MIDDLEBORO — Urgent care services are now available at Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center in Middleboro Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth officials have announced opened earlier this year and also offers primary care services from several Beth Israel Lahey Health primary care providers Patients can receive treatment for non-emergency, but urgent, injuries and illnesses at the urgent care center. Walk-ins are available, but patients are also encouraged to reserve an appointment online at bilh.org/locations/bilh-urgent-care-middleborough. Beth Israel Lahey Health “is committed to providing 70% of the care we deliver in the community within 10 years and projects like the BILH Care Center–Middleboro will be key to meeting that goal,” said Kevin Coughlin “We’ll continue to grow the services offered here to ensure we are meeting the needs of the surrounding community.”  The company is “excited to begin the next phase of operations at the BILH Care Center – Middleboro by providing urgent care services,” said Terry Giove “This expansion of services will help deliver specialized care in the community Beth Israel Lahey Health plans to open specialty services at the care center in the coming year which will be provided by clinicians from Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth Hours of operation for urgent care are Monday-Friday NEW BEDFORD — Dave Portnoy founder of Barstool Sports and creator of the infamous "One Bite Pizza Reviews," has begun to reveal his scores during a recent tour of pizza parlors on the SouthCoast His most recent episode, featuring Central Cafe in Middleborough takes one bite on the sidewalk and gives it a rating out of 10 "One man with a lot of power": How SouthCoast pizza shops handled a Dave Portnoy visit In the Oct. 24 video, Portnoy said his stop at Central Cafe wasn't just a regular review, since he accidentally stumbled into a Super Bowl party for the Middleborough Cobras. The a semi-pro football team in the New England Football League won its Super Bowl the night before Set sail with Captain Jack Sparrow: New Bedford Food Tour hosting pirate-themed pub crawl and even a coveted staff T-shirt that only a select few receive he tried Central Cafe's cheese pizza and rated it 7.9 out of 10 Portnoy can be seen taking a bite of the front and crust side of the pizza praising it as a "great bar pie" that was a bit fluffy for his taste The Cobras' victory added to the excitement of the review with Portnoy proclaiming that it was a "huge day for Middleborough." rose to fame as the founder of Barstool Sports With his charismatic personality and viral pizza reviews Portnoy has become a well-known figure in the sports and popular culture world The footage of Portnoy's visit to Central Cafe in Middleborough has already gained thousands of views, hitting 100,000 by Thursday afternoon showcasing the power and influence of his pizza reviews A good review from Portnoy can be a game-changer for a small business often selling the business out after the review airs Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Find out more about him at sethchitwood.com Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today MIDDLEBORO — Massasoit Community College is reinvesting in its Middleboro instructional site through the appointment of Karyn Boutin as dean of its Middleboro campus The college also plans to offer more courses and student services beginning in the fall of 2025 Massasoit’s Middleboro site is located at the Dr The building has been leased from the Middleboro Public Schools since 2010 A range of credit and non-credit courses had been offered to nearly 400 students before the pandemic In recent years Middleboro has been the exclusive home of Massasoit’s paramedic program With the introduction of free community college options in Massachusetts Massasoit is working to ensure that every student across its 39-town service area and beyond has access to a convenient in-person or online higher education option Massasoit’s Middleboro site has the capacity to serve several hundred students in a wide range of academic programs in updated classrooms and labs including a state-of-the-art paramedic suite “Middleboro has been an important part of Massasoit’s history for many years,” said Interim President Bill Mitchell we will continue our work with area students to realize their academic potential and jumpstart new careers that will help the community continue to grow.” Boutin brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and deep connections in the community, college officials said. She is tasked with strengthening outreach efforts, determining the best mix of programs and courses to bring to the region while building a comprehensive presence in Middleboro that aligns with the goals and supports the outcomes of the college’s strategic plan Boutin most recently served as Massasoit’s Dean of Education and Social Services  “I have been a part of the community for many years and helped lead the team that created our Middleboro Center,” she said “I am looking forward to seeing more students walk the halls and we are eager to provide them with opportunities to change their lives.” MIDDLEBORO — Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth is set to open a new multi-specialty medical care facility in Middleboro this March — in the same location where Compass Medical abruptly closed last May, Beth Israel announced in a written statement The new facility, which will be located at 8 Commerce Blvd. will open for primary care services on March 1 with urgent care and several specialty services set to open later in the year "We are pleased to welcome Beth Israel Lahey Health to Middleboro,” Town Manager James McGrail said in the written statement “Many people in Middleboro and nearby communities were affected by the Compass Medical closure and we are grateful that a healthcare practice will provide a new and important resource for residents,” he said Same location as former Compass MedicalBeth Israel Deaconess Plymouth’s new Middleboro facility will open at the location previously operated by Compass Medical “BID Plymouth is committed to expanding access to our model of delivering compassionate care in the community and this is an exciting opportunity to serve Middleboro and the surrounding towns,” said Kevin Coughlin President of Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth (BID Plymouth) “We look forward to opening our doors to serve patients later this spring.” Update on former Compass location Signature Healthcare opening new facility in East Bridgewater at old Compass Medical Compass Medical — a Quincy-based chain of medical clinics and urgent care facilities with locations in Easton, East Bridgewater, Taunton, Quincy, Braintree and Middleboro — abruptly closed all six offices last May discontinuing services for more than 70,000 patients The closures came after Compass Medical was ordered to pay more than $16 million in damages to Steward Health Care System for fraud after a partnership between the two companies turned ugly, the Patriot Ledger reported Compass Medical had initially sued Steward for more than $80 million in damages claiming that Steward had breached a services agreement by failing to pay bonuses to its doctors and rent for equipment and office space a Suffolk County jury rejected all of Compass Medical’s claims finding instead that it had committed fraud against Steward and awarding the Dallas-based company the damages it sought Signature Healthcare announced it was opening a new multi-specialty medical facility in the old Compass building on Route 18 in East Bridgewater MIDDLEBORO — Since news came out last week of Massachusetts-based store chain Christmas Tree Shops filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a big question has been how will this affect the Middleboro headquarters Christmas Tree Shops' main headquarters and distribution center is located in Middleboro According to the town of Middleboro’s website, the distribution center and headquarters is 785,369 square feet, making it the largest business space in the Campanelli Business Park How will Christmas Tree Shops' bankruptcy affect the Middleboro headquarters?Christmas Tree Shops spokesperson Maya Vogoda said in a statement “there are no changes planned to the distribution center at this time.” The company's Middleboro headquarters and distribution center currently employs over 200 people according to Mel Jenks from the town’s Office of Economic and Community Development Middleboro Town Administrator James McGrail said talks between the company and the town hadn’t occurred recently “They are an important part of our community and we hope that their organization will find a way to continue and thrive in Middleboro,” McGrail said Meet Taunton area's gymnastics All Stars Introducing the 2022-23 Taunton Daily Gazette Gymnastics All-Scholastics In its filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on May 7, the company said it will be closing two underperforming stores in Massachusetts:  Falmouth and Sagamore The Sagamore location is somewhat of a historical landmark Located at the base of Sagamore Bridge and very visible to cars driving past on the highway it is known for having a windmill attached The closest ones to Taunton are in North Attleboro and North Dartmouth as they weren’t listed as on the chopping block in the filed store closing agreement Chapter 11 Bankruptcy isn’t a death knell for a company it is referred to as a “reorganization” bankruptcy where the company financially restructures itself “With the protections afforded by the Bankruptcy Code and the financing provided by our lenders, we will be able to satisfy our ongoing obligations to customers, vendors and employees. We are confident we will emerge a stronger business, better positioned to grow and prosper into the future,” said Christmas Tree Shops Chairman Marc Salkovitz in a written statement on the company’s website Cast your vote Who is the Taunton Daily Gazette Player of the Week for May 1-7 The closing store agreement filed by the company in bankruptcy court states the company expects the closing for its 10 underperforming stores the Debtors hope to maximize overall recovery for the estates while minimizing the Debtors’ liabilities,” the filed agreement said The statement said the company hopes to complete its financial restructuring and “emerge from Chapter 11 a financially stronger retailer” before the end of August The Town of Middleborough and the Middleborough Business Resource Center welcomes a new Director of Economic and Community Development Providence resident Paul DiGiuseppe has been named  Director of Economic and Community Development for the Town of Middleborough and in this role his duties will include helping to expand the town’s public-private partnership the Middleborough Business Resource Center a unique program created to support existing and startup businesses and encourage new business to come to the town he has already met personally with a number of downtown businesses to acquaint them with the program DiGiuseppe comes to Middleborough from a similar position in the town of Norton where he was Director of Planning and Economic Development he played a key role in initiating and implementing the town’s Master Plan in 2021 and secured a developer for one of the town’s dilapidated old mills to redevelop and transform the building into a community asset His work experience also includes work with the City of Austin where he played a key role in the “Imagine Austin” (comprehensive plan) After earning his undergraduate degree from Rhode Island College he went on to earn his Masters Degree in Public Administration from Florida State University He also holds accreditation from the Congress for New Urbanism “I am very much looking forward to my work here,” he said and I look forward to work with the Middleborough Business Resource Center This is a great community and I look forward to my work here.” DiGiuseppe and his wife Liz are Providence He enjoys listening to a wide range of podcasts including ones catering to economic development a Middleborough resident and member of the Middleborough Business Resource Center “It is a great pleasure to welcome Paul to the town of Middleborough and the MBRC Paul has a strong background in planning and development and he brings great enthusiasm and know-how to this role I am looking forward to working with him and really helping to take the MBRC to the next level.” The Middleborough Business Resource Center (https://www.mbresourcenter.org/) a division of the Middleborough Office of Economic and Community Development who will provide advisory services through the MBRC to businesses which are already here in town or which may be thinking of opening or relocating to Middleborough the MBRC is developing and expanding a list of professional business advisors and service providers across a wide range of industries who will each support every qualifying business by providing up to three hours of expertise at no cost to the business owner – and with no commitment required beyond that three hour period required which carries a value to each business owner of more than $1,000 is believed to be the first of its kind in the region The MBRC will pair successful applicants to the program with advisors who will offer these business owners up to three hours of professional advice at no cost a business in need of tax advice would be paired with a CPA who would guide the business owner in setting up the business structure Other areas include (1) advertising and public relations; (2) marketing; (3) web development; (4) coaching In addition to this specific program which pairs businesses with advisors the Middleborough Business Resource Center offers access to and information about national all put in place to improve local economies by helping small businesses locate grants  Since many businesses are not aware of these programs the MBRC can serve as a one-stop-shop for business owners to learn about the different options valuable to them Any business meeting the criteria – that is, operating in Middleborough or planning to establish a business in town, and is interested in the program is urged to visit https://www.mbresourcenter.org/ to learn more details The MBRC is supported by the Town of Middleborough as well as through the contributions of sponsors. The Center is currently inviting additional sponsors to join in supporting the business center.  