News

News

Goat greets customers on a trip to get ice cream

ROCHESTER — The staff and customers at Capt. Bonney’s Creamery received a nice surprise on July 16 when a customer showed up with a leashed goat. “We love it,” said Linda Plaud, manager of the drive-up eatery. Capt. Bonney’s has a dog bowl for...

Mattapoisett bike path construction underway once again

MATTAPOISETT — After stopping construction during the coronavirus shutdown, the town’s bike path project is now underway once again. At a July 14 Selectmen’s meeting, Town Administrator Michael Lorenco gave updates on the project's status. At best,...

Read the July 15 paper online

The July 15 eEdition of Sippican Week is now live on our site. It's a pdf version of this week's edition — looking just like the paper version. Our papers are still available at all regular distribution spots that remain open in this pandemic period...

Demand for Tri-town houses high amid pandemic

With low inventory, low interest rates and buyers changing their lifestyle and hungry to move out of cities, the real estate market in the Tri-Town is booming, despite the pandemic. And it’s not just for house sales — the rental market also flooded...

Mattapoisett park bathrooms to open after disagreements

MATTAPOISETT — Selectmen voted on July 14 to reopen public park bathrooms, but not until after a discussion on the subject. Town Administrator Michael Lorenco said the town has been working with a cleaning service before phase three started. The...

New transfer station schedule to start week of July 21

MATTAPOISETT — Starting the week of July 21, the transfer station will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. At a July 14 Selectmen’s meeting, Town Administrator Michael Lorenco said the decision was made in...

Acushnet Road bridge to close soon for construction

MATTAPOISETT — Starting July 27, the Acushnet Road bridge will be closed for major renovations that will last until August 28. Town Administrator Michael Lorenco said at a July 14 Selectmen’s meeting that the town hopes to have the bridge done by...

Mattapoisett Town Meeting set for Aug. 17

MATTAPOISETT — Town Administrator Michael Lorenco gave Old Rochester Regional School District Superintendent Michael Nelson Aug. 17 as a tentative date for Town Meeting, but Selectmen made it definitive when they voted to approve the time and place...

Rochester Planning Board seeks feedback on two new solar projects

ROCHESTER — When the Planning Board opened discussion of two solar arrays on July 14, abutters mainly looked to preserve the area’s trails — if they commented at all Eric Las of architecture and engineering firm Beals and Thomas introduced a 6 MW...

Marion Town Party canceled

MARION — The July 14 Selectmen’s meeting was historic both because it was the first in-person meeting in Marion since March, when coronavirus restrictions switched everything to teleconferencing and because the board said Town Party would be...

Work begins on statue installation project

MARION — On July 14, work began on the Elizabeth Taber Statue site at Bicentennial Park. The site will include granite steppers, concrete paving, lighting, two wooden benches and a granite bench for the statue to sit on. There will be room on either...

Rochester teen’s creativity shines through with flag design

ROCHESTER — The town now has about 5,700 people and two flags, after enthusiastic 14 year old Owen Modracek didn’t realize the town had a flag and took the initiative to fill what he thought was a gap. Not realizing that the town already had an...

Free boxes of fresh produce to be distributed at ORR

MATTAPOISETT — United Way of Greater New Bedford and Sid Wainer and Son will be giving out free boxes of fresh produce for families on July 27 that are in need during the coronavirus pandemic. The “Farmers to Families” food boxes are distributed on...

An overview of Marion’s lagoon overhaul project

MARION — The $7 million project has been in talks for years; a lining of one of three lagoons at the town’s wastewater treatment plan to ensure waste is stored in accordance with modern standards for waste treatment. There have been meetings, public...

Sippican Historical Society reopens to the public

MARION — During the ongoing history in the making known as the coronavirus pandemic, the Sippican Historical Society reopened its doors to the public with a small event on July 12. Members of the board of directors sat in the building’s courtyard...

Treats for a good cause

Emma Kendrigan, 11, and her grandmother, Kathleen Moore of Onset, have a tradition: At the end of each school year, the pair take Moore’s change jar and cash it out, and Emma gets to spend that money on whatever she wants. This year, she decided to...

Mattapoisett farm lets goats, humans do yoga

MATTAPOISETT — Beatrice Whalen doesn’t call herself a traveling goat yoga teacher on her business card, but she was quick to call herself that at a Mattapoisett class in the subject on July 11. She has taught yoga for 20 years and said “I love goats...

