Wildlife Drawings by Emmons Capture Animal Spirits

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            Touching tributes to nature in the form of wildlife drawings executed to unique perfection by artist and author George B. Emmons are on exhibit at the Mattapoisett Public Library now through November 15. The pencil drawings speak to Emmons’ deep understanding and love for birds, fish, local wildlife, and for the indigenous people that, once upon a time, were the only people in the Americas.

            A self-taught artist, Emmons took up drawing as much more than a hobby, nay, more a way to express his lifelong reverence for all living things. Growing up on a farm as a boy, Emmons was surrounded by nature, which clearly imprinted within his mental landscape just how glorious the natural environment is. It is his belief that “Every living thing has a spirit.” That belief expresses itself in his works.

            The Wanderer spent some time discussing with Emmons what motivates his artistic endeavors, many of which have been featured in these pages over the years.

            “I’m inspired by nature,” he gently stated. Beatrix Potter, the children’s author, illustrator, and natural scientist, is number one on his list of favorite artists, followed by Ernest Thompson Seton, a wildlife artist, author, and one of the founders if the Boy Scouts of America, as well as the American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter John James Audubon. Influences from these cornerstones of a naturalist’s view of art and science are evident in Emmons’ drawings and writings.

            “It’s my second or third career,” Emmons said of his artwork. “I think I’ve tried just about everything.” What is also apparent as Emmons recounts his life’s work is his very personal and strongly held belief that one must seize the day, find the joy, and pass along positivity. “I’m having more fun than ever before.”

            Emmons studied social anthropology at Harvard University but added, “I wish now I had studied English.” While at Harvard, he was on the varsity football and baseball teams. “I’m an athlete,” said Emmons, who also served in the Navy during the end of WWII, followed by two more years in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps.

            Emmons also spoke glowingly of his wife, Jan, who passed away in earlier this year. “We had 65 wonderful years.” As his longtime partner, Jan supported all that Emmons pursued both professionally and artistically.

            For decades he was a businessman, but always with a toe in the natural world. At one point, he was on the board of directors for a fish hatchery and at another point received an award for his work preserving the natural environment. But he is not a man to boast; instead, he would rather ask his interviewer her thoughts on any number of topics. With delicacy turning the conversation back to Emmons, he smiles and acquiesces to a few more questions, although he slips in several additional questions of his own when the conversational space allows.

            Now in his ninth decade, Emmons doesn’t so much reflect on his long life and its ups and downs but prefers instead to think about the happiness he’s experienced and the next project he is contemplating.

            Yet he did wander down a lane of memory to a time when he was acquainted with a local Native American when he was still living in his family home. Of this man, he said, “I learned (Native American) philosophy from him.” He said his friend took him under his wing, talking to him about the spirit that lives within all living things and the importance of respecting life in its many forms.

            To emphasize this point, Emmons pointed to one of his drawings now on exhibit. It is a pencil drawing of a Native American brave. This central element is facing away from the viewer looking out in the direction of a rolling landscape, above which is a line of birds in flight. One realizes that the human image that dominates this piece is not the subject or the theme, it is the soaring birds whose spirits are lifting up and away into infinity.

            Emmons’ work has been published in The Monterey News, West Chester County News, Richfield Press, and The East Greenwich Pendulum, as well as The Wanderer.

            For the reader, Emmons gives us a break from a world filled with technology and long to-do lists. Coupled with his drawings are his thoughtful and insightful texts, from which we are transported to the natural environment and all the riches that await if only we turn our attention away from the screens.

            For his part, technology is not a complete necessity; he writes his column using a typewriter and his drawings from graphite and colored pencils on paper. The charm of these works is respite for the soul.

            From his home along the shore in nearby Fairhaven, Emmons watches migratory seabirds at sunset, a sight that thrills him anew each time, and he is quick to share his appreciation of it all, saying, “It is so wonderful to be a writer and artist living in this area.”

By Marilou Newell

SHS Speaker Series

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The SHS Speaker Series continues on November 11 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Music Hall with a special Veterans Day event. Local collector Benjamin Dunham will offer an in-person lecture/slideshow on the etchings of British artist J. Alphege Brewer, which will be on display before and during the presentation.

