MATTAPOISETT — As the Mattapoisett Town Election nears candidates for two contested races are facing off to discuss how they would address the concerns facing the Board of Health and the Old Rochester Regional School Committee The Town Election will take place on Tuesday Board of Health incumbent Michelle Bernier is running for her second term against newcomer Douglas Schneider a civil engineer who has been involved in developmental business for 40 years Bernier said she’s running for reelection because she has “a few irons in the fire that we’ve started the last three years and I’d like to continue to work on them and see them to fruition.” Schneider chose to run because he believes it’s time for him to give back to the community and with his experiences working in civil engineering he felt that the Board of Health was the best place for him “I’ve had the opportunity to read almost every single regulation the town has but because of needs for clients and projects that are going on,” he said Key issues the Board of Health is facing include new Title V regulations issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regarding denitrification septic systems and waste bans in addition to the need to hire a new health nurse The new regulations for denitrification systems would include updating septic systems which Schneider and Bernier said they are knowledgeable about “I bring to the table my experience in the development world of understanding some of the aspects of a transfer station,” Schneider said Bernier said that her time on the Board of Health for the past three years has taught her a “great deal” about septic systems when the waste ban goes into effect in about a year the town will need to switch to composting This is a challenge Board members will need to address which Bernier said the town doesn’t currently have the resources to handle Both Bernier and Schneider said training a new health nurse would be a challenge they could handle Newcomers Betsy Stewart and Nina Datschkovsky-Ennis are running against each other for one seat on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee Datschkovsky-Ennis explained she chose to run because she wants to help “ensure our school supports every child’s potential — academically Her agenda includes investing in strengthening civics education addressing students’ mental and physical health needs and to “ensure that our schools reflect the values of this community and prepare our children for real world success.” engaged citizens with respect for diverse perspectives and a commitment to the democratic process,” Datschkovksy-Ennis said Datschkovksy-Ennis said she is also running because she would like to see stronger communication between parents and administrators especially in regards to curriculum content and how the budget is being used “You shouldn’t need to be an insider to know where your money is going,” she said Datschkovksy-Ennis said she would “dive deep” to determine how taxpayer dollars are being spent specifically what percentage is reaching classrooms and how much is getting lost in “layers of administration or programs with no measurable results.” Stewart said she’s running for the Old Rochester Regional School Committee seat because she believes in the value of public education “Our public school system must prepare students for tomorrow’s opportunities and challenges,” Stewart said This would include ensuring all students have the resources they need to succeed so “we’re not losing children in the gaps,” Stewart said Stewart said that her priorities for the School Committee include “accelerating learning growth lowering the town’s burden from budget reform ensuring student safety and increasing civil discourse.” Stewart said one priority of the budget should be maintaining the building so children are in a safe environment all day Stewart referenced a current safety concern regarding heating and cooling in the buildings “Doors are being opened and safety protocols are being compromised,” she said staff salaries and healthcare are “always” going to be a big part of the school budget “Maintaining and keeping a great staff is always going to be a priority for the School Committee and should be,” she said MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Republican Town Committee is hosting its monthly meeting on Thursday Guest speaker David Ladd from Our Rescue will share insights at the event at 7:30 p.m Our Rescue is an organization that fights to prevent sex trafficking and child exploitation online Attendees will be informed about the signs of sex trafficking and exploitation and how to take action a cash bar and conversation will be provided at the meeting For further information, contact Chairperson Paul Criscuolo by emailing PCMattyGOP@proton.me we learned a new Hollywood movie was filming on the SouthCoast and now we know where Deadline.com broke the news about the indie dramedy featuring famous faces like Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy) and SNL alum Kevin Nealon, and thanks to the film's Facebook page we know exactly where filming in taking place Though titled The Weekend on Cape Cod When Everything Changed much like last summer's alleged Cape Cod filming of The Perfect Couple the movie is actually using a property in Mattapoisett it is using the same exact property in Mattapoisett when the film shared photos of its SouthCoast film location we instantly recognized the place as the same home used in the fall's extremely popular Netflix series READ MORE: Netflix's Perfect Couple Scores a Second Season Crews were on site at the house on Goodspeed Island and outside the Town Wharf General Store on Water Street over the weekend Clearly this will be a film that will be using lots of local spots before things wrap up so spending time in Mattapoisett could allow you to see this movie being made The story itself is of an Iranian immigrant who accepts the proposal of her billionaire boss's son in order to stay in the U.S. but the green card wedding becomes so much more Filming will likely last several more weeks and no word on when or where the film will ultimately be released A Mattapoisett home that was previously used to film the Netflix series 'The Perfect Couple' is now the setting for a new dramedy film.\nRead More Deadline.com broke the news about the indie dramedy featuring famous faces like Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy) and SNL alum Kevin Nealon, and thanks to the film's Facebook page we know exactly where filming in taking place READ MORE: Netflix's Perfect Couple Scores a Second Season NEW BEDFORD — Next week, filming for the independent drama “The Weekend on Cape Cod When Everything Changed,” featuring Joey Lauren Adams (“Chasing Amy”) and Kevin Nealon (“Weeds”) starts filming in Cape Cod and Mattapoisett The production company put out a post asking for people to sign up to do background acting the movie spins the tale of a wide-eyed Iranian immigrant who agrees to a wedding proposal from her billionaire boss’ son to stay in the United States What begins as a straightforward green card marriage evolves into much more when her close friends along with their own partners and cultural baggage Ceramics to woodcut prints: New Bedford Art Museum unveils two new groundbreaking exhibits "Thank you for expressing interest in supporting “The Weekend on Cape Cod When Everything Changed” as background talent Our main filming locations are in Mattapoisett Please keep that in mind while filling out your availability.” The message noted that a few scenes will require being on set overnight to shoot a beach wedding Those chosen for the beach wedding scene are asked to bring outfit options with them on the days of filming While this is an uncompensated opportunity participants are rewarded with film credits meals and the chance to witness the behind-the-scenes magic Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter:@ChitwoodReports Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today MATTAPOISETT (WBSM) — Another iconic SouthCoast eatery is on the market as Mattapoisett’s Oxford Creamery is up for sale The Route 6 landmark famous for its lobster rolls, clam chowder and delicious ice cream is going for $1.5 million Pontiff confirmed to WBSM that the reason for the sale is that the current owners Currently, Oxford Creamery operates from March to October, according to its Facebook page a new owner may want to choose to be open for more of the year “This business property has so many possibilities to offer including expansion and year round operation,” the real estate listing suggests Oxford Creamery currently serves up a full menu of fried seafood A post shared by Cliff (@jcstrutz) A post shared by Oxford Creamery (@oxfordcreamery) There are also over three dozen flavors of ice cream available as well Oxford Creamery also serves up old-fashioned lime rickeys A post shared by Oxford Creamery (@oxfordcreamery) and it first opened up as Gulf Hill Ice Cream in 1931. The  Ackermans purchased the business in 2003 A post shared by Oxford Creamery (@oxfordcreamery) We reached out to Oxford Creamery for details but have not yet heard back It is one of multiple SouthCoast staple eateries that have been put on the market in recent months Area restaurants have also recently found new owners, such as Ice House in Fairhaven and Olneyville N.Y. System in Providence Gallery Credit: Stacker Mattapoisett's iconic Oxford Creamery has gone up for sale, offering the chance to buy a SouthCoast business with nearly a century's worth of tradition.