News

News

Mattapoisett unveils new fire station with ribbon cutting event

MATTAPOISETT — After years of hard work and dedication, the Town of Mattapoisett unveiled its new fire station on Saturday, Dec. 11 to a full house of visitors from around the community. Select Board Chairman and Mattapoisett Fire Captain Jordan...

Covid cases reach second highest peak of pandemic

New covid cases spiked dramatically in the Tri-Town in the week leading up to Dec. 9, nearly doubling last week’s total and reaching their second highest peak since the pandemic began, according to state covid data. The 103 new cases tallied this...

Taber library to forgive, eliminate fines for overdue materials in 2022

MARION — Anyone facing library fines for overdue books, DVDs or other materials will start the new year with a clean slate, as the Elizabeth Taber Library in Marion will be forgiving outstanding fine balances — and entirely doing away with fines for...

New food pantry program to start in Marion soon

MARION — The town and Council on Aging will run a pilot of a new food pantry program starting in 2022. The program will run differently than the food pantry that the town set up at the beginning of the pandemic, and require much less work from town...

Marion to keep transfer station, privilege sticker costs the same

MARION — Town Administrator Jay McGrail called the first year of running the transfer station “a complete success” and recommended that the Select Board leave the costs of transfer station stickers or privilege stickers at current rates for 2022...

Marion to give seniors pies, poinsettias

MARION — There will be a Pie and Poinsettia event at the Community Center on Saturday Dec. 11. This event will be held in place of the senior holiday luncheon, and will allow Marion seniors to pick up a poinsettia and an apple or pumpkin pie.

Things to do: Christmas stroll, caroling and more

From the annual Marion Christmas Stroll to holiday concerts and caroling, there’s lots to do in the Tri-Town this week. Thursday, December 9 SLT Holiday Open House Come celebrate land conservation in Marion with...

With covid cases on the rise again, Rochester officials talk prevention strategies

ROCHESTER — After months where the number of active covid-19 cases in Rochester on any given day hovered at about 10 to 15, the town is now facing a spike, according to the town’s Public Health Nurse Connie Dolan. During a Dec. 6 Rochester Select...

Marion Police collect toys for local children at Fill a Cruiser event

MARION — The Marion Police Department held a “Fill a Cruiser” event on Sunday, Dec. 5 where they accepted a plethora of donated toys on behalf of local children. “Our annual fill a cruiser toy drive was a great success today and we were able to...

Rochester Land Trust invites all to decorate the wildlife

ROCHESTER — Decorating (for) Wildlife. Rochester Land Trust is inviting the public to participate in a holiday event at Church's Wildlife Preserve on Dec. 18 at 1 pm at Church's Wildlife on Marion Road/105. Attendees will be creating edible crafts...

Rochester Historical Commission donates plaque to Women’s Club

ROCHESTER — On Saturday, Dec. 4, the Rochester Historical Commission presented a plaque to the Rochester Women’s Club noting the age of the group’s clubhouse. The plaque was attached to the building by George Owen and Tim Bates. These plaques are...

The history of the Rochester Women’s Club

In a week when the Rochester Historical Commission donated a plaque to the Rochester Women’s Club to commemorate its historic club house, Connie Eshbach of the Rochester Historical Society decided to share an overview of the club’s history with...

Rochester Historical Society to host holiday concert

ROCHESTER — On Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2 pm, join the Rochester Historical Society for a concert of holiday music played on its rare vocalion organ. Refreshments will be served after the concert. In lieu of admission, please bring an unwrapped toy or...

Marion Art Center to offer crafts, hot cocoa at Christmas stroll

MARION — The Marion Art Center will join in the community festivities during the Marion Christmas Stroll on Sunday, Dec. 12 from 3:30-5:30 pm. The MAC’s Christmas Elves will be on the MAC patio serving up free hot chocolate with all the trimmings —...

Lions Club to hold canned food and toy drive

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Lions Club will hold a toy and canned goods drive on Saturday, Dec. 11 at the old Bowlmor parking lot (next to Ying Dynasty), 22 County Road, Mattapoisett. New, unwrapped toys and canned goods may be dropped off...

Tinkhamtown Chapel annual Christmas Carol Singalong

MATTAPOISETT — Join friends and neighbors on the grounds of the Tinkhamtown Chapel on Acushnet Road for the annual Christmas Carol Singalong at 5 pm on Saturday, Dec. 18. Refreshments will be available in the sewing circle building next to the...

