News

Marathon town meeting names school, bans nips, limits solar

As the sun moved across the sky and late morning turned into the late afternoon, intrepid voters in the Decas School cafeteria managed to conquer a 43-item Town Meeting warrant and pass a $61.7 million town budget, guided by Town Moderator Claire...

Tremont Nail redevelopment outreach events postponed

Two outreach events planned by the Town of Wareham and Bentley Companies — the master developer for Tremont Nail — have been indefinitely postponed. Residents had been invited to learn more about the future of the Tremont Nail site at events...
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Housing coming to Tremont Nail property?

Bentley Companies, the master developer for the town-owned Tremont Nail Factory property, is considering adding about 50 to 60 one or two-bedroom apartments to its plans for redeveloping the historic site. During a June 10 meeting of the Wareham...

Intermediate care center pitched for Sandwich Road

An intermediate care center has been proposed for 238 and 240 Sandwich Road, near the intersection with Rte. 28 and next door to Upper Cape Realty. The building would have a parking garage on the ground level, four floors of space for the center,...

A voter’s guide to the annual spring Town Meeting

Wareham’s twice-postponed Annual Town Meeting will finally be held on Saturday in the cafeteria at John W. Decas Elementary School, beginning at 11 a.m. Voters at the June 12 meeting, which would normally have been held in April, will be asked to...

Citizens petition aims to increase affordable housing stock

Former Selectwoman Brenda Eckstrom has proposed a zoning change meant to create incentives for Wareham residents to increase the town’s stock of affordable housing through deed-restricted individual homes and apartments, rather than large 40B...

June 8 Selectmen’s Meeting cancelled

The Board of Selectmen’s meeting scheduled for June 8 was cancelled due to issues with Zoom, the online meeting program used by the town.

Controversial changes to town’s wetland bylaws up for vote at Town Meeting

When voters gather at Decas Elementary on June 12, they’ll be asked to consider two wetland bylaw amendments proposed by Director of Planning Ken Buckland. The first — Article 10 on the Special Spring Town Meeting warrant — would remove the “No...

Town Meeting articles could regulate renewable energy projects

Two articles related to future solar projects in Wareham will come before voters during the Town Meeting on June 12. Voters will be asked to approve a commercial solar/wind taxation home rule petition for Wareham (Article 6). Town Meeting attendees...

Wareham now has second-lowest percentage of vaccinated residents in Plymouth County

The percentage of at least partially vaccinated people in Wareham is the second-lowest in Plymouth County. According to the state’s June 3 data, only 48 percent of Wareham residents have received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine. That amounts...

New school’s name up for a vote at Town Meeting

Voters will decide the name for the new elementary school being built on Minot Avenue at Town Meeting on June 12. A citizens petition article, led by former School Committee member Mike Flaherty and School Building Committee member Rhonda Veugen,...

Town Meeting set to decide whether to limit size of future solar projects

One article on Saturday’s Town Meeting warrant aims to regulate solar projects — namely, by reducing the size and potential ecological impact of a project. Brought forth via a citizens’ petition, Nancy McHale’s article would amend Wareham’s solar...

Bingo is back at the Elks Lodge

Bingo is back at the Wareham New Bedford Elks Lodge! Weekly games are resuming, starting on Tuesday, June 8. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., with sales happening between 5:30 and 6:30. The snack bar will be open from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The first game will...

Library Foundation to host author talk, hike

The Wareham Library Foundation will be hosting a virtual talk and hike with Alison O’Leary, author of “Best Day Hikes Near Boston.” O’Leary’s book outlines 60 hikes in Eastern Massachusetts by location, terrain, difficulty, accessibility, and...

Town sees 6 new cases of covid-19 in past week

For the second week in a row, the total number of new cases of covid-19 in town over the past week is a single-digit number. Wareham saw six new cases of covid-19 in the past week and remains classified in the “green” covid-19 risk category,...

StoryWalk at Agawam River Trail: ‘Wangari’s Trees of Peace’

Go for an adventure on the Agawam River Trail while reading a story at the Wareham Land Trust’s latest StoryWalk event. During the month of June, those who stop by the Agawam River Trail (20 Knowles Ave.), will be able to follow along with the...

Wareham Land Trust trail cleanup planned for June 13

The Wareham Land Trust is hosting a trail cleanup day at Fearing Hill Conservation Area on June 13. Those who attend will pick up trash and clear trails of debris and overgrown plants, according to a Wareham Land Trust flyer. Volunteers are asked...

