Mattapoisett Yacht Club June Series

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Tuesday night Ensign racers had some company on the starting line tonight as the ORR Bulldog sailing team joined them on the racecourse. The Ensign battle for first place for the June Series between Brou Ha Ha and Odyssey was complicated by Black Ice winning both of the nights’ races. Odyssey placing second in both races cemented their title as the June Series winner. One point behind, Brou Ha Ha finished second in June and Black Ice finished third for the series.

            Wednesday Night PHRF Series – With very calm winds and a shortened course the Wednesday night racing was very close with seconds deciding many of the positions.

            In Class A, No Quarter Given beat Restless by 12 seconds to win the race and also win the June Series. Surprise finished third, losing to Restless by only 15 seconds. Coconuts finished fourth in the race.

            For the June Series it was No Quarter Given first, Restless second, and Coconuts third.

            In Class B, Fir Na Tine held on to beat Kinsail by seven seconds for the win. Lindisfarne finished third and Chickadee was fourth.

            For the June Series the winner was Fir Na Tine, followed by Kinsail, Chickadee third and Lindisfarne in fourth.

            Tuesday night the Race Committee held two sets of races as the ORR sail team joined in the fun in their 420s. Starting in the second starting sequence, after the Ensigns, 5 boats, each with a skipper and crew, raced 4 races in a windward/leeward course. The high school team usually races under “team racing rules” in which racers are able to sacrifice their positions in the race to help their teammates to earn a better overall team score. However, Tuesday night each boat sailed for individual honors. Each week skipper and crews will be swapped around making for highly competitive racing.

            In most cases, Tuesday night races starting at 6:00 pm can be viewed from Ned’s Point.

Suzanne McCarter Tifft

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Suzanne McCarter Tifft, known to family and friends as Sue or “Nanny,” died peacefully at home in Marion, Massachusetts, on June 24, 2025, surrounded by her loving sons and daughter-in-law. She was 93.

            Born in New York City on January 18, 1932, Sue was the daughter of Thomas Nesbitt McCarter Jr. and Suzanne Pierson McCarter. She spent her early years between New York City, Moorestown, New Jersey, and Marion, Massachusetts. She graduated from Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut in 1950 and started her first job “behind the scenes” at Steuben Glass on Fifth Avenue, which her father arranged so she could work discreetly-an arrangement she accepted with her trademark good humor and – a defining characteristic – a gentle defiance of social expectations.

            She married Henry Neville Tifft Jr. in 1954 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York City. Together they raised two sons, William and Philip, first in New York and later in New Canaan, Connecticut, before dividing their time between Marion and Vero Beach.

            Sue had a deep love of travel that led her to a career as a travel agent, both professionally and later as an informal guide and advisor for friends. She was fiercely independent, endlessly curious, and famously hard to keep up with when exploring new places.

            Family and friends remember Sue for her overwhelming energy, sense of fun, and deep love of people from all walks of life. She made friends everywhere she went-from country clubs to bars-and relished meeting people of every background. She was never happier than when talking with strangers at a restaurant bar, comparing travel stories, debating art or politics, and learning about others. Her favorite phrase, “That’s different,” was always offered as a compliment, reflecting her delight in the new and unusual.

            She was devoted to keeping life interesting for those around her, organizing parties, stuffing piñatas with unexpected surprises, encouraging her grandchildren to gently bend the rules, often sending them out with the proviso “Don’t do anything I would do,”, and insisting that her family learn to sail, play tennis and cards, garden, dance, and appreciate theater-regardless of their natural talent.

            Sue was predeceased by her husband Henry in 2006 and her brothers Thomas and John McCarter. She is survived by her sons William (Ellen Bruzelius) and Philip Tifft; her grandchildren Axel (Debra Kao) and Anna (Kyle Wulff); and her great grandchildren Aurora, Ajax and Ellen; and many friends whose lives were brightened by her warmth, humor, and adventurous spirit.

            A memorial service will be held at Saint Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Marion at 4pm on August 1, 2025, followed by a celebration of life at the family home.

            Sue’s family asks that those wishing to honor her memory do so by making someone feel welcome, finding the joy in something “different,” or planning a new adventure of their own. Donations to the Buzzards Bay Coalition honoring her deep love of Marion and the Bay are also encouraged.

            Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Margaret Diane (Peggy) Montgomery

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Margaret Diane (Peggy) Montgomery passed away on June 26, 2025 at home in Tarrytown, New York at the age of 87.