For businesses and organizations who may wish to help support this innovative program, please visit www.mbresourcecenter.org or call 508-946-2402 © Copyright 2012 - 2023 | citybiz | All Rights Reserved BOSTON — High Point Treatment Center will close its psychiatric inpatient treatment services in Middleboro and a substance treatment program for teens in Brockton due to a decrease in admissions and financial losses “We made every effort to continue providing inpatient services to our patients and their families and employ our valued staff at this hospital but our financial losses at the hospital make that no longer possible,” said High Point President and CEO Daniel Mumbauer in a statement The decision to close the services at the Middleboro hospital comes after the state Department of Public Health closed three High Point programs amid a criminal investigation after a female patient in an alternative program in New Bedford alleged that a male staff member sexually assaulted her and the state found other serious problems such as low staffing levels during the investigation Changes in Middleboro don’t have anything to do with the program closures A representative from DPH was not immediately available for comment Friday afternoon which has a total of 72 treatment beds for adults and adolescents expects to close its inpatient services by the end of the month or early September The facility currently has six patients who will continue to receive care until they are ready to be released Closure of the hospital’s inpatient services comes amid the increase in inpatient psychiatric beds over the last several years and a resulting drop in High Point hospital admissions More than 450 treatment beds have opened statewide since High Point Hospital opened in Middleboro There are currently 2,811 licensed inpatient beds across 63 facilities statewide according to the state Department of Mental Health there are 564 beds across 11 facilities in southeastern Massachusetts the Baker-Polito administration has committed nearly $2 billion to improve behavioral health access and substance abuse services which also increased the number of licensed inpatient psychiatric beds by 14 percent High Point will close the Brockton CASTLE program due to low use rates The Clean and Sober Teens Living Empowered is a short-term treatment program at High Point’s Brockton Meadowbrook campus the program operated with a loss exceeding $900,000 High Point has told the state that it intends to close the program because there has been a shift toward keeping adolescents in a home setting rather than residential care “Closing CASTLE is a positive development,” Mumbauer said there has been an expansion of multiple evidence-based practices that have many adolescents being treated in the community now vs That facility will be used to expand High Point’s community-based services in the city High Point’s Board of Directors made the decision late Monday to close inpatient services at the Middleboro facility and notified staff and state regulators The Department of Mental Health was notified of its plans to close inpatient services at the Middleboro hospital and worked with High Point to make sure all patients were safely transitioned to other facilities and their care continued There have been about 240 layoffs at High Point Hospital About 80 of those staff members have accepted positions at other High Point facilities Another challenge for High Point has been recruiting and retaining qualified and well-trained staff Mumbauer said the Middleboro center will continue to offer outpatient programs High Point treatment Center manages detoxification and transitional facilities as well as outpatient clinics and community-based services around southeast Massachusetts ABINGTON – When Middleboro High baseball coach Josh Porter reaches deep into his bullpen And the odds are pretty good that the arm belongs to a Tullish twin That was the case in the Sachems 8-4 win over Abington on Monday as Porter called on both twin right-hander's Nate pitched two scoreless innings and Justin followed with a closing appearance in the seventh that he used to lock the win He struck out three of the four batters he saw More: MEET THE TEAM: Middleboro Little Leaguers want to write their own story on biggest stage “They kind of take my job away from me," senior shortstop Derek Zakrosky joked. "They’re striking out kids fly balls – it’s amazing.” Nate Tullish entered in the fourth inning with Middleboro ahead 6-4 Abington's Drew Donovan drilled a drive to deep center field Abington's Jon Sellon was given the green light to round third and test his chances at a safe slide across home plate Middleboro center fielder Nick Marzelli rushed the ball back to the cut-off man at short, Zakrosky who rifled it to catcher Garrett Butler for a timely tag "And I trusted Garrett to make the tag.” “I feel like that really got us hyped in the dugout," Zakrosky said. "One big play can get the whole team going get the whole momentum going and I feel like that was the one thing that really happened for us.” More: Middleboro High baseball and softball teams swinging for the fences again this season Justin Tullish entered in the seventh with Middleboro leading 8-4 and slid 2 of his 3 Ks past Abington batters reluctant to take a swing I just try to throw gas and blow right through the bats," said Justin Tullish offensively. "But that’s been a problem of mine because I start to lose composure so I've just got to center myself and remember that I’m a pitcher and I’ve got to be my best self.” the Tullish twins are especially valuable for their junior campaigns as the Sachems bade farewell to 12 players over the course this past offseason Coming off a 17-1 season in 2021 that featured an appearance in the Division 3 South Final, there were a lot of moving parts in this season's chase to run it all back "They were big of us last year as sophomores I expect them to play the same role this year,” said Porter “It’s nice to go to those guys because we’re not a young team a lot of these guys I haven’t seen play (a lot) This is only the second game being out there so it’s nice and reassuring to have two guys who were big parts of the program last year.” More: Abington High baseball team fueled by loss in last year's Div. 4 state championship game Porter added that the team's personality has yet to be found but it'll come as he finds definite roles for those who win their position battles in the early-going of the season but the guys filling in are doing phenomenal," Justin Tullish said "You can’t even tell this Middleboro team is different (There is) a lot of potential for this team and I’m excited for this year.” After rolling through the regular season perfect a season ago the first quest of 2022 greeted Middleboro with a 7-2 season-opening loss to Somerset Berkley The Sachems had the game tied 1-1 heading into the seventh inning A week without a game allowed for plenty of reflection which helped Porter's group find an improved outing in Abington “That took the pressure of being 17-0 last season off of us," Zakrosky said of the loss brought us back down to Earth and now we’re ready to go on from here.” Middleboro broke open a 6-3 lead in the third inning as Zakrosky Peter Goodine and Trevor Puryear all came across to score in the frame “It feels good to get the first (win)," Porter said. "I told them – I didn’t think we were going to go 20-0 I didn’t think we were going to go 0-20 We’ll see what happens in the next 18 games.” may be gone but he will never be far away from her A banner with his image hangs on Wareham Road “It’s important to honor my father,’’ she said as the image of the Korean and Vietnam wars veteran was hoisted had the same reaction to seeing their father’s image on banners that are visible to anyone traveling through Middleboro Center They even livestreamed the hanging on social media so out-of-town relatives could view it He was just one of the veterans from Middeboro whose images names and service information was placed on banners that were placed throughout the town center Saturday drew dozens of volunteers who braved the rain and unseasonable chill to honor the veterans John Guertin helped place the banner that salutes Evo Barsari “I’m proud to do anything I can to help veterans,’’ he said “I appreciate everything’’ they contributed Melissa Greeley described the experience as “awesome.’’ Lisa Freeman described her participation as “an honor We should always remember the sacrifices they made’’ so “we can have what we all have today.’’ The day was especially poignant for Elaina Borrelli happened to be driving through downtown Middleboro that morning She noticed the banners were being placed and remembered that one had been ordered for her father a Vietnam veteran and lifelong town resident She searched for the banners that had been placed So she decided to pull up and ask a group of volunteers if there was a directory he was the next banner they were about to hang,’’ she said a mail truck was parked next to the pole where the banner was placed Her father had worked for the post office for more than 30 years And when she climbed down the ladder after completing the work and I have no doubt he had something to do with this chance encounter,’’ she said “I'm proud to call Middleboro my hometown that gives so much respect to its veterans.’’ Those honored on the banners are: Walter Campbell On November 19 I had the opportunity to meet a remarkable group of volunteers who are devoted to their community and committed to preserving the heritage of their neighborhood These dedicated individuals represent the South Middleborough Protective Association which since 1948 has worked to improve the welfare of the residents of the southern portion of Middleborough The Association is presently working to preserve the historic South Middleborough School (1882) and now needs the support of Middleborough’s residents The South Middleborough School on Wareham Street is an architecturally and historically significant building and one of the centerpieces of the South Middleborough National Register Historic District it is a building worthy of Middleborough’s best preservation efforts The South Middleborough School was built by Middleborough School Committee member Warren H Southworth and completed in 1882 at a cost of $1233.30 At the time of its construction the building was recognized as a thoroughly modern schoolhouse and one that was reflective of the School Committee’s pronounced views on modern schoolhouse hygiene and education the South Middleborough schoolhouse remained an object of admiration even decades later Dunham who visited the school the day before Memorial Day indicated one reason why: “The schoolyard was clean and neat the house in perfect order and very well decorated for a season when flowers are so scarce.”   