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Rabid raccoon found in Marion, health officials urge precautions

MARION — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has notified Marion officials a raccoon from the town has tested positive for rabies. The animal,…

Elizabeth Taber Library Welcomes new young adult librarian

MARION — The Elizabeth Taber Library recently hired a new young adult librarian. Alex Correia joined the library this month after earning his Master’s of…

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Learning blooms at mushroom walk

Adam Korejeve shows walk participants a mushroom. Photos source: Eileen Marum

ROCHESTER — Adam Korejeve and Karen Hidalgo led a mushroom walk through Shoolman Preserve, showing participants the many kinds of fungi that grow there and teaching them about their life cycle. Some fungi, called saprophytic fungi, feed on dead...

Charity gala raises money for students, school programs

School community members gathered at Century House in Acushnet for a charity gala. Photo by Tanvi Kulkarni

ACUSHNET — Dressed to the nines, Tri-Town community members gathered for a charity gala on Oct. 8 organized by the Tri-Town Education Foundation, which raised money for Old Rochester Regional High School’s student programs and activities. In...

Rochester halts use of Flock cameras for at least a month

Halima Tiffany speaks to the Select Board at the Monday, Oct. 5 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — After a lengthy discussion with a group of concerned residents, the Select Board halted the use of Flock cameras for the next month. Member Adam Murphy proposed the move after attendees voiced their opposition to the surveillance...

Applications for Bulldog Pride Alumni Association grant program now open

MATTAPOISETT — The Bulldog Pride Alumni Association is now accepting applications for its 2026-2027 grant cycle that supports initiatives at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School and Old Rochester Regional High School. The program is open to...

Rochester seeks input on community electricity program

ROCHESTER — The town is seeking community input for its Rochester Community Electricity program through Oct. 31. A revised plan, outlining how the town will manage the program, procure future electricity supply, communicate with customers and more...

Construction work to begin in Marion

MARION — The Marion Department of Public Works will begin road work in four areas on Monday, Oct. 5. The construction work will be on Point Road, from West Drive to Delano Road; Spring Street, from the Old Landing Cemetery to the fire station;...

Young foresters study Marion's ecosystem

The Marion Natural History Museum went on a foresting trip with state forester James Rassman. Photos source: Marion Natural History Museum

MARION — A fall afterschool group from the Natural History Museum went on a foresting trip in Holmes Woods to identify trees and learn about Marion's ecosystem. On Sept. 30, state forester James Rassman led the group on identifying several tree...

Fairhaven man indicted for murder of Mattapoisett man, weapons charges

Officials investigate 10 Harbor Road, where the shooting occurred on June 30. Photo by David Curran

BROCKTON – Nicholas Botella, a 33-year-old Fairhaven man who was arrested in July in connection to a fatal shooting of a Mattapoisett man, has been indicted on six charges including murder. A Plymouth County grand jury indicted Bottella on Friday,...

Cyclists begin, continue Buzzards Bay Coalition Watershed ride in Mattapoisett

Bikers begin their ride.

MATTAPOISETT — Bikers of all ages flocked to Red Brick Farm on Sunday, Oct. 4 for lunch and rest along their way to Falmouth as part of the Buzzards Bay Coalition Watershed ride. Riders pedaled through Mattapoisett and Rochester in support of the...

Federal, state grants help Marion Fire Department update equipment

The Marion Fire Department received a grant for a brush breaker and new gear earlier this year. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — A new heavy-duty firefighting vehicle is among several new pieces of equipment the Marion Fire Department recently purchased through state and federal grants it has received. Fire Chief Brian Jackvony credited teamwork between Fire...

Construction well underway on new Uncle Jon’s location

Construction on the former gas station on Route 6 is expected to be complete by spring 2027. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — The long-empty former Cumberland Farms on Route 6 will soon be the new home of Uncle Jon’s Coffee. Construction is quickly progressing at the 413 Wareham Road location, adjacent to the coffee shop’s current location. A crew has been busy...

Route 6 water main work continues

Route 6 construction work is full steam ahead as East Coast Construction works to install a water main. A water main is a large underground pipe that carries potable water from a treatment facility to homes and businesses throughout the community....

Heavy rain doesn’t stop Rochester COA from celebrating community

The Showstoppers performed during the Rochester Council on Aging's Block Party. Photo source: Kelly Zucco

ROCHESTER — Bad weather may have put a damper on the Rochester Council on Aging’s block party, but plenty of people still attended the Sept. 26 event. The COA held the party indoors on Saturday, with a shortened runtime and fewer activities....

