Upcoming events at the Elizabeth Taber Library

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Writing Your Own Obituary: A free writing workshop with Judith Rosbe. September 8, 15, 22 & 29, 10 am-12 pm. How would you like to be remembered? What do you think is important about your life? What makes an obituary interesting to read? Join us for a free writing workshop with Judith Rosbe. Call or stop by to sign up for this four-week workshop.

            Glass Blowing Demonstration with Glass Artist Kim Savoie. Saturday September 10, 11 am . Join glass artist Kim Savoie to learn the art, history and science of glass making and see a flame working demonstration on the library lawn.

            True Crime Book Club hosted by Jay Pateakos. Tuesday September 13, 6:30 – The True Crime Book Club will be discussing American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan.

            Tabletop Game Club. First Meeting Saturday September 17, 11 am, Join us at the library to play and share different games every month. Discover new games and meet new players. All ages welcome.

            Monthly Memoir Workshop led by Al Caron and Linda Schuessler. Starting Thursday, September 15, 2-4 pm. Write your own story. Register for this free course and pick up course packet at the library. Course runs from September to June.

            A Visit from Pine Meadows Children’s Farm Friday, September 23 at 4 pm – Celebrate the Elizabeth Taber Library’s yearly collaboration with Heifer International by meeting some working animals up close. See goats, llamas, bunnies and more on the library lawn.

            Check out our new miniature bookstore: Reading Room Books. Books, DVDs, gifts & more. In the front reading room. All purchases benefit the Elizabeth Taber Library.

            For more information on the Elizabeth Taber Library, visit us at www.ElizabethTaberLibrary.org or call us at 508-748-1252.

Marion Flu Clinic

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The Marion Board of Health along with Marion CARES Community EMS will be hosting Flu Clinics on September 29.

            They will be drive-through clinics at the Benjamin D. Community Center, 465 Mill Street. The first is scheduled for September 29. High dose and regular doses will be offered.

            Here is the link to register: home.color.com/vaccine/register/marion?calendar=9148fa74-e5e5-45dd-9a8a-72d85371871c

            If you need assistance registering or have questions, please contact Maureen at the Board of Health at 508-748-3530.

Norma Irene (Harrison) Charbonneau

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Norma Irene (Harrison) Charbonneau left this world on September 10th after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born in 1930 in Acushnet, MA, to the late Irene (Caya Harrison) Dube and Norman Harrison, and was the eldest and only girl in a family of six children. She was the widow of Normand M. Charbonneau who was deceased in 1967. Norma lived and raised her family in Mattapoisett, MA where she worked for years as one of the beloved lunch ladies at ORRHS. In 1983, she moved to Western Mass with her partner of many years, the late Barbara Bumpus, where they resided for decades and owned and operated the popular Box Car Restaurant in Erving, an historic former train station that was the hub of the community. Norma was a heroic single mother of seven, and leaves behind her sons and their families: Michael of Memphis, TN., Stephen of St. Petersburg, FL; the late Thomas of New Bedford; the late Kenneth of Fairhaven; her daughters and their families: Jane N. Cain of Yarmouth Port; Karen C. Zukas of New Bedford; and Nancy C. Case of Northampton, MA. She also leaves behind her brothers Norman and James, the late Robert, Gilbert, and Richard and their families; 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and over 50 nieces and nephews. She was a recent resident at Our Lady’s Haven in Fairhaven. Norma was a lifelong learner, a hard worker, avid world traveler, and a beloved spirit of energy, positivity and good deeds. She loved music, reading “histories and mysteries,” puzzles, gardening, the Red Sox, and watching Jeopardy. She was beloved by many in her communities, both in Western Mass and back home, and was a true inspiration to all who knew her. A wake will be held on Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Southcoast Chapel Mortuary, 158 Middleboro Road, (RT.18), in E. Freetown from 4 to 8 pm. A graveside service will be on Friday, Sept. 16 at 12:00 noon at St. Anthony’s Cemetery, North Street, in Mattapoisett. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org. Flowers are also welcome.

Susan Delia (LeBlanc) Bindas

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Susan Delia (LeBlanc) Bindas, 73, passed away Wednesday, September 7, 2022 in St. Luke’s Hospital after a period of declining health. She was the wife of the late Larry Edward Bindas.

            Born in Acushnet, a daughter of the late Wilfred J. and Irene (Colomb) LeBlanc, she was a longtime resident of Rochester. Susan was a devoted wife and mother, who loved her children and grandchildren dearly. She enjoyed spending time with her beloved dogs; she enjoyed traveling, playing Bingo and trips to the casino.

            She is survived by her sons, Scott Bindas and his wife Tabitha of Rochester and Dale Bindas and his wife Kimberly of Rochester; her grandchildren, Brittaney, Alexandria, Brianne, Katelyn, Brooklyn and Landon; her niece Rebekah Faria and nephew Sean Beaudoin.

