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School Committee members debate potential audit request

Chris Oliver

While the School Committee has voted on and approved its Fiscal Year 2027 budget, conversations about funding are ongoing. During a School Committee meeting on…

Locals celebrate Elderly Americans Month

Marcella O'Connor, Donna Wildes, Brenda Connors and Pat Wisniewski get ready to party. Photos by Kat Sheridan

May is Elderly Americans Month, and the Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly made sure that older residents feel appreciated this month. The Friends of the Elderly, partnered with the…

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Shellfishing season to be extended

Shellfishing for quahog and oysters will now be allowed on Tuesdays and through April, with approval from the Select Board. Previously, shellfishing was prohibited on Sundays through Mondays as a conservation effort, and the season ran from October...

Board of Public Works seeks applicants for new Board positions

The Town of Dartmouth is looking for residents to apply for two new positions on the Board of PUblic Works, which is expanding from three to five members. Expanding the board should help with improving quorum availability and allowing for more...

Dartmouth receieves state funds

Senator Mark Montigny announced Dartmouth will be receiving an increase of 8.6%, or $3,406.890 in unrestricted state aid in Fiscal Year 2027. This is due to an infusion of $53 million in the Senate’s budget proposal. This is on top of $170,000...

Seniors prepare to graduate from student to teacher

students

Thirteen years after stepping into the halls of their elementary schools to embark on their learning journeys, 14 Dartmouth High School seniors are preparing to teach the next generation of students. On Friday, May 8 — the final day of Teacher...

No need to wine, new tasting room opens in Dartmouth

Steve Barwikoski stands at the counter of the tasting room. Photos by Kat Sheridanac

Hidden between North Dartmouth and Padanaram, thousands of grape vines grow that will be pressed into locally made wines. This would be Anchor Rock Vineyard, which soft opened in April and officially received their state liquor license to offer...

Water testing guidance following Mid-City Scrap fire

fire

Dartmouth residents living within a 1.5-mile radius of Mid City Scrap will not need to conduct tests on their private drinking water wells after a fire broke out at the facility on Monday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental...

Students in the DHSTVmedia program recognized in statewide contest

Dartmouth High School. Stock photo

Dartmouth High School has received state-wide recognition for the Dartmouth High School Television Media program, also known as DHSTVmedia. The overall program won top honors in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Boston/New...

School committee discusses a potential operational override

Chris Oliver speaking at a previous meeting. Stock photo.

During their meeting on Monday, May 4, members of the School Committee voiced their preliminary opinions on a potential tax override. “At some point, probably by FY28, the town’s really going to need to consider an override,” said Chris Oliver,...

Update on Westport Mid City Scrap fire

Mid City Scrap

WESTPORT — As of 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5 fire crews were still on the scene of a fire that broke out at Mid City Scrap, located in Westport. According to the Westport Fire Department, crews were still working on extinguishing deep seated pockets...

Fire breaks out at Westport scrapyard

Plumes of smoke visible from East Briggs road. Photo by Kat Sheridan

WESTPORT — A large fire broke out in Westport at the Mid City Scrap on Monday, May 4 around 4 p.m. The company confirmed that all workers are uninjured. As of 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5, Route 6 from Route 88 to Gifford Road was still closed in...

Town works on emergency preparedness

Dartmouth staffers

The town of Dartmouth participated in a tabletop exercise to get better at emergency preparedness, simulating a category two to three hurricane. “This exercise was a valuable opportunity to bring all of our partners together and ensure we are...

Slocums River water quality testing to continue through 2027

Slocums River

More than 30 years after the Slocums River closed because of poor water quality, the town is now looking to see if it can be reopened for shellfishing. In January 2025, the Division of Marine Fisheries began collecting samples from five locations...

Discounted FoodCyclers for Dartmouth residents

The Greater New Bedford Regional Management District is offering 10 Dartmouth residents and 10 New Bedford residents an $100 discount on FoodCyclers. The company, Food Cycle Scientists, offers their products at a reduced rate before the district...

Police searching for missing 16-year-old

Fayth Dean

The Dartmouth Police Department is looking for a missing 16-year-old named Fayth Dean. Dean was reported missing on Monday, April 27 and was last seen on foot near Bakerville Road. Dean is 5 feet 3 inches tall, has brown hair, brown eyes and...

Flushing water mains scheduled for May 4 through June 11

From Monday, May 4 through Thursday, June 11 the Dartmouth Water Department will be flushing water mains between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. This flusing is being done to move water through the mains at a high speed to loosen and remove deposits...

Kids get a taste of farm to table meals

Farm to Table

Students at the DeMello and Cushman schools can expect to see some new menu options next school year as the schools pilot a program focused on providing students food made from scratch. “One of my big goals is to really transform our school food...