Rochester prepares for a new website

ROCHESTER — The town will get a new look, online at least, with a new website which it plans to roll out later this month. Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar said in a July 8 meeting with the Board of Selectmen that the website would use Civic Plus...

Shining Tides Beach reopens

MATTAPOISETT — A day after closing because of dangerous contaminant levels in the water, the town has reopened Shining Tides Beach on July 9 after a second test showed lower contaminant levels. The town wrote in a notification that “that the levels...

Families receive free, farm-fresh food each week

Each week, nearly 200 families receive twenty pound boxes of fresh, high-quality produce -- and it's all free. The boxes are part of the Farmers to Families program, which is a collaboration between Sid Wainer & Sons, the Marion Institute’s...

Read the July 9 paper online

The July 9 eEdition of Sippican Week is now live on our site. It's a pdf version of this week's edition — looking just like the paper version. Our papers are still available at all regular distribution spots that remain open in this pandemic period...

Cases low, precautions important as towns move into phase 3

Gyms, museums, libraries and theaters are allowed to open in phase three of the state’s coronavirus reopening plan, but not all of them will. The phase started on July 6. While cases are currently low, with 37 in Mattapoisett and 39 in Rochester...

Marion Public Health Nurse resigns

MARION — After ten years as Public Health Nurse Kathy Downey turned in a letter of resignation to the Board of Health on July 7. She plans to leave about the third week of August. Board member Edward Hoffer brought up the topic by saying that he was...

Marion passes new sewer regulations

MARION — It’s official: the town will take steps to reduce the nitrogen runoff in its sewage after a year of study and feedback on whether to do so. The Board of Health adopted the new regulations at a July 7 meeting after reviewing the 21 comments...

Mattapoisett teen beats deathly lung illness

MATTAPOISETT — To most, Kaidin Young looks like a teenager on a modified bicycle. To those who know him, simply being able to ride is a miracle in and of itself. Young went through a near-fatal bout with lung issues led to a 7.5 month stint in...

Book returns now available at Elizabeth Taber Library

MARION — The Elizabeth Taber Library is now accepting returns after a months long hiatus due to coronavirus restrictions. Returns can be made at the bins provided in front of the book drop, Monday to Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. Curbside pick-up has...

Mattapoisett Harbormaster launches new patrol boat

MATTAPOISETT — As residents put their boats in the water on the Fourth of July, the Mattapoisett Harbormaster put its new patrol boat in the water too. “It absolutely feels amazing,” to have the new boat in the water, said Harbormaster Jamie...

Marion Recreation starts yoga, tennis, sailing summer programs

MARION — The town’s recreation programs will begin to hold yoga sessions, private tennis and private sailing lessons. Programs are open and available to the public. Registration for sailing and tennis are first come, first served. No pre-...

Mattapoisett pediatric charity spreads cheer with signs

MATTAPOISETT — To spread some love and happiness in stressful and unusual time, the Friends of Jack, a pediatric charity, is stealthily putting up playful lawn signs to surprise Tri-Town residents. Jilline Fearons started the foundation in 2016 to...

Read this week’s ‘paper’ online

The July 2 eEdition of Sippican Week is now live on our site. It's a pdf version of this week's edition — looking just like the paper version.

Mattapoisett Police Department main entrance to temporarily close

MATTAPOISETT — Due to construction of the new fire station, the main entrance to the police station on Route 6 will be closed to the public on or about July 17 th until further notice. People having business at the police station are to use the...

Mattapoisett Selectmen discuss temporary covid budget

MATTAPOISETT — In the face of decreasing state aid, the town will focus on lowering revenue funds for its fiscal year 2021 budget to leave stabilization funds untouched. Former Town Administrator Michael Gagne appeared at the June 30 Selectmen’s...

Ground broken on new Mattapoisett Fire Station

MATTAPOISETT — An event 40 years in the making, ground was broken on the town’s new fire station behind the police department on June 30. “To say this is a long time coming would be an understatement,” said Fire Chief Andrew Murray to the crowd. The...

Metal mailbox man spreads joy throughout the seasons

ROCHESTER — With Fourth of July events canceled, residents are trying to show their support for the nation on their own terms. One man is proudly standing on Walnut Plain Road with a hat, a flag and a mailbox in hand. Meet Ollie, the metal man who...

