News | Sippican

header_bg

Visit our partners:

News

Soakin’ in the sun at Marion’s annual town party

none

MARION — “Keeping tradition alive” was the slogan for this year’s annual town bash. On Saturday, July 25 residents, families and friends gathered at Silvershell Beach to…

Puppy Paw-cassos get painting

none

MATTAPOISETT — It’s a Paw-casso! Dogs and owners headed to the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Friday, July 24 and created art on the lawn. Puppies got their Paw-casso on as they licked plastic…

Most Popular

Marion youth explore nature with natural history museum

One coastal explorations participant holds a frog they found during the program. Photo source: Marion Natural History Museum

MARION — Young explorers found frogs, fish and other fauna during the Marion Natural History Museum's coastal explorations program. Museum representatives led kids on trips to explore the area's various natural areas and helped them find and...

Movies come to Marion! Jazz from films performed at Buzzards Bay Musicfest

none

MARION — The Buzzards Bay Musicfest took the jazz train to the movies on Friday, July 17 with its annual Swing Band concert. The Buzzards Bay Musicfest is an annual event that hosts free concerts for five days through July. Starting this Wednesday,...

New housing proposal stirs controversy in Mattapoisett

None

MATTAPOISETT — A new development proposal to build seven houses on Mahoney’s Lane has raised environmental concerns among some residents. The developer, Dennis Mahoney & Sons, plans to present the project, replacing several rental houses with larger...

Mattapoisett board appointments could soon follow new procedure

The Select Board discussed its appointment process at its Tuesday, July 14 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — The process for town position appointments may soon change after Select Board members agreed they want a more organized way to select who fills openings. After the Select Board approved an appointment for the Mattapoisett...

Amanda Chamberlin Appointed as Principal of Old Hammondtown School

Amanda Chamberlin. Photo source Old Rochester Regional School District

MATTAPOISETT — Amanda Chamberlin has been appointed as the next Principal of Old Hammondtown School. Chamberlin will begin her role on July 8, succeeding Stephanie Wells, who has served as principal since 2024. Chamberlin joins the school system...

Mattapoisett resident named to Providence College Dean's List

MATTAPOISETT — Benjamin Giumetti of Mattapoisett has been named to the Dean's List at Providence College for the spring 2026 semester. Giumetti is majoring in honors finance in the college's Ryan School of Business. This is the second time he has...

How the craft is made: Crafters return to the Marion Art Center

NONE

MARION — Over 40 vendors filled Bicentennial Park next door to the Marion Art Center for the annual Arts in the Park celebration that has been a tradition for around 20 years. On Saturday, July 11 crafters shared and sold their artwork as visitors...

Harbor Days is here! Annual celebration kicks off with craft event

none

MATTAPOISETT — The annual Harbor Days festival has kicked off in Mattapoisett with activities all week long. On Saturday, July 11 the Mattapoisett Lions club hosted a kids craft day for young artists at Shipyard Park. Sitting by the water,...

Iconic Mattapoisett swordfish weathervane celebrated at new exhibit

None

MATTAPOISETT — Stand aside Salty the Seahorse, the other Mattapoisett mascot has returned with its sword drawn. On Thursday, July 9 the Mattapoisett Museum opened its doors to a new exhibit focused on a historic swordfish weathervane that has...

Mattapoisett couple become olive oil sommeliers

none

MATTAPOISETT — Sommeliers aren’t just for wine, but for olive oil too. Mattapoisett couple Kelly and John Zucco just received their olive oil sommelier certification after five days of testing hundreds of oils in New York. The conference helped the...

Tri-Town weathers temperatures in the 90s over the weekend

None

Sweltering summer heat swept across Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester over the July 4 weekend with temperatures peaking around 95 degrees alongside high humidity. Despite the heat, no records were broken across the three towns. Marion opened a...

Marie Grable named Old Rochester assistant superintendent

none

MATTAPOISETT — Marie Grable, who has spent much of her career in education, joined the Old Rochester Regional School District as the assistant superintendent Monday, July 6. Grable will fill the role Jamie Curley recently vacated to become the...