            In the second decade of the 20th century, Brewer made his fame producing large, color etchings of European cathedrals and other historical buildings damaged or threatened during WWI. In both the United States and Great Britain, these etchings and reproductions were proudly hung on parlor walls in solidarity with the Allied cause and as a remembrance of the devastating cultural losses inflicted by the onslaught of war.

            A selection of Brewer’s original WWI etchings will be on display at the Marion Music Hall from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on November 11 and in the half-hour before the lecture.

            This event complements the exhibit beginning November 4 at the Sippican Historical Society of the WWI illustrations of Charles Dana Gibson. In the years surrounding the turn of the 20th century, Gibson (creator of the “Gibson Girl”) summered in Marion along with his journalist friend Richard Harding Davis and other renowned artists. During WWI, Gibson led the Division of Pictorial Publicity for the Committee on Public Information, an independent government agency created by President Wilson. In 1914, Davis wrote colorful reports of the German invasion of Belgium and the threat to some of the same buildings pictured in Brewer’s etchings. The exhibit at the SHS will run through January 15.

            Copies of Dunham’s newly published book, “Etched in Memory: The Elevated Art of J. Alphege Brewer,” are currently available for purchase at the Sippican Historical Society Shop. Following the lecture on November 11, Dunham will sign purchased copies of the book, which is based on the material at his website, www.JAlphegeBrewer.info.

            Please note that masks will be required for attendance, and chairs will be spaced to comply with health and safety recommendations.

Money Watchers Gear up for Town Meeting

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            On October 14, Mattapoisett’s Finance Committee met to review the articles being prepared for the Special Town Meeting scheduled for Monday, November 8, at 6:00 pm at Old Rochester Regional High School.

            The draft document contains 12 articles that will ask Town Meeting to consider spending some of and saving some of the estimated $2 million in free cash that Town Administrator Mike Lorenco hopes will be certified in the next few business days.

            On the save side of the ledger are such sums and accounts as $100,000 of OPEB, $150,000 to Debt Stabilization and $150,000 to Capital Stabilization.

            On the spend side for consideration is a new area titled Grant Matching Funding; Lorenco hopes that $50,000 will be approved so that town contributions as required by future matching grants will be more accessible. On the spend side will also be: $36,000 for costs associated with the cyclical property revaluation as required by the Department of Revenue; Employee Benefits accrued liability funding at $35,000; town building and grounds $65,000; a part-time staff person for the Accounting Department $27,500; and $6,000 for a new voting machine.

            When questioned about the need to hire a part-time staff person for the Accounting Department, Lorenco explained that demands on the Accounting Department have increased over the last several years primarily due to extra documenting and accounting of grant dollars received. He said that the same is true for the work performed on behalf of local schools.

            “They have more accounting work for the grants they have received, and we do that work,” said Lorenco. As things stand now, there is one person processing all the bills for the entire town, he said. The part-time position will be for 19 hours and, if necessary, could be eliminated in the future, Lorenco confirmed.

            Capital expenses are a mere three items going into the Special Town Meeting but will have a lasting impact on the community, it is believed by all committee members in attendance. Those items are: $640,000 for a new fire engine; $35,000 for repairs to the Transfer Station’s loader; and a new Ford 550 truck. The Highway Department truck, Lorenco asserted, is necessary for snow plowing and sanding operations. He said an older vehicle will be replaced by this new piece.

            Two articles planned by the Water Department remained pending for review, as Superintendent Henri Renauld has been focused on the contaminated water emergency, Lorenco said. He said, however, that the articles would deal with Renauld’s proposal to reallocate the Enterprise Funds previously approved by Town Meeting for improvement projects that came in under budget.

            Finance Committee Chairman Pat Donoghue brought up the subject of village roads repairs, wishing to keep the planned work forefront in everyone’s mind. She said she didn’t want the town to continue pushing off needed repairs. Lorenco said that the possible release of funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) may become available to the town for this major infrastructure project but that more information is needed.

