Mattapoisett Women’s Club

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Ms. Korinn Petersen, Esq., vice president for Clean Water Advocacy at the Buzzards Bay Coalition, will be the featured speaker at the Mattapoisett Women’s Club on Thursday, February 16 at 11:30 am at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, 27 Church Street, Mattapoisett. Attorney Petersen will discuss her advocacy work on behalf of the Coalition and focus on the long-term sustainable use of Buzzards Bay by managing both local and regional projects designed to reduce nitrogen pollution from wastewater. Attorney Petersen is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a BS degree, cum laude, in Resource Economics. She received a Master of Studies in Environmental Law, cum laude, and a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School.

            The Buzzards Bay Coalition adopted an ambitious Strategic Plan that highlighted the need for more advocacy if the Coalition was going to live up to the promise of its founders to Save Buzzards Bay. As always, Mattapoisett Women’s Club programs are open to the community please join us on Thursday, February 16, at 11:30 am and learn about the decades of hard work and significant resources invested in reducing pollution, saving vital watershed lands and making Buzzards Bay more resilient in the face of climate change.

Title-5 Changes

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To the Editor;

            The Tri-Town is an amazing geographic area; ‘It’s Nicer’ – ‘It’s Special’ – ‘It’s God’s Country.’ Sailing, surfing, swimming, paddling, walking thru the forest, sitting by a stream or simply birdwatching we find joy in own backyards. Heads up: we’re in danger of losing it all if we don’t prevent further degradation of our waterbodies.

            Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s proposed Title-5 changes shed light on the critical condition of Commonwealth waterways. Rochester’s ponds and rivers are choking up with weeds. These weeds, some nonnatives that easily spread from pond to pond, are fed by an excess of Nitrogen and Phosphorus. Whether from septic systems, storm or agricultural runoff, fertilizers or even pet waste most nutrient overload points to human impact.  We as humans need to fix this. We need to protect our water.

            Current Title-5 regulation addresses nutrient pollution near well water and drinking water supplies. That will remain the same. New regulations aim to reduce nutrient pollution entering surface waters. Surface waters include bays, estuaries, ponds and rivers. This nutrient overload in both salt and freshwater is destroying aquatic environments and their unique eco systems. If we don’t act now the consequences are grim. Toxic bays, poisoned ponds, and rancid rivers are not a legacy I want to leave behind.

            Recently MassDEP has designated areas called ‘Natural Resource’ Nitrogen Sensitive Areas (NSA’s.) Rigorous studies in these areas demonstrated adverse effects on the watershed due to nitrogen. Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP) collected data for years mostly on Cape and now have the science indicating nitrogen sources. Once pollutant source is identified a TMDL (total maximum daily load of pollutant allowed to enter a waterbody) is calculated and pollution reduction targets are set. This is where the newly proposed Title-5 regs and/or Watershed permit regs come in.

            MassDEP has two options on the table;

            Option 1: If a watershed is designated as NSAs, and that watershed is proven to have excess nitrogen, septic system owners would have to upgrade to systems with ‘Best Available Nitrogen Reducing Technology’.

            This option puts the financial burden (30-50k!) of a new septic on homeowners. Knowing this would cause an uproar MassDEP has an alternative Option 2 where the burden is shared.

            Option 2: If a watershed is designated as NSAs, the community (town or municipality) can apply for a Watershed Permit or file a Notice of Intent to do so within 18 months of NSA designation.

            A watershed permit forces towns to create a watershed plan that decrease nitrogen (and hopefully phosphorus) by 75% within the next 20 yrs. A watershed plan allows for a holistic and adaptive approach that can adjust and modify strategies to address community-based causes of water quality impairments. Towns would be required to monitor and evaluate the watershed and report results.

            As president of the Snows Pond Association in Rochester, I’m aware of water quality issues and the importance of monitoring and data collection. I’ve reached out to local and state entities sharing concerns about the degradation of our ponds.  If better watershed practices and protective measures are not implemented, a Cyanobacteria bloom may be closer than we think.

            It’s likely that new Title-5 regulations will not impact our area for another ten years. I’m urging Tri-Town residents and local governments to act now. Towns must seek and allocate funding to preserve watersheds. Let’s work together for the betterment and protection of natural water resources before we’re obligated by the state. Isn’t clean and healthy water a good enough reason to prioritize this effort?

            Water pollution is a serious global issue exacerbated by earth’s rising temperatures. I’m relieved that the Commonwealth is making strides to address it. We’ve been taking our beautiful and abundant waterways for granted. It’s time to protect waterways so they remain beautiful and abundant for generations to come.

