People

Seven months in, Mattapoisett Town Administrator looks towards town’s future

MATTAPOISETT — Town Administrator Michael Lorenco started in the position on March 16 — the day that schools closed for what would be the rest of the year, town buildings shut, and officials were preparing for what was to come with coronavirus...

Meet Captain Jay Amster, SSV Tabor Boy’s new captain

MARION — Sailing was never in the cards for Captain Jay Amster before going to college. Even growing up on Long Island, he said he never seized the opportunity of living by the water to do so. Twenty years later, and multiple stints on ships going...
Most Popular

Meet Mattapoisett Library’s new Executive Director, Jennifer Jones

Stepping into the role of library director during a pandemic is no easy feat, but Mattapoisett Library’s new Executive Director Jennifer Jones hopes to adjust quickly, and may even bring her own flair — such as adding a crafts database and more...

Mattapoisett Library director retires from ‘dream job’

MATTAPOISETT — After 11 years as library director, Susan Pizzolato will be leaving a legacy of improved programs and services when she retires from what she described as her “dream job” this week. New executive director Jennifer Jones replaced...

Mattapoisett engineer solves NASA, coronavirus problems

MATTAPOISETT — Frances Kearns grew up with scientists for parents and with a healthy respect for science fiction — she even did her senior thesis on modernizing the prosthetic in Star Trek. Now, she works as a biomedical engineer and specializes in...

Meet the 12 year old seamstress behind Marion Masks

MARION — Caroline Houdelette got a sewing machine for Christmas to further her love of sewing. Six months later, at 12 years, old she started a small business with it, making masks to help others through a deadly pandemic. When the coronavirus...

Mattapoisett resident named a commonwealth heroine

MATTAPOISETT — Community activist and retired registered nurse Liz DiCarlo was recognized by the Massachusetts Commission for the Status of Women as a member of its Class of 2020 Commonwealth Heroines on June 24. The Mattapoisett resident has...

First Citizens’ President, CEO, Marion resident announces retirement

FAIRHAVEN — Peter J. Muise, First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union’s President and CEO, has announced his retirement effective January 26, 2021. After 24 years, the Marion resident says he’s looking forward to spending more quality time with his...

Marion man clocks 400,000 miles on 2001 truck

MARION — Dave Robbins has gone through eight sets of tires, four batteries, three fuel pumps, two alternators, two water pumps, and one radiator to keep his 2001 GMC Sierra 2500HD truck running. It’s been running so well that Robbins hit 400,000...

Marion native takes medical leadership role

Marion native Kristina Rosbe, MD, FAAP, is the new chairperson of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is now a member of the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Perioperative Leadership Team, known as The Triad. The Academy of Pediatrics is a...

Crafter goes back to her roots with new effort

MATTAPOISETT — Teah Keogh’s crafts always reflect where she is in life. Her first venture, a viral jewelry business Anchor Me that sold nautical themed bracelets, was inspired by people in her life that anchored her. After the birth of her daughter...

Two candidates compete for one Marion Assessor spot

Two candidates are competing for one spot on the Marion Board of Assessors: Pat DeCosta and Joe Zora. Marion is encouraging absentee voting this year because of the pandemic, and has already mailed ballot applications, so Sippican Week spoke with...

Candidate profile: Pat DeCosta

Pat DeCosta spent the last 14 years of her career working as Marion’s associate assessor. Now retired, she is running for the Board of Assessors to ensure property is assessed fairly and the town can continue to grow. DeCosta worked for the town for...

Candidate Profile: Joe Zora

Joe Zora wants to make the assessor’s office more accessible to all. He is a trustee at Camp Hadley and was displeased when the camp lost its tax-exempt status in August 2019. He said the assessors had multiple appointments that he was not made...

Former Mattapoisett, Wareham resident helps the homeless through covid

Former Mattapoisett and Wareham resident Adam Bliss was one of the co-organizers behind Worcester's first coronavirus-only homeless shelter. Bliss is working on his Doctorate in Nursing Practices and is currently a Nurse Practitioner at the Family...

Candidate profile: Eileen Marum

Eileen Marum studied public policy and has already made her mark on Marion by drafting its marijuana bylaw, among others. Now, she is running for a third term on the Planning Board to continue that work. Besides her academic background, Marum...

Candidate Profile: Christopher Collings

Chris Collings thinks the most valuable thing he has brought to the Planning Board for the last 2.5 years is a broad perspective, informed by his travels for work. Collings designs roof monitoring systems that detect excess water or snow on roofs,...

Candidate Profile: Joe Zora

Joe Zora isn’t afraid to call out things in town that he considers foolish. He has heard of two bike path plans headed toward Wareham, and wonders “How many bike paths do we need in the same direction? It is absurd, ridiculous.” The lifelong Marion...

Candidate Profile: Norm Hills

Norm Hills is running for another term on the Planning Board to make further progress on the Master Plan. He has been a member of the Planning Board for six years, and leads the Bylaw Codification Subcommittee. He takes part in professional training...

Four candidates vie for three seats on the Marion Planning Board

Three Marion Planning Board Members have terms that expire this year: Norman Hills, Christopher Collings and Eileen Marum. All three are running for re-election, and were challenged by three newcomers: Joe Zora, Edwin North and Barry Gaffey. Since...

Trio of candidates run for Rochester Selectman seat

Three candidates are running for an open seat on the Rochester Board of Selectmen. The election is June 17, but the town is sending absentee ballot applications to residents to encourage remote voting. Sippican Week reporter Tim Seeberger spoke with...

Candidate profile: Adam Murphy

Selectman candidate Adam Murphy said the Rochester he lives in today with his family has more middle-aged families than in the past, and it's hard for them to afford living there with rising taxes. If elected, he will work with all residents to make...

Candidate profile: Woody Hartley

Incumbent Selectmen Woody Hartley said he wants to serve a second term to continue the “significant progress” he made in his first term. Coronavirus has quickly become the biggest issue in town, but Hartley said the town went into the crisis in good...

Candidate profile: Norm Hills

Marion Selectman Norm Hills is running again to keep his seat on the Board of Selectmen and continue what he said is a good synergy of the current board that works well for the town. “As the incumbent, I have a clear understanding of the issues we...

Marion candidate faces off with incumbent Selectman

Marion resident Joe Zora is going against incumbent Selectman Norm Hills for a three-year spot on the Marion Board of Selectmen. The election is not until the end of June, but Sippican Week spoke with each candidate to learn about their perspective...

Candidate profile: Joe Zora

Joe Zora is running to be a Marion Selectman because he doesn’t “want what I had as a kid to go away.” He grew up in Marion and graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School, so he knows the town well. After attending Wentworth Institute of...

Two candidates run for one seat on Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

Two candidates, John DeCosta and Tyler Macallister, are running for a three year seat on the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen. Though the election is not until June 16, Sippican Week spoke with each candidate to learn about their ideas now because...

Candidate profile: Tyler Macallister

Tyler Macallister is running to take back the seat he gave up in September to pursue the then-open town administrator position because, he says, he wants to continue his work with town finances and improvement projects, much like his eight and half...

Candidate profile: John DeCosta

John DeCosta says he has always wanted to be a selectman. He served 17 years in the town’s Fire Department, 15 years in the water district, 12 years on the community preservation committee (where he is now chairman,) 12 years on the capital planning...

Mattapoisett celebrates 100 year old resident

MATTAPOISETT — Ask Anita Croft her secret to living to 100, and she has any number of hilarious answers. On her 100th birthday, May 7, her answer was, “having children do everything for you.” One of her children, Lisa Anderson, said when her mother’...

Joint town health director takes the pulse of her 37-year career

Marion-Rochester Regional Health District Health Director Karen Walega has gotten death threats from a Rochester resident over landfill regulations, but it was the coronavirus pandemic that made her retire from a job that she loves. After 31 and a...

Cut pandemic stress with yoga

Warrior yoga pose
Like many other businesses in Marion, Rochester and Mattapoisett, yoga studios have felt the impact of state shutdowns. Although some of them are able to continue classes online, Sippican Week also asked three yoga instructors to provide poses that...