News

Mattapoisett Library awards program for kids to be held virtually

MATTAPOISETT — For the safety of children and families, Mattapoisett Free Public Library’s Annual Quahog Award Program for children in third through sixth grade will be virtual this year. Beginning Jan. 26, teachers, students and parents can log...

Students participate in state music festival

The Old Rochester Regional Music Department reached a milestone this past weekend, as two students performed at the South Eastern Massachusetts Music Educators Association Districts Virtual Music Festival. Beyond taking part in the regional festival...
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Survey of Marion historical houses begins

MARION — Claire Dempsey and Jennifer Doherty have been selected as historic preservation consultants for continuation of the Focused Historic Survey of Marion’s Portuguese and Cape Verdean Communities, according to a press release from the Marion...

Cases reach new highs in all three towns

Continuing a surge that began last week, Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester each recorded their highest 14-day covid case count since the beginning of the pandemic. Cases soared in each of the three towns, according to state data released on Jan. 14...

Get crafty with the Mattapoisett Library

MATTAPOISETT — With help from the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, you might realize you’re more creative than you think. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, learn how to use yarn to wrap wire that is shaped into the word “LOVE.” Log in to...

Renovator-in-Chief: Museum hosts talk on Kennedy’s White House project

Everyone loves a good makeover — especially if it involves an iconic building. Nearly 60 residents and friends showed up to a virtual talk from the Mattapoisett Museum on Jan. 14 about Jacqueline Kennedy’s renovation of the White House during her...

Marion woman receives 5-year probation, pet ban in animal abuse case

MARION — More than a year after she was charged with animal cruelty, interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest, Marion resident Lauren Fisher left the Wareham District Court on Jan. 14 with a five-year probation and congruent ban on...

Tri-Town first responders vaccinated at Marion clinic

MARION — Hundreds of first responders have received the first round of the covid vaccine, thanks to a clinic at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center. The drive-through clinic, held on Jan. 13 and 14 and similar to an October flu vaccine clinic...

School district reports 14 new cases

The Old Rochester Regional School District reported 14 new covid cases between Jan. 12 and 13, bringing the district case total to 132 since its reopening in September. The cases were found in Old Rochester Regional High School, Rochester Memorial...

Marion crash proves fatal

MARION —The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office confirmed on Jan. 13 that one man died and another man was hospitalized following a Jan. 7 crash on Pleasant Street. Scott Erdman, 74, of Marion struck a pedestrian and broke through a small...

Selectmen get tough on River Road trucks

MATTAPOISETT — Expect to see some updated signage around the Arch Bridge on River Road. Noting an abundance of large trucks crossing the historic bridge, the Mattapoisett Selectmen decided at a Jan. 12 meeting to find a way to alert those drivers...

Mattapoisett amends covid sick leave policy

As the covid pandemic approaches its 10th month, Selectmen approved the amending of the town’s Covid-era sick-leave policy at a Jan. 12 meeting. Under the federal CARES Act, employers were required to give 14 days of paid sick leave for any workers...

Rochester Planning Board inches toward Cranberry Highway development approval

ROCHESTER — Approval for a 208-unit mixed housing and commercial development at 22 Cranberry Highway will have to wait a few more weeks. The Rochester Planning Board went over some changes to a proposal that would allow construction to begin at the...

Rochester solar project draws concern from neighbors

ROCHESTER — A proposed 3.9 megawatt solar project on Cushman Road drew concerns from the potential project site’s neighbors at a Jan. 12 Planning Board meeting. The project would have to utilize an access way that cuts through multiple Rochester...

Selectmen discuss bike path amenities

MATTAPOISETT — With the Rail Trail bike path getting closer to its opening, the town is looking to finalize what extra additions to place around it. According to Friends of the Bike Path treasurer Renee Pothier, the group has an excess of funds from...

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society: Spirits at Hartley's Mill Pond

The writer of this piece, Connie Eshbach, is the vice president of the Rochester Historical Society. This is part of a series of Rochester history briefs. There is an old English tradition called the " Burning of the Green.” On the eve of...

Millions in funding approved for Tri-Town transportation projects

A $16.5 billion transportation bond bill was passed in the state legislature, and the Tri-Town will reap some of the benefits. The final legislation authorized Mass Department of Transportation to expend funds on a number of local Tri-Town projects...

