Illegal Christmas and Ancient Complaints

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We all know the classic Christmas stories, generally; or at least we get the gist of them. We know ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Grinch, but here’s a couple interesting Christmas tales you can quiz your family on this Christmas, should you fancy yourself an Alex Trebek.

            In the Plymouth colony following its founding, circa 1620~, Christmas was not celebrated. Not just for the fact that their very survival was at stake and celebrating a holiday was last on their minds, but for the simple fact that its celebration was made illegal by the Puritans. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “the Puritans? You mean those blokes famous for their tolerance?” Yea, those guys! The Pilgrims had arrived in Plymouth on December 20, so that December was totally focused on sheer survival. Governor William Bradford, taking over just after John Carver, dissuaded public celebrations on the day.

            Pilgrim colonist William Bradford wrote at the time, “One day called Christmas-day, ye Governor called them out to work, but most of this new company excused themselves and said it went against their consciences to work on [this] day. So ye Governor told them that if they made it matter of conscience, he would spare them till they were better informed.” Later, he added, “He found them in ye street at play, openly; some pitching ye barr, & some at stoole-ball, and such like sports. So he went to them, and took away their implements, and told them that was against his conscience, that they should play & others work.”

            That was more of an informal ban, but later, in Boston, in 1659, the governing body of the Massachusetts Bay Colony enacted a law titled the “Penalty for Keeping Christmas.” It stated, “festivals as were superstitiously kept in other countries” and went on to say it was a “great dishonor of God and offence of others.” Those found celebrating were to be fined 5 shillings, or about as much as a parking ticket today. As time went on and more non-puritans arrived in the colonies, Christmas celebrations began to be accepted and by the mid-1700s, they were fairly commonplace. Christmas was made a Massachusetts state holiday in 1856 and a national holiday in 1870.

            On to the next tale! Many have some feeling of “Oh, Christmas was better back in the day, before it was commercialized and all about spending money. Also, the Christmas season starts too early!” That may seem like a newer sentiment. Maybe the last 50 years? The last 100? Surely a product of the Victorian Age? Let’s go back 1,600 years…

            The Roman Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius was likely from modern-day Spain or Northern Africa around 400 AD. Christianity had only been legalized in Rome in 313, so not totally the de-facto religion of all in Rome. Many, if not most, still believed in and celebrated traditional Roman-pagan traditions. The end-of-year, solstice holiday was Saturnalia. Basically, replace “Christ” in Christmas with the god “Saturn” and you’ve got it.

            Macrobius wrote seven books on the history and practice of the holiday of Saturnalia. The books contain many contracting statements and historical oddities, but they at least offer a window into the mind of a 5th-century Roman, and someone possibly not so different from ourselves. He complains of the loss of the “old ways” and fusses over overconsumption and indulgence. Saturnalia used to last a day, then a week, now close to a month!

            Famous historian Pliny the Younger would even lock himself in his house for days to escape the lengthy partying. A real Grinch, if you will. Macrobius also complained that it used to be that gift-giving was more of an inexpensive ordeal, as an expensive gift was seen as “bragging.” Now, he was expected to shell out money for parties and gifts! Roman Senator Lucius Annaeus Seneca complained over rampant partying, merriment and drunkenness, saying famously in his Moral Letters, “Once, December was a month; now, it is a year.”

So, the complaints over Christmas and other end-of-year celebrations aren’t new at all. Actually, they’re ancient! Some things never change.

            Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

By Sam Bishop

Machacam Club

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The next meeting of the Machacam Club is scheduled for Wednesday, January 7. We meet at the American Legion Hall on Depot Street, Mattapoisett. Social time begins at 5:00 pm followed by dinner at 6:00 pm. Our speaker will be introduced at 6:40 pm. Chef Colby is planning another satisfying meal. Callers, please send your counts by 9:00 pm Monday, January 5, 2026. Please submit inquiries to cwmccullough@comcast.net.

Housing Developments Make Progress

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The Marion Select Board met on December 16 and, along with the public hearing for tree removal reported on last week, granted various Sewer Application Waivers.

            At the beginning of the meeting, there was a public hearing for the removal of seven trees for the Marion Shared Use Bike Path’s development. Tree #6 on the list, a black oak, was removed from the list and “spared” as developers found a way to maintain it. Its roots will remain unharmed, per local landscaper Steve Gonsalves. The plan also comes with guarantees by the state that, for every tree removed, two more will be provided, thereby guaranteeing the town 14 new trees. The state is also responsible for all costs in regards to removal.