Sippican Historical Society donates $150,000 to Town House project

MARION — Selectmen and Town Administrator Jay McGrail were grateful and excited when they voted to accept a $150,000 donation from the Sippican Historical Society to fund work on the Town House renovation project. Selectman John Waterman said at a...

Marion incumbents sweep contested races

MARION — In a June 26 election, voters chose to re-elect an incumbent Selectman, Planning Board members and an experienced assessor over a newcomer who challenged them. Selectman Norm Hills, Planning Board members Eileen Marum, Chris Collings and...

First Congregational Church of Marion summer fair canceled

The First Congregational Church of Marion Annual Summer Fair is canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The church hopes to see fairgoers next year on the church grounds and out in the street. Fortunately, the church has a donated 12-...

Mattapoisett author catches 31 pound striped bass

MATTAPOISETT — Eddie Doherty of Mattapoisett, an author and retired District Court Clerk-Magistrate, caught this 31 pound striped bass on June 23 at first light on the Cape Cod Canal. He writes under the pen name of East End Eddie and is the author...

Mattapoisett skatepark temporarily closed for fire station construction

MATTAPOISETT — The town’s skatepark closed on April 16 as a coronavirus precaution, but it will remain closed until the completion of the Fire Department’s new station which is being built nearby. Town Administrator Michael Lorenco said in an email...

Truck drives off Mattapoisett’s Town Wharf

MATTAPOISETT — A slip of the foot from the break to the gas on Mattapoisett’s narrow Town Wharf landed a pickup truck driver in the water on June 25. The Harbormaster’s Department got a call at about 6:30 a.m. of a truck in the water off Long Wharf...

Rochester moves toward in-person meetings

ROCHESTER — After a successful in-person Town Meeting, two Rochester boards are planning meetings face-to-face (or at least hybrid) again, while town officials are still working to reopen Town Hall. Selectman Chair Paul Ciaburri opened a June 24...

Rochester Library Director serving as SAILS board president

ROCHESTER — Joseph H. Plumb Library Director Gail Roberts will be President of the Board of Directors for the SAILS library network for the next year. All three Tri-Town libraries are members of the network. Roberts had been a member of the board...

Selectmen urge beachgoers to pick up trash, park cars safely

MATTAPOISETT — After receiving multiple complaints from residents, Selectmen and Town Administrator Michael Lorenco urged residents at a June 22 meeting to pick up their trash at the beach and follow all posted parking guidlines. Selectman Jordan...

Mattapoisett Select Board approve temporary town budget

MATTAPOISETT — Selectmen approved a one-twelfth budget of approximately $4.95 million at a June 23 meeting to hold the town over for July. Selectmen can operate on a temporary budget for three months, and the budget is reassessed and reapproved...

Bike path project to roll on

MATTAPOISETT — Construction stopped on the bike path that will connect Mattapoisett to Marion during the peak of coronavirus. But the 1B phase of construction is now underway, and the town hopes to have the full path operational by late fall if all...

Rochester Planning Board hears about a solar array on a bog

ROCHESTER — The Planning Board heard about new plans for a small solar array to be installed with a cranberry bog improvement project off of Pierce Street. Sarah Stearns from Beals and Thomas engineering and architecture firm appeared before the...

17 approvals, six feet apart at Rochester Town Meeting

ROCHESTER — Though the setup looked different, Town Meeting at Rochester Memorial School went on without a hitch, and 82 residents passed 17 out of the 20 articles on the warrant in a little over an hour. The June 22 meeting, originally scheduled...

Marion Town Meeting: 3 rooms, linked by Zoom, 54 approvals

MARION — Talking across three rooms with the aid of Zoom, Town Meeting decided to start design work for a new Department of Public Works building, construct a new inclusive playground at Sippican School and pavilion at Osprey Marsh, and take the...

Marion to decide four contested positions in election

Marion has by far the most contested races of any of the three towns this year, with four contested positions to be decided at its June 26 election. Voters will choose between multiple candidates for Selectmen, Planning Board, Assessors and two...

Protestors march for black lives in Marion

MARION — Protestors from the Tri-Town Against Racism group gathered in Marion on June 20 to make their voices heard, and to tell their own stories and the stories of children and friends. The group met near Tabor’s Wickenden Chapel and marched down...

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