            Her visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm in the Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02745. Relatives and friends are invited. Burial is Private. To leave a note of condolence: www.rock-funeralhome.com

Frederico R. Medina, Jr.

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On Monday, September 5, 2022, Frederico R. Medina, Jr., of Marion, Massachusetts passed away peacefully at the age of 91. He was pre-deceased by his wife of many years, Leola N. Medina and is survived by four children and five grandchildren.

            Fred was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Reverend Frederico, Sr. and Emma (Correia) Medina. He had one sister, Zoe Medina Jordan, who pre-deceased him. He attended Wareham, Massachusetts public schools and graduated from Wareham High School in 1949. Fred worked his way through college and in 1953 graduated from Boston University with a BA degree in Biology. He dreamed of becoming a doctor, but was unable to afford the expense of medical school. Instead, he devoted his life to the education of others.

            After college graduation, Fred served two years in the Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany. He received two medals of distinction. Following his Army service, Fred returned to Wareham and became a biology teacher at Wareham High School where he was beloved by many students and colleagues. He married his high school sweetheart, Leola Nadeau, on December 22, 1956. Focused on his career in education and passionate about teaching, he received two Masters degrees: a Masters in Education from Bridgewater State Teachers College in 1958 and a Masters in Science from Syracuse University in 1961 (after receiving a National Science Foundation fellowship). After many years of teaching students, Fred became an Assistant Principal at the Wareham Intermediate School. He later became the Principal of the Intermediate School for many years until his retirement.

            Fred and Leola raised three sons Frederico III, Darryl, and Karl, and a daughter, Shari. In 1965, they built their dream home in Marion, Massachusetts, where they spent many years enjoying life by the sea and traveling to Canada, California, Hawaii, Florida and many other locations. Fred enjoyed digging for clams and quahogs, and clam boils were frequent family events. Fred was also passionate about sports and music. He was a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics and Red Sox, and once the Patriots entered the scene, he became a fan of them also. After retirement, Fred was an active member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Harpoon Harmonizers and sang and traveled with them to many locations. He also served as the Chorus Manager and Treasurer.

            Fred volunteered his time tirelessly to many charitable organizations. In his younger years, he enjoyed working for the Massachusetts Council of Churches as a teacher and social worker to Puerto Rican migrant farm workers in southeastern Massachusetts. During summers, Fred and his father would travel to various locations to serve these workers. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Tobey Hospital and was a member of the First Congregational Church of Marion.

            Fred cherished his family most of all and enjoyed many birthdays, holidays, and graduations. He was so proud of all his children and grandchildren. He adored his grandchildren and always wanted to know about their adventures and pursuits. He was so selfless, loving and caring. He never looked for praises and just went on quietly working for those he loved.

            He is survived by his four children, Frederico Medina Ill and his wife, Marina, Darryl Medina and his wife Sara Dickson, Shari Jankowski and her husband, James, and Karl Medina, as well as five grandchildren who called him “Papa”; Andrew Jankowski and his wife, Alyssa, Caroline Jankowski, Kendra Medina, Allison Medina, and Max Medina, nieces, nephews, relatives, and many friends.

            “All shall remember the things you have taught them and how much you loved us.”

            “People only pass away when they are forgotten. You will always be remembered and missed.”

            “The world changes from year to year, our lives from day to day, but the love and memory of you, shall never pass away.”

            His calling hours will be held on Wednesday September 21, 2022 from 4-7 pm at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd, Route 6, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the South Coast Visiting Nurse Association, 200 Mill Road, Fairhaven, MA 02719. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com

ORRHS Students Earn Honors through College Board Advanced Placement Program

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            Superintendent Michael S. Nelson, Principal Michael Devoll and Guidance Director Lauren Millette are pleased to share that 16 Old Rochester Regional High School students received honors from the College Board Advanced Placement Program for the 2021-22 school year.

            Two students received the AP Capstone Diploma and 14 students were awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. In order to receive the Diploma, students must earn scores of three or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research and on four additional AP exams. To earn the Certificate, students must earn a score of three or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research.

            The two students earning the AP Capstone Diploma were Class of 2022 graduate, Edward Gonet IV and Class of 2023 student Mackenzie Luong.

            Gonet completed 11 AP exams including in Biology, Calculus AB, English Language Composition, English Literature and Composition, Human Geography, Physics 1, Psychology, Spanish Language, Statistics, Research and Seminar.

            Gonet is currently attending Harvard University.

            “Old Rochester has provided its students with a plethora of AP Courses to enrich their knowledge in topics which interest them most,” Gonet said. “My AP teachers challenged me and pushed me to become a better student. ORR AP courses have provided me with critical thinking, reasoning, and communication skills that are essential for continuing my education at Harvard. Old Rochester’s rigorous AP Program truly sets the school apart from others and is one of the reasons I decided to attend ORR four years ago.”