Michelle Kirby

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.

No Injuries in House Fire

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A Rochester family and its pets safely exited a house fire on Stuart Road early Thursday morning, the February 2 call going to the Rochester Fire Department at approximately 5:00 am, according to a report published by the Rochester Fire Department.

            The call reported smoke and fire inside the house. Firefighters arriving at the scene found the family outside the house with pets and observed fire from outside the house.

            Crews mounted an aggressive interior attack knocking the fire down quickly and preventing further extension into other parts of the house. Crews worked at the scene for approximately 45 minutes before calling the fire under control.

            There were no injuries reported. According to Fire Lieutenant Kevin Richard, the cause of the fire was later determined to be an electrical issue with the service to the house.

            Fire crews from Acushnet, Freetown, Marion and Mattapoisett responded and provided assistance both at the scene and via Rochester Fire Station coverage. Rochester Police assisted at the scene.

            Stuart and Walnut Plain roads were blocked to traffic while firefighters worked to clear the scene.

Beauty through a Lens

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            On January 30, a breath of fresh air blew through the Mattapoisett Free Public Library when Richard Van Inwegen gave a presentation on the style of photography he enjoys pursuing and enjoys sharing with the public: primarily nature and the great outdoors.

            That hasn’t always been the case. As a young boy, Van Inwegen would find himself taking accident-scene photographs for the local newspaper in the small town where he was raised. “I’ve been taking pictures as long as I can remember,” he told us. After a long career in pharmaceutical research and development, Van Inwegen now makes his home in Mattapoisett, a place with endless opportunities to see natural wonders on a daily basis.

            During his presentation, Van Inwegen stated that the most important tool one possesses is the brain. Imagining what a finished photograph would look like as he looks through the lens, he tells his students to, “See the subject.” Like a coach, he said, “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not doing anything,” and that knowledge of one’s camera and its capabilities will enhance the composition being sought.  

            The best light, he cautions, is not necessarily apparent on the first choice. Van Inwegen said to “work and rework the scene from multiple angles.” He suggested that by becoming familiar with the place one intends to shoot – even going so far as working with a local guide or, put another way, “Use a local as a guide.”

            Van Inwegen is not a commercial photographer in spite of his early experience taking photographs filled with the serious side of life, death and accidents. He seeks out beautiful locations and subject matter for his own pleasure. “It’s for my use.”

            Taking photographs while on vacation brings Van Inwegen joy. While traveling, he said being lucky, being in the right place at the right time is critical, but sometimes you, “… just get what you get.”

            To enjoy the experience of travel photography, he thought people should remember, “These are your memories, your stories, your photographs.”

            The photographer also gives back to the world he inhabits. For years, Van Inwegen has been the photographer for the New Bedford Symphony and has given his time and talent to the Boston Marathon medical team as well as the medical team for the Falmouth Road Race.

            Van Inwegen said that it is a myth that to take good photos you need an expensive camera, further encouraging the average person to take up photography as he now has as a hobby. But probably the most important bit of advice he imparted was, “If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.”

            Now on view in the library’s reading room are examples of Van Inwegen’s works where you’ll see how he has used computer programs to create real works of art.

By Emily and Marilou Newell

Fire, Police Present Wish Lists

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            Mattapoisett may be a small, seacoast community, but when it comes to the safety and protection of its citizens, that takes dollars and cents. On January 30, the Mattapoisett Capital Planning Committee, led by Chairman Chuck McCullough, met with Fire Chief Andrew Murray and Police Chief Jason King to discuss FY24 capital needs.

            Committee member Mike Dahill was given the floor to explore the short list of needs the Fire Department is requesting. For FY24, only one line item appears, a new sport-utility vehicle for the chief.

            Murray explained that the vehicle he currently uses has a yet-unsolved issue – it simply shuts down. He said that during a response the SUV quit in the roadway, requiring the fire engine to go around it. In spite of the problem, Murray said he wants to keep the 2016 SUV for local travel and for travel to training academies with recruits. The wisdom of keeping of malfunctioning SUV was questioned by Dahill and member Bob Burgmann, who said, “Maybe it’s time to get rid of it, it could die on the way to Stow.”

            Dahill asked Murray to help the committee in the collection of data that will be used to better understand the lifecycle of municipal vehicles and the need to add to the fleet by completing a form being used by the committee for study purposes. “If we get the data, it may help to understand your needs better,” he said.

            Cost for a new SUV was estimated at $55,000 from free cash. It was also noted the lead times for receiving vehicles remains problematic.

