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Diamondback terrapins cause halt on Route 6 bridge construction

Diamondback terrapins are a protected species, and construction on the Route 6 bridge has been delayed to protect their nesting areas. File photo

Construction on the Route 6 bridge between Wareham and Marion has been delayed to protect the nesting habitats of diamondback terrapins on the banks of the…

Derek Sullivan discusses grants, Onset Bandshell and Circuit shuttle

Derek Sullivan. Photo by Lydia Goerner

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan talked about grants for the Town of Wareham -- one known and others yet to be announced -- in a brief update report…

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Shiver me timbers! Tall ships sail through canal

Wareham Fire assists a tall ship making its way through the Cape Cod Canal. Source: Wareham Fire Department

Ahoy! Onlookers greeted tall ships as they made their way through the Cape Cod Canal late last week, giving a glimpse of some of these majestic vessels. The Wareham Department of Natural Resources, Wareham and Onset Fire Departments assisted tall...

Bringing a bit of Nashville to Wareham

Country artist Sarah Martin performs at the Wareham Free Library on Monday, July 13. Photos by Nick Mossman

Some honky-tonk energy was brought to the Wareham Free Library on Monday, July 13, as residents gathered for a country concert on the lawn outside. Attendees tapped their feet and nodded their heads as Nashville-inspired and Lakeville-raised...

Buzzards Bay Coalition gets more than $200K for watershed restoration

The Buzzards Bay Coalition received a $225,373 restoration project grant from the state as part of the Buzzards Bay Watershed Restoration Partnership, which includes Wareham. The state announced $1 million in grants to six regional restoration...

Residents asked to keep conserving water as town remains in drought

A drought map

Wareham remains in a significant drought more than two weeks after the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection placed the Southeast region of the state in a Level 2 Significant Drought status. After the drought status change in late...

One hospitalized after rollover crash on Route 25

A crashed into a guardrail and rolled over into the median near mile marker 2.7 on Monday, July 13. Photo by David Curran

A rollover car crash on Route 25 eastbound sent a driver to the hospital shortly after 8 a.m. on Monday, July 13. According to Wareham Fire Department Assistant Chief Christopher Smith, the vehicle had one occupant who was stable once removed and...

Knitted and crocheted "twinning" poppies are due soon

The Wareham Twinning Committee is collecting handmade crochet poppies to contribute to a large display of the hanging flowers at Wareham's namesake in the United Kingdom. Two residents will be traveling from Wareham, Mass. to Wareham, United...

Officials cut ribbon on free Ride Circuit shuttle service

From left to right: Thandi Nyambose, John Faherty and Sarah Corbitt cut the ribbon on the Circuit shuttle. Photos by Nick Mossman

Town officials and representatives from Ride Circuit cut the ribbon on a free, on-demand electric shuttle service now available in Onset and Wareham on Wednesday, July 8. The shuttle service is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving...

Don't poke the bear! Black bear spotted near Tihonet Road

If you look closely, a black bear can be seen along the tree line on the left side of this photo. Source: Wareham Department of Natural Resources Facebook

Someone's having a bear-y good time in Wareham. A black bear was spotted in the Tihonet Road area on the morning of Friday, July 10. The Wareham Department of Natural Resources posted a picture of the bear to its Facebook page Friday morning....

Final charge against Selectman Jared Chadwick dismissed

Selectman Jared Chadwick stands in the courtroom on Thursday, July 9. Photos by Nick Mossman

The last of three felony charges filed against Selectman Jared Chadwick was dismissed on Friday, July 10. Judge Edward Sharkansky dismissed the charge on a lack of prosecution. The case involved an accusation that Chadwick struck the buttocks of a...

Onset’s ‘Ice cream kitty’ is back at her fur-ever home

Moochi cuddles up with a cactus at Baum's home. Source: Naomi Arenberg

The Onset “Ice Cream Kitty” story might have had a purr-fect ending. After reading the online edition of Wareham Week on the morning of Thursday, July 9, Onset resident Peter Baum saw a familiar face: his cat Moochi. Moochi, previously identified...

