News | Sippican

header_bg

Visit our partners:

News

New boating regulations ensure education, safety on the waters

The new boating law requiring motorboat operators to complete safety training goes into effect April 1. Photo by Grace Roche

A new boater safety law will soon come into effect for Massachusetts motorboat operators. Beginning April 1, the Hanson-Milone Act requires all boat operators to…

Friends of Jack supports pediatric health around the South Coast

Jill Fearons, left, and Dr. Brian Sard, Chairman and Medical Director of Pediatrics at Southcoast Health, pose together after The Friends of Jack donated $11,529 to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford to purchase medical equipment. Photo source: Friends of Jack Foundation

MATTAPOISETT — Jill Fearons never left her son Jack’s side when he was admitted to Boston Children’s Hospital at 5 years old. Jack needed surgery to correct a brain malformation that can cause motor and…

Most Popular

Marion town administrator will not leave position for Harwich

none

HARWICH — Marion Town administrator Geoffrey Gorman was not selected for an open town administrator position in Harwich. At a Harwich Select Board meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, the Board unanimously elected James McGrail for the position of town...

Marion Town Administrator vies for new job in Harwich

none

HARWICH — Geoffrey Gorman, the town administrator for Marion, is running for the open town administrator position in Harwich. The other candidates are James McGrail, Middleboro town manager, and Jim Kreidler, former Winchendon town manager. Gorman...

Over 200 gather to voice opposition over ICE

none

MATTAPOISETT — Over 200 people from across the South Coast showed up to an anti-ICE rally in front of Salty the Seahorse in Mattapoisett, Sunday, Jan. 11. Protests took place all over the country in response to the death of Renee Good, a...

Turk's Seafood expands with purchase of former Rustico building

The former site of Rustico will soon be transformed into a test kitchen and catering space. Photo by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — When Turk’s Seafood ends its season each year, owner Richard Pasquil and his staff ask themselves how to make the business even better when it opens again. This year, the answer came in the form of Rustico, a former pizza restaurant...

Mural competition coming to Marion to decorate Town Hall

none

MARION — A mural competition to decorate the main entrance of the newly constructed Marion Town Hall will take place this March. Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman announced the competition at a Tuesday, Jan. 6 Select Board meeting. Submissions...

Old Rochester Regional School District awarded agricultural education grant

none

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional School District was awarded a $30,000 grant to support their Grow Education program, an experiential learning opportunity teaching students about how food is grown and produced. The district received the...

A whalin’ we must go: The Tri-towns participation in the annual “Moby-Dick” Marathon

none

NEW BEDFORD — Several Tri-town residents were among the 3,000 readers who spent 25 hours on one mission — reading "Moby-Dick" at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. From Saturday, Jan. 2 to Sunday, Jan. 3 seafarers, scallywags and sailors headed to the...

Old Colony junior rebuilds father’s first generation Xbox 360

Moskos stands proudly in front of his work. Source: Rick Durta

ROCHESTER — Tyler Moskos hit a “gold mine” when he found his fathers first generation Xbox 360 tucked away in the family basement alongside multiple games for the console. Moskos’ father bought the console in 2005 and played it for four years...

Turn a new page on reading goals with librarian recommendations

Amanda Lawrence from the Mattapoisett Public Library with "Beta Vulgaris". Source: Amanda Lawrence

Many Americans set the goal to read more in the New Year. Head to your local library to meet the librarians and even get some recommendations for reading in 2026. For many people, the new year is a time to set goals and make resolutions....

Old Colony culinary students dish about their favorite holiday foods

none

ROCHESTER — Good things come to those who bake! From apple pie to Christmas roast, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School culinary students are rustling up a festive favorite foods for family members and loved ones this holiday season....

Rochester Council on Aging celebrates the New Year with state representatives

none

ROCHESTER — Twist, shake, shout! The Rochester Council on Aging rang in the New Year with singing, dancing and a live band Monday, Dec. 29. The Rochester Council on Aging hosted a luncheon alongside Rep. Mark Sylvia and Plymouth County District...

Snapshots of the year: A look at the Tri-towns in 2025

Culinary graduates and Lakeville residents Emily Silvia, Duncan Matterazzo and Abigail Dawicki smile together at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School graduation. Photo by Grace Ann Natanawan

2025 was a busy year for the Tri-towns of Mattapoisett, Marion and Rochester. From fires to festivals to stranded manatees, the Tri-towns came together through it all. Take a look back at what went on in the Tri-towns in 2025 through some of the...