            Regarding the new fire engine currently under construction for the town, Murray said that final inspection in the Buffalo suburb of Hamburg, New York, would take place on February 15. He said that after that, the engine will be fitted with equipment and that training will also be part of the process of getting the new emergency vehicle into service sometime in early spring.

            Looking further down the fiscal road, FY25 lists $6,800 for a replacement pump for the Forestry vehicle, $11,000 for new helmets and $18,000 for hose replacements (grants to be sought) all from free cash. Further still is a FY28 replacement of Engine 2 for $600,000.

            Engine 2, planned for replacement, is a 1989 workhorse with 45,000 miles clocked in. Murray said it received some refurbishment six years ago.

            Two line items on the Fire Department spreadsheet are for discussions on the possibility of purchasing a ladder truck and a tanker truck. Murray said most fire departments have a ladder truck, not so much to reach high locations but for lateral reach. He reflected on the boatyard fire, saying a ladder truck from another community was used as well as tanker trucks in mutual aid.

            Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said current bylaws prohibit building structures higher than 30 feet. A bylaw change would be required to modify that height restriction, but taller buildings would make it more compelling to look at a ladder truck. Ladder truck estimates are $1,700,000 and tankers approximately $450,000.

            The total FY24 request from the Fire Department is $55,000, FY25 $35,800 and FY26 $358,000.

            Police Chief Jason King presented a narrative that shed light on the work of the department. In 2022 there were 7,539 calls for service, 736 ambulance runs, 108 calls for ambulance mutual aid, 1,246 motor-vehicle violations and 78 arrests. The department is staffed by 18 full-time officers with three vacancies. King said the department is currently undergoing accreditation.

            Regarding rapid response, King said that the Live911 system is in process. This system allows 911 calls to go directly to cruisers in the area.

            Turning to fiscal matters, King shared that the Police Department has received a grant for Live911 laptop computers and $61,534 for 911 training and medical dispatching. Grants for body-worn cameras and body-armor vests totaling $95,000 have been received. The department also received an unspecified grant for new automated external defibrillators.

            The department’s FY24 capital needs list contains one line item for $55,000 for a new police cruiser. In FY25, the list currently contains $113,200 for two new cruisers, $310,000 for a canopy solar voltaic station over the parking lot to produce power for the station (grant monies will be sought) and $50,000 for radio consoles from ARPA funds.

            There was also discussion regarding the need of a utility-task vehicle (UTV) for off-road search and rescue. In a follow-up, Lorenco said a grant request to a private agency was submitted for $20,000 for an UTV. He noted that a UTV would be helpful, especially for conservation lands and the bike path.

            Lorenco also shared that cost estimates for the installation of new flooring in part of the Police Station have been high. That problem was solved when police officers, along with King, took it upon themselves to do the repair work at no cost to the town.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Capital Planning Committee is scheduled for Monday, February 6, at 5:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Capital Planning Committee

By Marilou Newell

The Stillness Within

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Listen, listen Dear, within yourself.

Listen to the stillness.

Listen to the peace and quiet.

No more hurry,

No more worry,

No more stress,

No more strain.

Know that you are loved and lovable,

No matter what you have done.

Find the love that is your essence and your heritage.

The love of God,

That is there for you now, today.

And for all the days of your life.

Listen and be grateful.

            Editor’s Note: Hope Bradley Finley passed away on January 13 at age 95. The Mattapoisett resident was thrilled to have The Wanderer publish her poems and essays, something we will continue to do this winter.

The Poet’s Corner

By Hope Bradley Finley

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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            Rochester is a pretty watery place (particularly these last few weeks) with its ponds, brooks and streams. A lot of the water is near the surface and two-acre zoning was put in place, in part to conserve the water that fills most residents’ wells. However, due to past agreements and the separations that created Marion and Mattapoisett, Rochester isn’t in control of all of its water. Town wells, like the ones on Mary’s Pond Road are run by the Marion Water Dept., and the large ponds abutting North Rochester are under the control of New Bedford.

            Beginning in the 1700’s and continuing into the present, cities have grown and that growth has increased their need for water. As early as 1799, the Massachusetts General Court passed an “act enabling proprietors of aqueducts to manage the same.” This was the first official state law that addressed the regulations for providing water. It immediately spurred the creation of numerous aqueduct companies. An aqueduct is an artificial channel for conveying water over a gap of some kind.