            Peggy spent her early childhood in Western Massachusetts and Vermont, after which she lived primarily in Mattapoisett and Fairhaven, MA. Valedictorian of the class of 1955 in Fairhaven, she went on to attend Bates College (BA), where she majored in English. She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching at the University of Wisconsin. She taught English in Bethel, CT from 1959 to 1961, then at John Jay High School in Cross River, NY from 1961 to 1991. She once stated, “I had the luxury of teaching to my interests: British and American literature, from Shakespeare to O’Neill and the Canterbury Tales, women writers, 20th Century novels, [and] creative writing.” There are thousands of her former students who love language, literature, and learning today as a result of her incisive and subtly subversive lessons. A testament to this is the fact that she remained in regular contact with many of her students and participated in several ongoing John Jay alumni reading groups until shortly before her death. Peggy was a founding member of the John Jay High School Retired Teachers Association, which awards an annual scholarship for graduating high school seniors who plan to enter the teaching profession.

            Peggy was a resident of Manhattan from 1961 to 2024, and in retirement, she expanded and deepened her ethic of service by volunteering in the city she loved. She shared her expertise at the New York Public Library Centers for Reading and Writing, the New York City Writing Project at Lehman College, and at Women in Need, where she conducted writing workshops for homeless single mothers. She also volunteered at the Caron Foundation, an addiction rehabilitation organization. She was founder and facilitator of the Manhattan chapter of OurPath.org.

            Through the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York, she served meals to the needy, worked on the Nuclear Disarmament Task Force, was a member of the Women’s Alliance and the Circle of Elders, and served as Deacon of the church. She was a delegate to the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly for eight years. Perhaps the culmination of her UU service came when she served as president of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office, which she described as some of the most rewarding work of her lifetime.

            Peggy was predeceased by her parents, George E. Montgomery and Margaret S. Montgomery (née Fallon), both of Mattapoisett, MA.

            She is survived by her sister, Linda J. Tunstall, and brother-in-law, Cuthbert Tunstall of Fairhaven, MA. A private family interment will follow in Mattapoisett, MA.

            Memorial contributions may be made to:

1) The Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York

https://onrealm.org/allsoulsnyc/-/form/give/now or 2) The Mattapoisett Free Public Library

https://www.mattapoisettlibrary.org/Pages/Index/182750/donate-wishlist

            These comments are thanks, in part, to Lois Chazen, who profiled Peggy for the All Souls Quarterly in Spring 2010.– David Quinn, JJHS ‘71.

Linda Joy (Miller) Pierce

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Linda Joy (Miller) Pierce, 71, formerly of Wareham, passed away on June 30, 2025, at Bourne Manor Extended Care Facility, Bourne. She was the daughter of the late Donald and Gretel M. (Swanberg) Miller.

            She was born in Brockton and lived in Wareham and Mashpee for many years.  She graduated from Wareham High School.

            Linda worked as a bookkeeper for Franconia Hurley Fuel Company in Wareham for several years before retiring.

            Survivors include her son, Bradford E. Pierce and his wife, Heather of Rochester; a sister, Shelley Miller-Inglis of Mashpee; 4 grandchildren, Abbigail Dupont, Amelia Pierce, Alexander Pierce, and Amy Pierce all of Rochester. She was the sister of the late Donna Craven.

            Services are being held privately. Arrangements are by Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham.

Garden Tour Delivers

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Oh, for the love of flowers and human imagination! The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club bi-annual garden tour titled “June in Bloom” was a master class in just what can be done when Mother Nature and her human counterparts collaborate.

            Assuredly, the June 28 event presented gardens that have been heavily curated and lovingly nurtured over time. The gardens in this tour put on their best performances.

            Take for instance the transformation from woodlands bramble and thorns to gentle pathways hiding a chicken coop and foraged stones. The animals themselves were individual works of art created by nature and expertly cared for by the gardener.

            There were artistic works of art woven into the backdrops of flowering bushes (dog woods are especially prolific this year, as are hydrangeas) trimmed many of the frameable moments.

            A number of the properties featured this year enjoy breathtaking water views. My partner and I thought red carpets were in order, for surely these gardens were fit for royalty.