Chadwick trial moved to Friday, one case dismissed

Jared Chadwick

A Wareham district judge today moved Selectman Jared Chadwick's trial to Friday, July 10 and dismissed one of his felony charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old. Chadwick's trial is now scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday on...

Marion Institute receives solar grant

Welcome to Frogfoot Farm

New solar panels are coming to town. The Marion Institute announced Wednesday that it received a $135,000 Low-Income Solar Incentive Program grant to install a solar array at Frogfoot Farm in Wareham. According to the institute, the solar array...

Wareham hit record daily high heat records last week

Wareham hit a daily record high for last week's high temperatures. According to Accuweather, Wareham hit highs of 98 degrees on Thursday, July 2 and 96 degrees on Friday, July 3, with high humidity through the end of the week. Thursday was the...

12 Knots restaurant sails into town

12 Knots Classic American Grille owner Michael Dearing after a Select Board's meeting on Tuesday, July 7. Photo by Nick Mossman

For sailors, the ideal conditions on the water aren't perfectly calm days or gusty windstorms. Instead, they need balance. Enough wind to propel the boat, but not so much that it becomes dangerous. For Michael Dearing, that sweet spot is 12 knots....

Meet Wareham's new superintendent

Want to meet new Superintendent Dr. Amy Hartley-Matteson? Wareham Public Schools is hosting a meet and greet on Friday, July 17 from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Wareham Free Library. The school is inviting all staff, families and community members...

A literal pipe dream

Beth Butts

A Wareham woman is headed to Glasgow, Scotland to represent New England as she plays the bagpipes at the World Pipe Band Championships. Beth Butts, who lives in West Wareham, also known as "Beth the Bagpiper," is competing as a member of the Rose...

Community shows support for Onset's 'Ice Cream Kitty'

Yarelis the cat

When a new stray cat started showing up at Nana's Ice Cream in Onset, a group of employees knew she wasn't supposed to be outside. According to Jessica Bell, who runs Spikes Mission Cat Rescue, a group of cats regularly roams the streets of Onset...

Burnt utility pole sparks power outage

A hole burned into a utility pole on Cromesett Road on Monday, July 6, knocking out power to residents. Source: Laura Taylor

A hole burned into a utility pole near the intersection of Cromesett Road and Connehasset Road on Monday night, knocking out power to 150 Eversource customers in the area. Eversource responded to Cromesett Road around 8:30 p.m. Monday and "worked...

Leading while learning: New superintendent starts in Wareham

Wareham Superintendent Amy Hartley-Matteson. Photo by Nick Mossman

Since taking on the role of Wareham's top educator, Wareham Public Schools Superintendent Amy Hartley-Matteson has made listening and learning the focus of her first days on the job. Hartley-Matteson started as Wareham's superintendent on July 1,...

Comedy night brings in over $3K for library

Organizers hold up a big check for the funds they raised. From left to right: Eliese Catarius, Karen Hong, Kerry Mello, Elisa Heard, Priscilla Porter, Tricia Norton. Source: Wareham Library Foundation

The Wareham Library Foundation raised $3,673 to support the Wareham Free Library at its comedy fundraiser on Friday, June 26. According to foundation president Kerry Mello, the foundation raises tens of thousands of dollars each year to help cover...

Stars, stripes and Fourth of July spirit at Swifts Beach parade

Residents ride through Swifts Beach for the annual Swifts Beach Improvement Association Fourth of July parade. Source: Christy Patalano

The Swifts Beach Improvement Association held its annual Fourth of July parade to get the neighborhood into the patriotic spirit. Residents, pets, bikes and golf carts were dressed up in red, white and blue as they gathered on the morning of...

Wareham Middle School celebrates students with perfect attendance

Eleven students at Wareham Middle School had perfect attendance for the 2026-2027 school year. Wareham Middle School is honoring the following students who attained the perfect attendance feat: Seventh graders Corbin Fearebay, James Godfrey and...

