News

News

Marion Harbormaster Department hosts open house for new facility

MARION — After almost five years of meticulous planning and construction, the Marion Harbormaster Department showcased its new facility at an open house on Saturday, Feb. 22. A crowd of Marion residents and harbormaster employees gathered at the new...

Marion Harbormaster and police sergeant awarded for life-saving rescue

MARION — After 19-year-old Jordan Haims fell overboard at Silvershell Beach and suffered from severe hypothermia, Harbormaster Adam Murphy and Marion Police Sgt. Larry Savery led a rescue effort that ultimately saved Haims’ life. Murphy and Savery...

Rochester appoints new town planner

ROCHESTER — Michaela Shoemaker, of Marion, was appointed to Rochester Town Planner by the Select Board Tuesday, Feb. 18. This appointment comes after the December departure of Nancy Durfee, who is now serving in the role in Lakeville. Shoemaker isn’...

Residents remain concerned with proposed Marion historic district

MARION — Following a contentious meeting in January, the Marion Historic District Study Committee sought to make changes to a proposed bylaw that would potentially create a historic district in Marion. However, residents continued to voice their...

Yes, Chef! Old Colony scores big wins at Massachusetts ProStart Invitational

ROCHESTER — Creating innovative restaurant menus, crafting decadent layers of glaze and blood orange caviar and pan searing duck breast were just a few of the techniques practiced by Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School students in...

Black History Month story walk Feb. 22

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Tri Town Against Racism Organization will celebrate Black History Month with a story walk at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb, 22. The walk will start at the Mattapoisett Land Trust preserve property near the...

Harbor invoices due

MATTAPOISETT — Harbor invoices for the 2025 boating season are now due. For anyone with an email address on file, an invitation from the new vendor, Town Moorings, was sent during the first week of December. This email contained a link to set up an...

Planting a seed: Group, library support vegetable gardening

MARION — Vegging out over the winter may be tempting, but it’s not too early to make plans for a vegetable garden. Community Veg Marion and Friends of Elizabeth Tabor Library want to help residents grow food. The Elizabeth Tabor Library offers free...

Taking off the gloves: South Coast Self Defense hosts free class in Mattapoisett

MATTAPOISETT — For 8-year-old Ava Gagliardi and her mom Kelly, taking self-defense classes is a matter of health and safety, which Kelly describes as the “number one” priority for her family. “It makes us feel better by knowing what moves to do if...

Fighter Pilot: Goat goes from small to spicy

MATTAPOISETT – Pilot is one tough kid. Shortly after the goat’s birth in June 2023, he weighed barely a pound. His siblings, in comparison, weighed in at a hefty two to four pounds. To put Pilot’s size in perspective, he was just about the same...

Marion Art Center features ‘Fiber Fusion’ exhibit

MARION — Weaving, quilting and collage are just a few of the techniques featured at the Marion Art Center’s newest exhibit, Fiber Fusion. Showcasing the work of five artists, the exhibit features pieces done in mixed media textile and fiber...

Mattapoisett Council on Aging Director announces retirement after almost 14 years

MATTAPOISETT — After over a decade of serving the community of Mattapoisett, Council on Aging Director Jacqueline Seney announced her retirement from the position starting in June. “This has probably been the best job anybody could ask for,” said...

It’s sNOw Problem: Tri-town pulls through weekend storm with no significant issues

Despite getting submerged in approximately 4 inches of snow and ice, the tri-town area was largely unaffected by emergency incidents on Saturday, Feb. 8 and Sunday, Feb. 9. Mattapoisett Fire Department Chief Andrew Murray said the department did not...

Art and activism: Tri-town students honor Black History Month

MATTAPOISETT — Toni Morrison, Marie Maynard Daly and Kendrick Lamar were among the figures honored in student submitted artwork that decorated the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 8 for Tri-Town Against Racism’s fifth annual...

State influenza cases reaches its highest peak in five years

MARION — The rate of “influenza-like illness visits and influenza-associated hospitalizations” in Massachusetts is at its highest peak in five years, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. “The percentage right now is actually...

Old Rochester Regional students win Emerging Young Artists Award

ROCHESTER — Out of 800 submissions for the Emerging Young Artists Awards, Old Rochester Regional High School students Alexis Barber and Dayvie Zuckerman were among 103 artists selected for the annual juried art contest and exhibition held at the...

