Richard R. Langhoff

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Richard R. Langhoff, 88, of Mattapoisett died April 25, 2024 unexpectedly at Tobey Hospital.

            He was the husband of Ilona B. (Gorun) Langhoff.

            Born in Pittsburgh, PA, son of the late Florence V. (Smiechowski) Krauterbluth, step-son of the late Paul J. Krauterbluth and son of the late Rudolph Langhoff, he lived briefly in Chula Vista, CA and Acushnet before moving to Mattapoisett in 1970.

            He was a 1953 graduate of Langley High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh, School of Engineering, class of 1964.

            Mr. Langhoff was a Vietnam Era veteran, and trained primarily as a U.S. Air Force pilot through the Aviation Cadet program in class 58-C/D. He held a commercial pilot’s license with an instrument rating at the time of his death. He was a very close friend and served in flight crew with the late David E. Frawley, Jr. of Mattapoisett.

            He began his work career as a technician at Westinghouse Electric’s Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory. At Bettis, he worked his way through college, but interrupted his education and joined the U.S. Air Force. Upon graduation with a BS in Metallurgical Engineering, he worked as a metallurgist for a number of companies in Pennsylvania, California, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He retired from Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, RI as a Principal Systems Engineer in 2002. He also was a Professional Engineer in Massachusetts. In retirement, he was a licensed school bus driver, and driver for the Mattapoisett Council on Aging.

            Mr. Langhoff was a member of (ASM), and later the (ASMINT) at Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

            He was an accomplished author of over 800 company proprietary technical reports, seven technical publications, and one U.S. Patent including two disclosures.

            He was a former Vice-President, President of the St. Anthony’s Church Couple’s Club in Mattapoisett, and served as a Lector for 39 years and infrequent Usher since building the “New” St. Anthony’s Church in 1974.

            He was a Lifetime Volunteer Flight Crew member of the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation. Mattapoisett Machacam Club, and an over 35 year member of the American Legion, Florence Eastman Post 280 where he served as Chaplain.

            He had an extreme love for sports cars with the owning of a prize winning 1958 Triumph TR3-A roadster.. He loved to exercise and was very active in bicycling until 2024 when his health declined. He had a lifelong passion for amateur astronomy and combined that passion with his interest in photography for the capture of many deep sky astrographs. He was the owner of an eight inch diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope at his passing. He also was a passionate football fan, and particularly enjoyed his beloved “Pittsburgh Steelers” and his alma mater “Pitt Panthers.”

            Survivors include his wife; a son, David Langhoff and his wife Trudy of Maynard, MA; a daughter, Kristen Henriques and her husband Scott of Fairhaven; a step-brother, Joel Langhoff of Lake Jackson, TX; a half-sister, Janet Hitz and her husband John of Graysville, PA; 4 grandchildren, Gretchen, Caleb, Ingrid and Katherine; 4 nieces and nephews, Bradley Langhoff, Robert Langhoff and Kendyl Warren; and Jonathan Hitz and his wife Caroline.

            He was the brother of the late Ronnie Langhoff and the step-brother-in-law of the late Elaine Langhoff.

            His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 30th at 10 am at St. Joseph’s Church, 74 Spring St., Fairhaven. Burial will follow in Cushing Cemetery. Visiting hours are omitted. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Miraculous Story of Raj Comes Full Circle

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            They say it takes a village to help a child in need.

            Rajesh “Raj” Shahi, in the early 1990s was destined for a life of poverty as a beggar with a hunchback – until a special village in Massachusetts came to the rescue.

            He had a spinal curvature issue – kyphoscoliosis – that made his back resemble a turtle shell and with no access to proper medical care in Kathmandu, Nepal.

            Thanks to the community in Mattapoisett and medical staff in Boston, Shahi, now approaching 44, is a successful director of a school in Nepal, where he now pays it forward by helping children in need.

            “They (friends in Massachusetts) changed my life and they have given me a new life,” said Shahi during a recent interview with The Wanderer.

            Shahi came to Massachusetts at the age of 13 in 1993, after he was sponsored by Hands in Outreach, a group that helps impoverished children in Nepal.

            Nepal operates under a caste system. Shahi’s family was in a lower class, and his chances of a good and successful life were minimal at best until HIO and his Massachusetts community stepped in.