Middle school names June students of the month

Wareham Middle School June Students of the Month

With the school year wrapped up, Wareham Middle School announced three students it is honoring as students of the month for June. Fifth grade honoree Myles Seitz is described by his teachers as a caring student who grew a lot this year. "Myles's...

Directors still behind the camera at Wareham Media

Christian Fernandes and Jon Day

Wareham Media's new directors may have taken over managing the company in April, but they're not just managers. Director of Operations and Creativity Christian Fernandes and Director of Growth and Government Relations still record videos around town...

Residents take a trip back in time with Fourth of July Antique Faire

Mack Phinney, Howie Smith and Gary Franklin fired a volley at the Fourth of July Antique Faire on Saturday. Photos by Nick Mossman

Wareham residents took a trip back in time during the Wareham Historical Society's annual Antique Faire on Saturday, July 4 at the Village Green. The faire featured Revolutionary War-era minutemen, a ringing of bells for liberty and antique dealers...

Boats blessed at Onset Pier

This eagle busted some moves during the annual Blessing of the Fleet in Onset on Saturday, July 4. Photos by Nick Mossman

About 100 people stood at the end of Onset pier on Saturday, July 4 as boats passed by to receive blessings for safe passage, abundant fish catches and a season of fun. The Onset Bay Association held its annual Blessing of the Fleet on the Fourth of...

A.D. Makepeace opens cranberry history display

Cranberry grower A.D. Makepeace launched a display of cranberry history on Monday, June 22 dubbed "Abel's Place," honoring the history and artifacts of the cranberry industry. In the 1850s, Abel Denison Makepeace began building the company that...

Town enacts watering restrictions amid statewide drought

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection declared the Southeast region of the state, which includes Wareham, to be in Level 2 Significant Drought status. The Wareham and Onset water departments are asking residents to only use...

A.D. Makepeace accused of damaging, filling streams and wetlands

Wareham-based cranberry growing giant A.D. Makepeace is facing a potential lawsuit for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act by filling in and damaging streams and wetlands in Southeastern Massachusetts. The threatened action was...

Celebrate America's birthday with these Fourth of July events

Blessing of the Fleet last year

Wareham is gearing up for several Independence Day events that are sure to get you in the Fourth of July spirit. While the town no longer has an official fireworks display, it will host parades, an antique fair and more to celebrate America's...

A free, on-demand shuttle launches in town this week: Here's how it works

Circuit shuttle

A free electric shuttle service is launching a 15-week pilot program in Onset on Wednesday, July 1, aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving transportation amid the area's busy summer tourism season. Here's how the shuttle service works:...

Cooling center will open to combat extreme heat this week

Multi-service center

The town is gearing up for a potential heat wave that could bring nearly 100 degree temperatures to Wareham this week. Wareham Emergency Management is opening up an emergency cooling center on the first floor of the Wareham Emergency Operation...

Town closes four beaches over elevated bacteria levels

Wareham seal

The Town of Wareham announced that four of its beaches have been closed for exceeding the state's bacteria limit on Monday, June 29. Briarwood Beach, Forbes Beach, Standish Shores Beach and Wareham Lake Shores Beach have all closed. It is not clear...

Ribbon cut on second Wareham helipad

Ribbon cutting at helipad

Wareham emergency responders and Southcoast Health cut the ribbon on a helipad on Viking Drive near the Wareham Town Hall Friday, June 26. The helipad, known as the Wareham Viking Landing Zone, is set to improve Wareham's emergency response...

Wareham High students win scholarships for medical studies

Three Wareham High School seniors were awarded scholarships for next school year from the Dr. Thomas Gleason Scholarship Committee. Brooke Halloran will receive $1,000 to study dental medicine at Cape Cod Community College. Halloran's goal is to...

Wareham student awarded Southcoast scholarship

Wareham High School senior Brooke Halloran was awarded the Wylde Family Scholarship by the Southcoast Health Ambassadors this year. Halloran, who plans to attend Cape Cod Community College majoring in Health Sciences, received $1,500 to support her...