            Over at the Capital Planning Committee meeting on October 18, Chairman Chuck McCullough stated in a follow-up that the committee members were in agreement that capital expenditures for a new fire engine, new Ford 550 truck for the Highway Department, and repairs to the Transfer Station Loader cannot wait until the Spring Town Meeting and need to be acted upon now. He said that especially significant in their decision to support those requests at this time is that the two vehicles will both have long lead times, up to at least 18 months before they would be delivered to the community.

            Future meeting dates for both committees were not immediately available.

Mattapoisett Finance/Capital Planning committees

By Marilou Newell

Voters Reject Zoning Change

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            Developer Matt Zuker was visibly stunned by a night-ending 34-32 vote against a zoning change that would have paved the way for his proposed 48-unit residential development along Route 6 near the Wareham town line.

            Article 13, the last of the October 19 Special Town Meeting at Sippican Elementary School, asked Marion voters to consider reclassifying 30 acres of land on Bournhurst Road and Wareham Street as Zoning District Residence E (multi-family housing).

            Enthusiastically promoted by the Select Board, the proposed zoning change would have allowed Zuker to build to a higher density than is presently allowed in that location.

            Asked what now by The Wanderer, Zuker politely declined to comment.

            To validate his goodwill, Zuker had approached the Planning Board with a signed deed restriction limiting his proposed market-housing development to 48 units. He put up $50,000 to fund an infrastructural impact study and had pledged to pay for infrastructural connections.

            Town officials feel that Zuker’s concept is in line with Marion’s Master Plan, addresses the need for moderate-income housing, would create a scenario where seniors looking to downsize could afford to age in place, and, perhaps most significantly, would add a significant number of water and sewer ratepayers, property tax revenue, and approximately $1 million in infiltration and inflow (I/I).

            To that end, Zuker was invited to present his proposed development on a projection screen, a step that led citizen (and chair of the Marine Resources Commission) Vin Malkoski to consider Moderator Brad Gordon’s efforts to confine the conversation to the zoning question and not the development itself “out the window.”

            The objection began with Joe Zora’s assertion that town officials don’t know enough about the project to allow a zoning change that could severely stress the town’s sewer infrastructure.

            Former Planning Board member Andrew Daniel brought up other projects in town, including Ken Steen’s adjacent 40B affordable housing development and Sherman Briggs’ proposal at Spring and Mill Streets, and doubled down on Zora’s assertion, asking if there are “any fears all this growth in a small amount of time will pose a serious problem for our infrastructure?”

            Daniel also asked if the analysis of the benefits of the development that the Planning Board had asked of the applicant while he was serving has been delivered. No one in attendance confirmed that it had, but in defending the project, Select Board member John Waterman said, “We believe this is more in the town’s interests.” Waterman said the project will target ages 55 and over and will feature first-floor, master bedrooms.

            Alan Harris, the president of the Sippican Lands Trust and former vice-chairman of Marion’s Open Space Acquisition Commission, disputed the village lifestyle promoted by Zuker’s project in contrast to the Briggs proposal. “Here you can walk to Kool Kone … but this is not a village,” he said, noting that 96 additional cars will affect Route 6 safety.

            Select Board Chairman Norm Hills said that those issues would be heavily scrutinized as part of the Planning Board’s vetting process and that residents should be involved in those discussion.

            Zora’s motion to table the article until the Water and Sewer Commissioners (the Select Board members) have a complete report of the development’s effect on the town’s infrastructure received no second and therefore did not proceed.

            Waterman told the meeting that the town’s comprehensive wastewater management plan is nearly complete and will answer many of the questions posed by citizens concerned about the article. He said public hearings are anticipated in January with engineering firm Weston and Samson.

            Zuker’s attorney, Patricia McArdle, stated for the record her objection to a two-thirds majority requirement to pass, but the zoning change failed to get the simple majority, losing by two votes.

            While Article 1, the transfer of $175,000 for an upgrade to three-phase power at the Town House was readily approved, Article 2 drew scrutiny before it also was approved.

            The article to transfer $35,000 from the Waterways Account to meet the matching requirement of the Seaport Economic Council’s $303,000 grant for design and bid documents for a new Harbormaster facility touched off another debate about a project design not on trial.