            Longtime member of the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club Sandy Hering was smitten by all the gardens featured this year. She also noted how gracious the property owners are in inviting the public to peak behind privacy fences and thick mature evergreens. Hering noted the incredible variety and imagination each garden held for the viewer, and let’s not forget birdsong that filled the gray, not gloomy skies.

            Naming plants and trees is not our strong suit, but the gardeners did that work for us by listing many plants in the map/program. There we find such notable items as red cedar, hemlock, magnolia, leucothoe edge, rhododendrons, pawpaw, rodgersia, and winter berry.

            A well-structured garden incorporates a variety of elements both natural to the environment in which they thrive, and human-made architectural features. A well-placed Buda (head only or lounging serenely) lends a gentle sense of wellbeing and calm. We found several that fit that bill.

            And the tour was nothing if not inspirational. A short stroll through any of the seven featured gardens gave enough food for thought during long cold winters when the New England gardener dreams of spring and all the beauty that awaits a patient gardener’s soul.

            On a final grace note, this event was a scholarship fundraiser. Each year now for over eight years, the club has bestowed educational scholarships to graduates of Old Rochester Regional High School.

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club

By Marilou Newell

Accessory Housing Law Explained

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Rochester Affordable Housing, Inc. (RAHI) hosted a June 30 informational workshop on Massachusetts’ new law allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) by right on residential properties across the commonwealth at the Council on Aging Senior Center.

            The goal was to answer Rochester residents’ questions on what this new law means to them and settle their concerns. Answers focused on the fact that ADU’s will allow a more affordable housing option for families, such as for aging adults needing to downsize and share housing on their adult children’s residential lot.

            Ann Soares of RAHI, a 501(c)(3) support organization for seniors and veterans, began the workshop by calling the ADU law “a valuable resource for many of our senior citizens, their families or caregivers such as with rental income from either the new ADU or the primary dwelling. Downsizing can become an option for any homeowner.”

            The next to speak were State Senator Michael Rodrigues and newly elected State Representative Mark Sylvia. Both called establishing more affordable housing one of Beacon Hill’s most discussed topics of late. Rodrigues called the new ADU law one step toward creative solutions to developing more such housing. Sylvia said that, with the Affordable Housing Act that the ADU law is under, the 351 communities within the commonwealth can allow ADU’s by right so the elderly, families and their children can live in more affordable housing. RAHI member Valerie Faretta noted ADU units are more affordable because they must be smaller and will consume less water and other utilities.

            The meeting then covered what’s important to know about applying for an ADU. Mark Wellington of the RAHI advised attendees to start their process with the Board of Health and the Conservation Commission. The status of the septic system is a major concern, engineer Rick Charon said. Size of system is based on bedrooms and must meet Title 5 requirements.

            Conservation Commission Chair Christopher Gerrior explained the need to report your plan to the Conservation Commission and its agent regarding wetlands on or near the property.

            Reading written comments from veteran Zoning Board of Appeals member Richard Cutler, Faretta informed attendees that zoning and building bylaws and setbacks still apply; for instance, the unit may not be placed in the front of the property. Also, beware of advertisements for contractors offering to build an ADU or a “tiny house,” she said. They might be a scam. Local architectural home designer Sarah Johnston advised those planning an ADU to weigh achieving privacy versus connection. The majority she has designed for have been for families.

            “Either parents want to downsize (or) their kids’ family can’t afford to move anywhere in this area, (so) the parents build an ADU on their property so (their children) can grow up in the family home,” she said. “It’s about what your basic needs are.”

            Attendees also learned that such units can be internal, as in fashioned out of a basement, etc. They also can be attached to the original dwelling or free standing. The maximum unit size is 900 square feet, though a 1,200-square-foot unit may also be permitted. ADU’s can be offered as rental units; they do not have to be owner-occupied. Only one ADU per house lot is allowed, though a second ADU could also be permitted.

            One attendee asked, “We’re not going to have little houses everywhere?” Residents were undoubtedly happy when Wellington replied with a simple “no.”

            “This is just another tool in the toolbox to provide affordable housing, especially for older people to keep them with their families,” Rodrigues said at the workshop’s conclusion. “And it’s a tool to increase the affordable housing stock.”

            Wellington added, “I’d like all of this to happen for our local families. We are trying to give people the tools they need.”