Elizabeth Taber Library rings in the ‘noon’ year

Landon, 11 months, and Marcus, 8 months, are mesmerized by shiny streamers at the Elizabeth Taber Library on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — For many young children, midnight New Year’s Eve celebrations are way past their bedtime. The Elizabeth Taber Library, at 8 Spring St., held a “Noon Year’s Eve” celebration for kids and their caregivers, counting down to 12 p.m. instead of...

Marion native Andy Doubrava earns a Michelin Star at Nashville restaurant

Tiffani Ortiz, left, and Andy Doubrava pose together. Photo source: Andrew Thomas Lee

NASHVILLE — With roots in the Tri-town, Andy Doubrava, executive chef of Nashville’s The Catbird Seat, has earned a Michelin Star. Alongside his fellow executive chef and wife Tiffani Ortiz, Doubrava received news that The Catbird Seat has earned...

Holiday swim raises funds for charity

Nearly 50 people participated in the Christmas Day Swim at Mattapoisett Town Beach. Photo source: Debbi Dyson

MATTAPOISETT — A group of swimmers braved the icy waters of Mattapoisett Harbor to raise funds for an area nonprofit. Helping Hands and Hooves. About 45 people attended Helping Hands and Hooves’ 22nd annual Christmas Daw Swim at Mattapoisett Town...

Tour de fire station: Rochester fire department continues to ask for improvements

A fire truck is parked inches from the garage door.

ROCHESTER — The Rochester Fire Department has wanted a new fire station, with improved safety and efficiency features, for three years. The fire department and Rochester Building Committee have worked together for three years to create a plan to...

Green thumbs up with Marion Institute’s Grow Education program

Students explore the dirt and plants they are growing. Source: Marion Institute

MATTAPOISETT — Third and fourth grade Tri-town students get their hands dirty and thumbs green with the Marion Institute’s Grow Education program, bringing experimental learning to the outdoors. Started in New Bedford, Grow Education has been...

Merry and bright: Tri-town residents light up the town

Marino Carrier sits in a sleigh on his front lawn, one of the many decorations at the Mattapoisett resident's house. Photo by Grace Roche

Across the Tri-town, residents have decked out their houses and yards with Christmas lights, blowups and other decorations. For some, it has become an annual tradition to entertain neighbors and other visitors with their holiday decorations and add...

Forest bathing re-leaf with Sippican Land Trust

Diane Pienta leads the walks and therapy-like sessions on Sippican Land Trust properties. Photos by Mari Huglin

MARION — It's all about walking slow with Diane Pienta on one of her beneficial forest bathing walks. Pienta, of Fairhaven, has been guiding forest bathing walks for over five years in partnership with the Sippican Land Trust. She leads walks...

Rochester waste facility fined for water pollution

A machine processes, sorts and creates commodities from recyclable materials at the Rochester Zero Waste Solutions location. File photo

ROCHESTER — Zero Waste Solutions, a waste management company at 48 Cranberry Highway, was among seven waste facilities in Massachusetts fined for discharging industrial waste into waterways without a permit. The company is among several indirect...

Marion nonprofit brings festive decoration ashore

The Buoys of Hope tree sits outside the Marion Music Hall at 164 Front St. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — Christmas trees made of repurposed, painted buoys are a common holiday sight around New England. When Deming Dwyer, Taylor Karvonen and Morgan Karvonen — all juniors at Tabor Academy — noticed them last year, they had an idea. During a...

‘Once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader’: Mattapoisett resident performs at Atlanta Falcons 60th anniversary

Botelho shakes her pom poms.

MATTAPOISETT — Elaine Botelho was on the Atlanta Falcons’ first cheerleading squad in 1966. The 78-year-old has lived in Mattapoisett since 2005 and is a mother, grandmother, teacher, gardener and former president of Mattapoisett Woman’s Club....

Ex-Old Colony teacher sentenced to 5 years for raping former student

Andre Arsenault appeared in Plymouth County Superior Court for his sentencing Friday, Dec. 19. Photo by Grace Roche

BROCKTON — Andre Arsenault, a former culinary arts teacher at Old Colony Regional Vocational High School convicted of rape, assault with intent to commit rape and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, was sentenced in Plymouth County...

Old Colony presents possible steps forward after rejected building project

Members of the Old Colony Building Project panel.

ROCHESTER — After residents voted against constructing a new Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School building, the school held a meeting with member towns to discuss next steps. Superintendent Aaron Polansky and representatives of Old...

Outdoor expansion could come to Elizabeth Taber Library

Macy Davis, the children's librarian at the Elizabeth Tabor Library, presented the grant proposal at the Tuesday, Dec. 16 Select Board meeting. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — A Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game grant could bring a new outdoor learning area to the Elizabeth Taber Library. Children’s librarian Macy Davis presented the library’s grant proposal to the Select Board at its Tuesday, Dec. 16...