            After Harbormaster Isaac Perry summarized the timeline of planning beginning in 2019, the heavily criticized presentation of December 2020 and the subsequent revisions streamlining the building design, he noted that more money will be needed at the 2022 Spring Town Meeting as the grant-funding process progresses.

            Andrew Bonney was allowed to present an alternative proposal, a single-story building that would be “considerably less expensive.”

            Asked by another citizen if the Seaport Economic Council’s grant funding is predicated on the design as presented, Perry said that the current design is conceptual in nature and will go through a fine-tuning process.

            Articles 3 and 4, in which a long-awaited update to the existing regional agreement with the Old Rochester Regional School District and the authorization for ORR to establish a Stability Fund, were approved.

            Opposition to the agreement was focused on the ramifications of the rolling three-year average relative to the current downturn in Marion student enrollment and how the state-prescribed one-man, one-vote might threaten Marion’s representation on the ORR School Committee.

            Heather Burke, the chair of the ORR School Committee, explained that the three-year rolling average is meant as a smoothing mechanism.

            Before the votes, School Committee member Margaret McSweeny made an impassioned plea, noting that she was 2 years old the last time the agreement was revised. “There are a lot of what-if’s…. We need this voted on tonight and please urge you to say ‘yes.’ It is reviewed every five years,” she said.

            Malkoski asked if the smaller capital expenses earmarked for ORR’s stabilization fund will be subject to Marion’s Capital Improvement Planning Committee’s review. Town Administrator Jay McGrail confirmed that they will.

            Several hypotheticals from the floor led voters to decisively reject Article 5, a new litter bylaw that would have authorized the town to fine those who dispense of trash unlawfully. As of now, a state law prohibits people from throwing trash out of car windows, but the town has no litter law.

            Articles 6 through 9 were approved.

            Article 6 amends the Zoning Bylaws by changing the phrase “Selectmen” to “Select Board.”

            Article 7 amended the town’s Code to delete to Council on Aging board because for years now the COA has been run by the town itself.

            Gordon recused himself for Article 8, as Hills took over at the microphone. Voters rapidly approved a change to elect the town moderator to a three-year term.

            Article 9 made the tree warden an appointed position on an annual basis.

            Article 10, which would have sought to add aquifer to the existing Water Supply Protection District, was pulled from the agenda and passed over.

            Article 11, the solar bylaw, needed and got more than a two-thirds majority. According to Hills, the bylaw is intended to clarify what is allowed by-right and what requires a special permit. An array of 600 square feet or less is allowed by-right.

            Article 12 revised the fees for dog-related licenses.

            Before the meeting, McGrail thanked the town’s Water Department personnel for working tirelessly to solve the Boil Order that was lifted on Tuesday afternoon. McGrail indicated belief that the source of the contamination is the Tinkham Lane well in Fairhaven and that it reached Marion water because it came through the Mattapoisett River Valley water treatment plant.

            “It’s quite extraordinary in how many departments were involved, purchasing chlorine, talking to DEP, delivering water to the elderly,” he said.

            Before McGrail spoke, Gordon thanked the DPW and town staff. “This was a great example of how everybody came together, and thank you for that,” he said.

            Fire Chief Brian Jackvony spoke before the meeting to instruct attendees as to emergency egress.

Marion Special Town Meeting

By Mick Colageo

Friends of Marion COA

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The Friends of Marion COA’s (FMCOA) recent yard sale drew customers from near and far. Those who donated were happy to pass on their new or unused items, which included tennis racquets, bikes and bike racks, toys, pictures, etc. Buyers were delighted with their new-found treasures. One gentleman planned to send his purchase of two bamboo chairs off to his place in Florida. While the sale was a lot of work including, pre- and post- sale sorting, pricing, and set- up and take-down, it provided a great community service. Even the weather was in our favor. It was a great day for all. The sale brought in $5,500 that will go toward the proposed Pavilion, as will the proceeds from the upcoming Festival of Trees. To sign up to decorate a tree, call the Center at 508-748-3570.

