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Rochester Memorial School parent calls for recall of School Committee

Luis Rivera speaks at a June 3 Rochester School Committee meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — The parent of a Rochester Memorial School student is calling for a recall of the five members of the school committee following his frustration over how the school handled an incident earlier this year. Luis Rivera cites dereliction...

Residents try to beat the heat during searing temperatures

From left: JB Brown, Graham Bader, Dot Brown and Nathan Bader enjoy ice cream from Gone Country Creamery on Saturday, Aug. 8. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — With temperatures reaching nearly 90 degrees and high humidity making it feel even hotter, residents have turned to the water, public spaces and cold refreshments to escape the heat. Dot and JB Brown said they spent most of the day at the...

Speed puzzling event helps competitors find the perfect fit

Competitors raced to complete a 300-piece puzzle at the Marion Music Hall on Saturday, Aug. 8. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — Amid the bustle of the Elizabeth Taber Library’s book sale, people gathered on the Music Hall stage to piece together a competition. Marion resident Emma Williamson led groups of puzzlers in a speed-puzzling challenge Saturday, Aug. 8 to...

Cranberry season is all year long at Hartley Family Farm

By mid-summer, cranberries have begun ripening and turning their recognizable color. Photos by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — While cranberries may be most associated with autumnal celebrations and festive feasts, they’re a year-round matter for Woody Hartley. He and his brother Walter run Hartley Family Farm, at 22 Walnut Plain Road. At this time of year,...

Avian ambassadors visit Marion Natural History Museum

Bethany Boucher holds Jinx, a blue and gold macaw who loves to hang upside down, during a presentation at the Marion Natural History Museum on Monday, Aug. 4. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — Kids and their families flocked to the Marion Natural History Museum on Monday, Aug. 3 to learn about and meet several species of birds. Bethany Boucher brought a red tailed hawk, great horned owl, kookaburra, raven and macaw to the...

Old Rochester to welcome Acushnet students this fall

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MATTAPOISETT — About 30 Acushnet students will join the freshman class of Old Rochester Regional High School thanks to a deal between the two districts reached earlier this year. With a typical class size of about 150 students, these new students...

Presentation explains donated voting devices at Rochester Select Board

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ROCHESTER — Representatives from Meridia, a company that manufactures remote voting devices, met with Rochester leaders to address questions and concerns about their product. An anonymous resident donated 400 remote voting devices to the town this...

Marion’s renovated Town House opens

Marion's Town House re-opened after extensive renovations Monday, Aug. 3. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — After an 11-month closure for renovations, the Marion Town House is now open for business. The newly-renovated space opened Monday, Aug. 3 with accessibility and safety updates that began in September 2025. Town Administrator Geoffrey...

Marion town clerk brings new tune to Town House

Town Clerk Madie-Lynn Bourgeois poses on her first day of work on Monday, Aug. 3. Photo by Grace Roche

MARION — New Town Clerk Madie-Lynn Bourgeois splits her time behind a desk by day and a microphone by night. Joining the town this week, the former administrative clerk for the Bristol County Registry of Deeds and part-time wedding singer brings...

New assistant principal of Rochester Memorial School appointed

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MATTAPOISETT — Joshua Vanderquist has been appointed Assistant Principal of Rochester Memorial School. Vanderquist officially began his new role on July 1, succeeding Charles West, who was recently named Principal of Center School in Mattapoisett....

Pan-Mass Challenge rolls through Rochester

From left: Barbara Buckley, Aubrianne and Max Feeney, Quinn Buckley, Logan Buckley, Maegan Buckley and Jaimey Buckley cheered on Pan-Mass Challenge riders on Saturday, Aug. 1. Photos by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — Thousands of cyclists pedaled across Rochester on Saturday en route from Wellesley or Worcester to Bourne as part of the Pan-Mass Challenge, cheered on by residents. The Buckley family was among the onlookers supporting the riders on...

Historic Marion General Store reopens under new management

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MARION — The almost 200-year-old Marion General Store, located at 140 Front St., has officially re-opened under new management after being closed for four months. This April, Jack Cheney and his family took a step back from running the store and...