Community Preservation Act funding applications open

Applications for Community Preservation Act funding are now available in the Town Clerk’s office at the Marion Town House located at 2 Spring Street. The Community Preservation Act is a Massachusetts Law that allows participating cities and towns to...

Full steam ahead for Mattapoisett K-2 full in-person plan

MATTAPOISETT — Despite comments from parents concerned about a return to in-person school , the Mattapoisett School Committee unanimously decided at a Jan. 11 meeting to move ahead with a plan to bring kindergarten, first and second grade students...

Belle’s Boutique and Isabelle’s gift shop to share one storefront

MATTAPOISETT — Two local shops will soon see a new location in town. Later this month, Belle’s Boutique and Isabelle’s gift shop will combine into a single location half a mile up the road at Windswept Villages. According to owner Jessica Kelly, the...

Mattapoisett Transfer Station to reopen

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Transfer Station will be open starting Tuesday, Jan. 12. it will return to its regular Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Schedule from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Borrow books remotely at the Mattapoisett Library

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Library staff have been working diligently to ensure the library is ready for when it is time to reopen its doors to browsing, Until then, the library will offer access to titles in other ways. Starting now, patrons...

Friends launch ‘Bikes for All’ program

MATTAPOISETT — To celebrate the long awaited Mattapoisett Rail Trail connection to Depot Street opening this Spring, Mattapoisett Recreation and the Friends of the Mattapoisett Bicycle and Recreational Path (the Friends) have teamed up to ensure...

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club to offer scholarships

MATTAPOISETT — Mattapoisett Woman’s Club will offer two $2,000.00 scholarship awards to Mattapoisett residents who are high school seniors, graduating June 2020. In addition there will be a $1,000.00 scholarship granted to a Mattapoisett resident...

Mattapoisett issues tax rate correction

MATTAPOISETT — The Town of Mattapoisett’s Fiscal Year 2021 Actual Tax Rate is incorrectly shown on the current mailing of the Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills due to an inadvertent printing error. While the FY21 Actual Tax Rate is...

Marion Police Chief ready for new role

MARION — There’s a new Police Chief in town, and his Name in Richard Nighelli. Police Chief Richard Nighelli was sworn in at a private ceremony on Jan. 7, following former Police Chief John Garcia’s retirement in December. Nighelli started his...

Former Marion Priest accused of sexual abuse

MARION — A former Marion priest was named in a list of clergy members accused of sexual abuse in a Jan. 7 press release from the Fall River Diocese. Father Justin Quinn — whom the diocese listed among those credibly accused of sexual abuse — was...

Mattapoisett sees record cases as Marion returns to red

After a brief decline in covid cases in The Tri-Town, Mattapoisett has hit a new high as numbers in all three towns are on the rise. Jumping from 22 covid cases to 38, Marion shifted back to red in the state’s color-coded risk-designation system...

Marion crash leaves two hospitalized

MARION — Two people were hospitalized following a crash on Jan. 7 on Pleasant Street in which a sedan struck a pedestrian and broke through a small stone fence. One person was sent to Rhode Island Hospital and the other was sent to Tobey Hospital in...

Old Rochester district reaches 100 covid cases

The Old Rochester Regional School District announced has reached 100 total cases of covid since its Sept. 16 reopening. The district announced its 99th through 105th cases in press releases on Jan. 6. The new cases were found in Sippican School, Old...

Marion Selectmen confirm new police chief

MARION — Richard Nighelli took over as police chief on Jan. 1, but Selectmen ratified his position at a Jan. 4 meeting. Nighelli said former Police Chief John Garcia, who retired on Dec. 11, was instrumental in preparing him to move up the ranks. “I...

Five new cases reported in Old Rochester district

Five new cases in the old Rochester Regional High School, Junior High and Old Hammondtown School were reported in a Jan. 4 press release by the Old Rochester Regional School District. Three cases were found at the high school, with one each at the...

Marion Selectmen ponder new bylaw

MARION — Selectmen discussed a proposed bylaw which would place a time frame on the expenditure of funds granted at Town Meeting. Community Preservation Committee Chair Jeff Doubrava proposed the bylaw, which would allow the town to reclaim unused...