            With the rising costs in building supplies, the proposed Pavilion costs have escalated from an earlier estimate of $150,000 to $180,000. The FMCOA has raised a total of $135,000 toward the Pavilion construction. The Pavilion will provide a three-, possibly four-season additional space for our active community center. An anonymous donor has stepped forward with a $25,000 challenge, matching gifts and pledges received by December 31, 2021. Gifts in any amount are welcome and will be matched. Those who would like to see the Pavilion come to fruition this spring as planned, please consider a first time or additional tax-deductible donation payable to FMCOA – Pavilion, P.O. 937, Marion, MA 02738.

Boil Order Lifted

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The Boil Water Order for Town of Marion residents and Town of Rochester residents connected to Marion’s town water supply was lifted on Tuesday afternoon.

            Shortly after 3:00 pm, the Town of Marion sent out the following bulletin titled, “Drinking Water Problem Corrected.”

            “The Town of Marion was notified on October 6, 2021, that total coliform and E. coli was present in the drinking water, and immediately issued a boil water order per Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) requirements. We are pleased to report that the problem has been corrected and that it is no longer necessary to boil water prior to consumption. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.”

            Despite testing free of E. coli bacteria on three consecutive days last week, town officials were disappointed on Friday to learn that the state Department of Environmental Protection was hesitant to lift the boil order for Marion (and Rochester’s affected residents) due to the presence of total coliform in one day’s samples in small amounts and at two locations.

            After three consecutive clean testing days, Mattapoisett was authorized by DEP to lift its Boil Order earlier last week, but Marion and Fairhaven boil orders stayed in place. Marion’s Boil Order continued on Monday despite further clean testing but was finally lifted on Tuesday, only hours before the Special Town Meeting.

            Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester are member towns of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission and Water Protection Supply Advisory Committee, both of which held their regular meetings on October 19.

            The first indications of the problem with MRV water were detected on September 14 in samples collected by the Town of Fairhaven from its raw water well at Tinkham Lane. Those samples contained E. coli bacteria. The well was immediately taken out of service and later discovered to need a wall repair.

            The positive test results reached the entrance to the MRV water treatment plant in Mattapoisett, resulting in an October 6 Boil Order for all towns fed by the plant.

            Flushing and chlorination led to three straight days of clean results for E. coli.

By Mick Colageo

Solar at RMS Subject to Process

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            Three of 13 warrant articles in the October 18 Rochester Special Town Meeting brought about substantial discussion from the floor, but only one article drew more than two negative votes while seven articles drew unanimous votes of approval.

            The 46-4 vote in favor of Article 11, clearing the way for a solar canopy over the Rochester Memorial School parking lot, virtually guaranteed a clean sweep for the warrant on a night when the stiffest challenge was establishing a 50-voter quorum.

            In his debut meeting at town moderator, David Arancio (also chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals) asked for attendees’ patience with him in his new role, but Arancio found himself exercising patience when the 7:00 pm scheduled public meeting at RMS was delayed for 21 minutes, including nine minutes just two voters short of a quorum.

            Once he could call the meeting to order, Arancio thanked predecessor Kirby Gilmore and Selectman Woody Hartley in his introductory remarks.

            Article 11, which authorizes the Select Board to enter into a lease agreement for land and/or air rights for the construction of solar canopies over the RMS parking lot, caused concern for an abutter to the elementary school campus.

            Concerns from the floor included a request for a plan including the exact location of the solar array, and a written guarantee that the location would adhere to its proposed plan. “I need a warm and fuzzy feeling here because it’s been awful for me, personally,” said an abutter, noting that “For the people that live in the neighborhood, it’s been very detrimental to our homes.”

            Town Counsel Blair Bailey responded that the project will be subject to site plan review with the Planning Board “… since it has impact on the neighborhood.” Screening, fencing, and assorted viewing aspects of the project fall under the Planning Board’s area of expertise, Bailey said.

            As concerns were articulated, Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson stood up to explain the vetting process including initial meetings followed by an official filing, certified mail sent out to abutters, along with two weeks of advertising of any public hearings for the project in The Wanderer.

            “While we’ve done a lot of solar … I have not seen any conceptual plans,” said Johnson, noting that the RMS solar canopy will be the first elevated solar project in Rochester, “So it’s going to be interesting how they’re going to screen that. This will be the first project that the board’s done with elevated solar.”

