New Library Director Named

Distances vanish with today’s computer programs that allow meetings to take place with participants thousands of miles apart. And so it was on April 24 when the Mattapoisett Select Board met (remotely) with Colleen Tierney, finalist for the vacant position of Mattapoisett Free Public Library.             After the interview, the board recessed to Executive Session […] Read more »

Little Library Getting New Home

The regional advocacy group Tri-Town Against Racism (TTAR) is relocating the mail-box-sized “Little Free Diverse Library” that once stood in front of the Rochester Plumb Library to the Rochester Women’s Club building, 37 Marion Road, with a grand unveiling on Saturday, May 4, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.             Rhonda Baptiste, vice president of […] Read more »

Sports a Small Slice of Squires’ Ambition

A fledgling Division I college sports program can rarely accept a student-athlete’s commitment that comes with complications, but Hannah Squires is a rare student-athlete so her request to take two weeks off from the Stonehill University women’s hockey team was considered by coach Lee-J Mirasolo as an opportunity for Squires and the Easton-based school.             […] Read more »

But I Read It on Facebook!

The Internet has led to democratization of information access. Information that was locked away in libraries or simply not readily available to most of us can now be found with a simple search.             Along with that, however, has come a flood of misinformation. When you do a Google search, the leading links may be […] Read more »

Leaf Blowers, Chain Saws, Detours and Cicadas

There has been much to worry about, large and small, happening in the world these days: bridges collapsing, airplane doors falling off, wildfires, flash flooding and noisy cicadas.             But fear not, spring is here to soothe the soul. It is the season that brings us daffodils and crocuses, the warm sun caressed by cooling […] Read more »

Miraculous Story of Raj Comes Full Circle

            They say it takes a village to help a child in need.             Rajesh “Raj” Shahi, in the early 1990s was destined for a life of poverty as a beggar with a hunchback – until a special village in Massachusetts came to the rescue.             He had a spinal curvature issue – kyphoscoliosis – […] Read more »

Walega Was Key to Growth of Public Health

            Karen Walega was the Marion-Rochester Health District director from 1989 until retiring from that position in 2020, and she has served as Rochester’s health director since then.             When she fully retires on June 23 at age 66, she’ll be able to boast successfully guiding Marion and Rochester through 35 years of developments in […] Read more »

Bird Flu – Time to Panic?

What is bird flu? It is an influenza virus, related to the seasonal flu viruses that plague us every winter but one which predominantly spreads among birds. The specifics are that is an H5N1 form of influenza. (Those letters and numbers describe certain proteins on the virus surface and vary quite a bit from year […] Read more »

Specially Processed American Meat

            I like Spam!             There, I’ve said it. I like Spam. That would be Spam with a big “S”, not spam with a small “s”. No one likes spam with a small “s”. Spam with a small “s” is junk that fills your email inbox with unsolicited commercial jetsam of useless garbage.             Spam […] Read more »

Spring Show Surprises

Surprises are in store for you art lovers. Just go to the Marion Art Center – where else! The MAC’s spring art exhibit features two artists whose works are as different as is possible to conceive but whose backgrounds are rich in a variety of artistic expression. Bernie Klim works are primarily acrylic on canvas. […] Read more »