\nRead More MATTAPOISETT (WBSM) — Another iconic SouthCoast eatery is on the market The Route 6 landmark famous for its lobster rolls, clam chowder and delicious ice cream is going for $1.5 million Currently, Oxford Creamery operates from March to October, according to its Facebook page A post shared by Cliff (@jcstrutz) A post shared by Oxford Creamery (@oxfordcreamery) <\/script>There are also over three dozen flavors of ice cream available as well A post shared by Oxford Creamery (@oxfordcreamery) <\/script>The building was constructed in 1925 A post shared by Oxford Creamery (@oxfordcreamery) Area restaurants have also recently found new owners, such as Ice House in Fairhaven and Olneyville N.Y. System in Providence - Percentage of adults who like it: 15%\r\n- Percentage of adults who say it's their favorite: 1% Cake batter ice cream was first introduced to the world thanks to Cold Stone Creamery in 2003 it has gained popularity for being a playful twist on the nostalgic flavor of cake batter itself Who doesn't have happy childhood memories of licking cake batter off of serving spoons MATTAPOISETT— Topics such as expanding the Select Board to five members roadway repairs and building renovations will be voted on in Mattapoisett’s spring Town Meeting on Monday Town Meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m in the Old Rochester Regional High School auditorium Other Post Employment Benefits liabilities and the general operating budget There are also a number of revolving funds on the agenda including for electric vehicle charging stations police department vehicles and for memorial bricks Voters will decide whether to increase the Mattapoisett Select Board from three to five members This citizens’ petition was submitted by Nicki Demakis chair of the Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee who said that increasing the Select Board to five members would encourage more diverse perspectives reduce the risk of deadlock votes and the impact of conflict repeals and also avoid Open Meeting Law violations While expanding the Board would increase costs Demakis said she’s been told that these costs could be covered by the town budget three Select Board members will be elected in the first Annual Town Election following the act’s passage The candidate who receives the highest number of votes would serve a three-year term the candidate with the second highest number of votes would serve a two-year term and the person who receives the third highest number of votes would serve one year Once the terms of Select Board members expire successors would be elected for three-year terms Mattapoisett Highway Building renovations. For the past three years there has been a leak in the roof of the Mattapoisett Highway Building Now the Mattapoisett Highway Department is requesting $4,000,000 to pay for renovations the project would also include new office spaces improved bathroom facilities and a new break room According to Town Administrator Michael Lorenco the building hasn’t had any major work done to it since the 1960s “I welcome anybody to walk through that building and tell me that we don’t need to do work on it,” he said The impact on the average taxpayer would be approximately $52 per year the town is now looking for $1,300,000 to complete a drainage project Funds would come from raising and appropriating The impact on the average taxpayer would be approximately $30 per year Residents will have the chance to vote on a request to amend the bylaw for parking trailers on public roads Lorenco said there are two reasons for this proposed bylaw: one if a trailer needs to be moved but isn’t connected to a vehicle then situations that are “cumbersome” can occur and two Permanent easement Pearl Street. Pearl Street is receiving upgrades from the intersection of County Road to the intersection of Church Street which will include widening the road from 22 feet to 24 and constructing a sidewalk that complies with ADA standards The existing saltwater collection system will also be fully replaced Voters will be asked to authorize the Select Board to acquire land needed to complete this project public utility and temporary construction easements There are also six proposals that would be funded through the Community Preservation Act The Community Preservation Committee has recommended the transfer of $250,000 from the CPA Undesignated Fund to the CPA Community Housing Fund which could be used in the future for the acquisition preservation and support of community housing in the Town of Mattapoisett The Community Preservation Committee is looking for $45,000 to preserve rehabilitate and restore the Museum Carriage House on Church Street Improvements would include constructing a universal access entrance on Baptist Street and improving ADA entrance accessibility Voters will be asked to appropriate $10,000 to restore up to 35 antique and historic gravestones at Hammond Cemetery Funds would come from either the CPA Historic Preservation Fund or other available Community Preservation Fund revenues Historical Commission. In November 2024, the Mattapoisett Historical Commission completed the first stage of a community-wide survey of the town’s historical and cultural resources Now the Commission is looking to enter a services contract with a preservation consultant to complete a survey plan Entering this contract would cost $30,000 and come from either the CPA Historic Preservation Fund or from other available Community Preservation Fund revenues The Florence Eastman American Legion Post 280 is looking for $10,544 to rehabilitate the Depot Street Legion Hall by providing building insulation by MassSave and a ramp handrail system The Old Hammondtown School is looking for $17,500 to establish a school-based community garden as an outdoor classroom Voters will be asked about appropriating $150,000 from Available Free Cash for several projects and expenses including improvements to the math curriculums at Center School and Old Hammondtown School townwide APA improvements and to match funds for several anticipated grants Funds would also go toward replacing a deteriorating bucket for the Highway Development’s loader and hiring a consultant to assist with MS4 compliance requirements but word in Mattapoisett is that another Hollywood production will be filmed in the quiet seaside town this spring and the movie will star a familiar Saturday Night Live alum You may remember the buzz around Mattapoisett a couple of years ago when A Perfect Couple was filmed at one of the waterfront mansions on Goodspeed Island The lavish home and shoreline were used as a stand-in for Nantucket—apparently filming on an island comes with a host of logistical difficulties The miniseries starred Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber scheduled to continue into June—until the Hollywood writers' strike got in the way the crew continued shooting until they eventually stopped after threats of picketing It seems that Hollywood has come back to take another bite of the Mattapoisett apple. According to Deadline filming began this week in Massachusetts on a romantic dramedy titled The Weekend on Cape Cod When Everything Changed Something tells me that’s a working title that may change The big names in the movie include Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy) and Kevin Nealon (Saturday Night Live in the 1980s and 1990s, Weeds). According to IMDb the story follows a wedding between an immigrant and her billionaire boss’s son in order for her to stay in the United States they are meant to direct people to the movie set and catering It's happening again, Mattapoisett will be the backdrop for another Hollywood film. It stars a familiar Saturday Night Live alum.\nRead More It seems that Hollywood has come back to take another bite of the Mattapoisett apple. According to Deadline The big names in the movie include Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy) and Kevin Nealon (Saturday Night Live in the 1980s and 1990s, Weeds). According to IMDb Ever wanted to own your own piece of Mattapoisett history? Now is your chance as The Oxford Creamery is up for sale The landmark at 98 Country Road known for serving up mouthwatering lobster rolls, delightful seafood dishes, and, of course, tasty ice cream has been listed for sale at an asking price of $1.5 million. the nostalgic 1,262-square-foot building on over half an acre of land has been a go-to stop in the summer months for a frozen treat or a quick dinner for decades The Oxford Creamery first opened as Gulf Hill Ice Cream in 1931, and according to its website was a stop for soldiers going to Camp Edwards to get a summertime cone it has been under the ownership of Ken and Liz Ackerman who have made a conscious effort to preserve the same recipes and sentiments that have been cherished for almost a century According to the listing "Oxford Creamery is synonymous with joy" and now is your chance to buy a "well-established business with a devoted customer base." The listing also notes that the property " has so many possibilities to offer including expansion and year-round operation." MATTAPOISETT (WBSM) — Hollywood has once again descended upon the small town of Mattapoisett Massachusetts but even movie stars get hungry for some comfort food now and then Joey Lauren Adams, who is in town to film The Weekend on Cape Cod When Everything Changed stopped by Pandolfi’s Mattapoisett Diner earlier today for some breakfast The Chasing Amy and Big Daddy star casually strolled in and quietly asked if she could sit at the counter “I didn’t really see her face,” said Sheri Bird “I said yes and that I would be right over.” READ MORE: Hollywood Returns to Mattapoisett for Another Movie Shoot Adams is known for her distinctive voice, which a critic once referred to as “sex-kitten-on-helium.” Bird said that when she took her drink order and heard Adams’ voice “She ordered a water and as soon as I heard the voice I think that’s Joey,’” she said “When I went back to take her order Bird said that Adams ordered scrambled eggs with sourdough toast well done home fries and a side of coleslaw Bird asked her to sign a menu for diner owner Brian Vose who had been hoping for a visit from Adams while she was in town “I didn't get to talk to her because we were very busy and I was alone in the kitchen,” Vose said “(Bird) didn't want to call attention to her so she could enjoy her meal.” she waited on some professional wrestling legends while working at Ogils in Fall River “I don’t remember their names but all the kitchen guys were pretty excited,” she said “My family lives in California though so I’ve interacted with and seen plenty of celebs and (Adams) has to be one of the nicest ones We definitely hope she makes it back in before they wrap up.” READ MORE: You'll Definitely Recognize the Mattapoisett Property in New Movie Bird said she “definitely was not expecting to see” Adams today but that crew members from the film had been in numerous times to eat or to use the restroom It’s also not the only local diner to get a taste of Hollywood; back in 2014, Mill Pond Diner in Wareham was used for the filming of Ted 2 Pandolfi's Mattapoisett Diner got a visit today from movie star Joey Lauren Adams, in town to film 'The Weekend on Cape Cod When Everything Changed.'