            Following this, the board began a discussion on the ongoing Briggs housing development project off Spring Street. This night’s talk was mainly focused on sewers and tie-ins. There were three main financial parts of the project. Select Board Vice Chair John Hoagland read the sewer project plan before the vote. For the property’s 28 proposed units, there was a $10,000 per-unit cost, totaling $280,000. There’s an additional $300 per bedroom in said units, to add up to $16,800 for 56 bedrooms across all units. There was an additional $88,200 flow charge totaling $385,000.

            Along with this total, a capacity study will be conducted for $32,000 for a final total cost of $417,000. Per proposed dwelling unit, the cost would be about $14,892.86. The board agreed to grant a Sewer Application Waiver, as well as the additional study, with two votes, Chair Randy Parker and Vice Chair John Hoagland in favor and member Norm Hills abstaining, pushing the Briggs housing project further along in its long development.

            Next was another Sewer Application Waiver request, this time for 340 Converse Road, where the request for a second quote was made by the board.

            Following that, discussion moved to the conditional approval of the sewer project for the Toll Brothers Inc. development at 78 Wareham Road. It was initially discussed that Toll Brothers Inc. has not yet finalized their purchase of the property from previous developer Matthew Zuker. The company representative stated that, once they have received all necessary permits and desired guarantees from the town, they will finalize their purchase from Zuker.

            Following a presentation, the board voted on the conditional approval of three different permit applications from Toll Brothers Inc. The board voted unanimously, in one vote, for the conditional approval of these three applications. The first was for private sewer extension on site, another for public sewer extension from Route 6, and another for a pump station.

            The next meeting of the Marion Select Board will be held after the holiday season on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, in the Marion Police Department, 550 Mill Street.

Marion Select Board

By Sam Bishop

Elizabeth Taber Library

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Kids of all ages and their caregivers can ring in the New Year at noon on Wednesday, December 31. Join us between 11:00 am and noon for crafts, snacks, and even a bubble-wrap dance floor. Then we’ll count down to noon.

            The Banned Book Club will be discussing John Berendt’s “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, January 6. Check out a copy at the circulation desk today.

            Kids looking to practice their storytelling skills are invited to join our creative writing club. This club, designed for students in grades 1-6, will meet on the second and fourth Monday of the month at 3:00 pm. Our first meeting is on Monday, January 12. Each meeting will include a prompt and discussion about an element of creative writing, free writing time, and time to share our writing with others. Registration is required for this program – please register online at elizabethtaberlibrary.org.

            The start of the new year is a great time to start a new habit. Adults ages 18 and over are invited to join us to make your own reading tracker on Tuesday, January 13 between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm.

            The Cozy Cup Book Club will be reading Vera Wong’s “Guide to Snooping (on a dead man)” in January. The club meets on January 14 and January 28. Check out a copy at the circulation desk and attend one or both meetings. As always, coffee and tea are provided.

Solar Arrays, Stone Walls, and Senior Living

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The Rochester Planning Board Tuesday approved the waivers and began the draft decision phase for the Special Permit and Site Plan Review permit for Logging Swamp Solar’s plan to install a solar panel array on 49 acres in the area of 600 Snipatuit Road.

            Project representative Zach Farkes of Rewild Renewables began the discussion by asking if the board was okay with the $2500 Stormwater Bond being proposed and the location of the access road, which is being moved north because abutters were requesting it be placed further from their properties.

            Farkes said he was particularly concerned about the road redesign because its new location encroaches on a stone wall and the town typically tries to protect and preserve such walls. Board members, however, said they had no problem with the stone wall’s new location because addressing the residents’ concerns are the priority. Abutter Lisa Christiansen, in fact, said to the developer’s consultants before the hearing closed and the waivers were approved, “Thank you for working with us and accommodating our requests.”

            Chair Arnold Johnson said he had no problem with the proposed bond. In fact, he complimented the developer on proposing one that does not low ball what the board usually requests.

            The plan covers 35 acres of a 2,000-acre wooded property bordered on one side by Northern Avenue and surrounded by a 350-acre swamp.

            The meeting began by endorsing two Approval Not Required applications, one for 192 Pierce St. and the other for Walnut Plain Road. The plan for 192 Pierce St. is work on a five-acre conversion parcel out a 242-acre property. The plan for Walnut Plain Road is to subdivide the acreage there into three lots.

