What is the greatest story ever told?

on

Dear Editor,

            The Christmas season prompts me to ask this question: “What is the greatest story ever told?” For me, there are several elements worth considering. First, the greatest story should affect the most people; it should be extremely creative, imaginative, comprehensive, inclusive, universal, and engaging; it must have integrity and completeness; and finally, I would say the greatest story ever told must pack unparalleled power to change its readers for the better.

            I do not know about you, but a particular story comes immediately to mind. It is the account of Jesus Christ-the One who supernaturally came to earth as a man to bear witness of the truth. Of all the books ever written, I am quite certain that few if any boast a main character as unique and impacting as Jesus Christ. This figure was sent as the highest gift of God to save mankind from sin by dying on the Cross. His was a legacy filled with supernatural ability, wisdom in the fullness of Father God, ultimate authority obtained via humility, love, and victory over all things evil, including death. His life is depicted in an epic novel that was written over 1,500 years through 40 or so hands, consists of 66 books, and stands as the all-time bestseller by many millions of copies. If there is another tale as affecting… if there is another work as creative, imaginative, comprehensive, inclusive, universal, and engaging… if there is another author as capable of capturing integrity and completeness… if there is another piece of literature that packs such power to restore its reader, then I would be very interested in getting my hands on it.

            Friends, the “greatest story ever told” is quite a concept. Only one title is worthy. And while there are many possibilities out there, I am convinced my selection offers an unequaled distinction. The Bible brings to bear this wonderful holiday we call “Christmas.” I mean, just listen to the beauty of the prose in Luke 2:10-11: Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” How great is that?

            Merry Christmas.

            Steven J. Bouley

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.

Marion Village Stroll

on

The Marion Village Stroll will take place on Sunday, December 14 from 3 to 5:30 pm. Coordinated by Angela Rossi and sponsored by The Marion Business Community Association, local merchants offer hospitality and treats; Santa arrives via boat at the Old Landing at 3:00 pm; Clydesdale horses pull wagons of happy guests. Added to this are crafts, games, and musical performances, and the Tree lighting at 5:30 pm at the Bandstand. During the Stroll, The Sippican Woman’s Club’s clubhouse, aka “The Tavern”, 152 Front Street will be open to sit, visit and enjoy.

Children’s Department at the Mattapoisett Library

on

Due to the success of our food drive during the month of November, we will be continuing to collect donations for local food pantries in the form of non-perishable food, pet food, diapers, cleaning supplies, and items to help with personal hygiene. Unlike in November, we will no longer be waiving late fees on library materials for donated items. We thank the generosity of our community, and we hope to have another successful month of collecting items for those in need within our community.

            Graphic Novel Book Club continues this month with Scout is not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong. The book club will be meeting on Friday, December 13, at 3:30 pm – registration is required, and we have extra copies of the book available to check out.

            Need some gift ideas? Try homemade. Or library-made. Come make some crafts for gifts and decorations this holiday season and have some hot cocoa while you’re at it. No registration required. This Family Gift Workshop will be on Saturday, December 13, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

            To register for our events or for more information, please check out our website, mattapoisettlibrary.org, or give us a call at 508-758-4171. We hope to see you in the library soon. Until then, keep reading.

December at the Rochester Historical Museum

on

December is a busy time for everyone, especially Santa and his elves. The Rochester Historical Society is happy to help out the folks at the North Pole. We’ll be at the Plumb Library Holiday Fundraiser on December 13 from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm with lots of Rochester clothing, hats, books and maps and more. This year we have a new item, a fleece vest with our embroidered logo. Everything would look great under anyone’s tree.

            The next day, December 14 at 1:30 pm, we’re having a Christmas party, show-casing holiday music on our rare and wonderful Vocalion organ. After enjoying the music and even singing along with Tom and Sheila Perry, we will enjoy some holiday treats downstairs. The only price of admission is an unwrapped toy or item for a child or teen.

Let There Be Light

on

            We finally know the holiday season is here, now that the house on Acushnet Road is lit up.

