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Progress made in Old Colony new building project

ROCHESTER — As Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School looks to expand offerings in plumbing, HVAC-R and dental assisting, as well as admit more students, a proposed plan is in the works to build a new building on the school’s campus....

See what’s happening at the Elizabeth Taber Library

MARION – Lapsit storytime begins for the fall on Monday, Sept. 8 at 10:30 a.m at the Elizabeth Taber Library, located at 8 Spring Street. This program is designed for babies who are not yet walking, featuring songs and stories with a focus on...

Returning to St. Luke’s School of Nursing 50 years later

MATTAPOISETT — When Susan Bonnar of Rochester was a young woman in the late 1960s, the most common career paths for women were to become a teacher, secretary or nurse. Knowing that she didn’t want to be a teacher and since her mother was a legal...

Learn all about ancestry with the Rochester Historical Museum

ROCHESTER — The Rochester Historical Museum will host their monthly meeting on Sept. 17 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at Rochester Historical Museum at 355 County Rd. Speaking at the meeting will be Bruce Bassett, who after researching his...

Catch and release program helps turtles win the race

MARION — A summer-long conservation project culminated with interns from the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance gently burying three baby diamondback terrapin turtles in the sand on Friday, Aug. 30, which served as a final effort to protect the...

A day of firsts for kindergarteners and officers

ROCHESTER - On Friday Aug. 29, Superintendent Michael Nelson joined Rochester Police Chief Michael Assad Jr. and Lieutenant Zack Dupere for a special ride-along with incoming kindergarteners on their very first day of school. "For a kindergartner,...

Residents, Select Board debate who to appoint to the Board of Health

MATTAPOISETT — The decision of who to appoint to the Mattapoisett Board of Health may not be a straightforward one, after Board of Health member Michele Bernier and residents pushed back against the Select Board. Doug Schneider, a civil engineer and...

Donate to a Rochester Historical Society exhibit

ROCHESTER — The Rochester Historical Society is now looking for items to add to its upcoming exhibit, “The Tools and Industries That Made Rochester.” The society is looking for old tools that reflect this theme and could include tools used with...

Work to begin later this year on Marion-Wareham bridge

MARION — Phase One of construction on the Marion-Wareham Bridge is scheduled to begin in late 2025, officials from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced at a public hearing on Thursday, Aug. 21. According to Project Manager...

Governor Healey signs into law expansion of Mattapoisett Select Board

MATTAPOISETT — Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill into law on Friday, Aug. 22 that will expand the Mattapoisett Select Board from three to five members. Healey’s signature ended a three-month long process that began when Town Meeting voters approved...

Sippican School students learn the ropes at open house

MARION — A line of parents and students stretched across the sidewalk outside Sippican Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 26, as staff, families and students welcomed the new year with an open house. Carrying bags full of notebooks, pencils, Kleenex...

Marion Maritime Center opens for business

MARION — After five years of planning and 10 months of construction, the new Marion Maritime Center is now open for business. On Tuesday, Aug. 26 town officials came together for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the center and...

Rochester Police Department wins community policing award

ROCHESTER — For Rochester Police Chief Michael Assad, community engagement has always been a top priority. “We’re trying to get out there and just be visible in the community, which is the most important thing,” he said. The department recently...

Learn about historical erasure with the Mattapoisett Museum

MATTAPOISETT — Attend the Mattapoisett Museum’s upcoming annual meeting for a discussion on historical erasure. Linda Coombs, historian and member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag, will speak about the systematic reduction or elimination of the presence of...

Happy campers conclude a summer of smiles at the Mattapoisett YMCA

MATTAPOISETT — Since 1962, campers from across the South Coast have gathered at Camp Massasoit for archery, sailing, traditions and friendship. The camp hosts about 250 attendees each week at the Mattapoisett YMCA, ranging in age from 5 years old to...

Pups with a purpose: Ninth annual Dog Walk-a-thon raises funds for park

MATTAPOISETT — Freemin Bauer has envisioned a dog park in Mattapoisett since 2016, when he was brainstorming ideas for his Eagle Scout Service project. The dog park still lingered in his mind, even after opting to raise money for a Fairhaven dog...

For the history books: Record number of kids participate in summer reading program

MATTAPOISETT — This summer was a real page turner for the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, with nearly 1,000 children attending events over the course of the season. Over 160 children also participated in the library’s summer reading program, up...

Old Rochester hires new human resources manager

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional School District will have a new Human Resources Manager this year, starting on Monday, Aug. 25. Sarah George graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in human resources management...

Things to do: Week of Aug. 21

Friday, Aug. 22 Art supplies sale For the first time ever the Friends of Plumb Library is holding a craft supplies sale. Items for sale will include fabric, yarn, notions, patterns, crafting magazines, needles and hooks and hoops, scrapbooking...

Rochester Select Board approves New England Rodeo schedule extension

ROCHESTER — The New England Rodeo will continue to ride on. At a meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, the Rochester Select Board approved a schedule extension that will allow the New England Rodeo to continue its programming until Saturday, Oct. 18. “It has...

Masters of their craft: Elizabeth Taber Library launches new makerspace

MARION — Laser-engraved bookmarks, embroidered tea towels and 3D drawings are just a few things Elizabeth Taber Library patrons can now craft at the library’s new makerspace. At the library’s makerspace launch on Tuesday, Aug. 19, attendees were...

New school year to be filled with opportunity for junior high students

MATTAPOISETT — As the 2025-26 school year approaches, educators at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School are gearing up to help kids transition from elementary school to junior high. “I think parents and kids are in good hands at the junior high...

Back to the books: Old Rochester elementary schools begin school year with unified curriculum, staff changes

Old Rochester Regional District elementary schools are entering the 2025-26 school year as a unified front, with all schools establishing a new math curriculum and emphasizing an eagerness to empower students. “It’s the first time in possibly ever...

Stirring up change: Wareham chef gives back to the homeless

With gloves at the ready and a kitchen waiting to be used, owner and founder of Minkle Boys Catering Company, Danny Minkle, picked up a phone call for a promise he made three years ago. "We talked about this before Frogfoot Farm even existed, now it...

Consistency will be key at Old Rochester Regional High School this school year

MATTAPOISETT — For Old Rochester Regional High School Principal Michael Devoll, the theme of the 2025-2026 school year will be consistency. “Kids will recognize the school they return to,” he said. Of the few changes coming to the high school, the...

Old Colony welcomes new school year alongside 50th anniversary

ROCHESTER — As Old Colony Regional Technical Vocational High School eagerly enters its 2025-’26 school year, it is also celebrating its 50th anniversary. “Our goal is to educate well-rounded citizens and to instill in each of our students the power...

Marion Town House operations move to temporary ‘Town House Annex’

MARION — Marion Town House operations moved to the temporary “Town House Annex” on Monday, Aug. 18 as the start date for renovations of the Town House approaches. The temporary office space is located at Sippican Office Park at 14 Barnabas Road,...

Work to begin on Island Wharf parking lot

MARION — The Marion Department of Public Works will install pavement parking lines at the Island Wharf parking lot between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Vehicles won’t be permitted to park at the Island Wharf parking lot during this time....

Donate to a school supply drive

ROCHESTER — As costs rise for everyday needs and the new school year approaches, the Rochester Democratic Town Committee is collecting supplies for students and staff at Rochester Memorial School. Collection boxes will be at Rochester Town Hall,...

Rochester awarded over $32,000 for public safety improvements

ROCHESTER — The town of Rochester received over $32,300 in grant funding from Plymouth County that will benefit public safety initiatives. The $32,382.71 worth of grants will be used to fund a new ambulance power load system for the Rochester Fire...

New thrift shop to soon pop up on scene

MATTAPOISETT — When Rochester residents Darbi Lambert-Matos and her daughter Neva Matos stumbled on a thrift shop about a month ago, they saw something they had never seen before that spurred an idea: they would create a store of their own. “It was...

Model planes take to the sky in annual flying event

ROCHESTER — As some model planes swept through the sky above Mary’s Pond, others landed in and took off from the water. For the past 15 years, radio control pilots have stood on the pond’s shore, steering their plans above the water as part of the...

All for one and one for all: Bike donation program to head into its fifth year

MATTAPOISETT — “Bikes for All,” a program organized by the Friends of the Mattapoisett Bicycle and Recreational Path, will soon enter its fifth fall season of collecting, refurbishing and distributing bicycles of all sizes. Over 280 children and...

Town breathes new life into DePina Landing

MARION — In 1953 John DePina, a Marion resident and immigrant from Cape Verde, donated a small riverfront property to the town of Marion to create a place where children could go swimming on the Sippican River. On Thursday, Aug. 14, the children and...

A walk in the park: Dog park fundraiser set to return

MATTAPOISETT — On Saturday, Aug. 23 the annual Dog Walk-A-Thon is returning to Mattapoisett. The walk begins at Center School and will take place from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants have the option to walk either a half-mile route or a mile-route,...

Visit an annual church yard sale

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Congregational Church’s annual church yard sale is returning on Saturday, Sept. 6. Lots of items will be available during the sale, including home furnishings, housewares, collectibles, handbags, sports equipment,...

Parts of Marion to be sprayed due to West Nile Virus cases

MARION — Another mosquito sample in Marion has tested positive for West Nile Virus, moving the town into the moderate risk category. The Plymouth County Mosquito Control will spray areas of town on Friday, Aug. 15 between 2 a.m. and dusk to manage...

Things to do: Week of Aug. 14

Friday, Aug. 15 Best of Broadway The Marion Concert Band’s next Friday evening concert will feature a program of music from Broadway, including a vocalist and highlights from some of Broadway’s most memorable shows. The featured vocalist will be...

Rochester celebrates law enforcement, first responders in first Night Out

ROCHESTER — Sprawled across the parking lot behind the Rochester Police Department were a range of police and law enforcement vehicles, all lined up for people to climb inside and explore. The line-up was part of Rochester’s first ever Night Out...

Full steam ahead: Mattapoisett Rail Trail project advances

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Rail Trail project continues moving forward, with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently accepting Phase 2A of the project. With acceptance comes the ability to apply for and receive federal and state...

Marion fixes Point Road ‘problem areas’

MARION — Following an “unprofessional” pavement repair job on sections of Point Road, Marion has begun to fix the “problem areas” on Wednesday, Aug. 13. Speakman Excavating, a Dennis-based business, is responsible for the road maintenance work which...

Time to fly! Model planes to take to the sky

ROCHESTER — The annual John Nicolaci Memorial Float Fly is returning on Saturday, Aug. 16. This is a non-competitive AMA sanctioned event and all AMA members are welcome to fly. There is a $10 landing fee for participants and the event is free for...

Crafting new possibilities: Elizabeth Taber Library to launch Makerspace

MARION — The Elizabeth Taber Library is all set to launch its brand-new Makerspace. The new space will include a new in-library and circulating crafting equipment, such as sewing and embroidery machines and paper and laser cutters. The Makerspace is...

A well-crafted supplies sale

ROCHESTER — For the first time ever the Friends of Plumb Library is holding a craft supplies sale. Items for sale will include fabric, yarn, notions, patterns, crafting magazines, needles and hooks and hoops, scrapbooking materials and more. The...

Mattapoisett Land Trust acquires 26 acres of land

MATTAPOISETT — Twenty-six acres of land from Strawberry Point and the Pine Islands south and west of Pine Island Pond were recently donated to the Mattapoisett Land Trust. The donated land is made up of 26 acres of coastal landscape, including...

New England Rodeo corrals colossal crowds, increases seating

ROCHESTER — Since setting up shop at the Rochester Fair Grounds in June, the New England Rodeo has roped in large crowds, leading to the addition of new bleacher seats on Saturday, August 9. According to New England Rodeo Strategic Advisor and...

‘We were all just pretty stunned’: Manatee spotted in Mattapoisett

MATTAPOISETT — At around 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 29, Mattapoisett resident Erin Carr and some friends were running along the Mattapoisett Rail Trail when they saw a man with his dog on the beach standing near what appeared to be a rock. At the...

Old Colony awarded Career Technical Initiative grant

ROCHESTER — On Tuesday, Aug. 5, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School was awarded a $335,000 grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration to provide training to 40 participants for Welding and Advanced Manufacturing positions. As...

Mattapoisett non-profits unite for Great Community Picnic

MATTAPOISETT — As carefully decorated tabletops were assembled, oysters were shucked and beer was served, Mike Hugenin, President of the Mattapoisett Land Trust, gestured to the crowd of Great Community Picnic attendees and said “who doesn’t love a...

Things to do: Week of August 7

Friday, Aug. 8 Music from Land’s End Featuring the music of Beethoven and Mendelssohn, Music from Land’s End is coming to Marion to perform “Iconic Piano Trios.” Music From Land’s End is an annual concert series sponsored by the Wareham Cultural...