In its meeting held on May 4, the Rochester Conservation Commission discussed a Request for Determination of Applicability that was filed by Thomas Lewis of TEC Associates regarding vegetation management and pesticide spraying along railroad tracks running through Rochester.             The public meeting on the application in question was continued from the commission’s previously […] Read more »

            The owner of the Dunkin’ establishment at 450 Wareham Street went before the Marion Planning Board on May 3 seeking minor alterations to a site plan that had been awarded a special permit.             The signature change is the elimination of the word ‘Donuts’ from the Dunkin’ brand. As tweaked, the letters of the […] Read more »

            The Rochester Board of Selectmen wants more time to digest the Rochester Memorial School agreement.             “It doesn’t make sense to us the way the numbers line up,” said Town Counsel Blair Bailey, explaining to the selectmen during their May 3 meeting that Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar “ran the numbers” and came to the […] Read more »

            In a lead-up to Mattapoisett’s May 10 Annual Town Meeting, months of board and committee meetings dissected finance reports, consultants’ studies, and departmental needs analyses, and debated at least a few controversial topics. Two Water and Sewer Department projects raised concerns during the April 29 meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee.             The members […] Read more »

            Laurie Whitney-Lawrence will have to wait before she can legally use her Mendell Road property as a part-time event center.             What began in 2013 as a $7,000 savings for her daughter’s wedding and reception evolved into a venue for other events including a fundraiser for Rochester Youth Baseball, memorial services and bridal showers. […] Read more »

            The decline of COVID-19 cases in Marion is encouraging, reflecting the overall trend across the state as more are vaccinated and fewer are testing positive. Marion had zero positive cases of COVID-19 as of press time on May 4 when the Marion Board of Health met for a brief meeting.             “The numbers are […] Read more »

If Article 38 gains voter approval at Marion’s May 10 Town Meeting, there will be a maximum time limit for approved projects to spend appropriated Community Preservation funds.             After this year, every article fielded by the Community Preservation Committee, in addition to a dollar amount, will pitch a time limit to which the CPC […] Read more »

            The Tri-Town Education Foundation welcomed Michelle Roy as a new member during its April 27 Zoom meeting.             A recently retired Rochester resident, Roy brings the experience of an educational career that began at Old Rochester Regional schools in 1985 before developing into a career that saw her spend the last six years as assistant superintendent […] Read more »

            Marion’s Energy Management Committee has been trying for the better part of a year to have a charging station installed across Front Street from the Music Hall where people park for Island Wharf. But based on information discussed at its April 26 Zoom meeting, the EMC seems to be caught in a loop.             Island Wharf […] Read more »

            A Notice of Intent hearing first opened in early April and receiving considerable neighborhood pushback was reopened during the April 27 meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission. After neighbors again voiced their concerns, the commission voted unanimously to issue an Order of Conditions for the project.             David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon, & Leone, Inc., representing […] Read more »