            The First Aqueduct Association was formed in 1803 in Bedford Village and was the first such association in Massachusetts. By 1860, a committee was appointed by the now, city of New Bedford, to search out and survey possible locations that could provide a permanent supply of fresh water for the city. They also needed to ascertain the costs that would be involved. It is interesting to note that the last names of several of the committee were surnames found in Rochester, such as, George A. Briggs, city surveyor; Isaac C. Taber, chairman, and Charles H. Bigelow, engineer.

            Many areas were investigated and finally, a site was chosen for a storing reservoir in the Acushnet Valley that could be connected to the Acushnet River by an aqueduct. Local residents were opposed to the entire idea, but the Legislature on April 18, 1863 passed an act to provide the water to New Bedford. As soon as construction was completed in 1867, water filled the reservoir which almost immediately collapsed, flooding the surrounding area. Repaired by 1869, it did not live up to its promise. Over a couple of years, the water level shrank so low that plant life was exposed to the sun. The vegetation rotted and tainted the water.

            To get back to cleaner, better tasting water, a connection was made to Little Quitticus Pond which lies in the northwest corner of Rochester. With the passage of time and the increase in population, the Acushnet plant and reservoir no longer could provide enough water and were abandoned in1899. Starting in 1896, new plans were being drawn for their replacement. The building of the New Bedford Water Works (that we see today) was completed in 1899. The water pumped into the waterworks came from both Big and Little Quitticus Ponds. In 1926, additional water was pumped in from Long and Pocksha Ponds and Assawompsett Pond, a part of which lies along Rochester’s north side.

            The Romanesque Revival style buildings include a pumping station and five small gate and screen houses, all built in 1899. The job of the gate houses is to regulate the flow of water from the ponds. The screen houses screen any large debris that might damage the pumps. At first, the pumping station drew water directly from the pond and into homes. However, the system was modified, and a water treatment plant was built in 1978. The pumping station, gate and screen houses continue to operate as they always have.

            Of all the interesting stone buildings that make up the waterworks, it was the little stone structures resembling castles that filled my imagination whenever we passed them on our way to my grandparents’ house. Who knew what little elves or fairies might live in those stone houses at the end of the long walkways through the water.

By Connie Eshbach

Marion Stewards of Community Open Space

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The Stewards of Community Open Space (SoCOS) has been working with representatives of the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) to develop a new Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) for Marion. The OSRP is required by the State and has a specific format and content. A final version of the OSRP has been developed. Updated on a seven-year cycle, the OSRP document describes a community’s open space and recreation resources and identifies actions that will protect, enhance and manage these resources into the future. An OSRP also makes the town eligible to apply for state grants that fund improvements to recreational facilities and open space lands.

            SoCOS will host a public education meeting on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 7PMat the Marion Music Hall, 164 Front Street. The meeting will review the process, the OSRP content and the resulting Action Items. The OSRP will be submitted to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Division of Conservation Services for final approval.

            Electronic copies of the OSRP will be available on the Town Website, and hard reading copies will be available at the Planning Board Office and the Elizabeth Taber Library.

Giant Spruce Taken Down

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            There was momentary doubt as to the nature of that giant tree taken down on Tuesday between Elizabeth Taber Library and Sippican Elementary School, but there was no disagreement that its time had run out.

            “It’s not dead … but it’s so compromised. … In a big storm, a limb could fall down,” said Parks and Tree Committee Chair Margie Baldwin. “There’s a hawk that likes to sit up in the top there, it’s very sad.”

            As wet snow fell on Marion Tuesday morning, Harry Harmon was alone at the top of the tree. The Nadeau Tree employee surveyed, strapped and chain-sawed his way down from what he estimated was an 85-foot-tall Norway Spruce (Picea rubens.) Harmon worked in tandem with a large crane to remove giant sections that crew member Mason Shea figured could weigh north of 2,000 pounds. Together with Shayne Bradford and Duel Branco, the crew had the entire tree down before noon.

            While pine trees’ needles are clustered in groups, a pulvinus on a spruce tree holds but one needle. In any case, all the needles fell to the ground on Tuesday.

            Concern had recently been realized after local landscaper Steve Gonsalves began noticing unusual droppings from the tree. When he found a section of bark that felt like it had no backing support, he knew it was time to call in the professionals for a closer look. According to a press release sent out Monday by the Town of Marion, the evaluation by Bartlett Tree Experts determined “that the tree had been struck by lightning, was severely compromised and needed to be removed due to the possibility that it could fall, especially during a weather event.”

            Joining Gonsalves on the sidelines as the tree came down, Marion Tree Warden Lee Gunschel paid extra attention to major sections as they were transported from the crane to small equipment on the ground and stacked out near Spring Street. Two notable pieces were found to be rotting from within, but much of the wood remains usable.

            Baldwin said, based on memories shared by people in their 60s and 70s, the tree must have been “at least 100 years old.” At her request, 3 feet of the oval-shaped stump, measuring 4 1/2 feet long, was left standing. Gonsalves studied the three rings inside and estimated the tree’s age at 135-140 years.

            Since 2009, the tree had brought shade to a Children’s Memorial Reading Garden honoring the lives of former Sippican School students Cory Jackson, Andrew Rego, Marques Sylvia and Alexis Wisner. Gonsalves played a key role in the installation of the garden designed by landscape architect Susannah Davis with support from the late, former Sippican Principal Mary Lou Hobson. He plans to reprise his role with wood collected from the tree.

            “We’ve tried to be sensitive to the four families. The hope is to replant four trees in honor of each family,” said Baldwin. The plan, she explained, is to save some of the wood and use it to make a bench and for students to construct birdhouses.

            “It’s used, the kids play under there,” said Baldwin, alluding to the colored stones under the tree where children had painted them. Come springtime, the Parks and Tree Committee hopes to involve the four families and current Sippican students as the memorial garden is rededicated.

            “We know that this tree and its position as part of the memorial garden is an important part of our town and is recognizable by many; however, we must put safety first,” said Interim Town Administrator Judy Mooney in the Marion press release. “The town will support the Parks and Tree Committee as it makes plans to replace the tree so that the area can continue to be meaningful and honor the young lives that were lost.”

By Mick Colageo

Grant Applications Reviewed

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Mattapoisett’s Community Preservation Act Committee met on January 31 to interview three applicants for CPA grant funding. These three groups were given the opportunity to present their requests, submit additional documentation and address questions poised to them by the committee in advance of the presentations.

            The Mattapoisett Christian Church, better known as the Mattapoisett Museum, came before the committee requesting $47,598 for exterior repairs to the building facing Church Street. Speaking on behalf of the application were Historical Society trustees Jack Hill and Doug Schneider. Schneider gave a brief history of the relationship between the Historical Society, the Christian Church and the museum.

            Schneider said that the church benefited from a trust given to them on the passing of Edward Faunce in the 1950s. The purpose of the trust was to provide funds for the continuation of the church and the building.

            At the same time, the Historical Society was looking for a place to keep their growing collection. They would contract to lease the church and build the carriage house. The lease was $1 for the building and another $1 for the structure. In the early 1980s, a 99-year lease was drafted between the Historical Society and the church for the same sums. The church would have control of the church space and the society of the carriage house.

            Fast forward to 2023: The exterior clapboards are deteriorating on the west side of the structure, a portion of the roof needs repair and railings need to be installed.

            The Mattapoisett Historical Commission, not to be confused with the Historical Society (a private entity), is requesting $15,000 to continue their work on performing an independent survey of historic structures, features and spaces in the community.

            Historical Commission Chairperson Rachel McGourthy said that a grant awarded at Town Meeting last year began the process of securing a consultant in the area of historic surveys, a primary responsibility for local commission as charged by the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

            McGourthy said that a matching grant was being requested for the MHC, bringing the full sum to $30,000, which will allow the consultant to complete the survey. In all, she said it was a three-year process.

            The commission has been working with Christopher Skully (formerly of the MHC), their consultant in identifying structures and features in the community. She said that 92 high-priority structures and features have been identified and heretofore have not been listed on the MHC’s older surveys. One such structure was Town Hall, and spaces such as the Holy Ghost Grounds and Homestead Court would now be placed on the list.

            There was a cautionary note, however, when McGourthy said that structures being placed on the town’s register and archived by the state did not protect it from demolition.

            Also coming before the CPA was Ray Andrews and Richard Langoff of the American Legion Post and Veteran’s Agent Chris Gerrior, requesting $40,000 for ADA-compliant repairs for the Legion hall. Gerrior said of the history of the building that it began life in 1867 as the Pine Island School and was later sold and moved to its current location at the intersection of Depot Street and Railroad Avenue.

            Andrews said that the members had searched for other funding sources but found the majority of veteran-related grants were in support of food, housing and medical programs.

            Regarding local schools, Andrews said that Old Colony and Upper Cape regional vocational-technical high schools may both be sources for free construction services.

            After all applications have been thoroughly vetted, the committee will rank the requests, giving support where they deem the applicants have adequately supported their need for financial assistance.

            The Mattapoisett Community Preservation Act Committee will continue the interview process of grant applicants on Tuesday, February 13, at 5:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Community Preservation Act Committee

By Marilou Newell