Mattapoisett rower to represent the US in regatta

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MATTAPOISETT — While everyone else is still asleep, Reagan Rock is up before the sun, rowing as the methodical sound of paddles hit the Charles River. The 21-year-old is from Mattapoisett and a dominant rower. She is an incoming senior at Boston...

Mattapoisett Select Board discusses future goals, priorities

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MATTAPOISETT — The Select Board discussed and prioritized future goals and the current projects going on in town. At a meeting on Tuesday, July 28 the Select Board members identified four common goals they will work towards together. The Select...

Mahoney’s Lane controversy continues with another rescheduled meeting

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MATTAPOISETT — After a previously rescheduled meeting, the Mahoney’s Lane building project has been rescheduled again due to capacity restrictions. On Monday, July 27 the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission had to cancel the hearing of a new...

Pan-Mass ride is happening this weekend

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Bike riders in the Pan-Mass Challenge will make their way through Rochester on Saturday, Aug. 1 as they ride with a goal of raising $79 million for cancer research. Participants will start riding in either Wellesley or Worcester and ride all the way...

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

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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 celebrate tradition and summer. There was live music, a DJ, games for kids, a...

Puppy Paw-cassos get painting

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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 bags covered in peanut butter with a canvas and...

Protective fencing failed to keep terrapins out of Route 6 bridge construction zone, officials say

Stationary construction vehicles sit at the Route 6 bridge construction site. Photo by Nick Mossman

MARION — Construction on two Route 6 bridges between Marion and Wareham has been delayed after diamondback terrapins broke through protective barriers and laid at least two nests within the work area. According to a representative from...

Old Rochester boys golf played national tournament in North Carolina

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MATTAPOISETT — After a state championship, the Old Rochester boys golf team headed to North Carolina for a shot at the national title. The team placed 37th out of 55 teams also invited to compete in the Boys High School Golf National Invitational...

Diamondback terrapins cause halt on Route 6 bridge construction

Diamondback terrapins are a protected species, and construction on the Route 6 bridge has been delayed to protect their nesting areas. File photo

MARION — Construction on the Route 6 bridge has been delayed to protect the nesting habitats of diamondback terrapins on the banks of the Weweantic River. According to a statement shared with Marion by state Rep. Mark Silvia, construction will be...

Marion welcomes new town clerk

From left: Select Board members Toby Burr and John Hoagland, Town Clerk Madie-Lynn Burgeois and Select Board member Randy Parker at the Tuesday, July 21 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MARION — After hiring and losing the previous town clerk within months, Marion has found a new person to fill the role. Madie-Lynn Bourgeois was appointed to the position at a Tuesday, July 21 Select Board meeting, taking over the role Katrina...

Questions raised about previously donated voting devices

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ROCHESTER — Town Moderator David Arancio has raised questions about voting devices that were previously anonymously donated to Rochester this spring. At a Select Board meeting on Monday, July 20 Arancio questioned the future use of the voting...

Rochester Police chief graduates from FBI course

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ROCHESTER — Rochester Police Chief Michael A. Assad Jr. has graduated from the FBI National Command Course, Session 9, at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Assad was the only police chief from Massachusetts selected to attend the program,...

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...

Coastal charm the 'mane' event at Harbor Days

Maureen Starr talks to a customer during Harbor Days at Shipyard Park. Photos by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — Visitors and vendors from across the South Coast came to Shipyard Park this weekend to enjoy shopping, entertainment and food in the heart of town. Organizer Paul Stubbs described the event, which the Lions Club has held since 1972,...

Record number of Rochester troop members become Eagle Scouts

From left: Bryan Correia, Casey Cash, Cole Gretton, Iain McManus, Josh Van Inwegen and Eddie Brown recite the Eagle Charge during the court of honor July 18 at Rochester Grange Hall. Photo by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — When six boy scouts from Rochester’s Troop 31 became Eagle Scouts this year, they joined the mere 2% of scouts who achieve the highest level of the program. An Eagle Court of Honor was held July 18 at Rochester Grange Hall to celebrate...

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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...