            Charles Duponte, a Mattapoisett resident, first initiated work to help Shahi. His then wife Johanna Duponte-Williams took Shahi in, helping him to get medical care in Boston and recover in Mattapoisett.

            Shahi then attended Old Hammondtown Elementary School, where Grade 6 teacher Karen McQuillan prepared her students for Shahi’s stay. She altered her curriculum to help students learn about the culture of Nepal and how the caste system left Shahi and his family with little access to proper medical care or any chance of upward economic mobility.

            The students and staff at Old Hammondtown responded, bowing to Shahi as he entered the building for the first time, and forming protective circles around him so he would not reinjure his back.

            Their first word to the student was the customary greeting of honor – “Namaste.”

            Shahi said that his host community in Mattapoisett and the medical team at New England Baptist Hospital helped him “to understand the value of helping others.”

            “They are my family. They gave me a very special time in that time (period). All my friends, they helped me a lot and are in my heart always. I am very thankful and thankful to God for giving me amazing friends for me and my life,” Shahi said.

            Now, Shahi runs a school with 40 students, giving back to the poor children of Nepal, completing the cycle of giving that started with him. He is married with two children of his own but calls his students his “children as well.”

            “I think it’s karma,” said Duponte-Williams, who became a mother figure to Shahi. “How amazing that all of these connections happened.”

            Duponte-Williams said she could never conceive a child on her own, but after her experience with Shahi, she later adopted children.

            Duponte-Williams, an occupational therapist, said that before Shahi came to Mattapoisett, she looked at his picture and was moved by his smile. She and other supporters all rallied behind him.

            But at first it was an uphill battle. Some medical professionals at first thought Shahi’s condition was so bad that it could not be reversed.

            Duponte-Williams says she remembers showing Shahi’s X-rays to Dr. Tucker AuFranc, who shared them with colleagues Alexander Wright and Peter Anas. Both noticed the spinal curvature was so severe it threatened his lung capacity.

            They called it the worst case of its kind.

            But nobody gave up. Wright, with Anas’ help, performed an eight-hour surgery on Shahi in 1993, installing in him a rod with metal side pieces into his back, with hooks that connect to his ribs.

            It took months of recovery, but Shahi was able to return to Nepal but not before students and teachers at the school donated clothing to Shahi for his return home, some of which got him through the winter months in New England.

            In 2008, Shahi returned for a recheck, and Duponte-Williams threw a huge reunion party.

            Before his return home, Duponte-Williams introduced Shahi to different Christian religions and the local Quakers, giving him an understanding of other religions and ways of life.

            Duponte-Williams said Shahi went to a Catholic church and noticed the image of Jesus on the cross. Duponte-Williams told Shahi the story of Jesus’ resurrection, and Shahi responded, “Your God is a powerful God.”

            Duponte-Williams also got to learn about Shahi’s religion and ways of life. At one point, after Shahi returned to Nepal, Duponte-Williams went to a gathering for the Dalai Lama. She remembers talking to a monk and expressing concern that Shahi would have trouble adjusting again to life in Nepal. The monk responded, “It is much more likely to change your life, Dear.”

            Shahi lately has been complaining of back pain and will be returning to Boston later this year for a checkup and a computed tomography scan.

            Duponte-Williams and other supporters have raised just under $3,000, but that will likely only cover travel expenses.

            To donate, send a check to Mattapoisett Friends Meeting (helping fund/Nepal in the memo) and mail to PO Box 795, Mattapoisett, MA 02739 or donate online https://gofund.me/db6d5743. Donations can also be sent via Venmo @Johanna-Duponte-Williams – last four digits of telephone number 7721 – memo for Raj.

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Spring Events at Rochester Historical Museum

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We have two really super events coming for May and June. On May 15, we will have an evening of song and stories with the Woodchopper Tribute Band at 7:00 pm. This musical trip down memory lane will be provided by some of the children of the original Woodchopper musical group.

            In June on the weekend of the 2 and 23, the Historical Society will be hosting a Historic Fair with a Colonial Flair. There will be many activities for children and adults that will be fun and help prepare for celebrations of the upcoming 250th birthday of the USA.