Zoning Board discusses Sherbrooke Farms waivers and deadlines

The land for the proposed Sherbrooke Farms. Photo by Kat Sheridan

Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals and the community voiced concerns over the drawn plans for Sherbrooke Farms, a proposed 156-unit 40B apartment building, which would be located at 489 Old Westport Road. During the Thursday, April 30 meeting,...

Wells at water treatment facility set to come back online

File photo

Three wells at the water treatment facility at 579 Old Westport Road are set to come back online after nearly six years of being shut down. In October 2020, a storm caused the facility and Pinelli wells to shut down due to bacteria. The...

New Bedford woman sentenced for smuggling drugs into Dartmouth Jail

The five individuals allegedly involved in the operation. Source: Bristol County Sheriffs Office

Ginger Hooks, a New Bedford woman who smuggled drugs into the Dartmouth Jail in June 2025, pleaded guilty and was charged with one felony of delivering drugs to prisoners and two felony counts of conspiracy on Tuesday, April 21. “The work that the...

Dartmouth libraries log over one million minutes read in March

Southworth Library

For the second year in a row, Dartmouth Public Libraries participated in Minute Madness — a local reading challenge between libraries in the SAILS Library Network. Ramping up reading efforts after last year’s competition, Dartmouth libraries placed...

Fire District receives grants for safety education

Dartmouth Fire District 1 was awarded two grants, one for Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) grant and a Senior S.A.F.E. grant from the Department of Fire Services. They got $5,865.90 from the S.A.F.E. grant and $2,671.41 from the...

Future of old police station still left unknown

file photo

Twelve years after Dartmouth's old police station was abandoned after legionella bacteria, which can cause a severe type of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease, was discovered in the building's plumbing, the fate of the building and the lot it's...

Select Board reviews Town Meeting articles

file photo

Thirty articles are expected to appear on the June 2 Town Meeting warrant, and while many are routine items, Town Meeting members will also be asked to appeove the town's Fiscal Year 2027 operation budget, which currently sits at $113,389,515, and...

Meeting about Dartmouth road improvements

On Monday, May 4 representatives from the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District will be hosting a public meeting about a drafted 2027-2031 Transportation Improvement Program. This program includes three Dartmouth...

YMCA Southcoast is participating in the annual Project Bread walk

Participants in a previous walk. Source: Allison Epstein.

YMCA Southcoast’s Sharing the Harvest Farm is participating in the 58th Annual Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger on May 3 for the 8th year. The main walk is happening in Boston, but YMCA Southcoast will be participating virtually in Dartmouth....

Lloyd Center wine-tasting fundraiser

Visit Westport Rivers Vineyard, enjoy a wine tasting and appetizers in a coastal setting, and support the Lloyd Center at the same time. Westport Vineyards is hosting “Show Your Love for the Lloyd Center!” on Saturday, May 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30...

Therapy dogs return to the Dartmouth Libraries

Harper the therapy dog. Source: North Branch Library

The Dartmouth Public Library is bringing back their therapy dog program on Tuesday, May 5. This time, there are two dogs that will visit; Darcie and Harper. One of the dogs will visit each Tuesday, alternating between the two. The dog will be at...

Padanaram Bridge to start opening for the season

The Padanaram Bridge will be opening for the season on Friday, May 1. Between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., the bridge will open on the hour and the half hour. From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., the bridge will open on the hour.

Three 40B developments proposed in 2025

The Residences at Hawthorne would be built at the site of the Hawthorne Country Club. Photos by Kat Sheridan

In 2025, three Chapter 40B housing projects were brought before the Zoning Board of Appeals; The Residence at Hawthorne, Sherbrooke Farms and the Hathaway. To meet the 10% affordable housing requirement, Dartmouth needs 275 more affordable housing...

Not just for the kids: Youth advocate looks to support families too

Deloris Joseph

For some, the job title “youth advocate” may imply that the position would only provide resources and support to children. But for Deloris Joseph, who became Dartmouth’s youth advocate in 2020, the job often extends past the kids to their families....

23-year-old injured while texting and driving

Police station. File photo

A 23-year-old Dartmouth woman faces minor injuries in a single car car crash that occurred on Wednesday, April 22 shortly after 10 p.m. The 23-year-old reportedly struck a utility pole near the Caddy Shack and flipped over. She was transported to...

Growing a community in Dartmouth

Helfand Farm. Photos by Kat Sheridan

Helfand Farm Community Garden is growing goodness by giving members of the community the space to grow their own produce. “A lot of our gardeners, they live in the city or they live in an apartment and they just don’t have the space where they can...

Dartmouth was represented in the Boston Marathon

The 130th Boston Marathon was a record breaking one, with John Korir of Kenya breaking the course record by more than two minutes, but Korir and the other elite runners weren’t the only ones to take on the race. Five runners from Dartmouth joined...

