comparing those who had vs. those who did not have an APE.

            As regular readers know, this type of study is often misleading. People who have an APE are likely to be more health-conscious and have better health habits than those who do not. Smaller randomized trials of APE/no APE found very little mortality benefit.

            Why might an APE help you live longer? It is an opportunity for your doctor to review your overall health rather than focusing on a specific problem. It is the ideal time to discuss and perform (immunizations, pap smears) or schedule (colonoscopy, cholesterol blood tests) important preventive health measures.

            In a young healthy person, the traditional head-to-toe physical is unlikely to find new conditions, but focused exams may. It is a great time for a skin check looking for cancer and to measure BMI and discuss weight if it is a problem. High blood pressure is generally a symptomless condition until far advanced and blood pressure should be checked annually.

            An APE is also a good time to discuss sleep, diet and exercise and mental health. Smoking and alcohol use should also be discussed. Older adults may want to bring up hearing issues.

            So, if you are a young adult who feels fine, and you are aware of the importance of good habits, you can probably skip the “routine physical.” If you do, be sure to get your blood pressure checked when you go in for a problem-focused visit and that you have had your cholesterol checked within memory.

            If you are at risk for such chronic conditions as hypertension, diabetes or heart disease because of your weight or family history, schedule that visit.

            If you are 50+ it is worth doing even if you feel fine; the biggest risk factor for many conditions is simply aging.

            An APE is also a good time to be sure you and your doctor get along and review how their office works, including off-hour availability.

            For many, a normal physical can also be reassuring.

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

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Edward Hoffer

            Most municipal activities around the tri-town region in the year 2024 have shared a common theme: emerging concerns of long-time residents.

            Efforts were evident across the region’s adjudicatory boards to loosen bylaws restricting the construction of accessory dwellings so that more seniors could “age in place” and to formulate town bylaws that would restrict short-term rentals in the interest of preserving quality of life, especially in thickly settled, coastal neighborhoods.

            Confronted by soaring construction costs due to the inflation that followed the Covid pandemic, the Town of Rochester streamlined its original, three-pronged vision for a new, main fire station, an expansion-renovation of its police station and a new, secondary fire station meant to shorten call times to the growing business and residential communities near Routes 28 and 58. Prefabricated construction was considered in the interest of cutting costs for a new main fire station considered to be essential. Fire Chief Scott Weigel put off retirement to see the project through. Dissatisfied with a regional, emergency dispatch based in Duxbury, Rochester continued its search for a more local service.

            Marion’s and Rochester’s planning boards both approved self-storage businesses, Marion’s being one of the new businesses moving into the old Lockheed Martin property off Route 6.

            The Town of Marion opened its new Harbormaster office at Island Wharf, broke ground on a new headquarters for its Department of Public Works at Benson Brook, voted to fund a new patrol boat for its busy harbor, and appointed longtime town employee and former elected official Jody Dickerson to succeed Becky Tilden as DPW director.

            In sight of these massive projects, the Marion Select Board considered joining Rochester in resignation of its participation in the state’s Green Communities and Stretch Code programs but committed to more education on the programs before bringing the measure to voters.

            A review of and proposed amendments to Marion’s cemetery regulations brought out a vocal representation of residents protesting tighter restrictions. Lengthy discussion led to some pragmatic tweaks.

            A new committee formulated plans for an “historic lite” village district in Marion. While the Heron Cove affordable-housing project off Route 6 remained in a stall, Matt Zuker continued to appear before Marion’s Planning Board in hopes to get his neighboring, market-rate, townhouse-style project now known as Mirabelle Bay into the construction phase.

            Internal strife plagued Marion’s Planning Board amidst complaints of sexism by member Eileen Marum.

            After 44 years, the EMT Association that had raised $440,000 for Marion’s emergency efforts disbanded.

            Despite a vote of approval at the May 13 Annual Town Meeting, the Mattapoisett Select Board was conflicted and stalled against acting on the town’s directive to create a Roadway Committee, the result of a citizens’ petition for a voice in the TIP-funded Village Streets Project. Members of the Tree Committee and other local activists seek to limit the removal of mature trees primarily lining Water Street.

            The Mattapoisett Museum welcomed the donation of west-coast artist George Lowery’s exquisite model that he crafted of the Wanderer. The latest scale model housed by the museum became the centerpiece display in its 100th anniversary celebration of the boat’s shipwreck and enduring legacy.

            Rajesh Shahi of India returned to visit his supporters in Mattapoisett, where he had spent lifechanging months as a young boy and received corrective surgeries to his spine. Shahi grew from a life doomed to certain poverty to have a family and run a school for disadvantaged children in his homeland.

            An enforcement order levied by Mattapoisett’s Conservation Commission against the Buzzards Bay Coalition regarding flooding at its Bogs project was lifted on May 20.

