Our annual sale will be on August 2 & 3. The first drop-off date at the museum, 355 County Road, will be July 15, 9:30 am until 2:30 pm. We only take clean usable items and only small electronics in good working order. We don’t take TVs or computers. We also do not take clothing.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, next to the Town Beach in Mattapoisett continues its 141st. Summer Season of visiting clergy with The Rev. John Kennedy, Associate Rector, St. Mark’s Church, New Canon, CT on Sunday, July 13. The Rev. Kennedy will conduct services at 8:00 am and 10:00am using the Book of Common Prayer. All are welcome at this historic chapel in the harbor.
Ronald Noel Normand, 87, of Marion and Plymouth, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025. He was married to Patricia (Connors) Normand for 64 years. He is predeceased by his parents Everett Normand and Germaine (Jobin) Normand also of Marion.
Ron was born in 1938 and lived in Marion for 40 years. He was a graduate of Fitchburg State College where he met his wife, Patricia. He also earned a master’s degree in education from Bridgewater State University. Ron was a beloved teacher at Old Rochester Regional High School for 25 years, sharing his passion for learning with thousands of children over the years. He not only shared his love of history with his students, but also his love of sports. At various times in his teaching career, he served as the ORR boys’ baseball, soccer and golf coach.
After retiring, Ron and Patricia moved to Plymouth and began to fulfill Ron’s lifelong goal of exploring every nook and cranny of the U.S. with historical significance. When not traveling, he would be immersed in political or spy novels, cheering on his beloved New England sports teams or maintaining his lawn of envy.
Family and friends enjoyed Ron’s wry sense of humor. He reveled in playing the role of devil’s advocate often snaring the unsuspecting visitor with an innocuous “so what do you think about….” His friends, children and grandchildren spent countless hours in both earnest and lighthearted verbal duels with Ron.
He is survived by his wife Patricia, and four children Ronald F. Normand (Sandwich MA), Suzanne Barrett and her husband Patrick Barrett (Annapolis MD), Kerry Hayes (Marion MA), and Elizabeth Hiller and her husband Andrew Hiller (Marion MA), as well as his cherished grandchildren Jennifer Barrett, Allison Barrett, Megan Hayes, Connor Hayes, Emily Hiller and Drew Hiller.
Ron left a lasting impact on all who had the pleasure of knowing him. The family is deeply grateful for the wonderful care Ron received at Laurelwood.
A memorial service will be held at St. Bonaventure Church in Plymouth at 10 am on July 24. A reception will follow at the Great Island Clubhouse, 140 Great Island Rd, Plymouth.
The Marion Planning Board on Monday met briefly and expressed concern about the Zoning Board of Appeals’ (ZBA) split decision to allow an industrial building to turn into housing – Sippican Holdings LLC at 14 Barnabas Road.
Board members at the Police Station meeting room acknowledged that the ZBA can issue a variance if the developer shows evidence of hardship.
For that project, it received a variance that would allow for the conversion of an existing commercial building in a limited industrial district into a multi-family dwelling with no more than 50 dwelling units.
The surrounding area is commercial zoning and is part of the larger former Lockheed Martin site.
At a recent Select Board meeting, ZBA Chair Cindy Callow said the ZBA had concerns about reusing the building, which is old and has never been used in a residential capacity.
The developer cited a financial hardship if the building were to be demolished.
Board members noted that Marion’s unique zoning, which allows for mixed uses in many areas, is part of the problem.
Planning Board Chair Andrew Daniel said other applicants have sought similar variances and have been rejected.
“The bylaw allows for use by variance. We are out on an island,” Daniel said, noting that the town’s zoning can allow loopholes for these types of mixed zoning.
“I think it is a shame,” he added.
The board also discussed a committee that has formed to update its municipal separate stormwater systems bylaw – also known as MS4. The bylaw is mandated by the state and the federal Environmental Protection Agency to update stormwater systems.
Board member Eileen Marum expressed concern over whether the town could meet the deadline by the November Town Meeting.
Town Planner Doug Guey-Lee said a draft is in place and as long as it goes before voters in November, the state Attorney General’s office would take no issue with it. Guey-Lee said if the state AG has any issues with what is passed on Town Meeting in November, the bylaw could be altered at a later time to appease state and a federal scrutiny. Guey-Lee added there are a handful of other bylaws that will be reviewed and possibly revised at the Fall Town Meeting.