            There is another solar project, Johnson noted, currently going through the vetting process. He said the project’s panels are 12 feet off the ground but much farther off the road.

            Johnson told the abutter that it would take five of a potential seven Planning Board votes to move the RMS array forward and that the applicant would incur the cost of any screening dictated by the board.

            In answer to Conservation Commission Chairman Chris Gerrior’s question asking if the RMS solar project will be subject to all of the town’s solar bylaws, Johnson replied that the proposal is being filed under site plan review. That will address screening, drainage, and highway and public safety authorities’ concerns for emergency ingress and egress.

            Article 7 approved an additional retail liquor license for property within the Cranberry Highway Smart Growth Overlay District.

            While Rochester still has liquor licenses available for eating and drinking establishments, the town entered the meeting at its limit for retail liquor licenses and with requests in hand.

            In answer to questions asked by Johnson, who owns Fieldstone Market on Route 6 in Marion, Bailey said that there are three current retail liquor stores in town: Adrian’s Package Store Inc. on Mary’s Pond Road, Lloyd’s Market on Hartley Road, and Plumb Corner Market on Rounseville Road. “The selectmen looked at it, and that far corner made sense because it didn’t negatively impact [the other businesses],” explained Bailey.

            Johnson nonetheless considered the location of town in the proposal as “being specifically selected and exclusive.”

            “If it doesn’t get issued, it doesn’t get issued,” said Bailey. “We just looked at it and thought that area of town was appropriate for an additional license rather than opening it up to the entire town.”

            The measure passed by a 48-2 vote.

            Voters passed Article 1, which proposed a dog-licensing season of January 1 to March 31, after which a $25 late fee will be assessed to any applications that calendar year. Described by Town Clerk Paul Dawson as more of a bookkeeping matter, the change in the late schedule is being made to agree with the licensing schedule that is based on the calendar year.

            Technically, the bylaw does not apply strictly to renewals, but in 99-percent of cases, that is how the bylaw will apply. Asked by a citizen if it should be categorized as a late fee for renewals, “We apply it in a way that we think is equitable to all people,” said Dawson, noting that the bylaw says it applies to all dogs.

            Article 2 addressed the Assessor’s office, approving a $10,000 commitment to improve the computer system (CAMA) for property valuations.

            Article 3 approved a $3,000 addition to the funds committed at the May 24 Town Meeting, the money going toward the Assessors’ supplemental budget for software and support services.

            Article 4 approved spending $10,000 for the selectmen’s consulting services (in finding a replacement for Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar, who plans to stay on as town accountant after her contract expires on June 30, 2022).

            Article 5 approved $10,000 in spending for the Facilities Department to meet the raised cost of the purchase of a utility truck.

            Article 6 approved the renaming of the Board of Selectmen as the Select Board. Its elected members will also be officially titled Select Board members rather than selectmen.

            Article 8 authorized the town to rescind the previously authorized borrowing of $160,000 to purchase land between Town Hall and the Congregational Church (the board decided against making that purchase).

            Article 9 unanimously approved the Old Rochester Regional School District agreement, and likewise Article 10 authorizes ORR to create its own capital stabilization fund. Asked by a citizen, Finance Committee Chairman Kris Stoltenberg said that the committee chose not to vote on the motion but left the matter to the selectmen.

            Article 12 approved the transfer of $200,000 to the Road Improvement Stabilization Fund, and Article 13 approved the transfer of $300,00 to the town’s regular Stabilization Fund.

Rochester Special Town Meeting

By Mick Colageo

Salty’s Silvery Moon Soiree

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Join the Mattapoisett Land Trust Saturday, October 23, from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm for the “Annual Salty Moonlight Soiree” at Dunseith Gardens, located on the corner of Route 6 and North Street at the Seahorse. There will be music by Jeff Dunn, storytelling by Danny Dullea, and a cook campfire for s’mores. There is no parking available on the property, so please park in the village and walk to the site, flashlights are suggested for your way back to your vehicles. This event is for all ages and is guaranteed fun.