the 1882 schoolhouse served the community well as a result of the growth the community had witnessed during the past two decades as well as the closure of the Highland school the South Middleborough School began experiencing overcrowding By May 1906 the school’s 48 seats were filled to capacity Burkland was engaged as the teacher for South Middleborough and under his tutelage the school flourished Burkland who would devote his life to the education of Middleborough’s children and later serve as the town’s middle school principal was a strong influence as indicated by the South Middleborough scholars he helped prepare “The 57 pupils in the 9 grades at South Middleboro proved to be exceptional pupils for the group proved to include two future teachers the South Middleborough School had become archaic The building remained heated by wood through the 1940s and it was not until 1948 that a proper heating system was installed water had to be brought in pails from neighboring houses to the building until the completion of a well When that well experienced problems during the winter of 1935 the school had to resort to the former practice of trudging water from neighboring homes In January 1942 a telephone was finally installed In 1952-53 a second room was added to the building largely at the behest of the Protective Association Many of the other improvements to the school were financed directly by the students who were responsible for various fund-raising activities the students were selling candy in order to finance playground improvements And though not intended as a fund-raising activity the school’s annual pageants during which each grade performed a separate feature were popular community events and demonstrated the school’s central role in bringing the community together The eventual transfer of South Middleborough’s ninth grade scholars to Middleborough center in the early 1900s would begin to alleviate the over-crowding situation experienced in the school and began a process of rationalization whereby the number of grades taught in South Middleborough was gradually reduced from nine to just the two which it housed when it closed in 1991 Since acquiring the South Middleborough School in 2005 from the town the Protective Association has work diligently to preserve the building which had stood vacant and neglected for 14 years the South Middleborough School had at one time faced the threat of demolition when it was suggested that the site would be a suitable location for a DPW sand barn Under the Protective Association’s ownership the building’s deterioration has been arrested the roof has been replaced and its exterior appearance improved markedly Hours of volunteer labor on the part of Association members as well as a considerable financial investment has borne admirable results and has preserved one of Middleborough’s few remaining historic schoolhouses the Association is looking to complete interior work to rehabilitate the structure and to provide it with a new and meaningful use so that it can continue to serve the South Middleborough community as a gathering place as it once did for 110 years To show your support for rehabilitating the South Middleborough School and the mission of the hard-working volunteers that I met please visit the South Middleborough Protective Association’s Facebook page where you can sign that organization’s petition While there you can learn more about the group’s effort For more on the South Middleborough School effort visit www.facebook.com/SouthMiddleboroughProtectiveAssociation and www.nemasket.blogspot.com MIDDLEBORO — A new chapter will be written in the history of a vintage Middleboro building in Middleboro center has been gifted to the Friends of The Middleboro Public Library which provides support to the Middleboro Public Library plans to use the space for community-based programs related to the library and to promote the history of the building and its occupants The property was bequeathed to the organization by building owner William Decas The attorney practiced law there for many years with his late brother George Decas and Daniel Murray as the law firm of Decas The gift will make a significant contribution to the future of the library and the community “The Board of Directors for the Friends of the Middleboro Public Library are grateful for Attorney Decas’ generosity and are committed to having the Peter H Peirce Homestead contribute to the future growth of services and programs offered by the library,’’ she said “Attorney Decas’ gift to the Friends is a gift to all residents of Middleboro and the surrounding communities.’’ the Peirce Homestead began as a two-story federal style home the front part of the home was raised and a slightly wider first floor with higher ceilings than the previous first and second floors of the original house was constructed the addition and widening of the ground floor accommodated a three story oval-shaped circular suspended staircase which continues to be a prominent feature of the homestead While retaining its federal characteristics Nabby incorporated Greek revival features into the home This included an open porch with Tuscan columns on three sides of the front of the house and elaborate scroll work along the interior of the staircase George Decas heard the Peirce homestead might be razed and replaced with a gas station who his brother William had described as “historically minded,’’ was upset with the idea and instead purchased the building and made considerable investment in the renovation William Decas approached the Friends about two years ago about his wish to leave the homestead which had so much significance to his family  “He discussed his desire to strengthen the public library and how the mission of the Friends focuses on his dedication to both the library and community,’’ Fay said “Attorney Decas recognized the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library as one of the most significant nonprofits in Middleboro dedicated to enhancing the services provided to all residents of our town.’’ The use of the building for library support is fitting in light of the Peirce and Decas family commitment to the library one of Peter and Nabby Peirce’s ten children plus the income from an additional $50,000 to serve as a trust fund for materials purchases a new gift means another iteration for the structure  The timetable for the transition is undetermined The estate must be processed through probate although the process may move more quickly The Friends are in the process of identifying a variety of funding sources to support the new use Grant funding will be sought through the Community Preservation Act Massachusetts Cultural Council and Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Initial work needed will include clearing and landscaping the rear of the property and upgrading the currently vacant studio apartment The Friends will also look at “both in-kind service and fund-raising strategies’’ to address initial priorities which include clearing and landscaping the rear of the property and upgrading the currently vacant studio apartment “Attorney Decas’ gift of the original homestead to our organization allows a significant building in Middleboro to be a focal point for the future,’’ Fay said Middleborough High School Marching Band visits local nursing homesStandard-TimesThe Middleborough High School Marching Band visited the Nemasket Health Care Center and the Hannah B The MHS Band stood outside on what was a dreary day to bring a smile to the faces to those staying and working in the community's elderly healthcare centers Members of the band played holiday classics such as Jingle Bells Deck the Halls and We Wish you a Merry Christmas Junior Drum Major Alex Birkett said: “We played at the nursing homes because sharing music is our way of reminding those members of our community that they’re not alone.” This idea came from members of the MHS Band With this pandemic having such an impact on the elderly especially those in nursing homes and their essential workers the students of the MHS Band wanted to do something to let them know they care “We may not be able to perform inside and see all their faces but we know they can hear us This small thing is something that brought a smile to their faces this holiday season," said MHS Band Director Justin Pittsley MIDDLEBORO — Wilmot’s Decorating Center in Middleboro has been acquired by Johnson Paint Bill Houlihan of Middleboro gradually transitioned J.J Wilmot Painting Company from a contractor business into a retail paint store He eventually purchased the company from his partner keeping the Wilmot name and expanding the product offerings to include wallcoverings and they grew the company together for 20 years In 2017 Scott added a second location in New Bedford Scott Houlihan will remain with Johnson Paint focusing on growing market share in the South Shore the company reported in a prepared statement “The wonderful legacy established by Bill and Scott Houlihan that we will honor and carry on reflects a commitment to maintaining the values of excellent customer service and community engagement that both businesses share,’’ Mike Burkhart president and chief operating officer of Ring’s End “The culture of Wilmot’s aligns incredibly well with Ring’s End and Johnson Paint which made this an easy decision for both sides.” The change is expected to take place in May MIDDLEBORO — It’s a $25 million dollar project that few Middleboro residents will ever see but many Middleboro residents will rely on every day One million gallons of sewage flow through the newly-updated and renovated Middleboro Wastewater Treatment Center every day It is cleaned and filtered at “the plant” and returns to the Nemasket River as pristine water — called "effluent" in the wastewater treatment game the project to bring the Middleboro Wastewater Treatment Center up to date was both unremarkable in that the population it serves was largely unaware of the work due to the fact that there was no interruption in service as a construction and engineering marvel completed without interruption in service the seven-year campaign from conception to completion finally concluded as local officials and project partners gathered in the control building at the new-and-improved Wastewater Treatment Center — located at Joe Ciaglo Way which is located off the leaving-town side of Everett Street and not far from the intersection of Everett Street and Route 44 if you’re curious — for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion treatment center staff led by Wastewater Superintendent Todd Goldman and out-of-town players from Methuen Construction of Salem Environmental Partners Group (Project Manager) DEP and EPA — recalled a project that unfolded over a number of years including two-and-a-half years of occupied renovations and construction but ultimately proved successful and a credit to all involved Chairman of the Middleborough Board of Selectmen Allin Frawley pointed out the project was done for the most part on schedule (with the exception of a 30-day extension to complete some cosmetic work) and without interruption of service — which and then throw in wastewater treatment facility and you’ve got any number of potential nightmares,” Frawley said “It took two-and-a-half years and most people don’t even know this happened and that speaks a lot about the whole construction team and our wastewater superintendent.” Goldman was praised for being the linchpin in the operation and it was agreed that his expertise and dedication to the plant were crucial to every phase of the project “It’s a great step for the town to get this project done “Todd always said it’s like changing the engine of a car going 60 miles per hour He and his staff really held this together.” “Most people don’t even know the facility is here,” Goldman said “But for me it’s been a seven-year project.” update and reconstruct the working parts of a wastewater treatment plant “It’s a $25 million comprehensive upgrade to the treatment plant,” Goldman continued “It enables us to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous going to the river That’s probably $5 million of the project right there We now have a standby generator that’ll power the whole facility Every building you see here on this facility has been updated — all new plumbing We have an all-new computer-automated system where before we didn’t even have a fax machine here.” The project also included a new maintenance garage and an addition and renovations to the control building The plant was built in 1977 and was “all-original no upgrades” until renovation and construction began in 2015 Awareness of the need for improvements to the plant became apparent during the floods of 2010 and then Town Manager Charlie Cristello is credited with taking on a tricky project with the potential to be very expensive and not likely to be popular with local residents literally washing the tanks out,” Frawley said “And that’s when Charlie Cristello realized that we have to do this sooner rather than later “Spending $25-45 million dollars on a wastewater treatment facility is not an easy conversation to have and he came up with a good plan to finance it by slowly raising the rates over a number of years Former Selectmen Pat Rogers was instrumental in securing a series of zero-percent loans to fund the project While Cristello got the work started and handled the public relations campaign to get the votes and approval Nunes was there at the finish line and earned high praise for