            Marino Carreiro and his wife Grace greeted guests and onlookers at the grand opening of the annual exhibit at 59 Acushnet Road in Mattapoisett on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Carreiro house becomes a popular destination in town in the early days of winter, with Marino spending a good portion of the year assembling his masterpiece.

            With music playing and many, many thousands of lights twinkling, you can walk up the drive, or take the light-tunnel path past the animatronics coming to life, ascending up to the hot chocolate and cookies by the home itself. The garage doors are also illuminated, showing pixel-art of Santa and a snowman. I’m not sure what holiday magic is used for that, but it’s pretty spectacular. Also, somehow the garage doors can still open to allow a car in. I was flabbergasted.

            Many come from around the Tri-Town in a pilgrimage; many park and get some hot cocoa; many are just driving by, mouths agape as they turn the corner.

            This year is the 10th anniversary of Marino putting up the lights, with their announcement saying, “Ladies and gentlemen… it’s the 10th anniversary of The First Night of the Lights! This will be our final big celebration, and we’re going out with a sparkle!”

            Marino described this year’s lights as a “grand finale.” He stressed the festivities, lights, and treats will continue for years to come, but the endeavor will be scaled back. He told us he won’t be adding anything new to the ensemble next year, as has been a tradition. Considering he told us he starts putting lights up in September to be ready for the day after Thanksgiving, it is only fair!

            The holiday season has officially begun, now that the red star atop the Carreiro’s tree is illuminated and glowing over Mattapoisett.

By Sam Bishop

Thoughts on… Neil, Willy and Me

on

Pamela LaPointe, a classmate of mine in high school who came from Tennessee in our senior year and stayed just that one year, wrote in my yearbook, “Good luck with the beatniks.”

She was referring to the fact that I was off to art college. That exposes how old I am, but the fact is my time at art school fell between beatniks who sat around reciting poetry and hippies who let their hair grow, protested Vietnam and smoked pot, I was neither. I didn’t understand poetry, and the smell of marijuana made me nauseous.

            I did, however, meet many interesting people at college.

            The other night I was watching the Celtics game and perusing Facebook during timeouts. I find the proliferation of useless videos of cats, fake AI-created “breaking” news stories and cheap New York apartment tours fascinating. They are the twenty-first-century version of the old National Enquirer newspaper that I read on my Sunday night bus trips back to art school in the ’60s.

            In one of those videos appeared a tall, slender old fellow in bib overalls and black canvas Converse All Star high-cut sneakers. Somehow the guy looked familiar. As he entered his apartment building, he mentioned that he purchased the four-story, 11,000 square-foot building in 1972 in a dangerous, industrial area in the SoHo district of New York (he said he paid $36,000; I checked, it is valued at $28 million now!).

            Mmmm? SoHo? That’s an up-scale artistic district now. He said he turned the first floor into an art gallery, and when he said his name…whoa! I sure did know this guy, he was my old friend and classmate at art school, Neil Jenney.

            Neil dropped out of school early to drive a cab to raise money to move to New York. Neil, his roommate Willie and I bent many elbows sitting around drinking beer in their small apartment on Wigglesworth Street in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood and talking about our future as artists, generally considered to be a dead-end way of making a living.

            Willy, later known as William Wegman, became rich and famous all over the world for his photos of his Weimaraner dogs dressed in clothing and posing like humans. Another roommate became the original art director of the National Lampoon magazine. (I see a trend developing here that hasn’t included me.)

            You could say Neil has become a second-tier famous artist. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship, has had his paintings in museums around the world and even started an art movement called “Bad Art.” If art is in the eye of the beholder, consider this… his work sells for over $800,000! (Yup, definitely hasn’t included me.)

            I doubt Neil would know me if we were to meet today. After all, he has spent his life hob-knobbing with the likes of Andy Warhol and celebrities like actress Brooke Shields.

            Hey, I’ve done all right and I never had to wear bib overalls and black high-top Converse sneakers. Old friend Pamela LaPointe would be proud.

            Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and happily retired writer. His newspaper columns appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.

By Dick Morgado

Mattapoisett Holiday in the Park

on

Mattapoisett’s Holiday in the Park will take place on Saturday, December 13 from 3pm to 5pm in Shipyard Park. There will be a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Clause who will be joined by Rudolph, Frosty, and the Elves. There will also be special performances by the ORRJH Band and Showstoppers as well as the Annual Tree Lighting.

Andrew “ANDO” Dadagian, M.D.

on

Andrew “ANDO” Dadagian, M.D., age 94, passed away at home on November 30, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on August 10, 1931, in Watertown, and was the only child of the late Rose (Meremian) and John Dadagian. Andy’s work ethic, appreciation of life, and resilience were shaped by his childhood in Watertown, known as ‘Little Armenia’. His parents, whose families had been killed in the Armenian Genocide, met and married in France and immigrated to America. Andy explained that when they arrived in this country, his parents did not know how to read or write the language and had no funds. “To this day, I cannot comprehend how they survived,” he noted.

            Andy was a superb track and field athlete. While on the Watertown High School track team, Andy set numerous school records, was a captain, and led the team to indoor and outdoor state championships. He won state titles in the 440- and 600-yard events and high jump, and was inducted into the Watertown Hall of Fame in 2010. After graduating from Watertown High in 1950, Andy was awarded a scholarship to Wilbraham Academy, where he flourished. He was a National Merit Scholar and named Wilbraham’s Most Outstanding Athlete. He won the 440-yard event at the National Prep School Championships in Madison Square Garden in 1951. At Cornell University, Andy was a top collegiate athlete in the 400-meter hurdles and 600-yard dash. He anchored the Cornell mile-relay team, which won both the Ivy League Championship and the Penn Relay Championship for three consecutive years. As senior captain, he starred at the Heptagonal Games, helping Cornell win both indoor and outdoor titles. He was selected to represent the U.S. at a series of European track meets and set Ireland’s 440-yard hurdles record in 1954. He was named the Armenian Athlete of the Year in 1954 by the Armenian General Athletic Union. While at Cornell, Andy won the Woodford Oratorical Contest and spoke movingly about his experiences as a first-generation Armenian-American. He was the first captain of any varsity sport at Cornell to win this prestigious award. Upon graduation, he attended New York Medical College and became an otolaryngologist. During his final year in medical school, Andy met the love of his life, Barbara Davison, and they married 6 months later. This year marks their 66th wedding anniversary. He was a captain in the U.S. Air Force for two years and eventually moved to Marion. He loved being a physician and helping people, always showing patients and colleagues kindness and respect. He practiced at Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Tobey Hospital, and St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, where he was Chief of Otolaryngology.

            Andy’s pride and joy was his family. He prioritized his children and was incredibly generous with his love and time. Grandpa was the infallible beacon of wisdom. His dinner toasts were as nourishing as the meals, which often consisted of Armenian specialties like pilaf, shish kebab, and paklava. Family gatherings involved playing cards and backgammon and watching Seinfeld reruns. Andy and Barbara traveled extensively, attending multiple Olympic Games, enjoying river boat cruises throughout Europe, and spending time in Aruba every winter. Often labelled ‘The World’s Most Interesting Man’ by friends, Andy was charismatic, curious, and adventurous. A proud New England Patriots season ticket holder since 1974, Andy attended every game he could. Being invited to a Patriots game with him was like finding the golden ticket in Willy Wonka; all guests were guaranteed a grilled rare steak and a good parking spot.

