Rebalancing and Reorganizing

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The Rochester Finance Committee met on Monday at 7:00 pm in the Rochester Town Hall. All board members were present, except for David Arancio.

            The meeting began with the committee unanimously approving the transfer of $360,392 from the town’s reserve fund to last year’s snow and ice removal budget, which had gone over budget following the blizzard in February. Town Administrator Cameron Durant thanked Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Eldridge, who plowed for three days straight with few breaks, causing the budget to be significantly lower because he received a standard salary instead of an hourly rate.

            Following this vote, the committee unanimously approved the transfer of $109,392 into 19 accounts that had also gone over budget in the 2026 fiscal year. The largest were $56,599 in police overtime salaries, $19,050 in EMT salaries, $8,450 in information systems, and $5,920 in town building expenses. Money for the transfer came from eight accounts that were assessed for a year-end transfer to be possible.

            The committee decided that future meetings would be filmed and broadcast by ORCTV after the town administrator raised the idea. Vice Chair Tony Ruocco said that filming meetings would deliver a valuable opportunity to educate residents on the town’s financial planning process. Meetings are expected to begin filming at the end of the fall, as members plan for the 2028 fiscal year.

            Committee members also discussed one of the highest costs for the town, the school budget. When considering budget possibilities, the town administrator said that in future fiscal years, Rochester may opt out of funding the Old Rochester Capital Fund, which costs an estimated

$35,000 annually. The school district will receive $10,000 for each student from Acushnet beginning this school year under their new agreement with the town.

            The meeting ended with Chair Jim Austin announcing his plan to resign from the committee after two decades. This led to his recommendation for, and the unanimous appointment of, Peter Armanetti as the committee’s new chair. He has served on the committee since 2009.

Rochester Finance Committee

By Zakary Sarkarati

Summer Break: A Gardener Gets Away

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            I’ve been following my own advice from the last column, and I have to tell you — it’s made all the difference.

            I will admit freely that I am a list person. I chart my course for garden and house tasks, perhaps a trickle-down from my father, who writes out everything he intends to accomplish. My daughter similarly creates detailed itineraries, and this has proved an asset. I guess we are a family of step-by-step people.

            Lately, though, I’ve broken away from that habit and plunged in spontaneously. With my school vacation ending soon, it makes sense to grab some fun before the gloriously repetitious days begin again.

            Looking over what I’ve done during the latter part of summer, you’ll see that I don’t stray too far from my center: gardening. A getaway affords a break, but it also brings new frontiers into view. A case in point is something so ridiculously obvious that I’m almost ashamed to admit I don’t partake of it often enough: the seashore.

            While I do row a gig with six others most weekends, that is more muscle than relaxation and contemplation. I’m happy to say I’ve amended my routine to make room for more immersion and fun.

            Last week I fit in three activities — golf, biking and sailing — along with an excursion to Martha’s Vineyard, all in an effort to balance out the all-consuming routine of yardwork and day-to-day life. With various buddies, I found each invigorating, fun and mind-expanding. Heeling a sailboat. Rising before dawn for a 25-mile bike ride. Getting back into the swing of golf. My dexterity and agility were tested!

            My bike buddies, Ray and Donny, are like a comedy duo, and that makes getting up at 4:45 am worth it. Having the roads to ourselves as we pedal through Rochester and Middleboro, past cranberry bogs and old-growth forests, feels like traveling back in time — although the roads are mercifully smooth. The views alone are enough to sustain the vigor with which we travel.

            The sail — and then the swim — allowed me to slow down and take notice of the actual seashore. And there they were: the plants of the seashore, doing what they have always done, only without me paying much attention.

            Amid the intense heat, I began to notice them. Most striking was sea lavender set against marsh grass, a combination that amplifies the pale purple flowers. Nature figured out that combo!

            Along the high-tide mark stood groundsel bush, also known as sea myrtle, a salt-tolerant shrub native to the coast. Its late-season nectar supports bees, butterflies and other pollinators, while its dense branches provide nesting cover for birds. In fall, it produces showy, cottony white seed plumes.

            These were surrounded by a retinue of marsh elder and, farther along the path, Queen Anne’s lace — so understated it could easily go unnoticed. Along the golf course, more salt-tolerant plants rimmed the edges of the greens, along with pokeweed and reeds topped with their feathery plumes — phragmites.

            This is where the gardener in me, apparently, refuses to take a vacation.

            I started looking at the shoreline not simply as a beautiful place to be, but as a landscape. Nothing seemed to be asking for attention. Nothing needed staking, deadheading, watering or rescuing. These plants simply existed where they belonged, making the most of an environment that is hardly what we would call easy.

            Salt. Wind. Heat. Shifting water. Poor soil. And still they grow.

            There was something about this that caught my attention. Perhaps because I spend so much of my time trying to help plants along in my own garden, I was struck by the wisdom of a landscape that has figured out how to take care of itself. The shore was not manicured. It was not arranged according to my ideas of what should go where. It was simply there — and beautiful.

            I found myself looking at these plants the way I look at those in my own garden: with curiosity and admiration. Of course, I used Google Lens to identify some of them, including a cudweed species commonly known as rabbit tobacco. Because apparently even on vacation, I need to know the names of my plants.

            What survives here has earned its place. There is no pampering, no amended soil, no careful watering schedule. These plants know their conditions and have figured out how to live beautifully within them.

            We gardeners spend an enormous amount of time deciding what belongs where. We amend soil, move plants, water, fertilize, prune and fuss. We make lists. We make plans. We have visions.

            But perhaps sometimes the landscape already knows something we have forgotten to notice. That thought stayed with me as I swam.

            And perhaps that is one of the gifts of getting away: seeing the familiar with fresh eyes. I may leave my own garden behind, but I don’t really leave gardening behind. It has become a way of seeing.

            The beauty of a break, then, is not necessarily escaping who we are. Sometimes it is simply giving ourselves enough distance to see familiar things — and ourselves — a little differently.

            So, with summer vacation drawing to a close, I’m grateful for the spontaneous detours: the bike rides before dawn, the golf links, the sail, the swim and the chance to notice a landscape I too often overlook.

            You can take the gardener out of the garden, after all. But you can’t quite take the garden out of the gardener.

            “Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe, the less taste we shall have for destruction.”— Rachel Carson

The Seaside Gardener

By Laura McLean

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

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The Rev. Robert Malm, Interim Rector of St. Peter’s on the Canal, Buzzards Bay, will lead services on August 23 at 8:00 am and 10:00 am at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 34 Water St., Mattapoisett, next to the Town Beach. The 1928 Book of Common Prayer is used at St. Philip’s. All are welcome to attend.

Elizabeth Taber Library

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Summer Reading has come to a close at the Elizabeth Taber Library in Marion. There were 172 registered readers between the ages of 0 and 12, each of whom took home a free book upon registering. The books were provided thanks to the generous support of Taunton Federal Credit Union.

            “We give a free book upon registration to help build book-rich environments at home, and so kids can immediately start on their summer reading,” said Macy Kinney, children’s librarian. “Not every kid is able to regularly make it to the library in the summer for a variety of reasons. We want to make sure as many kids as possible have access to reading material.”

            After signing up, kids set their own reading goals ranging from “read every day with mom and dad” for the youngest readers to “read 1,000 pages,” “read 30 books” and even “read 100 books,” for ambitious older readers. Upon completing their goal, each child received another free book.

            In addition to the reading challenge, the library welcomed 1,289 participants across 45 summer reading programs ranging from storytimes and concerts to educational events. A favorite of many participants was the Butterfly Exhibit, where kids got up close and personal with live butterflies. Local stars Toe Jam Puppet Band also drew a large audience despite high heat and a move to the Marion Music Hall.

            “Summer can be a high-cost time of the year for families,” noted interim Library Director Emily Newell. “We’re committed to hosting high-quality, free programming for the community year-round, but summer reading remains one of our priorities.”

            “Summer reading wouldn’t have been possible without our generous sponsors who support the kids in our community,” said Kinney.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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This weekend, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Joseph H. Plumb Library, but Rochester’s libraries go back much further than that. There was an historical piece on “Rochester Libraries” printed in the “Evening Star” in December of 1897. Written by John S. Ryder, it stated that Rochester had a library in the early 1800s. It was called the “Rochester Historical Library” and was more of a private library for men who were interested in the value of education and progressive thought. Books were very costly at that time; a lending library was out of the question.

            In the mid-1800s, for a short time, there was a library connected to the Rochester Academy. It was open to the public, but it closed when the school closed.

            Now, enter the “ladies.” The first was Elizabeth Leonard, wife of Charles H. Leonard. In 1876, she gifted the town $2,000 in “books, fixtures, and a permanent endowment,” and on August 19, 1876, the “Rochester Free Public Library” opened in the unused Academy building’s north recitation room. The library had over 800 books free for townspeople to borrow, and many availed themselves of the privilege.

            Fifteen years later, Mrs. Leonard felt the growing collection of books deserved a proper building. She again gave a sizable amount to the town to enlarge Town Hall with the caveat that a suitable section (the old assessors’ office) would be included. When she died in 1901, her will established an endowment fund for the library’s future.

            Elizabeth Leonard was the first of two Rochester women to provide quality library service to Rochester. In 1976, Mrs. Dorothy B. Plumb donated land and money for a new, freestanding library named after her late husband, Joseph H. Plumb. This building is now 50 years old. Over the past 50 years, it has been ably led by library directors who have stayed true to the beliefs of the two women who believed in the importance of books and the buildings that house them.

By Connie Eshbach

Celebrating Plumb Library with Bubbles

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            Over a dozen children came to Joseph H. Plumb Library’s lawn with their families on Tuesday, August 18, for a celebration of the library’s 50th anniversary filled with bubbles and music. According to Fuchsia Haskell, the youth services librarian, the bubble celebration was the culmination of the library’s summer programming for children. 

            Many of the children at the event had been coming to the library every week over the summer, whether it was for the summer reading challenge, story times, or the weekly scavenger hunt.

            Eleanor Nadeau, one of the children at the bubble-blowing and involved with library activities this summer, said playing with bubbles and going to the library was “so much fun” and that she loves taking out books to read. 

            Meg Taylor Fitzgerald, one of the mothers at the celebration, said that the library’s summer program had helped connect the community.

            “Kids always love it, and they’ve made so many friendships, and parents have made friendships by coming to library events, and all the librarians get to know the kids,” Fitzgerald said. 

            Bubbles at the event were blown by Mr. Vinny the Bubble Guy, co-founder of The Toe Jam Puppet Band, using a three-foot bubble wand he designed and constructed himself. During his hour at the library, children chased and popped giant bubbles as he joked and told stories about bubbles. 

            The library’s 50th anniversary celebration will continue Saturday, August 22, with a plaque dedication ceremony at the Joseph H. Plumb Library presented by the Rochester Historic Commission.

By Zakary Sarkarati

Affordability Questions Dominate Cottage Community Hearing

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            A proposed zoning bylaw intended to encourage smaller homes along the Route 6 corridor drew more than 30 residents to the Planning Board Monday night. Much of the discussion centered on a question that has become increasingly important in town: Will smaller, less expensive homes do enough to address Mattapoisett’s affordable housing shortage?

            The proposed Cottage Community Development Bylaw would allow clusters of four to 10 homes around common open space on qualifying properties fronting Route 6 from the Fairhaven town line to the Marion town line.

            Homes would be limited to 1,500 square feet and 25 feet in height, with one dwelling allowed for every 4,000 square feet of land. The developments would share common open space and generally use a common driveway, with parking located behind the homes.

            The intent, Planning Board members explained, is to create another housing option for younger residents, first-time buyers and older homeowners looking to downsize while reducing the land and infrastructure required for development.

            But the homes would not be affordable housing as defined by the state, and the bylaw does not require developers to include affordable units.

            That distinction dominated much of the hearing.

            Board members said the intent was to create homes that could sell for less than much of Mattapoisett’s existing housing stock. One member suggested homes selling for approximately $450,000 to $550,000 could provide an alternative for first-time buyers and downsizers.

            “If we can afford to create $500,000 homes or $450,000 to $550,000 homes that first-time owners and downsizers can achieve and move into, we’re doing something positive for the community,” the member said.

            Residents, however, questioned whether a smaller home would necessarily result in an affordable sales price.

            Elizabeth DiCarlo of Prospect Road said the issue needs to be considered more broadly.

            “My concern is that the affordability issue is something we need to look at in a broader way,” DiCarlo said.

            She said median income should be part of determining what affordability means in Mattapoisett and called for a broader discussion about the kind of community residents want Mattapoisett to remain.

            “Not having affordable housing is limiting people who grew up here, who want to stay here, or who want to move back here,” DiCarlo said.

            Mattapoisett currently has approximately 2.4% of its housing counted toward the state’s Subsidized Housing Inventory, well below the 10% threshold established under Chapter 40B. The issue was raised repeatedly by residents during the hearing.

            Colin Labrie of Hollywoods Road described what rising housing costs look like from the perspective of a parent raising three young children in town.

            Labrie noted that his child’s fourth-grade class has three sections, while the incoming first grade has been reduced to two.

            With average home prices continuing to climb, Labrie said, “We’re almost looking at an end to a way of life.”

            He said he worries about whether his children will have other children to trick-or-treat with, friends in school and enough children to participate in local sports.

            “Anything that could help that situation would be much appreciated and supported by the younger families in town,” Labrie said.

He also acknowledged that younger families are often missing from town meetings and hearings because both parents may be working and meetings compete with dinner and children’s schedules. Labrie said he plans to encourage more families to become involved.

            The Planning Board pushed back on the idea of requiring affordable units within cottage developments, arguing that such a requirement could make projects of only four to 10 homes financially unattractive to developers.

            One Board member said affordable housing requirements may be better suited to larger developments, where setting aside a percentage of units would be more feasible.

            Other residents remained concerned that without an affordability requirement, nothing would prevent a developer from charging market prices even for smaller houses.

            The discussion underscored the limits of the cottage proposal as a solution to the town’s larger housing problem.

            Although the proposed district would extend along the Route 6 corridor from the Fairhaven line to the Marion line, those at the hearing acknowledged that relatively few available properties along that stretch could be developed into cottage communities.

            The bylaw would therefore create another type of housing in Mattapoisett but would not, by itself, substantially increase the town’s inventory of state-defined affordable housing.

            The proposal calls for at least 400 square feet of common open space per dwelling, with at least 75 percent of the homes adjoining that space. Each dwelling would also have at least 200 square feet of private outdoor space.

            Architectural variation and landscaping would be required, with existing vegetation preserved where possible. Shared amenities could include playgrounds, community buildings or other gathering areas.

            Residents also raised questions about sewer capacity, FEMA flood requirements, wildlife habitat, frontage requirements, short-term rentals and how the boundaries of the proposed cottage district would be defined.

            The hearing also uncovered a procedural issue that will require the proposal to take another trip through the approval process.

After consulting with town counsel, the Board said the proposed zoning amendment must first be submitted to the Select Board, which would then refer it back to the Planning Board. Another public hearing would then be held before the proposal could move forward to Town Meeting.

            The Planning Board did not vote to approve the bylaw Monday night.

            Earlier in the meeting, the Board reviewed the Park Lane Extension development, where the roadway has been renamed Boardwalk Drive with Select Board approval.

            The Board discussed outstanding peer-review and as-built documentation and voted to release one portion of the project’s surety while retaining $18,500 until the remaining review is completed.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Jeanne Hopkins

From Jazz to Rock: America’s Popular Music

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On Friday, August 21, the Marion Concert Band continues its Friday evening concert series with a program of American popular music. The program, which features a variety of popular music styles from the 1890s to the present, is as follows:

Washington Post March — J.P. Sousa

Second American Folk Rhapsody — C. Grundman

The Symphonic Gershwin — G. Gershwin

Satchmo. —  arr. T. Ricketts (Mary St. Laurent-Sheehan, trumpet)

Big Band Signatures — arr. J. Higgins

Frank Sinatra Hits Medley – N. Iwai

Pop and Rock Legends: The Beatles — arr. M. Sweeney

Pop and Rock Legends: The Association — arr. T. Ricketts

Stevie Wonder in Concert — arr. P. Murtha

Highlights from Jersey Boys — arr. M. Brown

The Best of Miami Sound Machine — arr. P. Murtha

Blues Brothers Revue — arr. J. Bocook

Thundercrest March — E. Osterling

            Mary St. Laurent-Sheehan, trumpet, has performed with the Narragansett Bay Symphony, the Tri-County Symphonic Band, the Marion Concert Band and the Band of America’s Few. She is an alumna of the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra (1992) and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, for which she performed with the Parris Island Marine Band. With the Band of America’s Few, a band composed of former Marine bandsmen who have either retired or been honorably discharged, she has performed at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia and at the Royal International Nova Scotia Tattoo in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has been a member of the Marion Concert Band since 2012.

            The concert will be held at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf off Front Street in Marion. The program, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00. All concerts are free and open to the public. “Like” us on Facebook at “Marion Town Band” for up-to-date announcements and rain cancellation notices.

Mattapoisett Yacht Club Results

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August is turning out to be a great month to sail as both Tuesday and Wednesday nights brought perfect racing conditions.

            In the Tuesday night Ensign Series, Odyssey won both races. Black Ice finished with 2-seconds, Hamburglar with 2-thirds and Recess with 2-fourths.

            In the Wednesday night PHRF series, Kindred Spirits again captured first place in the A fleet, followed by Restless, Coconuts, Oddball and Dame.

            In the B fleet, Chickadee beat Lindisfarne and Fir Na Tine. Kinsail did not finish because of an equipment failure, and Seven Belles did not compete.

Mattapoisett Museum New Entrance and Temporary Closure

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The Mattapoisett Museum is excited to announce that a new museum entrance will soon be constructed to provide all community members with direct access to all sections of the museum. The new entrance will bring visitors into a new foyer located on the East side of the building, from which visitors will enter the Mendell Room and have direct access to both the Sanctuary and the Carriage House.

            This entrance will be fully accessible to all visitors, including those who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, bring strollers or carriages, and who may have difficulty with stairs. The existing entrances will be used, in addition to the new entrance, only for events with large numbers of attendees. The current wheelchair-accessible entrance will remain available if needed.

            This project has been years in the making. After determining the need for a universal access entrance, the museum spent two years seeking funding, working with a local architect and a local engineering firm on the design, and soliciting bids for construction and related services.

            Construction of the new entrance will begin shortly after Labor Day. Because the Sanctuary and Carriage House will be protected from dust, dirt and activity by shutting off those portions of the building, the museum will end its 2026 season after Labor Day weekend. Although the museum will be closed for most activities during this construction, the two scheduled concerts, Grace Morrison on September 12 and Hot Club Cheese Roll on October 24, will take place as advertised. The September Open Mic event is canceled; we will provide an update regarding the October Open Mic event as we learn when the work is likely to be completed.

            If you haven’t yet seen “When Swordfish Fly,” our current exhibit, and you would like to do so before the summer ends, please visit us on Friday or Saturday, 12 to 4 pm, August 21–22, 28–29, or September 3–4. Museum members and interested others, we would love to see you at the Museum’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, September 3, at 6:00 PM. Information about the meeting will be posted in the Wanderer. If you have specific questions about this project, please look for updates in the Wanderer or attend the meeting, where an update will be provided.