his day-to-day visits to the site to help keep things on track and I’m here to conclude the project,” Nunes said “It’s been great working with Chris and Todd and the whole team here at the wastewater plant They really held it together during the two-and-a-half-year construction process.” Both Frawley and Nunes were happy to report the project came in under budget "under the budget and for the most part on time just to finish some of the cosmetic work.” unknown to local residents who use it every day “This place treats it and puts it back into the river clean… probably cleaner than the water that’s already there It’s extremely important to the whole town It’s not something we can live without and now it’s completely up-to-date and ready to go for the years ahead.” ISSUE: Renovation and construction project at Middleboro Wastewater Treatment Center is complete IMPACT: $25 million project goes unnoticed by local residents but improvements are crucial to serving town sewage needs and protecting the Nemasket River MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro natives Bo McMahon and Andy Hart are bringing back a longtime favorite in Middleboro Center The Hideaway Bar & Restaurant will reopen its doors at 9 Station St co-owners McMahon and Hart’s mission is to “create a unique and enjoyable dining experience that will be enjoyed by all.” “We’re thrilled to bring The Hideaway back from the ashes,” said McMahon the interior of the restaurant has been gutted and renovated The Hideaway was previously in business for over 40 years before closing in 2022 “The Hideaway is a testament to McMahon and Hart’s commitment to the revitalization of downtown Middleboro,” read the press release “Being able to contribute to a town I loved growing up in is an absolute dream come true,” said Hart the Hideaway’s menu will have a selection of craft beverages and food with “diverse flavors and culinary traditions.” Executive Chef Joe Ethier owns a hot sauce company called “Sweet Mama” which holds 17 national awards in hot sauce and condiments Essence Community Acupuncture & Herbs has garnered a strong reputation and loyal following of clients in and around town thanks to its knowledgeable and caring staff Essence recently expanded into a full-blown Wellness Center “There really isn’t a wellness center like this around here so we’re excited we can now offer this to the community,” said Danielle Souza Owner of Essence Acupuncture and Clinical Director of Essence Wellness Center at the building’s grand opening on January 26 The goal of the Essence Wellness Center is to be able to offer clients a wide variety of therapies aimed at treating a person’s whole being it may not hold if something else is out of balance We usually end up treating a lot more than what’s on the first page of a person’s health history,” said Souza Essence’s setup consists of various spaces within the building cared for by a variety of licensed professionals In addition to acupuncture sessions (both private and community) and herbal medicine treatments the Essence Wellness Center also currently offers private/small group personal training The interconnection here means everyone can interact with other professionals to keep you in a great state of personal health,” said John Taglieri and physical recovery therapy at the Essence Wellness Center Taglieri also plans on offering boot camp training on the property of the Wellness Center come spring/summer Souza had the dream to convert the whole building into a Wellness Center back when she and her husband purchased the property in 2017 the off-the-beaten-path facility was known for years as Costello Dismantling “We originally lived in the back while we renovated the building We worked out of the front of the building while renovating the back with additional office space,” said Souza To learn more about Essence Community Acupuncture & Herbs go to essenceacuherbs.com or follow them at https://www.facebook.com/EssenceAcuHerbs/ To learn more about options and the other health professionals at the Essence Wellness Center MIDDLEBORO — For those concerned about the inevitable wrinkles that come with age Ruth Calhoun has a piece of advice: “Let them be.” Calhoun celebrated her 101st birthday on Friday 13 at Nemasket Healthcare Center in Middleboro Calhoun has lived in Middleboro for the last several decades Growing up during the Great Depression as one of eight children Calhoun has faced her fair share of hard times But what’s gotten her through life’s obstacles has been an unwavering sense of faith Calhoun converted to Catholicism later in life “the important person in my life became Jesus She recalled without hesitation that the happiest memories of her childhood were the summers she spent in Scituate with her aunt Carrie and Uncle Happy Her uncle earned that nickname because “he was [happy] all the time,” she said her eyes twinkling as she thought back to events that happened over ninety years ago She also looked fondly back on all the times she returned from the library with a stack of books the length of her arm for her and her father to share Calhoun earned a teaching degree at Bridgewater State University But the happiest time of her life came after she married “the most wonderful man,” who reminded her of her Uncle Happy Though her husband Charlie was “short” and “chubby,” she said laughing “he looked at me like I was the princess of Shangri-La.”  Being with Charlie “was everything,” said Calhoun MIDDLEBORO — “The Voice’’ star Kristen Merlin will be live in concert at Home for the Holidays Friday This performance will offer a mix of holiday favorites and other popular  tunes A Massachusetts native now living in Nashville Merlin’s music keeps her connected to this area she found herself performing for millions of fans on NBC's Emmy Award-winning show “The Voice.’’ Her personality and voice left team leader Shakira with one word to describe each performance “Beautiful.” She has been joined on stage by Kellie Pickler In August 2021 Kristen was interviewed by People magazine She shared the pain behind her strength in the music video "Shame,” a song that has received national attention and serves as an anthem for the LGBTQ community The Bartending Service of New England will begin pouring at 6:30 p.m Free parking is available at town hall, 10 Nickerson Avenue. For tickets, email burtwoodschool@aol.com LAKEVILLE — Representatives from the Lakeville and Middleboro councils on aging were among those who attended an April 15 gathering at the Lakeville Senior Center to discuss ways to raise money for senior centers Thirty-seven people representing 14 towns shared innovative ideas and plans to foster community engagement and support for senior centers according to representatives of the Lakeville Council on Aging Other communities represented included Duxbury The attendees were described as a spirited mix of seasoned professionals and enthusiastic newcomers who were eager to contribute their insights and collaborate on successes and challenges faced by each team owner and operator of temperature-controlled warehouses announced that its brand new Middleborough MA facility is now officially open The Middleborough facility comprises three temperature-controlled rooms and a loading dock with 165,000 square feet of capacity the facility can rapidly freeze up to 79,000,000 pounds of cranberries to ensure the fruit’s integrity “Ocean Spray and Americold have shared the same commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction for decades,” said Fred Boehler president and chief executive officer of Americold “This new facility represents the best of both companies: state-of- the-art uninterrupted temperature-controlled supply chain integrity and efficiency with nutritious The desire to rapidly freeze such large volumes of product necessitated significant refrigeration horsepower Americold’s engineering team provided a solution that met Ocean Spray’s specifications for both present and future needs “Americold and Ocean Spray have partnered for close to 40 years—the Middleborough site represents the latest addition to our ongoing strategic relationship,” said Earl Larson vice president–global supply chain and operations Ocean Spray can expand its commitment to our customers and continue to provide the products our consumers know and love.” bringing Americold’s total capacity to almost 19 million cubic feet for the state Based in Atlanta GA, Americold owns and operates 156 temperature-controlled warehouses, with almost 924 million cubic feet of storage, in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina. Americold serves more than 2,400 customers and employs approximately 11,500 associates worldwide. See www.americold.com for further information Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry farmers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world’s leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries. Visit www.oceanspray.com to learn more Middleboro welcomed a new small business to its community: Central Square Computer Repair Realizing there was no local computer repair shop owner Chrisropher Van found the perfect opportunity to expand his business from Bridgewater while also becoming a Middleboro resident himself with his partner Central Square Computer Repair was opened at 11 Center Street in Middleboro Van's interest in computers began when he started creating his own video games at fourteen years old Needing to manage and repair his own equipment Chris quickly picked up the necessary skills in order to keep his games up for his players he wanted to make a difference in the community and reduce the electronic waste in the landfills “I noticed people throwing away stuff that was perfectly fine and just going into landfills and I figured if I could get it (the electronics) up and running for a reasonable price it would be great for everybody and the environment,” Van said The transition to Middleboro was trouble-free we were well versed in the ‘new normal’ and were able to navigate (the transition to a new location) safely really smooth transition,” Chris says And they received a warm welcome from the community “Everything fell into place and everybody we spoke to and interacted with was so nice It took me two years to build the business in Bridgewater all of a sudden we had people recommending everyone sending them all down,” Chris explains Central Square Computer Repair offers services for a variety of electronics ranging from computers to phones to tablets with no charge for diagnostics Chris hopes to start teaching classes on topics such as sending emails as well as corporate and business networking so when someone doesn’t know something that might seem obvious to most people I just try to inform them,” Chris says “We talk to a lot of people who are still new to technology and figuring it out coaching them through cybersecurity.” Central Square Computer Repair can be contacted on their Facebook page Since recreational cannabis became legal in Massachusetts retail dispensaries have popped up in communities throughout the state selling a wide variety of products from smokable flower to topical creams edible chocolates to gummies and everything in between South Shore natives Samantha and Brandon Lynch have spent the past three years preparing to launch themselves into this space with a licensed cannabis manufacturing facility where they will craft herbal-infused health-conscious cannabis products utilizing local ingredients as much as possible hoping to achieve a "Mom and Pop" feel to their creations "We don't want to re-invent the wheel on a product line," Samantha said "We want to stick to the things that are selling but actually use locally sourced ingredients and add a bit of an herbal spin on it that does have synergy with something that's actually going to enhance the THC experience Their company, Coastal Roots, is in its final week of fundraising via Mainvest a crowdfunding platform that allows individuals to invest in small businesses they've raised over $55,000 so far for site buildout and equipment which will be combined with their own personal investment With space secured in Middleborough in one of the first cannabis industrial parks if all goes according to plan they are aiming to start a buildout of the manufacturing facility in August and be in operation by early 2024 selling their products wholesale to licensed state dispensaries Cohasset crypto-mining case: Everything we know from the court documents who runs an audio engineering business and is part of reggae-rock band Buddahfly has valued cannabis since encountering its medicinal impact following a knee injury and surgery in high school "I was always the kid making edibles in the kitchen and knocking my family out I didn't know what I was doing," Brandon said After receiving a medical marijuana card he began experimenting more with baking; with the medical marijuana program he could have his baked goods tested for