Lions Club announces local Peace Poster contest winner

MATTAPOISETT — Ben Silva, a 6th grade student at Old Hammondtown School, was the local winner of the Lions International Peace Poster Contest competition sponsored by the Mattapoisett Lions Club, the club announced last week. The poster is just one...

Lands Trust to host Holiday Open House

MARION — Come celebrate land conservation in Marion with the Sippican Lands Trust at the Holiday Open House on Thursday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 8 pm at 173 Spring Street. Learn more about the work of the Sippican Lands Trust with our volunteers, members,...

Santa comes to Rochester with help from local firefighters

ROCHESTER — Ho, ho, ho! Santa and Mrs. Claus left their sleigh at home on Sunday, Dec. 5, instead hitching a ride with the Rochester Fire Department who toured them through town to the delight of local children. The jolly couple waved to Rochester...

Covid cases remain high, vaccination rates get adjusted

New covid cases remained high in the Tri-Town in the week leading up to Dec. 2 but declined from last week’s peak, according to state covid numbers. Among the towns, Marion had four new cases, Mattapoisett had 24 and Rochester had 27. In total, the...

Tri-Town Against Racism seeks donations for holiday charity event

Tri-Town Against Racism is looking for community support for its second annual Jingle for Community Project which seeks to make the holidays a little easier for one local family. The local non-profit organisation has chosen a local family of three...

Marion Natural History Museum December events

MARION — It’s almost 2022, but the Marion Natural History Museum still has two more events on its schedule for this year. On Wednesday, Dec. 8, from 10:30 am to 11:30, the museum will host a workshop about tick-borne diseases with Blake Dinius of...

Marion sets property tax rates for fiscal year 2022

MARION — The owners of a $500,000 single-family home will pay $5,425 in property taxes in fiscal year 2022, a decrease of almost $250 from the fiscal year 2021 bill, according to Marion tax documents. The proposed single tax rate for FY 2022 is $10...

St. Gabriel’s Church counts down to Christmas with Advent wreaths

MARION — ‘Tis the season. Congregants of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Marion got together after services last Sunday, Nov. 28 to make Advent wreaths to celebrate the run up to Christmas. An advent wreath is a circle of greenery with 4 candles...

The history of the Rochester Historical Society’s hallowed home

As New England eases into winter and Christmas quickly approaches, Connie Eschbach of the Rochester Historical Society dug into the history of the former church that has become the home of the Historical Society museum and the secrets that have...

Rochester COA celebrates bingo’s birthday with December games

Bingo’s birthday month is in December, so come and play a game or two this month at the Rochester Senior Center to celebrate. Bingo is played three times per week at the senior center. Bingo is every Monday at 1 pm, every Wednesday at 12:30 pm and...

The Marion COA has lots to do in December

MARION — From a festival of trees to a holiday stroll, the Marion Council on Aging has lots of events to keep you busy through the holiday season. Festival of Trees On display through Dec. 10. Organizations, businesses, community...

Rochester Lions Club to host holiday decorating contest

ROCHESTER — Shine some lights in Rochester this holiday season. The Rochester Lions Club is having a holiday decorating contest this year and invites Rochester residents to participate. Put up your best lights and decorations display on your house...

St. Gabriel’s Church of Marion to hold Advent events

MARION — As the Christmas season approaches, St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church of Marion has a full slate of Advent events to keep you in the holiday spirit. Every Wednesday during Advent, the church will hold a 6 pm rooted service in church and a 7 pm...

Marion Garden Group to host holiday boutique

MARION — The Marion Garden Group will host its annual Holiday Boutique on Saturday, Dec. 11 at the Marion Music Hall. From seasonally designed window boxes, urns and planters around the Village to wreathes, greens, garlands, topiaries and ornaments...

Mattapoisett Museum announces December events

There are a number of events scheduled this December at the Mattapoisett Museum. On Friday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m., the Sounds of Silents series will continue. Southcoast Lessons students and teachers will accompany holiday-themed silent shorts. This...

Jim Robitaille Trio to bring live music back to Marion Art Center

Live music returns to The Marion Art Center in the Anne Braitmayer Webb Theater on Friday, Dec. 10 with The Jim Robitaille Trio “Space Cycles’’ album release concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 for center members and $20 for nonmembers. The Jim...