Michael D. Jennings

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Michael D. Jennings, 78, of Mattapoisett, passed away Friday, October 15th, 2021 surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Elaine (Sylvia) Jennings with whom he shared 55 years of marriage.

Born in New Bedford, son of the late Edward H. and Pauline “Rita” (Charette) Jennings, he lived in Mattapoisett most of his life.

Michael was a kind, thoughtful man who enjoyed everyone he met. He loved people. Michael spent many of his childhood summers visiting Mattapoisett with his aunt and uncle Frank and Yvonne Pimental. During these vacations he found his love of Mattapoisett and made it his home in 1969. After graduating from New Bedford High School, he served proudly in the U.S. Navy. Michael loved his country and always wore his veteran’s hat. He worked for Verizon for 30 years before retiring in 1997. He spent his retirement years being with his family, and loved going to his granddaughters sporting events. Michael enjoyed traveling, and cruises to the Caribbeans, Hawaii, Panama Canal, and Europe. His last trip was to Madeira and Lisbon. His favorite pastime was sailing out of the Mattapoisett harbor on his sailboat “Jade”. He loved the ocean, and the challenge of identifying a passing boat. When Christmas time would come around, he would dress up as Santa Claus for the neighborhood kids. Michael enjoyed sports, especially the Patriots. He had season tickets for many years and watched every game. He was a member of Tin Can Sailors, Machaucum Club of Mattapoisett, Bell Retirees, Telephone Pioneers, and the Civil War Round Table in New Bedford.

Survivors include his wife; a son Michael Jennings, Jr., and his partner Heidi of Clearwater, FL; a daughter Maurine Rodrigues and her husband Todd of Fairhaven; his sisters, Cynthia Hamlet and her husband Wayne, and Paula Jennings; grandchildren, Brett Jennings, Kailee, Kamryn, and Kaitlyn Rodrigues; and great-grandchildren, Landon, Aria and Scarlett Jennings.

He is predeceased by his siblings, Edward Jennings and Susan Mull.

His memorial visitation will be held Saturday, October 23rd from 9 am to 12 Noon in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Mattapoisett. A Memorial Service will be held at Noon, followed by a celebration of life luncheon. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Michael’s memory to Tunnel to Towers at https://t2t.org/ or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/

For online guestbook and directions, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com

Catbird with a Feline Meowing Call

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The very common catbird has become a frequent and friendly visitor to our backyards, even in suburban Mattapoisett.

            According to the Audubon birdwatching guide, there are two separate species for you to recognize when you see them. One, as illustrated, is a deep black shade, and the second has a very light gray plumage. Both have black hats on their heads and a long tail that they flicker and flex when wanting attention. Both varieties are friendly companions to human beings and talk to them by revealing their presence nearby in shrubbery by mewing their familiar cat-like call as assurance of harmless, well-meaning proximity.

            The name ‘catbird’ itself has become a traditional metaphorical expression of “sitting in the catbird seat,” indicating an absolute control situation of an individual more than anyone envious of that supreme position.

            The bird itself also fits the bill of strong character in its lifestyle and is strictly monogamous most of its normal life as a breeding parent, like Canada geese. The female of the faithful pair lays from three to six greenish-blue eggs with yellow spots, easily identified as their own, to defend against any invasion of unwanted cowbird eggs by pushing them out on the ground.

            The catbird is a very vocal species and a close cousin to the outspoken mockingbird and loud brown thrasher. However, they do not similarly imitate a wide variety of different of successive calls but are very disciplined to end any long-winded conversation with a terminal sounding “chit or chat” after having spoken their minds.

            Catbirds can be enticed to come right up to human beings by hand feeding raisins to get their attention away from climbing stalks of fruit to get black or red berries, as in my illustration.

            The more you get to know and appreciate the company of catbirds, the more you can elevate their story telling literary inspiration equal to the barnyard tales of Beatrix Potter’s “Peter Rabbit” and “Jemima Puddle-Duck” in the children’s section of the Mattapoisett Library.

            My article and drawing in The Wanderer have been intended to create an environmental awareness of the catbird as curious and interesting, and might be entertaining to children of all ages.

By George B. Emmons