Little Free Library opened in Onset Village

Onset’s newest community initiative is small in size, but the group responsible for it hopes the project will have a big impact. On Saturday, June 5, a group of enthusiastic supporters gathered just outside Divito Realty in Onset for a ribbon-...

June 13 proclaimed ‘Race Amity Day’ in Wareham

In an effort to acknowledge the town’s “multicultural, multiethnic and multiracial citizens” and promote the goals of “friendship, collegiality, civility, respect and kindness,” Wareham will observe Race Amity Day annually on the second Sunday in...

Nouria faces hurdles in quest for tobacco license

The Nouria gas station and convenience store set to open at 2416 Cranberry Highway — at the same site as the old Maxi Gas, roughly across from Walmart — hopes to sell tobacco products. There’s just one problem: The business doesn’t have the...

Solar field proposed for Fearing Hill Road

Yet another solar field is being proposed for Wareham. This project, to be located at 91 and 101 Fearing Hill Rd., would consist of a 20-acre commercial solar array. The land includes vegetative wetlands, which will be reviewed by conservation agent...

Eaglet alert: Eversource, MassWildlife band bald eagle chicks

Eversource and Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife staff members were given a rare up-close look at bald eagles — Massachusetts’ largest bird of prey — on Tuesday, May 25, when they were tasked with tagging a pair of eagle chicks...

Wareham Fire District Water Department recognized

The Wareham Fire District was recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for their excellent water service and eco-friendly efforts. “The Baker-Polito Administration is proud to recognize our dedicated drinking water...

Wareham Land Trust announces 2021 photo contest winners

Miranda Davis and Bob Scully are the winners of the Wareham Land Trust’s 2021 Photo Contest. Davis’ photo won 2021 People Enjoying the Land with a photo titled, “Little fish in a big pond.” The photo was taken on June 30, 2020, at Parkwood Beach...

Wareham Oyster Festival scholarship winner announced

Wareham High School senior Grace Brogioli has been selected as the Wareham Oyster Festival’s first annual scholarship winner. Brogioli will receive a $1,000 scholarship, according to a press release from the Wareham Oyster Festival Inc. Scholarship...

Garden Club to celebrate the Wareham Free Library’s birthday

The Wareham Garden Club’s “finest floral designers” will be on hand June 11 and 12 to help the Wareham Free Library celebrate its birthday. The event, titled, “ Remember Back When,” is the result of a partnership between the Garden Club, the Wareham...

Wareham vaccination rate lags; walk-in vaccine clinics available

The percentage of Wareham residents who have received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine is increasing — but slowly. According to state data, 11,141 people had received at least one dose of a vaccine as of May 20 . A week later, in the state’s...

Community members honor town’s ‘history of sacrifice’ on Memorial Day

A small crowd gathered on the lawn in front of Town Hall on Monday for the last in a series of small ceremonies conducted around town to honor Memorial Day. The Veterans Council, JROTC, and Wareham Minutemen made six stops around town to lay wreaths...

‘Lucky’ the coyote released after six months of treatment

Six months ago, Department of Natural Resources officers carefully caught a mangy little coyote in a net near the Decas School and brought her to the Cape Wildlife Center. Last week, ‘Lucky’ was finally strong enough to be released back into the...

Fewer than 10 new covid cases this week in Wareham

The number of new cases of covid-19 in Wareham this week is less than ten for the first time since early October. The town saw 6 new cases of covid-19 in the past week and remains classified in the “green” covid-19 risk category for the second week...

Wareham High seniors cruise through downtown for grad parade

Sirens filled the air in celebration on Friday afternoon as seniors paraded from the Narrows to the High School to celebrate their upcoming graduation. Christine Bird and her crew attended the car parade in support of more than one senior — Emily...

Historic District Commission approves business mogul’s plans for Main Street

After hearing Wareham native Danny Warren’s plans to build a marina and an events venue/restaurant on Main Street , the town’s Historic District Commission unanimously voted to approve plans for the project. Warren is a business owner whose...

Dog park gets grant for design process

Corey Blanchard, the president of Dartmouth Park Affiliation of Wareham, reported at the May 25 Board of Selectmen’s meeting that the dog park advocates had received a grant to cover the start of the park’s design process. The grant, about $22,000...