            Some activities will be a living history exhibit, music, early American games to play, animals, a bake sale, interactive events, a scavenger hunt and much more. In the coming weeks, there will be additional information on our June event.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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            The picture with this article is a little hard to see, but it is a picture of Bob Hiller, owner of East Over and his 3 yr. old grandson, Jacob. They are riding in a wagon pulled by the farm’s iconic Clydesdales at the Rochester Women’s Club 3rd Annual Earth Day Expo in 1992. With Earth Day this past Monday, the Women’s Club continued their annual Earth Day events with a town-wide cleanup as did others in the Tri-Towns.

            When Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, it was because of a realization by some that the earth which had been taken for granted for centuries needed protection. The concept of protecting the earth takes many forms; acknowledgement of climate change and working to slow it; sensible development that doesn’t overwhelm our land and water and the simple act of not littering.

            In order to achieve these goals, land preservation is important, and it was important to Bob Hiller who worked with the Trustees of Reservations and the townspeople of both Rochester and Marion to preserve the lands of East Over. The Rochester Land Trust works hard to protect the fields, woods and streams of Rochester for all of us.

            Equally important is the preservation of our history and this is where the Rochester Historical Society comes in. To paraphrase one of our ancestors, knowing where you come from is important in forging plans (for a person or a town) for going forward.

            At the Society we work to save and (importantly) share the history of our town and its residents. We do this with our collection of newspapers, maps, letters, books, pictures and other ephemera as well as physical items like antique clothing, signs, the organ, tools etc. all stored in our Museum at 355 County Rd.

            The Museum housed the East Rochester Congregational Church and was passed on to us by the last congregation. We are the stewards of this 1887 structure which is on the Register of Historic Places. We take our stewardship seriously, but we are a relatively small nonprofit (though one we hope has a big presence) and we receive no financial aid from the town of Rochester. This means that we rely on memberships, donations, raffles and bake sales to maintain the church/museum building. When we replaced the roof, I always say that we did it one cupcake at a time, but to be honest, it would not have been possible without a very generous donation by George Church.

            Currently we need to repair our steeple from which panels have been falling. This is causing some leaks and falling plaster inside so it can’t be ignored. George is no longer here to help us out, so we are hoping that those who agree with us on the importance of preserving our historic buildings will donate to the $3000.00 that we need to fix the steeple.

            Donations should be sent to: Rochester Historical Society, PO Box 322, Rochester, MA 02770. We will be happy to send you a receipt to use with your taxes.

By Connie Eshbach

Machacam Club

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The next meeting of the Machacam Club is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1. We meet at the American Legion Hall on Depot Street in Mattapoisett. Social time begins at 5 pm followed by dinner at 6 pm. Our speaker will be introduced at 6:40 pm. Chef Colby is planning another satisfying meal. Callers, please transmit your counts by 9 pm, Saturday. Questions – please submit to cwmccullough@comcast.net

Green Communities

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To the Editor,

            I encourage Marion residents to attend the Select Board meeting on May 7 to support the town’s participation in the Green Communities program. The Select Board should always seek ways to reduce property owner tax burden.

            Since Marion joined in 2018, Green Communities grants funded many projects – saving taxpayers more than $500,000. With energy consumption now reduced by 24% thanks to these upgrades, Green Communities helps taxpayers save tax dollars — which helps all of us — every year.

            The grant opportunities aren’t over. In June, Marion could apply for up to $220,000 to improve wastewater treatment plant control systems and heating systems in water and sewer pumping station heat systems.

            Yes, every Green Community needs to follow the most current version of the Stretch Building Code. But don’t we all want homes with lower utility bills that are ready for the future? The National Association of Realtors reports that more than half of all buyers consider these features when shopping for homes. We know that young families and seniors especially look for ways to stay within their budgets.

            If you can’t come to the May 7 meeting in person, please show your support for Marion’s Green Communities participation by signing this petition online at https://bit.ly/Marion-GC.

            Sincerely,

Alanna Nelson, Marion

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.

FinCom Recommendations All Debt for Boat

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            The Marion Finance Committee voted on April 10 to rescind a prior recommendation that taxpayers vote at the May 13 Annual Town Meeting to split the financing of the town’s new patrol boat between $400,000 from debt and $400,000 from free cash. The committee then voted to recommend that the $800,000 boat be purchased entirely on debt that would be funded by the town’s Waterways Account.

