Description:  A seventh grade student wore a T-shirt to Nichols Middle School in Middleborough “There are only two genders.” The principal of the school pulled him out of class and ordered him to remove his shirt school officials said that he must remove the shirt or he could not return to class he left school and missed the rest of his classes that day High Resolution Photos ADF attorneys represent Massachusetts student in appeal after lower court allows school to suppress free speech WASHINGTON – Multiple education experts, free speech advocates, and 18 states have filed friend-of-the-court briefs with the U.S Supreme Court that ask it to take the case of a student forbidden by his Massachusetts school from wearing two different T-shirts to school with the words “There are only two genders” and “There are [censored] genders” on the front Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit affirmed the school’s decision prompting Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys to ask the high court to review the case and rule that Nichols Middle School in Middleborough violated the First Amendment when it stopped the student from wearing his shirts to school “Students don’t lose their free speech rights the moment they walk into a school building,” said ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S “This case isn’t about T-shirts; it’s about a public school telling a middle-schooler that he isn’t allowed to express a view that differs from their own The school actively promotes its view about gender through posters and ‘Pride’ events and it encourages students to wear clothing with messages on the same topic—so long as that clothing expresses the school’s preferred views on the subject Our legal system is built on the truth that the government cannot silence any speaker just because it disapproves of what they say We appreciate the many states and organizations that have joined us in urging the Supreme Court to take this critical free speech case.” “By silencing L.M., the First Circuit created a speech-hostile standard that—contrary to [Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District]—allows schools to restrain even silent, passive displays of speech that cause no actual disruption,” the multi-state brief led by the states of South Carolina and West Virginia explains “It split from other circuits on issues like what facts a school must show to justify a restriction on student speech And it effectively sanctioned viewpoint discrimination in public schools.” “If the First Circuit’s broad expansion of Tinker’s ‘invasion of the rights of others’ exception is allowed to stand, school administrators nationwide will wield it to censor unpopular or dissenting viewpoints—miseducating students about their expressive rights in our pluralist society,” adds the brief filed by Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Attorneys with ADF and Massachusetts Family Institute representing the student filed the lawsuit The ADF Center for Academic Freedom is dedicated to protecting First Amendment and related freedoms for students and faculty so that everyone can freely participate in the marketplace of ideas without fear of government censorship Cortman serves as senior counsel and vice president of U.S litigation with Alliance Defending Freedom and currently supervises a team of over 40 attorneys and legal staff who specialize in constitutional law Cortman has litigated hundreds of constitutional law cases including two victories at the U.S he secured a 7-2 victory that overturned Missouri’s denial of a religious school’s participation in a state funding program securing a 9-0 ruling that prohibits the government from discriminating against religious speech he is also admitted to practice in over two dozen federal courts magna cum laude from Regent University School of Law John Bursch is senior counsel and vice president of appellate advocacy with Alliance Defending Freedom Supreme Court cases and more than 30 state supreme court cases since 2011 and a recent study concluded that among all frequent Supreme Court advocates who did not work for the federal government he had the 3rd highest success rate for persuading justices to adopt his legal position Bursch served as solicitor general for the state of Michigan from 2011-2013 He has argued multiple Michigan Supreme Court cases in eight of the last ten terms and has successfully litigated hundreds of matters nationwide including six with at least $1 billion at stake and industry associations in high-profile cases magna cum laude in 1997 from the University of Minnesota Law School and is admitted to practice in numerous federal district and appellate courts Logan Spena serves as legal counsel for the Center for Free Speech at Alliance Defending Freedom where he works to defend free speech and combat global censorship and coercion Spena served as deputy policy director in the Missouri governor’s office where he oversaw the state’s regulatory reform efforts and worked to approve legislation on many issues including education Spena graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2016 where he served as an editor on the Virginia Law Review in Government: Political Theory from Patrick Henry College in 2012 Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom © 2025 Alliance Defending Freedom is a registered 501(C)(3) Charity. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions MIDDLEBORO – One month after filing a lawsuit against the state over forced compliance with a controversial multi-family housing law the town of Middleboro has announced it has reached an agreement and withdrawn its lawsuit "I want to thank the voters of Town Meeting for understanding the importance of maintaining local control and having faith in the Select Board and Director of Planning to find a solution to this matter," Select Board Chair Mark Germain said “We are pleased to find a compromise that works for the town of Middleborough." On Feb. 28, the town filed and announced its lawsuit against the Commonwealth, Gov. Maura Healey, and the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) over the MBTA Communities Act a state mandate that requires all communities in the state with MBTA transit service establish a multi-acre overlay zoning district specifically for multi-family housing Local officials said the town already meets the law’s requirements for multi-family housing including a Chapter 40R Smart Growth Zoning Overlay District but the state wouldn’t acknowledge its efforts What's the agreement?Under the terms of the agreement Middleboro will ask its residents for Town Meeting approval to expand its current Smart Growth District to create a new sub-district in the East Clark area of town This will allow for additional land area for market-rate and affordable multi-unit housing near the MBTA Commuter Rail station the EOHLC has agreed to accept the expanded district instead of having to create an all new MBTA Communities Zoning District If the sub-district is approved through Town Meeting, all new developments will be subject to the requirement of site-plan review.  This is something Middleboro officials were greatly concerned about because a new MBTA Zoning District would have put in place a “by-right” process meaning very few applications could be denied and no special permitting variances or approvals are needed from town boards “This is a huge win for Middleborough,” Town Manager Jay McGrail said “We were able to work together to provide the state with the additional multi-family housing units it sought while preserving our town's ability to shape our own growth and development.” EOHLC has also declared "that Middleboro is in interim compliance with the Act to allow the town time to finalize this plan." The resolution reached also allows the town to retain its state grant funding opportunities The Commonwealth had ceased several grants to Middleboro as punishment for non-compliance Town Manager James McGrail said back on Feb 28 several state grants previously approved for the town were being withheld by the state including $73,000 for the Middleboro School district to launch and continue initiatives addressing mental health as well as $2.8 million from MassWorks for infrastructural projects but it reserves the right to resurrect litigation if Town Meeting does not approve the zoning map amendment and the parties cannot reach a new agreement Ensuring the health of the communityWhen filing the lawsuit last month officials in Middleboro sided with the state’s Division of Local Mandates and State Auditor Diana DiZoglio who declared in a Feb 21 letter that the state's multi-family housing law is an “unfunded mandate,” and the state won’t compensate communities for compliance with the act The lawsuit also argued that the MBTA Communities Act technically only