News

News

Schools, municipal buildings closed for winter storm Gail

Ahead of winter storm Gail, all municipal buildings in Marion and Mattapoisett will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 17. Trash and recycling will be delayed to Friday in Mattapoisett and to Saturday in Rochester. For students in the Old Rochester...

Here are the winners for Rochester Lions Club’s house decorating contest

ROCHESTER — Covid cancelled many holiday traditions in the Tri-Town this year, but out of it came a new one. The Rochester Lion’s Club hosted its first-ever house decorating contest. “We’ve had to get really creative with covid this year,” Club...

Work moving along on condemned Marion home

MARION — At a Dec. 14 Board of Health meeting, Health Agent David Flaherty said contractor work at the condemned home at 464 Front Street is moving the property towards compliance. He said they’ve made advancements in clearing the garbage and debris...

Marion finalizes transfer station use for Rochester residents

MARION — Rochester will have a new home for its excess garbage come the new year. Selectmen voted to approve a shared use of Benson Brook Transfer Station with Rochester for the purposes of disposal of excess trash at a Dec. 15 meeting. “I think it’...

Bike path connector passed with little discussion

MATTAPOISETT — Plans for a connection from the Mattapoisett Rail Trail Bike Path to Marion planned bike path were approved at a Dec. 14 Conservation Commission meeting. Though, construction will not be allowed to begin until certain environmental...

Watch movies, talk film with Sippican Cinema Series

MARION — The Sippican Historical Society is starting a Sippican Cinema Series via Zoom that will include contemporary classics from all genres, as well as documentaries and TV series recommendations, in addition to the old classics. The series will...

Covid case count surpasses 50 in OR district

With three new cases at Sippican School, Rochester Memorial and the Old Rochester Regional High School, the Old Rochester Regional School District has reached 51 cases of covid since its reopening on Sept. 16. The cases were reported by the district...

Injured rower Hannah Strom races through streets of Marion

MARION — For Hannah Strom, the road to recovery has been long since she suffered life-threatening injuries in a brutal January car accident. But on Sunday, the young Marion woman owned the road as she ran from Tabor Academy to Silvershell Beach with...

Santa Claus comes to town in Rochester

ROCHESTER — He’s making a list, and he came to Rochester to check it twice. Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the Rochester Fire Department helped spread holiday cheer on Sunday as they lit the town’s Christmas tree and drove the streets of Rochester in a...

Holiday sales at Rochester Historical Society

ROCHESER — The Rochester Historical Society Museum is open by appointment only to shop for the holiday season. The museum has a variety of sweatshirts, hats, books and tic tac toes, as well as Rochester face masks. Order a sweatshirt soon to get it...

Mattapoisett receives $238,000 bike path grant

MATTAPOISETT — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has announced that the town will be receiving $237,849 to create new connections to the Mattapoisett Rail Trail bike path and provide a safer route to Old Hammondtown School and areas of...

Helping Hands and Hooves Christmas swim cancelled

Due to coronavirus concerns, Helping Hands and Hooves has cancelled its Annual Christmas Day Swim fundraiser. to benefit Helping Hands and Hooves. Those who would still like to donate can send a check to Helping Hands and Hooves, PO Box 1315,...

Donate old clothes, support ORR’s DECA club

As a way to help the environment and raise money, the Old Rochester Regional High School’s DECA club is accepting clothing and textile donations year-round. Donation bins are located outside of Center School, Old Hammondtown, Rochester Memorial,...

Three new covid cases reported in school district

MATTAPOISETT — Two new covid-19 cases were reported at Old Hammondtown School and one new case was reported at the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School on Dec. 11, according to the Old Rochester Regional School District. In a press release, the...

Covid case counts reach 30s in each town

Cases have been on the rise again in all three towns in the last week according to the state’s new weekly covid-19 data, and record highs were reported in both Mattapoisett and Rochester. There were 39 new positive cases in the last week in Marion,...

Deaths reach double digits with new Sippican Healthcare outbreak

MARION — Sippican Healthcare Center now has 15 deaths due to covid, according to Kathy Soderberg, Chief Compliance Officer of the healthcare center’s parent company, Whittier Health. Cases skyrocketed at the healthcare center when a 33-case cluster...

Marion Police Chief John Garcia: Over and out

MARION — Police Chief John Garcia signed off for one last time on Dec. 11. Community members and police from across the South Coast came to the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center to congratulate Garcia on his retirement after 36 years in law...