Center School Principal to retire at end of school year

Dr. Linda Ashley, principal of Center School, to retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Source: Old Rochester Regional School District

MATTAPOISETT — After four years as the Center School principal, Linda Ashley plans to retire at the conclusion of the school year. The Old Rochester Regional School District will soon begin searching for her replacement. Ashley became principal at...

Car sinks in Sippican Harbor

A car was submerged in the Marion Harbor. Source: Marion Fire and EMS Facebook

MARION — A car sank near the Harbormaster’s office at 1 Island Wharf Road Saturday evening. The Marion Fire Department responded to a call regarding a submerged vehicle at 6:12 p.m. and successfully removed the car around 8:33 p.m. The unattended...

Jingle jangle down the lane: Snow and Santa arrive at annual Marion Stroll

The Clauses greet Marion.

MARION — The Marion Stroll returned with snow dusting the village and Santa arriving by boat, a tradition supporting Marion small businesses for approximately 30 years. The Marion Stroll took place Sunday, Dec. 14, and is an annual event supporting...

Home for the Holidays: Sippican Woman’s Club continues House Tour tradition

Carolers entertain guests as they pick up their tour booklets. Photos by Mari Huglin

MARION — Every December for the past 40 years, residents across Marion have welcomed the community into their homes as part of the Sippican Woman’s Club’s annual Holiday House Tour, bringing the holiday season into full swing. The Club hosted their...

Former Old Colony teacher found guilty of rape, assault and battery charges

Andre Arsenault, a former Old Colony teacher convicted for rape and indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or over, was found guilty on all charges Dec. 12. File photo

BROCKTON — A former Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School teacher was convicted of rape and assault and battery charges in Brockton Superior Court on Friday. Andre Arsenault, 37, was found guilty on one count of rape, one count of...

Construction on Fieldstone Market addition begins

Construction began two months ago. The roof is almost fully completed. Photos by Mari Huglin

MARION — After years of planning, construction on Fieldstone Market has begun to which owner Arnie Johnson hopes will be completed by the end of May The market, located at 806 Mill Street, is currently constructing an addition to expand the store’s...

Old Rochester, Acushnet negotiate tuition deal

Old Rochester Regional High School students celebrating the start of the 2025-26 school year. Source: Old Rochester Regional High School Facebook

ACUSHNET — Acushnet students could come to Old Rochester Regional High School if a new tuition agreement is approved. The Acushnet School Committee opened negotiations with Old Rochester Regional, New Bedford and Fairhaven High Schools after a...

Eyes all a-glow with Mattapoisett YMCA Buoy Tree lighting

Aria Bell (left) and Margot Ketchel (right) show off their balloon animals at the annual YMCA tree lighting. Photos by Mari Huglin

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett YMCA held its annual beach fundraiser, complete with a tree lighting, beach bonfire, photos with Santa and family activities Tuesday. The annual buoy tree lighting, held Dec. 9 on the beach near the 38 Reservation...

The Clauses sleigh the day at Cervelli Farm Stand

Grace Viglianti, center, and her mother Allie, right share a moment with the Clauses at Cervelli Farm Stand on Sunday, Dec. 7. Photos by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — Santa and Mrs. Clause made a special visit to Cervelli Farm Stand on Sunday to celebrate the upcoming holiday. They posed for photos with the children and families who lined up at the 247 Rounseville Road location, and Mrs. Clause...

Donate metal wheelchair ramps

The Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity is seeking metal wheelchair ramp donations in support of their Ramp Donation Program. The Ramp Donation Program was launched in 2024 to give low income homeowners the accessibility they need to be safe in...

Hat’s the spirit: Salty the seahorse gets new headgear

G. B. Knowles used his landscaping equipment to reach the top of the statue and install the new hat Dec. 6. Photos by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — Salty the seahorse, Mattapoisett’s fiberglass marine sculpture at the crossroads of North Street and Route 6, donned a new holiday accessory Saturday. The Mattapoisett Land Trust has installed a Santa hat on the sea creature for...

Rochester Police Department brings cocoa and community connections

The Grinch brought gifts to the Rochester Police Department event Dec. 5. Photos by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — Hot chocolate flowed, a fire crackled and holiday movies played on an inflatable screen at the Rochester Police Department’s second annual Christmas Cruiser Illumination. The event was held Dec. 5 at the department’s 29 Dexter Lane...

