News

Controversial ‘Hospitality District’ defeated at town meeting

The controversial rezoning article that would create a “Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment” overlay district for 756 acres of land in East Wareham was defeated by a landslide vote, with 85 percent of those who weighed in voting no. A total of...

Town Meeting paves the way for Wareham Tigers’ plans at Westfield property

Town Meeting voters unanimously approved two articles related to the Westfield property off Charlotte Furnace Road in West Wareham. The Wareham Tigers hope to join Wareham Youth Soccer and Wareham Girls Softball in operating their own sports complex...
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Wareham back in the ‘red’ per the state’s coronavirus reports

Following an uptick in covid-19 cases, Wareham has returned to the “red” category in the state’s April 8 Weekly Public Health Report . The spread of coronavirus in Wareham seems to be increasing, with another 46 new cases in town this week,...

Mass Audubon opposes rezoning

Mass Audubon, a non-profit dedicated to protecting nature in Massachusetts, sent a letter to the Board of Selectmen officially opposing the proposed Hospitality, Recreation, and Entertainment District up for vote at Saturday’s Town Meeting. The...

Notos claims vote count required to pass district ‘remains unclear’ after Planning Board ruling

Following the Planning Board’s Thursday night decision that the Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment District would need to be approved by two-thirds of voters, the Notos Group — the Quincy-based developers behind the proposal — released a...

Finance Committee did not mail letter to voters, chair says

Voters across Wareham received a letter recently that contained the Finance Committee’s recommendation of the passage of the Notos Group’s Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment District. “We had nothing to do with it,” said Bernie Pigeon, the...

Hospitality District will need approval by two-thirds of voters, rules Planning Board

In a short meeting on Thursday night, the Planning Board voted unanimously that the hotly contested “Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment District” proposed by the Notos Group would need to be approved by two-thirds of voters. At their regular...

Conservation Commission to hold public hearing on proposed changes to wetland bylaws

The Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on two proposed wetland bylaw amendments at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 29. The board has previously expressed concerns about the amendments, which were proposed by Town Planner Ken Buckland after...

Weweantic river observation deck approved for Papermill Road

After a brief public hearing on April 7, the Conservation Commission unanimously approved plans for a deck to be built on Douglas Westgate Conservation property at a town-owned lot on Papermill Road. Conservation Administrator David Pichette...

Notos hosts question and answer webinar

The Notos Group held a question and answer webinar for citizens last night in an attempt to dispel “rumors” and make sure everyone had the facts, according to company spokespeople. In addition to Notos Group members Will and Mackenzie O’Connell and...

Conservation Commission approves plans for marina along Main Street

Water-side work on the marina proposed for the old Greer Lumber site at 59 Main St., right next to Besse Park, is one step closer to moving forward, following the Conservation Commission’s unanimous approval during an April 7 meeting. Businessman...

Conservation Commission approves Borrego solar field project

The Conservation Commission approved the controversial Borrego Solar Farm proposed for A.D. Makepeace property during their April 7 meeting, after very little discussion. Some of the board members did not appear particularly happy with the outcome...

Sen. Marc Pacheco says rezoning proposal is ‘a 756-acre red flag’

State Sen. Marc Pacheco came out in opposition to the controversial rezoning proposal brought forth by Quincy-based developers known as the Notos Group. In a statement released April 7, Pacheco raised a few concerns with what he described as “the...

Economist says Notos’ economic claims are ‘bogus’

An economist hired by Trout Unlimited, a conservation group, says that the economic arguments being presented by the Notos Group to support their proposed “Hospitality, Entertainment, and Recreation District” are flawed. The Notos Group hired the...

Rezoning proposal vote could be conducted via secret ballot

During the Board of Selectmen meeting on April 6, Selectmen Peter Teitelbaum announced he will make a motion at Saturday’s Town Meeting to conduct the vote on Article 1 — the controversial rezoning proposal brought forth by the Notos Group...

Seasonal residents should request trash barrels upon return to town

Trash barrels haven’t been delivered to Wareham’s seasonal residents who have signed up for curbside trash pickup — and they won’t be coming until residents request them. During the Board of Selectmen meeting on April 6, Town Administrator Derek...

Wareham Land Trust Storywalk: ‘We are water protectors’

Wareham residents are encouraged to stop by the Wareham Land Trust’s Agawam River Trail, located at 20 Knowles Ave., to follow along with the children’s book “We are Water Protectors.” The Land Trust describes the book as “beautifully written and...