potency and refine his recipes accordingly which he said made the prospect of pursuing this professionally more realistic I was never ashamed of hopping in the kitchen and making cookies," Brandon said "It was a huge part of my cannabis mindset trying to be in the kitchen working with different kiefs [cannabis parts] and concentrates and trying to make like a hash chocolate that I really thought was good Samantha was immediately struck with his prowess in the kitchen "I'd walk into the kitchen and there were trays and trays of beautiful baked goods," she said Samantha has made original herbal mixers and remedies for more than a decade she worked for a local skincare company that made products entirely from their garden and in various other capacities while there also getting their products into spas on Newbury Street and throughout the area Local Business:Longtime owner of Cabot's Ice Cream in Newton is ready to pass the scoop "That really set me up to step into all the different paths," she said He had so much knowledge and passion about cannabis and I came into the picture with all the other herbs we're playing around in the kitchen together." an experience that created bonds with other purveyors they plan to utilize when creating their line "It's all been quite kismet coming up to now," Samantha said vendors who stocked their products shut their doors and even their online business slowed "It gave us a lot of time and space to research," Brandon said "We could [really focus on the] tea company or rebrand and move to something that felt more natural." Brandon and Samantha plan to start small and proceed carefully with a lean operation allowing them to pivot and make adjustments quickly "We're trying to learn our lessons from some of the bigger operators who jumped out of the gate really large," Brandon said as much as it's fruitful and there are a lot of people enjoying it it's still questionable from a business point of view." but they're anticipating offering chocolates and pre-rolled joints as part of their in-house while also manufacturing for other lines as well working with cannabis cultivators who match their values "We want to support other cultivators doing it the way we would do it "The majority of cultivators are overflowing their plants and reducing the quality." natural productsSamantha said that while a number of products currently on the market are advertised as "natural" and "herb infused," some of these will still use products like artificial dyes or will include herbs that are cavalierly paired with THC: Coastal Roots plans to lean on Samantha's herbalist background to be meticulous with their recipes "A big part of what we want to do is actually actually source local ingredients and do things that are true to our herbal roots," she said They said they are building Coastal Roots (the name may change) with a smaller more local community feel that will be reflected not only in their branding both in sourcing ingredients from local vendors and partnering with local businesses on product lines Samantha said they're working on how they can offer cannabis tea — something many of their past customers ask about end is in sightThe company is in the process of finalizing its host community agreement with Middleborough after which it will apply for licensing from the state's Cannabis Control Commission using the same application package it used to successfully receive provisional licenses in Uxbridge (it is not currently utilizing the licenses in that town) "I'm trying to be a model and push it through and actually make it come to fruition to be one of the success stories," Brandon said "A lot of people think that it's not really possible for a small operator to make it through all the hoops of the industry." Panic set in across Middleboro and the surrounding towns on the morning of New Year’s Eve as a Facebook post from the beloved Central Cafe downtown indicated that things were about to change in a big way “Goodbye Central…we love you,” the post read “Thanks to Middleboro and the surrounding communities for all the support over the years as the new owners are just the next generation of one of the former owners Bill Fuller and Mark Hannon are stepping aside and Fuller’s daughters Morgan and Sadie and Will’s best friend Zach Bourget are taking over leaving the Central in capable and familiar hands “Literally nothing is changing,” Morgan said “People have nothing to worry about.” the new owners have been leading the charge at the Central for the past three years “We started right before COVID,” Will Fuller said “It’s been a three-year process of learning everything inside and out but it’s also been a long time coming We wanted to make sure we keep the Central the Central None of the new owners are strangers to the Central “It’s been my family business since before I was born,” Morgan said pretending to write slips and make the food We always knew one day we’d become owners of it.” “Me and my best friend Zach would come after football games growing up we’d come and eat pizza on Sundays,” Will said then we made pizzas all through high school and college and now that we’ve graduated college Bill Fuller and Mark Hannon purchased the Central Cafe in 1994 continuing the tradition of Middleboro’s oldest cafe one of the partners decided it was time to step aside we’re going out as partners,’” Will said Bill Fuller owns two other businesses in town so although he’s retiring from the Central “He’ll be more behind the scenes but we can bounce business questions off of him and he’ll help us and guide us,” Will said “Mark – we always call him ‘Coach’ because he was my dad’s semi-pro football coach so he’s ‘Coach Hannon’ to a majority of people at the Central – is going to enjoy time with his family,” Will said “He’s been showing us exactly what we need to do and both have said they’re always just a phone call away I’m very thankful to them for showing us the ropes and keeping this great tradition going in this community.” The plan is for Sadie and Morgan to run the front of the house The two sisters also started working at the Central from a young age “I’m actually a nurse at Mass General I was working at the Central from the day I turned 16 until the day I started my nursing job six years ago bussing tables and picking up shifts,” Morgan said “Sadie started as a bus girl when she was 14 or 15 and is now a waitress and a bartender and has been leading the way out front.” Central Cafe will also keep its famous specials such as half-priced pizzas (dine-in only) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as well as the four cheese pizzas for $25 take-out special “We’ve always had that since the day I was born,” Morgan said The siblings also said there’s another Central stalwart that isn’t going anywhere: their grandmother Carol Fuller – known to Central regulars as “Mama Fuller” – is going to remain on staff “And people know it’s Carol’s way or the highway,” Will said with a laugh So as the Central Cafe is celebrating 100 years in 2023 it seems to be the perfect time for a change in ownership – even if nothing else about the Central is changing “It’s the same exact pizza recipe and nothing is changing except the people that own it,” Morgan said She said they even have the original card that the pizza recipe was written on – that’s how much tradition matters at the Central “We have 100 years in business to back our product and clearly the people in Middleboro and the surrounding towns really care about the Central,” she said Middleboro's Central Cafe – a favorite for 100 years now – has new owners coming in, but they're no strangers to the Central and promise nothing is changing.\nRead More The first big test for the state’s new multifamily housing law came and went two weeks ago without any real fireworks Just seven communities failed to submit their action plan a document explaining how they might implement new zoning for multifamily housing now mandated in communities served by the MBTA A few more plans trickled in after the deadline whose Select Board voted late last year to ignore the new zoning rules making the Plymouth County town the first place to take an official stance against the law and test the state’s willingness to turn to enforce it Officials there complain that the Department of Housing and Community Development painted with too broad a brush when it drafted the zoning requirements arguing it requires too many new units in towns of Middleborough’s size and that implementing the guidance would lead to overdevelopment that could harm the town’s character “We understand that the state has a housing problem,” said Leeann Bradley “But this is being shoved down our throats We won’t have any say in what gets built and where At the crux of Bradley’s complaint with the requirements is that DHCD did not adequately take into account how much housing towns have built in recent years which has about 24,000 people across 69 square miles of land has permitted more housing over the last decade than a number of other South Coast towns means that the town should be allowed to zone for less new housing Middleborough’s current minimum under the guidelines as well as developable land near transit stations to determine how many units communities must zone for And officials note that the law requires zoning that allows those units to be built essentially double what we’ve built recently So rather than put time into developing zoning that would fit the requirements officials there voted in December to call off any attempts to comply with the law and sent a letter to DHCD outlining their qualms Middleborough’s resistance serves as a reminder that while most communities have thus far gone along with the law’s requirements there is still a simmering dissent in cities and towns dominated by single-family homes to most multifamily housing development communities have only had to submit non-binding plans detailing possible roads to complying with the law but more resistance may emerge in the months and years to come as deadlines for concrete zoning changes draw nearer DHCD has yet to signal whether it will pursue further punishments for towns that aren’t moving forward with new zoning There is, however, the threat of legal action from outside groups or in state court, a possibility that was highlighted last week when Boston-based advocacy group Lawyers for Civil Rights sent letters to communities that missed the law’s first deadlines “Suggestions that compliance with this state mandate is optional with no consequences beyond loss of a few state grants doesn’t square [with] the facts,” Clark Ziegler, executive director of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership wrote on Twitter last week “State courts have explicit authority to enforce the state zoning act [and] I have no doubt that will happen if it proves necessary.” the chair of the Middleborough’s Select Board “They offer us these incentives and then strip them away when we don’t go along with this mandate,” said Germain I’d rather that than overwhelm our town with new development.” and even weighed public displays of activism to prevent the station from opening (The station is under construction and set to open later this year) But Germain said that while town officials are concerned about permitting too much multifamily development The town is in the process of drafting a new housing plan and there’s growing momentum to allow Accessory Dwelling Units to be permitted by right — meaning that if a proposal fits within building regulations the Planning Board can’t further scrutinize or deny it The Planning Board has also been more receptive to multifamily development in recent years working with developers to create proposals that work for the town And he cited the pair of so-called 40R districts the town adopted recently “People think we’re opposed to new housing because of this,” said Germain We’re for new housing that’s done in a thoughtful way Forcing us to build 1,500 new units does not work for us the Braga family of Middleboro visited the Massasoit Middleborough campus to meet Middleborough High School students enrolled in the personal finance course which is being taught by Professor Tom Murray Also in attendance were Superintendent of Middleborough Public Schools Brian Lynch Middleborough High School Principal Paul Branagan Middleborough High School Guidance Counselor Tammy Miller and Massasoit Community College Middleborough Center Director Doug Walo Jim Braga was a business teacher at Middleborough High School who was killed in a car accident in 2013 Middleborough High School lost an important teacher Massasoit was able to use some grant funding to provide a section of Intro to Business for high school students which the Braga Family now financially supports “Massasoit has received strong support from the Middleborough community since we opened in 2010 and this partnership with Middleborough High School is further evidence of the special relationship here,” said Massasoit Middleborough Center Director Doug Walo “Dual Enrollment opportunities where high school students receive both high school and college credit simultaneously are powerful learning experiences Students who have had dual enrollment opportunities are better prepared for college as they learn the skills need to succeed academically at the college level We’re excited and proud to partner with Middleborough High School and the Braga family to continue offering opportunities to Middleborough’s high school students.” Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy spent Sunday on the SouthCoast eating pizza and giving his world-famous One Bite Reviews Portnoy stopped into Ray’s in New Bedford and Central Café in Middleborough and both places seemed to win over the media mogul’s taste buds of New Bedford has been going to Ray’s for about five years He was picking up a few cheese pizzas when he bumped into Portnoy very welcoming of taking the picture with him,” he said “Honestly a nice dude all around.” was in the pizza parlor while Portnoy gave his review outside but he has a feeling the score is going to be high “I think Dave will score favorably because Ray makes the pizza Dave typically favors READ MORE: Best Massachusetts Pizza According to Dave Portnoy It was quite the scene outside Central Café on Sunday when the Middleboro Cobras bombarded Portnoy’s review outside the pizza joint The Cobras were celebrating their championship win with the pizza parlor that has long supported them The team showered Portnoy with Cobras merchandise then watched off-screen as Portnoy gave the pizza spot an impressive 7.9 “A huge thank you to Dave for stopping by and shining a light on our small family business,” said Central Café online “This moment may have been just a quick stop for him but it’s a day we’ll remember and talk about forever here at The Central.” Keep an eye out for the official review of both places on the “One Bite Review” YouTube page Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy spent Sunday on the SouthCoast eating pizza and giving his world-famous One Bite Reviews. Here's where he went.\nRead More READ MORE: Best Massachusetts Pizza According to Dave Portnoy MIDDLEBORO — She’s not a new employee this year but with her position now extended to full-time Family Resource Coordinator for Middleborough Public Schools Meghan Quirke has some big plans and new programming in the works for the upcoming school year Quirke — a graduate of Bridgewater State University class of 2003 — began her career in human services as a residential case manager for Road to Responsibility based out of Marshfield MA before transitioning to a recruiter position Her later work included working with Brockton-based dropout prevention organization MY TURN and most recently Work Opportunities Unlimited She took the then-part time position of Family Resource Coordinator for Middleborough Public Schools and began in late-September 2015 “Last year at this time I wasn’t searching for new employment opportunities but when I saw the posting My caseload with WOU had shifted from a focus on youth services to parents seeking to improve their current situation as I found my time and efforts focusing more on supporting parents in meeting their goals to secure the basics — childcare and transportation — so that employment was more apt to be obtained and retained,” she said “I knew that the position with the Family Resource Center (in Middleboro) would allow me to do more of the community resource development an area I wished to do more of on a daily basis Working in one town rather than throughout a region was also a perk and would give me the opportunity to reach more people.” Middleborough Public Schools’ Family Resource Center which launched in 2015 with the hire of Quirke facilitate “healthy transition” programming for families with children entering pre-K and to assist families in finding resources that they need “I may not have the answer to every question but families can be confident that I will find out for them as quickly as possible and reach back with the information they seek,” she said “The Family Resource Center connects with Middleboro area resource providers as often as possible Visiting with a provider to learn more about their services enables the Family Resource Center to share more with a family than just a brochure and contact information and in turn can help a family make the first step a little easier.” Some local resource providers Quirke has networked with include St Salvation Army and other Middleboro Area Assistance Coalition (MAAC) partner organizations Soule Homestead Education Center and others Quirke worked with over 100 families in the district seeking assistance in areas like housing Now with the position being doubled from 20 to 40 hours this year Quirke plans to put the additional time to good use from starting new programming to making existing functions more accessible to the district's families “Along with helping our Middleboro families access resources the Family Resource Center will develop a number of programs in the coming year specifically focusing on our students and families transitioning into Pre-K “This year we held our First Annual Incoming K Summer Social at Soule Farm — a collaboration of Middleborough Public Schools Self Help Inc.’s CFCE (Coordinated Family and Community Engagement) 175 people came to enjoy a summer evening on the farm and they all had one thing in common — kindergarten We hope to develop more events like the Incoming K Social to help families connect during these times of transition with each other in a fun and relaxed environment the Family Resource Center will be hosting the 1st annual BooHoo/WooHoo Breakfast for our kindergarten parents on their first day of kindergarten from 9 to 11 a.m in the large conference room of the library downstairs before entrance to the Children’s Library we know it’s tough for some to say goodbye to the MECC so we will be having 1st grade reunion movie nights during the school year.” which was a part-time position last year and partially funded by the Henry B Burkland Elementary School PTA and the MPS Title 1 Grant was a very successful addition to our school system and our families,” said Superintendent Brian Lynch “We feel fortunate to have appointed Meghan Quirke to this position I am confident that you will be impressed with Meghan and what she has been able to do thus far as a ‘part-timer’ and her plans for the future for the Middleborough Public Schools Family Resource Center under her full time leadership.” Quirke's position is funded by PTAs of MECC and the elementary schools and by MPS Title 1 grant For updates and more information on the Family Resource Center for Middleborough Public Schools, visit Quirke's blog at www.middleborofamilyresourcecenter.blogspot.com To reach Quirke directly, email her at mquirke@middleboro.k12.ma.us or call 508-946-2040 completed his Eagle Scout project in August Devine worked over the course of the summer of 2018 to plan and complete his project a requirement to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout The Middleborough-Lakeville Herring Fishery Commission’s information kiosk at the Wareham Street herring run was long in need of renovation and Devine took to the task of revitalizing the structure for his project which required many hours of planning and work and the help of a large volunteer crew The roof of the kiosk was completely restored by removing the old shingles and replacing them with new shingles also adding an ice and water shield in the process The entire structure was cleaned and repainted and wood components damaged by years of weathering were replaced The kiosk's display cases required repair and new glass doors were installed Renovations also included a new sign acknowledging the Middleborough-Lakeville Herring Fishery Commission designed and constructed by the project leader and Eagle candidate Devine worked on the project with the help of a number of fellow scouts Troop 20 Scoutmaster Mark Swindle and his son Mark also contributed to effort There were many generous donations of time The Benton Street Neighborhood Association (BSNA) there is a haven for those with a taste for the arts The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts and its Alley Theatre host all sorts of artistic events ranging from productions featuring local students to masterclasses with Broadway actors the school produced and performed Disney’s Newsies Jr. a kid-friendly take on the 2012 Broadway show Newsies The musical included 15 musical numbers and a 22-person cast Burt Wood School Founder and Owner Lorna Brunelle produced the show One responsibility she imposed upon herself was cooking for the entire cast before each rehearsal Brunelle earned the Burt Wood Scholarship for her artistic endeavors during her time at Middleboro High School The scholarship paid for her four years of education at Boston Conservatory so she decided to name the school she started after Louisa Burt Wood Pratt the Middleboro music teacher for whom the scholarship was named Brunelle moved back to Middleboro and taught performance art at schools in the area and at her home Once her home studio’s membership grew large enough she figured it was time to find a separate home for her students Brunelle wants to pay it forward to her students She worked to get sponsors for the students and local businesses provided enough money so that 40 percent of Burt Wood students attend for free and they advocate for each other,” Brunelle said We try to create a nurturing environment where kids can just be free It was like they were all best friends with each other.” the school’s events include a broadway masterclass and concert from “Hamilton’’ actor Thayne Jasperson on Jan a musical review of rock n’ roll from March 3-5 Patrick’s Day Concert with Ed Priest on March 17 “There’s always something cool happening.” Following the rebuilding of Wareham Street and its designation as state route 28 South Middleborough entrepreneurs in the 1920s established numerous small-scale roadside stands to sell goods to passing motorists flowers and other items were sold at small wooden stands that were hastily erected following the First World War and operated seasonally providing residents with a means to supplement their incomes would become a popular local institution and a landmark for travelers bound for the Cape The business was conducted by Lucy (Braley) Sisson who was originally a schoolteacher in Bridgewater but became a noted businesswoman in the area known for her devotion to South Middleborough as well as her "great perseverance." The business originated in Lucy Braley's affection for her niece Louise (Long) Tomasik when Lucy was in her twenties I used to pick her up on weekends and we did things together — gardening and making candy"¦We sold flowers and vegetables at an improvised 'stand' on our lawn on Spruce Street." The pair decided to try selling some of the candy they had made at the West Wareham home of Lucy's brother and found that "it was thrilling to take the money." Lucy established a small candy shop at Elmer Sisson's filling station consented but requested that she assist Bill Greely in tending the station "We made fudge in the back of the station," Lucy later recalled "and were there for two summers." When a produce stand on property owned by Sisson next to the station went out of business though she claimed that the candy making "was still just a hobby" at the time Various innovative marketing techniques were employed by the business The Candy Kitchen maintained summer delivery routes in Onset who were also selling candy at various local beaches during the summer of 1938 Taking her cue from a practice once employed by the local ice industry Lucy Braley requested that patrons residing at beach communities wishing to purchase candy place a pink card in their windows to indicate to the passing salesman that candy was wanted the business employed more than one hundred people were enabled to remain in school or pursue higher education due to their employment at the Candy Kitchen "I can think of at least six who either went on to become teachers or influential persons." Among the employees were Helen R "There are grown ups in the community whose education was materially advanced through the employment Lucy provided." The candy produced at the shop itself was developed over time owner of Tripp's Candy Kitchen in Middleborough center butter crunch and fudge sauce to Lucy Braley who made the fudge sauce for Ben Howes' Chicken House located at Wareham and Smith Streets just north of South Middleborough learning to make fondants (creamy centers) "and that's when our candy dipping began." The Candy Kitchen also shared its knowledge of candy making giving a candy-making demonstration in November 1939 to the Eastern Star like other Route 28 businesses confronted the challenge of declining patronage due