Board Advances Key Projects Following Town Meeting

            The Rochester Planning Board meeting on Tuesday started with a sequel to last week’s Annual Town Meeting vote approving a zoning change to the Cranberry Highway Smart Growth Overlay District, site of a 40R residential/mixed use project being proposed for Cranberry Highway and County Road.             Ken Steen of Steen Realty and Development Corporation […] Read more »

It Is Just An Over-The-Counter Supplement – It Must Be Safe

Many of us take dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other products to boost our health. Since many supplements contain natural ingredients, it’s easy to assume they are always safe. But “natural” does not always mean safe, especially when combined with medications. Nor does it always mean effective.             Let’s get the “effective” […] Read more »

Exploring the Beauty of Pastel with Jean Hirons

Jean Hirons will be conducting a two-day workshop on the world of pastels on June 17 and 18, from 9:00am-4:00pm each day in the MAC Studio, located at 80 Pleasant St. Marion.             This workshop will focus on painting a landscape from photos using soft pastel. Jean will discuss her use of abstract underpaintings that […] Read more »

Summer Fun for Kids

A fun Vacation Bible School event called True North will be hosted at First Congregational Church of Rochester, 11 Constitution Way in Rochester, this summer. At True North, kids discover what it means to trust Jesus in a wild world. Kids participate in memorable Bible-learning activities, sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, make and devour […] Read more »

Chair David Arancio Steps Down

            Rochester’s Zoning Board of Appeals started its May 22 meeting with its biggest news of the night. Long-time Chairman David Arancio announced he was resigning as of June 12.             Arancio, a corporate health and safety official by trade, has been ZBA Chair for 11 years. His voice cracked with emotion as he read his […] Read more »

Blowing in The Wind

            My parents were smokers, most likely beginning their long partnership with the tobacco industry when they were teens.             Dad quit cold turkey in 1964 when the first Surgeon General warning was aired on prime-time TV. He’d spend the next year sucking on hard candies as suggested by all in the know.             Ma […] Read more »

June Worthington Mendell

June Worthington Mendell, 85, of Mattapoisett, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in her home on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Born in New Milford, Connecticut along with her sister Diane and late brother Robert to the late Elmer and Mildred Worthington, she lived in Mattapoisett most of her life. June was a psychotherapist who loved […] Read more »

An Animated Afternoon

On Sunday, June 8, the Tri-County Symphonic Band, directed by Philip Sanborn, will be under the Grand Tent at Tabor Academy for its Annual Pops Concert to benefit the John R. Pandolfi Music Scholarship Fund. This year’s concert will be all about animation as the TCSB shines the spotlight on the music from such “drawn” […] Read more »

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

While I know my grandfather ran the first Rochester Boat Race when my mother and uncle were teenagers, it still surprised me that this year’s race was its 91st. This made me think of other Rochester activities and organizations with longevity.             The Rochester Women’s Club existed for several years before it was incorporated in […] Read more »

Academic Achievements

Torsten Brickley of Mattapoisett and Trent Crook of Rochester have been named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2025 semester at Clarkson University             Lucas Pothier of Rochester was named to the Dean’s Honor List at Cedarville University for Spring 2025. This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.75 GPA or higher for […] Read more »