ORR School Committee starts off year with nearly $300,000 in grants

From left: committee members James Muse, Peter Damien McCann, Robin Rounseville and Betsy Stewart at a Thursday, Oct. 1 Old Rochester Regional School Committee meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional School District is starting the school year with nearly $300,000 in additional funding. The Old Rochester Regional School Committee approved $277,468 in grants for community engagement, career support and...

Wareham to receive federal transportation funding

Wareham will receive $14.71 million in federal transportation funding for construction work on Interstate 195. Mattapoisett, Marion and Wareham will receive $14.71 million for resurfacing work on I-195, which includes resurfacing and preserving...

Marion and Mattapoisett to receive federal transportation funding

The shared use path will connect Mattapoisett and Wareham.

Marion and Mattapoisett will receive about $19.5 million in federal transportation funding for a bicycle and walking path and construction work on Interstate 195. Governor Maura Healey announced Sept. 24 that the state had secured $153 million in...

Over a decade later, Rochester woman continues fundraising legacy

Most of Team SuPernice at the 2025 walk. Photo source: Michael Sparks Keegan

ROCHESTER — In the last 10 years, Donna Tocci has walked countless steps and helped raise over $80,000 in memory of a friend as part of the Jimmy Fund Walk for Dana-Farber. Tocci is the captain of Team SuPernice, named after her late friend Susan...

New generation leads Jonathan Sprouts to growth

Several varieties of sprouts grow inside a greenhouse at the Johnathan Sprouts farm in Rochester. Photos by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — Liz Reilley spent her middle and high school summers packing sprouts for a penny a bag on her family’s Rochester farm. Fifty years since she started working there, she’s now at the helm of Jonathan Sprouts and continues the family...

New Elizabeth Taber Library director works to integrate community with library

Kayla King recently became the Elizabeth Taber Library's new executive director. Photo by Grace Roche

MARION — Kayla King sees the Elizabeth Taber Library as so much more than a place to borrow books. Her goal as the library’s new executive director is to help people realize how many resources are available, from social opportunities to...

RMS bathroom controversy continues to dominate School Committee public comments

Luis Rivera, left, speaks during a Thursday, Sept. 24 School Committee meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — Public comment during the first School Committee meeting of the year largely focused on ongoing frustrations over how administration has responded. Most comments during the Thursday, Sept. 24 meeting either supported or criticized the...

Rodeo returns to Rochester

A rider shoots a gun during the Sept. 19 rodeo. Photo by Benjamin Martins

ROCHESTER — Against the backdrop of a setting sun, 1,500 people gathered to view The New England Rodeo’s return to the Rochester Country Fairgrounds Saturday, Sept. 19. The bulls and barrels rodeo includes multiple events for all ages. Female riders...

ORR football coach to open restaurant this fall

The Select Board approved a common victualler, alcohol and entertainment license for Kokobo's Coastal Cantina at its Sept. 22 meeting. Photo by Tanvi Kulkarni

MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester Regional High School's head football coach Bryce Guilbeault will soon lead a very different kind of team. Guilbeault is opening a new restaurant at 20 County Road, which was formerly What the Taco. His new business took...

Tri-Town students perform above state average in MCAS for most subjects

MCAS results show students performed above state average in many subjects, although some scores decreased compares to last year. Photo source: DESE

Students in the Old Rochester Regional School District scored above state averages in nearly every category for the MCAS, although the percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards dropped for civics, science and elementary school...

Rochester approves new property tax rate

From left: Select Board members Paul Ciaburri, Adam Murphy and Bradford Morse at a Monday, Sept. 21 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — The property tax rate has been set at $10.62 per $1,000 of assessed property value, with a single rate across all property types. The Select Board approved this year’s rate at a Monday, Sept. 21 meeting after a presentation by Director...

Rochester to soon begin two Town Hall infrastructure updates

Two upgrades are coming to Rochester's Town Hall and surrounding municipal buildings. File photo

ROCHESTER — The town’s grant writer secured funds for two upgrades to Rochester’s town infrastructure. During a Monday, Sept. 21 Select Board meeting, Town Administrator Cameron Durant said the town got funding to install a fiber optic network...