            The Mattapoisett Land Trust celebrated its 50^th anniversary, and Ellen Flynn, chairperson of the MLT’s Education Committee, retired after many years helping establish the MLT’s outreach program to hundreds of students attending area schools via outings that include science expeditions from local vernal pools to the shores of Cuttyhunk and Nantucket.

            The Mattapoisett Boatyard, destroyed by a mammoth fire, reopened.

            The Town of Rochester hired a new town administrator (Cameron Durant) and a new police chief (Michael Assad Jr.). At the Annual Town Meeting, an article to put the Select Board in charge of hiring Council on Aging personnel was defeated.

            Durant found himself doing damage control in his early months on the job after Rochester’s Park Commission became the subject of an Open Meeting Law complaint regarding a local non-profit group’s $41,000, 50% donation (the other half to be funded by ARPA money) to help create a children’s playground at Gifford Park. Opponents of a plan to publicly recognize the group Tri-Town for Protecting Children with a plaque at the site complained that they were not properly notified on the commission’s agenda for the public meeting in which discussion took place. The matter was recently handed off to Town Counsel, but Durant said he intends to ensure the public’s interest is addressed quickly and fairly.

            Dave Watling’s dream for a Vietnam Veterans Memorial inside Rochester Town Hall became a reality after some fine craftsmanship by Old Colony RVTHS students.

            Spearheaded by member Margaret McSweeny, the ORR School Committee threw its weight behind the eventually successful, statewide campaign to strip MCAS testing of its status as a prerequisite for high school graduation.

            The tri-towns welcomed new elementary-school principals Heidi Letendre (Rochester Memorial), Stephanie Wells (Old Hammondtown) and Lynn Dessert (Sippican). The Joint School Committee voted in July to extend Superintendent Mike Nelson’s contract.

            The Bulldogs made it all the way to the state boys basketball final, bowing to Charlestown, and the Old Colony boy’s lacrosse team came to within a goal of South Shore in the state vocational final.

            The ORR Junior High Survival Program celebrated its 50^th anniversary with a reunion of participants at Ned’s Point.

            Teacher Margaret DeMello was recognized by the ORR District for her 50 years of service.

            Tri Town Against Racism found a new home for its Little Free Diverse Library at the Rochester Women’s Club, where the life and legacy of the late Abraham Skidmore was celebrated at the Little Library’s opening. Skidmore would be recognized later in the year posthumously as Mattapoisett’s recipient of the annual Keel Award in recognition of his community service over six decades.

            The Wanderer also recognized Rochester resident Cecelia Hall for her relentless effort in turning surplus yarn into charitable gifts for the needy and Marion resident Johanna Vergoni for her years of leadership with the Marion student-parent group VASE.

            Despite concern that a public building might be used as a house of worship, Mattapoisett Library trustees relented on a decision not to allow a bible study in its community room. As property of its trustees, the library remained exempt from the Select Board’s moratorium on the use of town properties by any entity other than duly appointed or elected town board and committees.

            Marion mourned the loss of Paul Naiman, longtime chairman of the town’s Capital Improvements Planning Committee. Rochester lost Debra May Lalli, a long-time employee of the Rochester Assessor’s Department.

            After a brief run, Marion closed its food pantry, referring residents to Damien’s in neighboring Wareham. The Point Road Bike Path, a project of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission, made progress, dealt with drainage issues, and saw an increase in citizen involvement.

            Mattapoisett was recognized as a Purple Heart Community and is under consideration for a Revolutionary War designation at its Hammond and Barlow cemeteries.

            Alex and Paul Milde won the Open Division of the Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race, while Will Benoit and Margot Appleton defended their titles in the Mattapoisett Fourth of July Road Race, and Heather Peckham and 2024 ORR graduate Tyler Young were victorious in the Lions Club Triathlon.

            Mattapoisett brothers Peter and Haakon Perkins circumnavigated Martha’s Vineyard in a 13-foot inflatable boat.

            At 92, Brad Hathaway walked his 27,000^th mile.

            Marion 12-year-old Davin Alves ran his third annual food drive, and Marion’s Beckham Harvey went with his Marlboro-based team to compete in the World Futsal Cup in Spain.

            Participant George Powers survived a heart attack while riding in the Tour de Crème bicycling event, thanks to the swift intervention of fellow cyclists and Mattapoisett’s Police, Fire and EMT personnel.

            After a lengthy career pioneering public health in the tri-towns, Rochester Health Director Karen Walega retired, as did Kathy Kearns, a 32-year Marion Finance Department employee who helped save the Town House from burning down in 2000.

            Among elected officials who announced retirements were Rochester Finance Committee Chairman Kris Stoltenberg, Rochester ZBA member Thomas Flynn, Mattapoisett Town Moderator Jack Eklund, Marion ConCom member Ethan Gerber, and Bill Saltonstall, whose work on behalf of the town’s Energy Management Committee helped save over $500,000 via incentivized grant-funding programs.

2024 Year in Review

By Mick Colageo