            Though Andy’s parents never drove or owned a car, he was a passionate automobile enthusiast, a self-taught engine master. He loved driving sports cars, preferably at high speeds, yet was drawn to the history and elegance of classic antique cars. His Cadillac V16 Roadster and 1938 Horch Cabriolet were awarded National Championship honors. The Marion July 4th Parade was a family highlight, with him behind the wheel of his 1929 red Stutz Blackhawk Roadster, followed by his 1930 Dodge Woody, both cars filled with his grandchildren. A joy of his later years was being driven by his sons in the Dodge Woody to get ice cream. Andy loved nature and spent hours planting tulip bulbs from Holland. He marveled at the world of birds and never left the feeders empty. He considered his beloved Suzy, an Old English sheepdog he trained, to be the standard of excellence for all other family dogs. Suzy sparked Andy and Barbara to breed Old English sheepdogs for many years.

            He is survived by his devoted wife, Barbara; his son Stephen Dadagian and wife Katherine, of Concord; his daughter, Jacqueline Dadagian and husband Gary, of Arlington; his daughter Laura Dadagian-O’Rourke and husband, James, of Oak Bluffs and Marion; his daughter Andrea Bilodeau, of Marion; and his son Christian Dadagian and wife, Jennifer, of Hopkinton; eleven grandchildren, Antranig ‘Max’, Theo, Benjamin, Marina, Zachary, Andrew, Julia, Alexander, Zoë, Sam, and Ryder; and two great grandchildren, Cameron and Blair.

            When asked what he would like included in his obituary, Andy replied, “He lived a full and extraordinary life.” That he did. He will be missed tremendously.

            The family will gather privately to honor his memory.

Cheering Down South

on

The Old Rochester Youth Football & Cheer (ORYF) Pee Wee Cheerleading Team is headed to nationals!

            Through their hard work, the team earned a spot at the 2025 Pop Warner Cheer & Dance Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Dance and Cheer Nationals coincide with the Pop Warner Youth Football Super Bowl, with events in the competitions running a full week, from December 6 to December 13. The Tri-Town’s ORYF team will perform Thursday, December 11.

            Nicole, a parent of one of the team members, said, “this achievement marks a major milestone for the young athletes, who have dedicated countless hours of practice, teamwork, and perseverance throughout the season.” The hard work has paid off, as now the team is headed down south for a reprieve from the inclement weather!

            This hard work still demands higher costs, with the trip down south being anything but cheap, especially this time of year. If you are interested in supporting the ORYF Pee Wee Cheer Team, you can contact ORYF Cheer Coordinator Jessica Stephens at oryfbulldogs@gmail.com.

ORYF Pee Wee Cheer Nationals

By Sam Bishop

Bog-Filling Plan Needs to Dig Deeper

on

            The Rochester Conservation Commission on Tuesday cast doubts over a plan to build 12 single-family house lots on 12 acres at Mary’s Pond Road and Pierce Mill Road.

            Appearing on Zoom, the developer’s representative, Brandon Barr of Merrill Engineers and Land Surveyors, held an informal discussion with the commission to get its preliminary thoughts on the plan, which includes filling in the cranberry bogs currently there. Barr said his firm’s research into past maps of the area indicate these bogs are man-made. A 1912 map reveals the area originally consisted of a lot of muck and coarse sand; it is not the site of natural wetlands. Barr’s associate Dave Portland added these maps match up with the location of the existing bogs.

            Commission members responded that they want more information before agreeing to such a plan. Chair Christopher Gerrior said he wanted to know when these bogs were developed. “How long have they been bogs?” he asked. Gerrior wondered aloud why people avoided building a house there when the land was in that condition.

            “I don’t believe they were ever uplands,” commission member Bill Milka said. “I want to see more studies and data to make sure what it is,” commission member Jerelle Jesse added.

            “We need more information,” Gerrior concluded. “You have to prove why you can develop here before you come back to us.”

            Barr and Portland agreed to do that just that, to gather more data proving the area’s soil conditions and the age of its bogs before returning with a formal proposal.

            In response to another applicant’s request, the commission continued to its next meeting a Notice of Intent public hearing on the construction of a single-family home within the 200-foot riparian zone at 0 Robinson Road.

            The Rochester Conservation Commission canceled its regularly scheduled December 16 meeting and set its next meeting for January 6, 2026, at 7:00 pm in Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco