‘Auld Lang Syne’ by Robert Burns

            Robert Burns first wrote the song “Auld Lang Syne” in the year 1788, based upon several older folk songs that were intended to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. The song can mark the end of a funeral service or a graduation ceremony. It can […] Read more »

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

As you may remember, a while ago I asked if anyone knew anything about an old wooden water tower on Quaker Lane. It had been taken down in 1984. I was lucky to hear from Craig Parker who moved in to the property across the street in 1966. He remembered the water tower and its […] Read more »

Craft a Backyard Bird Feeder

Drop by Munro Preserve between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm on Monday January 16 to craft your own pinecone bird feeder to hang in your backyard. Mattapoisett Land Trust will have a tent set up and all supplies needed for you and the family to make pinecone bird feeders.             The Munro Preserve is located […] Read more »

Public Libraries Still Evolving, Still Free

            For nearly as long as humans have attempted to communicate via the written word, libraries or repositories of writings have been in existence.             Consider religious scripture stored in amphoras deep within caves such as the Dead Sea Scrolls or Rome’s first library, opened roughly around 114 A.D. by Emperor Trajan. While these early […] Read more »

Lehrer Tabbed as Marion’s Next Administrator

The Marion Select Board voted 2-1 on Thursday afternoon to select Evan Lehrer as its new town administrator. Lehrer, 33, was last among three finalists to be interviewed Thursday by the Select Board. The Sandwich native and father of three has been serving Mashpee as its town planner the past five years. He has also […] Read more »

Claire M. (Koelsch) (Warren) Pratt

Claire M. (Koelsch) (Warren) Pratt, 87, of Mattapoisett, formerly of Canton, passed away peacefully Dec. 28, 2022 at home surrounded by her family. She was born in Boston, a daughter of the late Frank and Isabelle (McClennon) Koelsch. Claire was a professional crossing guard in Canton and West Bridgewater. With her husband of 55 years […] Read more »

MRV Land Proposal under Review

            On January 3, the Mattapoisett Community Preservation Act Committee met to continue their review of grant applications received for FY24.             As they had at the beginning of December, the committee studied each grant application and supporting documentation in an effort to formulate questions that applicants will be asked to respond to during face-to-face […] Read more »

Enlightenment

Sparkling, sparkling showers of light swirl around me, Lifting my soul. Shimmering pinpoints of light dance all around me. Music fills the air and I am transported through the magical air. Spiraling upward, ever upward, past suns and moons and stars … glorious and ephemeral. Onward and upward I fly, filled with ecstasy and exhilaration, […] Read more »

Birding Apps for Beginners

On Wednesday, January 11, Justin Barrette, Museum Board Member and Chairman of the Nasketucket Bird Club, will be showing us the basics of the most popular birding apps. The Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up, and these apps will be extremely useful while we identify birds in the field. We will meet at the […] Read more »

Gender Queer

To the Editor;             Gender Queer is not a “regular” book with text. It is a 240-page graphic novel (like a large comic book), and its explicit illustrations of sex acts – which are arguably pornographic – should have no place in any school in ORR.             I read Gender Queer from cover to cover. […] Read more »