Deadly shooting leaves Mattapoisett neighborhood in shock

The Harbor Beach flag flies at half-mast in honor of James Rizza. Photo by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — A deadly shooting in a quiet, close-knit neighborhood has shocked the Mattapoisett community. James Rizza, 57, died of multiple gunshot wounds after witnesses reported a shooting had occurred on Harbor Road on Tuesday, June 30....

79th annual horse show trots into Marion

Abigail Welch rides Tribaldi during the Marion Horse Show on Sunday, July 6. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — Amidst the competitive atmosphere of the Marion Horse Show, there was still plenty of time for horsing around. Equestrians gathered to show off their riding skills at Washburn Park on Sunday, July 5 for the 79th iteration of the event....

Rochester rings in America's 250th anniversary

Andy Hammerman, left, and Michelle Kirby ring bells outside Rochester Town Hall. Photos by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — As the clock struck noon on Independence Day, the sound of bells rang through Rochester’s town center. People gathered on the lawn outside Town Hall on Saturday, July 4 to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary and participate in a...

Marion celebrates Independence Day with town parade

An inflatable duck float stands atop a vehicle during the Marion Independence Day parade on Saturday, July 4. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — Residents and visitors braved the heat to line the streets of Marion for the town’s annual Fourth of July parade. People decorated cars, trucks, tractors and other vehicles for the Saturday, July 4 event, and many parade participants...

Independence Day activities kick off in Marion, Mattaoisett

Fireworks lit up the sky around Silvershell Beach in Marion. Photos by Grace Roche

Tents and blankets dotted the grass around Ned’s Point Lighthouse Friday, July 3 as Mattapoisett kicked off its Independence Day celebration. Marion residents crowded Silvershell Beach and surrounding streets to watch the fireworks display that...

Fairhaven man charged in fatal Mattapoisett shooting

Police investigate 10 Harbor Road where the shooting occurred on June 30. Photos by David Curran

WAREHAM — A Fairhaven man was arraigned on 11 charges, including first-degree murder, at Wareham District Court today. Nicholas Bottella, 33, has been charged with shooting and killing 57-year-old James Rizza at a residence on Harbor Road in...

Shooting reported near Harbor Beach in Mattapoisett

NONE

MATTAPOISETT — A shooting occurred near Harbor Beach around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30. The Mattapoisett Police Department responded to reports of gunshots in the Harbor Beach area and pursued one suspect into Marion, where they were taken into...

License transfer, hours approved for new owners of Marion General Store

None

MARION — New owners of the Marion General Store Amy Baxter and Will Felder of Carver have been approved for a license transfer and new store hours. At a Select Board meeting on Tuesday, June 30 Baxter presented the new plan for the Marion General...

Marion resident secures tie-breaker third place in Spruce Point Inn Regatta

None

MARION — Wiley Wakeman of Marion secured a tie-breaker third place finish in the June 21 Spruce Point Inn Cup. The Cup is an annual DF95 Class Radio-Controlled Yacht Regatta hosted in Boothbay Harbor by Spruce Point Inn and the Maine Model Yacht...

Rochester police rescue stranded baby raccoon

Sgt. Catherine Connolly holds the baby raccoon she brought down from a tree. Photo source: Rochester Police

ROCHESTER — An unusual animal was stranded in a tree when Sgts. Catherine Connolly and Connor Leddin responded to a call Thursday, June 25. The two police officers rescued a baby raccoon who had been abandoned by its mother, with Connoly retrieving...

Old Rochester, Tabor Academy students receive Southcoast Health scholarships

Four Old Rochester Regional High School and one Tabor Academy students received Southcoast Health scholarships. The Southcoast Health Ambassadors award $1,500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic...

The Sippican Woman’s Club awards $15,600 in scholarships to students

MARION — The Sippican Woman’s Club announced they awarded $11,100 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors who reside in Marion. In addition, the group has awarded $4,500 in renewal or continuing education scholarships to residents of...

Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with 4th of July events all weekend

none

The week of July 4 is packed with events and celebrations dedicated to honoring the 250th anniversary of America. The towns of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester will host a variety of events. On Friday, July 3 fireworks and beach celebrations kick...

Ace! Tennis tournament honors, raises funds for veterans

NONE

MARION — Marion’s own Wimbledon complete with all-white outfits and lots of tennis took place at the Sippican Tennis Club from June 27 to June 29. The club hosted its annual charity tournament for veterans this year named the Heroes Cup. Director...

Music festival celebrates talent, life of deceased 15-year-old

none

MARION — Musically gifted 15-year-old Nolan Gibbons of Marion died unexpectedly in 2020. His death was classified as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood. For the sixth year, Nolan's parents, Sheila Gibbons and Warren Gibbons celebrated the life...

High school teacher, Rochester resident rescues woman from burning car

NONE

WAREHAM — A Rochester man climbed onto a burning SUV and pulled a woman to safety after the car crashed in the woods and flipped on its side late afternoon on Wednesday, June 23 on Great Neck Road in Wareham. Craig Berriault, a science teacher at...

A-peel-ing pastries: Mattapoisett bakery serves fruit look-alikes

None

MATTAPOISETT — Brittney Gibau has had a passion for baking since childhood. She said she would help her dad bake a cake every Saturday morning, and she was always more interested in cooking shows than cartoons. “I didn't watch Cartoon Network, I...

Former harbormaster sues Marion

Adam Murphy has filed a lawsuit against the town of Marion. File photo

MARION — After an ongoing disagreement over his retirement classification that ended with former Harbormaster Adam Murphy leaving the position in March, he is now suing the town for a breach of contract. The suit, filed April 14, claims Murphy was...

Marion farmers market returns for the summer season

none

MARION — A rainbow of vegetables, the smell of fresh sourdough and glass jars of kombucha and pickled items in every color decorated Washburn Park. Residents and farmers descend upon Washburn Park every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. to share their...

Mattapoisett dangerous dog complaint dismissed

Kathy Abbruzzetti, right, defends her dog during a Tuesday, June 23 Select Board meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — A dangerous dog complaint was dismissed after the owner testified and supplied witness statements and documentation. The Select Board not only deemed the dog not dangerous at its Tuesday, June 23 meeting, but questioned if the...

Students celebrate last day of school with graduations, goodbyes

Sippican Elementary School students were treated to ice pops after early dismissal on Monday, June 22. Photos by Grace Roche

There’s no more pencils, no more books for Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester students, because school’s out for summer. Schools around the Tri-Town celebrated the last day of class Monday, June 22 with ceremonies and early dismissals. In...

Select Board addresses Old Rochester healthcare shortfall

None

ROCHESTER — With a $2 million budget healthcare shortfall accepted at Town Meeting, Rochester now looks forward on how to pay its share. The Select Board accepted a memorandum of understanding over the budget deficit at a meeting on Monday, June...

Horseplay: Police Department introduces horse therapy to support officers' mental health

none

ROCHESTER — With cowboy boots and cowboy hats, some of the Rochester police department gathered at Clover Creek Farm next to Captain Bonney’s to kickoff the Blue Saddle Program’s first event on Tuesday, June 16. Rochester Police Chief Michael Assad...

Voters deny $288 million high school building project a second time

NONE

Residents in Rochester and Mattapoisett headed to the polls on Saturday, June 20 to decide on the future of the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School building project. Rochester denied the vote with 831 “no” and 579 “yes” votes....

Meet Marion's new harbormaster Cameron Wentworth

Cameron Wentworth poses in the harbormaster's boat. Photo by Grace Roche

MARION — Growing up in Plymouth and spending most family time on a boat, Cameron Wentworth knew he wanted to make a living working on the water. Working for the Plymouth Harbormaster Department for two summers as part of his graduation requirements...

Old Rochester’s annual cardboard boat race floats on

NONE

MATTAPOISETT — To float or not to float? That is the question many seventh grade Old Rochester Junior High School students asked themselves as they placed homemade cardboard boats into Mattapoisett Harbor. On Thursday, June 18 Old Rochester hosted...