Master developer outreach events to be held at Tremont Nail Factory

Those interested in learning about the future of the Tremont Nail Factory should mark their calendars for Thursday, June 17 at 7 p.m. or Saturday, June 19 at 9:30 a.m. Bentley Companies — the newly selected master developer of the Tremont Nail...

Grant funds could help town evaluate cost of riverfront boardwalk plans

Town Planner Ken Buckland hopes state grant money will fund a concept plan and feasibility study for a riverfront boardwalk in downtown Wareham. Officials have explored the idea of a riverfront boardwalk for years — one concept drawing for the...

Town approves host community agreement with one cannabis company, starts talks with another

The Board of Selectmen approved host community agreements with one cannabis company and signed off on the start of negotiations with another at their May 26 meeting. Emerald Turtle Cove, located at 10 Little Brook Rd., will be working toward...

Town to request funds for new Swifts Beach Playground

The Board of Selectmen voted on May 26 to allow Town Administrator Derek Sullivan to request funding for the replacement of the playground in Swifts Beach. The funding request will be for about $250,000, which would cover the cost of new equipment...

About 46 percent of Wareham residents have received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine

Any person aged 12 or older who lives, works or studies in Massachusetts is now eligible to be vaccinated against covid-19. Local public health experts continue to encourage people to get the vaccine as soon as possible. People over the age of 18...

Wareham now in ‘green’ covid-19 risk category

The town saw 17 new cases of covid-19 in the past week and has been moved to the “green” covid-19 risk category, according to data from the state’s May 20 Weekly Public Health Report . Wareham’s average daily incidence rate decreased to 9.5 cases...

Council on Aging plans June events

While the Council on Aging is still closed, it is hosting several outdoor activities, weather permitting. The center may reopen in August. Thanks to the Onset Bay Center, a different outdoor program will take place each month this summer. On June 15...

Downed lines result in power, internet outages across town

Downed wires on Main Street led to an electrified fence, small brush fires and widespread power, internet and cable outages on May 25. A spokesperson from the Wareham Fire District said a series of primary wires were dislodged and fell to the street...

Planning Board unable to block solar applicants

The Planning Board was unable to block eight solar projects’ requests for preliminary subdivision plans at their May 25 meeting. All of the applicants were requesting approval of preliminary subdivision plans that would grandfather them in if the...

Department of Natural Resources cracks down on litterbugs

The Wareham Department of Natural Resources fined two people recently for littering. On May 19, a Natural Resources officer was driving on Cranberry Highway in a marked car when the driver ahead started to throw items from the car window. The items...

Officials sign beam for Tobey Hospital’s new emergency department

For Tobey Hospital staff, the long-awaited expansion of the hospital’s emergency department promises two crucial things: more space and increased privacy. “In the old emergency department, standing in one position, I could see everything happening...

Town to apply for Urban Renewal Plan grant

The town of Wareham will be applying for a grant to develop an Urban Renewal Plan for Wareham village, Town Planner Ken Buckland reported at the May 20 Redevelopment Authority meeting. Towns with an approved Urban Renewal Plan are able to acquire...

Smithers Lab interested in purchasing Decas School

The Smithers Laboratory, which has operated out of a location next door to the Decas School since 2002, has expressed interest in purchasing the school after it closes, officials reported at the May 20 Redevelopment Authority Meeting. The lab is...

Wareham Free Library Director accepts job in Westport

George Ripley, director of the Wareham Free Library, has accepted a new position in Westport. Town Administrator Derek Sullivan announced that the town was going to have to search for a new library director at the May 11 Board of Selectmen meeting...

Photos: Volunteers help tidy the VFW

A number of volunteers helped clean up the grounds and spruce up the pavilion at the Onset VFW on Sunday ahead of the summer season. Deneen Rose said everyone at the VFW was grateful for the help from volunteers, members, and the Iron Order...

Memorial Day services planned

The Veterans Council, a color guard from Wareham High School’s ROTC and the Wareham militia will lay wreaths at various monuments and cemeteries around Wareham to honor Memorial Day on Monday, May 31. The group will meet on the town green, across...

Community groups come together to clean up Hammond School

With the help of many dedicated volunteers on Saturday, May 15, Ethel E. Hammond School in Onset was given some much-needed care and attention. The volunteers picked up debris, raked sticks and leaves, pulled up old and broken garden supports and...

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