The board also approved an applicant, David Pina, who wants to build a home on Point Road. The proposed home does not meet frontage requirements by only a few feet. The board said such a small issue should not prevent the project from moving forward.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for 7:00 pm, July 21, in the Marion Police Station. It is also available on Zoom.
Marion Planning Board
By Jeffrey D. Wagner
Please note that our July Bake Sale & Raffles will be on July 12 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, rain (it won’t) or shine, but we have made a change in location. We will be by the sunken garden in George’s Pony Pasture, and we’ll be partnering with the Rochester Land Trust. You’ll be able to enjoy the garden and admire the stone walls close up (not a quick glimpse as you drive by) as you shop. The Land Trust trail down to Wolf Island and the Haskell Swamp Area trail will be accessible. We’ll be on the left-hand side of Mattapoisett Road as you head toward Mattapoisett. Follow the Bake Sale signs.
The Mattapoisett Road Race Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 college stipends. Since the first race in 1971, over $200, 000 has been awarded to college bound ORR student athletes. This year’s award recipients are Hayden Belanger, Caroline Brogioli, Jeannine Duchaine, Calder Eaton, Jack Gallagher and Zoe Plante of Mattapoisett, Ella Bartholomew, Braeden Christopher, Elizabeth Houdelette, and Gavin Martin of Marion, Gabriela Pinhancos and Tessa Winslow of Rochester, and Jake Dellas of Wareham. Receiving the Bob Gardner Award, named for the founding father of the Road Race, is Wesner Archelus of Marion. We congratulate these students and wish them well in their college studies.
Facing a roomful of concerned abutters voicing their concerns, Rochester’s Select Board Monday approved a Class II Used Car Dealers License for Briggs Hobby Barn, which stores and repairs collectible automobiles, trucks, and other motor vehicles at 618 New Bedford Road on land within the historic district.
The expansive, two-building business owned by Mark Briggs received a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals in May 2024 and a site plan review permit from the Planning Board in June 2024. Town Administrator Cameron Durant began Monday’s hearing by invoking this fact. He said Town Council has given granting this license the green light because the business will have to follow the strict stipulations placed on it by its other town permits. Briggs is limited to selling no more than two cars per year. He may not display vehicles for sale or advertising signs at the front of his property.
Before the Select Board’s approval vote, however, abutters expressed concerns that this was the wrong business for their neighborhood. The first questioner wanted to know if the special conditions of this permit could be passed on to a new owner. A new owner would require a new license, Chair Adam Murphy responded.
Matthew Monteiro of the Historic District Commission said the property was not zoned for business. “I fear what this property could become,” he said. Another resident worried what noise will come from the car work there. Mark Briggs assured residents that once his building construction work is done, car repairs, not manufacturing, are all he will be doing.
Historic District Commission member Sarah Johnston said being a car dealership means the town is losing the excise taxes it could be getting for all the vehicles Briggs possesses. She wanted to know how this business being allowed benefits the town. Murphy responded that the business’s property taxes will benefit Rochester and so will Brigg’s expected good stewardship of the property. Durant added the tax value of a property that is utilized over an empty lot is a net gain for the town.
This permit will be based on the permit conditions of other town boards, Murphy emphasized before the unanimous vote.
The board’s next biggest decision of the night came when it approved a new three-year Inter-municipal Agreement with the Regional Old Colony Communications Center (ROCC) that since 2017 has located the town’s public safety dispatching services in Duxbury, MA.
In its previous meeting on the new IMA, board members asked what the town police and fire departments would do without ROCC’s services or ROCC-level funding, given that Rochester does not have its own dispatching equipment. They reviewed new language regarding the town’s responsibilities should the regional system go down or lose funding.
Durant said Monday he has been informed by ROCC officials that the town will not be on the hook for funding without Rochester town meeting approval of that expense. Regarding the lack of equipment, the new contract language will state ROCC’s responsibility for assisting if this is a problem arises. Dispatching calls will always be responsibility of the ROCC network.
ROCC, located in Duxbury, handles the 911 calls, police, fire, and EMS dispatching for the Towns of Duxbury, Plympton, Halifax, Rochester, Hanson, and Hanover. Rochester joined the center in January 2017.
In other action, Durant reported that Eversource soon will be going door-to-door across town replacing residential electric meters with smart meters.
The board approved promoting Rochester Police Department Sgt. Zachary Dupere to the position of Acting Lieutenant.
The board appointed Renee Duffy as a new member of the Historical Commission.