Isabel Gomes-McCann wins contested school committee race after recount

none

ROCHESTER — Isabel Gomes-McCann has won the contested seat for Rochester Memorial School Committee after an official recount on Wednesday, June 17. On Wednesday, May 27, Gomes-McCann and Barabra Lee originally tied for a position on the Rochester...

Marion seeks answers for insurance shortfall through memorandum of understanding

From left: Select Board members Toby Burr, John Hoagland and Randy Parker at the Tuesday, June 16 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MARION — With Town Meeting’s approval of funding part of a health insurance coverage deficit for the Old Rochester Regional School District, the Select Board turned its attention to how it would oversee the payments. The board approved a...

Scammers pose as Mattapoisett administration

MATTAPOISETT — Residents are warned to keep a close eye on credit and debit card charges seemingly coming from the town. Scammers are fraudulently posing as the town and charging cards amounts ranging from $3-50. The amount residents have been...

Civilian heroes, first responders honored for saving a life

none

ROCHESTER — On Sunday, May 10 Hugh McGonagle suffered a heart attack while golfing with four of his other friends on the course at the Rochester Golf Club but was saved with quick action from his friends, strangers and first responders. On Friday,...

Meet Rochester’s Sergeant Catherine Connolly

None

ROCHESTER — Having been an interim, acting sergeant since January, Catherine Connolly has been promoted to permanent sergeant at the Rochester Police Department. At a Select Board meeting on Monday, June 1 Police Chief Michael Assad recommended...

Pan-Mass Challenge kids ride brings hope to fight against cancer

Riders line up for the Cranberry Country Pan-Mass Challenge kids race at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School on Sunday, June 14. Photos by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — Over 150 kids on their bikes — and a few scooters — gathered at the starting line of the Cranberry Country Pan-Mass Challenge kids ride to celebrate the culmination of their fundraising efforts. This year’s ride raised an estimated...

Rochester waste facility breaks into flames

Smoke billows from the SEMASS facility during the June 14 fire. Photo source: David Curran

ROCHESTER — A fire broke out after a conveyor belt broke at the SEMASS facility on Cranberry Highway on Sunday, June 14. Twelve departments, including Marion and Mattapoiset Fire Departments, provided mutual aid due to the size of the fire. Early...

A bird’s eye view of the South Coast osprey this season

NONE

MARION — Monitoring nests in Marion, Carol Baird Molander of the Nasketucket Bird Club watches for Osprey from the spring into the fall. As March arrives, Molander observes as Ospreys migrate from South America and settle in their nests from the...

Car show races into Rochester

Visitors admire a Model T from 1914 at the Rochester Center on Aging on Thursday, June 11. Photos by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — Vintage cars lined the Rochester Center on Aging lot, some with hoods propped open or color-coordinated fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror, while their owners sat nearby. Visitors could peek inside the vehicles and even climb...

Old Rochester Junior High School students research littering

None

MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester Regional Junior High School students Irene Costa and Aybree Johansen saw that littering was a problem in the Tri-Town and decided to do something about it. All eighth graders in Massachusetts are required by the state...

Mattapoisett Select Board navigates expansion at first post-election meeting

From left: Town Administrator Michael Lorenco and Select Board members Frances-Feliz Kearns, Jordan Collyer, Jodi Bauer, Nicole Doyon Lynch and Judy Mooney at the Tuesday, June 9 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — With three newly-elected members joining the Select Board after the May 19 town election, the board reorganized its structure during its first post-election meeting. During the first meeting of the five-person board on Tuesday, June...

Pan-Mass Challenge Kids Ride to honor deceased Rochester girl

Classmates and friends surround Vivian Jones, center, at the June 2025 Kids Pan-Mass Challenge, a bike-a-thon that raises money for cancer research and treatment. Photos source: Jennifer Jones.

ROCHESTER — Every year, Bill Goldsmith gathers kids of all ages to join a Pan-Mass Challenge kids ride to raise money for cancer research. This year, the ride will raise money in memory of a Rochester girl who died from cancer in August 2025. The...