Dozens of active covid cases in Marion, Board of Health hears

MARION — There are currently 36 active coronavirus cases among residents in the town, according to Public Health Nurse Lori Desmarais, who updated the Board of Health on the numbers at a Jan. 5 meeting. “Those are people in the community that we are...

Shellfishing sites open in Mattapoisett

MATTAPOISETT — Two new areas have been conditionally opened by the Town of Mattapoisett for shellfishing. Shining Tides and the Cove East of the Town Landing opened Jan. 1 at sunrise for shellfishing. The sites will close on April 1.

The year ahead: Tri-Town officials weigh in

Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester officials all have one thing on their minds going into 2021: Covid. Officials from all three towns cited the ongoing pandemic as a major factor affecting 2021 operations. But as the vaccine begins to be...

Marion to vaccinate first responders

MARION — Tri-Town firefighters, police and emergency medical personnel will be able to receive the vaccine in Marion starting next week. Town Administrator Jay McGrail announced at a Jan. 5 Selectmen’s meeting that Marion has been approved as a...

‘Heartening’ improvements at condemned Marion home

MARION — At a Jan. 5 Board of Health meeting, Health Agent David Flaherty called the improvements at a condemned property “heartening” after touring the 464 Front Street home, which is now up for sale. The house, known for being the site of years of...

Cumberland Farms closed once more due to covid

MARION — The Cumberland Farms at the intersection of Route 6 and Front Street is temporarily closed for the second time this year after an employee tested positive for covid. The store was closed at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 to be cleaned and sanitized by...

Snowy owl sighting in Mattapoisett

The holiday season is over, but the snowy owl season has just begun. Snowy owl sightings are a yearly occurance in the Tri-Town, and Mattapoisett Resident Chris Porter was lucky enough to find one taking a rest on his shed, before it flew away...

Get a summer job with the Marion Rec Department

MARION – Marion Recreation is now accepting applications for Summer 2021 positions. Applications are available on the department website at www.marionma.gov/recreation . Applications for the positions of lifeguard, Summer Program counselors, gate...

Three trees to be taken down in Mattapoisett

MATTAPOISETT — Three trees will be taken down around Mattapoisett, despite preservation concerns from members of the Mattapoisett Planning Board. At a Jan. 4 meeting, the planning board decided that an ash tree at 9 Ship Street will be removed due...

Community covid cases lower as school numbers climb

While cases reported in state data continue to decline in the Tri-Town, cases related to the Old Rochester Regional School District have sharply increased in the last week. Marion ended a seven-week streak as a high-risk red community this week, as...

Serendipity by the Sea closes after 13 years

After 13 years running the shop Serendipity by the Sea in downtown Marion, Cecily Balboni is ready to take a break from the responsibility that comes with owning a business. Despite being ready to step back, Balboni said the decision to close the...

Sippican Lands trust to offer reservations at Osprey Marsh

MARION — The Sippican Lands trust is offering specific reservation slots for visitors to its Osprey Marsh Accessible Boardwalk who are high risk or otherwise unable to safely distance. Visitors needing a one-hour time slot can set up at an...

A month of owls with the Sippican Lands Trust

MARION — The Sippican Lands Trust is taking an interest in owls this month, with a story walk and an “owl prowl” on the trust’s properties throughout January. The lands trust is hosting a story walk through Jan. 31 featuring “Owl Moon'' by Jane...

Bundle up for winter walks with the Sippican Lands Trust

MARION — The Sippican Lands Trust will be hosting a series of winter walks on the last weekend of each month throughout 202. Join the trust in January at White Eagle Property off of Parlowtown road in Marion. Sign up to learn about the hiking...

Nine new covid cases announced in Old Rochester district

The Old Rochester Regional School District reported nine covid cases on Jan. 3, the most reported at one time since the beginning of the pandemic. Of the cases, four are from Rochester Memorial School, three are from Old Hammondtown School and two...

Marion to offer Christmas tree collection

The Town of Marion will offer curbside Christmas tree collection through Jan. 11. All trees to be collected must be left at the curbside by the final collection date. Please be sure not to block any rubbish & recycling containers. Trees left in...

Mattapoisett to offer Christmas tree pickup

MATTAPOISETT — The town will offer Christmas tree pickup beginning Jan. 4, and will run through Jan. 15. Trees should be left out at the curb by 7 a.m. on the day of regularly scheduled trash pickups. Trees will also be accepted at the Tinkham Hill...

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