to the opening of Route 25 (now 495) that bypassed South Middleborough as well as vigorous enforcement of Massachusetts's so-called blue laws one of which prohibited all but necessary businesses from opening on Sundays Particularly sharp in her critique of the blue laws in South Middleborough was Lucy Sisson who (also clearly angered by the proposed opening of Route 25) questioned "Isn't it enough that people who have built up businesses on certain highways are cut off peremptorily by the new super highways Must we have insult added to injury by being told you fool; you don't know what necessary means Sisson refused to shutter her business on Sundays and discovered that she had been visited in her absence by a member of the state police Sisson immediately sent a lengthy letter to The Middleboro Gazette in which she took particular issue with the antiquated law that stated "Whoever on the Lord's Day keeps open his shop shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars." "and every bit of work done by anybody on any day should be done in the spirit of "liberty and justice for all." Who can state what is necessary A head of lettuce may be much more of a necessity than a gallon of gasoline; likewise an article from a gift shop may be much more vital to a person's happiness than a lobster dinner some 'expert planners' presume to dictate what is necessary for all of us." Lucy Braley Sisson became an outspoken critic of the blue laws she clearly articulated the views of many in South Middleborough "people down that way are as law abiding as anywhere They just resent being pushed around." Despite the persuasiveness of Mrs most businesses without a Sunday license found it more practical to comply with the law and remain closed on Sundays Though Williams Trading Post complied with the law Harold Williams did admit that "the Sunday closing represented a not inconsiderable loss of business." Because many retailers along Route 28 operated during the ten-week summer season only the loss of Sunday business was potentially economically devastating for them The issue was largely avoided by the Middleborough Board of Selectmen which remained generous in its issuing of Sunday retail licenses thereby satisfying local business owners by permitting them to open Massachusetts repealed its ban on Sunday retail sales over thirty years too late to benefit Route 28's struggling retailers Elmer Sisson sold his oil and gas business (which included the parcel on which Lucy Braley's Candy Kitchen stood) to a New Jersey—based company that immediately closed the filling station Sisson had opened in 1926 stipulated that his wife be permitted to continue utilizing the Candy Kitchen building until 1974 The Candy Kitchen in fact continued to occupy the building until 1978 Sisson was given thirty days to vacate the premises Luke's Hospital at Middleborough for the enjoyment of the patients the Candy Kitchen was reopened in the Sisson House on Locust Street where it continued to operate for a few more years until Lucy Braley Sisson's death in 1983 For more local history visit www.nemasket.blogspot.com Edward Lodi will be at Maria’s Card & Gift Shop in Middleborough between 11 am and 1 pm signing copies of his latest book “Who When Where in King Philip’s War.” Maria’s Card & Gift Shop is located at 1 Center Street in Middleborough author or editor of more than a half dozen books pertaining to King Philip’s War spent years researching material for his book which includes an alphabetical Who’s Who of approximately 450 entries with a brief biographical sketch for each; an almost day-by-day chronological listing that begins with events leading up to the war and continues until its tragic conclusion; and a listing of Indian Place Names The book also features twenty-four illustrations Lodi shows that no history of King Philip’s War can be complete without frequent mention of Middleborough and the many men and women from the area who played important roles or were otherwise caught up in the conflict which although it took place in the seventeenth century remains the bloodiest (in terms of percentage of population killed) ever fought on American soil The event that sparked the conflagration that would eventually destroy half the English settlements and forever crush the power of the Indian tribes in New England occurred in Middleborough warned governor Josiah Winslow that Philip was planning an uprising of the New England tribes against the English Sassamon’s body was soon afterward found under the ice of Assawompsett Pond Although his death may have been accidental three of Philip’s closest advisors were accused of his murder found guilty (on the word of an unreliable witness) This action prompted Philip’s warriors to attack Swansea the English settlement closest to Philip’s headquarters at Mount Hope A few weeks later they attacked (and eventually destroyed) Middleborough From Plymouth Colony the war quickly spread into Massachusetts Bay Colony Of the roughly 450 individuals listed with brief biographical sketches in the Who’s Who section of Lodi’s book more than a dozen have a connection with Middleborough youngest of the ten children of John and Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland of the Mayflower a noted marksman who was commissioned ensign and served in Benjamin Church’s company; Jabez Howland the Middleborough constable who investigated John Sassamon’s death and who serving as lieutenant under Benjamin Church was present at the battle in which Philip was killed; John Thompson used in the defense of the Middleborough garrison is now on display in the Old Colony Historical Society Museum in Taunton; Betty for whom Betty’s Neck in Lakeville is named; Tispaquin the sachem who was also Philip’s brother-in-law and who led attacks throughout Plymouth Colony including raids on Scituate and Bridgewater (and for whom a street in Middleborough is named); and John Raymond was forced to flee Salem but found refuge in Middleborough MIDDLEBORO — The Middleborough Historical Association will celebrate Deborah Sampson this Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m superintendent of Middleboro public schools will make a guest appearance in her American Revolutionary War period outfit Visitors will see a Deborah Sampson display as part of the new War Room exhibit at the museum Admission is free and light refreshments will be served was a descendant of Pilgrims including Priscilla Mullens Alden and Governor William Bradford she was sent to live in Middleboro with a cousin upon whose death Deborah worked first in the home of the elderly widow of Rev Peter Thatcher and then as an indentured servant for eight years for Deacon Jeremiah Thomas and his many sons on Sachem Street Deborah became a school teacher in Middleborough in a house which today is on Wareham Street not far from the Four Corners of Middleboro Center She also worked spinning and weaving in many homes as well as at the Sproat Tavern on the Green in Middleboro known to be a gathering place for military men and patriots including Benjamin Franklin Deborah disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the Fourth Regiment of the Continental Army as Robert Shurtleff in 1782 and was later discovered to be a woman She was honorably discharged at West Point Deborah married Benjamin Gannett and raised a family in Sharon She was a lecturer on her wartime experiences and was granted a pension from the state of Massachusetts Deborah Sampson was declared the Official Heroine of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1983 MIDDLEBORO — Massasoit Community College held their inaugural Paramedic program pinning on Wednesday May 18 in a ceremony at the college’s Middleborough Center began the ceremony by introducing Massasoit Community College President Dr Wall expressed his congratulations and recognized the hard work and dedication of this first class Director Meagher recognized members of the Paramedic Advisory Board in attendance including Middleborough Fire Chief Lance Benjamino David Denneno representing Sturdy Memorial Hospital retired Headmaster of Brockton High School and an EMT Medical Director of the Massasoit Community College Paramedic program and a paramedic thanked the families in attendance for their support of the students and expressed his congratulations to the recipients acknowledged the students and introduced them individually to receive their pins pinned the recipients with a Star of Life pin emblazoned with the wording “Massasoit Paramedic” around a blue jewel The recipients of the pins were Alexander Driscoll The Massasoit Community College Paramedic program is an 18-month program which includes more than 500 hours of classroom and practical lab sessions Clinical rotations were performed at Steward Hospital Group at Saint Anne’s in Fall River Morton Hospital and Medical Center in Taunton and Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton along with Same Day Surgicenter located in Fall River Field rotations were performed at Brewster Ambulance Service and Fallon Ambulance service along with the Freetown Fire Department Director Meagher expressed his pride to the recipients and welcomed them to the Massasoit Community College family “CTS continues to be in discussions with potential investors and acquirers to avoid liquidation,” the email stated the email was sent to employees from Laura Britton Head of People and Culture for Christmas Tree Shops WBSM was able to obtain a copy of the email which was sent with the subject line “Employee Separations at CTS’ Middleboro MA Office and Distribution Center.” In the email, CTS lays out its process of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection back in May in order to “restructure certain of CTS’ obligations and to reorganize CTS’s business.” It mentions how earlier in June the company had filed a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization “which provided for payments to creditors from the continued operation of CTS’s approximately 72 retail locations.” There was a bankruptcy court hearing scheduled for July 7 and a hearing to approve the Chapter 11 plan slated for August 16 The email also said CTS had been working with an investment banker SSG Advisors LLC to assist with either “a capital infusion or sale.” “It was anticipated that CTS’s workforce would be retained if the Chapter 11 plan was approved or a going-concern sale was consummated,” the email stated CTS confirmed to employees in the email that it had now defaulted to the lenders that had provided the capital to keep the company going during the Chapter 11 proceedings CTS’s lenders delivered to CTS a notice of default and trigger notice (sic),” the email stated CTS’s lenders were no longer obligated to provide any financial accommodations to CTS CTS was not able to remedy the default and is not able to operate its business without this necessary funding.” Britton’s email said the lenders have only agreed to continue to fund CTS “to pursue a going concern sale of its business” through July 5 “While CTS is hopeful that it may be able to consummate a going concern sale if it is not able to enter into an asset purchase agreement on or before July 5 CTS will be forced to engage in an orderly liquidation of its assets,” Britton wrote If that liquidation should take place, CTS anticipates permanently closing its offices and distribution center located at 64 Leona Drive in Middleboro, which it moved into back in 2007 after leaving its longtime location at the former Cape Cod Coliseum in South Yarmouth “The first employee separations would be expected to take place during the 14-day period commencing on July 7 and your employment will end during the 14-day period commencing on 7/7/2023,” Britton wrote The email also stated there would be no “bumping rights,” which would allow senior-level employees to accept a position currently held by a less-senior employee and have the less-senior employee laid off instead “We apologize that more advance notice of this possible action could not be provided Please know that had CTS provided any earlier notice to you of the possible liquidation and cessation of our business such an announcement would have had a chilling effect on CTS’s ability to secure the necessary investors and/or funds that would have allowed CTS to avoid or postpone these employee separations,” the email concluded When Christmas Tree Shops first filed for bankruptcy back on May 5 it also announced the closure of 10 stores including Cape Cod stores in Falmouth and its iconic windmill-and-thatched-roof location at the base of the Sagamore Bridge Unless there is a buyer for CTS by the end of the day on Wednesday including locations closest to the SouthCoast such as North Dartmouth Avon and Rhode Island locations in Middletown and Warwick An employee of CTS's Middleboro offices speaking on condition of anonymity told WBSM that “Supposedly the warehouse and corporate office in Middleboro will be closed by the end of July and (store) locations by the end of August or when there is no more product at the location.” A Christmas Tree Shops email confirms if it doesn't find a buyer by July 5, it will liquidate remaining stores and close its Middleboro distribution center.