addresses multi-family housing “This law does nothing to address affordability in any form,” said Germain on Feb Germain and other Middleboro officials previously argued that the town’s compliance with the MBTA Communities Act would increase housing production to an unsustainable level and that in turn would increase the cost of providing services such as schools residents of Middleboro woke up to an unexpected mystery: dozens of identical lawn signs scattered throughout town each bearing the same cryptic message of “3 minutes…” and no explanation of who put them up or what they meant leaving the community scratching their heads and sparking widespread speculation Especially on Facebook where everyone and their mother came out of the woodwork to voice their opinion Some believed it was a reference to vehicle idling laws suggesting the signs were part of an environmental campaign Others speculated a connection to fire safety citing statistics that say occupants have just three minutes to escape a house fire before conditions become fatal Social media quickly became a hub for discussion and even sharing their frustrations over the sudden placement of the signs claiming the town had placed them on private property without permission viewing the mystery as an interesting conversation starter the Town of Middleboro finally broke its silence the Town posted an official statement on Facebook: While the statement confirmed that the signs were part of an organized initiative it didn’t provide the clear-cut answers residents were hoping for the "3 minutes" sign turned into a "3 days" wait for an answer Some applauded the town for its clever marketing strategy while others felt the approach was unnecessary arguing that the town should have been more transparent from the start rather than leaving people in the dark one thing is certain: the town’s plan to stir up buzz worked all that’s left is to wait for the full reveal Gallery Credit: Michael Rock Mysterious \"3 minutes...\" signs appeared in Middleboro, sparking speculation and curiosity before the town revealed they were part of a public safety campaign.\nRead More From the Town Manager:\nWe are aware of the "3 minutes" signs that were put up yesterday around town MIDDLEBORO — A missing elderly woman last seen in Middleboro was found deceased in the woods in a shallow body of water on Thursday, March 27, Middleboro Police Chief Robert Ferreira and Fire Chief Owen Thompson wrote in a statement was reported missing Thursday morning after a neighbor requested a welfare check on her at around 8:46 a.m She was last seen hours earlier near the Oak Point residential community at around 1:30 a.m. A State Police K9 unit located her body in the woods in a shallow body of water on Thursday afternoon "It's always a sad ending when a member of our community goes missing and does not survive despite the best efforts of dozens of first responders," Ferreira said Sperling's cause of death remains under investigation by the Middleboro Police Department and State Police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office (WLNE) — The Town of Middleborough filed a lawsuit in Plymouth Superior Court over its alleged “noncompliance” with the MBTA Communities Act the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities as defendants MBTA Communities are required to have one “reasonably sized” zoning district within a half-mile of an MBTA station that allows multi-family residential housing has a minimum gross density of more than 15 units per acre The town said that it has “clearly demonstrated” its compliance with the act when it created a “Smart Growth Zoning District” in 2021 The was comprised of 40.4 acres within a half-mile of an MBTA Commuter rail station with a density of 20 units per acre “Middleborough not only created the required zoning district but it is actively facilitating the development of affordable multi-family housing where 26 units have already been constructed and sold and 148 more are in the development stage,” Town Manager Jay McGrail said “These units are all within a half-mile from the MBTA station and are in addition to the existing 881 multi-family housing units within one mile of the station.” The town said that the state’s computer model A statement by the town also said that the state auditor found that communities cannot be compelled to comply with the act due to it being an “unfunded mandate,” and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education informed Middleborough that it would no longer be receiving millions of dollars in state aid “The Commonwealth has taken badly needed funding for public schools and capital projects including projects to create greater access to persons with disabilities essential public services are at risk,” the statement read a spokesperson for the Healey administration said that the act is “not an unfunded mandate” and that “it is unfortunate that some communities are choosing to use the Division of Local Mandates’ advisory opinion to try to stall its implementation.” The MBTA Communities Law was passed with bipartisan nearly unanimous support in the Legislature signed by a Republican Governor and is being implemented by our administration The law is essential to our efforts to lower the high cost of housing which we know is one of the greatest challenges facing the people of Massachusetts We are proud that 119 communities have already adopted new zoning under this law with more than 3,300 new housing units in the pipeline because of it and it is unfortunate that some communities are choosing to use the Division of Local Mandates’ advisory opinion to try to stall its implementation We know that Attorney General Campbell and her team will vigorously defend the law and we’re committed to working with all towns to turn these plans into new housing and lower costs for all of our residents The Town of Middleborough Friday dropped its lawsuit against the state over the controversial MBTA Communities law after agreeing to expand an existing zoning district allowing multifamily housing to meet the law’s requirements The deal between Middleborough and the state came after the town last month sued the state housing office for an exemption from MBTA Communities, the 2021 law that mandates cities and towns served by the T make it easier to build multifamily housing. The Plymouth County town had argued it already had a zoning district created under the state’s smart growth zoning program 40R and should not be obligated to create another one Town Manager Jay McGrail said both sides should be satisfied with the agreement. Middleborough will meet the requirements of MBTA Communities, a priority of Governor Maura Healey’s administration in its push to ease the housing crisis and Middleborough gets to meet those requirements by simply expanding its 40R district “Local control was our top priority in this,” said McGrail “So we feel very satisfied with the outcome here We’re expanding a district that we already had We’re keeping our control over our zoning.” The state housing office said in a statement Friday that it had approved the town’s plan to comply and would review the zoning once officials submit it Middleborough town officials created the existing 40R district in 2021 near the commuter rail station downtown Its zoning allows multifamily housing by-right or without special permission from a board 174 multifamily units have been permitted there MBTA Communities requires Middleborough to have zoning in place with a capacity for at least 1,471 units meaning that if all of the buildings within the borders of the district were razed developers could build 1,471 units by-right Its expansion into the East Clark part of town will create the additional capacity to meet the state’s requirements and the same parameters for development will apply there as well Middleborough Town Meeting must approve the expansion of the district McGrail said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll played a significant role in brokering the agreement Middleborough, a town of 24,000 about 30 miles south of Boston, has been at odds with the state over MBTA Communities for years Its Select Board in 2022 voted to ignore the law’s requirements making it the first town to take an official stand against the law Town Meeting there overwhelmingly voted down a plan to comply and the Select Board again decided this year against submitting an action plan for compliance under an extended state deadline The town sued the state last month after State Auditor Diana DiZoglio issued an opinion calling MBTA Communities an “unfunded mandate,” opening the door for towns to pursue exemptions from the law in court Several other towns have since filed lawsuits as well It’s the latest point of tension between cities and towns and the state over the law, which lawmakers passed in early 2021. Ever since, some communities have pushed back saying it is taking away their local control over zoning the Healey Administration has pushed hard to enforce the law seeing it as key to opening up the suburbs and towns around Greater Boston that have historically blocked growth to more housing development “We were clear from the beginning that we’re not against more housing That is a priority of the town,” said McGrail we feel like we’re doing it the right way.” Andrew Brinker can be reached at andrew.brinker@globe.com. Follow him @andrewnbrinker. Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information house and vehicle were destroyed by fire in Middleborough Tuesday The fire apparently started outside the barn and was spread by winds "We did find one male patient who had received significant burns to his lower extremities," Middleborough Fire Chief Owen Thompson told WCVB.  Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976 Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post MIDDLEBORO — “We believe we have the moral high ground to call out what’s unfair,” said Middleboro Select Board Chair Mark Germain at a press conference Friday afternoon He and other town official held the press conference to announce the town is suing the Commonwealth and the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities over forced compliance with a controversial multi-family housing law the town said it's already in compliance with Last fall, Middleboro Town Meeting voted down a proposal to comply with the MBTA Communities Act Every municipality with direct or adjacent transit service provided by the MBTA has to vote Town Manager James McGrail said the town already meets the law’s requirements for multi-family housing but that the state won’t acknowledge its efforts He said the town is “taking a stand to defend the community” and to defend “our school district from arbitrary and draconian methods adopted by the Commonwealth to break communities.” Town attorney Gregg Corbo said he believes this will be a "landmark case." The town is seeking declaratory judgment and injunctive relief from the MBTA Communities Act as well as prevention from the Commonwealth in enacting "arbitrary sanctions," said Corbo Middleboro officials say town is already in complianceMiddleboro's proposed district that was rejected at fall’s Town Meeting would have been on West Grove Street within a half mile radius of the new MBTA station for South Coast Rail McGrail said the town already created a Smart Growth Zoning District that predates the state's multi-family housing law According to a written statement from the town Friday all within a half-mile of an MBTA Commuter rail station and where multi-family housing is allowed of right at a density of 20 units per acre McGrail said the town has built 881 housing units He added there are numerous other housing developments the town has approved and are being built which will directly abut the new MSBA train station “Although the Town has clearly demonstrated that it is in compliance with the Act it has been severely penalized because its choice of compliance methods is different than what a computer model says that an MBTA Community should look like,” the written statement from the town said Middleboro in national headlines Will U.S. Supreme Court take Middleboro 'only two genders' free speech case? What to know Town manager: Middleboro is 'champion of affordable housing'McGrail said “the town is a champion of affordable housing." He said affordable/subsidizing housing represents 13.7% of the town's total housing stock well above the minimum 10% requirement from the state The MBTA Communities Act specifically addresses multi-family housing Germain added while Middleboro has done everything it can to embrace smart growth that’s sustainable for the town and those in need of housing “this law does nothing to address affordability in any form.” How town's paying for new firefighters Middleboro hires 6 new firefighters, South Station to be open 24/7 State auditor calls multi-family housing law 'unfunded mandate'A Feb 21 letter from the state’s Division of Local Mandates and state Auditor Diana DiZoglio declared that the state's multi-family housing law is an “unfunded mandate.” The written statement from Middleboro on Friday makes reference to that letter saying "despite the Auditor’s determination the state has made no effort to quantify the costs associated with complying with the Act and the Attorney General has maligned the Auditor simply for doing her job.” Germain and other Middleboro officials have argued compliance with the mandate will increase housing production to an unsustainable level for the town Middleboro officials previously said that it would result in a drastic increase in population — 18.5% over a few years – and that in turn would increase the cost of providing services such as schools “The state is not offering to pay for these upgrades,” said Germain The state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has told officials in municipalities that non-compliance with the multi-family housing law can result in legal action by the attorney general such as not being eligible for state grants Middleboro Town Planner Leann Bradley told officials at a September Planning Board meeting prior to the October Town Meeting that the town received close to $2 million in state grants over the last four years McGrail said at Friday's press conference the attorney general and governor have already committed “a gross misuse of power” by withholding several state grants previously approved for the town including $73,000 for the Middleboro School District to launch and continue initiatives addressing mental health The written statement from the town also said including the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education which was promised to reimburse Middleborough for money it spent in reliance on those grants.” Numerous communities in the Commonwealth have refused to comply with the multi-family housing law In February 2024, the state attorney general’s office sued Milton for rejecting the zoning requirement In September, Middleboro selectmen voted unanimously to submit an amicus brief supporting Milton in its legal battle with the attorney general In January of this year, Massachusetts’ highest court ruled the multi-family housing law is indeed constitutional and enforceable by the Attorney General the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court also ruled that regulations passed to determine compliance did not go through the correct public process and were thus ineffective This resulted in the state redoing the guidelines in order to make the law enforceable Recently, the Marshfield select board announced it would seek a court order to exempt it from compliance with the multi-family housing law until state funding is provided Marshfield voters previously twice rejected proposed zoning rules to comply with the state law at town meetings in 2024 If you live in Middleboro, you’ve likely seen the dozens of identical lawn signs scattered throughout town just a bold and mysterious reminder that sparked plenty of theories about what these signs meant READ MORE: Middleboro "3 Minutes" Signs Spark Mystery the Middleboro Fire Department took to Facebook to clear up the mystery and put residents' concerns to rest – and the truth is a lot less alarming than many initially imagined The department explained that the message was a reminder about the dangers of modern fires: fire conditions in your home can become unsurvivable in just three minutes.” Modern materials in homes such as synthetic furniture open floor plans and lightweight building materials cause fires to spread much faster than they did in the past While the message wasn’t meant to scare if a random sign showed up on my lawn overnight The signs were part of the Fire Department’s launch of the “Middleborough Fire Life Safety Audit Initiative” (MFLSA) a program offering free fire safety audits for residents check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms “We are thrilled to launch the Middleborough Fire Department Fire Life Safety Audit Initiative,” Fire Chief Owen Thompson said The program is funded by a $226,088 FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant and a $22,608 municipal match ensuring that Middleboro families have access to the latest in smoke alarm technology Middleboro's mysterious \"3 minutes\" signs were part of a fire safety campaign promoting free home audits and smoke alarm checks.\nRead More If you live in Middleboro, you’ve likely seen the dozens of identical lawn signs scattered throughout town READ MORE: Middleboro "3 Minutes" Signs Spark Mystery (WLNE) — The Middleborough Fire Department said crews battled a “fully engulfed” garage fire Wednesday morning crews responded to a fire on Oak Street after a neighbor reported smoke coming from the detached garage firefighters noticed heavy smoke coming from the four-bay garage and a fire reaching to the roof Crews were able to extinguish the fire and remained on scene to confirm there were no additional flames Officials said the building was destroyed by the fire The garage was unoccupied when the fire occurred and no injuries were reported embers from the garage were transported by the wind which caused grass and bushes to light on fire and be extinguished by crews The fire is under investigation by the Middleborough Fire Department and Massachusetts State Police MIDDLEBORO — Liam Morrison — a Middleboro student who unsuccessfully sued the town for allegedly violating his First Amendment right to free speech — is appealing his "two genders" T-shirt case to the U.S In the spring of 2023, Morrison wore a T-shirt to Nichols Middle School that read "there are only two genders," and his principal sent him home twice after he refused to change the shirt which the principal said made some of his classmates unsafe The middle schooler and his family filed a lawsuit against the town, claiming that the school violated his First Amendment right to freedom of speech. This June, more than a year after the incident, the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston ruled against Morrison. “This case isn’t about T-shirts; it’s about a public school telling a middle-schooler that he isn’t allowed to express a view that differs from their own," said David Cortman, senior counsel for the Christian law firm Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Middleboro Superintendent Carolyn Lyons and multiple school committee members did not immediately respond to The Enterprise's request for comment In March 2023, Morrison was sent home for refusing to remove his T-shirt, sparking major controversy across the school district and across the nation but covered part of the shirt with tape so it read "there are 'censored' genders." The principal sent him home again Morrison, who is represented in the lawsuit by ADF and endorsed by the Massachusetts Family Institute said the school banned him expressing his personal beliefs on the issue of gender identity even though the school had openly celebrated Pride month with flags and posters School officials said that his shirt violated the school's dress code which bans clothing that could cause harm or damage to a "protected class of students" — kids who identify as transgender and are particularly at risk of bullying and suicide "there are only two genders," and school staff violated his right to free speech and freedom of expression by banning him from wearing the T-shirt "The school actively promotes its view about gender through posters and ‘Pride’ events, and it encourages students to wear clothing with messages on the same topic — so long as that clothing expresses the school’s preferred views on the subject," Cortman said in a press release on Wednesday, Oct. 9, announcing the Supreme Court appeal. MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro is set to host its first-ever New Year's Eve celebration called "Celebrate Middleborough," is free and open to the public "I would like to thank all of the sponsors of this year's Celebrate Middleborough New Year's Eve bash," Town Manager James McGrail said in the release "I look forward to this event becoming a longstanding town tradition I can't wait to see everyone at Peirce Playground to get the party started." 'Stressed' Amazon driver tells police why he left 80 packages in woods ahead of Christmas at the Peirce Playground entrance on the corner of Jackson and Lincoln streets which will include the Middleboro High School and Middle School bands The parade will proceed down Jackson Street toward the library then right into the second driveway at the Memorial Early Childhood Center and around the back of the school toward Peirce Playground The Friends of the Middleboro Public Library will sell noisemakers before the parade at Peirce Playground for $1 each (cash only) Barn Burners 45 Greater Taunton area hockey players to watch this winter Refreshments will be provided by Main Ingredient and the Italian Gem Café The Middleboro Fire Department will also be on-site for the event This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. (WLNE) — A GoFundMe was created for the family of a teenager who was killed in a crash in Middleborough on April 6 According to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office of East Bridgewater was killed in the crash it said “all donations for funeral services are greatly appreciated and will be directly provided to Joe’s mom and dad.” Anyone interested in donating to the GoFundMe can visit here MIDDLEBORO — The Middleboro Fire Department has welcomed six new firefighters marking a significant expansion in its ranks the swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday Thomas Simon and Anthony Visconte were sworn in by Fire Chief Owen Thompson Each firefighter was pinned by a family member The expansion was made possible by a $2,019,030 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant awarded to the department last September will cover 100% of the personnel expenses associated with hiring the six new full-time firefighters including the town's portion of their health insurance and pension liabilities with no matching cost required from the town 'Our hearts are broken' 12-year-old Middleboro fire victim wanted to be a babysitter the department will be able to operate its South Station 24/7 with a three-member engine company in addition to a three-member engine company at Central Station the department has a three-member engine company and a two-member ladder company at Central Station and the South Station is used when there is additional staffing Town Manager James McGrail and the Select Board have committed to funding the six positions after the grant funds are exhausted this swearing-in ceremony wouldn't have been possible," Thompson said First swearing-in ceremony before Select Board in many yearsThe swearing-in ceremony was the first before the Select Board in many years Thompson said he believes it's an important tradition of the fire service so that new firefighters start the job knowing they're a part of the community and residents get to know the faces of people who may respond to their homes in times of emergency "Today is a reminder of the strength and unity that exists within our Fire Department family and the unwavering commitment we have to serving and protecting the Town of Middleborough," Thompson said "It's a calling that demands resilience and a willingness to face unthinkable challenges to protect our community." The new firefighters are set to participate in department orientation and attend the Massachusetts Fire Academy "The addition of these six firefighters will make the Town of Middleborough a safer place for the future," McGrail said "Increasing staffing levels at the Middleborough Fire Department is long overdue and we are incredibly thankful to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for this funding We are committed to ensuring that we maintain these positions beyond the life of this grant." Middleborough police and fire officials said Thursday evening that an 83-year-old woman who was reported missing was found dead A search for Michele Sperling began Thursday morning when officers conducting a well-being check found she wasn't home regional and state agencies conducted a broad search for the woman using drones "A State Police K9 unit located the woman in the woods in a shallow body of water on Thursday afternoon," a release said "While foul play is not immediately suspected the death is under investigation by the Middleborough Police Department and State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office." Police said Sperling was last seen at about 1:30 a.m on Simmons Road at the Oak Point residential community "It's always a sad ending when a member of our community goes missing and does not survive despite the best efforts of dozens of first responders," Police Chief Robert Ferreira said in a statement "We extend our deepest condolences to the victim's family and loved ones during this difficult time and ask everyone to please respect their privacy while they grieve.” Police had asked residents and business owners in the area to check their surveillance cameras for any sign of the woman They also enouraged people to check their sheds or unlocked cars MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. (WLNE) — The Middleborough Police Department said that the 83-year-old woman reported missing Thursday was found dead. Police said the body of Michelle Sperling was found  in the woods in a shallow body of water She was last reported