Covid cases announced at Sippican School, Rochester Memorial

The 44th and 45th covid cases in the Old Rochester Regional School District were announced in press releases on Dec. 10 and 11. The 44th case was found at Rochester Memorial, and the 45th at Sippican School. All schools will continue using their...

ORR district administration responds to racist instagram account

Old Rochester Regional School District administration addressed racist posts from the now-defunct Instagram account @republicanatorr at a Dec. 9 ORR School Committee meeting. Writing in the posts from the account included racist overtones and...

Knights of Columbus in financial jeopardy

MATTAPOISETT — The pandemic has put the Knights of Columbus Damien Council 4190 in dire straits, and if the lodge's financial situation doesn't improve soon, it could close for good. “We have just come to a complete stop,” said Secretary John Vaughn...

Mattapoisett Women’s Club to offer ‘Great Decisions’ program

The Mattapoisett Woman's Club Great Decisions program will continue through a collaborative partnership with the Mattapoisett Library, and Director Jennifer Jones. Great Decisions is produced by the Foreign Policy Association and each year a current...

District announces four more covid cases

Two covid cases at Old Rochester Regional High School, one at the junior high, and another at Rochester Memorial were announced in Old Rochester Regional School District press releases on Dec. 8. School will continue as normal at all schools on Dec...

Marion Council on Aging to host New Year’s grab n’ go feast

MARION — To end the year on a high note, the Marion Council on Aging will have a grab ‘n go dinner for New Year’s on Dec. 28 through Dec. 30. The council will be offering meatloaf with homestyle gravy, mashed potatoes and roasted carrots. Call...

Dog walk at Nasketucket Bay Reservation with the Buzzards Bay Coalition

MATTAPOISETT — The Buzzards Bay Coalition will be hosting a dog walk at Nasketucket Bay State Reservation in Mattapoisett on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. Come meet new dog pals and friends and get in some steps. The view at the end of the trail is...

Mattapoisett Lions to hold toy, canned goods drive

MATTAPOISETT — On Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Mattapoisett Lions Club will be hosting a canned goods and toy drive in the Bowlmor parking lot on Route 6 in Mattapoisett. Non-perishable canned food items and new, unwrapped toys will be...

Rochester Lions Club to host house decorating contest

The Rochester Lions Club is hosting a holiday house/yard decorating contest between now and Dec. 15. to get folks in the Christmas spirit. First prize is $100 for the most original, Second prize is $75 for the most lights, 3rd prize is $50 for...

Marion insurance group hosting food drive

MARION — The Colburn Insurance Group at 345 Front Street is running a canned food drive in support of Damien’s Food Pantry in Wareham now through Dec. 14. Those who donate non-perishable goods will also be entered in a raffle to win one of two $25...

Break winter boredom with library of things

MARION — The Elizabeth Taber Library is launching a campaign this December to help kids and families stay entertained during indoor winter days. The library has created over 30 new packs full of screen free activity kits and learning toys for all...

Mattapoisett K-2 to return to in-person school in January

MATTAPOISETT — After months of outcry from parents, the town’s school committee voted at a Dec. 7 meeting to adopt a plan to return kindergarten, first and second grade students to full in-person learning by mid-January. The plan utilizes large,...

Rochester access to Marion transfer station made official

ROCHESTER — Come the new year, Rochester residents will have a new place to haul their waste to in Marion. Selectmen signed off on a contract with Marion to use the Benson Brook Transfer Station. Starting Jan. 1, Marion will own and operate the...

Learn to navigate emotions with the Mattapoisett library

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Free Public Library is offering a talk from experts and helping families manage their emotions. On Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m., tune in for “How Sad Is Too Sad? When to be Concerned about your Child's Mental Health” with...

Marion, Rochester awarded land purchase grants from state

The state announced on Dec. 7 that it is giving $125,606 in federally funded grant awards for land protection, septic system tracking, and town bylaw amendments that will protect water quality and habitat in the Buzzards Bay watershed. Of the six...

Help out the Plumb Library with these fundraisers

Get a pillow, bid on an Indian Dinner or buy a “dinner for two” book at the Plumb Library. Order a hand-quilted, 12×16 inch throw pillow, decorated with book spines in your favorite color, and one book title of your choice. One color and title...

Police cruiser involved in Mattapoisett crash

MATTAPOISETT — A police cruiser was involved in a crash on Route 6 in Mattapoisett on Friday night. The crash occurred at the corner of Route 6 and Wildwood Terrace, where the cruiser broke through a fence and came to. a stop on the front lawn. A...