'A total homecoming': Sip and Stroll Harbor Fest comes to Wareham

Colby Skellett

On a drizzly Saturday late afternoon, Besse Park and Warren's Harborview on Main Street were filled with the sounds of chatter and the smell of fried dough as thousands of people attended Sip and Stroll Harbor Fest on Saturday, June 27. Shortly...

Poker-playing kayakers return to Onset

Marshall hands cards

While poker is a game traditionally played inside a casino, players put a maritime twist on the classic card game during the Onset Bay Association's annual kayak poker run on Saturday, June 27 at Shell Point Beach. Kayakers paddled to three stops...

Group plants 250 flags for nation's 250th anniversary

Mark Townsend and Angela Dunham

The sun shone down on the Wareham Town Hall as a group of local officials and residents planted hundreds of small American flags in front of the Wareham Bicentennial War Memorial on Saturday, June 27. Why the flags? Wareham is celebrating the...

Wareham teacher rescues woman from burning car

First responders

A Wareham teacher climbed onto a burning SUV and pulled a woman to safety after the car crashed in the woods and flipped on its side late afternoon on Wednesday, June 23 on Great Neck Road. Craig Berriault, a science teacher at Wareham High School...

Wareham preschoolers get a sunny graduation sendoff

Preschool graduates

On a drizzly Friday morning, Wareham Elementary School's preschool class brought in some sunshine as it waved goodbye to preschool and hello to kindergarten on Friday, June 26. Dressed in yellow and rockin' shades, a nod to upcoming summer season,...

Community rallies around #MiaStrong

Mia as police officer

Since Mia Johnson was diagnosed with cancer on Wednesday, June 10, her family's lives "went into a complete whirlwind," Mia's mother Briana Johnson said. Amid that whirlwind, however, came an outpouring of support from the Wareham community. Mia...

Fire erupts inside dog treat bakery

Preppy puppy fire

A fire ignited at Wareham's dog treat specializing Preppy Puppy Bakery at 2380 Cranberry Highway on the evening of Tuesday, June 23. Firefighters were notified of the fire on Tuesday evening after a commercial alarm activated in the building,...

Lightning strike knocks out power on Cromesett Road

Fire along road.

Lightning struck near a power line on Cromessett Road on Tuesday, June 23, bringing down two sections of wire, taking out power for nearby residents and starting a fire along the side of the road. At 8:30 a.m., Eversource sent out a message to...

Gosnold substance abuse treatment center cuts ribbon, opens to patients July 1

Richard Curcuru and Donald Quenneville

Inpatient substance abuse treatment center Gosnold Behavioral Health cut the ribbon to its 96-bed facility at 50 Indian Neck Road during a grand opening ceremony on Tuesday, June 23. Gosnold is moving into the former Forestview Nursing Home site...

World Cup spirit comes to Onset

Childhood friends

Fans brought kilts, flags and the energy of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to Onset last week as Massachusetts hosts matches for the global soccer tournament. Onset's Pier View Restaurant and Stephen's Lounge hosted soccer fans of the Scotland and Cape...

Father's Day car show parks vehicles and memories

Cars at VFW show

When a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria showed up unannounced in Wareham resident Howard Smith's driveway eight years ago, he asked his wife "what's that?" "That's my new toy," Claire Smith responded. Claire Smith brought that "toy" to the third King of...

Residents march for peace on Main Street

Reverend Daniel Bernier of the Church of the Good Shepherd holds up a sign for peace

Carrying signs and walking down Main Street, a group of about 20 people gathered for what appeared to be a demonstration on Saturday, June 20. While people did march up and down the street holding up signs, the walk was not a protest. Instead,...

Taiko group drums up good energy at the library

Residents participate

As the sun beamed down on the Wareham Free Library on Saturday, June 20, the normally quiet place was filled with the sounds of drums as Odaiko New England performed outside the library’s doors. The high-energy performance included several types of...

'Everybody is welcome here': Onset VFW celebrates Juneteenth

Jaide Thomas

From soccer games to massages to temporary tattoos, the Juneteenth picnic at the Onset Veterans of Foreign Wars Post on Friday, June 19 had something for everyone. Around 60 people of all ages gathered outside the VFW on Friday afternoon to...