            Finance Committee Chairman Shay Assad’s motivation in bringing the decision to the members stems from the Select Board’s decision to add a second option for voters to the Town Meeting warrant, one that came at Assad’s urgent recommendation because he insists that should the town allocate from free cash to pay for the harbormaster’s new patrol boat, a promise will have been broken. He has repeatedly expressed concern that the much-needed boat might fail at Town Meeting.

            A third unanimous vote was taken to recommend that the town form an independent commission, including members of the FinCom, the Marine Resources Commission, Town Counsel and other potential members to thoroughly examine the town’s Waterway’s Account and provide a report to the Select Board.

            In speaking to the FinCom, Assad said that until March 27, the town had planned to fund the boat entirely out of the Waterways Account, the revenue-driven account that thrives on harbor-related fees. That plan changed at the 11th hour, said Assad, at which point he felt the town was treading in a dangerous direction.

            Assad said that while the town turned down the schools’ request for money to fund teachers they said they need, the town somehow was going to come up with money to fund a patrol boat.

            “That doesn’t quite seem to make sense, right?” asked Assad to the committee. “Certainly not to the school committee, who thought the town didn’t have any money. But it turns out we did.”

            The question, Assad said, came up how to fund the patrol boat, noting that there was no disputing the need for the boat. He made sure to compliment the Harbormaster Department and said “It was never an issue of we versus them.”

            Assad asserted that until March 27, all stakeholders were in agreement that the town would buy the patrol boat on debt.

            “That changed at the last minute, and we said to (Town Administrator) Geoff (Gorman), ‘Look, we’ve got the cash so it’s not like we can’t do it. But this is going to be on heck of an issue at Town Meeting because there are a number of taxpayers who … are passionate about who should be funding the needs of the Waterways (Account),’” said Assad. “And the reality is that anybody who has a mooring knows that a town mooring is an absolute steal” compared to a retail mooring which he says costs 25 times the price of a public mooring.

            For that reason, Assad said he does not have a lot of sympathy for boaters when fees increase.

            Assad reported that the Select Board decided to add a second article to the warrant for the May 13 Annual Town Meeting, giving the voters the original option of paying for the boat via debt funded by the Waterways Account. An article already existed in which the town would use $400,000 of Waterways funds and $400,000 of free cash.

            With that, he tasked the Finance Committee to rescind its recommendation of the original article and then, in a second step, vote on either an all-debt scenario or the split as outlined above.

            Committee members asked why not split between debt and Waterways, but Assad said the Select Board had already closed the warrant so that option is not on the table.

            Assad said he understands the Select Board’s position and agrees that depleting the Waterways Fund is not a good idea.

            Vin Malkoski, the chairman of the Marine Resources Commission, was invited to speak and referenced prior discussion with Assad over the MRC’s ongoing contention that the town has “inappropriately taken Waterways funds and put them in the General Fund.”

            Malkoski said the fact of that matter, though lost over time, has been legally proven to have occurred.

            Assad argued that the town has made it known for years that all departments will share in expenses that go across the entire town. Malkoski sought to clarify that Assad has been made aware of the MRC’s position.

            “That’s the position that the town took. Whether it’s legal or illegal, I haven’t talked to anybody who has told me, legally, … that what the town did over the last 10 or 15 or 20 years was illegal,” said Assad. “I think what the town did was they thought they were doing the appropriate thing to assess all of those costs that couldn’t be attributed to a specific department to be allocated across all those departments. That makes perfect accounting sense.”

            “Unfortunately, it does not comply with state law,” said Malkoski.

            Assad insisted they not talk about the legality of the matter until Town Counsel weighs in.

            “The town can’t afford to report it, you can’t afford to fix the problem,” replied Malkoski, arguing that most town departments do not generate revenue. “The reason the law exists is for this exact purpose.”

            Assad said the only way to fix the problem is to create an enterprise fund for the Waterways Department, something Malkoski said is not necessary. Assad said the decision would necessarily come from the Select Board with a recommendation from the Finance Committee.

            Assad asserted that the creation of an enterprise fund would put the dispute to bed.

            He then attempted to steer the committee back toward the decision at hand, to recommend the town fund the patrol boat entirely with debt or to fund it halfway with free cash as prescribed by the other article on the Town Meeting warrant.