\nRead More Joey Lauren Adams, who is in town to film The Weekend on Cape Cod When Everything Changed READ MORE: Hollywood Returns to Mattapoisett for Another Movie Shoot Adams is known for her distinctive voice, which a critic once referred to as “sex-kitten-on-helium.” Bird said that when she took her drink order and heard Adams’ voice READ MORE: You'll Definitely Recognize the Mattapoisett Property in New Movie It’s also not the only local diner to get a taste of Hollywood; back in 2014, Mill Pond Diner in Wareham was used for the filming of Ted 2 MATTAPOISETT — For the last two years, Rustico has been serving its patrons scratch-made food with locally sourced ingredients and seasonal craft cocktails shared on social media on Monday that they would be closing their doors this week “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Rustico after two wonderful years of being a part of the community,” reads a post on their Facebook page “Despite our passion for delivering exceptional food and service — and the incredible support and loyalty we’ve received from all of you — current economic challenges have made it unfeasible for us to continue operating.” Rustico was originally opened in 2018 as an artisan pizza shop serving takeout a year later it had a full dining room and menu but ultimately the pandemic impacted the restaurant and in 2021 it closed its doors Patrons were thrilled when in 2022 when it was reopened by Jessica Moore, who also owns Pub 6T5 in New Bedford Moore kept the beloved artisan pizza and added elevated farm-to-table menu items with the freshest ingredients — she even added a dog menu for furry friends visiting the deck in the summer Carmines at Candleworks set to close: What's happening at downtown New Bedford restaurant The post thanked customers for the relationships and laughter shared during the past two years asking them to stop in this week to get a taste of their favorite meal one last time and give the staff a chance to say goodbye “Thank you for making these past two years unforgettable,” the post said the moments we’ve shared will always remain a part of our story.” welcoming “inquiries regarding partnerships or a full purchase of the business and property.” MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Land Trust has extended the deadline for the Blanche B The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Mattapoisett resident graduating from Old Rochester Regional High School Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School or Tabor Academy by June 2025 The student must also be planning to pursue an education in science Application forms are available online at https://mattlandtrust.org or in the guidance offices of the aforementioned high schools The recipient of the scholarship will be notified the week of May 27 and will not receive the award until they provide an official transcript of their completed first semester of college there’s been a leaking hole in the roof of Mattapoisett Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer’s office The roof is rapidly deteriorating and often exposes the facility to the elements The crew has attempted to seal it with “a gallon pail of roof patch,”  like putting a band aid on a bullet wound This is just one of many infrastructure issues that the highway department deals with on a day-to-day basis leading the team to start renovating their existing facility which hasn’t had significant improvements since the 1960s limited accessibility and significant weather damage are currently hampering the department’s ability to efficiently work Emergency responses to highway crises are handled directly from the facility as well as snow and ice operations and highway equipment and vehicle storage “It’s become increasingly clear that a modern facility is essential to improving our emergency response capabilities,” said Bauer The cost was initially estimated at $2.5 million for facility improvements and is now up to a projected $4 million The department will seek approval for $4 million worth of funding at the annual Town Meeting and also plan to use free cash to offset costs Bauer says the renovations are vital to the department’s operations this facility plays a vital role in servicing the community,” said Bauer so does the need for an updated and more efficient space.” The construction will be done in three phases Phase one was completed in February and consisted of adding new compliant flooring and floor drains in addition to installing a sprinkler system to assist in fire suppression Phase two and three will be executed at the same time with construction supposed to begin in fall Improvements will include adding garage space improved bathroom facilities to accommodate 10 department employees and a new break room The department will also move the office to the front of the building to improve accessibility for the public “It’s tough to say” when construction will be finished the facility will have all their renovations done by late summer 2026 Bauer hopes that the improved space will help the department’s “functionality MATTAPOISETT — After years of being a base of public safety Mattapoisett’s old fire station at 26 County Road will soon serve a different purpose The property was purchased earlier this year by Sakonnet Properties a real estate development company owned by Mattapoisett resident Paul Downey On the cover letter of Downey’s bid to purchase the property Downey said he plans to use the building for office space “I am pursuing the subject property as a permanent home for my development companies as well as additional commercial office space,” said Downey “The fire station has always been a landmark in town and I plan to largely keep it intact while improving the vehicular circulation on the property My proposal would project the feel of a Cape Cod office building.” Another bid to purchase the property was submitted by Marion resident Mike Sudofsky Mattapoisett’s Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special building permit for Sakonnet Properties on Feb “The applicant wants to use this building the way it is meaning they will not be adding on but fixing up what is existing for a multi-use commercial space on the first floor and a residential unit on the second floor,” said Steven Gioiosa who was representing Sakonnet Properties at the meeting Gioiosa added “the expansive pavement in front of the building and the south side will be eliminated and replaced with landscape.” Work on the exterior of the building is currently underway Downey did not respond to multiple requests for comment MATTAPOISETT — The School Committee races are contentious this year with two seats open for the Mattapoisett School Committee The Old Rochester Regional School Committee has one seat available — two are running Time is ticking towards the election held Tuesday May 20 — less than two months remain before residents can cast their votes Candidates can take out nomination papers until Friday All information provided is valid as of Monday There is one spot open on the Select Board Chair Jordan Collyer has taken out papers for reelection The Mattapoisett School Committee has the most candidates running this election season with only two open seats available Incumbents Cristin Cowles and Amanda Hastings have both taken out papers for reelection— only Cowles has returned them Charles Motta and newest addition to the list Mackenzie Emmons March 20 — there have been no papers returned from the newcomers One seat is available on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee — Rosemary Bowman is up for reelection Both newcomers running — Nina Datshovsky-Ennis and Betsy Stewart — have returned their papers the Trustee of the Public Library has two seats available and two people running Incumbent Michael Rosa and newcomer Jeanne Hopkins are vying for the two seats Incumbent Lizanne Campbell is running for reelection for the Moderator and runs unopposed without returning papers yet The Water/Sewer Commission has two open seats — newcomer Mason Maithieu has taken out papers Incumbent Dana Lebaron Barrows has yet to take out nomination papers Herring Inspector and Tree Warden all have one seat open with incumbents Michele C All candidates are running unopposed and none have returned papers King is the only candidate running — he has not returned papers The Community Preservation Committee has two seats open and two incumbents running unopposed Michelle Hughes and Charles William McCullough have not returned their papers yet If all candidates return their papers and continue on in the process the final day to withdraw or object is Thursday The last Day to register to vote for the annual Town Election is Friday The Town Clerk’s Office will be open from 8 a.m to 5 p.m The Town Election will be held at the Old Hammondtown School 8 a.m MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Tree Committee and Highway Department helped a new memorial take root at Center School to honor the legacy of longtime teacher Bill Spark who passed away from leukemia in 2009 Following an Arbor Day Observance Ceremony at Town Hall a flowering Stewartia tree was planted in front of the school next to a remembrance plaque with Spark’s name on it Known to his friends and family as “Sparky,” he worked in the Mattapoisett School System for over 30 years as a sixth grade teacher and kindergarten teacher before passing away husband [and] teacher,” said his wife Janice Spark who was in attendance at the ceremony His brother Anthony Spark said it’s an honor to have his brother’s legacy remembered in such a lasting way He would be very proud,” said Anthony Spark A crowd of Mattapoisett residents and Spark’s family gathered in the grass around the front of Center School as the Mattapoisett Highway Committee planted the tree and positioned the plaque next to it said the day’s events were accomplished with support from the town and the highway department in particular the work of Assistant Tree Warden Chris Nadeau “We appreciate the support that the town gives us for Arbor Day,” said Souza MATTAPOISETT — Following the abrupt resignation of previous Mattapoisett Library Director Colleen Tierney in November 2024 the Library Board of Trustees has been in search of a permanent director to fill the role Two candidates will move forward to the next step of the hiring process and meet with the Select Board on Tuesday following interviews with the library trustees that took place on Tuesday Texas-based librarian Jenny Martin was the first candidate chosen to meet with the Select Board for the next stage of the hiring process The Library Trustees have not chosen their second candidate as of Monday With the new set of contenders for the role Mattapoisett officials are looking to create a more rigorous hiring process in order to find a suitable long term director The three candidates being considered for the position are Martin Martin has worked as a librarian and library media specialist for more than 11 years at Northwest Independent School District which serves more than 32,000 students across 35 campuses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area according to information from LinkedIn and the district website Martin is also a published author of a young adult science fiction book titled “Tracked.” “I liked her level of intelligence and her ability to articulate her thoughts very clearly She’s also pretty experienced,” said Mattapoisett Library Trustee William Coquillette Michael Slawson previously worked as a library director at Kingston Public Library leaving the position to become library director at Plympton Public Library in 2021 Candidate Nicole Davignon currently works as library director at Freetown Public Libraries “We’re looking for a high standard,” Coquillette said but being able to create programming that really engages the community — I think we’ve been successful doing that — but we want to see that continue and we need to do a strategic plan in the relatively near future.” He explains that the intensive hiring process has undergone several phases including an initial search