seen at approximately 1:30 a.m The department said the death was under investigation but foul play was not suspected (WJAR) — Middleborough fire officials announced that the 67-year-old man who was rescued from a house fire on Monday night has died died from the injuries he sustained during the fire they responded to a two-story home on 6 Locust St The first floor was fully ablaze when firefighters arrived at the scene Fire crews said neighbors told them the occupant was still in the home Firefighters found Williams near a side entrance Middleborough fire officials said he was transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he was later pronounced dead The cause of the fire is being investigated (WLNE) — Middleborough police and fire personnel are searching for a missing 83-year-old Middleborough resident according to a statement from Middleborough police representatives Michelle Sperling was last seen at approximately 1:30 a.m Thursday on Simmons Road at the Oak Point residential community She is wearing a white jacket and dark-colored pants The Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council and Massachusetts State Police are assisting in the search Residents are asked not to join the search efforts on their own and to contact Middleborough police at 508-947-1212 with any information regarding Sperling’s location Local firefighters rescued a man from his burning home amid “severe fire conditions” Monday night The 67-year-old man rescued from his Middleboro house was then transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries Firefighters responded to 6 Locust St. for a report of a house fire at around 9:15 p.m firefighters attacked the blaze from the outside They then learned from neighbors that the home’s occupant was likely still inside the home Firefighters “conducted an aggressive search” and found the man near a side entrance He was then transported by a Coastal Medical Transportation ambulance to Rhode Island Hospital The bulk of the fire was extinguished at about 12:30 a.m. but crews remained on the scene throughout the morning to extinguish hot spots One firefighter suffered a minor ear laceration and was treated at the scene “I would like to commend our Middleborough Fire crews that did an incredible job on the scene last night,” Middleboro Fire Chief Owen Thompson said in a statement “We were able to simultaneously initiate a fire attack and complete search and rescue operations and the Fire Department have worked collaboratively to increase our staffing allowing us to do that,” the chief added “I want to commend Firefighters Thomas Melucci and Robert Delaney who demonstrated bravery and dedication as they located and removed the victim in the face of severe fire conditions.” with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating the cause of the fire The cause does not appear to be intentional investigators learned from video evidence that the fire started about 12 to 14 minutes before the Fire Department received the initial 911 call Crews from the Bridgewater, Carver, Lakeville and Wareham fire departments provided on-scene mutual aid. Carver firefighters provided station coverage ©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at bostonherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. MIDDLEBORO — A man suffered second-degree burns in a two-alarm house fire on Vernon Street in Middleboro on Tuesday afternoon The Middleboro Fire Department said they responded to a report of a fire with a burn victim at 61 Vernon St crews observed heavy smoke coming from a house and fire coming from a barn behind it," Middleboro Fire Chief Owen Thompson said in a written statement A man was transported by ambulance to Rhode Island Hospital "with apparent second-degree burns to his lower extremities," the chief said Middleboro hires 6 new firefighters South Station to be open 24/7. How town's paying for it A second alarm was struck to bring additional mutual aid resources to the scene The fire has since been knocked down and firefighters remain on the scene The Enterprise media partner WCVB reported that it appears that a pickup truck in the driveway of the home had also caught on fire. Another serious fire in December ‘Life threatening injuries’: Middleboro man burned in Monday night house fire Firefighters used two fire hoses to put out the flames in the home It is not yet clear what caused the fire or the extent of the damage to the home This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today Officials in Middleborough said Friday that more than a dozen dogs in need of medical care were removed from a condemned home Animal control officers responded to the Precinct Street house as part of an animal welfare investigation The town said officers found 17 dogsin poor shape inside the house "The unregistered dogs had no access to food or water and lived in filth," a release from the town said Town officials said the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at the same time executed a warrant involving horses on the property The house was condemned as a health hazard and the fire department said it was a fire hazard MIDDLEBORO — The response of “No” couldn’t have been shouted any louder from the quorum of Middleboro residents proclaiming they don’t want to be forced to comply with a state mandate that will increase housing production to an unsustainable level for the town Middleboro residents voted down an article at the special Town Meeting on Monday would have created a new 50-plus acre zoning district intended for an increase of several thousand more multi-family housing units Sometimes you have to fight the fight that needs fighting I hope I never have to live in the city of Middleboro because I love the town of Middleboro,” said Select Board Chair Mark Germain at the meeting The MBTA Communities Act mandates that all communities in the state with MBTA transit service must establish at least one overlay zoning district specifically for multi-family housing Every municipality with direct or adjacent transit service provided by MBTA has to vote Middleboro's proposed district would have been on West Grove Street Looking for new place to take a walk? Middleboro has just the thing and you can rent a garden plot too Would town's population have soared?Local officials told residents the consequences of accepting this mandate would be a drastic increase in population — 18.5% over a few years – and the resultant millions of dollars in costs for all areas of the town’s operations said this is an “unfunded mandate” from the state He also said there’s no guarantee the state won’t “move the goalpost” with its requirements sometime down the line I don’t want to change the feel of Middleboro,” Giovanoni said Unique way to unwind in Middleboro What to know about new ax-throwing bar Hatchet in Hand No control over housingAnother concern expressed at the meeting is all new multi-family housing developments would be “by-right” —meaning very few applications could be denied Town Planner Leann Bradley said the “one-size-fits-all” approach the state is taking with this law will result in the town's essentially “chasing our tail” trying to regulate new developments it will have little enforcement powers over Select Board member Teresa Farley said the town already exceeds the state’s 40B affordable housing minimum requirement — with 12.6% of the town’s current housing stock qualifying as affordable far exceeding the 10% minimum required by the state Will Middleboro be 'punished' for saying no?The state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has told officials in Middleboro that non-compliance with the MBTA Communities Act can result in legal action by the attorney general who was concerned about the numerous non-profits and projects in town funded through state grants “There will be ramifications down the line,” concurred Nathan Demers Documents given to residents at Town Meeting stated that penalties for non-compliance do not involve state-allocated local aid such as Chapter 70 school aid and Chapter 90 aid for roadways and do not affect eligibility for federal grants the town has received close to $2 millions in state grants over the last four years and those funds run the risk of being cut off Finance Committee member Matt Phillips said the state’s actions are “tantamount to extortion,” and the position many town officials are taking isn’t based on “a NIMBY position,” but is instead based on “the financial mess the town will find itself in.” Middleboro is paying attention to the outcome of a lawsuit between the town of Milton and the Attorney General’s Office Back in February, the AG's office filed suit against Milton for rejecting the MBTA Communities Act zoning bylaw The case is currently in front of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court On