            The board later approved the waivers for the Site Plan Review permit for Afonso Built Homes’ plan for a Townhouse development within Rochester Crossroads. The plan here is for a total of 15 buildings and a total of 44 units in a series of three-unit and two-unit buildings, with a drive-under garage and driveway parking spots. Here too Johnson said the board will now write the permit’s draft decision.

            In other action, the board approved two other important draft decisions. It endorsed the Site Plan Review permit for a 68-unit age 55-and-over senior living apartment building proposed for Rochester Crossroad. It also approved the Site Plan Review and Special Permit application for the 53 Dexter Lane floating solar array project.

            The board continued to its next meeting its hearing into a modification of the “Sniptauit Ponds Estates” Definitive Subdivision Plan for Gerrish and Bishop Roads that was approved in 1979. The request here is to swap two parcels of open space land and create a 3.578-acre buildable lot on one of them. Johnson said the town prefers open space to be donated to the town. A land swap would require that the land being swapped is of equal or lesser value. Applicant Robert Pellegrini said the land appraisal that will answer that question was only received that day and will be forwarded to th3e board. The board also extended this project’s decision deadline to January 31, 2026.

            The board also continued to its next meeting the hearing for the Definitive Subdivision Plan for 19 County Road, in the area of West Wareham.

            The Rochester Planning Board’s next meeting will be Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Planning Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

Accessory Dwelling Unit Presentation

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There will be an ADU Presentation on Wednesday, January 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Marion Council on Aging presented by Buz Artiano will be here along with Bob Grillo, Marion Building Commissioner.

            You Will Learn: What is an ADU? What goes into making an ADU? Who is an ADU for? What can YOU build? What are the ADU laws? There will also be a question-and-answer period, light refreshments will be served.

Budget Increase From Health Insurance

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The Marion Board of Health met on December 11 in the Town Hall Annex and approved a preliminary fiscal 2027 budget increase of 2.8-percent.

            Health Director Lori Desmarais noted that the largest increase will be connected to an initiative to create online permitting. She said that it costs $6,750 to start-up the process around that same amount annually. That said, that line item is slated for $13,500.

            She said she is looking at grant opportunities to pay for the start-up costs.

            Other increases include a recertification stipend for Health Agent Gabrielle Almeida, who is eligible for this stipend increase as an assistant inspector and evaluator.

            Desmarais also budgeted an additional $100 for advertising costs with some demolition projects expected to occur this year.

            Desmarais said that, based on recent data, she was able to budget fewer funds for cell phone expenses for health employees.

            Desmarais said that there will be a 25-percent increase in health insurance costs, especially ones that are tied to pensions, a line item with no wiggle room.

            Board of Health members applauded Desmarais’ budget work but said it might be hard to justify a 2.8-percent increase when most departments are increasing by only 2-percent.

            Board members asked her to talk with Select Board members about using capital funds for the online permitting system.

            At this short meeting, board members agreed to the same schedule of meeting every first and third Thursday of the month.

            The board will not meet on January 1, being a holiday, so the next Marion Board of Health meeting will be on Thursday, January 15.

Marion Board of Health

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Stormwater Management Bylaw Editing

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The Marion Planning Board met on Monday for a continued public hearing on the proposed adoption of stormwater management regulations to the Stormwater Management Bylaw.

            First, the board approved the payment of an invoice to Toll Brothers Inc. for a Field Engineering Peer Preview of an unspecified amount. Then, they moved to the Public Hearing.

            The changes include a definition change, plugged the Environmental Protection Agency’s definition of “Larger Common Plan of Development.” Chair Andrew Daniel read the definition from the agency’s Stormwater Handbook, stating: “A continuous area where multiple separate and distinct construction activities may be taking place at different times on different schedules. Under one common plan, the common plan is any announcement of a piece of documentation including a sign, public notice, hearing, sales pitch, advertisement, drawing permit, application, zoning request, computer design, et cetera. Or physical demarcation including boundaries, signs,

lost stakes, surveyor markings, et cetera. Indicated that construction activities may occur on a specific plot.”

            Most work at this meeting revolved around making the bylaw more concise and more generally understandable, specifically pertaining to Subdivision Regulations §300-4.6 of the bylaw.

            The Public Hearing was continued to the next meeting.

            The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board and hearings on the continuing process for the Stormwater Management Bylaw will be on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 7:00 pm in the Marion Police Department.