            Luong has completed six AP exams to this point in her high school career including in Biology, Calculus AB, Computer Science Principles, English Language Composition, Research and Seminar.

            “My AP Research teacher, Mr. Apperson, made it clear that in order to succeed in his class, ‘you have to put in the effort to get the results,’ and I completely agree,” Luong said. “My AP Research project is one of my proudest accomplishments because of all the hard work I put into it, and I absolutely did get the euphoric feeling of a good payoff after, and I now have my AP Capstone Diploma!”

            The students who received the AP Seminar and Research Certificate included, of the Class of 2023: Reese Burger, Colin Carroll, Theodore Carroll, Caitlin Collier, William Correia, Failenn Fitzpatrick, Paige Fuller, Emmanuella Lawrence, Jillian Leblanc, Kyle Mccullough, Will O’Shaughnessy, Reagan Rock and Sarah Wyman.

            Class of 2022 graduate Tyler Trudeau, who is attending Loyola University Chicago, also received the Certificate. Trudeau took six AP exams including in Environmental Science, Psychology, Physics, Statistics, Research and Seminar.

            “Having benefited from the school choice program, earning this award is a big deal for me. I sought out a different high school with the goal of finding more opportunities and I can now say that I have capitalized on the opportunities granted to me. I can’t recommend Seminar and  Research enough,” Trudeau said.

            Unlike traditional AP subject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project-based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations and individual essays throughout the year. AP Seminar and AP Research are also interdisciplinary and students are empowered to create research projects based on topics of personal interest.

            Among some of the research project topics covered by students were:

* Effects preschool has on kindergarteners’ education; affordable housing; and demands on body type in gymnastics (Burger)

* Electric vehicle infrastructure (Colin Carroll)

* Affordable housing on Cape Cod; the business of sports; adapting energy incentives (Theodore Carroll)

* Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Collier)

* The effects of uncharacteristic temperatures on Buzzards Bay (Correia)

* Effects of start times on adolescent mental health (Fitzpatrick)

* Do spectators affect athlete performance; the influence of age on psychological visual perception (Fuller)

* Diagnosing Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia through accurate diagnostic tools (Lawrence)

* High blood pressure in Southeast Asia (Leblanc)

* Effect of CubeSats on space debris (Luong)

* Effects of social media on teen mental health (Mccullough)

* Effect of music on cognitive behavior and attention (O’Shaughnessy)

* Effect of El Niño on California sea lion migrations (Rock)

* Effectiveness of Super Bowl advertisements in the age of social media (Trudeau)

* Adverse environmental effects of electric vehicles (Wyman)

            “Congratulations to these students on this impressive achievement, Principal Devoll said. “We always want students to be able to learn about things that interest them, and the AP Seminar and Research Program allows them to do that while also helping them develop valuable skills that can be used no matter what they pursue after high school. The AP Program is rigorous and challenging, and the Diploma and Certificate Awards are an indication of the high level of dedication and persistence demonstrated by these students.”

            In 2022, there were 216 total AP students at ORRHS, and 74% of those AP students scored 3 or higher. A total of 419 exams were taken by ORR students in 2022.

            Over 2,200 schools participated in the AP Capstone program worldwide during the 2021-2022 school year. Approximately 14,100 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma and 9,200 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

Mattapoisett Republican Party Meeting

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            The Mattapoisett Republican Party invites everyone interested to join us on Tuesday, September 13 at 6 pm at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, 7 Barstow Street.

            Topics for discussion are:

            -Primary Election results

            -GOP Activity for 11/8/22 State election

            -Candidates for Republican Town Committee

            -Candidates for 2023 RTC Offices

            -Roundtable Chat on Mattapoisett Schools – Can We do Better?

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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In 1679, when the proposal was made to buy the lands of Seppecan, the court in Plymouth agreed with the purchase, so long as the group could “procure some more substantial men that are prudent sons and of considerable estates”. The court wanted these men to settle with their families in the area. As has been mentioned in previous articles, this group was called the “Proprietors.” Of this group, not all made their homes in Rochester. Some sent their sons to settle on the land, while others sold part or all of their property shares.

            In 1694, Benjamin Foster, an original proprietor, sold his entire share to a wealthy and well- educated man, Samuel Prince, of Sandwich. Prince moved with his second wife, the daughter of Governor Hinkley, and his many children to Rochester. In addition, he purchased half of Samuel Lothrop’s proprietary right. He continued to make land purchases and was for several years, Rochester’s largest landowner.

            In 1710, he built a large house near a trout stream on the old road from Rochester Center to today’s Marion. He named his home and grounds, Whitehall, after his family’s estate in England. Over time, the house was also known as White House.