Sept. 9, the Middleboro Select Board voted unanimously to approve submitting an amicus brief expressing support for the town of Milton in its legal battle with the attorney general “It’s time to tell the state we’re not playing,” said resident Diane Fay adding that whatever retribution that may come MIDDLEBORO — Sometimes even the best of friendships can come to an end At their Thursday, March 27 meeting, the Middleboro Board of Library Trustees voted to terminate their relationship with the Friends of the Middleboro Library — a separate nonprofit that owns the parking lot used by the library and runs various cultural events held at the library The immediate impact to library patrons is that the Ex Libris bookstore operated by the Friends in the library building on North Main Street will close I don't think it's helpful to the library," said Library Director Randy Gagné at the March trustees meeting "I think we need to focus on summer reading and moving forward and I think the Friends need to focus on trying to heal their relationship with the community." "I think we all agree that the miscommunication between our organization and the library is unfortunate but by no means irreparable," Paula Fay president of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library "We want to make it very clear that we are anxious to meet with the Board of Library Trustees to negotiate a better working relationship The first step of that process is to establish reasonable ground rules for that open meeting so that all parties can participate in a frank What settlement was reached? Middleboro drops suit against state over MBTA zoning library trusteesAccording to copies of emails between the Friends and the library director obtained by the Gazette in response to public records requests the relationship between the Friends and the library appears to have begun deteriorating around August 2024 Gagné emailed Paula Fay to inform her that the library trustees had voted to approve a fundraiser held by the Friends in the library that would involve serving alcohol (According to the Library's "Meeting Room Policy," the Library Board of Trustees must approve any events where the Library building is used for fundraising) he asked Fay to "please remember to submit a request to the Trustees if you plan to serve alcohol in the Library preferably a few months before the event." He also said that the server of the alcohol "must be tip-certified and insured." Fay asked to meet with Gagné "to review a document that the Friends have put together pertaining to policies and procedures so you are aware of the overall content." It is unclear what legal authority the "document that the Friends have put together" has The relationship between the Friends and the library was governed by an operating agreement the Friends terminated the operating agreement between the Friends and the library "After legal consultation and discussion with representatives of the governing body for the Town of Middleborough the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library Inc has unanimously voted to terminate the 'Operating Agreement between the Middleborough Public Library and the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library Inc.' effective immediately," Fay wrote in a letter to the Chair of the Library trustees said that the Friends terminated the operating agreement due to "excessive oversight and unreasonable turnaround time requests." we are registered with the state and the IRS and provide complete and accurate record keeping," Fay said "We attempt to respond to library funding requests in a timely manner but prefer a 30-day notice so that our completely volunteer unpaid board can respond in a thoughtful manner We look forward to forging an agreement that is beneficial to all parties in the near future." How town's paying for it Middleboro hires 6 new firefighters, South Station to be open 24/7 Despite the operating agreement being terminated the Library has allowed the Friends to use library resources in a manner allowed under the operating agreement but that would not be allowed if the Friends was a generic nonprofit according to a "briefing report" written by Gagné that the Gazette obtained through a public records request These "'special' privileges" include "the storage of materials and supplies in the library," "the support of Library staff for programs and events through advertising and staff hours," and "the reservation of the Library facility after hours." Gagné said in his briefing report that he recommended "opening the door for discourse first to see if a middle ground can be broached." the Library Board of Trustees is now taking a different approach the trustees voted unanimously to suspend negotiations with the Friends They also voted unanimously to close the bookstore operated by the Friends within the library building The Friends operate a parking lot immediately adjacent to the Middleboro library Although there are other parking lots nearby the Friends' parking lot is the closest lot to the library and maintain the parking lot next to the library we have no plans on restricting its usage to the patrons of the library as our neighbors enjoy the many assets and programs of the library," Fay said in an email Questions raised regarding Friends missionIn a March "briefing report" written by Gagné prior to the March 27 trustees meeting he expressed concern regarding the mission of the Friends of the Middleboro Public Library (FMPL) "There are inconsistencies between FMPL's written and verbal communications regarding its mission and financial commitments While a formal statement suggests a broad funding approach beyond the library the FMPL website states a library-focused mission," he wrote "There is significant uncertainty regarding FMPL's governance and operational structure," Gagné said in a different March 27 briefing report "Until FMPL finalizes its bylaws and clarifies its role within the community suspending negotiations on the operating agreement is a logical course of action." Fay gave multiple answers regarding whether the mission of the Friends was focused on the library or if it included other issues not directly related to the library After the Gazette reached out to Fay on April 1 she said that the board of the Friends would be meeting with a "public relations firm" the evening of April 1 "You might want to obtain an understanding of the role of a nonprofit as it relates to advocacy," Fay said on April 1 "A public library is an extension of the community and by supporting municipal entities that service the residents of the community Fay sent an additional email where she said that "the mission of the Friends of the Library is to fund ancillary programs for the library." "It is not uncommon for us to communicate with Veterans groups and the Council on Aging and other essential town organizations," Fay said "We are promoting the library to a wide range of constituents throughout the town The instance that is misunderstood is that at one time the friends obtained a grant to purchase some outdoor games for a veteran's outing At the conclusion of that outing those games were then delivered to and donated to the library." Fay also discussed the status of the bylaws of the Friends in her April 2 email "The Friends of the Library are an official 501C3 nonprofit organization and registered with both the IRS and the state of Massachusetts," Fay said "We look forward to resolving our differences and moving forward to do the important work of uplifting and entertaining the community through enhanced library programming We encourage our neighbors to participate in our efforts by reaching out to us to volunteer donate and support the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library." (WLNE) — Middleborough investigators are working to piece together a Sunday crash that killed a teenager Middleborough police arrived on Marion Road to find a car had crashed into a tree with the driver trapped inside just after 2:30 a.m The 18-year-old from East Bridgewater was freed from the wreckage and taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased Police said a passenger in the car was also taken to an area hospital with serious injuries The town of Middleborough sued Governor Maura Healey and the state housing office Friday seeking an exemption from the controversial MBTA Communities Act which requires cities and towns served by the T to make it easier to build multifamily housing within their borders The lawsuit asks for a waiver from the law’s zoning requirements under a recent opinion from State Auditor Diana DiZoglio who called the law an “unfunded mandate” because the Legislature did not designate adequate funds for its implementation has already built housing near its commuter rail station in recent years and should not be forced