Christmas by the Sea Bazaar

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Please join us at the 56th Annual “Christmas by the Sea Bazaar” on Saturday, December 2 from 9 am to 1 pm at St. Anthony’s Parish, 26 Hammond Street, Mattapoisett.

            Many handcrafted gifts and stocking stuffers will be offered by local vendors, including wooden and leather wares, honey, seashell trees, ornaments, holiday decorations, seashell window art, all types of sewn, crocheted, knitted and quilted items, driftwood creations, seascape prints, note cards, T-shirts and so much more. Credit cards accepted.

            When you arrive, you’ll be greeted with live holiday music and as always, the Bazaar will offer a huge assortment of decorated wreaths and greenery arrangements, parish ornament, gift basket and art raffles, a grand raffle (1st prize: $1,000, 2nd prize: $500, 3rd prize: $250), Gift Boutique (in addition to vendors), Toy Shoppe with toys, books, cookie decorating and games, a visit by Santa and baked goods.

            All proceeds will benefit St. Anthony – St. Rita Parish Initiatives. For more information, please contact Linda Quinn at 508-758-8698.

RHS Museum Hours

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The Rochester Historical Society Museum will be open on Sunday from 1:00-3:00 on November 26. This will be our last Sunday opening until December 10, but you can always call Sue at 508 295 8908 or Connie 617 750 2818 to arrange a visit.

Mattapoisett Land Trust Merchandise

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Do you have old Mattapoisett Land Trust merchandise laying around in a drawer somewhere? Well, we’d love to see a picture of it. If you have older, discontinued land trust merchandise, please snap a photo of it and email it to manager@mattlandtrust.org.

            Mattapoisett Land Trust is preparing to celebrate our 50th Anniversary in 2024. With that will come exciting new designs for the T-shirts and hats that you always find at the land trust booth on Harbor Days. We’d love to see photos of your old favorite designs to help inspire us in designing some new merchandise.

Guy Wayne Asker

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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Guy Wayne Asker on November 17, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was determined to reach his 90th birthday, which he did! on July 18, 2023!

            Wayne was born in the Campello neighborhood of Brockton MA, and his journey through life was marked by accomplishments, integrity, and a profound love for family, faith, and community. His early years were shaped by his passion for sports, excelling in both football and basketball, which paved the way for his graduation from Brockton High School in 1951. After high school, he continued his education at Storm King Prep School in New York. In 1955, Wayne married his high school sweetheart, Joan Walsh, a Brockton High School cheerleader, forming a partnership that would endure for decades.

            For over twenty years, Wayne worked diligently at Asker Bakery in Brockton until 1973 when he transitioned his career to become a real estate broker, establishing Realty by Asker. His commitment to the real estate industry led him to become the President of Brockton Board of Realtors in 1977 and President of Brockton MLS in 1985 serving as a longstanding board member. In the 1980s, Wayne furthered his expertise by obtaining a General Certified Real Estate Appraiser license, founding GWA Appraisal Service, where he continued his work as an appraiser until the age of 75.

            Wayne’s devotion to his faith was evident throughout his life. He served at Trinity Baptist Church in Brockton and later at Church in the Pines in Wareham. He led numerous Bible studies, leaving a lasting impact on the spiritual lives of many.

            Beyond his professional and spiritual pursuits, Wayne generously contributed to his community. He served as a basketball coach for Brockton Christian School and various church basketball leagues. In the 1980s, he moved to Marion, becoming an active member of the Sippican Tennis Club and dedicating his time to the town’s Conservation Committee.

            Wayne’s love for travel was evident in the many adventures he shared with his wife, Joan. They explored the beauty of many parts of the world, including Ireland, Italy, France, and England, with a standout memory being their cherished trip to Israel in 1974 with dear friends.

            Wayne is survived by his wife of 68 years, Joan, their four children, Joanne, Amy, Jonathan (Pippa), and Sarah (Andy), and their grandchildren Michelle (Russell), Dan, Samantha (Samuel), Oliver, Dean, and Maxwell. Wayne was preceded in death by parents, Guy and Hazel Asker, and his two sisters, Carol and Beverly. His grandchildren and many nieces and nephews will remember Wayne with affection.

            Guy Wayne Asker will be remembered for his kindness, his unique sense of humor, unwavering devotion to his Christian faith, his devotion to integrity and honesty, and his profound love for family and friends. His legacy lives on in the memories of those who were fortunate enough to know him, and his impact will continue to resonate in the hearts of all who were touched by his warmth and generosity. He is resting in peace, and his family finds solace in the enduring legacy he leaves behind.

            A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, Dec. 2nd at the First Congregational Church of Marion. A luncheon reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, Wayne’s desire was to have any gifts go to South Coast VNA Hospice, 200 Mill Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719. He so appreciated the loving care of each caregiver. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Steven Johnston Tower

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Steven Johnston Tower of Hingham, Massachusetts, died suddenly on November 15 at his home in Hingham.

            Starting his life in Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1960, he was the second son of Arthur Tower and Betty (Johnston) Tower. He attended North Adams State College but eventually graduated from Northeastern University. He would go on to spend the majority of his career as an insurance investigator.

            He found a sense of calm and excitement on two wheels, whether he was pedaling one of his many bikes or pushing the throttle as hard as it could go on his motorcycle. When not on a bike, he loved to spend time digging up quahogs near the family home in Mattapoisett and assisting with any project the community needed. Throughout his life, he also liked to channel his inner Herb Brooks as a longtime coach and administrator of Braintree Youth Hockey. He could also often be found volunteering his time at the Old Colony Lodge in Hingham, where he was a devoted Masonic member.

            He leaves behind his only son, Steven Jr., of Rockland, Massachusetts, and former wife and friend Catherine Nelligan of Venice, Florida. He is also survived by his many cousins with whom he shared many memories in Mattapoisett. He has now joined his late brother Putt Jr. of Fairhaven and his mother and father.

            Visiting hours were held at Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel, 21 Pond St., Hingham, on Monday, November 20th. Relatives and friends were invited to attend a memorial service at Second Parish, 685 Main St. in Hingham on Tuesday, November 21st. Burial was a private ceremony. For additional information and online guestbook please go to www.downingchapel.com

Baron H Martin

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Judge Baron H Martin, loving husband, dedicated father and former Chief Justice of the 4th District Court in Wareham passed away peacefully on November 16 with his beloved wife Joan by his side. He was 97 years old.

            Born in Boston, son of the late Baron H. and Margaret Jones Elliot Martin, he lived in Boston until 1972 moving to Wareham. Before becoming ill, he was living at the Bay Club in Mattapoisett.

            Survivors include his wife, Joan (Kapolchok) Martin; his daughter Lauren B Martin of New York; his cousin who was like a son to him, Atty. Ralph Martin and his wife Dr. Deborah Martin of Jamaica Plain and their sons Scott and Sam, and daughter Christine (husband Michael Moverman and daughter Simona.)

            There is no question that Judge Martin was a brilliant lawyer and Judge. He would have young lawyers, trying a case before him, scurrying back to the law library looking up cases because the ones they were using were no longer applicable.

            Judge Martin never forgot his mentors who shaped his life from working as a baggage handler at South Station to becoming the esteemed Chief Justice of the Wareham District Court. They gave him the opportunity to attend Suffolk University Law School while working at the MTA (MBTA) as a clerk. He later became the General Counsel and years later was appointed to the Board of Directors.

            He was personal friends with Martin Luther King, while attending Boston University. They belonged to the same fraternity, Boston University’s Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. In 1952, he introduced Martin to Coretta.

            Baron was very active in politics in the 60’s being chair of Ward 12 in Roxbury. He was invited by President Kennedy to participate in the National Conference on Constitutional Rights in New York in 1960. He was greatly influenced by Robert F Kennedy while working on his campaign in 1968. He often quoted Robert F Kennedy as saying that those of us who have something have an obligation to help others. Judge Martin was with Robert Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968 when he was shot. He lived by this motto until the day he died.

            He was inducted as Special Justice of the Roxbury Court in 1974 by Governor Francis Sargent and to the Wareham District Court in 1977 by Governor Edward King. He was named Associate Justice of the Appellate Division by Chief Justice Samuel Zoll in 1990.

            There are countless stories of people that he helped when their lives were falling apart and they were standing before him in the court. He would help them see their value and a better way but they had to put in the work. He was a mentor to young law students, new judges, administrators and court personnel. And even after he retired, he continued, working on a team to bring the University of Massachusetts Law School (Southern New England Law School) to Dartmouth. Giving back is what Judge Martin did be it law students, the kid next door, or a caregiver.

            This is his Legacy. His mentors would be proud.

            His visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, November 28th from 4-8pm in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt.6), Mattapoisett. His Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, November 29th at 11:00 am in the funeral Home. For directions and guest book, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Town Meetings

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I missed the recent Town Meeting, again. I regret that but they are held at night and since I became old, I no longer drive at night. I’ve tried going with friends, but I am a stay-until-the-end kind of guy, and they often want to leave early. Also, because I am old, I have to take a half-dozen pills every night precisely at 9:00 pm, and I don’t want anyone to see gulping down my stash in the men’s room for fear they might think I was some kind of a secret addict. So, I stay at home.

            Prior to the driving thing, I had not missed a town meeting in any town I lived in that held them. Town meetings go back to colonial times (I’m old but not that old) and are the purest form of democracy. Everyone gets to say their piece, trying to convince the opposition to vote for or against one viewpoint or another.

            Town meetings were once held in our upper Town Hall. I can remember attending one with my father. As the story goes, because there was no elevator in the building, Bill Suzan, a big, strapping, prominent citizen, was charged with carrying an important town official, who was incapacitated, up the stairs to attend a meeting. One night after a late meeting, Suzan went home, forgetting to retrieve the official who remained stranded in the upper hall.

            Whether that story is true is lost to history, but not long after, our town meetings moved to the Congregational Church Hall. (If that were today, no doubt someone would complain about separation of church and state. I guess we were more tolerant of those things back then.)

            In 1961, when Old Rochester High was completed, meetings were moved to the school’s auditorium where they reside still, too far to walk for village dwellers like me.

            Strange things can happen at town meetings. At one I attended elsewhere, an old timer, who everyone knew and who was familiar with the open end of a bottle, stood up to comment on some issue. He proceeded to rant about – shall I say – a minority “hiding in a wood pile.”

            I was shocked. Despite their political differences, every one of the 200 people in the hall stood up in protest. The moderator ruled the fellow out of order and had the police escort him out. I was proud to witness a group of Americans of differing opinions recognize that a rude, disgusting, racial slur was inappropriate. That was nearly 50 years ago! Today name calling seems to have become a bad habit in some government forums. But I digress.

            Everyone knew what a newcomer was going to ask when they got up to speak. The newbie would always ask why the town rented hydrants. The Water Department was an enterprise fund, which allowed them to be self-sufficient by renting the hydrants back to the town. It was sort of an initiation to be laughed at by the regulars.

            Everyone would sit in the same seats year after year. There was an older couple who sat on the aisle across from me. The first time I got up to speak I overheard the woman whisper to her husband, “bet he’ll ask why the town rents hydrants.” She was right. The next year as I returned to my seat after speaking about something or other, I overheard her say, “that young man sure asks good questions.” The following year after I made my way back from the lectern she muttered (rather loudly), “I wish he’d stop asking such dumb questions.” And so, it goes.

            My favorite experience at a town meeting was right here in our fair hamlet. A proposal was presented to allow a business that would be quite profitable to the owner and to the town, promising thousands of dollars to town coffers for virtually little effort. Such a deal! After much discussion back and forth, it looked as though it would pass overwhelmingly. And then someone asked who the business owner was. When the entrepreneur was revealed, an audible gasp was heard throughout the auditorium. Apparently, the citizens felt the town was rich enough without contributing to the person’s already significant assets. Oh well.

            I wish town meetings were held on Saturdays during the day. I miss the excitement.

            Editor’s note: Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and retired newspaper columnist whose musings are, after some years, back in The Wanderer under the subtitle “Thoughts on ….” Morgado’s opinions have also appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.

Thoughts on…

By Dick Morgado

Holy Ghost Reuse Committee to Meet

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During the November 20 meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board, member Nathan Ketchel reported that the Holy Ghost Reuse Committee has been preparing for a public meeting. The date is currently scheduled to be January 24, 2024 to be held in the Fire Station meeting room. It is hoped that the meeting will solicit additional feedback from the residents. A survey that was posted during the late summer produced about 150 responses and a plethora of ideas.

            The board also discussed when the Solar Bylaw crafted last year might reach Town Meeting floor. Ketchel said it could possibly be included in the warrant during the Spring Town Meeting.

            Chairman Tom Tucker queried Ketchel on the status of the town’s updated Master Plan, currently posted on the town’s website, Mattapoisett.net. Ketchel said it is his understanding that before the document is accepted, the Select Board expressed interest in reviewing it. Tucker said he would reach out to the Town Administrator Mike Lorenco.

            The singular agenda item was a Form A Not Required request from Laurel Henning. The application read in part, “Map 8, Parcel B, Lots 70 & 72 … Parcel B and Lot 70-A on Oakland Way & Lot 72-A on Foster Street, Parcel B is to be joined with Lot 65 & Parcel A on Oakland Street. Lot 70-A is a new lot with frontage on Oakland Way. Lot 72-A on Foster Street combines with remaining area with Lot 72.”

            Try as they may, the board members could not grasp the application as written, and it was further noted that there appeared to be “scrivener” errors. Tucker reached out to the five people logged in via Zoom, opening the application to public discussion and questioning. No one spoke.

            Bill Madden of G.A.F. Engineering is Henning’s consultant, but unable to ask questions that might clear up exactly what the applicant is planning, the board moved to take no action.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, December 4, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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In early New England, settlers from England were familiar with both harvest festivals and days of thanksgiving. While today these two events have merged into our Thanksgiving holiday, in early New England, they were separate. A day of thanksgiving usually called for a lengthy church service, while a harvest festival was a coming together to feast on the fruit of the community’s hard work and successful harvest.

            A totally different menu was served at the feasts or celebrations of the local Native Americans. When Captain Benjamin Church and Awashonks, the Squaw Sachem of the Narragansetts, were seeking an alliance during the Indian wars, the Captain was invited to a feast. The dinner consisted of fried eel, flatfish, and shellfish cooked in the same manner as today’s clambakes. Everything was steamed together on heated rocks covered with seaweed.

            The story of this feast influenced the planners of both the 200th and 250th anniversary celebrations of Old Rochester. The 200th anniversary was a one-day affair of many speeches interrupted in the middle by a clambake to feed the hungry attendees. The 250th had many more events and spanned several days, but it also featured a large clambake for those who bought tickets.

            The picture with this article is from the 1936 anniversary party. Today clambakes have become events of summer unconnected to any celebration other than the love of steamed clams. The Rochester Historical Society wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving no matter what you may be having for dinner.

By Connie Eshbach

Mattapoisett Library Holiday Open House

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Join the Mattapoisett Sustainability Partnership and the Mattapoisett Library for a Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 2 at 2:00 pm. Members of the Partnership will have upcycled crafts, a gift-wrapping station, and holiday snacks for all ages to enjoy. Bring gifts you purchased from the local Christmas Fairs to wrap away from prying eyes. We have all the supplies you’ll need. Plus, check out other ways to make your holidays sustainable with the Partnership’s handy brochure.

            For more information about this event, call the library at 508.758.4171 or email to mfpl@sailsinc.org. Check the library’s events calendar at mattapoisettlibrary.org for more upcoming programs and book discussions.