Horse, Mule Survive Muddy Sunday

Girlie the mule and Tick the horse nearly drowned in mud on Sunday at Merrow Farm on Converse Road before the Marion Fire Department and a host of rescue assistants came onto the scene.             “We are pleased to report that both animals are recovering and doing well at this time,” said Marion Fire Chief Brian […] Read more »

Public Outreach Meeting Held for Eel Pond Sewer Line

            Words could not describe the destruction to wetlands along parts of Buzzards Bay and all of Mattapoisett Harbor, should the Eel Pond forced main become compromised. That possibility has been discussed for years when considering what can be done to improve the infrastructure for flow of sewage from Mattapoisett to the Fairhaven treatment facility via […] Read more »

Alternative Analysis Pending for Pine Island Road Lot

            The reopening of a Notice of Intent filing by Craig Bovaird, 26R Pine Island Road, generated a request by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for an “alternatives analysis” to determine if the future residential dwelling could be situated somewhere else on the lot.             Representing the applicant was Brandon Faneuf of Ecosystem Solutions. Faneuf confirmed […] Read more »

Solar Array Moves Forward, But Steen at a Standstill

            In the Rochester Planning Board meeting held on August 11, Phil Cordeiro of Allen and Major Associates Inc. came before the board to provide updates on the planned developments on Cranberry Highway. Cordeiro joined the hybrid meeting via Zoom to represent the application filed by Steen Realty and Development.             After a meeting with the Rochester […] Read more »

Water Agreement Amended to Delete Destination of Funds

            The Rochester Board of Selectmen met on Zoom for a specially called session on August 7 to execute the amendment of the town’s water agreement with the Town of Wareham.             Two weeks prior, the Rochester selectmen had signed the water agreement that included a sentence saying where the funds from a 15 percent user fee […] Read more »

Community Center Improvements, Cemetery Maintenance Discussed

            While a heatwave outside was tempered only by a sea breeze, the Marion Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday afternoon inside the air-conditioned Music Hall with a busy agenda, including a pair of appointments to discuss a landscaping project at the Community Center and the need to improve maintenance of the town’s cemeteries.             In the […] Read more »

Hybrid Return-to-School Plan Will Include Two Days on Campus

            The back to school 2020-2021 plan recommended by Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson at Monday’s meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is subject to change, Nelson said, not only because state guidelines can change at a moment’s notice, but because the school district itself intends to continue monitoring the situation as the academic […] Read more »

More-Experienced Desmarais to Be Offered Public Health Nurse Job

            Once again, experience made the difference in a decision to fill a health-related position in Marion.             Earlier this year upon the dissolution of the Marion-Rochester Health District and the retirement of Karen Walega from service to Marion, the town hired Dave Flaherty as its health director. He was selected by the Board of Health in […] Read more »

Tritown Against Racism Meets with Selectmen

            Tritown Against Racism made a spirited introduction to the Rochester Board of Selectmen during the latter’s August 3 public meeting.             “Our mission is to intentionally create an anti-racism atmosphere,” explained Tritown Against Racism member Alison Noyce to the selectmen. “Our philosophy is to start where you live. There is a huge racism problem in our […] Read more »

Small Changes Make Big Difference for Dinghy Docks

            The July 31 Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board meeting might have been a brief one, but the new business agenda line item is already making a big difference to boaters.             Opening the meeting a bit belatedly due to technical difficulties with the remote meeting platform, Chairman Carlos DeSousa displayed a graphic for those in attendance. The […] Read more »