to make room for more Adhering to the law’s requirements would be a “significant expense” because the town does not have the infrastructure to accommodate more development Lawyers for the town added that the state has gone too far in punishing towns it deems noncompliant Middleborough, a town of 24,000 about 30 miles south of Boston, has been at odds with the state over MBTA Communities for years The town wrote to DiZoglio’s office last year requesting her to weigh in on the law and when Middleborough officials received her opinion last week calling it an unfunded mandate this is yet another roadblock for a law that it inherited from the Legislature but has become central to its housing strategy The administration set a goal in February of building 222,000 new homes by 2035 in order to head off the housing shortage which is quickly warping the economic reality of everyday residents The state is well behind the pace of construction needed to meet that goal and officials see MBTA Communities — Massachusetts’ most consequential new housing law in decades — as key to course correcting Most of the state’s housing production over the last several decades has happened in Boston and a few neighboring communities The law is designed to stimulate housing production in the suburbs and towns in Eastern Massachusetts that have long shut out new development But towns have not taken kindly to the law Some see it as an affront on Massachusetts' tradition of local government decisions over land-use rules and many do not want to encourage the production of more homes The law requires 177 cities and towns with access to the T create zoning districts that allow for multifamily housing Attorney General Andrea Campbell sued the town of Milton last year for failing to meet the law’s requirements, and the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the law though it also ruled that the state must put the guidelines that shape its implementation through a formal regulatory process “I am grateful to the majority of communities that understand the importance of responsible zoning and my office and I intend to successfully defend this law in court,” Campbell said “It is regrettable that the Auditor’s incorrect legal assessment has spurred challenges to a law meant to address our housing crisis.” Middleborough officials say the town created a multifamily zoning district in 2021 that has since yielded 174 multifamily units a quarter of which are set at affordable rents the town has seen 881 housing units built within a mile of its commuter rail station It argues that should be enough to satisfy the requirements of MBTA Communities the town has to create zoning that makes room for at least 1,471 units The zoning the town passed in 2021 only allows for 549 units Lawyers for the town said it has been unfairly punished for not complying with the law’s requirements “through the withholding and/or recission of more than $6.5 million in funding for school programs and other initiatives that are necessary to provide the very housing the Act was enacted to create.” Those funding programs are discretionary tied towns’ chances of approval to their MBTA Communities compliance status We recognize the need for more housing near public transit as a function of responsible town planning,” Middleborough Town Manager James McGrail said Friday The fact that we’re even having to go to court to sort this out is crazy.” it's a nickname that her team chants when she runs back down the court on defense after drilling a 3-pointer Kerstein is known by her friends and family as 'Natty Ice,' a nickname she gained from her father Jonathan's line of work Working as a delivery driver for Anheuser-Busch he delivers a number of products that the company provides The term "Natty Ice" is a popular slang word for the beverage 'Natty' serves as a shortened version of Natalie That's because Kerstein always has ice in her veins from 3-point range she's an amazing shooter," junior forward Hailey Iwanski said Kerstein played into her 'Natty Ice' persona Tuesday night at home against Shepherd Hill Regional in the preliminary round of the Division 2 MIAA state tournament The guard delivered a 30-point performance knocking down three 3-pointers in the first half to help the Sachems to a 78-31 victory Twenty-five of those points came in the first half as she rested for much of the third and fourth quarters Kerstein knocked down the first shot of the game from 3-point range She kept a straight face as the shot went through the net and calmly jogged backwards on defense as her teammates erupted she sees herself as a tone-setter for the team More: 'We hate losing': Winning is contagious for Blue Hills girls, boys basketball teams Kerstein and the Sachems will next travel to Whitman-Hanson to face the No This is Kerstein's third year with the program after transferring from Taunton after her freshman year She got a slightly later start in the sport she's worked to perfect her shot-making and has developed into a well-rounded player Kerstein has clearance to pretty much shoot it wherever and whenever "She knows she's got the green light if she's got a clean look," Powers said "We trust her to shoot the ball whenever she has it." More: MIAA high school boys and girls basketball tournament field it was clear how much of an impact Kerstein was going to have and on the teams playing against Middleboro Everyone in the South Shore League identified her as the shooter," Powers said especially down the stretch the past few weeks." Iwanski added 13 points and junior Lily Price also reached double digits with 10 Senior captains Jessica Perry and Sophia Moxley each had 6 and 5 points Freshman starter Mackenzie Roberts also chipped in with 5 Kerstein has been fun to watch on the court but watching her play has also inspired and energized the underclassmen on the team consisting of four freshman and two juniors Her shot is insane," Iwanski said with a smile "She's really talented and it's been great having her." (WLNE) — The Middleborough Fire Department was assisted by their neighbors in Lakeville in battling an overnight house fire Crews responded to the France Street home at 2:11 a.m providing water supply and suppression operations The Lakeville crews left the scene after 6 a.m after successfully fighting the fire despite a lack of fire hydrants in the area One person is injured after a large fire in Middleborough Tuesday Firefighters responded to Vernon Street at 3 p.m for a fire showing through the roof of a barn Crews on scene said they saw heavy fire showing through the house Officials said four people evacuated the home before firefighters arrived One man suffered second-degree burns and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital Investigators said the fire appeared to start outside of the barn and spread to the adjacent structures she returned to school for her degree in Nursing Ruth graduated from Massasoit Community College in Brockton in 1971 She worked at The Goddard Hospital in Stoughton Ruth completed her nursing career at the University Hospital in Boston her husband of 68 years at a roller rink in Allston they would skate competitively out of Norwood having earned a silver medal in the US National Amateur Competition she enjoyed traveling and attending any event that involved her children and grandchildren The 18-year-old driver was transported to a local hospital with "what appeared to be life-threatening injuries" the statement said The passenger of the vehicle was transported to a local hospital with "what were believed to be serious injuries," the statement said Middleboro police and fire responded to the single-vehicle crash at approximately 2:37 a.m according to the written statement from Police Chief Robert Ferreira and Fire Chief Owen Thompson "that appeared to have crashed into a tree with the driver of the vehicle trapped inside," said the written statement The Middleboro Fire Department used hydraulic cutting tools to get the driver out of the vehicle The cause of the crash remains under investigation "The Middleboro Fire Department and the Middleboro Police Department extend their condolences to the friends and family of the victim during this time," said the written statement MIDDLEBOROUGH — The Mayflower Chamber Orchestra will present a concert titled “Baroque Pops: Greatest Hits of 1725” on Sunday The orchestra's repertoire includes significant works by renowned composers such as Bach including Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and Mozart’s symphonies The April 13 concert starts at 3 p.m. and takes place at the Meetinghouse Church, 3 Nickerson Ave. although donations of $10 to $20 are suggested to support musicians The Mayflower Chamber Orchestra features freelance musicians who perform with various orchestras throughout the South Shore. They have