Marion Planning Board

By Sam Bishop

Tremont Advent Christian Camp Meeting Association

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The Marion Historical Commission is pleased to announce that the Tremont Advent Christian Camp Meeting Association property on Oakdale Avenue has received a Determination of Eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. This preliminary approval was made recently by the Massachusetts Historical Commission following a unanimous vote of support by the Tremont Association Board of Directors.

            The origins of this particular camp meeting lie in the 1860s in the Tremont section of Wareham.

            By the mid-19th century seasonal revival camp meetings had become a common fixture in the landscape of America. Located in the countryside and often on bodies of water, campgrounds included permanent buildings for common use such as dormitories, kitchens, dining halls, and assembly rooms, and eventually individual residential cottages. These revival meetings featured charismatic speakers and were punctuated with enthusiastic hymn singing. Plentiful food and a wide range of recreational activities were also mainstay aspects of camp meeting life. Camp meetings were described by Transcendentalist philosopher and poet Henry David Thoreau as “a singular combination of a prayer-meeting and a picnic.” They reached their greatest popularity between the Civil War and World War I.

            When the Wareham camp was completely destroyed in a fire on March 31, 1905, they chose the property on Hammett’s Cove. The first Marion Campmeeting was held here July 25-August 6, 1905.

            The first buildings were constructed between 1906 and 1911, and most of the extant camp buildings were erected by the mid-1920s. Hurricanes in 1938, 1954, and 1991, and a windstorm in 1944 had various effects on the campground, including necessitating the relocation several of the cottages, including 23 and 35 Oakdale Ave. The dining hall was destroyed in the 1954 hurricane; its successor was destroyed in 2015 and was replaced in 2019. Many of the cottages remain in the families of those who constructed them.

            The MHC noted that the property is eligible for the National Register at the local and possibly state levels in the area of Religion for its association with the Protestant Camp Meeting Movement, and also derives its primary architectural and historical importance as a significant and distinguishable entity, even while its components lack individual distinction.

            With this eligibility opinion, the preparation of a National Register nomination will now commence. The Marion Historical Commission has contracted with preservation consultant, Eric Dray, to complete the nomination. The project is being funded with Community Preservation funds. Submission of the final nomination papers is anticipated for summer, 2026, after which the MHC submits it to the National Park Service for final approval.

Center School Principal Linda Ashley to Retire at End of School Year

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Superintendent Michael S. Nelson announces that Center School Principal Linda Ashley plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 school year.

            The district will begin the search process for the next principal in the coming weeks. Superintendent Nelson will share updates with staff and families as the process moves forward.

            Dr. Ashley became principal at the Center School on July 1, 2022, bringing with her more than 35 years of experience as an educator, school leader, curriculum director, and advocate for high-quality instruction and family engagement.

            Before arriving at the Center School, Dr. Ashley served as a principal in Franklin, Milford, and Norton Public Schools, as well as a curriculum director supporting teaching and learning across PreK-12 grade levels. Her background includes leading a National Blue Ribbon School, guiding schools recognized for high achievement and growth, expanding professional development systems, and strengthening curriculum, data-informed instruction, and multi-tiered systems of support.

            Superintendent Nelson praised Dr. Ashley’s steady leadership and the impact she has had on students, staff, and families.

            “Speaking for the school district, I want to express my sincere appreciation for Dr. Ashley’s leadership at the Center School,” Superintendent Nelson said. “Since coming to the Center School, Dr. Ashley has supported our staff with thoughtful guidance, strengthened communication with families, and fostered a school environment where young learners feel cared for, encouraged, and excited to grow.”

            “We are deeply grateful for her leadership,” Superintendent Nelson added. “Please join me in thanking Dr. Ashley for her service to the Center School and all of our students. We wish her the very best in her well-earned retirement.”

            During her tenure, Dr. Ashley strengthened communication with families, supported the implementation of instructional best practices across classrooms, and continued building a warm, nurturing school culture defined by collaboration, curiosity, and community pride.

            Dr. Ashley expressed her appreciation for the Center School community and for the honor of serving the students there.

            “Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my professional journey,” Dr. Ashley said. “I am deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in me and for the opportunity to lead such an extraordinary school. I am especially proud of the progress we have made together – strengthening instructional practices, nurturing a culture of belonging, and placing students’ well-being at the heart of our work. Thank you for the privilege of serving this wonderful community. The relationships and memories I’ve made here will remain among the greatest gifts of my career. I will be cheering on Center School and the entire Mattapoisett community for years to come.”