Wareham, Onset Fire Departments to receive state grants

The Onset Fire Department and Wareham Fire District are two of 300 departments across the state to be awarded funds through the Fiscal Year 2021 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program. The Onset Fire Department will receive $10,380, which will...

Wareham Tigers’ plans for Westfield

The Notos groups’ controversial rezoning proposal for land in East Wareham is not the only thing voters will be asked to weigh-in on at the Special Town Meeting on April 10. When they gather at noon at Spillane Field, voters will also decide whether...

Residents speak out against rezoning at Planning Board meeting

Monday night’s Planning Board meeting included comments from many citizens who oppose the passage of the Notos Group’s Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment Overlay District, and not one from a supporter. Diane Kenney asked about the developer’s...

Planning Board delays decision on votes needed to pass Hospitality District

Voters hoping to learn whether the proposed Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment District will need to be approved by two-thirds or a simple majority will be left in suspense until Thursday night. The Planning Board voted to delay their...

New equipment, lower quorum on the warrant at upcoming Fire District Meeting

Voters at the Wareham Fire District’s upcoming annual meeting will be asked to weigh in on a number of big-ticket items — including purchasing new equipment, buying a replacement command vehicle and funding live fire training. In addition, District...

What are the arguments for and against the Hospitality District?

The Notos Group and some local officials and business people are advocating for the passage of the Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment district. Conservation advocates and some local officials have raised concerns about the impact of potential...

What IS the Hospitality District? FAQs, answered

On Saturday, April 10, the voters of Wareham will be asked to approve a new Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment District that covers 756 acres of land between Glen Charlie Road and Rte. 25. The zoning proposal was created by the Notos Group...

Nonprofit spreads birthday cheer to local youth in foster care

Birthdays were always important in Mary Nogueras’ family. But when her foster son became part of her family, she discovered he hadn’t had the same experience. Birthdays were a time of mixed emotions for him. Nogueras explained that he had been...

Kool Kone hosts second annual drive-by Easter event

On Saturday, a white Easter bunny waved to passing cars from outside Kool Kone. She was alerting passing motorists to the second annual Hannah’s Drive-Thru Easter Egg Grab-n-Go, which allows kids to pick up Easter treats while maintaining safe...

Wareham sees uptick in covid-19 cases

The spread of coronavirus in Wareham seems to be on the rise once again, with 45 new covid-19 cases reported in town in the past week, according to the state’s April 1 Public Health Report . Wareham’s average daily incidence rate increased to 18...

Redevelopment Authority endorses business man’s proposed Main Street project

After hearing Wareham native Danny Warren’s plans to build a 16-slip marina, restaurant and an events venue on Main Street , the Wareham Redevelopment Authority unanimously voted to endorse the project. Warren is a business owner whose successful...

Curbside trash pickup is underway

After months of preparations, the town’s curbside trash pickup services began Thursday, April 1. With little fanfare, ABC Disposal, Inc. collected trash from dozens of town streets. Trash pickup runs Monday through Friday, depending on what street...

Selectmen talk Notos, April 10 Town Meeting logistics

Although it wasn’t on the agenda, the Hospitality, Recreation, and Entertainment District proposed by the Notos Group was a hot topic at the Selectmen’s March 31 meeting. Leslie Edwards Davis presented the selectmen with a petition against the...

Selectmen finalize April 26 Special Town Meeting Warrant

The Board of Selectmen finalized the warrant for the Special Town Meeting within the Spring Town Meeting, currently scheduled for Monday, April 26. It’s likely that meeting will be postponed until a Saturday so it can be held outside to allow more...

‘Taste of the Bay’ event runs now through May 9

The Onset Bay Association’s 2021 “Taste of the Bay” event, which was designed to support local restaurants and reward people for being patrons, is being held Thursday, April 1, through Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 9. The Onset Bay Association...

Town trash pickup to begin this week

With the Thursday, April 1, launch of ABC Disposal Inc.’s curbside trash pickup on the horizon, the Board of Selectmen once again asked Wareham residents for patience. During the March 30 Board of Selectmen meeting, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan...

Onset Water Commissioners question rezoning proposal

The Onset Water Commissioners have not yet taken an official stance on the proposed “Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment District” proposed for land near their wellfields. But they have serious concerns, and say they haven’t been included in...

Proposed amendments to wetland bylaws raise concerns for Conservation Commission

Two wetland bylaw amendments proposed for the Special Town Meeting currently scheduled for April 26 faced a frosty reception from members of the Conservation Commission during the board’s March 29 meeting. Director of Planning Ken Buckland brought...

Sewer Commissioners discuss possible plans for Cape Cod Canal outflow pipe

For years, Wareham officials have discussed building an outfall pipe that would discharge treated wastewater in the Cape Cod Canal. A new outfall pipe would allow the department to expand its capacity to treat wastewater, which is currently limited...

Community pitches in at ‘Spring into Giving’ event

The Wareham Village Association, Wareham Schools Transportation Department and the Wareham Public Schools teamed up on Saturday to collect a variety of goods to be donated to Turning Point, a town organization that helps the homeless and near-...

Protesters argue against zoning, for preservation

With the Notos Group’s proposed “Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment District” up for a vote at the April 10 Special Town Meeting in just two weeks, local organizers who oppose rezoning the district are taking action. An online petition...

Wareham sees nearly 30 new covid-19 cases in past week

While the number of covid-19 cases in Wareham is much lower than it was at the height of winter, the pandemic is far from over. After reporting only 20 new cases in town last week, Wareham saw an increase to 27 new coronavirus cases this week,...

Gatemen donate $10,000 to hunger relief at the YMCA

The Wareham Gatemen and the John Wylde Trust donated $10,000 to the Gleason Family YMCA’s Full Plates Community Market program on March 26. Debbie Fringuelli, the senior executive director of the YMCA, said that the donation will help keep the...

This Saturday, “Spring into Giving” at Turning Point donation drive

Wareham Public Schools and the Wareham Village Association are hosting a “Spring into Giving” donation drive for Turning Point from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 27. The drive will be held in the parking lot next to the Wareham Fire Station...

Developer hoping to build marina off Main Street to be collecting signatures this weekend

Danny Warren, the business owner hoping to build a marina, restaurant and wedding venue on Main Street , will be at the site this weekend. He hopes to speak to people in town about their ideas for the site and the town, and will also be collecting...

Board of Selectmen votes to recommend ‘Hospitality’ district

The Board of Selectmen voted at their March 24 meeting to recommend the passage of all the articles that will be up for votes at the April 10 Special Town Meetings, including the Notos Group’s “Hospitality, Recreation, and Entertainment District.”...

Selectmen recognize Osteogenesis Imperfecta Week

The Board of Selectmen officially recognized National Osteogenesis Imperfecta Week, which runs from May 1 to May 8, at their March 23 meeting. Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, is a genetic disorder causing fragile bones...

Coronavirus concerns cause hang-ups for Wareham’s summer activities

With warmer months fast approaching, summer plans that are contingent on continuing to control the spread of covid-19 hang in the balance. Some of Wareham’s most anticipated summer events have been canceled, postponed or curtailed in other ways...

Trash routes announced, extra barrels available for purchase

The town’s trash hauler, ABC Disposal, Inc., has announced the new schedules for trash and recycling pick-up. Trash pick-up runs Monday through Friday, depending on what street a resident lives on. Recycling is picked up once every two weeks. The...

Town plans to ask for public input on future of Decas School property

Because there are many possible futures for the John W. Decas Elementary School property, the Board of Selectmen plans to ask people in town what they think. Selectman Peter Teitelbaum explained that Wareham Redevelopment Authority member Richard...

‘Clear as mud’: State law change leaves officials baffled ahead of Notos zoning vote

A new state law changing the voting requirements for the passage of zoning-related articles at Town Meeting has officials scratching their heads as two Town Meetings containing controversial zoning proposals approach. Previously, all zoning changes...

Borrego Solar Field approved by Planning Board

The Planning Board voted to approve a special permit for a Borrego solar field project at land owned by the A.D. Makepeace Company at 140 Tihonet Rd. As a condition of that permit, the company will not be allowed to start any work until the Chapter...

Luxury subdivision pitched for old friary

The former home of the Society of Friars Minor of the Order of St. Francis on Robinwood Road could be the future site of seven luxury homes. The subdivision plan, called “Maritime Haven,” was first presented to the Planning Board at their March 22...

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