a history of collaboration with the Mayflower Chorale from 1984 until its last performance of “Messiah” in 2004, and with the Mayflower Camerata since 2016 The upcoming concert will feature a selection of orchestral music from the early 18th century 2 in B Minor,” with Elaine D’Angelo returning as flute soloist Former concertmaster Kenneth Mok will perform as violin soloist in Vivaldi’s “Spring” Concerto from “The Four Seasons,” a collection first published in 1725 Principal oboist Chris Robins will be the soloist in Alessandro Marcello’s “Oboe Concerto in D Minor.” The program will also highlight George Philipp Telemann’s “Don Quixote Suite,” which features descriptive pieces such as “His Attack on the Windmills” and “The Bounding Sancho Panza.” This suite aims to entertain with its vivid storytelling through music The Mayflower Camerata will join the orchestra for the finale which will consist of three selections from Handel’s oratorio “Judas Maccabaeus.” The Mayflower Chamber Orchestra receives support primarily through grants from the local cultural councils of several communities which are funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (WLNE) — The Middleborough Police Department said that a motorcyclist was taken to the hospital after a crash Wednesday afternoon The crash occurred on Precinct Street around 3 p.m Arriving emergency personnel found the motorcyclist lying 10 feet away from where the motorcycle crashed They were transported with serious injuries MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro has settled its lawsuit with the state and agreed to support creating an area on East Clark Street for market-rate and affordable housing in lieu of following state-mandated MBTA Communities Act requirements "This is a huge win for Middleboro," Town Manager Jay McGrail said The agreement allows the town to maintain local control over its zoning plans Under the terms of the agreement reached Wednesday March 26 Middleboro will seek Town Meeting approval to expand its current Chapter 40R Smart Growth Zoning Overlay District to create a new subdistrict in the East Clark Street area The 40R district calls for multi-family housing This would allow additional land for market-rate and affordable housing development near the MBTA commuter rail station Voters will decide whether to approve this new sub-district at the October Special Town Meeting properties in the new sub-district will be subject to the same requirements as those in the other 40R sub-districts including the requirement for site-plan review the town would examine plans to ensure they meet local zoning regulations The agreement supports the arguments by town officials that the 40R district meets the requirements of the MBTA Communities Act to allow multi-family housing by right within a half mile of the train station March 24 and serves as a stop on the service extension to New Bedford and Fall River The expanded 40R district would be accepted by the state in lieu of a new MBTA Communities Zoning District could have cost the town nearly $200 million and added 1,471 housing units The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has also agreed that Middleboro is in interim compliance with the act to allow the town time to finalize this plan But the town can bring it back if Town Meeting voters do not approve the zoning map amendment and a new agreement cannot be made  This resolution will also ensure that the town can still be eligible for state grant funds The state withdrew an education grant in February of $73,705 for mental health services citing the town’s non-compliance with the MBTA Communities Act the town will apply for a $2 million Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant to construct a new parking lot behind Center Street in the downtown McGrail said  is hopeful the town will receive the grant because Middleboro was awarded funds last year for the design of the same parking lot town officials say they can “focus on the important work of developing the zoning for the proposed sub-district.’’ Planning Board public hearings and other opportunities will be scheduled for residents to learn about and provide input into the plan  "I want to thank the voters of Town Meeting for understanding the importance of maintaining local control and having faith in the Select Board “We are pleased to find a compromise that works for the Town of Middleboro." "We were able to work together to provide the state with the additional multi-family housing units it sought while preserving our town's ability to shape our own growth and development I would like to thank our Director of Planning & Community Development Leeann Bradley and Town Counsel Gregg Corbo for helping us come to a creative solution that allowed us to resolve this dispute and state Representatives Norman Orrall and Kathleen LaNatra “We wouldn't have been able to resolve this matter without their assistance and guidance,’’ McGrail said Middleboro is no longer involved in a multi-town lawsuit stating that the MBTA Communities Act constitutes an unfunded mandate MIDDLEBORO — A Middleboro man who was trapped inside his burning home for 18 minutes died Tuesday from injuries he sustained in the fire, officials announced in a written statement Wednesday Officials identified the victim as Nathaniel Williams who was the sole occupant of the home at 6 Locust St. suffered burns and smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in his two-story home Monday night Home security footage from neighbors revealed the call to first responders didn’t come in until 12 minutes after the first sign of visible flames and fire crews arrived on scene approximately six minutes after they received the call — meaning the victim was inside the burning home for 18 minutes Middleboro Fire Chief Owen Thompson said in a press conference yesterday ‘Life threatening injuries’: Middleboro man burned in Monday night house fire and he was transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he later died “On behalf of the entire Middleboro Fire Department I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the victim's family and loved ones," Thompson said Thompson said Williams suffered burns and smoke inhalation from the fire and was not alert when he was transported to Rhode Island Hospital The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has yet to determine the cause and manner of William's death Thompson said it appears the blaze started towards the front of the home the exact origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation How long did it take first responders to get to the scene?Fire crews arrived on scene six minutes after they received the call MIDDLEBORO – The U.S. Supreme Court today will be discussing whether to take Middleboro teen Liam Morrison's “there are only two genders” t-shirt case, according to the court's docket The court is scheduled to discuss today whether to take the case of Liam Morrison vs or if it will instead let the lower court ruling stand Morrison and his legal representation, Christian law firm The Alliance for Defending Freedom (ADF), filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court shortly afterward last year “This case isn’t about T-shirts; it’s about a public school telling a middle-schooler that he isn’t allowed to express a view that differs from their own," said David Cortman Decisions to take a case do not require a majority of justices Supreme Court Justices must agree to accept a case in order for the court to take it plans are underway to ensure 2024 will not end quietly bonfire and fireworks will be the star attractions as Middleboro celebrates its inaugural New Year's Eve Celebration Tuesday Middleboro Police will escort the parade marchers The Middleboro High School and Middle School bands will be providing music during the walk  The noise parade will proceed down Jackson Street toward the Middleboro Public Library then right into the second driveway at the Memorial Early Childhood Center and around the back of the school toward the Peirce Playground The Friends of the Middleboro Public Library will sell noisemakers before the parade at the Peirce Playground for $1 each People are also welcome to bring their own noisemakers The idea of this  “old-fashioned walking parade’’ is to “make a lot of noise to celebrate the new year,’’ Town Manager James McGrail said a company that will soon build its new headquarters in town which will be monitored by the Middleboro Fire Department Burn barrels will also be fired up so people can make s’mores “I just want people to have fun and experience the community’’ spirit,’’ he said McGrail thanked sponsors for their support "I look forward to this event becoming a longstanding town tradition,’’ he said “I can't wait to see everyone at Peirce Playground to get the party started."