\nRead More In the email, CTS lays out its process of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection back in May in order to “restructure certain of CTS’ obligations and to reorganize CTS’s business.” It mentions how earlier in June If that liquidation should take place, CTS anticipates permanently closing its offices and distribution center located at 64 Leona Drive in Middleboro, which it moved into back in 2007 after leaving its longtime location at the former Cape Cod Coliseum in South Yarmouth The email also stated there would be no “bumping rights,” which would allow senior-level employees to accept a position currently held by a less-senior employee - Category: department store\n- Year founded: 1958\n- Year defunct: 2002\n- Lifetime: 44 years Before there was Walmart (four years before, to be exact), there was Ames. The discount retailer used to specialize in everything from apparel and electronics to housewares, patio furniture, jewelry and beyond. After 44 years of business, the corporation filed for bankruptcy closing 327 stores and leaving 21,500 employees without jobs For a complete list of the town's deparments, committees and organizations, go to www.middleborough.com Nearest hospital: Morton Hospital and Medical Center Monday – Friday (check with each department as some have limited hours) Town manager: Charles J. Cristello: 508-947-0928; e-mail Register at town clerk’s office in town hall Expanded registration hours are announced before elections and town meetings Annual town meeting is the fourth Monday in April Annual election is the first Saturday in April Special town meetings can be called at any time Cable TV: Comcast 888-633-4266; Verizon 800-870-9999 SCHOOLS Burkland Elementary School: 41 Mayflower Ave. Memorial Early Childhood Center: 219 North Main St. Bristol-Plymouth Vocational Technical High School: 940 County St. Southeast Alternative School: 49 Plymouth St. K12 International Academy: private online academy for grades K-12 Middleboro Public Library Middleboro Veterans Services: 20 Center St. Middleboro Veterans Outreach Center: 61 Summer St. MIDDLEBORO — With a new facility on the verge of going operational High Point Treatment Centers celebrated the upcoming opening of its new Middleboro location last Friday afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony with many town and state officials in attendance Speakers included High Point President and CEO Daniel Mumbauer and Chair of Middleboro Board of Selectmen Allin Frawley who received many praises from speakers before him regarding his work in mental health and addiction treatment told the story of how the Middleboro site came to be an option for a new High Point Treatment Center when longtime High Point board member Mary O’Donnell offered the property for the company’s use “Mary bought this property a number of years ago — over a decade ago to develop it as a commercial business interest and sitting around board members talking about access we began looking at … as a small organization And I was taken back at one of the board meetings with Mary who said ‘Daniel would you like my hospital in Middleboro?’ Did not see it coming; really out of the blue,” he said “It was such an incredible gift that really set the base for us to put together a plan to create this facility we do out of our sincere desire to make a difference “This is crucial in terms of being able to have the services needed to keep families together to get people through some very difficult times in their life to have those extraordinary opportunities where they turn things around and they’re back in the mainstream of our society contributing to our tax base — that’s really what today is all about,” Senator Pacheco said Pacheco also spoke to the economic benefit of having High Point present in Middleboro using his visit into town that day as an example “So I got here a bit early and I did what countless people are going to do with the opening of this facility here I went over to Central Café and had a pizza,” he said adding that the café was one of his favorite places to grab a bite “We’re going to see a significant positive economic impact in downtown Middleboro as a result of these facilities being located here in the heart of the downtown.” it’s been abandoned,” Selectman Frawley said of the former St “I dare say it’s never looked better than it does today.” “In Middleboro this facility has renovated a long-abandoned hospital and removed an eyesore that has been in the center of downtown for a number of years High Point brings 200-plus jobs here and will spur growth and economic vitality throughout our historic downtown district For the community-at-large the 72 bed facility translates to over 3,700 people a year that have better chance at proper diagnosis These beds go to patients who would otherwise wait … for a bed to become available possibly go home untreated and undiagnosed This is their first opportunity at recovery and that opportunity can literally be a life-changing and even life-saving event.” State Department of Mental health Commissioner Joan Mikula put her pre-written notes to the side for her speech He’s obviously a leader and will continue to be so I’m grateful that we’re a partner as the licensing entity for this new hospital young adults and adults in your communities will get to take advantage of this,” she said Before walking around the building to the front parking lot for the ribbon cutting Mumbauer spoke to his personal motivation for doing the work that he does “The thing that motivates me for doing what we do quite frankly is the unmet need There are so many families that don’t have access to services I always imagine if I had a family member that needed an inpatient psychiatric admission and literally there was no one to provide the services and it happens every day here in Massachusetts that we have folks stuck in the emergency rooms waiting for inpatient psychiatric beds we have folks on the streets trying to get into detox we have folks leaving detox trying to enter into a continuum of care that in much of the state does not exist.” Speakers also included High Point chairman of the board Charlie Maccaferri and Chief of Psychiatric Care for the Middleboro facility Michael Liebowitz According to High Point Director of Community Relations Kathy Norris there is no set date for the opening of Middleboro mental health facility but the hope is to begin opening units gradually starting in the next week or two High Point in Middleboro will be fully operational The new High Point Treatment Center psychiatric hospital is located downtown at 52 Oak St MIDDLEBORO — With worries fresh on everyone’s minds Lakeville and Freetown are discussing preparations and solutions for the high pond and river levels which could make for a wet and hazardous season Designated members from each town’s emergency management police and fire departments and Select Board offices and heads from various public works departments were on hand for a recent meeting Middleboro Fire Chief Lance Benjamino opened with news that the water levels at Assawompsett Ponds Complex are 3 feet over targeted levels for this time of year similar to the levels right before the 2010 floods at key junctions along the Nemasket River “show us just how choked up the river is,” Benjamino said Each of the three towns shared their experiences in 2010 with the floods destroyed hundreds of homes and caused billions of dollars in damage “It was the worst disaster in Massachusetts in the last 15 years in terms of federal dollars that came into the state,” said James Mannion Southeastern Regional manager for Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Benjamino explained how emergency staff had to divide the 72 square miles of Middleboro into four command center divisions in order to maximize response and relief efforts Several of the dams in town overflowed or failed “We had to evacuate many homes and entire neighborhoods Woloski Park had to be evacuated by airboat and canoes We got over 500 sandbags for dams and streets Fifteen roads were blocked off at one point,” said Benjamino Lakeville Town Administrator Rita Garbitt described similar evacuation conditions for neighborhoods along Staples Shore Road and Parkhurst Drive and how officials had to cut the town into two sections during this period for response and relief Flooding on Route 18 was so bad that the state Department of Transportation had to close off sections for two to three weeks Freetown Fire Chief Gary Silvia said the town lost the Elm Street Bridge and access was lost to Assonet from Route 79 Since the 2010 floods each town has gone through its own list of mitigation measures preparing for the future Middleboro used grant funding to purchase an Emergency Management trailer as well as a 50-person shelter trailer for people being evacuated Freetown Fire Chief Silvia concurred that similar purchases and preparations were made as well Middleboro DPW Director Chris Peck described drainage upgrades such as multiple culverts replaced to improve water flow under key roadways He also said dams were and continue to be inspected When it comes to immediate preparations and short-term solutions the consensus in the room was maintaining open lines of communication with the surrounding towns especially when it comes to mutual aid agreements is calling for assistance from other towns when they’re dealing with the exact same things “We need to seek outside resources not immediately impacted by conditions MEMA is one of these outside sources meant for such a crisis especially when it comes to dwindling supplies “We can get pallets of water to anywhere in the state in a matter of hours,” said Regional Director Mannion Several officials pointed out the usefulness of MassMap and the Health and Medical Coordinator Coalition for setting up local plans and overall assistance with seniors and other groups of people with special care needs each town is readily inventoried with non-perishable food bottled water and emergency Red Cross kits for residents in need Each town has designated emergency shelters such as Nichols Middle School in Middleboro An important piece of information was the acknowledgment that all shelters Each town and region has its own early notification system when it comes to flooding conditions and evacuations Benjamino highlighted the Code Red or Reverse 911 system which allows emergency forces to geo-fence and direct warnings social media has also proven to be a valuable tool for immediate communication While most of the meeting was spent on discussing measures for dealing with the symptoms some time was spent debating how to eventually cure the worsening conditions “These 100-year events are occurring more frequently than 100 years,” said Allin Frawley All contributing bodies of water — Assawompsett Ponds Complex the Nemasket River and the Taunton River — are connected influence one another and are suffering from the same problems with invasive weeds and other kinds of blockages hindering water flow and detrimentally impacting ecosystems and waterfront properties Frawley said he believes the issues with the Nemasket stem from all the man-made obstructions along the river which constrict the water at key junctions and produce “mini-ponds.” He added:“It’s important to find out how much water is going where Understanding the water levels and flow rate at each junction as well as what goes into the Assawompsett superintendent for the New Bedford Water Department said: “we can’t exclude extreme amounts of rainwater and higher-than-average ground water levels from consideration We're all in agreement that drainage is an issue.” Lakeville Selectman Mitzi Hollenbeck seemed to unify the audience when she indicated the region needs to seek state aid for any real remedies “We need to push the political realm for any long-term solutions,” she said MIDDLEBORO — The team Middleboro-Tullish recently competed in the Kingston Sports Center Winter League The team completed the season undefeated with a record of 15-0 in the 6th grade Blue Division The team is coached by Jim Mather and Jay Tullish The Soule Homestead Education Center will host its annual Sheep Day Celebration on Saturday According to South Coast Today.com the main part of Sheep Day is the sheep shearing and sheep dog demonstrations will once again be providing live music for the event the event will host local craft and plant sales Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children under twelve If you are a Soule Homestead member or become one at the door The Soule Homestead Education Center will host its annual Sheep Day Celebration on Saturday Read More According to South Coast Today.com