Suspected bird flu cases spotted in Marion

MARION — Like a duck to water, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, is rapidly infecting animals across Massachusetts with several birds in Marion recently euthanized due to suspicion of infection. “There have been a few geese...

Marion Select Board begins plans for town’s 175th anniversary

MARION — Founded in 1852, the town of Marion will turn 175 in 2027. In preparation for the town’s anniversary, the Marion Select Board discussed creating a committee to organize events on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Potential events could include a time...

Adding fuel to the fireworks: Marion considers reinstating firework committee

MARION — Fourth of July in Marion could be a real blast, as the Marion Select Board considers reinstating the previously disbanded firework committee. “It’s not a cheap endeavor,” said Geoffrey Gorman, Marion town administrator. The total cost for...

Select Board delays vote on Marion harbor permits amid concerns

MARION — Discussion of harbor permits, additional fees and ongoing issues in Sippican Harbor sparked backlash from residents at Marion Select Board’s meeting on Thursday, Jan. 30, ultimately resulting in delaying the vote until Tuesday, Feb. 25...

Marion voters can now run for elected positions

MARION — Marion’s Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 12 and will be followed by the Town Election on Friday, May 16. There is one available elected position for the Board of Assessors, Board of Health, Select Board, Marion School...

Massachusetts experiences bird flu outbreak, residents advised to take caution

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu, caused the death of Canada geese, swans and other birds across Massachusetts with preliminary positive cases of the H5N1 virus confirmed in multiple locations. While the H5N1...

Creating winter habitats with the Marion museum

MARION — The Marion Natural History Museum hosted an afterschool program, “ Creating a Winter Habitat,’’ Wednesday, Jan. 22. Winter can create some survival difficulties for area animals. In this program, participants created winter habitats for...

One-way no longer considered for Mattapoisett Village project

MATTAPOISETT — A one-way designation is no longer under consideration for Water Street in the reconstruction project planned for the streets of Mattapoisett Village, VHB representative Greg Russell confirmed at the Select Board meeting Tuesday, Jan...

Funding for Rochester Police Department, Fire Station and more approved at Special Town Meeting

ROCHESTER — Residents packed into the Rochester Memorial School auditorium on Monday, Jan. 27, with 254 voters sitting shoulder to shoulder as they approved spending over half a million dollars for seven different projects at the Special Town...

Rochester voters strike down zoning law changes

ROCHESTER — Voters at the Jan. 27 Special Town Meeting rejected two changes to the zoning bylaws that would have created additional housing regulations in the town. Voters struck down an article that would have regulated short term rentals such as...

Rochester voters approve operational changes to town government

ROCHESTER — At the Jan. 27 Special Town Meeting, voters approved a series of changes to the structure and operations of town government, including removing the position of Town Clerk from the ballot. Voters approved an article to transition the...

Over the moon at Elizabeth Taber Library

MARION — Stacks of tissue paper, bottles of Elmer’s glue and oreos covered the activity tables at Elizabeth Taber Library on Saturday, Jan. 25 in preparation for their first ever full moon party. Maci Logan, Mila Logan and their father David sat at...

Marion harbormaster facility is now ‘open for public access’

MARION — Marion’s highly anticipated new harbormaster facility is now open to the public following a passing elevator inspection, announced Marion Town Administrator Geoff Gorman at the Marion Select Board meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22. For the...

Marion begins talking accessory dwelling units, rentals

MARION — The Marion Planning Board is getting ready to propose its version of the accessory dwelling unit bylaw, but is looking for ways to simultaneously protect existing rentals. In August 2024, Massachusetts passed the Affordable Homes Act and...

Residents find proposed historic district and commission ‘arbitrary’

MARION — Arbitrary. That’s the word many residents of the proposed historic district in Marion used to describe the recommended bylaw , focusing on preservation and protection, at the Public Hearing held at the Council on Aging Wednesday, Jan. 15...

Child care available during Rochester Special Town Meeting

ROCHESTER — Child care will be available for those attending the Rochester Special Town Meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27. Child care will be available in the PTO Room at Rochester Middle School during the meeting. Children will be engaged in a...

Rochester Special Town Meeting to address rentals, solar, town employees, future projects

ROCHESTER — Voters will make a decision on the role of the Town Administrator, short term rental and solar development restrictions as well as spending for several projects at the Monday, Jan. 27 Special Town Meeting at 7 p.m. in Rochester Memorial...