            Assad asked Malkoski which scenario suits the MRC, but the two could not reach an accord in the conversation due to the lack of resolution over what the impact should or will be on the Waterways Account.

            Assad reminded Malkoski that the Select Board promised the voters that the patrol boat would be paid for out of the Waterways Account and asked him if he wants the town not to honor its commitment to the taxpayers. Malkoski retorted that he would like the town to honor its commitment “to the rate payers.”

            Malkoski contended that the MRC’s plan to increase fees, something it did twice, was designed to bring back approximately $70,000 into the Waterways Account but said the town’s accounting has illegally limited that revenue to approximately $10,000 “because it was being siphoned out to pay for town hall maintenance.”

            Citing the existence of $441,000 in the Waterways Account, Assad asked how the MRC accrued that much revenue under insufficient circumstances. Devoid of documented confirmation from Town Counsel, Assad characterized Malkoski’s assertion that the town has acted inappropriately as “an absurdity.” Malkoski stuck to his position that the Waterways Account has been mistreated by the town.

            Assad apologized at the end of the meeting for getting “frosty” about the matter but hopes that a joint effort will end the long-standing disagreement between the MRC and the town government at large.

            No date was set for the next meeting of the Marion Finance Committee.

Marion Finance Committee

By Mick Colageo

Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity

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Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity is delighted to announce a $25,000 grant from the nonprofit corporation Housing Ministries of New England.

            Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. They are so thankful for the Housing Ministries of New England’s recent financial support of the farmhouse-style, 3-bedroom, 2 bath, 2-unit duplex currently being built in Westport, MA. The funds will be distributed toward construction costs to complete the duplex that will house two families.

            Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity (BBAHFH) became an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International in December of 1996 and currently serves the towns of Acushnet, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Wareham, New Bedford, Dartmouth and Westport. BBAHFH is currently looking for land for its next build.

            BBAHFH joins hands with local businesses, builders, subcontractors, volunteers, and donors, all lending their time, skills, and resources to help local families in need of a well-built affordable homes. BBAHFH relies upon gifts of land, discounted properties, donated and discounted materials to assure the affordability of the houses that are built. Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization.

            BBAHFH also offers the community a “Brush with Kindness” program that allows Habitat to serve local low-income families who need repairs on their home such as weatherization, painting, fixing up an existing porch, adding a ramp, repairing a roof, or making a home accessible again.

            To donate or nominate a family, visit their website at www.BuzzardsBayHabitat.org or call the Habitat office at (508) 758-4517.

Friends of the Elizabeth Taber Library Spring Book Sale

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The Friends of the Elizabeth Taber Library will sponsor their Spring Book Sale on the lawn of the library on Friday, May 10 from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday, May 11 from 10 am-3 pm. Thousands of books, all in good condition, as well as puzzles, games, and DVDs will be available for purchase.

            The Elizabeth Taber Library is located at 8 Spring St, Marion and parking is available on street or in the parking lot behind the library.

            Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Elizabeth Taber Library’s Summer Reading Program. The Friends are always welcoming new members to join and also have volunteer opportunities for those who might be interested.

            Also on Saturday, May 11 at 11 am, the library is presenting a lecture on Remarkable Natives for Beautiful Gardens. By Kerry Ann Mendez. This free event is cosponsored by the Friends of the Elizabeth Taber Library and the Marion Natural History Museum. Sign up for the event is at the library.

Racism Conversation Coming to Friends

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Tri-Town Against Racism (TTAR) is excited to announce the fifth in series, “Community Conversation: Racism – Let’s Talk About It,” on Saturday, April 27, at the Friend’s Meeting House, 103 Marion Road, Mattapoisett, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

            In this open and inclusive dialogue, we’ll come together to explore the complexities of racism, its impacts on individuals and communities, and how we can work collectively to create a more just and equitable society. This event aims to provide a safe space for meaningful discussions, sharing personal experiences, and learning from one another. Whether you’re new to these conversations or have been actively engaged in anti-racism work, your voice matters.

            Let’s listen, learn, and take meaningful steps towards building a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Together, we can spark positive change. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation.

            Find more info and RSVP at tritownagainstracism.org/events.