Traffic speeds among top concerns for Mattapoisett road reconstruction project

Map of the area of focus for the Mattapoisett road and sidewalk improvements. Source: MassDOT

MATTAPOISETT — Town and state officials presented ongoing project plans to update several streets leading to Route 6 at a public hearing Thursday. Representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Town Administrator Michael...

Hold your horses! Mattapoisett police wrangle loose horse

Lt. Justin King gets control of the loose horse. Source: Mattapoisett Facebook

MATTAPOISETT — A loose horse was wrangled by the Mattapoisett Police Department and Natural Resources Department Thursday, Dec. 4. The Mattapoisett police received a report of a loose horse Thursday afternoon. Lt. Justin King and Natural Resource...

Southcoast Insurance opens Mattapoisett branch

Southcoast Insurance Group founder Nick Daddona of Marion, insurance agent Chrissy McKay of Mattapoisett and insurance producer Chase Wingate of Mattapoisett. Source: Southcoast Insurance Group

MATTAPOISETT — Headed by Tri-town locals Nick Daddona and Chase Wingate, Southcoast Insurance Group has opened a new branch in Mattapoisett. Southcoast Insurance was established in 2013 with its first office opened in Dartmouth. The company now has...

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum: Rochester tree lighting kicks off Christmas

Santa poses with Isla Durant infront of his temporary sleigh-car.

ROCHESTER — The Grinch crashed Rochester’s Christmas tree lighting but couldn’t stop the fun and festivities with Santa and an over 40-year-old tradition. Family, friends and neighbors gathered at Rochester Congregational Church Sunday, Nov. 30 to...

Old Rochester students cook up a holiday fundraiser to share

James Russell, Luke Pierre and Rafael Duarte, 3 class officers who created the cookbook, pose infront of an Old Rochester Bulldog. Photo by Mari Huglin

MATTAPOISETT — The junior student body class officers of Old Rochester Regional High School wanted a fundraiser that benefited everyone. They decided to create a cookbook of shared recipes called the “Bulldog Bites Cookbook.” Back in early...

Run for a Santa Cause: Mattapoisett mom, teacher to host fundraiser run for MS

Pease and her 4 children visiting in the hospital, December 5, 2024, the day Pease was diagnosed with MS.

MATTAPOISETT — Mattapoisett mother and Fairhaven Middle School teacher Jennifer Pease was inspired by her MS diagnosis and daughter to organize a 5K Santa Stampede fun run to raise awareness of the disease for the first time this December. On...

Old Rochester students give back at the second annual Day of Giving

One student works on her wreath.

MARION — Old Rochester Regional High School students spread across the Tri-town to give back to their community and continue a new tradition. Students and staff members met at Old Rochester early Wednesday, Nov. 26 before heading off in buses to...

Marion adopts Stormwater Management Bylaw following EPA warning

MARION — Marion property owners will now be required to apply for a permit if they plan to begin a construction project that involves once acre of land or more after voters approved a Stormwater Management Bylaw with a two-thirds majority voice...

Water meter debate heats up at Marion Town Meeting, discussion postponed to May

MARION — A citizens petition to potentially allow the installation of secondary outdoor water meters in Marion sparked a passionate debate at Fall Town Meeting on Monday, Nov. 24 — ultimately leading to the discussion being postponed until Spring...

Romanian man charged with credit card fraud in Mattapoisett

MATTAPOISETT — 39-year-old Nicu Vasile Ardel of Romania was arrested in Mattapoisett after an ongoing investigation of credit card forgery. Detective Dennis Tavares arrested Ardel on charges of Larceny and Credit Card Forgery. Police speculate that...

Gobble, gobble: Old Rochester Junior High School serves up turkey at Mattapoisett Council on Aging

Friends and the community smile together at shared tables.

MATTAPOISETT — Nearly 300 older adult Tri-town senior citizens were served with kindness, energy and big smiles at the Old Rochester school cafeteria by 40 students and around 12 staff members who hosted a Thanksgiving banquet on Sunday, Nov. 23....

Gravy train: Old Colony cooks up Thanksgiving for the Rochester Council on Aging

Old Colony students serve up delicious Thanksgiving fixings.

ROCHESTER — Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School students and staff served 150 Thanksgiving meals for the Rochester Council on Aging on Friday, Nov. 21. 150 Rochester seniors, ages 60 and older, were treated to a traditional...

Old Rochester vies for Acushnet students in tuition deal

Old Rochester and Acushnet Public Schools have met since August to discuss the possibilities of a new tuition deal between the districts.

MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester and three other schools are vying for a tuition deal with Acushnet Public Schools which would welcome more students from the Acushnet district. The Acushnet School Committee will host the final vote on which districts...