Rochester veteran chosen as Grand Marshal for Wareham Veterans Day Parade

Robert Edward Sylvia.

WAREHAM – The Wareham Veterans Day Parade Committee has chosen a Rochester native as the 2026 Grand Marshal for its upcoming parade. Robert Edward Silvia joined the United States Marine Corps in 1969. After completing boot camp at Parris Island,...

Mattapoisett recognizes its Revolutionary War heroes

Sons of the American Revolution from the left: Brad Bittenbender, Stephen Watts and Scott Tourtellot. Members of the Sons of the American Revolution can trace their bloodline back to soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

MATTAPOISETT — The Tri-Towns’ history stretches back to the birth of our nation. A Saturday plaque ceremony at Hammondtown Cemetery on River Road honored 20 Revolutionary War soldiers who fought for the nation’s freedom. The Hammond family is one...

Forever 11: hundreds run to remember Maddie Eitas

From left: Erin Norton, Cameron Norton and Cali Mills. “We’re here to run for Maddie Eitas, who we’ve known for a very long time,” Erin said. “She’s been very special to us, and we’re here to honor her memory.”

ROCHESTER — A wave of teal washed over Rochester in memory of Madelyn Eitas on Sept. 19 as friends, family and community members ran five kilometers to celebrate her memory. Maddie, an 11-year-old Rochester resident, was trapped in an avalanche at...

AI, affordability major topics as Auchincloss addresses luncheon

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LAKEVILLE -- Young families that can no longer afford to live in the state where they were raised. Energy bills that are straining and sometimes destroying household budgets Local aid funding formulas that can lead to school cuts. Artificial...

Sippican School enlists former teacher to provide math support

From left: School Committee members Nichole Nye McGaffey, Nichole Daniel and April Nye, and Superintendent Michael Nelson at the Sept. 17 School Committee meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MARION — This year Sippican Elementary School has introduced a new role to its staff, enlisting a former teacher as a math interventionist. Principal Lynn Dessert announced Leanne Dineen, a former fourth-grade teacher, has been moved to the new...

New Department of Public Works equipment to study traffic speeds

Front Street is one location traffic calming measures have been installed in Marion. File photo

MARION — The Department of Public Works recently received a grant for equipment that can determine drivers’ average speed on a road. Director Jody Dickerson told the Select Board about the new equipment at a Tuesday, Sept. 15 meeting. The...

Shared use path, wastewater treatment upgrades up for vote at Special Town Meeting

From left: Select Board members Toby Burr, John Hoagland and Randy Parker at a Tuesday, Sept. 15 Select Board meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MARION — Town Meeting will vote on three items this fall, two regarding the ongoing shared use path project and one to fund phosphorus mitigation upgrades. Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman explained the short list of issues voters will decide...

Marion Special Town Meeting scheduled

MARION — The town of Marion will hold a Special Town Meeting on Monday, Nov. 9 at the Sippican Multipurpose Room at 16 Spring St. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. For more information, visit the Town Clerk’s webpage or contact the office at...

Class of 1966 to hold 60th reunion

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional High School class of 1966 will hold its 60th reunion on Saturday, October 3 at 5 p.m. Classmates wishing to attend can contact Donna Thompson Tufts at dltufts@pm.me for details and RSVP.

Mahoney’s Lane hearing postponed yet again

Over 70 people packed the Mattapoisett Fire Department for a Conservation Commission hearing Monday, Sept. 14. Photo by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — With a larger venue came an even higher turnout for a continued Conservation Commission hearing about a proposed new build. The commission had to continue the hearing for a plan to build seven houses on Mahoney’s Lane yes again at...

Every dog has its day at this Rochester training club

Dog trainers Cristina Fredette and Sherri Swindle, as well as Swindle’s husband, pose with their dogs. Photos by Tanvi Kulkarni

ROCHESTER — The club has an interesting array of participants: a middle school student, a therapy dog, a knee implant engineer and multiple competition dogs. Each dog, with its human, walks around orange cones placed throughout the room, listening...

Down on the Frogfoot Farm

Frogfoot - Marion Institute

For the Marion Institute, six-acre patch of marginal farmland a short distance off Tihonet Road in Wareham helps accomplish two goals: Encouraging the consumption of local produce and combatting food insecurity on the South Coast. Videographer...