Toys for Tots collection at ORR Dec. 10

The Old Rochester Regional High School Learning Club is hosting a Toys for Tots drive from 7 to 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10. The club is asking for donations of new, unwrapped toys for local children. For more information, contact karenbrowning@...

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club to host world affairs discussion series

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Woman's Club will once again offer Great Decisions, a community outreach program produced through the publication of the Foreign Policy Association. Great Decisions is a global citizen discussion group designed to...

Mass DOT to replace defective Mattapoisett bike path bridge panels

MATTAPOISETT — Better late than never. The long-awaited Mattapoisett bike path is moving slowly towards completion but looks to still be at least a year away, according to town officials. The delay comes after the project suffered another setback...

Covid cases spike again in Tri-Town

New covid cases spiked again in the Tri-Town in the week leading up to Nov. 25 tying an early-October spike for the highest weekly case count since January. And recent waves have come despite extremely high vaccination rates in the Tri-Town, where...

Mattapoisett chooses new building inspector

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Select Board voted at a Nov. 23 meeting to enter contract negotiations with James Marot for the position of town building inspector following interviews with three candidates at the meeting. Marot, who currently works...

Hovan bench trial set for Dec. 20

A Dec. 20 bench trial has been set for Keith Hovan, the president and CEO of Southcoast Health, on assault and battery charges. Hovan attended the proceedings, which were held at Wareham District Court, via Zoom. The CEO waived his right to a trial...

Fire station to open with ribbon cutting

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held for the new Mattapoisett fire station at 62 County Road at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. Tours will be given following the ceremony. Light refreshments will be served. Donations of unwrapped toys will be...

Activities for all ages planned at Taber Library

MARION _ A series of events is planned at Elizabeth Taber Library. Weekly drop-in kids’ activities will be held in the children’s room at the library. All events are drop-in and unsupervised. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon: Fun and Games. Everyone wins...

Mattapoisett sets next year’s tax rates

MATTAPOISETT — The owners of the average single-family home will pay $7,207.96 in property taxes in fiscal year 2022, an increase of nearly four percent over the fiscal year 2021 bill, town assessor Kathleen Costello told the select board at their...

Early ‘thanksgivings’ differed from today's Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches, it does seem that talk about food increases daily, so I thought it might be a good time to see what the early residents of Rochester were eating. Near the beginning of his memoirs, Abraham Holmes, born in 1754, describes...

Mattapoisett Library hosts varied events in December

Mattapoisett Free Public Library offers programs for all ages in December. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, the local author spotlight features Derek DeCosta, author of “The Moonlight King,” an autobiographical account of DeCosta’s harrowing...

Holiday wreaths and greens sale scheduled Dec. 3

MATTAPOISETT _ The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club members are working on their designs for the second annual holiday wreath and greens sale, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 in the parking lot between Ying Dynasty and Jack’s...

Bourne voters oppose regional wastewater plan involving Wareham, Marion

Bourne residents have voted to oppose the use of an existing sewage outfall pipe at Mass Maritime Academy to discharge treated wastewater from Wareham’s treatment plant into the Cape Cod Canal. The Nov. 15 Town Meeting vote was non-binding. But the...

Rochester Historical Society hosts holiday concert

The Rochester Historical Society is hosting a holiday concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 featuring music played on the society’s rare Vocalion organ. Refreshments will be available after the concert. The only admission fee is an unwrapped item for a...

Officials rock tutus for charity, holiday cheer

Town officials and business owners are adding a new bit of clothing to their dress codes this month: red tutus. Along with it being a festive fashion statement, officials are doing so to help raise money for the Friends of Jack Foundation as part of...

Firefighters climb Gillette stairs to help veterans

The Patriots were not playing at Gillette Stadium Sunday, Nov. 21, but the stands were filled with champions. Five Mattapoisett firefighters were among the participants who climbed the stadium stairs to help support housing for veterans during the...

Marion Police to host fill a cruiser event

Marion Police Brotherhood and Marion Police Department will host the annual fill a cruiser event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 at the bus loop area of Sippican Elementary School. The public is asked to donate new, unwrapped toys for children...

Glamour for a good cause at jewelry sale

The meeting room in the Mattapoisett Free Public Library was dazzling with a mind-boggling array of rings, necklaces, and other jewelry and accessories on Saturday, Nov. 20. The sale of donated jewelry and accessories is a longstanding annual...

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