            Samuel Prince quickly became a prominent and active member of his new community. He did much to promote the general interests of the town, particularly the schools. Prince was on the building committee for the first meetinghouse in 1699. He was a Justice of the Peace, which at the time was an important position in a colonial town. A Justice who received the title of esquire was appointed for a term of 7 years. He could rule on minor claims and offenses as well as administering oaths and performing marriages.

            In 1714, Samuel was Rochester’s first representative to the Massachusetts General Court, which was formed in 1692 when England issued a new Provincial Charter, which united Plymouth with Massachusetts. According to records, Prince was paid, “4 shillings a day for his panes.” In 1717, he was empowered to provide the town with a grammar school and a William Griffeth was hired as schoolmaster for a quarter of the year. Often the school session was held at Whitehall.

            In 1723, Samuel Prince and most of his family moved to Middleboro and he died there in 1728 at the age of 80. After his death, his Rochester lands along Muddy Brook were contested in court by some of his former neighbors. The Prince family chose to relinquish rights to that land.

            For a man of such prominence in his years in Rochester, knowledge of his work and influence have mostly passed out of Rochester history. His large house stood vacant after the family moved away, It is said that during the Revolutionary War, the floorboards were taken up,” to procure materials for making saltpeter for use of the army” and then the house like the memories of Samuel Prince faded away.

By Connie Eshbach

Lighthouse Survives ‘Troubled’ History

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The Ned’s Point beacon stands alone today in a beautiful park at the entrance to Mattapoisett harbor.

            The lighthouse residence itself was moved to the Cape Cod location in Bourne after Ned’s Point was decommissioned in 1952. The light itself had a history of a troubled and turmoiled construction for busy navigation and ship safety during high windstorms that sent powerful waves crashing against the surrounding rocky barrier.

            Ned’s Point had failed as an example of literary art that was inspiration to the work of Homer, just as my own article and illustration is intended as true reflection of literary legend with a purpose of well-built construction for the safety of its own operation, as well as the otherwise-endangered victims of the crew about to be shipwrecked due to faulty construction in many parts of its engineering.

            The construction of the tower had an architectural blemish with a cantilevered granite stairway for all 32 steps embedded in the tower wall without the use of any supporting foundation mortar. After completion, safety inspector Lieutenant Edward W. Cooper found that all the buildings leaked in a rainstorm including the tower’s light system itself, limiting the power of all the 11-lamp system, resulting in limiting the parabolic reflectors to an insufficient distance.

            When the tower had trouble getting correctly commissioned in 1952, the keeper’s house was moved on a barge across Buzzards Bay to add to additional residence to Wings Neck Light in Bourne. The record shows that the resident keeper kept himself busy during the entire voyage by preparing his own breakfast to be ready to transfer a continuous residence upon arrival.

            The remaining Ned’s Point tower was sold to the Town of Mattapoisett, where it now stands in a beautiful park open to the public with picnic benches overlooking a scenic seaside overview experience.

            In 1993, the local Auxiliary Coast Guard improved a program of public access by opening the tower for summer tours arranged by phone (508-756-4100.) Subsequently, the nautical, historic spirit of Ned’s Point Lighthouse has successfully been given a new life worthy of representing Mattapoisett.

By George B. Emmons

Mattapoisett Library Artist Series Exhibit

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Mattapoisett resident, Peter Michael Martin, will be exhibiting a number of White-Line woodblock prints at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library from September 15 to October 14, most of which were created within the past two years. Some prints were from the two recent series completed during the Covid lockdown – “The Simple Life” and “Abstract Images.”

            White-Line woodblock printing is a print method which does not require a printing press or toxic inks and the prints are cut on a single woodblock. The colors, applied with a brush, are watercolors and a spoon is used to transfer the image onto paper. The method is attributed to B.J.O. Nordfelt in Provincetown.

            Martin received a BS in Special Education and a Minor in Art and a MEd at Bridgewater State University. He was a Special Education teacher for 25 years with the Dennis-Yarmouth Public Schools and 10 years at Old Rochester Regional High. As Martin says, “while always an artist within, I had a life as a teacher for 35 years, retiring in 2009, the year when I began being an artist full time. I believe that imagery is within me all the time. We all gather visual images about places we are going, people we will meet and stories that we read or hear. With my art, I hope to present the viewer with the opportunity to make some of their own personal connections.”

            Martin was one of five artists from the U.S. to participate in the Ulsan International Woodcut Print Art Festival this summer in Korea. His work of iPhone images titled “Call Me Ahab” was on exhibit in Paris this past June. The exhibition was hosted by Universite Paris Cite, and Sorbonne Nouvelle and sponsored by the 13th International Melville Society Conference.