Rochester honors firefighters who died during 9/11 with new memorial

The new memorial has a piece of steel from the World Trade Center and a plaque explaining its significance. Photo by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — A rusted piece of steel, once part of the World Trade Center in New York City, now stands atop a block of granite at the Rochester Firefighter's Memorial as tribute to the first responders who died during 9/11. The Rochester Police and...

Mattapoisett elementary schools start year new principals, staff

Charles West and Amanda Chamerblin gave a report on schools opening at the school committee meeting Sept. 10.

MATTAPOISETT — New leaders have joined Old Hammondtown Elementary School and Center School this year, with one administrator a familiar face in the district and one newly joined from Seekonk Public Schools. Charles West is Center School’s new...

UPDATE: State police arrest Haverhill man after chase ends in crash and flames

The car involved in the chase crashed and caught fire Wednesday, Sept. 9. Phos source: David Curran

MARION — State police arrested a Haverhill man after a high-speed chase on I-95 when he crashed his car Wednesday, Sept. 9. Jordani Nieves Reyes, 23, was charged with failure to stop for police, negligent operation of motor vehicle, number plate...

Mattapoisett Lions Club installs accessible ramp for Marion family

Mattapoisett Lions Club members unload part of a ramp they installed for a Marion family Saturday, Sept. 5. Photos source: Mattapoisett Lions Club

MARION — Members of the Mattapoisett Lions Club put their commitment to service into action Saturday, Sept. 5 to install a handicap ramp for a Marion family. Marion Town Nurse Lori Desmarais requested the project, and project director Bruce Rocha...

Grant could offset rising construction costs for Mattapoisett Highway Department building

Town Administrator Michael Lorenco, left, speaks to the Select Board at a Tuesday, Sept. 8 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — After Town Meeting approved funding for renovation to the Mattapoisett Highway Building last year, the town is considering asking voters to transfer additional funds to cover rising costs for the project. Because the town received a...

Mattapoisett police officer stops driver going wrong way on I-195

MATTAPOISETT — A police officer intercepted a driver traveling the wrong way on the highway while on duty. Mattapoisett officer Jacob Fluegel stopped the driver traveling east in the westbound lanes of I-195 near Mattapoisett on Friday, Sept. 4....

Marion residents rock ‘n’ roll with Elvis tribute artist

About 400 people joined the last summer concert hosted by the Council on Aging.

ROCHESTER — Town residents rocked and rolled at the last summer concert by Rochester’s Council on Aging with Robert Black and the Elvis Band. “We were joined by about 400 of our closest friends. The music was great, but the time spent with friends...

SRPEDD seeking applicants for its new bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee

The bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee will help make transportation more accessible.

The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) is seeking applications for membership on a new regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The committee will inform SRPEDD about bicycle and pedestrian planning...

Elizabeth Taber Library welcomes new executive director

Kayla King

MARION — Kayla King is Elizabeth Taber Library’s new executive director. She served as assistant administrator at Fall River’s public library, where she was involved in programming, community engagement and public services. The library said in a...

Mattapoisett woman confidently leads next generation

Kim Gioioso leads a session of her confidence class in the First Congregational Church of Marion’s community center on Friday, Sept. 4. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — A group of about 10 girls giggle and chat together inside the First Congregational Church of Marion’s community center, waiting for the beginning of a Friday, Sept. 4 confidence workshop. Kim Gioioso, of Mattapoisett, gathers the sixth...

Cruisin’ on down the wharf

One of the annual summer cruise nights happened at Shipyard Park on Friday, where people came to see vintage cars. Photos by Tanvi Kulkarni

MATTAPOISETT — Car enthusiasts, antique car owners and Mattapoisett residents gathered at Shipyard Park Sept. 4 for one of the last vintage car shows of the summer. Over 50 cars, mostly from the 20th century, were parked on the lawn with hoods up...

Rochester Memorial School Committee chair joins education fellowship

Rochester Memorial School Committee Chair Kate Duggan is participating in this year's Massachusetts Education Policy Fellowship, organized by the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy. Photos source: Old Rochester Regional School District

MATTAPOISETT — Kate Duggan, the Rochester Memorial School Committee chair, has joined the Massachusetts Education Policy Fellowship. The fellowship helps leaders of educational organizations understand and advance equitable education policy. The...

Community-wide survey enriches Mattapoisett’s history

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Historical Commission is working on a long-term, community-wide survey to add to the town’s historical and cultural archives. The commission reached a milestone in the multi-year project, completed by Preservation...