Students spread kindness at Dartmouth High School

Day of Kindness

Kindness was on full display at Dartmouth High School on Thursday, April 16, as students in the Black Student Union and Allyship Club hosted the third annual Day of Kindness. Dartmouth High School held its first Day of Kindness four years ago after...

Sunset Social creates new community for young adults

hike

In the early evening of Thursday, April 16, a group of young adults hiked through Destruction Brook Woods, winding around the trails and pausing now and then, whether to look at a creek or step over roots. They talked about things like their...

Stop and smell the daffodils this Spring Break

Nearly 600 visited the fields on Monday. Photos by Kat Sheridan.

The daffodils are almost at full bloom at Parson’s Reserve, aligning perfectly with students’ spring break so that families can go and admire the flowers together. “We came here just for a day trip, because he had off school and we’re really into...

UMass Dartmouth Law School hosts in-house mock trial competition

UMass Law

UMass Dartmouth welcomed SouthCoast legal leaders and over 50 students during its first in-house mock trial competition from Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12. "Mock trial gives students the opportunity to develop and refine essential courtroom...

Horseneck Road homicide suspect pleads guilty to racketeering in 2020 killing, two other murders

Franklin Antonio Amaya Paredes in New Bedford District Court in July 2020

On Wednesday, April 15, an alleged La Mara Salvatrucha member pleaded guilty to racketeering for his alleged role in three murders, including a killing that occurred near Horseneck Road in July 2020. Franklin Antonio Amaya Paredes, 28 is a...

Household hazardous waste drop-off day scheduled for May 2

paint

On Saturday, May 2 the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District will be hosting a household hazardous waste drop-off day for Dartmouth residents who can show proof of residency. The drop-off period will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m at...

Students showcase their commitment to civics

Students present their project to Elizabeth Coughlin.

Dartmouth Middle School students stood in groups in front of colorfully decorated tri-fold boards, showcasing the research they spent a month preparing for the school’s second annual Civics Showcase, held on Wednesday, April 15. Topics this year...

Veteran's office is moving to Town Hall

The Veteran’s Office will be moving from its current location at the Council on Aging to Town Hall in Room 216. The office will be closed from Monday, April 27 to Friday, May 1 to move offices. The office will reopen on Monday, May 4. Town Hall...

UMass Dartmouth is helping to combat food insecurity

Nearly half of undergraduate students in the United States face food insecurity, and UMass Dartmouth has been working on battling the issue in their community. Jeanne’s Cupboard was started by Deacon Frank Lucca over 10 years ago, as a single...

Dartmouth Libraries win March Madness

The Dartmouth Public Libraries won the March Madness reading challenge, with a total of 1,192,723 minutes logged during the tournament. “Now not only is Dartmouth the highest circulating community in the SAILS Library Network, but it’s also logged...

Daffodils burst into bloom at Parson's Reserve

Guests of all ages enjoy wandering the paths. Photos by Kat Sheridan

Every year, thousands flock to Dartmouth to view the thousands of daffodils that bloom at Parson’s Reserve. “Daffodils are kind of a big sign of spring, so I think seeing them makes people happy and realize warm weather’s coming or is finally...

At the heart of it: Dartmouth man to run Boston Marathon for children's hospital

vraj and matt

Every year tens of thousands of runners flock to Hopkinton, Mass. to run the Boston Marathon, each with a story of what brought them to the starting line, and Dartmouth resident Matt Medeiros is no exception. Medeiros first ran the Boston Marathon...

Town receives $135,000 grant for Department of Public Works

File photo

Dartmouth will be receiving a $135,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for several upgrades in the Department of Public Works. These funds will heap pumps at the DPW's administration building, more energy...

Public hearing for the Residences at Hawthorne closes

The Zoning Board of Appeals.

With the hearing now closed on the Residences at Hawthorne, the 138-unit Chapter 40B project that would be located at 970 Tucker Road, Zoning Board of Appeals members now have 40 days to decide on whether to approve or deny the project. Jason...

School Committee approves $58 million school budget 4-1

James Kiely

On Monday, April 13, School Committee members voted 4-1 to approve their Fiscal Year 2027 budget request of $58,204,287, though the district will still face a deficit of $178,309. To account for the deficit, the Dartmouth Public Schools district is...

Free bagged lunches for kids during spring break

The Town of Dartmouth is offering kids a free bagged lunch during Spring Break, from April 21 to April 23. The town is partnering with the United Way and the Dartmouth Public Libraries. There will be 20 lunches available a day, with an assortment...

UMass Dartmouth brings back the Clothesline Project

A number of the shirts that students could view at the Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality. Photos by Kat Sheridan

Red, pink and orange shirts representing surviving rape, yellow shirts representing surviving physical assault or domestic violence and white shirts representing someone who didn’t survive violence hung at the Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality...