Rochester Historical Society Happenings

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The Rochester Historical Society Museum at 355 County Rd., Rochester will be open from 1:00-3:00 pm on Sundays throughout the Fall. Our exhibit of how we entertained ourselves for the last 337 years will be open.

            We will also be selling quart bags of both dried, sweetened and fresh cranberries. It won’t hurt to call either Sue at 508-285-8908 or Connie at 617-750-2818 to make sure someone will be there to greet you. Come see us.

            October 16 at 7:00 pm, our monthly meeting. The program will be Bats in the Belfry and Mack in the Attic. Do come to find out about the denizens and “stuff” in the Church/Museum’s attic. As always, refreshments and conversation will follow.

            October 26 at 11:00 pm, there will be a grave marking ceremony for Thomas Bassett, a Rochester man who participated in the Revolutionary War. The ceremony will be put on by the Sons of the American Revolution whose mission is to make sure that our ancestors who fought for independence are not forgotten. All are invited for a ceremony involving honor salutes, short speeches, and the grave marking.

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club Presentation

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The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club invites potential new members and interested local residents to its October 17 monthly meeting, which will feature an art history presentation by the well-known Jill Sanford of Art For Your Mind. Art For Your Mind is an engaging, educational, art observation experience designed to broaden the minds of its participants. Jill will present: Massachusetts’ Art Revealed: From the Pilgrims to modern skylines, Massachusetts’ people, events, architecture, industries, and landforms are represented by artists in surprising ways. Experience some well-known historical events as well as some lesser-known acts and places through the eyes of the artist – all part of the commonwealth’s interesting story. Visitors are welcome to attend this program which will begin at 12:45pm at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church in Reynard Hall.

            The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is a civic, social, educational and philanthropic organization. Membership is always open to local women who are interested in the objectives and mission of the organization. For more information or questions please contact info@mattapoisettwomansclub.org.

Art in the Afternoon at the MAC

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The Marion Art Center announces new availability for our very popular Art in the Afternoon program, which runs Friday afternoons, for ages 7-12. Our Early Dismissal Half Day Camp, scheduled Friday, October 18 12:00-3:00pm in the MAC Studio, is $70 for MAC members and $80 for nonmembers. Students will explore wool felt and model magic clay, making felted soaps and personified clay pop tarts, among other projects.

            The next four-week session, All Things Paper, is scheduled October 25-November 15, from 3:00-4:00pm in the MAC Studio. In this session students will learn to make handmade paper, monoprints on decorative paper and create their own mini artists’ books. Perfect for the upcoming holidays. The cost for the four-week session is $90 for MAC members and $105 for non-members.

            Sippican School students can come directly to the MAC for Art Lab. Parents can arrange for their children to be walked over by a MAC volunteer or staff member. Learn more and register for classes at marionartcenter.org/art-lab.

League of Women Voters Candidates Debate

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Dear Editor,

            The League of Women Voters of South Coast, previously known as the League of Women Voters of Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester, has been organizing candidate debates, forums, and meet-and-greets for over 35 years. LWVSC has scheduled a candidates’ event on October 17th at the Old Rochester Regional High School Auditorium, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

            Throughout all these years, we have never encountered a situation where a candidate running for a significant office failed to respond to our invitations to participate in an event. But the LWVSC now has a candidate who has failed to respond to participating in a debate.

            LWVSC has made efforts to reach out to reach out to the candidate sending a letter on September 12 and an email on October 3rd, inviting the candidate to participate in the October 17th Event. However, we have not yet received a response from the candidate.

            The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization that operates at the national, state, and local levels. Its primary purpose is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government which includes hosting voter registrations and providing voter education on candidates that enables informed voter decision-making during elections.

            The League of Women Voters faces challenges in its voter education initiatives when candidates lack interest in engaging with potential constituents. This absence of engagement impedes the LWVSC’s ability to facilitate candidate introductions, provide summaries of their qualifications to voters and the general public, elucidate their suitability for the sought-after office, and offer insights into their comprehension of their role, the job’s scope, and associated responsibilities.

Sincerely,

Kris Eastman, Co-Chair

Eileen J. Marum, Co-Chair

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. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.

Wins Across the Board for ORR

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The Old Rochester Regional High School football team faced Medfield on October 4 and won 42-6. Gavin Martin had three rushing touchdowns, and Jack Leconte had two. Cam Peppin had a 60-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs’ defense played very well, leading to two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a blocked punt. They will play at Somerset Berkley (3-1) on October 11.

            “We have a very tough opponent next week in Somerset Berkley. The winner will be in the driver seat for the league championship,” said ORR Head Coach Bryce Guilbeault.

Boys Soccer

            Old Rochester played at Bridgewater Raynham on October 4 and won 2-0. Aidan Costa and Landis Treichler were named the players of the game. The Bulldogs’ record is now 8-2-1 and are on a seven-game winning streak. They were scheduled to play Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech on October 9.

Girls Soccer

            The Bulldogs played at Fairhaven on October 2 and won 4-0. Delaney Chase was named the player of the game. Their record is now 9-2-1 and they are scheduled to play at Dighton-Rehoboth on October 9.

Girls Volleyball

            ORR played at Fairhaven on October 2 and won 3-0. Set scores were 25-0, 25-21, and 25-17. Their record is now 10-2, and they are on a four-game winning streak. Aubrie Letourneau was named the player of the match, as she reached a big milestone: her 2,000th assist, setting a new school record. They were scheduled to play Dennis-Yarmouth on October 9.

Golf

            The Bulldogs played at Apponequet on October 3 and won 228-236. They stay at an undefeated 13-0 and were scheduled to play their final match of the season against Bourne (6-6) on October 8.

Sports Roundup

By Aiden Comorosky

Marion Republican Town Committee

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The Marion Republican Town Committee will conduct its next monthly meeting on Monday, October 14 at 6:30 pm at the Marion Music Hall, 164 Front Street, Marion. The public and new members welcome. We look forward to seeing you. A candidate’s forum will follow at 7:00 pm.

Great Pumpkin Contest

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The Elizabeth Taber Library is once again celebrating Halloween with our Great Pumpkin Contest. Visitors to the library can check out a real pumpkin for free with their library card, then return their decorated pumpkin by Wednesday October 23 to be entered into our Great Pumpkin Contest. The community will vote on their favorites during our Halloweekend celebration Thursday, October 24 to Saturday, October 26.

Joint Meeting Focused on Accessory Dwelling Units

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Anticipating the new state housing law going into effect in February, the Marion Select Board and Planning Board conducted a joint session to discuss potential modification of existing town bylaws in compliance with both the state law and the town’s needs.  The law requires all municipalities to allow homeowners to create accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.

            The response to the state is being prepared by the Codification Committee of the Select Board.

            On Monday evening, the Planning Board met with the Select Board to review and discuss guidelines for the Codification Committee to consider when finalizing the language.

            The two boards worked through a list of at least ten items to be clarified with specific details, such as what constitutes “gross floor area,” what size ADUs to be allowed under different scenarios, and in which zoning districts will they be allowed. Also, how to handle condos and multi-family buildings with separate owners, public safety considerations, and potential changes to water and sewer regulations.

            The questions of incorporating existing accessory apartment units and regulations and short-term residence restrictions were also discussed at length.

            The joint boards, along with building Commissioner Bob Grillo, came to agreement on several issues, and agreed to seek clarification from Town Counsel or other parties as needed.

            The group’s next step is to meet again in Joint Committee to finalize recommendations for the Codification Committee, after which the committee will draft the new bylaw and present it to the Planning Board.  Once bylaw language is approved but no later than December or January, the Board will conduct public hearing(s). A warrant for the Annual Town Meeting in May must be submitted in March.

            The meeting adjourned at 6:55 pm and was followed by the Planning Board meeting.

The date of the next Joint Committee Meeting will be announced once it has been scheduled. The next regular meeting of the Select Board will be on October 16 at 6:00 PM at the Marion Town House.

Marion Select Board & Planning Board

By Mary McCann Fiske

Mammograms Demystified

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On October 7, Dr. Portia Silk of Southern New England Radiology was hosted to speak at the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library on the topic of mammograms. If you are a woman, you, like many others, dread the squishing and pulling that goes along with getting the best images possible. The importance of annual screening cannot be overstated. Simply put, it saves lives. As many as 1,000 women a year are saved by screening.

            For over 20 years, the doctor has been screening women for breast cancer. She said there is no clear reason why these cancers occur, except possibly in cases where familiar DNA predisposes for cancer.

            Over the years, some have believed that the radiation received during testing was too high a risk to take. That is simply not true. Every day, we are bombarded by radiation from the natural environment at rates higher than those used in mammogram screenings. Like many things in medicine, we need to consider the risk/benefit ratio. With cancer rates rising in younger women, those considerations need to come sooner rather than later. It is recommended that women 40 years of age should begin getting annual mammograms and continuing screening into senior years (above 75 and older).

            Silk said that although the technician may take many images, “…it doesn’t mean anything is wrong…they are just trying to get the best images possible.”

            The doctor spoke using much medical terminology but explained terms such as tomosynthesis (3D imaging), distortion (breast tissue that is abnormally shaped), calcification (calcium deposits), and pleomorphic (cells of differing shapes).

            One of the more common terms a woman may hear is that her breasts are “dense.” Dense breast tissue makes imaging more difficult Silk explained, not that cancer is present. Therefore, dense breast tissue makes detecting cancer all the more difficult. Real images were part of the presentation. These specimens drove home just how difficult it can be to see cancers even in non-dense breasts.

            High breast density isn’t rare. Silk said 10% of dense breasts are fatty, 43% have scattered density, 39% have heterogeneous breast and 8% would be classified as extremely dense.

            After screening, Silk said you may get a call to come back in for more imaging. She said the majority of the time its just to get a better image – not that anything has been found or is wrong. Easily said, “Don’t worry,” but returning to get more imaging done is necessary to get conclusive test results that nothing is wrong.

            Silk presented facts regarding breast cancer risks. She mentioned both personal data and heredity data are taken into consideration. Personal details include the onset of menses, onset of menopause, no children or children after 30, postmenopausal obesity, hormone replacement therapy, alcohol use, physical inactivity, and type 2 diabetes. On the heredity side are 1st degree relatives with breast cancer before 50, two or more family members with breast or ovarian cancer, first degree relative with ovarian cancer, any male breast cancer, and gene mutations such as BRCA (breast cancer gene).

            The biggest take away was not only the shear importance of breast cancer screening but the age to begin – 40.

            Visit sneradiology.com to schedule a breast cancer screening appointment or call your doctor. There’s no time like the present.   

Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library – Rochester

By Marilou Newell

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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Looking through the current exhibit at the Historical Museum, I was struck by the fact that with all the changes in town over time, there are some events that have spanned the years. One that comes to mind is the Rochester Boat Race on Memorial Day that began in 1934. Another is the annual clam bake. A third is the continued existence of Boy Scout Troop 31. These three events all share a common element.

            The boat race started by Jim Hartley for his 4H group was later sponsored by the Rochester Brotherhood. This was the same organization that held the annual clam bake and sponsored Troop 31 when it separated from Troop 30.

            The Rochester Men’s Brotherhood was a non-denominational group begun in the 1950’s that met in the First Congregational Church Hall. They worked to help townspeople who were going through hard times. They planned community events in conjunction with the Grange.

            When the Brotherhood disbanded after 15- 20 yrs., the Fire Association, in many ways became the “new brotherhood”. They took over planning and putting on the annual clambake, stepped in to make sure that the boat race continued, and joined with the Rochester Grange to sponsor Boy Scout Troop 31.

            When you look back through town history, you also see members of the Fire Department and Association active in the various town celebrations, fielding a baseball team, being on one end of a tug of war or putting on a muster. And, of course, then there’s Donkey Baseball (cue the picture of the donkey in a baseball helmet).

            Duffy Clapp, former fire chief, remembered what it was like to participate in such a game. He was involved in hiring a traveling company. They brought the donkeys (nice, that you didn’t need to bring your own). The rules of the game had the pitcher and catcher on their own two feet. The basemen were on donkeys but could get off to field a ball but then they had to climb back into the saddle. The pitcher had to stay in a defined box.

            What Duffy remembered most was that the donkeys were trained to take off when the batter leaned to hit the ball and then to stop short on the way around the bases, sending the rider over its head and onto the ground. Maury Gifford and Freddie Randall also took part.

            Dave Watling is sure that he heard of donkey basketball being played at the Women’s Club, but so far no one has come forward to agree with him.

By Connie Eshbach