The outbreak of diarrheal illness caused by the parasite cyclospora is still making headlines. What do you need to know? Many organisms can cause acute diarrhea, including viruses such as the norovirus, bacteria such as salmonella, and parasites. Viruses have no specific treatment while bacteria and parasites have specific treatments available. The […] Read more »
I’ve lost count of the slings and arrows that can derail a gardener’s quest for a backyard Eden. Some are inevitable; others seem almost biblical in their determination to thwart us. This column is about those battles as we try to live in harmony with the animal kingdom — and the creatures that have […] Read more »
On July 9, all of Massachusetts was categorized as being in at least a Significant Drought, or Level 2 on a scale of 0 to 4, in an announcement by the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). This followed heightened alertness after June’s below-average rain, high temperatures, and diminishing groundwater levels. […] Read more »
On Monday, August 3, the Town of Marion announced that the Marion Town House has finally reopened after closing on September 1, 2025, for extensive renovations and additions. The building, originally completed in 1876, recently saw the addition of central air, an HVAC system, added fire suppression systems, ADA compliance features like an […] Read more »
Jerome Rand, author of Sailing Into Oblivion, presented an incredible account of his solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe at the Mattapoisett Yacht Club on Friday, July 31. He learned and loved sailing in Northern Michigan at age 18 and has enjoyed teaching and sailing ever since. The expert sailor said his desire […] Read more »
The Massachusetts election season is underway, and you’ve already probably received some campaign ads or seen some candidate signs on your drive through town. The Primary Elections for this year’s Mid-Terms are on Tuesday September 1, and we’re getting close to some important deadlines. The deadline to register to vote in the Primaries […] Read more »
The loud boom heard across Massachusetts and Rhode Island on May 30 was not thunder, an earthquake or a blown transformer. It was a meteor traveling approximately 42,000 miles per hour. That cosmic close call provided a timely opening for “Asteroids, Meteors, and Cosmic Close Calls,” presented by Dr. Sarah Caudill on Friday, […] Read more »
This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in the Thirteen Colonies. Last week, General George Washington and other Revolutionaries sought a way to stop the British from amassing on Staten Island, though a planned attack was called off. Admiral Richard Howe and his brother […] Read more »
Two months ago, I shared a column about a special trip to Paris to visit my daughter, Olivia. Together, we spent a memorable day exploring a local nursery and filling her terrace with flowers, vegetables, and herbs. I happily introduced her to the joys of gardening— a passion I never imagined she’d one day […] Read more »
This is the continuing monthly column for the astronomer in all of us, or the aspiring astro-physicist. Compared to areas near Boston or New Bedford, generally speaking, the Tri- Town has pretty good dark skies and thus are very fortunate in that regard. This month, a week of eclipses! On August 12, […] Read more »