Changes to fees, invoicing proposed for Marion harbor permits

MARION — Harboromaster Adam Murphy says too much of his department's time is spent chasing the ownership of unpermitted, unregistered boats in Sippican Harbor. To fix the problem, he has proposed revisions to the waterways regulations that would...

Mattapoisett Select Board to proceed with new building commissioner

MATTAPOISETT — In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, Jan. 14, the Mattapoisett Select Board voted to proceed with Bill McGrady in their search for a new Building Commissioner and will start by making reference checks. McGrady began working in...

Marion Public Works changes office hours

MARION — The Department of Public Works Office announced that effective Jan. 21 hours at the at 50 Benson Brook Road office will be changing to better serve the public. The new office hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Mattapoisett Land Trust hires new Operations Manager

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Land Trust has hired Sarah French Storer as its new Operations Manager, effective Jan. 1. As Operations Manager, Storer will manage the organization’s community engagement and land stewardship activities. Storer, who...

Local group hosts dinner to support those still struggling after hurricane

MARION — The Saints Youth Group Mission Trip Team of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Marion is hosting a spaghetti dinner fund-raiser to support their upcoming trip to North Carolina to assist in Hurricane Helene relief efforts. The dinner will...

Plumb Library hosts two book clubs in January

ROCHESTER — Plumb Library has two book clubs for adults that run monthly and are open to anyone 18 and older. The Council on Aging Book Group meets the third Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Rochester Council on Aging. The January book is “...

Marion harbormaster facility just about complete

MARION — The new harbormaster office building will be completed and open to the public soon as the project only awaits state inspection, Marion Town Administrator Geoff Gorman announced at the Marion Select Board Tuesday, Jan. 7. Gorman said he...

Rep. Mark Sylvia takes office

Newly elected State Rep. Mark D. Sylvia was sworn Wednesday, Jan. 1 to represent the tri-town and the rest of the 10th Bristol District in the State Legislature. Sylvia, a Democrat, is taking over from Democrat Bill Straus, who served for more than...

Taber Library remains open despite construction

MARION — Construction has begun on Elizabeth Taber Library, but the community is still welcome to stop by to pick up books, access computers and drop off materials. Though, the library warns, visitors may be disturbed by the occasional noise and a...

Proposed bylaw looks to protect, preserve Marion’s historic village

MARION — After a year and a half of work, the Marion Historic District Study Committee plans to move forward with its bylaw recommendation that would establish a historic district in town to be overseen by a commission, focusing on its preservation...

Short-term rental regulations on agenda at Special Town Meeting

ROCHESTER — Voters will consider two proposals that make changes to the zoning bylaws at the Monday, Jan. 27 Special Town Meeting and, if passed, would significantly regulate short-term rentals. The first zoning bylaw change voters will consider...

Rochester voters to consider gun restrictions at Special Town Meeting

ROCHESTER — On Dec. 30, the Select Board recommended that voters at the upcoming Special Town Meeting consider an article aimed at reversing a recent state law that bans licensed gun owners from carrying firearms in municipal administrative...

Museum program Jan. 22 to explore winter habitats

MARION — The Marion Natural History Museum will host an afterschool program, “ Creating a Winter Habitat,’’ from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. Winter can create some survival difficulties for area animals. In this program, participants will...

Rochester Police flying high after owl, hawk rescues

ROCHESTER — Rochester Police swooped in to protect, serve and save two birds of prey _ a hawk and an owl _ during separate rescues in recent days. The hawk was saved Jan 4 after its flight path hit a detour in the form of a car window. Quick-...

The Sippican Lands Trust starts the year on the right foot

One step at a time, the Sippican Lands Trust walked away from 2024 and into 2025 as they led a group on a hike to start the year off on the right foot. The hike took place Wednesday, Jan. 1 and members of the land trust led a group on a three mile...

State Sen. Kelly Dooner swears in

Newly elected State Sen. Kelly Dooner, was sworn Wednesday, Jan. 1, to represent Marion and the rest of the 3rd Bristol and Plymouth District in the State Legislature. Dooner, a Republican, is taking over from Democrat Marc Pacheco who served for...

Unseasonable warm New Year’s Day allows 200 to ‘Keep on Plungin’’

The unseasonably warm New Year’s Day temperatures made the tradition of jumping into the water at the Mattapoisett Town Beach less of a shock than in previous years. About 200 people crowded the beach to “Keep on Plungin’” for the 10th year in...

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