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Former Bristol County District Attorney Paul Walsh Passes Away
Former Bristol County District Attorney Paul F. Walsh, Jr. has passed away. Walsh served 16 years as the county district attorney. He defeated incumbent D.A. Ron Pina in 1990, garnering 61.7 percent of the vote against Pina (38.3 percent), who was still reeling from a lack of progress in the investigation into the New Bedford highway murders, among other issues.
New Bedford Mayor disappointed NEFM council’s decision to halt work on the Northern Edge
“Mayor Jon Mitchell issued the following statement on the New England Fishery Management Council’s decision to halt work on the Northern Edge:. “I am disappointed by the New England Fishery Management Council’s decision last week after scant public notice to reverse itself and halt further discussion of the opening of the Northern Edge scallop access area.
Former Fall River city councilor, Bristol County Commissioner, Mayor of Maplewood, Melvin Earle Gaudette has died
He sometimes had ideas that were different than the norm and there was never a doubt that he was a Fall River man through and through who gave decades of service and used his intelligence to better the city. According to an obituary, Melvin Earle Gaudette died recently just shy...
New Bedford’s New $21 Million Pedestrian Bridge Taking Shape Over Route 18
NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — The brand new pedestrian bridge being constructed over Route 18 in New Bedford is beginning to take shape. The arches that span the length of the bridge have now been installed, and drivers can now see exactly what the bridge will look like when it comes to life ahead of the beginning of South Coast Rail service in New Bedford.
The wait is almost over! Ollie’s New Bedford location to hold grand opening event
For weeks the New Bedford Guide inboxes have been getting peppered by people who are excited about the idea of the city having its very own “Ollie’s Bargain Outlet” which describes itself as “America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise & excess inventory!”. For those of...
Fireworks to light up Silvershell Beach
MARION — With the summer heating up and Independence Day quickly approaching, Silvershell beach will soon be awash in reds, whites and blues of the town’s annual firework display on Saturday, July 6. The show typically starts around dusk, according to Marion Executive Assistant Donna Hemphill. This year’s...
Sounds of summer return at annual concert series
Summer is here, which means the annual concert series will return to Middleboro and Lakeville. A variety of styles of music will fill the air at the free weekly performances. Middleboro Friends will once again sponsor the summer concert series Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Town Hall lawn, weather permitting.
Town ‘pulls the plug’ on Tremont Pond
Toward the end of April, residents of the neighborhood surrounding Tremont Pond noticed the 50-acre body of water drained, almost like the plug had been removed from a bathtub drain. “The water in the Tremont Pond dam impoundment suddenly drained,” said Weaver Street resident Lisa Lindman. The draining left a...
How Taunton Became Known as the ‘Silver City’
Taunton was incorporated on September 3, 1639, not long after the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts in 1620. Originally a town, Taunton was among the oldest in the United States. Taunton was founded in 1637, two years before its incorporation, by members of Plymouth Colony. Taunton's original boundaries included Norton, Easton,...
Water woes: Select Board calls for end to reliance on New Bedford water
Since 2022, Dartmouth’s reliance on New Bedford water to fill gaps during the dryer months has steadily become a hefty expense for the town and the Select Board wants to see that change. For 2025’s budget, the town allocated $1.4 million for New Bedford water, but it wasn’t too...
Governor Healey announces $27 million in Fall River, Springfield, Worcester, other communities to create hundreds of new housing units
LOWELL – Today, Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus announced $27 million in Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) awards to create 547 total new units in 11 Gateway Cities across the state. “We expanded the HDIP program in our tax...
Old Rochester subcommittee violates Open Meeting Law
MATTAPOISETT — On a Tuesday in March 2021, the Old Rochester Regional School District Equity Subcommittee held a two-hour long public meeting. The meeting minutes – the formal record of the committee’s activities – spanned 63 words. The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General found those...
Centennial coins mark the ‘minted’ memories of town residents
Not everyone lives to see 100 years old. And the Select Board will now be acknowledging those from Dartmouth who have reached or will reach this milestone in their lives. Select Board Chair Shawn McDonald said, “I just thought it would be something a little bit different for the Board and community to honor those who make it to that tremendous number.”
77th Horse Show to be held at a ‘Marion Treasure’
MARION — The 77th annual Marion Horse Show will be held on Sunday, July 7 at 8 a.m. at Washburn Memorial Park. According to the event website, the show was first held in 1947 as a fundraiser for local youth groups. Participants of all ages will be able to...
Fairhaven Police Hold Free Summer Giveaway With ‘Popsicles in the Park’
FAIRHAVEN (WBSM) — Free frozen treats are continuing to make their way across the SouthCoast. Just last week, the New Bedford Police Department offered free ice cream during their ice cream social across different neighborhoods. The Fairhaven Police Department is now giving back to the community with "Popsicles in...
State announces season’s first mosquito sample positive for EEE
(WGGB/WSHM) -- State officials have announced that Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has been detected in mosquito samples for the first time this year. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) said that the samples were collected on June 30 in Carver. As a result of the finding, the risk level for EEE is now moderate for Carver, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Plympton, and Wareham.
Two founding members and an original IPA headline land trust’s 50th
MATTAPOISETT — Eleven people formed the Mattapoisett Land Trust in 1974. Fifty years later, the surviving two of those 11 were honored at a party Sunday, June 30 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the organization. Town and state officials spoke at the event, like State Representative Bill Straus, who...
Fall River Superintendent Tracy Curley: $186 million in school-related funding approved
FALL RIVER — Superintendent Tracy Curley has announced that the Fall River City Council and Mayor Paul Coogan has approved $186 million in school-related funding for the 2024-2025 academic year. The city budget, which took effect Monday, includes a $175,770,406 appropriation for the schools and $10,897,280 for school transportation....
Commentary: Use of Antiquities Act's exceeds its intent
In New Bedford, Massachusetts, sits an old chapel: the Seamen’s Bethel, built in 1832 for sailors to visit and pray before heading out to sea. Herman Melville visited the Bethel before going on a whaling trip; he featured it in Moby Dick, calling it “a Whaleman’s Chapel” filled with “moody fishermen.”
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