On July 4, 1776, the United States Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, was signed. A note, most signatories wouldn’t sign until August 2, but I digress. This paper would officially declare, in writing, the United States strove to become a sovereign nation, distinctly not under the […] Read more »
This past May, the Buzzards Bay Coalition acquired 33 acres of land in the Mattapoisett River Valley. The plot at 84 New Bedford Road, Rochester sits off the intersection of Cushman Road and Perry Hill Road and stretches inland near Branch Brook and is neighbor to the Mattapoisett Land Trust’s Mattapoisett River Wildlife Management Area. […] Read more »
Once upon a time, our quiet little hamlet ran smoothly. Most citizens didn’t know or care about what transpired in the Town Hall’s halls. Registering to vote and attending the Town Meeting, which was held upstairs in the auditorium, was about the only time they entered the place. Elected officials, most part-time, went about […] Read more »
‘Now is the springtime of our discontent, made glorious summer’ by a hot dry spell. Pardon the Shakespeare quip but it occurred to me that a “glorious summer” would be a fine thing about now. What are the chances of that happening? If you haven’t been keeping count, we just had the 13th rainy […] Read more »
In April, Robert Kenedy Jr ordered the CDC to stop recommending fluoridation of the public water supply, contrary to the recommendation of the American Dental Association and most public health experts. Why the controversy? Is fluoridation a Communist plot to weaken our society as General Jack D Ripper thundered in Dr. Strangelove? The […] Read more »
The 2025 Marion to Bermuda race kicked off just after noon on Saturday, June 20. The ships practiced back and forth across Buzzards Bay until they began their multi-day journey. Coming across Penikese Island and making their way around the Elizabethan Islands, the ship Redwood with skipper Pike Severance (Oyster Bay, New York) took the […] Read more »
Juneteenth 2025 found celebrants enjoying the gift of being in community with like-minded people and exchanging greetings and joy through the recognition of this special day. Guest speaker to the celebration was Marcus Coward, Human Rights Commissioner, host of Wake Up New Bedford, and a candidate for the New Bedford School Committee, speaking on […] Read more »
In 2022, there were 48,204 gun deaths in the United States, 132/day. Of these, 27,032 were suicides, 19,651 homicides, 463 unintentional and 643 fatal shootings by law enforcement. White males have by far the highest rate of suicide by gun while black males are much more likely to be victims of homicide. The U.S. […] Read more »
Just when I thought it was safe to come out in the open now that the Town Meeting and local election have passed into history; just when this opinion columnist could stifle his views and concentrate on musing about important things like bathroom tissue perforations, where is Pine Island, Stumpy the late cherry tree, and […] Read more »
The last several years have been a juggling act for Emma Collings, whose educational experience at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School had led her to believe this skill, from a literal standpoint, is but a normal rite of passage. “We had this thing at ORRJH called ‘flex time,’ and the most popular […] Read more »