Rochester ADU Workshop

By Michael J. DeCicco

Commonwealth Heroine Award

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On Friday, June 14th, State Representative Mark Sylvia of the 10th Bristol District welcomed Jordan Pouliot Latham of Rochester to the Massachusetts State House, where she was honored with the 2025 Commonwealth Heroine Award. More than 125 women across the Commonwealth were recognized that day through a collaboration between the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) and state legislators to celebrate those who may not make headlines, but who make a lasting difference in their communities.

            “Our neighbor in the 10th Bristol District, Jordan Latham of Rochester, emulates all that it means to be a Commonwealth Heroine – she is a strong leader and passionate advocate, whose impact is seen and felt every day,” said Representative Sylvia (D-Fairhaven). “Whether encouraging women to serve in public office, building community in her role with the City of New Bedford, volunteering for countless local causes, helping grow a small business, or being a role model for her family and friends, Jordan is an incredible representative for our community and rightfully, a 2025 Commonwealth Heroine.”

            Jordan is a deeply engaged member of the 10th Bristol District, serving as a leader, organizer, educator, small business owner, mom, and partner. Her many contributions include service as a library trustee in Rochester, a member of the Cultural Council, registrar, nonprofit board member, and co-founder of Elect SouthCoast – a volunteer-led initiative working to advance gender parity in public office. Her commitment to her community has made a tangible difference in the lives of those around her, and the District is proud to celebrate her well-deserved recognition.

The MAC offers Theater Program for Summer

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The MAC is pleased to announce All Things Theater, a late summer theater program for ages 10-15. The camp is meant to show participants multiple facets of theater craft both on stage and behind the scenes. Activities may include acting, improvisation, costume creation, stage management, tech, and movement. Featuring working professionals from the area, the camp will operate for one week, Monday, July 28 throughFriday, August 1 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm each day. The MAC theater at 80 Pleasant St, Marion, MA will host the camp. The cost for a one-week session camp is $250 for MAC members and $290 for nonmembers. More information is available at marionartcenter.org/all-things-theater.

Declaration of Independence 249th Anniversary

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On July 4, 1776, the United States Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, was signed. A note, most signatories wouldn’t sign until August 2, but I digress. This paper would officially declare, in writing, the United States strove to become a sovereign nation, distinctly not under the British Crown of King George III. George was 38 at the time and had been King for nearly 16 years.

            War had raged on the continent for nearly a year by this point, with the Battles of Concord and Lexington occurring over a year earlier (April 19, 1775). The signing would officially begin the American War for Independence, which would last another 5 years until the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. The war would officially end after 8 years of fighting with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783.

            Of the declaration’s signatories, nine had been born in Massachusetts with five serving as Massachusetts State Representatives (John Adams, Samual Adams, Elbridge Gerry, John Handcock, and Robert Treat Paine). The last surviving signatory was Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Maryland, who lived to the age of 95 in 1837, over 56 years after signing.

            For Independence Day, the Town on Marion will not have fireworks. Marion will have a parade, however, beginning at 9:00 am near the Town House. The Mattapoisett Road Race will also begin at 9:00 pm at Shipyard Park where it will circle around town in a 4-mile circuit.

By Sam Bishop

Herbicide Use Approved for Brainard Marsh

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The Conservation Commission at its June 25 meeting endorsed a project initiated by the Sippican Lands Trust (SLT) that will use herbicides at the Brainard Marsh to target what the trust calls one of the worst invasive species – phragmites.

            The commission applauded the effort and acknowledged that the effort will help restore the marsh to its original state.

            There were some concerns about how that area is a recreation area where people walk and swim. Commissioners asked for signage and asked if there was a risk of over spraying and drifting to other areas.

            SLT representatives said that these herbicides are applied by certified professionals and there would be signage. Representatives also said that they apply the herbicides in August or September over a three-year period. The work aligns with an order of conditions from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

            SLT said the spraying is conducted in a conservative way so the herbicides drip down and do not spread into other areas.

            Conservation Commissioners and SLT members noted that the town has tried pulling the phragmites from the marshlands, but that effort is slow and not as effective as using herbicides.

            Town Planner Doug Guey-Lee shared some of the same concerns as Commissioners and asked that the Conservation Commission receive documented reports of the work and progress.

            At a light meeting in terms of agenda, the commission briefly discussed changes that were made to a development at 28 Wareham Road. Commissioners noted that there were changes from the original plans but conceded that nothing was impactful. The commission issued a certificate of compliance to the applicant.

            The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Police Department.

Marion Conservation Commission

By Jeffrey D. Wagner