Marion Police Chief to retire in January

MARION — After 36 years in law enforcement, Police Chief John Garcia’s January retirement is drawing near. Garcia originally announced his retirement in a February Selectmen’s meeting, where said that it was a privilege to serve as a chief in a...

Marion beach, transfer station stickers available Dec. 16

MARION — Residents will be able to purchase the 2021 Marion Beach/Parking Stickers, Marion Transfer Station Stickers, Shellfish Licenses and Guest Passes beginning Dec. 16. But this year, stickers and licenses will only be available for purchase via...

Old Rochester District reports four new covid cases

Four new covid cases were reported in The Old Rochester Regional School district press releases between Dec. 3 and 4, bringing the district total to 29 since its Sept. 16 reopening. On Dec. 3, cases were reported at the Old Rochester Regional High...

Covid cases on the rise in Mattapoisett, Rochester

While Marion’s coronavirus case count seems to be on the mend according to the state’s Dec. 3 covid data, cases are on the rise in Mattapoisett and Rochester. Rochester remained in the yellow, with cases jumping from 16 to 21 between now and Nov. 27...

Mask compliance spurs debate at Mattapoisett Board of Health

MATTAPOISETT — The Board of Health reviewed a plan to structure fines for repeat mask compliance violators at a Dec. 2 meeting, and the proposition was not popular. Selectmen drafted a plan to scale fining based on number of offenses, with a max...

Condemned Marion house receives repair extension

MARION — The Board of Health voted to give an extension for the condemned house at 464 Front Street after Public Health Agent Dave Flaherty said there’s been “a great advance” in conditions. At a Dec. 1 meeting, Flaherty said he spoke with a...

Marion aquaculture farm cleanup costs $10,000

MARION — A $10,000 bill was racked up during the cleaning of Shea Doonan’s shellfishing site, and someone has to shell out. Deputy Harbormaster and Shellfish Officer Adam Murphy updated the Marion Marine Resources Commission at a Nov. 23 meeting,...

Marion Council on Aging Festival of Trees raffle tickets still available

MARION — Though this year’s Festival of Trees in-person event is cancelled, the trees will remain on display and tickets can be purchased for a chance to win a decorated tree through Dec. 11. Call the Marion Council on Aging 508 748-3570 for more...

Sippican Women’s Club seeks donations for student scholarships

MARION — Countless students have received scholarships in the last 73 years from the Sippican Women’s Club to help them afford postsecondary education. The club is looking to continue the tradition this spring and is seeking donations for its “...

Sippican Lands Trust to hold annual open house, out in the open

This year, Sippican Lands Trust won’t hold its normal “Open House” at the barn. But, the lands trust decided to do it outdoors on its properties instead. On Sunday, Dec. 6, SLT volunteers and board members will be setting up tables with information...

A holly, jolly story walk with the Sippican Lands Trust

Join the Sippican Lands Trust for another Story Walk this Holiday Season! Starting Friday, Nov. 20 and continuing until Friday, Jan, 1, SLT will be hosting a story walk of “Night Tree” by Eve Bunting at Peirson Woods. By moonlight in the quiet...

Here’s how the covid color coding system works

You’ve probably heard terms like “in the red” or “yellow community” to describe a town’s current level of covid cases. But what exactly do those colors mean? Well, each community in the state is labeled with a color depending on how many active...

Pre-Thanksgiving covid data shows Rochester in yellow

Though Thanksgiving travel may increase covid cases in the Tri-Town, state data released on Nov. 27 showed that case counts went down in Marion and Mattapoisett, but increased in Rochester. In Rochester, cases jumped from 10 to 16 last week, and the...

Funding rolls on for Mattapoisett-Marion bike path connector

MATTAPOISETT — One of the largest fundraising gaps for the Mattapoisett Bike Path — the connection to Marion’s proposed bike path — has been closing thanks to the donations from over 90 households ranging from $5 to $25,000. The Friends of the...

Stay, sit, walk: Sippican Lands Trust hosts post-Thanksgiving dog walk

MARION — See spot walk. A small group came out to the Sippican Land Trust’s White Eagle Bog property for its post-Thanksgiving dog walk on Nov. 29 to explore the property, learn more about the parcel’s history and ecosystem, and soak up a warm...

Residents reflect on fond memories of Bowlmor Lanes

MATTAPOISETT — Last week, the news dropped that Bowlmor Lanes won’t reopen and is slated for a winter demolition. The lights may be off, and the duckpins may no longer be racked, but the memories made were recounted by residents young and old as the...

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