The board appointed Dennis McCarthy as a full-time member and K. Douglas Sims as a new associate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The board appointed Joe Ziino as a new member of the Conservation Commission.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, July 21 at 6:00 pm at town hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco
Mattapoisett’s Independence Day Road Race was held in the morning on Friday, July 4. It was clear and sunny, though there was a cool breeze from the sea undoubtably helping the racers on their way. The night before had seen heavy storms, with major power outages across the South Coast and Southern New England. Due to these outages and trees being downed, there were some delays in racers arriving on time as well as delays in the setting up of the race itself. This was the 53rd running of the race, with the first being held in 1971. Some raised their hands claiming to have run 20 of the races. There were 1336 racers who crossed the finish line at the end.
Rather than the 9:00 am start, the race started about five minutes later due to numerous issues stemming from the prior night’s storm. It was stated a tree had fallen on the truck used to bring equipment to the race as well as being the primary vehicle to drive in front of racers. Instead of this truck, a Gator buggy was used. Following the triumph of overcoming these issues, the race began from Shipyard Park. Runners went through the village, then down to Ned’s Point lighthouse, and back around to finish at Shipyard Park. The awards ceremony was held at the gazebo on the park.
Proceeds from the race are used to fund awards for college-bound senior athletes from Old Rochester Regional High School, as well as support existing Old Rochester athletics programs.
For winners, Colin Rooney (bib #838, male 29, Manchester, CT) finished first of the men with a time of 20:13.30 and Margot Appleton (bib #376, female 22, Mattapoisett) finished first of the women with a time of 21:11.60. The fastest time from the Tri-Town was Tyler Young (bib #805, male 19, Marion) with a time of 20:40.00.
Present at the race was Geoff Smith, Olympian and two-time winner of the Boston Marathon, with his granddaughter. Also in the race were two over the age of 90, Larry Cole aged 91 from South Weymouth, MA and William Parr aged 90 from Rancho Cordova, CA.
Mattapoisett Independence Day Road Race 2025
By Sam Bishop
The Marion Concert Band continues its Friday evening concert series with a Young People’s Concert on Friday, July 11. The concert will include an opportunity for children in the audience to play rhythm instruments with the band. The program is as follows:
Looney Tunes Overture – B. Holcombe
A Disney Spectacular – arr. J. Moss
Journey to the Lion’s Castle – R. Galante
Highlights from Frozen – arr. Sean O’Loughlin
Pixar Movie Magic – arr. M. Brown
Variations on “Bingo” – S. Reisteter
The Candy Man (from Willie Wonka) – A. Newley
Pure Imagination – A. Newley
Walt Disney Overture – J. Christensen
The Wizard of Oz Fantasy – H. Arlen
Moana – arr. J. Bocook
Shrek Dance Party – arr. P. Murtha
The concert, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00 pm at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf off Front Street in Marion. All concerts are free and open to the public. “Like” us on Facebook at “Marion Town Band” for up-to-date announcements and rain cancellation notices.
Though there were no fireworks scheduled, the Marion Independence Day Parade still went on! Following a night of spontaneous wind and rain, many gathered along Main, Spring and Front streets to celebrate the 4th. There were some branches down and large puddles along the parade route, though none were obstructive enough to affect the celebration. The parade began at 9:00 am approaching the corner of Main Street and Spring Street by the Marion Town House.
Leading the parade were the Wareham Minutemen and Militia Company followed by the Marion Select Board. Chair Randy Parker, Vice Chair John Hoagland, and Clerk Norm Hills were present with matching outfits, hats, and star-spangled-banner ties.
Veterans rode in a US Army Willys Jeep, followed by trucks from the Marion Highway Division and one towing a float with more veterans on board. The Marion Art Center (MAC) showed off their purple and white balloon adornments, and Marion Scout Troop 32 joined in, waving flags and passing out candy.
Many community-based participants and floats followed, featuring the Friends of Jack and joined by area merchants and service providers. A train of Jeeps, Broncos, classic Chevy trucks, Ford station wagons, and antique cars also rolled through. Acting as the caboose was the Marion Fire Department’s Ladder #1 fire truck, sporting a US flag grill at its front. The truck blared its horn to the cheer of many, though some did cover their ears.
Opposed to the hectic storm the night before, Friday’s great weather and smiles all around led to a massive success for the parade.
Marion Independence Day Parade 2025
By Sam Bishop