process headed by a special screening committee who recommended potential candidates deemed appropriate for the position the process was narrowed down to the three candidates currently being considered The Select Board requested to meet with two candidates rather than just one in order to thoroughly assess how each potential hire will fit the role Previous library director Tierney left the position after working for only eight months attributing her resignation to internal conflicts with the town of Mattapoisett and “concerns for the safety of the staff and myself,” according to a statement sent to Sippican Week from Tierney At the time, there were some disagreements relating to the Lamb of God Christian Church’s usage of public library space to host Bible studies. In mid-December, the Select Board placed a moratorium on the use of public meeting spaces in town buildings but it is not clear if this action was prompted by the conflict with the church The Select Board will interview the two candidates on Tuesday April 22 to determine who is best fit for the role and move forward with the hiring decision following their analysis “The Mattapoisett Library is a wonderful institution and so we need a high quality director,” said Coquillette MATTAPOISETT — The Nemasket Group has appointed Jenny Duval as its new executive director Duval brings nearly two decades of leadership experience in the nonprofit and public administration sectors to the role In her most recent position as vice president of Care Coordination at Family Service Association Duval oversaw a team of 150 staff across 10 programs Adult Day Health and Long-Term Services and Supports Her leadership was instrumental in developing innovative programs and expanding existing services ensuring greater access for older adults and individuals with disabilities to resources that promote independence where she led efforts to enhance service delivery for Medicaid participants particularly those requiring long-term care As the statewide director of the Family Resource Centers under the Department of Children and Families she managed 22 centers dedicated to supporting children and families Duval was responsible for behavioral health services for children and families across the Southeast region including Early Intervention and Adult Foster Care Her strategic leadership fostered service expansion and improved outcomes for families navigating complex care systems as executive director at United Neighbors of Fall River Duval spearheaded community engagement initiatives addressing local needs through collaborative strategies and innovative interventions to enhance the quality of life for residents families and individuals has earned her numerous accolades including the Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service and the Chamber of Commerce John S Brayton Community Service Recognition Award She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Nonprofit and Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Graduate Certificate in Community Human Service Management from Suffolk University "I am deeply honored to have been selected by The Nemasket Group's Board of Directors to serve as executive director," Duval said in the announcement "This organization’s unwavering commitment to providing personalized flexible support that empowers individuals to live and build relationships within our communities is truly inspiring I am thrilled to lead such a dedicated and talented team of staff and partner with such committed board members who share a profound belief in the strength and potential of every person we serve we will continue to walk alongside those we support The Nemasket Group is an organization that provides support and services to individuals with disabilities and their families aiming to empower them to lead fulfilling lives within their communities MATTAPOISETT – A 26-year-old Mattapoisett man was struck and killed in South Boston while walking in a South Boston crosswalk Sunday Jan Noah Curtis Greany was fatally struck about 9:24 a.m which then hit a building that houses Small Victories restaurant The driver and passenger of the vehicle were injured where he was known for his academic excellence and athletic prowess he pursued a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology and then a masters degree in bioinformatics enterprise at Northeastern University “He continued to demonstrate his intellectual curiosity and commitment to advancing in the sciences,’’ according to the obituary “His academic journey reflected his deep interest in understanding his current project and he was excited about the potential to contribute to the future of his field He was employed at Hayden Consulting Group in Boston where he was recently promoted to consultant his maternal grandparents Paul and Nancy (Corcoran) Lambalot his paternal grandparents Gardner and Carol (Holden) Greany MATTAPOISETT — The property west of Acushnet Road had been used to cultivate cranberries for about eight decades when the nonprofit Buzzards Bay Coalition acquired it in 2011 were retired at that time from cranberry farming with an agreement between the property’s prior owner and federal government that the natural wetlands there be restored the vision to revitalize the wetlands is nearing fruition which were closed to the public for a little over a year due to construction and the site’s trail network has been renovated the 55-acre site was a “checkerboard” of dikes according to Buzzards Bay Coalition project manager and restoration ecologist Sara Quintal Removing those manmade components that had been installed at the site over the years of cranberry cultivation — the dikes pavement — restored the wetlands’ resources and a more natural flow of water “By erasing that checkerboard and letting the water flow on its own we really restored a resilient landscape that can roll with the punches as far as what Mother Nature has coming down the pipe,” she said The project also serves to restore and protect water quality and quantity of the aquifer underneath Mattapoisett — an aquifer that provides drinking water to five different towns so whenever you can slow water down and lead it into a wetland and let it infiltrate slowly it has the ability to be as pure as it can be,” she said Animals like salamanders and turtles and birds like egrets mallards and killdeer are all present at the Mattapoisett Bogs And in the wetland grow naturally occurring vegetation like water lilies and sedges we’re really able to see life bounce back beautifully,” she said The steep surfaces of the 13 former cranberry bog cells and the berms between them were shaped and contoured to create shallower slopes and smoother transitions for wildlife and vegetation “Nature rebounds amazingly when you give it a chance,” Quintal said “And so we basically gave it a nudge by removing those manmade elements.” While the restoration project aims to benefit the natural land and habitats at the site there’s also a benefit to humans — not only from the water improvements but due to the increased recreation access on the property Five bridges and two boardwalks installed in the property’s trails serve to make the restored wetlands “interesting and accessible” and allow people to get close to and travel over them When the Buzzards Bay Coalition acquired the site in 2011 the requirement to restore the area’s wetlands — made between the cranberry bogs’ former owner and the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service — was a directive it went into “knowingly and enthusiastically,” but planning takes time and after a year of excavation and construction at the site the Mattapoisett Bogs are reopened and restored An official grand opening event with speakers and guided tours at the property is scheduled for Monday MATTAPOISETT — Jack Matthews knew from the time he was in high school at Old Rochester in the early 1960s that he wanted to write a book Matthews was visiting his hometown of Mattapoisett when an idea suddenly hit him “I came down to Mattapoisett for a long weekend walking along the wharf and boom — I had an idea,” said Matthews “I ran back to grab my laptop and that was the start of it.” Matthews’ debut novel “Arte Perdida” was published About half of the mystery novel takes place in Mattapoisett after art is stolen from a German museum and makes its way across the Atlantic Matthews graduated from Old Rochester in 1964 and is now a Connecticut resident often returning to Mattapoisett to visit the place he grew up His mother would take him to the Mattapoisett Library when he was young which Matthews said started a love for books I always thought everyone was from a cool little hometown where everybody was friendly and everybody helped each other out,” said Matthews It wasn’t until he moved away from Mattapoisett when Matthews realized that it was a special place Matthews’ love for Mattapoisett struck an inspiration for a story that he long sought “I was always told ‘write what you know,’" said Matthews the stolen art that the plot of Arte Perdida surrounds touches down in the Azores and Newfoundland Matthews visited these places while writing to give himself a better idea of the settings to help him better describe them in the book “I could’ve gone online and found a couple of pictures and winged it but I wanted it to be really accurate Matthews eventually halted working as a college professor to fully focus on writing Matthews says Arte Perdida has been successful and spends time teaching others how to write novels in Connecticut He hopes that Mattapoisett residents can find excitement in reading a story that takes place in their hometown there is nothing like Mattapoisett,” said Matthews If you've ever seen the yellow "Mattapoisett Is Special" bumper stickers you may be wondering: what exactly makes Mattapoisett so special Proulx has been working at the Mattapoisett Post Office since shortly before September 11 he has only known one way to be with the general public: upbeat and chipper Even on his worst days, Proulx is a ray of light in the Mattapoisett Post Office "I like the fact that the post office is part of the United States of America It's vital to a small town like Mattapoisett especially with the good people in that place and the surrounding areas," Proulx said Proulx made one of the most difficult decisions of his life "I have been having a little problem with my legs Standing on his feet all day probably hasn’t helped READ MORE:  The Story Behind Mattapoisett's Iconic Bumper Stickers Proulx will continue on a journey he started 40 years ago His goal is to become a Protestant minister "I'm taking courses in seminary right now I'll eventually become a Protestant minister," he said "I've always had the call; it's been 40 years in the making." Proulx hopes to become a minister in the United Church of Christ while I'm a bit conservative," he said "But I usually play life without politics." He has about 18 more months of seminary left and hopes to find something not too far from Mattapoisett While April 30 is Proulx's official last day he doesn’t think he’ll be at the post office Gallery Credit: Michael Rock Earlier this year, Dennis Proulx made one of the most difficult decisions of his life: retiring from the Mattapoisett Post Office and pursuing the ministry.\nRead More READ MORE:  The Story Behind Mattapoisett's Iconic Bumper Stickers One of the rarest breeds of goats can be found right here on the SouthCoast The Arapawa goats at Pine Meadow Alpacas are not only hard to come by Two baby goats have joined the herd at the Mattapoisett farm on Monday her name is Moonshine," said Lauren Paine, Animal Educator at Pine Meadow Alpacas "She's had around six or eight babies born on our farm over the last six years." The fact that these goats are in our own backyard is a big deal The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has deemed the Arapawa goat as "critically close to extinction." with about 200 of them in the United States and you can see a small herd at Pine Meadow Alpacas "We actually found them on Craigslist," Paine said with a chuckle as she recalled how they came into the farm's possession years ago they discovered they were fully registered and in need of a new home. If you're wondering if they're the real deal The Arapawa Association actually performed DNA tests to determine that they were This unique breed dates back to the 1700s when Capt James Cook left some of the goats on New Zealand's Arapawa Islands during his travels "So they ended up taking over the island and becoming a feral goat," Paine said "They took two herds to the United States and one came to Plymouth Plantation," Paine said. "All of our Arapawas from our herd go back to that original herd at Plymouth Plantation." You can visit the new Arapawa goats (and more baby goats of other breeds) at Pine Meadow Alpacas' Open Farm Dates Pine Meadow will host Open Barnyard days Thursday "They can sign up on our Facebook page and they can feed the animals and see the baby goats," Paine said The new baby Arapawa goat twins aren't named yet but Paine said they're open to suggestions Pine Meadow Alpacas in Mattapoisett, MA has some of the rarest goats in the world. Only 700 Arapawa goats exist and you can see them at this local farm.\nRead More "They can sign up on our Facebook page and they can feed the animals and see the baby goats," Paine said MATTAPOISETT — Mattapoisett resident Louis Casi is originally from the island of Martinique He was one of about three dozen who swam Wednesday 25 at Mattapoisett Town Beach in support of Helping Hands and Hooves a local nonprofit that provides therapeutic horseback riding lessons for adults with disabilities The water wasn’t as cold as Casi was expecting It was about 30 degrees when the swimmers ran quickly in and out of the water The rule was participants had to go all the way in — including their heads “If the tide was a little higher it would be even better Casi has been swimming in the Christmas Day plunge with Helping Hands and Hooves for five years according to Helping Hands and Hooves co-founder Debbi Dyson “Every time I enjoy it very much,” Casi said A few thousand dollars are usually raised for the nonprofit each swim She and fellow co-founder Julie Craig also partake in the plunge “You can’t ask people to and then not do it yourself,” Dyson said “The only way you get out of it is if you're deathly ill,” Craig said Mattapoisett residents Dominic and Doreen Philie There’s “a cold shock the second you hit the water,” Dominic Philie so we wanted to come and support them,” Doreen Philie said Dyson said one year they had to shovel a path to the water through snow Craig said the worst part of the plunge is one’s feet running out to the swim After we posted a story about Yelp's top seafood markets in the New Bedford area last month, readers shared their thoughts, agreeing that Turk's Seafood in Mattapoisett restaurant and sushi bar have been a staple in the community for many years for this fishing family Here's what one reader wrote: "You missed Turks Seafood Market in Mattapoisett on Rt 6 Excellent fresh seafood with reasonable prices The market is part of Turks Restaurant which is one of the best and most popular places around!" "My favorite fresh seafood market is Turk’s in Mattapoisett," another reader wrote "Turks Seafood market and restaurant great for quality and prices," said another reader Turk's Seafood has been in the Pasquill family since 1983 when the late Richard Pasquill started the business down the road from its current location at 83 Marion Road in Mattapoisett Richard Pasquill and his son are known as “Big Turk” and “Little Turk,” according to the younger Pasquill’s daughter noting that it was her grandmother's idea to open the restaurant "My grandfather started as a fish schlepper on the dock so that's the tie-in with the fresh food," MacDougall said The Pasquills have a wholesale license where they go down to the dock they are all cutting fresh fish off the boat from the morning," she said YELP'S SUGGESTIONS: Here are the top 7 New Bedford-area seafood markets, according to Yelp MacDougall said her family also has really close connections with smaller boats so in the lobster season the people who own one or two boats come in and her father buys lobster from them has grown up in this business and doesn't know it any other way Turk's Seafood closes for the season on Dec. 14. "Make sure to visit us before the end of our 2024 season! After December 14th you will have to wait until March to chow down on all your Turk's favorites," Turk's noted on their Facebook page. Business hours for the seafood market are 10 a.m Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com MATTAPOISETT — Mattapoisett favored Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election Mattapoisett favored Democrat Mark Sylvia over Republican Joe Pires in the race for state representative of the 10th Bristol district — a district that also includes Marion 3,254 Mattapoisett voters voted yes and 1,369 voted no for question one which asks if the state auditor should have the authority to audit the state legislature which if passed would eliminate passing MCAS exams as a high school graduation requirement 2,829 in the town voted yes and 1,967 voted no which if passed would allow transportation network drivers asking if certain natural psychedelics — psilocybin mescaline and ibogaine — should be legalized which if passed would raise the minimum wage for tipped workers to $15 and allow tips to be pooled with all employees In the Senate race between incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Warren and Republican challenger John Deaton 2,459 voted for Warren and 2,359 voted for Deaton In the House of Representatives race between incumbent Democrat Bill Keating and Republican challenger Dan Sullivan 2,699 voted for Keating and 2.056 voted for Sullivan About 81% of Mattapoisett voters turnout for the election MATTAPOISETT — The Holy Ghost Reuse Committee is looking to resurrect the original spirit of the 7.8 acres land that was once used as a community gathering space religious holidays and public events on the grounds were documented as far back as 1934 the grounds have become a ghost town after almost a decade of no usage since Mattapoisett purchased the space in 2016 The 7.8 acres of land located at 18 Park Street will be renovated for “open space and recreation purposes” by the Holy Ghost Reuse Committee The exact usage for the land is still to be determined with the committee currently gauging community interest and feasibility where over 550 completed questionnaires determined community interest The most popular options for renovation were walking loop and picnic area with both gaining an over 60% approval rating with the playground being the third most popular at over 50% The least popular options include an amphitheater pickleball court and basketball court due to potential noise and lack of clarity on the mitigating measures that could be put in place to reduce noise a member of the Holy Ghost Reuse Committee states that the committee is currently seeking grants to move forward with the project A walking trail would be one of the more affordable options for the town because it could potentially be done in part by volunteers The Holy Ghost area “currently consists of some concrete masonry units a new restroom facility and some wooded areas,” according to Ketchel “One of the things that the committee does think needs to be investigated further is the condition of those buildings,” said Kethel “They are definitely aged and kind of show it.” Another obstacle to construction is parking The narrow build of Park Street and lack of available parking would make it difficult for residents to drive to the destination in its current state “There’s a driveway that goes through the site but something more organized and defined would need to be considered in these various uses on the parcel,” said Ketchel the next step in the process is to find a professional land surveyor to help delineate where it would be suitable to place the facilities so they don’t overlap with wetland resources Ketchel says the grounds could become a great benefit to the community “That site has the potential to become a centralizing recreation point for members of the community and surrounding community,” said Ketchel “So I think having something like that in town would be a net benefit.” the Mattapoisett Lions Club rescheduled their Ned’s Point Lighthouse egg hunt for Saturday No registration is required for this event and it is free to participate Attendees will meet at 50 Ned’s Point Road in Mattapoisett for the hunt While restoring 55 acres of natural wetlands at The Bogs at Mattapoisett River Reserve native seeds that existed on the site before it was a cranberry bog were uncovered The seeds only needed to be released by exposing them to water and sunlight new plants will re-emerge as part of the $2.8 million restoration The property was acquired by the Buzzards Bay Coalition in 2011 from Decas Cranberry to permanently retire 55 acres of cranberry bogs and restore the natural wetlands It also protects the public drinking water for Mattapoisett What land was sold: Mattapoisett River Valley celebrates public drinking water protection Buzzards Bay Coalition Executive Director Mark Rasmussen said the group is proud to have met its water quality goal with protections for the drinking water supply and natural resources and that the community will have new recreational opportunities to enjoy "We got into this to protect water quality we're really proud of how it has been accepted by the community,” he said “People love the site and are connected with the site." Residents were surveyed about what they would like to see on the property Rasmussen said one message they heard loud and clear was a desire for people to be able to walk their dogs on the property because the grower used to allow it and they hope there will be ice-skating in the future on one of the ponds Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration Director Beth Lambert said restoring and protecting diverse wetlands and watersheds for the benefit of people and the environment is an endurance sport and this project is a model for other projects to follow two boardwalks along a 2-mile trail network and clean water all in one place "You all are in for a treat," she said at Monday’s grand opening "It's really when the heavy equipment leaves the site and Mother Nature takes over that the real inspiration and awe of these projects comes to you."   Kayaking, crabbing, exploring: Buzzards Bay Coalition programs teach kids to enjoy nature She said visitors will be able to witness a wetland healing itself and next spring and summer and for years ahead the site will continue to evolve with different plants different flowers and different insects taking over the site State Conservationist Dan Wright with the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service was also at the site at 141 Acushnet Road along with local state and federal agencies Decas called the Buzzards Bay Coalition in 2009 offering the nonprofit 220 acres of land including 55 acres of bog and 165 acres of forest and wetlands to protect the drinking water supply for approximately 30,000 people Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com MATTAPOISETT — The town of Mattapoisett placed a moratorium on the use of public meeting space in town buildings Tuesday comes after the town has faced some complaints issues and controversies on the use of public space something Mattapoisett currently has no rules or regulations on according to Town Administrator Mike Lorenco As the town works to create a set of regulations it was advised by legal counsel to place a moratorium on using public space The moratorium does not apply to appointed or elected town committees Buildings affected by the temporary prohibition include town hall the water/sewer department and the police department Mattapoisett Select Board member Tyler Macallister said there have been “two significant issues over the last 60 days,” which have prompted the town to create regulations The Select Board declined to comment on what those two issues specifically were the decision to issue a moratorium on using public meeting space in Mattapoisett comes in the wake of a legal challenge faced by the town regarding the use of Ned’s Point and the Mattapoisett Free Public Library by a local church the Lamb of God Christian Church operated by Pastor Mathew Vangel In response to action taken by the American Center for Law and Justice the town of Mattapoisett signed a memorandum of understanding with Vangel in October outlining that he could use the community meeting room at the library 17 by the Select Board does not apply to the library Policies regarding use of library spaces falls under the purview of the trustees Macallister said creating regulations was “the right thing to do.” “We need to look at it because town space can’t just be used for any use,” Macallister said “We’ve got to kind of understand the use in advance and right now we just didn’t do a very good job understanding what was happening The goal is to understand what’s going on in the town facility before it starts.” The moratorium will remain in place until new policies regarding use of town building public meeting space are approved It’s expected the Select Board will vote on those rules and regulations in January or early February It’s also expected there will be a public comment period on the proposed new rules beforehand It’s official: Turk’s Seafood is reopening on Wednesday While it's not a statewide holiday (yet) it is certainly an unofficial Tri-Town holiday winter nights are long and cold in Mattapoisett The reopening of Turk’s is part of what it means to live in the Tri-Town and the return of Turk’s Seafood are all signs that spring is back Turk’s has learned to balance tradition with innovation the restaurant doesn’t want to change a thing; why mess with success a business like Turk’s can quickly become dated and stagnant if it never evolves That’s why Turk’s always tries to bring something new to the table with each opening day guests will notice a different type of wall at the front of the dining tent They’ll also see one of the most unique ways to serve scallops they’ve ever encountered Turk’s has purchased escargot trays – not for snails but for one of its most popular items: locally-sourced bay scallops “They fit perfectly into the 12 spots on the trays,” owner Richard Pasquill said “I’ve never seen another restaurant do this We’ll be serving the bay scallops with escargot butter and pairing the appetizer with cocktail forks to make it easy to share.” The one thing Pasquill needs help with is what to call the new appetizer Just when you thought you've seen scallops prepared in every way possible, Turk's Seafood in Mattapoisett has a new twist.\nRead More With almost three months to go until election day May 20 in Mattapoisett The deadline for candidates to take out nomination is Friday Jordan Collyer has taken out papers to run for select board No other candidates have requested papers as of Feb Two seats are open for Mattapoisett School Committee and newcomer Nicole Demakis have requested nomination papers Hastings did not immediately respond to comment on whether she plans to run One seat is available on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee Incumbent Rosemary Bowman has not yet taken out nomination papers and did not immediately respond to comment on whether she plans to run Newcomers Betsy Stewart and Nina Datshkovsky Ennis have requested nomination papers In the race for two seats on the Trustees of Public Library Fellow incumbent Michael Rosa and non-incumbent Jeanne Hopkins have taken out papers Town moderator Lizanne Capper Campbell has taken out papers for re-election One seat is open for Water/Sewer Commissioner Incumbent Dana LeBaron Barrows has not requested nomination papers Newcomer Mason Mathieu has taken out papers One position is open for the Board of Health and Planning Board Incumbents Michele Bernier and Nathan Ketchel Newcomer Mike King is the only candidate to request nomination papers so far for constable Incumbent Herring Inspector Jonathan William Wilbur has not yet requested papers for re-election No other candidates had expressed interest for the post as of Feb Tree Warden Roland Cote has requested papers for re-election Two positions are available on the Community Preservation Committee Incumbent Charles William McCullough has taken out papers Cary LeBlanc has taken out papers to return as assessor I knew she would be coming home with me," Mattapoisett's Molly Urquhart said That was her immediate reaction when meeting her rescue dog "Tessa has had a tough upbringing," Urquhart said "She is very anxious and shy and gets spooked easily." Her timid nature caused her to be spooked on the morning of Tuesday running away and pulling her leash along with her "I notified animal control right away," Urquhart said a drone company who searches for lost pets but It was too windy for the drone to fly that night so I asked a couple people to post on Facebook about Tessa being missing just hoping to get a couple extra eyes out there." The community then began to rally to come to Tessa's aide "It was actually my day off and I had gotten a call from my supervisor to go bring a dog that was at the police station to its owner and when I got there one of the police officers said 'oh there's two lost dogs,'" said Thomas Gomes Deputy Natural Resource Officer for the Town of Mattapoisett Getting a call about a lost dog is "pretty routine stuff" according to Gomes "I asked where the second dog was and there was a bunch of people for Tessa and she was running around and no one could seem to catch her," he said "As soon as I get a dog or a lost dog I immediately go to (Facebook group) Mattapoisett Life it's the towns little gathering social media spot," Gomes said "Mattapoisett absolutely loves their animals and they're enthusiastic to help any time." The Facebook group was following Tessa's adventure every step of the way "I was searching the streets of Mattapoisett until 2:30 a.m but I wasn't alone," Urquhart said "The Mattapoisett police were out in droves and circling neighborhoods where she had been spotted." The search continued with those on foot and in the skies "She was very distraught when Tessa ran away," he said Aromin grabbed his gear and quickly got to work I went to test it out and got my first dog and since then we're nearing 150 dogs just with the drone finding the dog." He was hoping he could add another pup to that list "What the drone detects is heat signatures We're able to track our targets on the ground quicker than on eye level," Aromin said Urquhart and many more continued to report sightings of Tessa while Kera Burba shared updates on Facebook Tessa had only been with her family a short time; she was still getting acclimated to the area – and the winter weather was harsh it had been four nights that she had been missing and it was brutally cold outside But I wasn't giving up and neither was the community," Urquhart said "One resident brought cooked hamburgers to leave outside in an attempt to lure Tessa in Hundreds of residents continued searching the streets and one resident offered to search the wooded area on horseback." and it was then five days into the search "I remember getting my gear ready that morning It was around 6:30 and my hands were cold immediately," Aromin said "I remember thinking 'I hope Tessa's somewhere safe and warm.'" A neighbor spotted Tessa around 7 a.m. Aromin got the drones into the air and began relaying directions to Urquhart we made eye contact and she immediately came towards me," Urquhart said and it was clear she hadn't eaten in days." "I gave her the biggest hug and she melted right into me," she said The way the community of Mattapoisett came together is nothing short of inspiring "There are no words for how grateful I am for the Mattapoisett community and everyone who stepped up to help bring Tessa home," she said she had a warm bath and devoured an entire rotisserie chicken My kids and I are beyond blessed that she is back home with us." Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins Residents of Mattapoisett worked together to find a missing dog. The search went on for days and luckily had a happy ending as dog and owner reunited.\nRead More MATTAPOISETT — Today, Netflix released all six highly-anticipated episodes of "The Perfect Couple," a new series filmed in a luxurious Mattapoisett estate Starring A-list celebrities Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Dakota Fanning, Eve Hewson and Billy Howle, this mystery drama follows the events surrounding a lavish wedding that goes horribly wrong, according to IMDb.com. The series centers around the Winbury estate, a luxurious home on Goodspeed Island. This real-life estate served as the main filming location for several scenes offering viewers a glimpse into its 5,700 square feet of extravagance the home's stunning views of the harbor can be seen from almost every room Going through a phase: Don't miss the Super Harvest Blood Moon in September. Next one won't happen until 2042. audiences will also get a chance to see the estate's spacious kitchen elegantly decorated bedrooms and outdoor area complete with beach chairs and dining area The plot of "The Perfect Couple" centers around a wedding that turns into a murder investigation when a body is found in Nantucket Harbor just hours before the ceremony With all members of the wedding party becoming suspects tension and suspicion loom over the coastal town 'Part of the DNA of New Bedford': AHA! celebrates 25 years and looks ahead toward 25 more. While most of the filming took place in Cape Cod the series also features scenes from Eastward Point and the quaint island of Nantucket Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Find out more about him at sethchitwood.com MATTAPOISETT — For 8-year-old Ava Gagliardi and her mom Kelly taking self-defense classes is a matter of health and safety which Kelly describes as the “number one” priority for her family “It makes us feel better by knowing what moves to do if someone walks up to you and they don’t stop,” said Ava She even teaches her friends different self-defense moves she learned in class when they hangout Ava and Kelly attended the free self-defense class taught by South Coast Self Defense in Mattapoisett on Sunday 16 and have been taking classes at their gym in New Bedford for about a year “I think South Coast Self Defense is amazing,” said Gagliardi They are a great community very accepting of all different fitness levels.” South Coast Self Defense is a martial arts and self-defense gym opened by David Eaton in 2013 “I never anticipated opening a gym,” said Eaton The self-defense trainer works a full-time job at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health as an abuse investigator in addition to owning and operating the gym at night “I didn’t get into martial arts until I was 30 and it was because I was tired of the gym and working out,” said Eaton Eaton compares a self-defense class to insurance for life stating that preparation and anticipation is key to safety It’s not about being paranoid — it’s about being prepared,” said Eaton Women of all ages gathered in the Mattapoisett Knights of Columbus center gym where they were led through a series of exercises and scenarios that required self-defense with the funds going toward the New Bedford Women’s Center The South Coast Self Defense Gym prioritizes making sure their classes work for people of all ages and physical abilities with Eaton often urging participants to adjust the exercises in ways that work for their bodies “We have classes for everyone and for different age levels,” said Eaton We have a lot of people who couldn’t go back to the gym or run because of back issues and knee issues so we cater the training toward people’s limitations because we want people to be able to feel better about themselves.” Eaton encourages participants to recognize their own strengths and channel them when training you might be older and that doesn’t mean that you don’t have strengths in a situation where it’s speed It’s just a matter of finding them and figuring out what they offer each of us.” Eaton informed participants about the reality of assault and how to better anticipate defending oneself in an emergency situation Women from the ages of 16 to 24 years old have a 25% chance of being physically assaulted by someone they know the people in our neighborhood,” said Eaton Eaton understands he’s working with people who may have experienced past trauma and the experience may be triggering because you may be training with someone who does have a trauma history,” said Eaton The class in Mattapoisett featured three different defense techniques taught by Eaton South Coast Self Defense head coach Bobby Dickinson and Mattapoisett Police Officer Lenira Lima Participants learned to break free from hair pulling bar grip chokeholds and getting grabbed from behind in a bear hug practicing sharp palm strikes and kneeing while taking direction from the trainers Eaton’s program emphasized self-defense instead of going on the offensive stating the importance of “being prepared for a situation that may never happen to you.” Eaton took questions from the group about self defense where they asked about specific scenarios and learned more about what they can do to help themselves in a dangerous situation He also spoke about how this class is only a step in the process of learning how to defend yourself “As hard as everyone’s working and as attentive as everyone is To those who have never taken a self-defense class he recommends starting in an environment where they feel most comfortable “I understand it can be intimidating taking that first class “Find the right place that you feel comfortable with I just think it’s a great skill set but also a great workout as well.” Macallister has been fishing for over 40 years He knows a thing or two about bluefin tuna fishing this isn’t the first television show to feature him and his crew Macallister is the captain of the Cynthia C 2 out of Mattapoisett Harbor and has been fishing since he was 17 years old "I caught a bluefin on my very first fishing trip when I was 17," Macallister recalled The captain finds fishing the Atlantic so exhilarating that he compares it to crack No one has ever accused him of being too politically correct His very first harpoon shot at a bluefin tuna landed a 500-pound catch worth roughly $2,500—not a bad day’s work We wondered if the show accurately represents what actually happens out on the water so there are a lot of nuances to it." admits he’s never worked a day in his life—because he loves bluefin hunting that much "I don’t care about the hours or how long it takes I just love being out there," Espindola said the exhilaration on the face hiding behind his grizzly beard "Bluefin tuna fishing with a harpoon is truly hunting," said the Captain "We’re on a tower in an elevated position We do use a spotter plane from time to time to assist us it’s really about the crew running the boat and the guy on the front end deciding which fish to take." One of the most important skills to have while bluefin tuna fishing is patience "The three of us on the Cynthia C 2 are all deer hunters so we’re used to being patient for hours in a tree stand New episodes of Harpoon Hunters can be seen Fridays at 9 on the Discovery Channel.  Or you can stream Harpoon Hunters on Discovery + A Mattapoisett fishing boat captain and his first mate from Dartmouth star in Harpoon Hunters on the Discovery Channel.\nRead More MATTAPOISETT — In a unanimous vote Tuesday night the Mattapoisett Select Board voted to proceed with Bill McGrady in their search for a new Building Commissioner and will start by making reference checks McGrady began working in construction when he was 17 years old working his way up from a builder to a building official and becoming building commissioner certified obtaining teacher certification as well as a construction supervisors license He has also been a building inspector since 2005 in Swansea as a commissioner and in North Attleboro McGrady has the necessary certifications for the position and has experience with the Federal Emergency Management Agency which Select Board member Tyler Macallister said is “a pretty big animal” and a “pretty important” part of the role McGrady re-iterated the importance of putting the town and its residents “first and foremost.” I know that my job number one is to protect the town,” he said He added that he considers one of his strengths to be his desire to make sure people are “getting serviced the way they’re supposed to be a phone call or some type of a suggestion.” Brandon Maroney also interviewed for the position While Maroney has 25 years of experience working in construction he had less experience with the Federal Emergency Management Agency than McGrady and didn’t meet all of the certification requirements McGrady’s answers were head and shoulders above,” said Select Board Chair Jordan Collyer MATTAPOISETT — Doug Powers was in Munro Preserve at the afterparty to an annual May fundraising bike tour themed around ice cream when he went into cardiac arrest Fellow riders and bystanders performed CPR on Powers, who had earlier completed the 22-mile ride of the Mattapoisett Tour de Creme First responders found him “pulseless and not breathing,” Mattapoisett Police Chief Jason King said defibrillation and “relentless work” of responding police and emergency medical services personnel Powers regained his heartbeat prior to arriving at the emergency room in New Bedford Those lifesaving measures made by first responders and community members to Powers were recognized Tuesday “If it was not for the early recognition and intervention by the bystanders on scene and the hard work by all first responders Powers being here today would be greatly diminished,” King said Twelve people in total — seven first responders and five community members — were recognized with certificates from the American Heart Association The emergency personnel included police officers paramedics and the harbormaster department said he wanted to thank the first responders “for what they do daily.” crafted a wooden coat rack with starfish hooks which he presented to Harbormaster Isaac Perry and Assistant Harbormaster Luke Mello A plaque on it read “A gift from the Powers family to the first responders of Mattapoisett.” “Although something went very wrong that day there were so many things that went very right and that was having all of you guys in the right place at the right time,” Gary Powers said Doug Powers also said he would be donating to the Mattapoisett police “to give forward to other people in town.” “I just want to thank everybody for what you did that day,” he said Mattapoisett holds off on formation of roadway project committeeWednesday Funding of Mattapoisett road project comes into question at MassDOT info meetingTuesday Responsibilities drafted for Mattapoisett roadway project committee Wednesday Updated: Road project committee petition rouses debate at Mattapoisett Town MeetingTuesday Learn about Mattapoisett roadway project with Tree CommitteeMonday Mattapoisett roadway plan would impact 26 roadside treesWednesday MATTAPOISETT — A one-way designation is no longer under consideration for Water Street in the reconstruction project planned for the streets of Mattapoisett Village VHB representative Greg Russell confirmed at the Select Board meeting Tuesday Water and Beacon streets as well as Marion Road with the aim of providing Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks stormwater filtration systems and the replacement of an aging gas line The project is estimated to cost $16 million funded entirely by federal and state funds according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Mattapoisett Police Chief Jason King said his department had concerns with the proposed one-way causing increased congestion to the town center and heightened safety risks to drivers it would affect the response time of emergency services which was first applied for in 2013 and slated for construction in 2028 has also generated discussion in the town in part because it would require the removal of 31 “hazardous” trees that line the streets of Mattapoisett Village An updated plan for the sidewalk design was shared at the meeting that Russell says looks to provide logical sidewalk connectivity while minimizing the impacts to trees and private properties The plan has the sidewalk running from Route 6 down Main Street and Water Street on the North/East side with some areas having sidewalks on both sides The sidewalk then switches to the South/West side in order to provide ADA-compliant access to the beach It then switches back to the North/East at Marion Road Russell said removal of trees could be completed in phases before the start of the project so that they are not all removed at once adding they can begin coming up with a plan on how best to replant the corridor He also noted that the gas main will be replaced prior to the project — Eversource and the Department of Transportation are in the process of doing that now The water main will also be replaced as part of this project While initially no traffic calming measures were being considered the public expressed interest in seeing some at the Tuesday meeting and those comments will be considered moving forward Russell said the Department of Transportation is looking to hold a Design Public Hearing this spring with more details about the meeting coming soon MATTAPOISETT — Nicki Demakis’s new citizen petition could transform the way the Mattapoisett government operates which she believes would be of the best interest for the town’s citizens Demakis has been paying attention to the changes around her noticing that Massachusetts towns like Fairhaven Concord and more have expanded their Select Boards from three members to five members Seeing the benefits of a larger Select Board Demakis created a citizens petition that proposes to increase the number of members on the Mattapoisett Select Board from three to five If the petition reaches 10 physical signatures the expansion will be voted on by Mattapoisett residents at the annual town meeting on Monday “We have a changing demographic and it would be nice to be able to expand the Select Board to allow for other individuals who might bring differing life experiences to be able to contribute that to the Select Board.”  Mattapoisett Select Board member Jodi Bauer commented on the petition stating “There are certainly some citizens that feel an increase of two more seats on the Select Board is of value for our town It is the vote of the Town Meeting to decide on such a change I will certainly support the will of the citizens at the town meeting.” Select Board Chair Jordan Collyer and Vice Chair R Tyler Macallister have not yet responded to requests for comment Demakis outlined several reasons she supports the expansion including increased collaboration between members improved workflow and avoiding potential conflicts Demakis believes that there will be more consideration put into voting on issues and changes to the town “You’d have to win a vote with three versus two and I think it would require greater deliberation and collaboration amongst the members,” said Demakis She also outlined that with five members on the board it would allow for two members to meet outside of public settings without violating the Open Meeting Law The Massachusetts Open Meeting Law currently prohibits two members of the Mattapoisett Select Board from meeting to discuss work privately This law ensures that all meetings with a majority of the Select Board are open to the public two members would be legally allowed to meet and discuss matters privately because it is not a majority of the board Demakis believes that allowing 2 members of the board to discuss matters in private will help increase the workflow of local government and create effective change quicker “The Select Board typically has a long list of projects and priorities many of which remain unaddressed or incomplete for years due to the limited capacity of a three-member board,” wrote Demakis in a letter-to-the-editor about expanding the board she expressed her concern with a three-member board whose members have full-time jobs stating that an expansion could help work get done quicker as it would be split amongst a larger group She also explained that expanding the Select Board could potentially help with avoiding conflicts of interest as a group of five would have a greater diversity of opinion and background Demakis described the petition as a “completely non-partisan non-political ask of the voters of the town.” “I just hope that folks will critically think about the benefits of expanding our Select Board and opening up the opportunity for more people to get involved in local government When she returns from a business trip in early March Demakis plans to stand outside the post office in Mattapoisett and ask for citizen support and signatures a pizza-and-more restaurant on Route 6 in Mattapoisett A Facebook post made by the owners cited “current economic challenges” as the reason why Rustico originally opened in Mattapoisett in 2018 before changing ownership two years ago the Rustico owners “welcome inquiries regarding partnerships or a full purchase of the business and property.” The post has received an abundance of support from the community “We are proud of the journey we’ve shared with you the memories created and the relationships we’ve built,” read the post laughter and encouragement every day and we are grateful to have been a part of your lives.” Residents are invited to have one final meal at the restaurant this week “to say goodbye in person” “Thank you for making these past two years unforgettable,” it said Rustico will be open from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m MATTAPOISETT — Nobody understands the message better than a pig farmer It’s a message that hasn’t changed in the nearly a decade and a half that King has preached it: Local sustainable food systems — in an industrial food society — are important King is the proprietor of Wyandotte Farm on Route 6 The pigs feed on food from Fieldstone Farm Market and are processed less than 20 miles from the farm; the chickens are processed in Rhode Island then come back to Mattapoisett some of that food from the local and sustainable system “farmer Mike” preaches is available along a well-traveled Mattapoisett road Wyandotte Farm opened a stand on North Street in July Sold at the stand is protein from Wyandotte “It takes a community to support a farm,” King said “We haven’t had a community space for our farm until we got this spot.” A farm stand operated by a man named Gary Rego formerly occupied the space leaving a “a hole in the area,” according to King “Hopefully we can fill in that void,” Cameron Newcomb The 7-and-a-half acre property also contains a house There are also plans to potentially plant crops at the site and anybody that comes here that can’t afford to eat is going to not leave here hungry,” King said “They will be fed because we have plenty of food The items available at the stand vary by the day A whole chicken that had been “clucking Thursday morning” was available for customers that Sunday afternoon The freezer on site also held a pork shoulder “It’s the lowest carbon footprint protein money can buy in this area Supplementing Wyandotte’s wares of meats at the stand are items from other farms “Most farmers don’t grow everything that they sell at their farm stand,” King said Newcomb said the farm has had “tremendous luck” with the number of customers visiting the stand UPDATED: Five alarm fire at Mattapoisett boatyardFriday MATTAPOISETT — For Mattapoisett Boatyard co-owner David Kaiser it felt like a nearly foregone conclusion from the general public that the more than 60-year-old family business would be sold after a fire left his boatyard in charred destruction and injured an employee But Kaiser had a boating community to serve and a business to operate The fire came and went — destroying the facility — but the Mattapoisett Boatyard remained “Rebuilding was the only option,” Kaiser said 19 marks two years since an accidental six-alarm fire at the business on Ned’s Point Road spread to six buildings 14 boats and close to 50 vehicles before it was contained by the efforts of more than 100 firefighters from across the South Coast The 2021 fire also severely injured employee Phil Macomber A symbol to the Mattapoisett Boatyard’s recovery in the almost 730 days that have followed is hard to miss at the property A new building with an area of over 10,000 square feet is expected to be completed by the end of the year About 40,000 square feet of building space was lost in the fire; the new construction will “consolidate everything,” David Kaiser said “We can’t wait to put everything in one spot,” he said the boatyard hasn’t turned down work and has “hardly skipped a beat when it comes to getting the work done,” according to David Kaiser While all land-based operations were completely wiped out waterfront operations were “100% unaffected” by the fire expenses for the Mattapoisett Boatyard have risen in the last year parts and materials lost in the fire — uninsured losses — all needed to be replaced “You never think you have enough insurance We’re clawing our way back when it comes to that Taking all of our resources and putting it toward everything that we need.” not one employee of the business’s core team has left who said they’ve “really been able to just keep on.” it’s brought everybody closer together,” he said returned to work at the boatyard in May 2023 Four employees dragged Macomber hundreds of feet out of a burning building during the blaze “Knowing that at any time that building could collapse that they were putting their own lives on the line to save him While the Mattapoisett Boatyard has had to work with “peanuts” compared to what it possessed prior to the 2021 fire Ned Kaiser said it was “a really cool feeling” to have made it two years since He said “there’s nobody to thank but” the whole boatyard team “because they’ve all stuck through it.” When the new building at the boatyard opens at the end of this year it will house many of the business’s various departments A meeting space on the second floor will serve the Mattapoisett Yacht Club Standing between the new building and the water of Buzzards Bay Ned Kaiser said he “can’t imagine” how many other businesses or people “would have just called it after” the fire “It’s a proud moment to be able to say that we’re still doing as well as we are right now,” he said